Bnai Israel Minute Book, vol. 3, part 1: 1898 to 1921

Regular Meeting Sacramento, December 6th, 1899

The Board of Officers met in the synagogue at 8 P.M. Mr. Albert Elkus, president, presiding. Roll called and absentees noted.

Minutes of last regular and special meetings were read and approved.

Communication from Miss Sophie Price, thanking the officers and members of the congregation for the prayer books for services rendered in the choir, which had been cheerfully given, and will continue to assist in the future. [Note 1] The communication was ordered received and placed on file.

Communication from the Ladies Auxiliary Society offering to donate $75.00 for the purpose of assisting to buy a new carpet for the synagogue.

The communication was ordered received, and the secy. instructed to communicate with the Ladies Auxiliary Society thanking them for their kind offer and to ask them to appoint a committee to select a carpet and to submit the sample to the president of this Board who would then call a special meeting and submit the propositions to the Board.

The committee who was appointed to communicate with the various applicants for Rabbi reported progress.

On motion the secretary was instructed to send a letter of thanks to Rev. Silcox for the able lecture delivered [Note 2] to the synagogue on Friday evening 1st inst.

The following monthly salaries were ordered paid and warrants drawn on the treasurer for the amounts M. Wilson 40.00 Mr. Mohns 15.00 Mrs. Hanley 10.00 Mrs. Ross 10.00

The following bills were read and ordered paid City and County taxes 35.45 Expenses Mr. O. [?Wise] 12.00 122.45

[Note 1: Miss Sophia Price, teacher, res. 1016 N] {Note 2: J.B. Silcox, born Canada, preached at First Church, Sacramento, 1890-1892, left and returned to First Church ~ 1900-1902. "His “Grip and Grit” sermon was just as popular as an Oscar-winning film would be in our day, so popular, indeed, that he delivered it more than two hundred times!" Academia.edu. "Forgotten Social Gospellers, J.B. Silcox and Hugh Pedley"]

Brought forward 122.45

150 E Postal Cards 1.50 M. Hirsch for stove 13.00 [Note 1] Frank H. Wing for rubber stamps 1.75 [Note 2] Capital Gas Co. Mr. Lurse for singing 2.50 Progressive cleaners 8.00 American Israelite advertising 8.00 W.J. Thompson repairing roof 10.00 M. Wilson removing rubbish 1.00

The bill of the Capital Gas Co. was referred to the president for the purpose of getting a rebate on same.

On motion, it was ordered that the various standing committees be the same as last year.

Balance on treasury December 1, 1899 $477.96 Received from collector for November dues 135.00 Total 612.96 Paid out as per warrants 169.20. [Note 3] Balance in treasury 443.76 [written in red ink]

No further business appearing, the meeting adjourned

Leon Salomon Secretary

[Note 1: Marks Hirsch, hardware, 1901 directory] [Note 2: Frank H. Wing, Rubber Stamps, 1008 3rd, 1895 directory] [Note 3: Actual sum of debits is $168.20]

Regular Meeting of Trustees Sacramento, December 27, 1899

Mr. A. Elkus called the meeting to order at 8 P.M. Elkus in chair. Roll call and absentees noted. Minutes of last meeting read and approved.

The committee appointed to meet with the committee of the Hebrew Ben. Society and Ladies Auxiliary Society reported progress.

Proposition of Mr. Richard Label to become a member [Note] of the congregation was read and on motion was ordered elected.

Mrs. L. Coleman decided to become a member of the congregation if her back dues were remitted. On motion the back dues were remitted and Mrs. Coleman elected a member.

The following regular salaries were ordered paid and warrants drawn on the treasurer for the amounts M. Wilson salary 40.00 Mr. N. Mohns 15.00 Mrs. Hanley, organist 10.00 Mrs. Ross, singing 10.00

The following bills were read and ordered paid Locke & Lavenson, contract 312.00 2 dusters 2.00 Extra on seats 23.00 Bronzing fixt. 2.00 25.00 21 yd. linoleum 1.50 31.50 Total 370.50 M. Hirsch hatchet 60 Filling up flowers 1.50 2.10 M. Miller carriages for funeral Mrs. Berk 7.00 Capital Gas Co. for December 7.40 Frank Lyman Globes & Co. 3.60 N. Mohns for cemetery 2.50 Capital Gas Co. bill for November 20.78 Progressive Cleaners 6.75 Total 495.63

[Note: Richard Label, barber, 1901 city directory]

The Capital Gas Co. refused to make any allowances on the incandescent lights for November. Mr. Heilbron stated that the bill for carriages was 8.00 in accordance with the prices established by the Union but Mr. Miller would make a rebate of $1.00. The Secretary was authorized to give Messrs. Locke & Lavenson, orders of the Hebrew Benevolent and Ladies Auxiliary Societies for the amounts contributed by them for the renovating of the synagogue, the former 140.00 and the latter 60.00.

Financial Report Balance in Treasury last reports 443.76 Collections of dues for December 1899 200.30 From the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society 140.00 From the Ladies Auxiliary " 60.00 Total 844.06

Paid out as per warrants 495.63 Balance in Treasury 348.43

No further business appearing, the meeting adjourned

Leon Salomon Secretary

Congregation B'nai Israel, Sacramento, January 31, 1900

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Officers of the congregation met in the synagogue at 8 P.M. Mr. Albert Elkus, president, presiding. Roll call, Mr. Sam Lavenson and Jos. Thieben noted absent. Minutes of previous meeting read and approved.

The resignation of Mr. E.L. Zemansky as a member on account of removal from the city was read and accepted.

The cleaning of the synagogue was referred to the building committee and that Mr. Moses S. Lavenson be added to the committee in place of Mr. Sam Lavenson who is sick. On motion, Mr. L. Heilbron was authorized to see to the matter and the building committee authorized to purchase a carpet sweeper.

Communication from Mr. Greenburg was read asking for how long the congregation would engage him and what maximum salary he could expect, that he could not leave his place before the middle of the month of March. On motion it was ordered that the president tender a call at the salary of $1800.00 for one year.

Mr. M. Gottorski having refused to pay his dues or being delinquent was suspended from membership and the secretary instructed to notify him to that effect.

A vote of thanks was tendered to Rev. Mr. Hudson for his able lecture delivered in the synagogue. On motion it was ordered that a warrant be drawn on the treasurer for $10.00 for expenses for Mr. Hudson. Permission was granted to Mr. Wolf from San Francisco to have the synagogue opened every evening at 6 during his stay in the city for the purpose of having minyan to say the Kaddish prayer.

The secretary reported that Mr. R. Label stated that he did not wish to join the congregation at present and his name was taken off the membership.