Evening Star Newspaper, October 12, 1930, Page 95

Total Abstinence Society, causing George Sav- age and his followers to withdraw from that organization and to form soon afterward the Freemen's Vigllant Total Abstinence Society. Demonstrating that it sometimes pays to sep- arate when you cannot agree, we find that both organizations afterward did so well that the older organization soon had a membership of something like 2,000 names on its rolls, while the new society more than held its own by securing signers to the pledge to the extent of 2,300. For the better conduct of its affairs and for the purpose of holding its meetings the Free- men’s Society was badly in need of a hall of its own, and the cry for help was not listened to in vain, for it was heard by Gen. John P, Van Ness, who had married many years before Marcia, the heiress and the beautiful daughter of David Burnes, and who had died in 1832, leaving him a widower. Van Ness had served the city as its Mayor from 1830 to 1833, and while his life was near- ing its end, yet he still had a keen interest for the welfare of his adopted city, and though he had married into the family of a Scotsman, yet he evidently did not share in Robert Burns’ lines: “Give him strong drink until he wink ‘That'’s sinking in despair, An’ liquor guid to fire his bluid, That’s prest in grief an’ care. There let him bousé an’ deep carouse Wi pumpers flowing o’er Till he forgets his loves or debis An’ minds his griefs no more,” for he sat down and wrote a letter, of which the following is & part: Washingion, : June 2, 1843, To Messrs. Henshaw, Callan and Savage, Committee. Gentlemen: The interest I have long felt, and which is daily becoming more intense, in the just cause in whieh your constituent institution is engaged does not permit me to hesitate a moment about contributing my mite toward the success. Whoever loves virtue, morality and religion; whoever feels a concern for the happiness of his fellow creatures in this world, as well as in their efforts to prepare and qualify themselves for another far better, must be amply remuner- rated for such contribution, however liberal it may be, by the reflection of his having co-operated for those benevolent purposes. He ought to wish no greater reward. ‘Purther along in his letter the general ad- vised the committee that he would present them for the purpose indicated a lot on the south side of E street between Ninth and Tenth streets northwest, with the proviso that the title would not pass until $1,500 had been ex- pended on the proposed improvements. The value of the lot at that time was said to be $1,809.16, and its dimensions 40 feet front by 187 feet deep. TH.AT same year—I1843—the corner stone of the building was laid, and four years later it was ready for use, and for many years there- after it was used for the purpose for which it was erected. Its main hall was also available for entertainments of various kinds, and here even the celebrated Charles Dickens gave one This building, known as Temperance Hall, still stands at 914 E street northwest. Up at the top of the building can still be seen the words “Marint's Hall” and the date “1876,” which evidently is the year that Prof. Louis G. Marini, a celebrated dancing instructor of his day, moved into the building, where he lived and conducted his' dancing school, and many an old-timer will recall the soirees he attended here around 40 and 50 years ago. How interesting it is to compare an old dance program of 40 years ago with the present terpsichorean line-up. Then we had the waltz, lanciers, schottische, polka, quadrille and yorke, while now we have the fox-trot, toddle, waltz, Paul Jones and one-step. After this building was vacated by Prof. Marini it was occupled by several branches of the Government, including the Census Bureau, and in more recent years it has been given over to business purposes and the lower floor re- modeled. From time to time years ago there were many - temperance bodies in the District of Columbia, where now there are comparatively very few. In 1880, according to the City Direc- tory, there were the Sons of Temperance, Inde- Ppendent Order of Rechabites, Sons of Jonadab, Good Templars, Mutual Temperance Endow- ment Association, Juvenile Templars, Temple of Honor, the Washington Dashaways, and the Georgetown Dashaways. Today the writer is informed that there are but five temperance organizations in the city, namely, the Rechab- ites, the Sons of ‘Ponadab, Good Templars, Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and