Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-01-26

Tie following is brief, though well writ.
ten 5issory Of the Order, being Report made
at tie last session of the National Division
The=nusnbe was then represented at l6O, 0OO
but late accounts show that this is greatly
first sof JANUARY numbered hardly less than
a5o,a goo.
REPORT.
The e oinmiftee on 'sThe State of the Order
| beg laave ito present the following summa-
ry yi8w of its success hitherto.
! Atthe time this Order arose, there was
felt deD!and on all minds for some new mode
of wor{ing IN the Temperance enterprise
The VARIOUS eras of the reform had one after
another spen: their vitality and energy. The
| first open attack upon the grosser forms of the
vice 1has sent its awakening through the land
had die3 away years before. 1t had its mis-
sion, ard it accomplished it. 1t called atten-
ton to che wasting destruction of MONDAY,
but did not reveal the pestilence that walked
In darkness. 1t wept over visible desolations
but did not discern the ever active causes. 1t
arrested. the main streams, but left the hidden
fountainF--s still rolling on. The history of the
first era twas complete.
The second was ushered in by new prin-
ciple of.progFess, and ToTAL ABSTINENCE was
I L
onset was terrible and effective, and the COM
mon enemy was greatly crippled. His power
Of offensive operations was greatly cut off, bat
he was still left in undisputed possession of
1 his Old .ortr6sses. No one thought of attemp-
/ ting rescue for those already enslaved TO his
rule. The work of the second era was done.
Them there arose to herald the entrance of
the third, Gew and mighter spirit. 1t went
abroad j rocsaiming like gospel preacher,
healing for the 6roken-hearted, deliverance to
the c9ptfues, restoring of sight to the blind.
liberty So them that were bruised year of
jubilee. When it spoke, men listened as to
one raised from the dead. Its words were
rude and houleiy, but they stirred the heart
like the: blast OF trumpets. This movement
linking 10 itself without sullying It, the no
blesf n&me Isl American history, sent its re-
storlag: influences as on magnetic wires, al
MOST III. unanimously through the land. Mi
TaclGs q healing were wrought, and the last
victG<ies seemed about to be won. But this
ageIey shortly lost much Of its magic and
pow=T. The tide of sympathy had reached
its fisll aow, and begun to ebb. The third
era was waning, and still the mighty pesti-
leTc. ragged sn every line of latitude that eros
done: wigs th9 sounding question Philanthropy
asked q all her sons. SPY whom shall we
60 up 2! and. the response came.
Tie ,)rdefof the Sons of Temperance arose,
and raising tri-colored banner aloft, glitter
ing IN Eront with the inscription ''Love, Puri-
ty, and Fidelity" and on the reverse, ''Indus-
try, SGbret., and Good Morals,'' lifted its
voice among our hesitating councils, and said
Here :m |, send me - and if we do not mis-
take. We have in this agency the genius of the
last ana triumphant era of the Temperance
/ Refcrm.
| The heareSt glance at the statistics of its
progress, is inspiring as a prophets end. In
I September, 1912, sixteen men stood over its
cradle. How little could they have dreamed
that the little ones should soon have become
a strona natipn A year later, at the first an
nuat sefsion of the Grand Division of New
I \ ork, shereI were 10 subordinate Divisions,
enclosing membership of ,499. Six months
/ frons this date, the National Division was or
ganized, in June 18th, 1874, with jurisdic-
/ ton over SIX Grand Divisions, with nearly
5000 members tripling the number reported
4 in October previous. The second annual ses-
sion of this body presented an aggregate of
! TO Grand Divisions, 1914 subordinates, and
/ l7,Go0 members; again TRIPPING our numbers.
! The THIRD annual session gave US a sum total
of II Grand Divisions, ESQ subordinate Divi-
siolEs, and membership Of over 10000; the
number of bur subordinate Divisions more
thais ri2led, and %, 900 added to those with
/ in cur Covenant. At the fourth annual ses-
sion, tie National Division found under its
! cars p Grand Divisions, 1900 subord mate
/ Divisions, and not far from 100, 900 members.
Ans. thIs day our fifth session, we may reckon
up not less shan 80 Grand Divisions, with
1863 subordinate Divisions, and 100, 200
me!abe<s. i'he history of any association in
the annals Of time may be safely challenged
to Esasch progress like this. And which of
Us does not feel like congratulating himself
upon the character of those with whom, be-
meath 03r banners, he stands associated. Tie
profession o. medicine, the bar, the pulpit,
the university, the first walks of mercantile
life and the mechanic arts, and the stainless
yeomanry OF; the plough have poured in their
volunteers 10 swell our ranks. In the past
history and working of the Order, and in the
prosperity nbw shining upon its path. we read
a promise f.r the future in the fulfilment OF
which we sail rest from our labors, our is
sues won. And this Institution begun in
such feebleiess, and sustained amid such hos
tilay and prejudice, shall become like the
Raayan trees of India-springing on this soil,
ssbranches. shall take root in all lands, and
un:ier It's shade the kindreds of the earth shall
repose.