The El Bakaurat Ed Dirziyat’ meetings were held once a month, and the members met on the first Sunday of every month. Organized meetings were conducted, and impeccable records were kept. Dues of .50 cents per member were collected monthly, and absent members without a valid reason for the absence were fined 25 cents. A 25 cent fine was also levied on a member for tardiness, as well as for talking out of turn. If a member talked badly of another member in public, and if a member’s conduct was not conducive to the Druze Social Values, the member was suspended from the meetings for a definite period of time.
 
 The goal of the Society was brotherhood, and it carried out this goal in every sense of the word. The ‘El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat’ paid doctor bills and hospital bills for any member who needed the help. Invariably, these members were able to pay the money back to the Society when they had recuperated. The Duruz Society also paid the cost of funerals for those whose families who required the assistance. Loans were made to members threatened with bankruptcy, as well as to those who needed help in starting a small business. As the organization grew, it thrived from its good deeds and the perception of brotherhood among the Druze community. The ‘El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat’ was as it should be! Unity, harmony, and oneness among all the members. The Society flourished and continued to be very effective and active. It contributed to the cultural, educational, and modernizational projects undertaken by the Druze in Lebanon and in Syria. In the name of patriotism and Druzism, the Seattle ‘El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat’ showed a great sense of responsibility and commitment here at home in the United States and abroad in Lebanon and in Syria.
 
* Seattle’s Mother Branch’ continued to be very effective and active, and ‘S.M. James recalls, ‘In July of 1914, the Druze held their first convention in the Middle West. At times during the convention, there were 500 or 600 people. Visitors came from Canada, Mexico, and Central America. The executive committee of the convention rented a big building. They put in a kitchen to serve Syrian food everyday. The city invited the city officials of St. Joe. After dinner, the mayor and the Chief of Police thanked the committee and admitted that they had never tasted such good food as they had that night. The convention lasted almost ten days. There was my Mujwizw, Dapke, Ghanna, and lots of fun day and night.”
 
 As the early immigrants settled in the United States, they inquired into the possibility of beginning branches in their cities with the Seattle branch as the ‘Mother Branch’ because the need for brotherhood among the Druze immigrants grew very strong. The candle had been lit, and Druze esprit de corps had begun, there in Seattle, Washington. One of the Seattle settlers, Mr. Assaad Cramey, moved from Seattle, Washington to Cleveland, Ohio and settled among the large Druze community there. He was instrumental in having organized the first branch of The Druze Society in 1916 in Cleveland, Ohio. It was called Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat.
 
 The organization continued to grow, and as the founding members had done, the new members shared in eating the salt that marked unity, harmony, and oneness among all the members. For the newcomers, the eating of the salt signified his initial pledge to the group; for the old members, it was a renewal of their commitment . There were ten branches throughout the United States by the year 1946.

The first Druze immigrants landed on the shores of the North American Continent in the late 19th century, and as the numbers of these immigrants rose, there was a strong desire and need for brotherhood, fellowship, kinship, and camaraderie among them. * In 1907, a group of those immigrant Druzes who had settled in and near Seattle, Washington, and who were known for their sincerity and enlightenment, organized the first fraternal organization which they called "El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat.' ( El-Bakaurat) is an Arabic word and means the first fruit. It was properly used to indicate the first fraternal-Druze society in the United States. There is on record that Mr. Assaad Cramery from Ain Zahalta, Lebanon, along with Dr. Nasseem Saleem from Jubieh, Lebanon were the original founders of the "El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat.” Mr. Henry Flehan, ADS historian, has on record an emblem of the Seattle organization dated February 8, 1908. Mr. Abbass Dakdouk from Cleveland, Ohio gave Mr. Flehan the emblem in trust.

My comment:
Apparently, when Mr. Henry Flehan wrote the History of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in the late 1950s for Branches 1 through 10, he did not realize that in 1947, when the  The First Mihrajan of the Al Bayan 1947 held the Convention, the Seattle's Mother Branch was still active and had placed an ad in  the Convention booklet.

Branch #1
 
 Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Cleveland was the promising child of an urgent need of a cohesive group of an ethnic community scattered over a large territory in a foreign land. It fulfilled that need bravely and creditably and without regret nor tarnish. It lacked a recognized National Authority, but though local and narrow in its organization, it kept a lively exchange of dialogue, correspondence, and visitation among its several branches.
 
 Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat started in Cleveland, Ohio when Mr. Assaad Cramey, moved to Cleveland from Seattle, Washington. He came from the village of Ains Zahalta in the Chouf Mountains of Lebanon on April 16 in the year 1916 and first settled in Seattle, Washington. The Cleveland Branch was founded by mostly members of the Seattle El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat who had moved to Cleveland, Ohio. They wanted to continue the work that they had begun in Seattle. Most of these people were from Aramoon, Lebanon in the Gharb district. The majority were from the Yahyia family.
 
 Mr. Said Kabalan, says that his father came to the United States in 1913 and became a member of Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was not among the founders; however, he played a large role in the Cleveland Branch and was instrumental in incorporating the Branch as a non-profit, cultural, social, and welfare corporation. This was done in 1926. Mr. Said Kabalan says that the original charter has been placed in the archives of the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland, Ohio for safekeeping and preservation for use by researchers of the history of Cleveland.
 
 Mr. Said Kabalan says that an influential person from Cleveland, Ohio who was instrumental in promoting and organizing eight branches of El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was Dr. Mohammed Yahyia. Dr. Yahya worked diligently in promoting the unity of the Druze in the United States. He was the first Druze to obtain a medical degree in the United States. He received his Pre-medical degree from the University of Washington, and his Medical Degree from Rush Medical College of the University of Illinois.
 
 The address of the Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Cleveland was P.O. Box 373, Cleveland, Ohio. The local officers were: Mohamed Fahd Hassen, Milhem Ali Zayour, Nayef Assaf Slim, Saeid Abdallah, Youssef Mohamed Fahd, Saied Assaf, Ali Abou Jaoudeh, Daoud Hassen, Mahmoud Al Mishhim, Farris Hassen Abou Ghader, and Sleiman Ali Zayour.
 
 Mr. Abbass Dakdouk from Cleveland, Ohio was a charter member. He was 16 years old when he emigrated to this country from Aramoon, Lebanon in 1913. He recalls: “I arrived in the United States, and the brotherhood I found among my fellow Druzes through the Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat sustained me. We shared the joys and sorrows of each other, and we traveled long distances to attend weddings and funerals.” He was the president of Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Cleveland for 12 years, and he was able to list the members and their village of origin. They are as follows:
 
 Nasseem Saleem (Jubaa), Hussein Helal ( Karnayel), Youssef Fahed, Saleem Wahbe El-Buinnieh, Alie Ahmed El-Buinnie, Rasheed Ahmed El-Buinnieh, Sulieman Zayour, Milhem Zayour, Mohammed Fahed, David Harb, Assaad Cramey (Ain-Zahalta), Hassan El-Sayegh (Chouroon), Moustafa Ghareeb (Fafer Matta), Saied Nasser(Bshatfeen), Mohammed Alem El-Deen, Mahmoud El-Mushham( Aghmeed), Hussein Yahyee, Milhem Ebraheem Yahyee, Said Yahyee, Rashid Saleem Yahyee, Kassem Mohammed Yahyee, Abbass Dakdouk, Saleem Mohammed Dakdouk, Hani El-Moghtar, Kabalan Dow Bshatfeen, Toufeek Alie El-Moghtar, Najeeb El-Moghtar, Youssef El-Moghtar, Mohammed Ahmed El-Jowhary, Hassan Alie El-Jowhary, Ajaj El-Jowhary, Anees Milhem El-Jowhary, Mohammad Abbas Abo-Fokher, Milhem Najeeb, Hussein Kabalan, Saleem Kabalan, Saied Hamdan, Fandy El-Jowhary, Troudy El-Jowhary, Alie Nassar El-Jowhary, Mohammed Saied El-Jowhary, Mohammed Saleem El-Jowhary, Assad Ahmad El-Jowhary (Aramoon), Abdallah Sandeed, Abdallah Sandeed (Alley), Alie Hamzey (Obiediat), Kassem Atalla, Milhem Atalla ( Aindara), Saleem Syfe (Neigha), Mahmoud K. Ganem (El-Warhaniet), Rasheed El-Shaar, Hussein El-Shaar, Majeed Shaar (Ainab),Khattar Shukier (Arssun), Farhan Saab , Kamal Saab, Ajaj Saab(Chouifat), Fayez Mackarem, Mohammad El-Halaby, Anees Mackarem (Rass El-Maten), Hamad Nasser (Araman, Jabel El-Druze, Syria), Hussein El-Jowhary (El-Kafar, Jabel El-Druze, Syria).
 
