Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-02-25

Coed Tenplary.

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We have been considerably interested
IN a discussion which j. going on in the
Bath Enterprise by correspondents, pro Ct
en-, r,'4,Ne 10 the worth Of Good Tenn
plsry Ia The world. II seems to Us that
the order hs~ broader scope and higher
and r,,H, yudIIug mission than has yet
been msdr to appear in that paper, and so
We are tempted 70 wlite this article, with
view of showing some facts relative to
the rise. progress, aim Of and work &C
compli~hed by the Good Templsrs
Good Templsry is a comparatively re-
cent development OF the temperance move
ment. 1t dates back only about forty
years having originated in the State of
New York in l>5l, from which with great
rspid!ty 1t spread throughout the United
States In 1865 the order gained foot
hold III England in ls69 ii Scotland. and
in 1870 IN Ireland. Ii, progress has been
signally rapid In Is75 Id England alone
there We're 10 less than 3 $40 lodge. hav-
Ing membership Of 10 423 estimated in
ISL - have increased TO upwards of 200
uo0 members.
In avery short time the order spread all
over continental Europe made its way TO
South Africs. and chartered wind and
wave 70 bear it onward 10 distant Austria
liz and many other islands of the ocean.
few years ago we published 8 very inter
estlng communication from Hon. \. K
Sawyer, then American Consul at Turks
Island, descriptive of the Good Templsr.'
Lodge aud its work on that island 1t was
Interesting 10 know that the best " hite citi-
1eus there and the blacks animated bv
against the "fqno% Fiji SMF FOR ife In
creased prosperity OF all the inhabitants
SO rapidly has the order grown that to.
day there are GOO $50 Good Templars in
The world. Tie State of New York alone
has 100 lodges and 30 900 members. while
tie State Of Maine ba> about half as many
lodges and about 20.OO0 members.
Ihe Good Templar ritual is made I'D
very largely from scripture texts and i.
replete With the best sentiments and hish
est mora lessons known to the world. II
has been translated into eleven different
languages snd is being used by thirteen
different tongues.
Take The order altogether and il is the
largest, best united and most tficient TEN.
perance organization il the world Its
members are to be found in every civilized
land working earnestly and manfuly
against the worst eyll tile world ever
knew.
The following, as far as 1t goes, may be
accepted s. descriptive Of the order:
In politics it is non partisan.
In religion. nOn-sectariau.
Its motto" Faith. Hope and CHARITY"
It. watchword Protection TO the
home"
Its platform-"Totsl abstinence from
81 intoxicating liquors as beverage"
No license in any form or under anr
circumstances for the sale of LIQUOR TO be
used As beverage"
lis pledge-'Not to make. buy. sell.
furnish. or cause to be furnished to Others.
as beverage. any spirituuus or malt
liquors, wife or cider and in all honor
able ways TO discountenance the use there
Of in society"
Its mi>sicn-"To reclaim the fallen and
save others from falling. To do all in j,s
power to prohibit the manufacture and sale
Of all Intoxicating beverages.
It's feld-"The world
Its fees and dues are so low that none
are too poor to pay them Nominally it is
a secret organization though every one
may know who are it's members, their
aims and principles. where they meet.
when they meet and for what thew meet
Like many other so-called secret organiza.
tons there is just secrecy enough in its
work to guard its members against un-
friendly in,ruders
IL has Juvenile department. which with
It's triple pledge, never to use intoxicating
drinks, tobacco or profane language, is
doing most efficient work in for,ifying
the young against great evils and In aiy-
ing them good send off on the road.
which, If followed, will lead up to those
virtues and verities which adorn human
life and give 1t worth.
The highest compliment which PERTAINS
can be paid TO this order is to say that il
Is not in any sense fashionable or aristo-
cratic institution, but one which has an
eye TO the best interests of the common
people. The one fact which more than
all others gave worth to the teachings OF
Jesus of Nazareth was that the common
people heard him gladly" and so we NAV
say that what gives especial worth to
Good Templary is the fact that the com
mon people take to it kindly, finding in it
friend and helper. If person wishes
to be ministered unto. in any sense which
does not imply to be made stronger and
better, Good Templars' lodge is a very
poor place for him; but, if his object is to
minister, then he will there find oppor-
tunities for which he might look in MANY
another place IN vain. In short, a Good |
Templars' lodge is part, and an import-
ant part, Of the great church universal.
and all members are, or should be. priests |
therein.
In the county of Hancock there are. We |
think, twenty-one Good Templar lodges,
extending from Outer Long Island Lodge
On outer Long Island. back to Golden
Gate Lodge at Great Pond, and from old
Iron Bound Lodge at Winter Harbor. TO /
Silver Star Lodge at East Bucksport.
These twenty-one lodges, which must have
! membership of 1900 or 1000, are doing
IN excellent work and should have the in.
iorsement and kindly aid of all our best
Ind most influential citizens. and especial
y of our citizens somewhat advanced in