the Anti-Saloon League. FEWottherulold-umemmth- ington temperance work are living today. Probably the most active and conspicuous of those still interested in the work is John R. Mahoney, who is now nearing his eighty-second milestone, and though naturally not as young as he used to be, yet to all appearances seems to be hale and hearty. Mr. Mahoney is, and has been for years, the financial secretary of the Association of Oldest Inhabitants, and at its last meeting the writer sought from him some information regarding his activities in the temperance movement in this city, especially in comnection with the Rechabites, of which he has eccupied - about every local and national office and having been - for the past 17 years the High "Tent secretary. ~~ Mr. Mahoney told the writer -that he was made a member of Eagle Tent on January 16, 3865, -being -transferred from ' the juvenile branch of the order at that time, and has con-~ tinuously been active in the work. He says that the Rechabites were ofganized here under ‘circumistances. ' It seems ‘that in Janu- _8xy, 1847, Capt.' John WML, one of the original ‘of the walniigton Light Intantry, corh- THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. 'C, OCTOBER 12, 1930. e e e Group of Founders of the Sons of Jonadab: Center, Judge Samuel C. Mills; extreme right, James Croggon. missioned by President Iincoln as a captain in the Civil War, while in company with Charles B. Beveridge happened in the paint shop of W. T. Porter, then on the south side of Penn- sylvania 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 up old and worn-out copies of the Scriptures and used the pages {o 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 being picked up by Capt. Mills l«mdtobetbatwtolflwfioly!lble 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 for a charter, and on February 3, 1847, Mount Vernon Tent, No. 208, was organized in the bzllcosv:r t::e livery stable of Walker & on reet near the National Hotel, the charter disclosing the names of Christopher Spence, John Mills, John Morrell, C. B. Beveridge, W. Nailor, Christopher Cammack, W. H. Fanning, Edward Speaker, Michael French and John Simmons. Cam: THERE are today in Washington but two tents of this order—Eagle Tent, No. 209, and Onward Tent, No. 1021—all 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’ Hall, Beventh and G streets southeast, now used as a manual training school, and its charter mem- bers were all prominent residents of that sec- tion. They included Michael Carrol, Robert Harkness, John Carter, William E. Hutchinson, Isaac Rollins, William Ready, Charles A. Cox, Henry Getzandanner, Willam H. Thompson, William H. Magill, W. D. Heinlein, E. Evans, George Allen, James Rollins, 8. Grandison and 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. Cull (a justice of the peace), John B. Rose, Charles Russell, William Marche, Lemuel Lusby, Samuel Lusby, William Bailey, John G. Slater, William Slater, Robert Ferguson, Rev. John T. Lighter, Joshua Cooksey and Peter R. J. Cooksey, the latter a Civil War veteran, who died a few years ago in the United States Soldiers’ Home, and who was the father of Mrs. Jane E. 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- izing of the Anti-Saloon League. Indeed, per- haps no one had more to do with the organiz- ing of the local branch of this body than did Mr. Mahoney, as is evident by the write-up in ‘The Star of May 13, 1893, the day following the forming of this body, which reads, in part: “The first movement looking to the forma- tion of a national temperance league was made _last night at Typographical Hall. 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 a number of people, a large majority " ‘of whom were women, attended, “Mr. John 'R. MaMNoney, who is grand secretary ganization for the purpose of fighting the liquor dealers and compelling a strict observance of the law. Mr. H. R. Stewart moved the appointment of a permanent chairman, and named Mr. Ma- honey for the position. He was unanimously chosen, and Mr. W. S. Rowley was elected secretary. “Upon motion' of Mr. Stewart, the chairman appointed the following committee to make ar- rangements for a monster mass meeting: H. R. Stewart, Rev. W. H. Brooks, F. M. Bradley, Rev. Mr. Muir, Rev. Thomas B. Marche, J. A. Van Bleck, Rev. W. A. Creditt, Mrs. 8. D. La Fetra, Mrs. Margaret B. Platt, Mrs, W. S. Rowley, Mrs. M. E. Cohen and Mrs. Gillenwater. beginning here and which spread through- mmmlfldmhedffltmym was the Sons of Jonadab. Its minute book shows