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Justice Tompkins Resigns Masonic Club in Ire at Anti-jewish Discrimination

March 5, 1928
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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On the ground that the Metropolitan Mason’s Country Club at Briarcliff is discriminating against Jewish applicants for membership, Supreme Court Justice Arthur S. Tompkins has resigned from the club.

Justice Tompkins’ action follows an investigation inspired by charges recently made in the “Jewish Tribune.” At that time the Justice made the following statement:

“I shall make it my business to ascertain whether it is true that Masons are excluded from the club’s membership because they are Jews. If such be the fact, it is altogther non-Masonic and contrary to my conception of the attitude and privileges of Masons.”

He added that he would resign if the charges were true.

Officers of the club, who are advertising for members deny the allegations.

Two members may blackball any applicant for membership, they explain, but there has been no particular effort to keep out Jewish Masons. The voting is by secret ballot.

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