The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-05-08
4 Mechanics Association. Shall we
have one

their various trades, in the State. Her
public buildings bear witness
to what they can do on large scale, and
her private residences, designed and built |
at home, will compare favorably with any |
in the South. Her machine and carpen-
ter shops, her printing Offices her tobacco
factories; book bindery, shoe shops, har-
ness aud carriage manufactures, &C., are
filed by gentlemen Of character as well as
master workmen. Her mechanics add to
her prosperity and have made her the FIRST
town in the Valley. Take them out, and
all other occupations would anguish and
die. And still, with full knowledge Of
these facts, this important element Of our
society has no organization; no common
center; no union Of interests, by which it
could protect its own, and greatly increase
its power for doing good. We have asso-
Citations of different kinds: sAIedical As
sociations, Musical Associations" and
Building Associations" I'll very good in
their place, but no Mechanics Associa
ton. That this is wrong; that the me-
chanics have done injustice to themselves,
as individuals and as body, by not crea-
ting greater community OF interestamong
the trades, all admit, but, as yet, no one
acts.
| We have all seen and felt the necessity
for Mechanics Association, and the sue
cess of the DanviIle Association, started
June, 1866, should stimulate our mechan-
les to like action. In June, 1866, let
ter from the Secretary to US, says; "a few
Mechanics in Danville, feeling the neces-
sity of a union Of the trades for their mu
tual interests. associated, and now number
over 100 members. There was never
question about higher wages &c, deba
ted, its purpose being simply to aid US in
cultivating friendly feelings; taste for
the good and beautiful and the acquisi
ton of mechanical and general knowledge
To which end we founded a Library have
lectures and debates on various subjects
tending to that result. Also to aid each
other in sickness and distress"
In a copy Of the Constitution and By
Laws ofthe Association, accompanying this
letter, we find the objects of the Assoeia-
ton stated as follows: 'sWe the Mechan-
les and Artisans of Danville and the vi
entity, earnestly desiring to encourage in
dustry, advance the ARTS. promote virtue,
elevate the standard of morality and cult
vate feelings Of brotherly love and chart
ty-and feeling assured that these ends
can be best attained by associated effort, do
hereby adopt the following Constitution
and Bylaws for our government" A
careful reading of the Constitution and By
Laws convinces us that better can not be
framed, and we invite every man interest
ed to call and examine them The mem
bership is divided into four classes: active
members. Fl years ofage, regular mechan-
les or artisans; Junior members, minors
over II years, regularly engaged in some
tradeas their future occupation; Litemem
bers, any person in good standing by pay
ment Of s25; Honorary members, persons
of distinguished reputation, friendly to the
Association or such as have rendered I'M
portant services to it. The officers are
President, Vice President, Auditor, Trea-
surcr; Librarian, Chaplain and Steward,
also a board of Trustees The regular
meetings are on each Monday night in
October, November, December, January,
February and March at o'clock, and in
April, May, June, July, August and Sep
TENDER at +. NJ Every active member
of the Association pays quarterly a tax Of
Is cents, in advance, and upon the death
of member, whose funeral expenses are
to be paid, 50cents. Junior members pay
SO cents quarterly ip advance. It is pro-
vided that there shall be but one fund in
the Association, which shall not be dispo-
sed Of, except for actual aud necessary ex-
penses of the Association, or for the bene
fit of sick or distressed members, their
wives and children. Members desiring to
travel are furnished with cards or certif-
Gates for six months, and, in short, all need
full rules and regulations are laid down to
make an Association of the kind CON-
plete success.
And now, mechanics Of Staunton, it is
for you to say whether you will join hands
and aid in working out the problem SO
successfully started by your brothers in
Danville. Thefew facts we areableto give
should be thought over and added to, by
older heads than ours A meeting should
be called, to see if an organization, which
can accomplish SO much good, cannot be
perfected in Staunton. AS you are now
situated, without an organization, without
that association SO necessary to all great
I I'M arta L inus Won oao do 1ittln IN accom-,