Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-18

SOIuo udyS dlIcTWaTuS.
OCCASIONAL.
An Impartial Comparison.
The Death.rate OF the workmen and
Champions of the Rea Cross compared
by n Friend and Member Of both Or
ders.
Cor. Temperance Champion.
SANTA CRUZ, Feb. 10th, 1881.
PUBLISHERS OF CHAMPION:
On the 1st of this month it was
my good fortune and privilege to at
tend as Representative of the Grand
Lodge of Ancient Order of United
Workmen, assembled it its fourth
annual session. This institution is
so we'll known and has become so
popular that I need not tell you the
purposes for which it was instituted.
It has paid to the heirs of its de-
ceased members one hundred aud
fifty-six thousand dollars during the
fiscal year Just closed, and this ben
Efficient institution has become q
household word all over our country.
I had the pleasure of attending VAL
ley Lodge, No. &c. A. 0. U. w., of
San Francisco, where eighty-two of
your good citizens were made Master
Workmen, increasing the roll of
Workmen in that Lodge to seven
hundred and twenty. Ialso had the
pleasure of attending grand recep-
ton, rendered the Grand Lodge by
over three thousand Workmsn of
your city. The lowest estimate I
heard of the number of guests pres
ent was eight thousand. This very
popular and rapidly growing Order
was instituted in the Atlantic States,
at or nearly the same time the
Champions Of the Red Cross were
instituted in this State. The prin-
ciple feature of these two institutions
- g insussnna Ths-@Ghampions
have an obligation pledging its men,
bers not to use alcoholic liquors as
beverags-the Workmen have no
such obligation. The ritualistic work
of the Workmen is far inferior to
that of the Champions, and the laws
governing the two institutions are
very similar. The ritualistic work
of the Champions is second to none
of which I have any knowledge; its
teachings are the quintessence of
purity, and its laws are as perfect as
human wisdom can devise. Why is
it that the Worknen are adding to
their numbers 80 rapidly, and has
spread all over our State and country
in so short time, and our beloved
little Order of Champions have been
standing still? Is it because we have
Q temperance obligation in tho
Champions, and our citizens are
unwilling to be identified with tenn
perance people, or it is that they
have not yet learned that temper
ance, yea, total abstinence from al
coholic drinks, is essential to health
and longevity, and for the preserva-
ton of order and good society? A
very large percentage of deaths in
Workmen are caused by alcoholic
drinks, and to such an alarming ex-
tent that the Grand Master Work
man for three years in succession
has felt called upon to report these
facts to the Grand Lodge and ask
that some protection or prohibitory
measures be adopted. As yet none
have been enacted, and no matter
whether brother dies of " Acute or
chronic Alcoholism" or in the frenzy
of "delirium tremens" commits
"Suicide" we, like true and loyal
brothers pay the promised $4,000.
Following is an extract from the Re-
port of Grand Master Workman Clay
w. Taylor to the Grand Lodge just
adjourned:
"While it is pleasant to contem-
plate the virtues and the bright side
of our our order. it is our duty to
carefully note it's imperfections and
turn upon them the sunlight of
truth"
At the last session of the Grand
Lodge attention was called to the
" fact" that large percentage of
death losses were due to "intem.
perance" and resolution was adopt
ed calling the attention of Investi-
eating Committees and examining
physicians to the necessity of being
convinced of the temperate habits Of
applicants. Our last Supreme Lodge
adopted resolution that "a drunk
ard is not a fit subject for member
ship in this Order, and that it is the
duty of every member to see drunk
ards are not permitted to enter our
ranks" Notwithstanding the adop-
ton of these resolutions and the