HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

CHAPTER XXVI.

SECRET ORDERS OF LANCASTER-THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.

FREE MASONRY.---Extract of a letter from Hon. Wm. J. Reese. Past Worthy Grand Master: "The Masonic fraternity obtained a formal and recognized status in Lancaster at an early period. December 15, 1820, Lancaster Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was constituted, under charter from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ohio, with James Wilson for its Worthy Master, Charles R. Sherman, first Senior Warden, and Jacob D. Detrich, first Junior Warden." The Lancaster Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized by the authority of the M. E. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Ohio, January 12, 1826, with Charles R. Sherman as First High Priest. The Lancaster Council, No. 3, of Royal Select Masons, was organized January 11, 1828, by John Barker, as Sovereign Grand Inspector of the Supreme Council of the 33d degree. The Lancaster Commandery of Knights Templar, No. 2, was orstituted December 16, 1837, under warrant of the Grand Encampment of the United States. W. J. Reese was constituted first Grand Master; George Sanderson, first Generalissimo, and Joseph Greet, first Captain General. It meets every second Tuesday of the month. The Lancaster Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, at its first constitution, in December, 1820, numbered fifty-seven members. In the summer of 1881 its number was one hundred and fifty. Its regular meeting nights are on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. DAUGHTERS OF REBECCA.---The membership of this order numbers about ninety persons, of both sexes. Their meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month. The order was first instituted in Lancaster in 1879. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.---Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 48, of the Knights of Pythias, was instituted in Lancaster February 20, 1873. The charter members were twenty-seven, viz: Henry B. Gray, J. H. Heed, Leo Billhorn, R. R. Pierce, John A. Heim, J. A. Richards, C. A. Scoville, William Ditto, George Heilbron, R. M. Wiley, J. A. Bartholomew, U. C. Rudolph, H. Getz, C. H. Towson, W. W. Obough, O. S. Stoneburner, Noble Gates, T. C. Ochs, J. Billhorn, H. Borneman, F. Etzel, J. D.Widner, W. F. Getz, M. H. Harps, S. H. Steck, A. Deitz, C. Bartholomew. Average number of members about two hundred. The stated meetings of the lodge are held on Friday night of each week. KNIGHTS OF HONOR.---The order of the Knights of Honor, Columbia Lodge, No. 27, of Lancaster was instituted September 9th, 1874, by the following initial members: John W. Faringer, John C. Tuthill, John C. Hite, J. M. Sutphen, A. M. Beery, Wm. B. MacCracken, 178

Wallace W. Hite, William Bush, Dr. George Boerstler, J. D. Allen, Robert Durane, Henry B. Peters, Solomon Weaver, M. A. Philips. In March, 1877, the lodge contained fifty-four members. Their regular meetings take place on the evening of the first and third Thursday of each month. ODD FELLOWSHIP.---The order of Independent Odd Fellows was introduced into Lancaster in February, 1838 by Jacob Holt. On the night of the eighth day of that month, a lodge was instituted, with the following initial members, viz., Jacob Holt, R. R. Bauer, R. Timber, Jacob Grubb, George H. Arnold and R. P. Hazlett. The title they assumed was Charity Lodge, No. 7. The lodge meets regularly every Monday,day evening. They now number over two hundred members. On the 2nd of June, 1847, the second lodge was initiated in Lancaster, under the name of Alpine Lodge, and was numbered 566. The organization was by Joseph Dowdal, P. G., Representative and Special Deputy. There were fifty charter members, as follows; R. G. Sugart, P. G., B. F. Reinmund, P. G., A. Brenneman, P. G., H. J. Reinmund, P. G., J. C. Hite, P. G., Thomas H. Hall, George M. Bell, George W. Boerstler, T. H. Dolson, L. Kissner, T. Reap, Lewis Boyer, Abe Myers, Charles Elliot, C. F. Ochs, Leo Bilhorn, John A. Heim, Allen Titler, Jacob Heimbarger, Simpson Sturgeon, J. E. Hall, George A. Bryant, John McKown, Henry Borneman, E. W. Dannels, P. G., H. C. Outcalt, P. G., H. B. Smith, P. G., W. W. Davis, M. S. Harps, William Kooken, J. M. Sutphen, William Strayer, William Ditto, D. W. Boyer, B. H. Sowders, R. J. Harris, William Dennis, John Billhorn, W.W. Walker, Christ. Gaiser, O. S. Stoneburner, G. H. Smith, A. M. Beery, J. K. Davis, A. W. Swartz, William F. Getz, James Wilson, John W. Farringer, P. G., William Downs, P. G. The Alpine Lodge meets every Tuesday night. The Hocking encampment of Odd Fellows, No. 28, was instituted December 4, 1847. The encampment meets each second and fourth Thursday of the month. The present membership is over two hundred. The charter members were seven in number: Jacob Holt, James W. Pratt, B. F. Brannon, Thomas Hyde, Josiah Wilson, Joseph C. Kinkead, William Baker. ST. JOSEPH'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, CATHOLIC BROTHERHOOD. The brotherhood was constituted on the second of July, 1861, with a large membership. The officers of the association are: L. C. Butch, President; George E. Blaire, Vice President; Gerhardt Miller, Treasurer; John Weigle, Recording Secretary; Charles F. Fuchs, Corresponding Secretary; Leo. Noles, Messenger; Thomas O. Connor, Banner Bearer; Charles Baumeister, Joseph Kurtzman and John Bletzacker, Committee to visit the sick. KNIGHTS OF ST. GEORGE.---This is also a Catholic order, the principles and objects of which are benevolence and charity and the promotion of Christian life. The order was first organized in Lancaster, Nov. 2, 1875, with the following constituent members, numbering thirty-one: Edward Seiple, Geo. Brown, John Hamburger, Michael Steck, 179