 Newcomers to Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Cleveland after 1930: Fawzy Baddour (Rashiya), Rafeek Alammy, Sulieman Mohammed Alammy, Farris Alammy ( Aghmeed), Shafeek Dakdouk, Saied Kabalan, Saleem Afeef, Anees Dakdouk, Hikmat Dakdouk, Kameel Dakdouk, Jamal Dakdouk, Fareed El-Jowhary, Nabeel El-Jowhary, Fahed El-Jowhary, Adel El-Jowhary, Ghazi El-Jowhary, Youssef El-Moghtar, Hameed El-Moghtar, Youssef El-Halaby.
 
 EL-BAKAURAT ED- DIRZIYAT BRANCH #1 in Cleveland, Ohio carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Sixth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Hotel Carter in Cleveland, Ohio. The year was 1952.
 
 Branch #2
 
 Branch #2 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Detroit, Michigan was founded May 27, 1917. The branch started through the efforts of Farris Hassen Abou Ghader from Cleveland, Ohio. The address of Branch #2 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Detroit, Michigan was 1337 East Palmer Street. The first officers of Branch #2 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Detroit were: Abbas Salman Abou Ghanem, Ali Salman Abou Ghanem, Khattar Moustafa Abou Shakra, Mahmoud Ali Dargham, Ibrahim Ali Dargham.
 
 It included members living in the surrounding areas of Flint and Saginaw. It has always been the cornerstone of many Druze achievements in the West, and particularly the American Druze Society. It remained a very strong branch of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat until the years 1973-74 when it joined the ADS as Chapter #1.”
 
 Mr. Nafe Katter from Saginaw, Michigan became a member after he emigrated to this country from Bethloun, Lebanon in 1920. He joined the Branch #2 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Detroit, Michigan in 1920 soon after his arrival. Mr. katter (Uncle Nafe) was able to list the early members. They are as follows:
 
 Fred Massey, (Aynab), Farris Mullin Abu Ghanem (Bmhrine), Abbass Amin Abu Ghanem, Olie Amin Abu Ghanem, Hussein Mullin Abu Ghanem (Rhamliyyi).
 
 A badge with a ribbon was worn by the members of the EL-BAKAURAT ED-DIRZIYAT. Written on the ribbon is EL-BAKAURAT ED-DIRZIYAT BRANCH 2 Detroit, Mich, the name of the Druze Society. Above this writing on the ribbon is a badge which is another insignia with a logo composed of a five pointed star encircled by a crescent, and above the crescent is a sword. Around the logo, the name of the Druze Society, EL-BAKAURAT ED- DIRZIYAT BRANCH 2 Instituted May 27, 1917, is written. This is encased in the round gold badge. Above the badge are two American flags crossing each other, and above the flags is another badge, oval in shape, with two hands grasping each other in a handshake. This badge is also encased in gold. Thus the esprit de corps among the American Druze immigrants began over ninety year ago.
 
 El-Bakaurat Ed- Dirziyat Branch 2 in Detroit, Michigan carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Sixth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Hotel Carter in Cleveland, Ohio (1952), the Tenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Fort Shelby Hotel in Detroit, Michigan (1956), the Eighteenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Daniel Boone Hotel in Charleston, West Virginia (1964), the nineteenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. (1965), the twentieth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Detroit, Michigan(1966).

El Bakaurat ed Dirziyat, Branch #2 Picture of a banquet at the Leland Hotel in Detroit, Michigan on May 19, 1940.
 

 Branch #3
 
 There is no information on record concerning Branch #3 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat. However, in the files of Sami and Afaf Aboul Hosn, there is recorded a third branch that was started in Butte, Montana. The name of Abbas Al Sakaan was recorded in relation to Branch #3 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Butte, Montana. In another article in “Our Heritage”, by ADS historian, Mr. Henry Flehan “ El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat - The Mother Organization” has published a picture of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat Branch No. 3 banner with the Words El-Bakaurat El-Dirziyat Branch No. 3 Instituted, 1918, Butte, Montana.
 
