The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-18


The S. =. c. A.
! would not enter or my list of friends,
Though graced with polished manners and
fine sense,
Yet wanting scnsibility, the man
Who needleSsly sets foot upon a worm
-CowPER.
Every Old or young person who
wants to make the world happier and
better can do so by identifying them
selves with a society for the proven
ton OF cruelty to animals and by try
ing to be kind to all living creatures.
While it is true that Oakland has no
such society, it is equally true that
Oakland is Drumming full of humane
people, who would find a degree of
pleasure and happiness in working
for those who cannot help themselves
that they do not now enjoy. Then
why not organize a S. p. G.. A? 1t is
not only humane, but educational. and
what other country of the world is
there greater need of humane educa-
ton than ours. Ten thousand six
hundred and tifty-two murders were
committed in the United States last
year.
Humane societies in their teaching
are refining and elevating. The hu-
man mind cannot calculate the good
which these societies have already
done. They not only work for the
good of the dumb animal, but for the
poor and suffering also, and they have
laid the foundation for the protection
of life and property, the prevention
of wars and every crime of violence,
and the promotion of peace on earth
and good will to all Gods creatures
both human and dumb. There is not
onlysa good field for humane society
in Oakland, but for an auxiliary, "a
merciful society for the prevention of
cruelty to all" Over twenty thous-
and branches of the Parent American
Band of Mercy have been formed,
with probably over a million mem
bcrs. These bands of mercy are com
posed chiefly of children. Seeds of
kindness to all living creatures when
sown in the human heart-then the
most recess.
The head officers of Juvenile TEN
perance Associations, and teachers
and Sunday-school teachers, should
be presidents of bands of Mercy.
Nothing is required to be a member
but to sign the pledge, or authorize it
to be signed. X.
PLEDGE.
| will try to be kind to all harm
less living creatures, and try to pro
tect them from cruel usage.
Any Band of Mercy member who
wishes can cross out the word harm
less from his or her pledge. M.S.P.
G. A. on our badges means Merciful
Society Prevention of Cruelty to All.
We send without cost, to every per-
son asking, copy of Band of Mercy
Information and other publications.
Also without cost, to every person
who writes that he or she has formed
Band of Mercy by obtaining the
signatures of thirty adults or children
or both-either signed or authorized
to be signed-to the pledge, also the
name chosen for the band and the
name and postofIice address of the
president
1. Our monthly paper. our Dumb
AnimalS, full of interesting stories
and pictures, for one year.
>. Mr.. Angeles Address to the High,
Latin, Normal and Grammar Schools
of Boston.
3. Copy Of Band of Mercy Songs.
4. Twelve Lessons on Kindness to
Animals, containing many anecdotes.
5. Eigh Humane Leaflets, contain
ing pictures and one hundred selected
stories and poems.
6. For the President, an imitation
gold badge.
Any intelligent boy or girl four
teenyears old can form a band with no
cost, and receive what we offer, as
before stated.
1.-THE prices for badges, gold or silver
imitation, are eight cents; ribbon,
four cents; song and hymn books,
with fifty-two songs and hymns, two
cents; cards of membership, two cents,
and membership book, eight cents.
The Twelve Lessons on Kindness to
Animals cost only two cents for the
whole, bound together in one pamph-