Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-12

mtsSioned by President lincoln as q captain In
the Civil War, while in company with Charles
B. Beveridge happened in the paint shop Of
W. T. Porter, then the south side of Penn
syiVania avenue near Sixth street, where now
stands the building used until recently as the
St James Hotel.
In those days, according to Mr.. Mahoney, the
manufacturers of gold leaf, in order to stimu-
late an interest in the Bible cut I'D old and
worn-out copies Of the Scriptures and used the
pages to separate the gold leaf It was in this
way and at this time that one Of them
noticed one OF the interleaves lying on the
moor, and though soiied somewhat with
Cooacco stains stin 1t was readable Upon
being picked up by Capt. Mills it was
found TO be that part of the Holy Bible
containing the thirty-fifth chapter of Jeremiah.
Mills and Beveridge became greatly impressed.
and determined to form an order, to be known
as the Rechabites. This however. they found
upon inquiry had already been done elsewhere
IN the United States and in England the for
mer as the Independent Order Of Rechabites.
Soon they had arranged with the parent body
Ior charter, and on February 8, I847, Mount
vernon Tent No. 208, was organized in the
hall over the livery stable of Walker 4. EimmeI
on street near the National Hotel the charter
oisclosfng the names Of Christopher Snence
Jonn Mills, John Morrell, c. B. Beyeridoe 20
Naitor Christopher Cammack, w H. Tanning
EDWARD Speaker, Michael French and John
summons. Cammack Is said to have been q
eanor, with shop on street, opposite the old
Epbitt House, in front of which he had as . sion
OF identification a golden sheep.
THERE are today in Washington but two
tents of this order-Eagle Tent, No. 299 and
Onward Tent, No. 1021-an the others having
died for lack of interest. Eagle Tent is espe-
cially noteworthy, since it is probably at this
time the oldest temperance lodge in the United
States. having been instituted on January 16,
1849, and plans are now under way to celebrate
its eighty-second anniversary.
Eagle Tent first met in Odd Fellows Hail.
Seventh and streets southeast, now used as
manual training school, and its charter menu
bers were all prominent residents of that Sec
ton. They included Michael Carol, Robert
Hardness. John Carter, william E. Hutchinson,
Isaac Rollins, William Ready, Charles A. Cox
Henry Getzandanner, william H. Thompson,
William H. Magill, w. D. Heinlein, E. Evans
George Allen, James Rollins, s. Grandson and
8. TansiIl.
Other early members were John d. Boteler,
Pastor Monroe of the Fourth Street Church,
John Holroyd, William F. Dove, John wilkin-
son, DR.. 8. A. H. McKim, Henry Kelley, Robert
Peake, Thomas Marche, Thomas B. Marche
J. p. Gull "a justice of the peace, John B.
Rose, Charles Russell, William Marche, Lemuel
Lusby, Samuel Lusby, William Bailey, John G.
RAatSIJ WAlam SIaCeTS ftODeFC ferguson, Rev.
John T. Lighter. Joshua Cooksey and Peter r.
j. Cooksey, the latter a Civil War veteran, who
died few years ago in the United States
Soldiers Home, and who was the father of Mrs.
Jane Z. Walker of this city.
EAGLE TENT of Rechabites has done some
very good work in its time for the cause
Of temperance, being prominent in the organ
tzng Of the Anti-Saloon League. Indeed, per-
haps no one had more to do with the organic
ing OF the local branch of this body than did
Mr.. Mahoney, as IS evident by the write-up in
The Star Of May IS, 1898, the day following the
forming Of this body, which reads, in part:
'The first movement looking to the forma-
ton of a national temperance league was made
last night at Typographical Hail. A number Of
temperance advocates early in the week decided
to call a mass meeting for the purpose of con-
sidering the advisability Of such an organiza-
tion and number of people, large. majority
OF whom were women, attended.
Mr. John r. Mahoney. who is grand secretary
of the Good Templars. explai9sd the objects OF
the meeting, which were to bring about an DR.