The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-04-19
I. o. of Good Templars.

ORIGIN. IT'S EXTENSION. GRAND LODGE OF
MAINE. TIE COMPARATIVE POSITION OF
MAINE IN THE ORDER. GRAND LODGE SEs-
SION. OFFICERS ELECTED, &c. sc.
The order of Good Templars is the leading
temperance organization in the world, as its
lodges are distributed among all the civilized
nations and its rtualistic work is printed in ten
different languages. Briefly stated its motto is
faith, hope and charity; its mission prevention
and reformation and its platform abstinence
for the individual and prohibition for the state
and nation The order originated in New York
in 1852 and spread rapidly in all directions,
though its strongest field is the United States
nearly every state and territory having a Grand
Lodge.
Maine is one of the foremost in the work,
ranking third in total membership and leading
all other Grand Lodges in the world in ratio of
membership to popu'ation, as we have one
Good Tempar to every 81 inhabi ants. CAiifor-
MIA comes next with one to every 20. The 25th
annual session of the q. l.. of Maine was held
at Lewiston last week, 18th and 18th inst. and
marked an era in Good Tempary in the State.
The reports show that the State has 300 Subortl-
mate Lodges with total membership of 20 $50,
Il gain of Is lodges and over Il thousand members
during the year. There are also 46 Juvenile
Temples with $500 members The treasurers
report shows over $4,000 expended during the
year and several hundred dollars left in the
treasury.
The session was very large and harmonious
The old board Of officers were mostly reelected
and the principal ones are As follows B. c.
Iorsey of Winthrop Grand rempIar: Rev. II.
G. Munson Of SO. Berwick g. Counsellor: Mrs.
+. II. Mason, Bddeford, q. Vice Trmplur;
Geo. 4. Bracket, Belfast, &. Scc NJ. j. Dow
Brooks, &. Treasurer; Mrs IL. Barstow, Deer
ing, Supt. Juy. Temples. The next Or semi
annual session Will be held at Oakland next
Oct. The following delegates were elected to
the Right Worthy G.. l.. of the world which
meets at Chicago May y; +. r. simonton,
Geo. L. Bracket, Jordan Rand, c. A. Earwell
and. NJ. &. Prenti>s
large amount of routine matter pertaining
to the business of the order was transacted
Among the items of general interest were the
appointment Of Il committee 10 cooperate with a
similar one from the other State Temperance
organizations for the purpose Of preparing for
the vote in behalf of the prohbtory constitute
ional amendment in lSS4; the organization Of a
Good Templars' relief association the remission
of a percentage OF taxes from each Lodge
which supports Il juvenile Temple; legislation
| recommending and arranging for lodges having
greater and more extended property interests
as in ownership Of halls, etc; measures for
etfecting public sentiment through The press of
| the State upon the questions pertaining 10
temperance which are prominent before rs
etc. etc
The growth Of the order in the State has not
been >pasmodic nor cphemcraI but rather Il
steady gain until there is hardly Il town in
Maine but has a Lodge of Good Tcmpar-
York is the banner county in number of Lodges
and members, but Waldo is not far behind
There are two Lodges With over POO members
SaluS No. l56 Of kemnebunk and Belfast No.
30. There Are 80 Lodges with over 100 mem
berS. and 3D more with over -, the average
being about 70 to each lodge in the state.
Among the prominent members present at
the Lewiston session were Nelson Dinglev .Jr
Joshua Nye, Campmeetng John Allen and
others. Mrs. s. a. Leonard the Grand >ccy Of
Mass, and Geo 4. Bailey the Grand Templar
of n. H., We're visitors during tue session. The
full report published in the journal of Proceed
ings will be ready for distribution to members
i'll few weeks.