Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-05-21
SONS OF TEmPrRANcE
Pnbiic ReceptIon Of the Nafio1iaI Di
Vistots OF North America, BY Che
Grand Division Of Tennessee, B.
nj the Capitol Last Night.
An Immense COneOurse Of People
The Ceremonies and Speeches nl
Representative Hall.

The reception Of the National Division
| Sons Of Temperance by the Grand Divi-
sion Of Tennessee, took place in Represent
alive Hall last night. The National Di-
vision was represented by delegates from
New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Cali
fornis, Connecticut Massachusetts, Maine,
Ohio Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Rhode
Island, Missouri, Virginia, Seuth Carolina,
Kansas Nova Scotia and Canada West
il was twenty minutes to z O'Clock when
the delegates representing the National
Division filed in from the Senate Cham
Der. As they marched up the wide aisle,
their gliuering regalias speckled again in
the bright blaze Of light rom the chande
liers. Floors and galleries were densely
crowded, and the capacity Of the great hall
was tested to its utmost capacity to accom-.
modate the immense. concourse that had
by this time assembled. Save the flag OF
the United States and the British Union
Jack suspended on either side by the EN-
blem Of the order, Immediately in the rear
of the Speakers stand, there were no deco
ratiOns.
The opening prayer was pronounced by
Acting Grand Chaplain Rev. DIR. +. A.
Young, of McKendree Church Music
followed by the Odd Fellows Band Of this
city. 81
Grand Worthy Patriarch, DIR. Geo. s.
Blackie, delivered handsome welcoming
address, welcoming the National Division
to our city and State. Their advent here
would be a landmark in the history of that
order, and it gave him the highest pleasure
to welcome them. The temperance order
he declared was the agent Of Providence
walking hand in hand with the great church
of Christ.
DIR. BIackies remarks were responded TO
on behalf of the National Division by
Most Worthy Patriarch, John n. Stearns,
of New York. Some of them, he said,
had come a distance Of more than two
thousand miles. They had come with the
grand idea of laying the foundation for the
great work that was to bedOne. Already nuuU-
bering two millions, sixty thousand men,
bers had been added TO the order of the |
Sons of Temperance within the past year.
The address following, by o. d. Wet
more, of New Brunswick, was a most beau
tiful piece of oratory, and but for the late. !
ness Of the hour of its delivery, would have |
appeared perbatim this morning. lie said |
the object of the visiting brethren was !
first, TO receive q Southern welcome, and |
then to aid in lifting up the great cause of |
total abstinence in Tennessee. Continents |
could not divide the mighty army of tenn
perance. From the Atlantic to the Pa
cifc slopes, and on the islands of the sea,
their banners had been planted. Their |
march would shake the continents their /
footsteps would make undying echoes. |
They were laboring to lift up the cause Of
humanity, and all that could make coun-
try great, prosperous and happy. Their
cause would stand in glorious elevation
when those who had cast slurs upon il |
were slumbering in Oblivion forever. Here,
they were an army Of one hundred thou
sand, united in action, and determined to
battle until the white banner Of temper
ance should be raised with the flags Of
our common country and fixed there.
In the absence of Gen. S. +. Carey, Jno.
Mofiat, of Canada West, was invited TO
speak, and a most noble substitute he
proved himself His rare wit was the
spice Of the occasion, and kept his audience
in commissions from his first sentence to the
rounding period of his jolly last.
The closing address was delivered by /
Hon. Edward CarswelI, in response to a
universal call, and the applause that greet
ed him was as unbounded as deserved.
After the pronunciation Of the benedie-
ton by NJ. w. Chaplain Rev. j. b. Abb
belt, of Indiana, the Doxology was sung by
the entire assemblage, and the audience
was dismissed.