The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-01
WHAT ORDER
STANDS FOR
Address by the Supreme
Representative.
UNITY, CHARITY, TEMPERANCE
Charles w. Rice Relates Early
History Of Organization. \
Members of the U. C. T. are Pledged 10
Assist Each Other In Times Of
Need and to Help the
Helpless.
UNITY, CHARITY, TEMPERANCE

| atiVe ChafleS w. Rice DeIore the Unit
ed Commercial Travellers yesterday
morning was pronounced by the men,
/ bers of the order who were present
one of the days special features. MI
Rice took as his subject THE Order
and What 1t Represents" and explained
at length the circumstances under
which 1t was organized, and the aims
! and purposes of the association as the
years go on.
| His address. in part. was as follows.
In a speech made by Major Sylves-
ter at the Grand Council meeting of
Ky Vas. held in Washington. d. c.,
| last year. he said: The travelling man
| is like the wind: he bloweth where
| he listeth, and thou nearest the sound
thereof but cannot tell from whence
he cometh. nor where he goeth.'
| Il imagine that the founders OF the
| United Commercial Travellers had some
such thought In mind when they con-
| ceved the Idea of organizing this orr
| der, a class of good fellows compelled
/ by the nature of their business to
spend most of their time among stran-
gers, without any identity or standing
except In their home town, yet men of
business ability and possessing many
latent talents which. they have no OPP
portuinty to develop. and men with
more than average social attractions
| and Instincts"
| Pausing for a while to relate a por-
i ton of his own experience. when he
was travelling in the West for per-
| fume company. Mr.. Rice INDUCED in
| few reflections relative to his trials
and tribulations when ne first tackled
the world as a salesman. and recount
! ed his feelings when In town far
| from his home he lost possession of
his baggage for several days, owing
| to faulty train service. From his own
| straits at that time the speaker drew
the following analogy:
"The founders of our order. recog-
MIXING that hundreds Of men were trav-
cling about this broad land, deprived
of the influence of home and the as
ISOLATION OF friends Of the right sort.
| sought to build them into one COM
man fraternity that might find at least
a Council home in each of the large
cities, where the right sort OF prfn-
ciple would be taught and that the
brother counselor. wherever he might
be met, could enjoy the daily hand
shake and kind encouraging word of
one who had knelt at the same altar
and assumed the same vows: and. FUR
ther that the stranger might from
time to time enjoy the social gather
ings of the Councils In the city he Wis
tied.
About twenty years ago the Order
Of the United Commercial Travellers
was founded In Columbus. o., the idea
being conceived by Levi G.. Pease.
collar and cuff salesman who didn't
know anything about secret orders, be-
cause he had never belonged to any.
He took into his confidence John G..
Fennimon. a tea salesman, who was
member of nearly every secret organi-
cation In existence, and man of great
resources. Mr.. Fennimon wrote the
ritual and the details of the secret
work, and called to his aid in the UNI
dertaking Charles Flagg, The orders
First Supreme Secretary, salesman
for gents neckwear: Frank Sells.
hardware salesman. the present chair
man of the Supreme Executive Com
| mittee, and Dickery, Strayer and Ar
| mond, who became the fncorporators
! of the order that now represents
| membership of $4,000"
Mr.. Rice explained at length the APP
parent difficulty of the order In hit
| ting upon the emblem that was TO De
| worn by the members of the organiZa-
| ton, and gave an interesting account
| of the silver half dollar and the cres-
| cent formed from experimenting with
| It.
The colors of the order, he said, were
symbolic of unity. charity and temper
| ance; the first of which is represented
| by blue, the quality of stability; the
| second Dy BOld, WHICH mas thO qu"iitS
of fidelity; and the third, whose quail
| ty is that of purity, by white.
we of the United Commercial Trav-
| aIers." said Mr. Rice, have much in
common. We are bound by solemn
| ties to assist each other and helpless
| ones: must observe ana obey the laws
of the country we love, or be disloyal
to our order.
The man wearing the U. c. r. but
ton has promised to aid In caring for
me when sick, and never to reveal Sc
crets known only to him and to- me;
he will not cheat, wrong or defraud
me; will help and assist me In any
manner II am in need; Will defend
my character If unjustly assailed, keep
personal secrets II honorable, and pro-
tect the chastity of those l hold most
dear.
Yes, it's a secret order; our rela-
tons with each other are too sacred to
be told outside our fraternal family
circle. Ladies' please do not entertain
the idea that our degree work Is
nack of nonsense because we are
ashamed to let the outside world know
what we do. No man could ever sit in
our council chamber and give thought
to its beautiful lessons there taught
without going home more tender mus
bands-and- more -affeetionate parents
kinder master and more consistent
neighbor' and, II at all so Inclined
more religious man"
Following the cardinal virtue Of our
order" he said in conclusion, I'VE will
go on developing in numerical strength
and performing good deeds of charity
as the years go on until our emblem
will be recognized by everyone. a badge
of honor, truthfuiness and sobriety"