that the first meeting was held here, at the residence of Asbury Lioyd, 389 E street (old numbering), on Sep- tember 13, 1867, just a little more than sixty- three years ago. At this initial meeting there were present Samuel C. Mills, E. C. Eckloff, James J. Campbell, Asbury Lloyd, W. P. Laselle and James Croggon. Of this meeting the rec- ord states: “S. C. Mills was called to the chair and James Croggon appointed secretary, and after the chair had stated the object of the meeting E. C. Eckloff moved that those present form a permanent organization under the name of the Sons of Jonadab and a committee be appointed to revise any work which might be submitted, frame a constitution, etc., which was agreed to. “Mr. Eckloff also moved that those present before proceeding further take the following pledge, which was agreed to: “‘I hereby declare that I will abstain from all intoxicating liquors, and will not give nor offer them to others, except in religious ordi- nances or when prescribed by a medical prac- tioner. I will not engage in the traffic of them, and in all suitable ways will discountenance the use, manufacture and sale of them, and to the utmost of my power will endeavor to spread the principles of abstinence from™all - intoxicating drinks. To which I pledge my most sacred honor.” This organization was started principally by newspaper men, lawyers and men around the Courthouse. From the first it was a success and grew rapidly, and many thousands assumed its pledge and joined its ranks. Because of discord, one portion of its members withdrew and formed the Independent Order, Sons of Jonadab, but on April 15, 1928, the two bodies were reunited under the original name, and it now includes, besides the Sovereign Council, three subordinate councils—Pioneer, Hope, and John C. Daley—which meet regularly each week in its old headquarters, 623 Louisiana avenue. John C. Foster, an attorney at law of this city, is the present sovereign chief of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. T Is interesting to look back over this eid minute book and read the names of the early members of this organization. James Croggon, for instance, one of its founders, re- ported for The Star. for many years, and his reminiscences on old Washington, published in this, paper, will ever be remembered. Indeed, it is quite probable that when all the puble cemeteries in this vicinity have been done away will be pleasing some antiquarian or ¥ thirsting for knowledge in some place where The Star may be found. Samuel C, Mills was one of the pioneer stal- warts, and is well remembered as a municipal judge here in Washington and as having beem prominently identified with the city’s activities. So far as known, but one of the original members of the Jonadabs is living, and thas happens to be the writdr’s uncle, William H. Proctor, now in his eighty-ninth year. His name appears in the constitution of the order, printed in 1867, at the time of its organization, the other names being Asbury Lloyd (patri- arch), E. C. Eckloff (past chief), S. C. Mills (chief), J. Croggon (deputy chief), James J, Campbell (secretary), A. B. Talcott (guide), Arthur Shepherd (inside watchman), R. H. Boswell (outside watchman), W. P. Laselle, John S. Slater, Thomas Dennis, M. Y. Holley, L. P. Siebold, T. E. W. Feinour, W. H. Young, Joseph F. Hodgson, John O. Cunningham, H. B. Curtis, Joseph Harris, J. C. Proctor, J. M. P. Hough and Julius De Saules. Other early members were A. Rodgers, W. S, McKean, A. W. De Maine, W. W. Hayne, J. McDermott, F. L. Buckingham, W. S, McKean, J. F. Hodgson, E. T, Eckloff, Charles Maxwell, R. H. Moore, J. W. Thompson, Joseph F. Wills active part. Father Matthew, Father Walter and Msgr. Mackin were of those.representing the Roman Catholic faith, who were a great force in ald of the cause. g} e The writer had the pleasure of meeting Pather Mackin a short while before he passed away, though he does not personally remember the two other priests. April 5, 1894, and his §F THL tpilety jilid i : T 5§§§§_§§;E;55§ : Camncx eradication seems to havebut a single obstacle in the path of its com= plete success, and that is the ignorant, obstie nate attitude on the part of many cattle owners who question the practical knowledge of “those white-collared farmers” in Washington. In 10 o(thelSStateslntheSwthwhlchwenorjfi inally quarantined because of the tick, the tick has been eliminated and the restrictions lifted, but in the others some sections still exist where the antipathy to’ the advice of an expert still