 However, in the Convention booklet “The First Mihrajan of AL-BAYAN”, there appeared an advertisement of the Branch No. Three in Danbury, Connecticut which confirms the branch was still active in 1947. The Arabic sentence under the advertisement translates to: “Branch #3 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in the State of Connecticut and surrounding areas salutes your accomplishments and loyalty.” There are no further records.
 
 Branch #4
 
 Branch #4, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was established in 1924 in Princeton, West Virginia. It was very prosperous during that era. Many immigrant Druze chose to settle there. They settled mostly around the mining fields such as Princeton, Bluefield, Matoka, and Kimbell, Mullins, Norfolk, Welch, War, and Bradshaw. All of the original immigrants started in the business of back peddling until later years when they began to learn the basic common words of ‘give and take’ in English. Learning the English language branches to a less back breaking means to make a living. The businesses these first immigrants opened were then called ‘Dry Goods Stores.’ They also opened shops that sold the American basic foods, the hamburgers and the hot dogs. Mr. Harry Hamdan Aboulhosn was the only living member of the original Druze settlers in West Virginia when the research on the Branch #4, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Princeton, West Virginia was made. Mr. Hamdan emigrated to the United States from Bteghnay, Lebanon June 23, 1921. He settled in Kimbel, West Virginia; then, he later moved to Princeton, West Virginia. He and his wife, Najla Bahmed Aboul-Hosn and their four children, Joe, Raymond, Nabeel, and Norman were active in the ADS since its inception. The names of the early members of Branch #4, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Princeton, West Virginia are as follows:
 
 Mr. Harry Hamden Aboul Hosn, Jimmie Mosrie, Richard Mosrie, Said Mosrie, Abdallah Mosrie, Farris Mosrie, Sulieman Hassen Mosrie, Towfic Zieneldeen, Najib Hamad Mosrie, Najim Hyden Mosrie, Kassem Flehan, Najeen Mahmoud Aboul-Hosn, Kassem Abed El-Khalek, Kassem Mosrie, Jameel Sangid Aboul-Hosn, Jaber Shukier, Majeed Milhem, Assaad Ali El-Awar, Hamad Mosrie, Ameen Roydon, Sulieman Akel, Mohammad Hussien Aboul-Hosn, Richard Hamdan Aboul-Hosn, Ahmad El-Zoaar, Milhem Atalla, Mirshed Kassem Aboul-Hosn, Slieman Moothad (Modad), Hussein Helal (He moved to Princeton, West Virginia from Cleveland, Ohio), Olie El-Olie Aboul-Hosn, Olie Sangid, Rasheed Sangid, Youssef Hamad Aboul-Hosn, Mohammad Zaher Eldeen (Henry Flehan who is the ADS Historian), Wadeeh Sangid Aboul Hosn, Joseph Hamdan Aboul-Hosn, Shaheen Mosrie, Sami Hamad Mosrie, Farris Shaheen, Fowad Mosrie, Shakeeb Hamden Yawl Hosn, Baheej Aboul Hosn.
 
 An application for incorporation was made on February 20, 1940. On record is a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, State of West Virginia. Article I states that the name of the corporation shall be Branch #4, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat.
 
 Article II states that the location where all business shall be conducted shall be in Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia.
 
 Article III states that the objectives of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Princeton, West Virginia are to aid, foster, develop and assist in preserving the American type family life; to give individual service to families in restoring them to independence and the normal way of life; to aid in betterment of factors relating to home, family, and domestic relations; to do charitable and civic acts; to furnish cooperation and leadership with other agencies in programs for social betterment; to make By-Laws, rules and regulations for the government of its members and contributors; to aid and protect its members and to do all things necessary and incident thereto in carrying out the principles and objects of this organization. Not to be conducted for profit and without shares of stock - simply to promote the moral, social and educational welfare of its members.
 
 Article IV states that this corporation is not to be operated for profit and will not issue capital stock. It shall be a charitable and fraternal association made up of members of the Ed-Dirziyat in the United States. The By-Laws will provide fee for entrance and a monthly contribution paid into the corporation in the form of dues.
 
 Article V states the names and the post office box of the incorporators as:
 
 Albert Ameen (Welch, West Virginia), Albert Mosrie (Princeton, West Virginia), Joseph Najar (Princeton, West Virginia), Jimmie Mosrie (Princeton, West Virginia) Joe Jaber (Matoka, West Virginia). These people were also the signees on the papers of incorporation dated September 20, 1940.
 
