THE ORDER KNIGHTS OF ZION.ANNUAL CONVENTION.
The Annual Convention of the Order Knights of Zion was held on January 2d and 3d in the city of Chicago; and despite the gloom which was cast over that city by the unfortunate calamity at the Iroquois Theatre, the Convention itself was largely visited by delegates from many of the outlying parts of the Middle Western States; and the Convention Hall was all too narrow for its purposes. The proceedings, as usual, began on Saturday evening, and the delegates were rapidiy invested with their badges and presented with opportunities of purchasine Zionist music and
Convention postcards.
After the session, the local Carmel Wine Company tendered the delegates a wine supper, at which Mr. B. Horwich, as president of the Company, presided, and at which speeches were delivered by Mr. Leon Zolotkoff, Mr. H. Horwich, Dr. I. L. Halpern, Dr. L. Magnes, of Cincinnati, and Mr. J. de Haas.
Sunday's proceedings were of a protracted nature, owing to the resignation of the Grand Recorder, Mr. N. D. Kaplan, who has given the cause such excellent service, and the difficulty of appointing a successor who would meet all the requirements of the organizations. During the midday interval, a luncheon was tendered to the delegates by the Clara de Hirsch Gate, No. 10, Miss Esther Weinschenker representing the organization, and all the members assisting in providing the delegates and their friends with good cheer. Again there were a large number of enthusiastic and witty speeches, the St. Louis delegates, to the number of twelve, launching a boom in favor both of holding the Convention of the Federation and the next Annual Convention of the Order in St. Louis.
The delegates hurried away en masse from the closing session to the Medinah Temple, where over one thousand people were assembled under the chairmanship of Mr. Leon Zolotkoff. The Public Prosecutor, representing the Mayor, delivered an excellent welcome to the delegates, showing that he had a thor-
ough grasp of the movement, and wishing so liberal and useful a cause God-speed. The next address was delivered by Mr. J. de Haas.
A very impressive scene followed, the Volunteers of Zion of Chicago and Milwaukee escorting a procession of the Zion Sabbath-school through the hall, the school leader carrying a magnificent Zion flag, which was presented by the children and their friends to the Order. The children singing the Hatikvoh and the excellent and impressive speech made by the presentee, a young girl, moved the audience considerably. And when Dr. Magnes rose to speak the audience had assumed the aspect of a religious rather than of a popular gathering. Deeply moved, Dr. Magnes made what may truly be described as a thrilling address, the audience being enraptured by his presentation of the various types of non-Zionists and their miscomprehension of the movement.
During the evening a musical program was provided by the orchestra of the Lyric Gate of the Order, whilst Mr. G. H. Shapiro gave several piano solos, Mr. George Bass a violin solo and Miss Julia Weinschenker sang, in excellent style, two songs. The whole tone of the gathering was nothing short of remarkable. The classical music was appreciated and encored, and the proceedings struck a deep note of earnestness, which to an extent must have been the result of a resolution of sympathy with Chicago in its calamity, passed with the whole audience standing.
The Secretary of the Federation, who remained in Chicago to the end of the week, took part in a meeting of the Grand Gate on the 7th, at which various matters in connection with the Federation were settled and adjusted. We regret that we have not yet received the full report of the proceedings of the Convention, which included a resolution of loyalty to the leaders, various matters in relation to the National Fund and the presentation of an address by Dr. Aronstamm, of Detroit, but we give below excerpts of the opening address delivered by the Chairman and the annual report submitted by the Grand Recorder.