Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-03-14
Sons or Temperance.

The following extract from an address de.
llvered before the Washington Division No.
l, Boston, by S. Ellis, will explain to our
readers the principles of this new order which
Is rapidly springing up in this country:
"As means of promoting and perpetuatins
the principles so providentially developed, we
have established among US the new oIder of
the Sons of Temperance. The Order was
founded in the city Of New York. in Septem.
Der. le42, and the original intention was to
collect. and unite together, for charitable pur.
poses, the leaders in the Temperance cause.
Its founders did not then contemplate its ex-
tension beyond the limits of the city or State
OF New York. The advantages offered by the
association soon gave it great notoriety, and
1t became one of the most popular institutions
OF the city. Although it has been but about
one year IN existence, it has Grand Divisions
In tive States, and Divisions in nine States
IN all seventy Divisions, containing over six
thousand i've hundred members, and is rapid
~ lncreaslng-the number Of Divisions having
more than doubled in the last six months. It
has already been established in the following
States Massachusetts, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsy lvania, Maryland.
! virginia, North Carolina, and also in the Dis
trlct of Columbia.
1.-The Order ls governed by United States
Division, called the Grand fountain Head.
consisting OF the Patriarchs and Past Patri-
archs of the Grand or State Divisions. Each
: State having four subordinate Divisions is
! entitled 10 charter for Grand Division
The State, or Grand Divisions, are composed
OF the Patriarchs and Past PatTiarchs of the
subordinate Divisions Of each State. The
powers of the Fountain Head are at present
+ exercised by the Grand Division. of the State
OF New York, but the Head will shortly be
organized, and. probably, hold their sessions
at the city of Washington. All State Char
ters now emanate from the New 7 ork Dvis-
ION. Each State Division charters all Subor-
dlnate Divisions within its own limits. The
Constitutions, Laws, and usages Of the Order
are uniform throughout the United States.-
Any individual of good moral character, be-
tween twen;y-one and fifty years of age, may,
+ upon the payment of small admission fee,
become member. He will be required 10
Fledge himself in the most solemn and inn
pressIve manner, TO comply with the WASH
lngtonian Pledge, to devote himself to the
cause: and TO look upon evAry other member
of the Order as Brother. The discussion or
admission OF religious, sectarian or political
questions. are expressly prohibited. Each
member is required, while in health, to pay a
small sum monthly into the funds. The a.
mount thus acquired is held as sacred depo-
site for sick and disabled Brothers. ANY per-
son, who has been for one year member OF
RI the Order, and is prevented by sickness or
disability from attending to his ordinary busi-
ness, is entitled to four dollars per week dur.
ing the continuance Of such disability. Should
Brother die, his family is entitled to the sum
2 Of thirty dollars towards his funeral expenses.
Should the wife of Brother die, he is entitled
to fifteen dollars for the same object. These
payments are not placed upon the basis Of
grants or charity-every Brother, be he rich OF
poor, o5ligates himself, at his initiation into
the Order, to receive them. Equality, Love
Purity, and Fidelity, are the mottos and foun
dalton of the Order. The mutual obligations
we have uade to each other and the Order
assures to each one Of US, in the hour of tria
and sickness, the consol .tion and support o
those in whom we can confide and trust. 1
absent from our homes, and overtaken by sick
ness or misfortune, we can apply to our Broth
{ era of the Order, and receive that assistance
our necessities may demand; not as charity
bnt as right. resulting from the pledge we
have voluntarily made to each other. We ART
| also bonnd by our obligations 10 watch owe
the fidelity of every B. other of the Order. NJ
Son of Temperance can violate his pledge witt
n IMMUNITY. The moral obligations he has sc
r soemnIy taken are ever present in his mind
At every meeting of the Order, he has, if gull
! ty, rung in his ears the charge ''If any Broth
er knows of another who has violated th'
Pledge, he is bound by his obligation to TIL
= Order. to come forward and name it," S.
:. powerful has been the influence of the Order
in this respect, that among the large humble
q Of reformed men who have joined it, there have
. been but twenty who have broken the Pledge
It and but sixteen expelled for that cause from
/ the Association"