Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-05-13

Improved Order Of RED Men.
anniversary Fss,,vla,e. Yesterday.

Yesterday, being St. Tammany's Day, |
he anniversary OF the Improved Order Of |
Red Men throughout the United States, |
vas celebrated by the Tribes and many /.
visiting brothers in betting manner in |
his city yesterday. Among the visitors q |
gcodly number from Bowling Green and |
Kentucky, and from other
points were present. Notwithstanding the
lnclemency of the weather, it being rainy
and cold, and the streets in a rather bad
condition, the Order had a fine turnout,
and the occasion passed off quite pleasant
ly. The numbers of the Order assembled
at Tecumseh Wigwam, at the north end of
the markethouse, at o'clock A. NJ. With
their peculiar decorations and insignia, the
procession formed on Cedar street, and
preceded by the Odd Fellows Band,
moved up Cedar to High street. They
then went south on High to Church,
and down Church to Cherry. Large crowds
had gathered on the corner and in front of
the Maxwell House, as they passed along
Cherry to Union. They passed through
Union to College, and north on College to
the Public Square. From the Square they
went to Market, and north on Market to
Jefferson; west along Jefferson to Summer
street and out on Summer street to the
Horticultural Gardens, where the exercises
of the day were held. The procession was
q very large and attractive one, and as it
passed through the principal streets created
high degree of interest and received
many enlogies upon the bearing and make
up Of the members,
AT THE GARDENS.
-
cession reached the Horticultural Gardens,
which, by the way is one of the most at
tractiye places for a picnic that is to be
found in this vicinity. sThe grounds abound
in an endless variety of fine shrubbery and
plants, and is beautifully laid off in walks,
making the place also acceptable as a
promenade.
Arriving at the Garden, the members of
the Order and guests were comfortably
seated in front of stand that had been
erected for the occasion, and the order Of
exercises opened with music by the band
The opening ode was afterward sung by
the members of the Order, Col. Claiborne
then stepped forward on the stand and in
trodpced to the audience Vance Thompson,
Esq, of Columbia, as the orator of the
day.
Mr.. Thompson commenced his address
by referring to the condition of the world
when it was fashioned by the plastic hand,
of the ''Great Spirit" -when the first man
Adam, constituted the Lord of Creation
and stamped with the image and likeness
of the Creator, stalked forth in primeval
majesty and security among the lower
order of creation, holding commune with
the Supreme Father, with no anticipation
of disease, and no terrible forebodings of
death. Then the heavens above were
bright and unclouded, and the earth be-
meath one delightful Paradise, teeming
with the rich and varied growth of fruit
and flowers. Dwelling at some length upon
the peace, Joy and harmony that prevailed,
the speaker then touched upon the
change in the whole aspect of Nature by
mans first disobedience, of the disease and
death that followed, and the corrupt and
selfish condition Of man in his individual
and private relations-how the weak IN
happily fall into the power of the strong,
the transporting entrapped by the artful,
the innocent daily oYerreaehed by the evil
and the designing. 1t became absolutely
necessary, said the speaker, to have organ
izations whose object is to ameliorate the
condition Of the human family, to relieve
the poor and needy, to protect the weak
from the expressions of the more powerful
and INSCRIPTIONS, to succor the distressed,
to minister to the wants of the necessitcus,
aud to aid the widow and orphan. Or
CARNATIONS having in view objects of
charity and benevolence were required,
and among others was the organization of
the Improved Order of Red Men. Let it not
be said, remarked the speaker, that relig-
ion Is sufficient for all these purposes, It
would be, provided all men were imbusd
with the true and genuine spirit of relig-
ion, but is it not glaring fact that a very
large proportion, ifnot a majority, are unin-
huenced by it. Religion deals with the
spiritual wants of man, while these orgaa-
izations deals with his material wants : the
one looks to his eternal welfare, the other
to his temporal well being. This and all
other organizations of a kindred nature
are intended as aids, helps to their olden
and more beautiful and glorious sister, re-
igion.
The beauty and excellence Of the Order
is seen when she walks forth, reaches out
and takes by the hand the helpless orphan,
and snatches him from the hands of vice,
and the dark and devious walks of degra-
dalton, conducts him to the schoolroom,
supplies his little wants, and trains him
for the great battle of life.
In regard to the Order he represented,
the speaker said that unworthy members
were to be found in it as well as in other
associations, but no one should blame or
reproach the Order for the individual IN
worthiness of its members. Religion had
its Judas, splendid revolution had its Ar
mold, and SO with every human institution.
All that partakes of humanity, partakes
also of frailty.
But we will not attempt to follow the
speaker through. His address, altogether,
was a very beautiful composition, and
listened to very sttentively by those
present.
Lucisn III. Temple, Esq, at the close of
the address, announced that the collations
would then be spread, and everybody was
invited to partake. He was glad to see so
many present at their reunion, notwith-
standing the inclemency of the weather,
and thanked them for the announcement
thus given to one of the great benevolent
institutions of the State.
The crowd then dispersed to various por-
tions Of the grounds, and partook of the
Injuries and delicacies under which the
tables groaned. There was an abundant
amount of edibles for all, and sufficient left
to keep up mammoth picnic for week.
Shortly after dinner, a heavy rain COM
meneed falling, and it was deemed ad-
visable to close the festivities at the Gar
dens, but the young folks were determined
to have their dance, and adjourned to meet
at Concordia Hall at night, where the even
ing was enjoyably and happily spent. May
the Red Men have many such happy re-
unions