Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1898-07-15
GOOD TENPLAKs.

We give space to the following
from the Templar column of the Sun
day Republican, edited by onr old
friend A. P. Walbridge.
Following is the platform of the
Good Templars:
+. Total abstinence from all intox-
icating liquors as beverage.
2. No license, in any form. for the
sale of liquor to be used as a beverage.
3. The absolute prohibition by the
will of the people Of the manufacture,
Importation and sale of intoxicating
liqaors for such purposes.
4. The creation of healthy public
opinion upon these great questions by
the dissemination of truth by all the
modes known to enlightened philan-
thropy
s.. Persistent efforts to save indi-
viduals and communities from the
scourge Of intemperanee.
S. Perfect equality Of the sexes ip
all work of the order.
Good Templary first sprang into
existence in 1851, in Oneida county,
N. Y. under the name of Knights of
Jericho, FROM the efforts of few
young men, one of whom was cur late
POSTMASTER General James, and it
became fully established iii Syracuse
i'll 1852, under the name of Ipdepen-
dent Order of Good Templars. It
was the first temperance organization
to recognize woman as an equal with
man in its war against the rum traffic.
From its small beginning in 1851,
Its growth has been truly wonderful.
It soon spread into every state and
territory in the United States and
into all the provinces of Canada. For
the first sixteen years it was confined
to North America, but in 1858, with
an electric bound, it was over "a Eng
land, and in few years later 1t was
in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, .on--
tinuing to srread until it was planted
in Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zea-
land, Tasmania and in other islands
of the sea, and on, and on, until now
every civilized nation on the Globe is
enjoying its blessings.
Its lodge room doors are swinging
open to all nationalities< and every
person who has reached the age of IL
years, and will subscribe to it's plat
form of principals. and can pess the
ballot box ecst, can walk through and
enter the family circle. Members in
good standing can enter any of its
lodges ill the world, where they will
never fail to find fraternal friends.
It has it's subordinate lodges in
the townships, hamlets, villages and
cities, holdirg weekly meetings. 1t
has its county or district lodges IN
the counties or districts, made up of
representatives FROM subordinate
lodges, holding meetings four times a
year. 1t has Grand lodge in each
state, province, empire, kingdom or
country where it exists, made up of
representatives from the subordinate
and county or district lodges, holding
annual meetings to legislate for their
respective jurisdictions. It has also
an international supreme lodge for
the world, composed of representa-
.tives from the several grand lodges,
which has supervision over the whole
order In legislation for it's general in
terests, which meets every two years.
It's admission or initiation fees and
quarterly dues are not in the least
burdensome. But the fees and dues
must be paid to keep the great ma
chine in motion.
It's secrecy SO often objected to by
those who know nothing of it, is the
safeguard which serves to keep in