The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-10-31
GOOD TEmpLARs OF THE WORLD
Merritt B. Morgan Writes of the In
ternational Convention.

thirty-eight Good Templar newspap-
ers published in Germany, one of
which has a circulation of 10000
copies. Lodges are formed in the
army and in the navy, the good work
performed in the latter direction Sc
curing the outspoken CONTAMINATION
of Emperor William, who advised the
naval cadets to join the Good Temp
lar Order Hamburg and its adjoin.
ing city of Altoona has $50 Good Tenn
plar Lodges.
On arrival at Hamburg the greater
number of our party located at the
Hotel Germania, and a few who
thought there was nothing too good
for us, staid at the Hamburger Hof
one of the best hotels in the city,
where the International Supreme
Lodge officers were staying and in
the evening attended a brilliant Of
fetal reception festival in Music hall,
which proved to be magnificent
function In addition to the Interna-
tional and Grand Lodge officers and
representatives, the State President
of Hamburg, together with members
of the State Senate, and the city
government were present, and the
spacious hall was filled.
A great Good Templar choir of four
hundred voices, including some of the
finest soloists in the city, with an or
chestra of one hundred instruments
rendered a most delightful program
of vocal and instrumental music.
The Grand Templar of Germany, Her
man Blume, delivered an address of
welcome, in German, and Interna-
tional Templar, Edward Wavrinsky
replied in German and English, very
much to the delight of those who did
not understand German The other
speakers included several municipal
and State officers.
Whit Monday being general holt
day and festival in the Lutheran
church and the weather being every
thing that could be desired, thous-
ands of Good Templars focked into
Hamburg. A special badge had
been prepared in bronze with the ma
tional colors, red, white and black
which was worn by the visitor and
resident Good Templars, of which
there are over 10000 in Hamburg
and Altoona alone. No matter where
you went this badge was seen every
where and was splendid advertise
ment for the Order. To lake clear
the interest and energy of the Ger
man Good Templars In addition to
the distribution of the leaflets before
referred to from seven to ten O'Clock
in the morning the Juvenile superin
tendents held their annual meeting
followed at three o'clock with larger
juvenile gatherings; at the same time
a district lodge was held in the Great
hall, attended by over 1000 Coco
Templars. AT five o'clock the TEN
plars had a gathering at the Beebel
Cafe, which was crowded with younl
people, and at eight o'clock These
meetings were held in connection
with the German Grand Lodge, anG
before the meeting of the lnterna
tional.
The Grand Lodge of Germany hell
its meetings in SagebeiPs handsome
and commodious hall, commencing a
seven o'clock in the morning and a
that early hour there was a large al
tendance. Those who were priyilel
ed to see the great crowd, and tn
trooping of nearly one thousand cal
didates to receive the Grand Lodg
degree, forming very much the larl
est class ever seen for that degree
will not readily forget il, for it wa
a most imposing and impressiv
sight. During its two days session
no fewer than 1868 candidates r
ceiyed the degree This fact speak
eloquently as to the progress of II
Order in the Fatherland.
An international Exhibition againi
Alcohol was held in one of the grei
halls in Hamburg and never in Il
: history OF the Order has there bee
, such a display OF Temperance lite
ature, diagrams. cartoons, portrait
and pictures, aids to temperance
struction, alcohol free beverage
etc, etc. This well arranged exhit
ton which was indeed striking o
ject lesson. and could not fail
carry conviction to many minds, WI
continued for ten days, with FRI
admission, and was visited by ov,
=, 10000 persons most OF whom evinc,
great interest in the instructive e
hibits. The American section look
very small in comparison with Il
others A large variety of drinl
said to be free from alcohol al
which are being made extensively
meet new conditions were on exhil
ton.
These exhibits were later shown
the Hague Conference and the Int
national Congress against Alcoholis
which met at the invitation of QueC
Wilhelmina and her government
Holland in September Those WI
suggested. planned and carried OF
this most educative bit of work d
serve highest commentator. II WI
a pleasing and animated scene {
which the officers and members loo
ed when Edward Wavrinsky, OF
greatly esteemed presiding Office
called the International Supren
Lodge to order prompt to the minu
at eight o'clock in the morning. Son
thought this too early, but our &c
man brethren believe in working
Good Templary both early and lat
Despite the early hour there was
full muster OF representatives.
The birthplace of the Order, Il