Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-10-18
MORNING LEADER.
History of the " Last Man's SOciety''---Ifs
Origin. 0bfecf, Hcc

History OF the " Last Mans Society"---Ats
Origin, Object, &c.
On Friday, the 18th of August, 1853, the fol-
lowing article appeared in the Daily CONNER
cial
but ONE RHMAISs.
alt becomes our melancholy duty to an
nounce the death Of Henry L. Tatem, which
occurred at about eleven o'clock yesterday
morning, at his late residence, on LOngworth
street, below Park. His remains will be in
tered tomorrow afternoon, at four O'Clock.
Nearly quarter of q century since party
of seven young men, Mr.. Tatem among the
number, met casually together, and during a
conversation which ensued, proposition was
made and acquieseed in, that they should form
themselves into an association, TO be entitled
the Society of the Last Man. and that they
should meet annually and commemorate the
occasion by supper SO long as any Of the mem
bers should survive. The names Of the seven
were Joseph r Mason. VIM. Stansberry, VIM.
Disney, Jr., Dr. James n. Mason, Fenton
Lawson, Henry L. Tatem, and DR.. John L.
Waiter. OF this Society, Dr. Waiter alone
remains. Five are now quiet tenants Of the
tomb, and tomorrow the coffined remains Of
the sixth will be borne to their final resting
place"
The above at the time Of publication was wide
ly copied by exchanges. The origin and sus-
tenanee of such an organization, the fidelity al
ways exhibited toward it by the members, and
the faithfulness with which its tenets were OBJ
served, caused many a remark and vague sur
mise, well from the intelligent as the curious
At some little trouble we have procured history
of the Society, publication of which cannot
fail to interest our readers.
On Sunday, the 30th Of September, 1892,
seven young men were seated in the studio Of
Joseph r. Mason, then aportrait painter, al the
Southwest corner Of Fourth and Main. 1t was
just previous to the period that the cholera
made its advent in Cincinnati; for some days
the dreaded scourge had been lowering around
the metropolis, making sad waste in the vii
lagos skirting the city, and an outbreak was
looked for daily by the citizens. Naturally the
conversation of the party turned upon this
theme, and DR.. Mason and DIR. Waiter finally
got into controversy, as to whether the disease
was or was not contagious. Speaking of the
rapidity with which it carried of its victims,
one of the remaining portion of the party re-
marked, 'We cannot tell how long any of US
will be here; tomorrow, possibly, we may be
gone" From this was suggested that the sew
en- then present enter into a compact, to meet
annually, so long as any one should live. This
proposition was Immediately aeceded to, and
the following Saturday night, Oct. 9th, 1892,
was fixed upon as the time of holding the first
annual reunion. The interim between the pc
nOd Of holding the proposed meeting and the
time the subject was first mentioned, was spent
anticipating and devising some means by which
the organization should assume a permanency.
At last they all agreed to proposition, made
by one of the number, that the supper should
always be held upon the sixth Of October
that bottle of wine should be sealed, and
drank IN meH0ri4m, by the last man-that
there should always be seven plates at the table,
whether the whole society was present OF not
that the bottle of wine should be encssed in a
casket, each member to have possession for one
year at time, passing regularly from one to
the other, at the annual supper.
The casket in which the bottle Of wine was
enclosed, was octagonal in shape, and stood on
base about seven inches square; the top of the
octagonal column was neatly finished and sur
mounted by an appropriate cap; the casket was
very much in appearance like uanr'--A~' HH-'
vras =, bouf aiohtaer, -i..i.-- - .-snt-
In ths Shaft Besides the wine was also small
slips of oil paper, upon which was written in
the individual handwriting of each one their
name, birth, birth place place ofTesidence at that
tine, age and occupation. These being placed
in the receptacle of the Casket, it was locked,
the key hole was sealed, and SO kept for twenty
one years.
If at the time of holding the supper any one
member was absent, it was the duty Of the bal
anee to make enquiries of his whereabouts and
correspond with him. The annual supper had
to be furnished by the member who had held
possession of the Cssket during the year, and
no matter what his condition, rich or poor, high
OF low, he was required to furnishit, and, if but
a loaf of bread and 9 cup of water, It had to be
partaken of BY the others. The projectors were
vet young, and the sordidness Of the world bad
not assumed over them its sway; their feelings
were untramelled. a kind, genial socisbility per
vaded all their movements, and in the Foundation
of their little fabric mutual benefit was the prin
cipal object aimed for
| At the original meeting ballots were drawn
to determine who should keep the Casket the
first year; it fell to Dr. Waiter, after that j
passed to the others in regular succession. A
no meeting besides the first was all the member
present. At each annual gathering around tn
festive board some plate remained unturned
some familiar face was missed, but though alb
sent in form, the features were ever present II
the hearts recollection Of the others. FiV
years had passed and gone, five meetings ha
been held, and still the chain remained unbro
ken, but alas, the sixth cycle found It riyen,-
IN tue deatn OI james N hasOhs Huo uleu II
26th of June, ls37,-the others az follows;
VIM. Stansberry, Nov. 9TH, 1888.
j. r. Mason, Oct. 18th, 1912.
William Disney. Jr, Nov 5th, ls49.
Fenton Lawson, June 5th, 1883
Henry L. Tatem, Aug. 5, 1853.
Leaving DR.. Waiter the survivor. The la
supper was held by the last man the 9th Of o.
tober 1858. His feelings as he sat solitary an
! alone, contemplating the past, more vivid
brought to view by the six vacant seats and s.
unturned plates, cannot be described. Let Il
reader imagine himself similarly situated
Gin. Com.