The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-06

GERMAN SOCIETIES
ARE NUMEROUS HERE
About twenty-five Different
German-American Organi-
cations Flourish.

In Washington there are about TWEEN
ty-five German-Aniericau societies. BY
far the greater number are beneficial,
dsring aid III case of sickness and
death, and nearly all of them have rec
Teattve features. Some OF these So
cieties represent thu various German
states and districts, as the ''Verein
Raden,' the Hesse-Darmstadt Bene-
ilcial Society. the Bavarian Society the
Swabian Sick Relief. the United North-
ern Germans of the Lowlands.
Others are secret societies which are
affiliated with natiouanI orders as tina
Arminius Lodge OF the Masonic Order
the OccasiG and Wilhelm Tell lodges
OF the Knights of Pythias. the Teutonic
Lodge OF the Sons OF Hermann, the
Druids. the Knights in Black.
Three societies represent trades-the
Washington Butchers, the Washington
Bakers Benevolent Associations. and
the Columbia Brewers Sick Relief So
ciety. Two are members OF the Ger
man Beneficial Union. with headquar-
tiers at Pittsburg. Pa: two others.
with life insurance features. are the
Communication BenevOlence Society.
and the CoucOrdia Circle.
The Columbia Turn Verein has for is
principal and GnaI aim the systematic
physical and mental development Of its
members.
Singing Societies,
There are four singing societies, the
Washington Saenger-Bund, the Ger
mania Maenner-Chor, the Arion, and
the Columbia Maenner-Chor.
The Society Of German Veterans
Of the Eighth Battalion. District Vol
unteers of 1861. is a society of veterans
of the civil war.
The German Historical Society has for
It's purpose the collecting. preserving.
and publishing of material relating 10
the history of the German element in
the territory or the District of Column
bia In It's original extent There are
several German clubs with literary,
poetical. and Psychological features.
The societies which have celebrated
their golden jubilee and have an exist |
ence Of over fifty years. are the Wash
ington Saengerbund, founded on April
Is, 1851; the COiG'nbla Turn VeTeiI. on
July H. 1882. ana The Butchers Associ-
alton, on October !, 1855.
Germans Recreation.
In his recreations. the German il
neither extravagant nor fantastic; his
taste is modest. Most numerous OF his
diversions are Observation-Disclosures
with a program made up of vocal and
instrumental numbers, recitations. some
times a short play, and such other fea- |
lures as tend to make a pleasant even :
Hg's entertainment The grand concerts |
of the singing societies. especially those I
of the Washington Saengerbund, with /
their trained chorus. sOloists and large 4
orchestra, are artistic treats A mask I
bah generally cOncludes the pre-Lenten /
season. In the summer, there are out !
ings. TO which on a Sunday morning. /
with baskets well filed. the entire fam 1
lily goes to spend a day, returning tired 1
but happy, and ready TO begin the 1
weeks work with renewed vlgor.
This matter of Sunday recreation has /
its logical reason. John TjaFks, prssi- 1
dent of the Independent Citizens UnioE f.,
of Baltimore, a few years ago. has !
voiced the ethical standpoint Of the !
German element on the sO-CaHed Sab /
bath question:
The German takes his enjoyment not /
alone but in company with his family. /
During the week, the good wife is never
idle: and when the husband comes home /
from his labors, after supper Is over
and things cleared away, 1t Is too late
to get the children dressed and all ready 1
to go Out-nor are the children always /
permitted to stay up late hence It fol-
lows that the only time left for recrea-
ton is on Sundays and other holidays:
Of these the German avails himself
In standing for a freer observance OF
Sunday he is not a Sabbath breaker.
but a Sabbath maker
No Room for Wickedness.
our temperance and Sunday questions
along with many others of a similar
nature VIII sink into insignificance the
moment we learn 10 provide FOR the
masses the proper forms Of enjoyment. /
because a heart overlooking with genu-
inc joy has no room for wickedness.
The German societies Of the District
Of Columbia have a central representa-
tive organization the ''Deutscher Cen
trail Verein," founded on December g.
1890. and incorporated on January TO-
1903. under the name of the Omitted
German Societies OF the District Of
One Of the purposes of the central
body is the annual celebration of Ger
man Day" in commemoration of the
of the first permanent German
IN America. In October. 1888.
at Germantown. Pa. This 225th ami
versary will be celebrated on Monday,
"A. at the Benning race track
by speeches. singing. games. races. ath-
I