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In our last we announced briefly under the head of
News Items, that a ball had been held for the purpose of aiding to raise
a school fund. We were then unable to give any particulars as to the
result. But inadvertently we did injustice to Mr. Joseph Levi, in not
mentioning his name in the list of managers. We thought that having been
at the time in mourning, through the loss of a child, he had not acted
as manager; but we learn since, that before the occurrence of the
decease of the above he had been very active, and disposed of a
considerable number of tickets.
Since that, a meeting of the Israelites of
Philadelphia, to hear the report of the managers and to adopt measures
for organizing a Hebrew School, was called on March 7th, when, on
motion, Mr. Zadok A. Davis was called to the chair, and Mr. Simon A.
Klasser appointed secretary. The managers of the School Fund Ball,
through their treasurer, Mr. Morris H. De Young, then reported, that the
gross receipts had been 688 dollars, and the net proceeds 308.25
dollars, three hundred of which has been deposited in the office of the
Pennsylvania Life Insurance Company, bearing interest at 4 per cent. per
annum.
Mr. Klasser, on behalf of the managers, then stated
that the managers declined proposing any course of action, preferring to
leave to the sense of the meeting the adoption of any measures deemed
best in the premises.
In order to test the sense of the meeting, a motion
was made by Mr. Leeser, that a society be forthwith organized for the
purpose of furthering the object of education; without any other
regulation than merely collecting funds for the ultimate establishment
of a school. It was then moved by Mr. Klasser, seconded by Mr. Joseph
Levi, that a committee of five be appointed to draft a preamble and
resolutions, which, after having been adopted, was reconsidered on
motion of Mr. A. Hart, who stated that about six years ago, a meeting
had been held for the purpose of organizing a school, and a subscription
had been commenced to promote the object, to go into effect as soon as
$2000 should have been subscribed, and that premature action might now
defeat the intention of the subscribers, who, he doubted not, would
still be willing to continue the aid then promised. He was supported in
these views by Mr. Solomon Solis, when it was moved by Mr. Solis, and
seconded by Mr. Levi, and adopted as a compromise, that a committee of
seven shall be appointed to collect donations and annual contributions
for the purpose of organizing an English and Hebrew School. The
committee was afterwards appointed by the chair, and consists of Messrs.
Abm Hart, Mayer Arnold, Joseph Levi, Moses Nathans, L. Schloss, Simon
Elfelt, and Solomon Kayser.
On motion, it was resolved, that four trustees be
appointed to take charge of the funds in the Pennsylvania Life Insurance
Office, and those which may be collected; and it having been stated that
the managers of the ball had already appointed three, to wit, Messrs. M.
H. De Young, J. Levi, and M. Nathans, it was resolved to add thereto Mr.
Simon Elfelt;
On motion of Mr. John D. Jackson, it was then
resolved that the president shall be empowered to call meetings whenever
he may deem it requisite.
On motion of Mr. A. Hart, it was resolved, that as
soon as $2000 are secured, a meeting of the subscribers shall be called,
to organize a society for the promotion of education. It was also
resolved, on motion of the same gentleman, to limit the donations, with
the exception of the sale of tickets at future balls, to Israelites
solely.
It was also farther resolved, that a subscription
be opened forthwith; when all the subscribers to the formerly proposed
school fund then present renewed their subscriptions, and there were
received in addition many more from the meeting.
A list of the persons then present was made out by
the secretary, after which the meeting adjourned.
In the above we have given a very brief outline of
what was said and done at the meeting; but we have not learned the
amount which was subscribed, nor what success has attended the efforts
of the collecting committee; but we trust that something good will
result from this movement. It was generally conceded that it would be
impolitic to commence a school forthwith, at least not until the means
were procured to keep it in operation; whilst the necessity of a speedy
action was equally acknowledged to exist. We have said so much already
on the subject of education, and mean to do so hereafter on every
fitting occasion, that we deem it useless to enlarge on it at present;
no one can doubt how anxious we are personally, for a triumphant success
of the effort about to be made; we hope therefore, that before long we
shall be able to report that enough has been obtained to establish a
school for Jewish children, on the only basis on which it can stand,—a
union of scientific and religious instruction. |
