Evening star., 1909-06-19

James Croggon one of the five founders
of the Order of the Sons of Jonadab. was
honored last night by members of Pioneer
Council. No. 1. in the ceremonies attend
ing the presentation of his picture to the
council.
The picture. large photograph en-
belliShed in water colorS by an artist
member of the order. heavily framed in
oak. was presented by committee and
received by the worthy chief. Several
speeches were made in open meeting. and
at the completion of the exercises re-
freshments were served. Members of Mr.
Croggons family and friends from other
councils were present.
Mr. Croggon and Judge Samule c. Mills
are the survivors of the five men who
founded the order September Is, 1851.
There is a bust of Judge Mills in the
council room above the seat of the worthy
chief
Committee Procures Portrait.
Several weeks ago a movement was
started to pay q similar tribute to Mr.
Croggon. The matter was placed iii the
hands of a committee, composed of A.
II. Ragan. B. f. Larcombe and Frank J.
Mckenna. They obtained an excellent
photograph of Mr.. Croggon, had it en-
larged and embellished by Leopold Oh
jesha an artist member of the council
Worthy Chief G.. f. Sudwarth presided
at the meeting last night, and after an
informal opening, the committee made its
report and presented the picture. As
chairman of the committee. Mr.. Ragan,
making the presentation, said in part:
I'VE are sure that time passes this
picture will be treasured as our tribute to
associate of Judge Mills in founding
this. the Pioneer Council, No. l. Sons of
in the emancipation of the drinking man.
In the reconstruction period in 1910
there was much drinking in Washington.
and especially about the city hall or
council house, which was at that time a
stamping ground for drinking men.
Numerous saloons in the vicinity were
well patronized. 1t was about the court
house that there was the most need for
temperance and missionary work. Among
the parties concerned in correcting this
evil were Brother Mills and Brother
Croggon.
Foundation of Order.
The idea of the formation of new
temperance organization found favor.
These two men with three others laid the
foundation of our order in 1867.
In a few weeks the numbers increased
and a hall was hired. The first meetings
were held Saturday nights, the time men
usually spend in drinking. Since then the
order has fourished.
In accepting the picture for the coun-
Gil, Worthy Chief SudWarth declared that
Mr. Croggon and the other founders of
the order builded better than they knew,
and that the superstructure that arose
on their foundation far surpassed their
original conception. He said that their
plan had succeeded we'll that they
must have been guided by Higher
Power.
He told of the growth of the order and
Of the gratitude it's members felt toward
Mr.. Croggon and the other founders. To
show the work accomplished by the order
he compared the conditions existing to-
day with those that obtained just follow
ing the civil war, when. he said almost
everybody III Washington drank more or
less.
Mr.. Croggon's Response.
Mr. Crosgon then called upon. AS
he arose to speak he was heartily ap-
plauded. He expressed his appreciation
of the honor that had been conferred
upon him by his brother members of
Pioneer Council and then gave some per-
sonal recollections of the days when
the order was started.
He told of how the five men who
founded it met September IL, 1861. took
the pledge and then entered upon the
work of inducing others to join them In
order to organize the work and make
1t effective, each man offered suggestions
and these were collected and compared.
From them a ritual for the newly form
ed order was evolved. Commonplace
emblems and peculiar songs were adopted
and ceremonies prepared which were cal
euated to make lasting impression
upon those who took the pledge and
were initiated in the order.
Mr. rroggon explained that one Of the
characteristic features of the Sons of
Jonadah which distinguishes it. from
other temperance bodies. is that a viola
tion of the pledge works permanent ex-
pulsion. This. he said, has done more
than anything else to help the members
Of the order in keeping their obligations
The Sons of Jonadab. like all other or
ders, he said, had it's ups and downs. but
it was now f1ourishing and prosperous
and had many noted refoI1nations to its
credit.
A letter was read from Judge Mills,
who expressed regret that he was unable
to be present. A verbal message from
him was brought by Judge Nichols
who spoke of the lasting benefits of the
order and OF the gratitude due its
founders.