The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1870-07-28

TThe following article, explanatory of the Prin-
ci,e> and practices Of the Association Of Turner's
xas written by me,nler OF the Assobia ion in this
place, am. viii ~ found If general interest.
[From the :, Joseph Herald.l
On the. 9TH, S,h and 9th Of August next,
all the Turner organizations, comprising the
District of Kansas, and their friends will
| visit our city to celebrate their annual festi-
val. The district comprises the Associations
Of Leavenworth, Kansas City, Atchison,
Topeka, Fort Scott, Lexington, Wyandotte,
Eudcra, Junction City, and Ottawa, and
from all these points delegations will he
| present, and swell the congregation. Visitors
will be here from St. Louis, Chicago and all
accessible points West and East.
The first district festival was held in Kan
s,s City, 1865; the second at st. Joseph, in
1866; the third at Leavenworth in 1867; the
fourth at Atchison in 1868; the fifth at Kan
SIS CITY in 1869, and the sixth here. Our
citizens will remember the festival of 1866,
the number of visitors and its effect on bust
ness. The fact that the corner stone for the
new Turner Hall will be laid on this occa-
sion, will bring together much larger num-
Der Of Turner'S and strangers than ever before,
and the general interest manifested by all
parties, will Justify short depression con-
corning the North American Turnerbund, of
which this district is member, and which
extends all over the United States, with its
aims and objects. -
No organization has more ardent friends,
or more persistent opponents. This fact can
be explained in various ways. 1t is an indie
pendent organization, which adheres to its
rational principles with catholic pertinacity,
regardless of opposition or reprOhation. That
about v,I.<,.1
the social, political and religious field, with
depreciation of natural laws and rights, must
necessarily meet with opposition; that its
object is to nurse and support all reformatory
Revolutionary ideas which arise from a
natural view of things cOnsOnant with nature,
and therefore rational, and to contest every
e,.croachment on the liberty of conscience,
slavery and nativism is Objectionable in the
old world and in some respects, here; that its
object is, to cultivate and educate the mind
and body of its members, fill them with 4
love Of liberty and country, and at the same
time pointing out the dangers that threaten
our form of government from corruption
of any kind, does not tend to make it popular
in many quarters.
Great injustice is visited on the heads of
the Turner's from many quarters and very
frequently Internationally or ignOrantlv. 1t
has been commented upon, that their halls
are open to all kinds of lecturers and advO-
Gates of spiritualism, n,ormOnism, and other
isms, and not to CathOlicity or Professionalism.
This is in fact true, and We; not so. For the
halls of the Turner'S, up to the year of our
Lord 1870, are not in advance of Catholic
or Protestant Churches. These latter have
therefore, places for congregatins which they
prefer and do not require other halls. But
they are not closed to them, yet they some
times charge Turner's with being infidels and
immoral beings, opposed to them. The
newer isms have no churches or hall in most
localities, and deliver their addresses in any
place that may be free and open. Turner'S
believe in the triumph of liberal ideas in
the religious and political world, and that
the advancement Of the most unreasonable
and unnatural theories can never result in
any retrogression, but must advance spirit
ual progress, therefore asking for tolerance
and iibcrality themselves As AN essential
element kof civilization in its widest sense
they are willing, like good Christians, not
merely to preach it, but to extend il, even
toward the most erring. Their principles
are founded on the logic Of human progress,
and they deny no one a hearing ont OF fear
Of loOsing ignorant or intelligent supporters.
Candidates for membership are not asked
what religion or creed they belong TO.
Among the Turner'S arc Jews, Catholics,
Protestants, Deists, Free Thinkers, but no free
lovers) and infidels, and none Of them are
so ignoran, that their Preiudices have to be
appealed to to keep them within the organ
4 xl,- a., I,nI, toll hI- "a
vigorous mind, both united constitute an
independent citizen; an independent citizen
is necessarily somewhat radical in his pOlit-
lieving this, educate the body and mind OF
the youth. Turner (Ciern,an) means athletic
or gymnastic exercises, mentally and physic-
ally. They, therefore, take charge Of the
hUity in its infancy and teach It to exercise
same to effect. They are all friends and
allies If education in its various forms, and
may be said one of the sources which gave
rise to it. The attention now everywhere
paid to athletic exercises rs a branch Of edu-
cation is due to their exertiOns and success
fully demonstrated example.
In our city they form nucleus around
which a large portion of our citizens rally
for amusement and healthy exercises. Their
concerts are well attended, and all who wit
ness the turning during the pauses between
the music are favorably impressed with the
viSor and energy displayed.
1t is therefore hoped that a cordial vel
come will be extended to the sturdy Turner'S
during their grand festival next month, and
the LAYING of the corner stone for that mag
nificent new hall, which will be an Orna-
ment to our city, and worthy Of the Turner'S
and their friends.