Baltimore B’nai B’rith Quits Inter Faith Body; Protests Bias

The B’nai B’rith lodges of Baltimore today announced that they have withdrawn from membership in the Baltimore Interfaith Committee, due to the fact that one of the sponsors of that committee, Boumi Temple Shrine, follows a policy of anti-Jewish discrimination. The announcement was made by Dr. Samuel Friedman, of the Presidents Council of Baltimore B’nai B’rith lodges.

The Interfaith Committee was organized over 14 years ago by the Knights of Columbus, B’nai B’rith, and Boumi Temple Shrine. Cooperating with the management of the Baltimore Orioles, the Committee inspired the annual Interfaith Baseball Game designed to promote better interfaith understanding among the citizens of the community, The reason for B’nai B’rith’s withdrawal–voted by the executive committees of all Baltimore B’nai B’rith lodges–is the continued discriminatory membership policy of the Boumi Temple of Baltimore, a professedly non-sectarian organization, which nevertheless bars members of the Jewish faith.

In announcing the withdrawal, Dr. Friedman stated: “B’nai B’rith believes that this exclusionary policy of Baltimore’s Boumi Temple, which is also regretted by many among Boumi Temple’s membership, is unique in Shrinedom, and is inconsistent with the non-sectarian admissions policy of the Shrine nationally. We have repeatedly discussed and tried to resolve this matter with William O. Barnes, Illustrious Potentate of Boumi Temple, but his recent statements convince us that future discussions and efforts to correct these practices will prove unavailing. B’nai B’rith, therefore, cannot in good conscience continue its association as a member of the Interfaith Committee under these circumstances. To do so would be to mock the very purpose and spirit of the Committee’s program as well as those of B’nai B’rith.”