National Republican., 1875-06-19
THE TURNER'S.

Annual District Turn Festival at Baltimore
Presentation Of tie Washington Society
Interesting Notes Concerning the Turn So,
cieties, Their Aim and Object.
The Columbia Turn Verein, the only organiza.
tion in the District Of Columbia belonging TO the
North American Turner Union will leave to-
morrow morning for Baltimore to participate in
the annual meeting OF the Southeastern dis
tfict, to be followed on Monday by q district
turn festival and the celebration Of the twenty
NTH anniversary Of the existence Of the Social
Democratic Turn Verein Of Baltimore.
The Turn Society are open bodies devoted to
the deEeloPment Of the physical and Intellectual
Prussia during the dark days from 1905 to 1913,
when that country was suffering the tyranny Of
Napoleon l. A teacher named jain, conceived
the idea Of organizing the youths, training them
in physical exercise, and preparing their minds
for the great work Of liberating their native
ana when the Keynote OF ibsfty y Tss S so1ndeG II
1873, the young Turner'S focked to their couutry'E
standard rnd fought nobly for freedom. After
became impressed with the beneficial results Of
the system and adopted It as part of the regu-
lsI instruction in the public schools.
When in 1S4s an effort was made to shake on the
yoke Of kings and princes the Turner'S were in
the front ranks Of the revolutionary army, and
many of them fell on the bsttle-nelds Of South
Germany. The failure Of the movement drove
thousands Of Turner'S to the shores OF America,
where they continued to flourish and prosper
OlLleTly OppOb6Q 10 dll By6I0He OF oppression aud
slavery, the Turner'S allied themselves early with
the Republican and Abolition party, and amenE
the rst to respond to the call for the defense Of
thelUnton we tind Turner's regiment. The plat
form Of the North American Turner Union Is
simple enough. 1t is as follows:
1--WE, the Turner'S of the United States Of North
of North American Turner Buud,' to assist each
other in the harmonious development of body and
mind: We believe thatthe diffusion Of education,
with the culture of morals, are the only means TO
bring about fundamental reform on social polIti-
cal and religious fields. We oppose every attempt
to curtan the freedom Of conscience, and every
Infringement Of rights which is inconsistent with
the greater perfection Of our free institutions"
Under this platform the Bund has extended It.
self INTO every State OF the Union. There are
now twenty-five districts and one hundred and
ninsty.three societies, embracing l3 IA members
The property Of the societies has o value Of 4l,-
sze,0l6 and their Libraries contain 29 O7S Volumes
1t should be observed here, however that besides
the number Of societies aforementioned there
exist IN the country at least hundred societies
who are not members Of the national union and
generally term themselves Independent Turner'S
The present headquarters Of the national sssocia-
tion at Chicago. TIE eSoIthesstsrn district CON-
prises the Columbia Turn Verein, of Washington;
the Social Democratic Turn Verein and the Balti-
more Turn VereiD, Of Baltimore, and the Martina
burg west Eirginia) Turn Yersin. An Associa-
accepted in the district as soon ss It is numeri.
eally strong enough. The speaker Of the Colum-
olh TQln Isren is ct present the head Of the dis
trtet, but the Washington delegates to to-mor-
rows meeting in Baltimore have been Instructed
10 Ieleet Baltimorean for this responsible ONCE
The Columbia society will take to Baltimore
their magnificent banner, Manufactured at LeIp-
sig, Germany, at cost Of nearly q 900, and con-
sidered the hsndsomest society banner in the
Union. On arriving the Turner'S Will be escorted
to the Turn hal, on West Baltimore street. where
lunch will be in readiness. At IL o'clock the
district convention will meet and in the evening
sociable meeting will be held in the hall On
Monday there will be q grand parade through the
city Of Baltimore, followed by picnic and festi.
val Valuable prizes have been furnished and
will bS competed for BY the active young Turner's,
who would aStonish professional acrobat, with
their gymnaEtical feHts.
In the month Of August national turn festival
is to be held In New York, where at least 5000
turner's are expected. Many Of our Washing.
tonians will also participate in this affair.