Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ of "Ben-Hur" is considered one of the greatest films ever made and was seen by tens of millions, going on to win a record 11 Academy Awards in 1960, after which the book's sales increased and it surpassed "Gone with the Wind". It was blessed by Pope Leo XIII, the first novel ever to receive such praise. The success of the novel and its stage and film adaptations also helped it to become a popular cultural icon that was used to promote numerous commercial products. The story recounts the adventures of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince from Jerusalem, who is
Tribe of Ben-Hur has changed". The society also operated a monthly allowance program for eligible orphans from birth to eighteen. Tribe of Ben-Hur The Tribe of Ben-Hur was a fraternal organization based on the novel "" by Lew Wallace. In 1930 it became the Ben-Hur Life Association. The idea of starting a fraternal organization based on "Ben-Hur" had first been broached by D. W. Gerard and F. L. Snyder, both of Crawfordsville, Indiana. In November 1893 they held a conference with Lew Wallace asking for his consent to form the order. Wallace consented and secured the permission from his publishers, but objected to