The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-02-05

forms Us, was charter member. -EDsl or these
Is, Henry Gondolf Peter Shafer and A. II. StrO,
bel are still members, having been with you at
each step of your Journey, and for constant dc.
votion to your interests are entitled, If they de-
sire to be placed like Gen. Grant, on the retired
list. OF the remaining 10 some are in otherparts
of this state few have dropped out by the way
side and few have taken their final leave OF
earthly friendships and associations. =. . Your
Society . had very humble origin. 1t was
born IN harness shop, Graded in barn, and
prospered on the open prairie. 1t was organ
lied in the harness shop of Shafer Il Gondolf, To-
Gated upon The site Of Whites hotel and this was
for long time the regular place of meeting.
Your first Turner Hall was in an old barn, locat-
ed on the present site OF the Clifton Hotel, and
this was your regular training place till the own
err became alarmed at the bitter opposition TO
you for polticel reasons, and refused to let you
use it longer. You tnen transferred your
training place TO an open lot owned by and adj
joining the home OF Capt. Fuchs .. In 1861,
when the war broke out, your membership num-
bered %, and of this number ID afterwards be-
came members Of the great volunteer army OF
boys in blue, who cOnsecrated their lives to the
cause of liberty and uptonal life. This was IS
per cent. OF the able bodied membership of the
Society and demonstrates that the Tforegoingl
picture of the patriotism of the organization is
not overdrawn. OF these -, the names of
John Hess Hartman Kamcnich, Adam Hess,
Adam Simon and John Hess were inscribed on
the roll Of the noble dead ere the struggle ended
During the war the membership became so re.
duced by enllstments that it required a constant
struggle on the part Of those who remained at
home to keep up the regular work Of the Society.
In the year 1866 your Society having been
strengthened by the return Of old members from
the army and the admission of new members
you purchased this hall, then a one story build
ing, and in 1867, finding one story insufficient to
accommodate you, you added another, changing
the usual custom, however, you elevated the old
story skyward and erected beneath it the new.
Your organization is now in a most nourishing
condition 1t is composed Of forty good working
members 1t has property worth several thou
sand dollars. 1t is substantially out Of debt. 1t
has past record of which it may well be proud,
and the future promises well.
You are bonded together for laudablc pur-
pose, to wit, dhe mental and physical culture of
help to members in case of sickness, though in
consequence of the careful development of the
physical constitution of members, sickness Is
comparatively rare.
The necessity for a thorough course of physi-
cal training is as great as the necessity for men
tai training. Would any man say, because he is
engaged in calling which requires constant
mental work, he will require no regular course
Of mental training? No; he will need that course
Of mental training as a condition precedent to
his performing well the work OF any pursuit re-
curing mental activity; and if he relies upon the
work of his calling to supply the necessary men
tai discipline, he will have, at best, but n one
sided and fragmentary mind development, and
will never know the sweets of thorough and
uniformly developed mind; many of the finer or
gans of thought will droop and die for want OF
use. And this is no less true OF the physical than
of the mental. Even though man be engaged
in manual labor, it will not do to rely upon this
for uniform physical development, for no class of
manual labor calls into action and develops all
parts of the physical MAN One occupation may
develop the muscles of the hand, another the
muscles of the arm, another the muscles of the
limbs, and still another the muscles OF the mouth
and throat, but uniform and thorough develop
ment of all parts of the physical man can only be
attained by series Of exercises devised for the
express purpose of calling into vigorous action
every part of The body.
We understand that in all the boosted systems
Of education, this matter of physical culture is
shamefully neglected, and this is the reason so
many young men and women, after course OF
five years in the university or college, return to
their homes bankrupt in physical power, and
therefore wholly untitled for life's work, and
doomed to all untimely graves. Hence the ne
cessity for this organization, whose special office
it is to supply that part Of an education so much
neglected by the universities and colleges, and
thereby securing to those who avail themselves OF
the opportunity fund of vital force upon which
to draw in every emergency when unusual tasks
are thrust upon them.
In this city alone are scores of young men en-
gagged in various mechanical and professional
pursuits, who by availing themselves OF the OPP
portunity your Society affords for physical train
ing, may add much to both their mental and
physical powers, eliminate the symptoms of dys-
pepsia, add elasticity to their STEP buoyancy 10
their spirits, and many years of usefulness to
their lives.
In the past your membership has been almost
exclusively German, because the impression has
been prevalent II not universal, that member
ship was limited to this nationality.
And as it becomes more widely known that all
nationalities are invited to avail themselves OF
the course of physical training you offer we
doubt not many will improve the golden oppor-
tunty.
In conclusion, permit me to say, the event you
celebrate oday may be compared to silver
wedding, and adopting the simic, wish you
NAV all gather in health ard prosperity to cele
bratc the golden wedding of the organization,
and in the meantime you may have prospered so