Former Congressman Nathan D. Perlman, of New York, was elected without opposition Grand Master of the Independent Order Brith Abraham, succeeding Max Silverstein who, by a rising vote of the delegates, was honored for his two years of service.
The elections were held during the last convention session, delegates indicating their choice on printed ballots. Louis B. Siegel of New York, was chosen First Deputy Grand Master, defeating Anton Gronich of New York.
In contrast to the past two days, the proceedings were calm. Several policemen were stationed in the convention hall during the morning session.
The hectic discussion that prevailed for two days over the question of Class “A” membership, was settled when the convention sustained the decision of Mr. Silverstein that the majority rising vote taken Monday, favoring closing Class “A” membership permanently, was valid. When the vote on closing the membership in this class permanently was taken, a great tumult ensued, many of the opposition forces demanding a roll call. Mr. Silverstein declared a majority vote favored the closing and he was sustained. Judge Gustave Hartman declared he will file a memorandum of protest with the grand secretary against the rising vote.
Significant also was the fact that the convention authorized the proposal of Mr. Silverstein that a committee of twenty-one be appointed, ten from the executive board and eleven from the general membership, to consider protective measures for the present membership in Class “A” and also the endowments, reserve funds, etc., concerning that class, and to report its findings at the next convention.
The convention authorized several constitutional changes which comply with the suggestion advanced by the Department of Insurance of the state of Massachusetts when it revoked the Order’s license last December. Among the changes was one which declared that past grand masters shall have a voice in the executive board but no vote.
A resolution was adopted by the convention that lodges of the Order shall hereafter elect officers yearly, instead of semi-annually, commencing next December.
The convention adopted a resolution deploring “outrages against Jewish religion, education and Zionism in Russia.” Through another resolution, the Order decided to participate in the unveiling of the Haym Salomon monument in New York.
Following pleas by Samuel Blaustein of Philadelphia, Mr. Perlman and Mr. Silverstein, the members voted a three cent per capita tax to help the Philadelphia lodges meet a deficit of be-
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tween six and seven thousand dollars incurred in the operation of the I. O. B. A. Center in that city.
The ballot returns showed the following were elected:
Second Deputy, Samuel Kalesky, Boston; third. Louis A. Velenchick, Philadelphia; Fourth, Israel Baurer, Newark; Fifth, Sam Abrams, Chicago; Sixth. Abraham Rubin, Hartford, Conn.; Seventh, Otto S. Hirsch, St. Louis, Mo.; Eighth, Nathan Sapperstein, Baltimore; Ninth, Albert Silberman, Cleveland; Tenth, Max Winograd, Providence, R. I.; Eleventh, Charles H. Fier, Brooklyn; Twelfth, Louis Clark. Bronx; Grand Secretary, Max L. Hollander, New York; Treasurer, Ike Frankel. Brooklyn; Chairman of Finance, William Eckman, New York; Chairman of Law, Abraham H. Weinstein, Boston; Chairman of Appeals, Clarence H. Siegle, Brooklyn; Chairman State of Order, Nat Ganz, Bronx; Chairlan of Rituals, Joseph Slotnick, Boston; Chairman Social Membership, David Paris, Bronx.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
