Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-11-24
IL nrdar OF Druids.

TIE members OF this Oaler will be interested
IN the subioined account Of the movement Tor
an union among their brethen in England and
other parts Of he world, which We copy from
The Manchester (Eng.) TsmcS, Of October 80.
We are informed that the order in this city
already numbers fifteen hundred members, and
is rapidly Increasing
AmALGAMATIOS OF H DRUIDs-Among
the characteristics Of the present age, none
aupear to dsvslope more fOTcibly the social
advancement Of the middle and working classes
of his country than the rapid growth and ex
tension Of those Institutions designed for their
mutual protection and assistance against the
privations attendant upon the Vlcis5itudes
Of life. The returns Of the registrar OF friendly
societies in England, recently published, show
that the enrolled friendly societies OF Great
Britsip-snd there are many yet which have
not awaited themselves Of the advantsge-in-
/ clude at least 1000. 600 members that their
| funds amount to DO less a sum than 5000 600;
and that they expend FL, 200, 600 annually in
the relief Of their distressed members. And
whilst they administer so largely to their mu-
tuel necessities In a PecunisTy point OF view,
the moral tendency Of such societies is no less
remarkable. Periodically are delivered lee
lures, intoxicating the highest principles Of
morality. Their meetings are characterized
BY the s~trictest decorum, and by social and
/ rational enjoyment are rendered so haTmlessly
attractive as to become moro appreciate TO
/ Their members than those innumerable baunts Of
vice calculated to lead TO their degradation.
Foremost among these invaluable institu-
tions, some years ago, stood the Order OF
Druids but from various inequitsble defects in
their original constitution, they have at length
been severed into at least twenty denOmina-
tons, all designated BY different titles, and
governed by distinct laws, but all aiming al
one common object. One or two, it is true
have extended; and one Of them (the UniteC
Order) has planted itself in the United state,
Of America, where, asws learn from the TepoT
Of the proceedings at the annual session held a
st. Louis, on tie Oh and 10th OF August last
it has spread its branches over the States o.
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania. Mary
land, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisiana, Indiana
Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, MinnesO
"a, and Georgia ; and the same Order has beel
estabiishedin Australia In England, however
the most extensive denomination ~scsrcsil
reaches 1900 members; yet, IL the vsTiou
sections were banded together, they woul
number about 10000, and when allied with ID
Druids Of America and Australia, pretty nearll
100 600. The idea, therefore, naturally sug
gests Itself that If these fragments were unite
|, into one grand consolidated union, rot onl,
would great advantages accrue in point o
economy and mutual benefit, but they woul
bold a prominent position among other kindre
institutions Of larger growth, and thus Great
in the popular mind a prestige in their favor
which, in their hitherto isolated and disevere
state, they unfortunately have not enjoyed.
With this object in view, we understand tba
a correspondence was originated by the Seere
tary Of the Grand Grove Of the United Ancien
Order of Druids in the United States with th
Board OF Directors Of that order 10 England
and, though the subject was frequently pronul
gated through the medium of he quarterly re
: port Of the latter, the movementdid not sssum
a tangible form until September Of last veal
. when, after two or three preliminary gather
ings, an association was formed al an aggre
gate delegate meeting held az Manchester ian
a central committee, with numerous sub-com
mittees IN other towns, we're called into eXis
tenoe to carry out the design. These commit
|. tiers have since continued their eXertions sit
4, iaudsble assiduity. Through their instrumeT
tslity several aggregate meetings, c~onsistin
! of delegates from all parts Of the kingdom
D have been bele, missionaries have been sent
Z crowded and enthusiastic meetings in vsrioJ
towns, an extensive correspondence has bee
: learried on, thousands Of reports have been eli
culsted, until at last, within the short spaC
Of a little over twelve months, the movemes
sppearst to have attained its zenith. Ssctio
after section, at their annual meetings, has
declared almost unanimously in its favor az
d from al quarters OF Great Britain the censrI
. committee have received and continue to n
4 ceiVe, not only pecuniaTy support, but II
: strongest assurances Of hearty co-operati0I
We understand that the f1sl delegate meetinI
G at which the new Institution 10 TO be inaGguri
= ted, Willtske place at Huddsrsfsld on Monda.
The 1st proximO, at which it is fully expectJ
, almost every important town 10 the kiDgdoi
will be represented