The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-23
THE TURNER'S.
Inauguration of their New Hall.
DESCRIPTION OF THE HAEL,
ACCOUNT OF THE CEREMONIES


while revolutions were multiplying in Europe
totterng and the mighty power of free public
opinion was making itself felt in popular out
bursts, q German who had long beheld and wept
over the subserviency OF the German people to
monarchicsl yokes, formed the design of organic
ing an association which should train young men,
physically, mentally and morally, so as to fit them
to become one day the liberators Of Germany.
Father John, as the Turner'S yet call him, carried
out his plan and founded the Turngemeinde,
or Turner'S Society, whose objects are, we have
alrenAv ss~s~a, tr~s. Up ooys make
them strong, wise and virtuous men. As the prin-
ciples of the TuYngemeinde were SO opposed to
the existence Of the governments which then
bore rule in Germany, 1t was Of course q secret
association. But Notwithstanding that, notwith.
standing that whenever they were discovered
they were suppressed, the Turner'S Society multi
piled all over Germany, and the principles of the
order, spreading from man to man, at last found
voice in the struggles for freedom which, shortly
after the foundation Of the Turner'S, eonvulsed
Germany. After that Prussia, the first govern.
ment TO see that the men who were educated in
the principles of the Turner's would be the best
soldiers in the country, removed the hindrsnces
which had hitherto been placed in the path of the
association, and strove by every means in her
power TO fosterit. The other German governments
followed, and to-day, from one end of the Fsder.
land to another, not city or town but has its
Turner'S Association, which has lands granted to
it by the government, and which is deemed as
much an institution to be cherished as are the
academies of learning themselves.
Emigrating TO this country, Germans, educated
themselves as Turner'S. have transplanted the
principles of the order to America-with what
success let the numbers and wealth OF the Turn
ers of the United States testify. Some twenty
years ago the first Turner'S society in
New Orleans was organized, and q few
years afterwards another one was formed.
Three years ago the two were consolidated
and became one association. The hall they
then occupied was situated at the corner OF Gus
tomhouse and Galvez streets, and besides its in
convenient situation, lacked the size necessary to
accommodate such society as the Turner'S have
grown 70 be. So it was determined that new
building must be erected-one in a central loca.
lion, commodious. handsome and fit for permanent
occupation. "A lot of ground on Lafayette street,
between Rampant and Baronne street, was
bought, and on Sept. p, 1868, the building was
commenced, Mr.. VIM. Thiel architect, and Mr..
O'Neal builder. The work was carried on with
surprising rapidity, so that exactly five months
after its commencement the hall was completed
and ready to be taken formal possession of.
Let Us pause here to give a few words to
the building II is about III feet long by CT feet
broad, having its long side on Lafayette street.
The greater portion of the lower floor, SO by IS,
is fitted up as gymnasium, while at one end is a
gallery for spectators The remainder of the floor
is devoted TO dressing rooms, Offices, etc. Half
way up the broad fight of stairs which leads to
the ball room above is the supper room, which
opens on the gallery mentioned above as over
looking the gymnasium. The ball room is IS by
IS feet. thus making very large and very hand.
some hall. Seven windows nearly the height
of the room are on each side, while above each
window is o transom of illuminated glass. At
the head OF the room is platform for musicians
and singers. The building is estimated to cost
$50 geo. That s $500 for the ground, $40 600 for
the building, and about $4,000 for the various
fixtures, etc. The whole thing Is a monument to
the energy and good taste Of the society that
erected it.
Selecting the 22d of February, the anniversary
of the birthday of Americas nobest son as the
day ttest for the Inauguration of their hall, the
Turner'S, come 300 strong, assembled yesterday
morning at O'Clock, at their former hall, corner
of Customhouse and Galvez streets, and there
forming in procession, marched up to the new
hall. By the time they got there the ball room
was already more than half full OF ladies aud
gentlemen, the guests of the Turner's, and, still
the stream was pouring in. until by noon the
spacious room was entirely filed. Il was pretty
scene. On the platform were the following young
ladies':
Mathilde Loeper, Nina Todd,
Ida Derfler, Josephine Heydemann,
Augusta Seliger, Marie Vormann,
All dressed in white, whose duty it should be to
present the keys, the building committee, the
orators of the day and officers of the association
as follows:
John c. May. first speaker.
P. Wunder, second speaker.
l.. r. Jacoby, secretary.
s. Schmidt, treasurer.
Ranged along the sides were the Turner's, in
their gray linen suits, looking the pereonihcation
of health and vigor, while the Of the hall was
q gay patchwork of many colored dresses.
AT o few minutes past twelve the sweet strains
Of a selection from ia Dame Blanche" beauti.
fully executed by the celebrated brass band of
Jaeger, opened the exercises. Then the singers
section Of the Turner'S sang the chorus, "Prase
to God, their manly voices seeming fitting We
hicle for the transmission of the sublime words
Of the chorus. Miss Marie Vormann advanced
and with short address In German delivered the
keys of the building to Mr.. Thiel, the architect,
who in his turn gave them to Mr.. S. Schmidt,
whom the building committee
John Blum, S. Schmidt,
John c. May, Herman CART,
Louis Bernes, q. Schwaeple,
j. Wunder, +. Eshenbrener,
p. WeiDberger, VIM. Schlicting,
Joseph Klein,
had selected the best man Of all the Turner's to
receive them. Mr.. Schmidt presented them TO Mr..
John G. May, president who, by virtue Of his
Office is entitled to their custody. When Miss
Vormsnn again spoke, this time to Mr.. Schmidt,
telling him how the Turner'S loved and revered
him for his devotion to them and their interests,
and how, as the only means of showing that love,
they had obtained picture of himself which they
begged him to accept, a square piece of canvass,
inscribed with the word Welcome which had
hung upon the wall at the head Of the room was
then removed, and behold, there was q speaking
likeness of Mr.. Schmidt. II had been painted by
a young man named Otto Jacobbi without q sit
ting. Mr.. Schmidt never dreaming that the Tur.
ners had such a surprise in store for him. In
few words expressive Of his love for the society,
and bis continued determination to serve its inter-
ests, Mr. Schmidt thanked his friends sincerely for
their appreciated gift.
After q fine pot-pourri from Martha" Mr..
Charles F. Buck was introduced, and delivered
an English Grafton, which was evidently the
result Of long thought, which was well worded,
and which called forth great applause. An ad.
dress in German by DR.. B. Mas, which created
great effect, and one also in German by Rev. P. II.
Haintz Dastor of the German pr0taafant Church