The Evening critic., 1883-02-13
THE GOOD TEMPLARS.
The Quarterly Session Report OF
the q. w. q. T.-what the Order
Hns Accumulated.

haha Lodge last evening, Grand Worthy
Chief Templar A. Kalstrom presiding.
Every lodge in the District was repre-
sented, and after the Grand Lodge degree
had been conferred on the new delegates,
the session was opened in the subordinate
degree, when the hall was filled by visiting
members not only from lodges in this Dis
trict, but from distant States 1t was an
intelligent and earnest looking body of men
and women.
The G. w. G. T. submitted au able and
exhaustive address upon "The State of the
Order" the work accomplished during the
quarter ended, as well as timely and prac-
tical suggestions for action by the Grand
Lodge.
The whole address would be interesting
and profitable reading, but space forbids us
from giving only some of its most salient
points.
The work done In the temperance field In
this District during tho three months that
have passed since we last assembled fur
nishes cause to us as an order and as clti-
zens for profound tbankfulness. The order
of Good Templars has, all over the world,
for years led In the advance upon the works
of our enemy, and this enviaole position II
yet maintains. Combining, as 1t does, all
the features best adapted, not only to re-
claim the inobriate, but to shield the youth
against the snares of intemperance, and Its
constant dissemination Of truths upon the
subject OF temperance make II power for
good which is felt and recognized all over
the world, and in no one place, perhaps, moro
than In this District, when the population of
the territory is compared with tho numerical
strength OF the order. What has been done
Is, however, but n small beginning; the field
is ready, and all that Is required to accomplish
results not thought possible but short
time ago can readily be done now IL we but
plan wisely and labor earnestly. Having as
aumed Its position In the front rank of tom
perance organizations 1t becomes rs to put
forward such efforts as are not only expected
from US, but are also commemorate with our
abilities and the dignity OF the order. We
have never before beon In condition to do as
effective work as now, owing to the improve
ment that has taken place In public senti-
ment, the new fields OF operation that present
| themselves and the devotion of our own mem-
| bership to the cause in q more fervent degree
Than heretofore. These conditions do not
| take proper advantage of them practical
| plans must be adopted, and to this important
| duty you are earnestly Invited. Give to this
task earnest labor and prayerful consideration.
| Let us have "less sentiment and moro work."
I am thoroughly convinced that as an
order, we have in the past confined ourselves
| TO our lodgerooms too exclusively In our work.
| The community, iii has felt our presence,
| has not realized from whence the influence
| has come, that we in a feeble degree have put
| forth. The want OF public Identification with
| the temperance movement has deprived us
| of an untold amount OF power for good, and
| materially retarded our growth as an organ
| ization. While the numerical strength of our
| order is to-day respectable, It is really of but
! infantile proportions, but capable Of being en-
| larged TO such degree rs to become next to
| the church OF Christ, the most powerful agent
for good in our community. This cannot be
accomplished, however, by hap-hazzard work
or spasmodic efforts-it Will be the result of
| wise planning, careful execution and constant
attention. The interest that has been aroused
in the advancement of our cause, and partlcu-
| larly in our order In this District, makes the
present, in my opinion, the proper time to
give to the work OF the future such a direction
as will secure permanent results.
TIn nfaGt NJ N IN n m n
ancc reform is the social custom which lends
respectabillty to what Is termed moderate
drinking. This custom must be eradicated
before any substantial results can be ex.
pected, and hence in my Judgment tho most
| strenuous efforts should be made to enlist
under our banner OF total abstinence that
class of our citizens upon whom the commu.
nifty depend for the establishment OF
fashion or maintenance OF customs. Prompted
| by these considerations, and by desire to
submit for your consideration the results OF
actual experiments, have, during the past
| quarter, addressed Invitations to several pas.
tors OF large and influential congregations to
| deliver temperance sermons under tho au-
| spices of the order. These invitations were
all cheertully accepted and powerful sermons
note that already good results are apparent
from these meetings through accessions to
| our ranks.
The G. W. G. T.urged upon the Grand Lodge
the necessity of such action as will insure a
continuance of these sermons in the future
public meetings as will inure to its credit
advance its material interests and enabl
it to assume its place as an educator upoi
the subject of temperance.
The Importance of organizing coloret
lodges was earnestly set forth in order tina
the blessings of temperance may be ex
tended as far as possible among the colore
people.
| ,yin E t1Nng g,,1Nt Ntnnf r
!, An Official Organ:
The committee, which during the pas
S quarter had under consideration the subject
/ an Official organ having ceased to eXis
, nothing has been done during the pa.
n quarter In this direction. The daily an
= weekly papers of this city have been al
= preached with matter relative to our orde
4 and have uniformly accorded 1t space. Pa
experience teaches that organs make, wit
few exceptions, but n scanty living, and henc
newspaper men are unwilling to embark 1
such.enterprises without making such terms
y | would suit them entirely, or, IN other word:
at prices which would make those who did pa
make up for those who did not. That tempe
ance papers do not as rule pay is because tn
| Temperance man knows all about the truth
of temperance but very few temperance me
/; are public spirited enough to subscribe to
paper for the benefit OF an Incorporate neig
4 Dor, and the Incorporate neighbor Will
4 course not subscribe to paper, the prlncipl
~ of which he does not believe In. Thus organ
of temperance orders or papers devoted sole
and in reality accomplish but little good sim
q | they circulate nearly entirely among ter
= perance people. When the injunctlonis give
) us to ''circulate literature" take 1t to mei
among such as have not yet learned to appr
ciate the truth and Importance OF our teac
ings. ~.
opportunities afforded for presenting o
cause and order through the daily or week
D. papers Of general circulation we shall accoi
10 plish the greatest good. 1 Will take this O
. portunity to acknowledge the courtesies g
., tended to me and the order during the pa
term by THE CRITIC, Gazette and ChT0ntC
who have generously given me all the spa
:. The journals have named Will no doubt &C
a tinue TO serve us in the future, and hence
=. should show our appreciation by giving tho
- papers and such others as will aid In o
work that support they may merit won
also recommend to the favorable consider
d tion of the member OF our orders new pr
II lication, known as the Washington Record.
r may become the medium through which mu
1t good can be done.
q, The G. w. secretary, NJ. p Caldwell, su
a. mitted his report, from which we CLEAN t
" following:
!" "During the quarter past, with an unusr
i run OF dlsagreeable weather most OF the tin
u n vast amount OF work for the cause OF tempe
81 ance and for our beloved order has been
r complished. There seems to be genei
70 awakening among the people In favor OF TO
l. perance." -
Q. GAIL of our lodges except one have increas
III in membership, and our order Is enjoying
10 prosperity truly gratifying to its trlen
n. throughout the Jurisdiction OF this Gra
>" Lodge. The net gain In membership Tor
ly quarter lust ended Is 6SiI per cent. Two NJ
ry lodges have been instituted.
n 'I feel l but re.ccho the opinions and sen
e. ments of this Grand Lodge whom ] say the
oil IA lurgplV lup the ilt