The Columbian fountain., 1846-04-24
A D D R ESS
OF THE
DIS TRIcT ASSE MBLY
or TIL ORDER or
"UNITED BROTHERS OF TEMPERANCE. =
10 The Friends of Temperance.

part OF the District Assembly oil the United
Brothers of Temperance in the District of
Columbia, most respectfully beg leave to
call your attention to the character, method
OF organization, and plan of operation adopt
ed by the Order they have the honor in
part to represent, and to request your CO.
operation in extending its influence Feel
ing as they do, that for an institution to be
fully and thoroughly successful, it is neces-.
sary not only that it should be conducted
upon proper principles, but that there
should be as small an amount Of prejudice
or opposition to these principles as posi-
bic They deem it of importance that As
socatIons organized for the PRONUNCIATION OF
temperance principles, and aiming the re-
formation OF the inebriate, should be as far
removed from the suspicion of being secret
societies, lin iheusual understanding ofthe
term,) as possible, without deriment to
that praiseworthy and useful silence with
regard to the offences of the members,
which is SO manfestly necessary to effect
the objects for which they are instituted
The Order of United Brothers of Tenn
perance is not, in any sense Of the word, a
secret society True, none are admitted
to their meetings but those who are mem
bers and can give satisfactory evidence of
their membership by entering in a manner
known only to those who enjoy the advan-
tages of the institution. True, there are
matters concerning private character which
must not be divulged, true the mantle of
charity is cast over the errors of weak and
erripg brethren, and instead of publishing
their falIings to heartless world, we give
them the hand of friendship, and encourage
them to strive fol- a reformation, but weI
have no signs of recognition abroad, no
pass words or ceremonies, the purport and
intention of which, we viii not divulge !,
nor do we prohibit the publication of any
thing but what is manifesHy improper to
be publicly known,
Our ceremonies are few and simple on
ly such as are lndispensably necessary to
the preservation Of good order yet, when
performed in a proper manner their very
simplicity renders them solemn and impress
sive, and produces all impression on the
! beholder stronger than magnihcence, pomp,
and display could effect.
Our regaiia is quite as simple as our
forms, and serve as badge of distinction
by which on public occasions we are re-
cognlsed as temperance men 1t consists
solely of small white silk rosette, with a
centre of red or blue, expressive of the
rank Of the wearer
The officers are elected quarterly from
| body OF the Association, without reference
to any rank they may have previously held,
and at the expiration of their terms Of office,
return to the ranks with no additional ho-
norS, except such as are conferred by the
manner in which they may have discharged
their official duties. The titles of the officers
are republican, and correspond with those
Of similar officials In other public instltu-
tons.
The legislative power is vested in two
Assemblies, the one having, at present,
! jurisdiction over the Northern and Eastern
| States, and the other over the Southern
and Western States. As the Order increases,
il is contemplated 10 have similar Assem-
! blleS IN every state, the whole under the
control oil convention of delegates from
each, under the appellauon of the lem
perance Congress" The Assemblies are
composed of representatives from the sew
eral Associations, according TO their numer,.
icaI strength, chosen with view only to
| their zeal IN the cause, their ability to
IegisIate for the Order, aud ineligible (after
serving one year. to a reelection.
The chief object OF the Order is to re-
form the inebriate--to accomplish which
end it is competent for any Association TO
hold public meetings for the advancement
| r a. ,rapcr,l caugo and n aid and pucotIr-