following resolutions, concerning two important questions in our movement.
1. It was resolved not to recommend to our organization the carrying out of the East African project. The report of the expedition can be sent only after it has been put before the English Government.
2. It was agreed to recommend to the next congress Dr. Nordau, Paris; Professor Warburg, Berlin; and D. Wolffsohn, Cologne, as leaders of the movement.
Congress has been convened for July the 27th and 30th, and following days, to the following program:
1. Opening of the congress. 2. Memorial address—Dr. Max Nordau. 3. Election of the permanent Committee of Congress. 4. Report of the Actions Comite. 5. Report of the Palestine Commission. 6. National Fund. 7. Constitution. 8. Propaganda. 9. Unfinished Business. 10. Election.
An extraordinary congress has been convened for the 26th of July, for the disposition of the question of a settlement in East Africa.
Greetings were read from the following: the Mizrachi and the Poale Zion. The greetings of the Orthodox Union of Jewish Congregations of the United States and Canada were read by Dr. Pereira Mendes. Telegrams and letters from various sources were read at different times during the Convention.
It was announced that the essay by Achad Haam, "Pinsker and His Brochure," had been translated from the Hebrew into English by Miss Henrietta Szold, who had presented same to the Convention for distribution among the delegates.
A motion of the Secretary that the Convention express its deep gratitude to Miss Szold for the presentation of this pamphlet, was unanimously carried.
The Secretary then read the following report:
SECRETARY’S REPORT.
From June 1st, 1902 to March 1st, 1905, that is, a period covering almost three years, Mr. J. de Haas occupied the position of Secretary of the Federation. The resignation of Mr. de Haas from the Secretaryship was due, primarily, to the financial difficulties of the Federation. However large the Federation may have grown, both in membership and in the amount of activity carried on, it has not had a corresponding increase of income. Inasmuch as the salary of the Secretary was the largest item of expense, Mr. de Haas came to the relief of a difficult
situation by resigning from his office. It would be hard to put a proper estimate upon the work Mr. de Haas has done for the cause of Zionism in America; with his aid the Federation has grown from an organization of about 100 societies to an organization of 238 societies, numbering about 6,500 shekel payers. It is fitting that this Convention express to Mr. de Haas its sense of gratitude to him.
- In this report no distinction will be made between tue work uone _efore and that done after the resienation of Mr. de Haas.
The number of new societies organized during the past year, 1904-1905, has not been so great as during 1903-1904. Exclusive of the Knights of Zion, there were founded during 1903-1904, 110 societies; during the year 1904-5, fifty-five charters were issued from the office of the Federation. This is a large and satisfactory number, especially in view of the East African question, which occupied the attention of our societies to such an extent as to make the organization of new societies a secondary matter. At the present time there are 230 societies directly affiliated with the Federation, as against 219 for the year 1903-1904. Thirty-five societies disbanded during the year, two of these having amalgamated with already existing societies. It is hoped that we shall succeed, either in reorganizing their disbanded societies, or in persuading their members to join other societies. Over against this loss of societies, the chartering of fifty-five societies has already been reported. Of these fifty-five societies newly chartered, ten are societies which had been organized in previous years, but which had never affiliated with the Federation. Forty-five societies have accordingly been organized during the past year. Two other societies have been reorganized under their old charter. The total of 230 societies affiliated with the Federation, however, is not altogether bona fide, inasmuch as forty-five of these societies have paid neither Federation dues nor shekel tax during the year. It is but fair to state that at least fifty per cent. of these societies will be able, with a little effort on the part of the Federation, to re-instate themselves. There are furthermore, seven societies which regard themselves as part of the Federation—some paying dues, some shekolim; but these have not, as yet, taken out charters. The strength of the Federation, including only these societies which deal directly with the Federation is, therefore, at its best, as follows:
Total .....237
The Order of Knights of Zion, with head-