The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-24
The German Turner's Origin aud OBJ.
ject OF tho Society. ,.

From The LouiSrittc Courier, ia.
SocIAbIIIty Is one OF the national char
aCLerlstlcs Of the Germans, hence ma
Jority OF them have formed themselves
into all sorts OF fsoCletieS, for charitable
purposes, physical and mental I'm.
provement, and last, but by no means
least, OF mutual enjoyment. Among
their numerous societies, that OF the
Turner Bnnd' constitutes q leading
feature. Turner for which we have
no proper word In the EnglIah Ian.
Ruage, az The art is purely German
though initiated OF late by otSer ma
tIons, Ia science which teaches GYM
nRstics, such as fencing, boxing, jump.
luRi climbing, lIItlng great weights,
wrestling and many other similar
physical exercises, with which, howsv.
er, mental feats-slnging, music, de-
batting, declaIming, &c.-Rre connected.
A brief history OF The origin and
progress OF this novel sclence-novel at
least on this conllnent-mRy not be
entirely without interest TO the public /;
hence we will endeavor 10 give brief
synopsis OF such iLems In regard TO II
as we are able to gather. The aims
and objects Of the Turner Bund (soCIety) J
are best explained by their platform.
The North American Turner Bund
(socisty) makes 1t It's principal object
constitution and enlightenedsViews to
use all proper means In the reform OF
social, political aud religious relations
and tho realization Of innate human
rights. The further object OF the TGr-
nsr Bund Ia 10 promote all movements
based upon rational IDEAS, and hence
the Turner's first duty Is to combat
slavery (nOw exLinct) and nativism; to
uphold freedom OF conscience and TO
counteract all efforts TO suppress any
agitatlOns against human or democta-
tio (by which no political party is
meaut) principles.
The Turner'S Band considers the
management OF inRnyof our public af.
fairs dangerous 10 true liberty; hence Il
makes 1t incumbent upon the different
branches OF It's society to enllghteu Its
members upon all political topics aud
TO guard against political corruptions.
Further, II 10 the duty OF the 'Bund' to
assist to itS utmost capacity In the erec-
ton OF good schools, In order to give
cation.
The art OF turning or physical ex-
ercises has already been praciiCed by
the Greeks at the time their empire was
In It's zenith. but had from time 10 time
been revived since. owing to The adage
That only sound body iS able 10 con.
tain Il sound Soul.' Basedow, In his
philanthropy which appeared In Ger.
many In l716. gave the llrsL impulse 10
that then obsolete art. Salzman, In his
treatise on Gymnastics, which appear>
ed In Schnepfenthal in tho wear 1898,
and ]. Chr. Fr. Gntsmuths (who died
on the 2lst OF May, 1880, In mis- Gym.
nastics for the youth, attracted the at.
tentlon OF pedagogues and scientific
men IN Germany to this manly art,
lhe rising or the German PVJple
against lis oppreSsors gave the pfomul.
gators OF the art occasion 10 use the
same for political purposes. Even J.
Il. PestAlozzl, who died on the l7lh OF
February, 1897, Germany's greatest
pedagogue, issued work in 1907, al
Ihesren, relating thereto. IL was, how.
ever, lett 10 Friedrich Ludwig jain,
who WAS born on the llth Of August,
IT'S. and died on the 10th Of OctO ber,
1852, TO crown she art with success,
Hence the name OF Father Jahu' Ia q
household word among Turner's. IL
was him who called into actual exiss
tence the resisting spirit against pUliti-
cal and monarchical expressions, and
who told the people that they must rely
on their muscles and educate their
youth accordingly.
In all the battles which the Germans
fought for political rights and against
the encroachlng powers OF arlstocrats
and monarchies, the 'TIrners' render.
ed the most valiant services.
Many other OF Germany's most dis
ungnished men, persons imbusd with a
spirit oftrue liberty devoted their time,
means and capacities to the promotion
OF this patriotic movement, until II has
actually become popular art IN that
country, and Is now taught In all pub.
lie institutions OF learning.