 EL-BAKAURAT ED- DIRZIYAT BRANCH 4 in Princeton, West Virginia carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Tenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Fort-Shelby Hotel in Detroit, Michigan (1956)
 
 Branch #5
 
 Branch #5 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was established in the year 1935 in Kingsport, in the eastern part of Tennessee which included Bristol, Virginia and Tennessee, and Johnson City. This branch was like all the others, strong and supportive of all Druze affairs, and it maintained complete cohesion with all the Bakaurat el-Dirziyat branches, especially in Princeton, and Charleston, West Virginia. They were, in their rights, successful business men in all their endeavors and well respected in their communities.
 
 Mr. Faheem Mohammed Mire Aboul-Aboul Hosn from Kingsport, Tennessee joined Branch #5 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in later years as a young man. Mr. Yawl-Aboul Hosn, despite his young age, is the only living member in that area of Tennessee when he related the account of the history of that branch. The names of the first members who started Branch #5 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat are not on record. The names of some of the original members of Branch #5 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat follow:
 
 Mohammad Hani Kontar, Saleem Shukie, Olie Shukier, Hussien Yawl-Aboul Hosn, Kassem Sangid Yawl-Aboul Hosn, Saied Hyder, Hassen Rafeea Yawl-Aboul Hosn, Alie Rasheed Yawl-Aboul Hosn, Najib Shaheen Mosrie (He later moved to Princeton, West Virginia), Saied Najjar, Mohammad Makarem, Saleem Makarem, Abed Elhameed Fathayel, Saleem Massaoud, Assaad Milhem Mughrabi, Mustafa Saied, Najib Abi Ezeldeen, Alie Sulieman Jaber, Ared Zieneldean, Sulieman Alam-Eldean, Rasheed Sulieman Yawl Aboul Hosn, Hussien Milhem Yawl-Aboul Hosn, Mohammad Mire Yawl Aboul Hosn, Youssef Kabboul, Alie Jaber Yawl Aboul Hosn, Toufeek Hussein Aboul Hosn, Shaheen Akley Aboul Hosn, Youssef Kassem Aboul Hosn, Slieman Saied Areeth, Rasheed Kassem Aboul Hosn.
 
 New Members After 1946 were: Mickey Sangid Aboul Husn, Sami Akley Aboul Husn, Farris Shaheen Aboul Husn, Wajeeh Sangid Aboul Husn, Mansour Mosrie, Rasheed Shakier, Najeeb Hamad Aboul Husn, Dawwod Slieman Aboul Husn, Hussien Assad Aboul Husn, Faheem Mohammad Mire Aboul Husn, Fouzy Mohammad Mire Aboul Husn, Ramez Kassem Aboul Husn, Jameel Shaban, Kameel Hyder, Ezzat Dakour Aboul Husn, Jameel Barakat Sangid Aboul Husn, Mahmoud Shehabeldean Aboul Husn,
 
 EL-BAKAURAT ED- DIRZIYAT BRANCH 5 in Kingsport, Tennessee carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Tenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Fort-Shelby Hotel in Detroit, Michigan (1956).
 
 Branch #6
 
 Branch #6 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was established in 1937 in Charleston, West Virginia. It too, was very active in the surrounding areas of West Virginia and Tennessee.
 
 Details of Branch #6 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat were given to Mr. Henry Flehan by Mr. Aref Kassem Mire from Charleston, West Virginia. In 1921, Mr. Mire came to the United States with plans to settle. He was just seventeen years old. However, when he reached Ellis Island, he was turned away for health reasons, and he returned to his home in Lebanon. In 1934, Mr. Mire again set sail for the United States, and this time he was admitted. He made his home in Charleston, West Virginia where he became a member of Branch #6 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Charleston, West Virginia.
 
 The original members of Branch #6 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat are:
 
 Ameen Yousef Mire, Sulieman Yousef Mire, Khaleel Shibley Mire, Assad Shibley Mire, Dawood (David) Denaan Mire, Toufeek Said Mire, Aref Kassem Mire, Fakher El-Deen Assrawy, Naseef Assrawy, Najeeb Ajaab, Hassan Ajaab, Mickey Sangid Yawl-Husn (He moved to Charleston, West Virginia from Kingsport, Tennessee, Rasheed Shaar, Saleem Shaar, Hussien Yahyee, Said Yahyee, Rasheed Yahyee, Hassan El-Sayegh, Hassan El-Jowhary, Sulieman Saleem, Ameen Abo-Saeid, Mahmoud Barakat.
 