Edward Binninger, Bernard Cranmer, Bernard Bartles, F. A. Buechler, Hugh Owens, Maximillian Guiana, Jerry Anglim, Frank Oger, Gustave A. Hamburger, Anthony Evarst, Joseph Hamberger, Amos Shreller, John D. Binninger, Daniel McShane, John Bonner, Michael Oger, John Baumeister, Paul Evarst, Charles Ruforth, John Bletzaker, John McShane, Andrew Keiser, John Kooney, Cornelius Cormedy, William Donnelly, Anthony Ritter, Frank Steck. The civil officers are as follows: Rev. Father Schmidt, Honorary President; Frank Oger, President; Anthony Evarst, Vice President; Charles Baumeister, Corresponding Secretary; J. H. Hamburger, Recording Secretary; John D. Binninger, treasurer; Jerry Anglim, Messenger. The military officers are Joseph Hamburger, Captain; Michael Oger, Lieutenant; John Baumeister, Orderly Sergeant. KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN, CATHOLIC.---This association effected its organization on June 20, 1880. Its objects and aims are to promote charity, assist members in sickness and advance the cause of religion among its members. TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.---The first temperance movement, of which record has been preserved, is that wherein the citizens of the little log cabin village devised and carried out the plan of condemning intoxicated men to dig up a stump in the street, or receive personal chastisement on the bare back; and to use General Sandersons own words, "The result was that after several offenders had expiated their crimes, dram drinking ceased, and for a time all became a sober, temperate and happy people." In subsequent years and up to 1840-2, frequent temperance waves struck the community. Under their influence various forms of temperance societies were organized, always on the moral suasion plan, but always of temporary and brief continuance. In all these movements a majority of the leading spirits were women. But there was never such a preponderance of the popular sentiment as to overcome the opposition and the excitement was short lived. In some instances church people objected to their minister preaching temperance, or in any way bringing the question into the pulpit. Business men as a rule either ignored the matter, or opposed it. In 1842 the Washingtonian movement came up, first in the Methodist church, led by prominent men and women. They proposed to pursuade men not to drink; they proposed to stoop down into the gutter and lift the drunkard to his feet and take him by the hand and call him brother, and heal him by the law of brotherly love and regard, by causing him to feel that be was a brother and an equal. This promised to be a good work, but the leaders in the movement, in their zeal, drew drafts that they were not qualified to honor. They had not realized that in the social scale they could neither raise the debased man to their level, nor come down to his. The scheme failed and the gap was widened. Washingtonianism in Lancaster had but a brief career, lasting less than one year. Following was a paralysis of several years, when the order of Sons of Temperance sprang up. Its career was between 1845-48. Two lodges were organized, a large number becoming members. The 180

