The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-26
THE q aERMAN TURNER'S. :
A Peculiar mi Praiscyor.hy Orgsnizn
tion-lts Platform and Objects.

Sociability is.one oI,thc national character
stic' of tho Germ rms, hence rn1 1jority of them
| have formed themselves into all sorts of socie-
ties, for charitable purposes, physical and mcn-
tai improvement, and last, bus by 10 means
least. OF mutual enjoyment. Among their nu-
merous societies, that OF the "Turner Bund'
constitutes leading feature. Turner tor
which VIC have no proper word 10 the Eng lish
language. as ths ar, is purely German. though
initiated OF lato by other nations, ia science
which teaches gymnastice, such as fencing,
boxing, jumping, climbing, lifting fffeat
I,weights, wrestling, and IN my other simiiar
physical exercises, with which. however, men,
tai feats-singing, music, debating, declaim-
ing, &o.-aro connected. A briet history OF
the origin and prpgross OF thus novel soleuce-
novel at least on this contincnt-may not be
entirely without interest to the public; hence
we will endeayor to give brief synopsis OF
such items in regard to 1t ts we are able to
gather. The aims and objects of the Turner
Bund (society) are bsst explained by their
platform: - '
The North American Turner Bund (sooieiy)
makes II Its principal object to educate men to
views; to use all proper naeansin the reform Of
social, political and religious relations, and the
realization OF innate human rights. The fur
ther object Of the Turner Bnnd is to promote
| hence tbs Turner's fret duly is to combat ala
very. (now extinct. and natiSiBm; to uphold
freedom or conscience, and 70 .counteract all
ef2Tts TO sInrtess any human
| meant,l principles. The Turner's Bund CON-
| siders the manaaeme Of many Of our public
affairs dangerous 70 true Liberty hence 1t nakea
society to enlighten it's members upon ail politi-
| cal topics and to guard against political cor
ruptione. Further, i is the duty Of the Bund
e assist TO ITS utmost capacity in the erection
moral and unbiased education. -.sf 81
The art Of "turning," or physical exercises,
has already been practioed by the Greeks at
has, rrom time to time, been revived since,
owing to the adage that "only sound body iB
| able 10 contain q sound soul.n3 Basedow, in
| his "Phiisnthropy,p which appeared In Germs
obsolete art. b. Salzmau, in his treatise on
| gymnssties, which appeared in Schnepfenthal
| in the year 1888. and j. Chr. Fr. Gutsmuth.
fwho died on the 2lst Of May. 1882 in his
tentiop Of pedagoEues and soientiilc. men in
/ Germany 10 this manly art, The rising OF tho
German people sgainst its oppressors gave the
promulgators OF the art occasion to, use! the
same for political puIposea. Even ]. b. Pesta-
loAzi. lwho died on the 17th OF February,
1sa7) Germany's greatest pedagogue. issued a
work Ina807, at Ifesren, relating thereto.
II MAS, hanever, left to Frederick Ludwig
Jahp, Who was born on the 11lh OF Aueust,
It's. and died on the 18th OF optober, 1852, to
crown the art with SUCCESS. Hence the name
OF "Fatber Jshn" ia q household word among
turner's. Il was him who called into actual
and nonhrchiai oppressions, and who told the
! people that they must rely on their musclea
and educate their youth accordingly. In all
tho battles which the Germans fought for po:
| nular rio ht6 and aGainat tha 6nor0a nhinO NOW.
ers Of aristocrats and monarchies,, tho "Furn-
ersn rendered the most valiant services. Many
i others OF Germauy's most distinguished men,
persona imbued with spirit OF true liberty,
devoted their time, means aud capacities 70
the promotion OF this patriotic movement, un-
I'll it has actually becom,.a q popular art In that
country, and 70 now taught In su public institu-
| tions OF learning.ap . 4 orr u =; !.