Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-10-01

Celebration Of the Twenty.ffth An
nj

| niversary.
The Twenty-6fth Anniversary of tn
| Order Of the Sons of Temperance, tool
| place at the First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church on Sunday last. The church wa
filled, aisles, galleries and vestibule. TIT
following Divisions were present in full
regalia:
Edgefeld Division No II, Elysior
Grove Division No. l, Tennessee Division
Grand Division, and Temple Division
No. %.
w. Bryce Thompson, P. G. w. P. of tht
Order, entertained the audience for an
hour, with an historical review of the rise
and progress of the Order of the Sons O
Temperance.
We CLEAN from the profound and care
fully digested researches of Mr.. Thompson
some facts which will be interesting to oul
readers.
& In September, 1912, number of per
sons in the city of New York determined
to form society, based upon a total absti.
hence from all intoxicating drinks. The
first meeting to organize the Order of the
Sons of Temperance, was held the 29th
September, 1912, at Teetotaler's Hall
in New York, and was attended by
sixteen persons, who may be justly regarded
as the founders of the order. The objects OF
the order as set forth in the constitution,
are threefold: TO shield US from the evils
of intemperance, to afford mutual assistance
in time of sickness and distress, and to
elevate our character as men,"
The first national division was organized
18th June, 1874, by representatives from
the Grand Divisions of New York, New
Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut.
The Order on June Is, 1913, consisted
of six Grand Divisions and seventy one
subordinates, with membership of 5000.
In June, l845, ten Grand Divisions, one
hundred and ninety-four subordinates and
1900 members. In June ,1846, fourteen
Grand Divisions, six hundred and fifty
subordinates and 40, 900 members. In June,
l847, twenty-five Grand Divisions, 1900
subordinates and 100000 members.
The NJ. W. S., in his report, June, 1847,
SAYS: "The Order has received during the
past year for fees and dues $l76,614, and
has paid out for benefits S4S,4 52. Out of a
membership offfty thousand, only two hun
bred and forty deaths have occurred,
which is less than five to the one thousand.
From lS4S to 1859, say twelve wears,
756, S47 members have been initiated in
the order. During the same time S5,084,-
AT have been collected by subordinate di-
visions, and the sum of 81, 4l5,4 65 paid for
benefits The averages for these twelve
years have been as follows:
Members initiated, about. $4,000 per annnm
Collections in money. $1,000
BENEFITS paid out-.-............... IlS,OOO
Paid to sustain Grand Div. 1900
The American Bible Society, sustained
by all Christian denominations, only col
lected in the twelve years $4, 086,7 ia, while
the Sons fTemperancec collected SIS, 084, AIT.
The Grand Division of Tennessee was
organized on May Goth, 1876, by John
Finn, j. G. Shepard, Joseph Barnard, NJ.
L. Andrews Isaac Paul, Isaac Litton, J.
Flowers and Geo. B. Farrar. In October,
1916, there were in the State twelve subor-
dinate divisions, with 500 members. In Oc-
tober 1847, there were eighty-siX subordi-
nate divisions, with 5000 members. In
October, lS4S, there we're 2l7 divisions, with
10000 members. In 1850 there were 365
divisions, with a membership of q, 500.
The chair of G. w. P. has been success
sively filled by the following persons
John Finn, Isaac Litton, j. G. Whyte, K.
L. Caruthers, Edmund Dillahunty, B. L.
Ridley, s. c. Pavatt, Thos. H Caldwell,
E. R. Osbourne, Jno. B. McFerrin, Thos.
]. Sands, J. Henry Curry, s. S. Hall, Jos.
S. Carols, Rev. W, NJ. Reed, w. H. Arm
strong, W. B. Ewing, W. B. Cooper, Thos
J. Halle, Arson Nelson, Thos. Norman
and w. Bryce Thompson.
Mr.. Thompson presented many other
interesting facts connected with the cause
Of temperance.
After his address, the Rev. r. A. Young,
D. D., addressed the audience on the evils
of intemperance, showing by various his
torical illustrations how it has dethroned
the most gigantic wills, and subverted the
most imperial intellects.
The choir sang several beautiful and APP
propriate hymns, and the benediction was
pronounced by Rev. DR.. Baird. The
different divisions then marched in process
sion to their respective halls.