projectors were sober men, and the order became widely popular, and many drinking men came in. The obligation was very stringent, embracing even the prohibition of cider. Its very stringency was a prime element in its dissolution. Internal disturbing elements arose, but as the institution was a secret order, these are not matters of public history. Suffice it to say the order dissolved in less than two years. Next came the Woman's Crusade, the active campaign of which continued about three months. In this movement the leading ladies of Lancaster were engaged. Their first appearance on the streets was on a Saturday, when the city was crowded with people from the country. It was in the month of February, and the weather was mild and genial. They came out about fifty strong, and as they marched down Main street, on the north side, they halted in front of every drinking-place, and, after singing a hymn, all kneeled on the pavement, and remained in that position while two or three prayers were offered. In this movement Protestants, Catholics, and non-professors all engaged. First, a committee was sent in to ask of the proprietor permission to enter and hold their services. In some instances they were invited in and treated with courtesy, but when entrance was denied the services were held on the pavement. During the whole course of the campaign they were, with two or three exceptions, treated respectfully by the liquor-sellers. In the exceptional cases there was a rudeness that came nigh proving disastrous to the shop-keepers by calling to the defence of the women even rough men, who were unfriendly to the crusade. The effect on the thousands who witnessed the daily processions was magical. The finest and most wealthy ladies of the city marched in the processions in their finest attire, and kneeled in the snow, or on the wet and dirty pavement. Large numbers came in from the country to witness the strange spectacle, even from considerable distances. The crusaders, within a short time, numbered more than two hundred, and were organized in two divisions. They appeared every day, regardless of the condition of the weather, the respective divisions occupying different streets. Their marches were in double file, slow and silent, and therefore the more imposing. The effect on the traffic was not very apparent, and, so far as was known, not more than two or three establishments were closed under the influence. The object of the crusade was the ultimate suppression of the sale of intoxicating drinks within the incorporated limits of Lancaster. With the masses it was popular in the outstart, both from principle and novelty, but it was not backed up by the presence and purses of leading men. After the excitement began to die away the crusade began to languish, and, at the end of about three months, the crusaders ceased to appear on the streets. Weekly prayer-meetings, however, were continued in one of the churches, about one year after which the woman's crusade passed into history, with little hope of a resurrection. It is written as "the woman's crusade against whisky," and will long be remembered in Lancaster and Fail-field county; and though not a success, it received the hearty approval of a large proportion of the people in town and country. In the latter part of February or early part of March, 1876, the 181

Murphy movement was opened at the city hall, under flattering circumstances. Popular speakers were introduced from abroad, and the meetings were opened with wonderful zeal and enthusiasm. The large city hall was nightly packed to the door; nor did the excitement show signs of abatement before the close of the fifth week. Clergymen of nearly all denominations were in nightly attendance on the platform. Fresh speakers from other cities were invited, and came frequently during the progress of the meetings. A fine organ, and a strong band of singers made up from the choirs of the city, added greatly to the attraction. ''With charity for all and malice toward none" enthused the people, and they crowded to the secretary's table, at every invitation, and signed the pledge, "God helping me." Among those signing, from first to last, it was estimated that there were over three hundred drinking men. Many of the reformed men took the field at once, and made speeches in the villages and country places of the county, some going to other parts of the State. In all, the list of signers exceeded twenty-three hundred, including most of the boys at the Reform Farm. The Murphy excitement waned, and the ebullition of the popular enthusiasm, in seeking its wonted equilibrium, went as far below its normal standard as it had been raised above during the five and more weeks of excitement. Inside of three months after the close of the nightly meetings, at the city hall one hundred persons could not have been drummed into the hall to hear any man make a temperance speech. Even the clergy, and others who had taken leading parts, had too much to occupy their attention even to come to the hall. Some of them did not want to hear any thing more of temperance. Of the three hundred and more drinking men who had signed the Murphy pledge, but few kept it to the end of the year. But notwithstanding these incomprehensible reactionary movements, there has, at all times, been a large and thoroughly respectable temperance element among Lancaster's population, an honest and reliable temperance element, outspoken, and ready to act at any time and in any way that meets their views. All temperance movements of Lancaster have been, in some way, based on moral suasion. Any measure looking towards legal prohibition, or political temperance, has had few advocates. The Catholic Church has its own temperance measures, which, for the most part, have been imperiously enforced, as far as possible. They are not exclusively of the moral suasion kind, but in part author- itative. By this combination of motive the Catholic Church has probably accomplished more among its own people than all other temperance measures ever started in Lancaster. The first active measures started in that Church, in Lancaster, was under the pastorate of the Rev. Father Young, in 1842, and was maintained for some time. The obli- gation was known as the Father Matthew pledge; and, while to sign it was the voluntary act of the individual, the Church punished drunkenness by methods of its own. Immediately after the close of the War of the Rebellion, a number of gentlemen, mostly professional men of the city, mutually associated themselves together for the purpose of a temperance league. Some of them were drinkers. The city hall was secured, and meetings were 182

held once each week throughout the entire winter. Scores of earnest speeches were delivered to full houses. No pledge was offered, the reliance being on individual moral courage and manhood. The winter passed away, the meetings ceased, and the speeches, with their influ- ence, if any there was, fell into the drifting sands of the ages, no more to be recognized by living generations. The Good Templars, Daughters of Rebecca, and all other secret orders, of Lancaster, make temperance a cardinal principle. The good they have done, or may do, will inure to community. Perhaps it should be recorded that the absolute failure of all the temperance efforts of the people of Lancaster to accomplish the end sought is wholly due to the want of concert of action in one direction. 183

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