 In the Convention booklet “The First Mihrajan of AL-BAYAN,” there appeared an advertisement of the Branch No. Six in Charleston, West Virginia which confirms the branch was still active in 1947.
 
 EL-BAKAURAT ED- DIRZIYAT BRANCH #6 in Charleston, West Virginia carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Tenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Fort Shelby Hotel in Detroit, Michigan(1956).
 
 Branch #7
 
 Branch #7 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was in Richmond, Virginia.
 
 EL-BAKAURAT ED- DIRZIYAT BRANCH # 7 in Virginia carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Tenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Fort-Shelby Hotel in Detroit, Michigan. The year was 1956. There are no further records.
 
 Branch #8
 
 Branch #8 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was in Hopewell, Virginia, and it was established in 1936. There are no further records.
 
 Branch #9
 
 Branch #9 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat was later established in Seminole, Oklahoma.
 
 In the convention booklet, the names of the committee members of the “First Mihrajan of AL-BAYAN,” appear in a list and “Branch #9 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat, Seminole, Oklahoma” appeared in that list. There are no further records.
 
 Branch #10
 
 Branch #10 was in Texas.
 
 El-Bakaurat Ed- Dirziyat Branch #10 in Texas carries an advertisement in the Booklet of the Tenth Annual Convention of the ADS at the Hotel Fort Shelby in Detroit, Michigan. The year was 1956. There are no further records.
 
Summary
 The ten branches of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat flourished up to and throughout the 1940’s. The members of all the branches of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat were good and uprights, ethical, and honest citizens of their adopted country, the United States of America; yet, they preserved the traditions and the culture of the Druze Faith, all the while, striving to maintain and reserve the Druze Social Values in which they were raised. They imparted the Druze Social Values to their children, however, the time and pace of the world was rapidly changing, and there were other interests for those first generation Americans. The branches of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat began to become inactive; one after the other.
 
 In 1969, The mother branch, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Seattle, Washington became inactive. Money left in its account was sent to the Druze Orphanage, Dar el-Yateem, in Abey, Lebanon. Since its inception, the Seattle branch had supported this worthwhile cause, the Dar el-Yateem in Abey, and they had also contributed to the Institution for the Elderly and Disabled Druze in Lebanon, ‘Maawa Al Oujaz.’ These early immigrants had been pioneers of Druze culture in the United States, and they had served with honor through their beloved society, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat.
 
 In the Convention booklet “The First Mihrajan of AL-BAYAN,” there appeared an advertisement of the Seattle Branch El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat which proves the branch was still active in 1947. It reads :” Compliments of members of AL-BAKOURAT EL -DURZIYEH, Seattle, Washington. Hassen W. Sayegh, Sam Smeil, David Smeil, Sam Hassen, Fred Deen, Ali A. Shamseldin, Saeid Hassen, Kamel Hassen, Fred Hassen, Kelly Hassian Wahby, Joe Wahby, Mike Imen.
 
 An appropriate epithet for the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat branches is what was said by Mr. Faheem Mohammed Mire Aboul-Husn from Kingsport, Tennessee when he finished relating the history of Branch #5 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Kingsport, Tennessee : “It is indeed sad, as in my case and others, to remember the golden years of the El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat branches wherever they were located. Particularly, when one visited these branches, it was as visiting your relatives in the homeland. It did not matter who you were, but only the fact that you were Druze. If we were to trace their habitat and business places of yesteryears, we could visualize and hear the echo of their presence. You miss seeing the neon signs of their identity, and their welcoming gesture when you appear. Yes, it is indeed sad when one looks to the past and remembers the old as I do today, when old acquaintances have passed away.”
 
They are gone forever, but forgotten, not ever!


Branch #1 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Cleveland, Ohio
 
 Branch #2 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Detroit, Michigan
 
 Branch #3 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Danbury, Connecticut
 
 Branch #4, El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Princeton, West Virginia
 
 Branch #5 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Kingsport, Tennessee
 
 Branch #6 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Charleston, West Virginia.
 
 Branch #7 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Richmond, Virginia
 
 Branch #8 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Hopewell, Virginia
 
 Branch #9 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Seminole, Oklahoma
 
 Branch # 10 El-Bakaurat Ed-Dirziyat in Texas.