USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Annals of Luzerne County; a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes > Part 29
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Make haste with the crow-bar, dear Pat, if you love me, Before that he takes all the hair off my head."
'Twas a poor old land tortoise that Terrence thus frighted, Who came very gravely to view the canawl-
(Perhaps he was thinking the contracts were slighted, Or, perhaps he was thinking of getting a fall,
Or, perhaps he was sent to report to great planners,
The damage that farms would sustain by the cut,
Employed by the gentlemen lords of the manors, A low estimation on meadows to put.)
Pat came with his bar to assist his friend Terry,
Like a true son of Erin to give and take knocks --- " Och, brother !" says he, " but you've made yourself merry, For I see nothing here but a snake in a box !" MARCH 10, 1831.
The following was written by a venerable superannu- ated Methodist preacher, who, several years ago, resided in Luzerne county. He was in the habit of rhyming, during the long winter evenings, for the amusement of his wife and children. The old gentleman, after reading his effusions aloud, generally committed them to the
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flames, but when " Mush and Milk" was read and laid on the table, a mischievous son cautiously slipped it away, and next week, to the astonishment of the aged preacher, it appeared in the town newspaper.
MUSH AND MILK.
As dame and I sat by the fire, One cold and stormy night, I said to her, " My dear, I feel The rhyming maggot bite.
" Come tell me what to write about"- "Why mush and milk, you dunce," She said, and seemed in snappish mood ; " Agreed," said I, " for once."
I took the hint and went to work, Each word and line to scan, And, wrapt in true poetic fire, My work I thus began :-
Bob Burns applauds the Scotchmen's haggis, And tells how well it fills their baggies ; John Bull brags much of beef and stout, And Dutch folks of their speck and crout ; Let me, in verses Hudibrastic, Stretch my muse like gum-elastic, To sing the praise of mush and milk, That ne'er made saint or sinner wilk ; Though many speak in scorn about it, And if they could from earth would scout it.
The Yankees call it-stop ! dod rot it, How strange it is, that I've forgot it; O, now I have it-hasty pudding, Though they confess it is a good 'un, And would be glad, in times of want, To fill their slab-sides with a "mess on't." Dad Matthews, too-the darned old lout- They say, nick-names it-"stirabout,'
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And strange enough, that the canaille- Whether they thresh with horse or flail, Or cut the wheat with scythe or sickle, Should put patricians in a pickle- Find so much fault, and scold and pout, And in contempt turn up the snout ; Blazing it round to saint and sinner, That they get mush and milk for dinner ; Backbite their betters and be huffy, Unless they have their tea or coffee ! Good gracious ! why fair Queen Victoria, Often exclaims " sic transit gloria ;" And though she's clad in gold and silk, Fills her wame with mush and milk : It does me good to see the wenches Knocking about the chairs and benches, And o'er the old pot twist and bend, Until the potstick stands on end ; And then to see the precious stuff Blister and swell, and snort and puff, Just like wild horses in a frolic, Or Ætua when she has the cholic.
Hail mush and milk, my heart's delight ! I could sup thee day and night ; It gives its lovers bone and muscle, And fits for boxing or for tussle ; It sets class-leaders dancing jigs, And turns old tories into whigs ; It is by far the cheapest food, That hogs or poor folks ever chewed. To see it on the table smoking, Would be to Job himself provoking ; And then the tin-cup and the spoon, " Ready for action" night and noon ! Though I ought perhaps to tell ye, It sometimes sadly scours the belly ; Yet should you fill choke-full your gizzard, You'll never dream of De'il nor wizard ; Nor yet of spooks nor midnight hag, Galloping round on broomstick nag, Nor grinning ghosts -
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Thus I was going on, when dame Screamed out with all her might- " I never was so terrified As I have been this night !
" Why, what a cruel man you be, To scare your nervous wife ; Confound your varmints, I believe You mean to take my life.
" Who ever heard such awful things ? It makes my blood to chill, To hear such talk of grinning ghosts ; For goodness' sake be still.
" Do stop your nonsense-go to bed- 'Tis now half after ten ; I'm scared to death-I'll die this night"'- Quoth I-" agreed again !"
The following address to a " L'and Tortoise" was writ- ten by Richard Drinker, Esq., formerly of Covington township, and published in J. R. Chandler's Magazine, in Philadelphia, in 1819.
ADDRESS TO A LAND TORTOISE.
Guid mornin', frien', ye're earlie creepin' ! Wi' head erect about ye peepin'- Ane steady gait ye alway keep in, Aye sure and slaw- I doubt the time ye tak' to sleep in Is unco sma'.
Your crawlin' pits me aye in mind O' tortles o' the human kind- How many crawlers do we find 'Mang sons of men, Wi' thoughts unto the earth inclined Until the en' ?
Ah ! now ye've shut yoursel' up tight;
I fear ye're in an awsome fright
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At seein' sic an unco sight As my queer face. Gang on your gait ! I'm no the wight Wad harm your race.
Albins I might for fun or fame Just carve upon your hard auld wame The twa initials o' my name, An' whin I meet ye, And then-nae ither right I'd claim Than down to set ye.
Ye'll live a hundred years, they say, An' mony a weary mile ye gae, An' mony a hunder eggs ye lay. Ye queer auld beast, Whilk gies the snake, your mortal fae, Fu' mony a feast.
But fare ye well ! I now maun leave ye, I ken my absence winna grieve ye- Wi' jingling Scotch nae mair I'll deave ye, An' ithers too- Aince an' for aye, I freely give ye A lang adieu.
LITERARY AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
Since the revival of learning, in modern times, socie- ties for the advancement of knowledge, and the improve- ment of the human understanding, as well as for the purposes of charity, have existed in all civilized countries. In the ancient states of Greece and Rome, certain philo- sophers opened their schools or academies, in which they taught their peculiar dogmas, but they were for the most part destitute of those establishments of benevolence and learning, which constitute one of the distinguishing fea- tures of modern civilization. It is only in later ages that the importance of general education has been discerned,
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and that the glorious doctrine of "Love thy neighbor as thyself" has exerted its ameliorating influence on the indifference and selfishness of the human heart. In America, at a very early day, after wild nature had been, in a degree, subjugated, and was furnishing supplies for the wants of man, the settlers turned their attention to mental culture. They were deprived of the advantages of old-established communities-there were no libraries at their command, and very few books of any kind were to be had. Under these' circumstances the young men of the settlements often united for mutual improvement, and these unions not unfrequently took the character and name of Debating Societies.
In almost every town and small village, as well as in the country among the hills and valleys, the academies and log school-houses have echoed with the eloquence of young debaters. Patrick Henry, Adams, Webster, Clay, and a multitude of others, prepared themselves for the popular assemblies, and for more learned audiences, in the training which these humble societies could furnish.
The Wilkesbarre Debating Society was organized March 8th, 1804, and was the first in the county of which we have any record. The proceedings, when deemed expe- dient by the society, were to be kept secret, and any member violating this provision of the constitution was severely dealt with. Absentees were fined fifty cents, and any member refusing to take part in the debate paid twenty-five cents into the treasury. This association was organized by Thomas Dyer, Charles Miner, John Evans, Arnold Colt, Nathan Palmer, Josiah Wright, Ezekiel Hyde, Thomas Graham, Thomas Wells, and Roswell Wells. The first question for debate was as follows : " Is celibacy justifiable by the laws of God, or consistent with moral principles ?" The discussion was animated,
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exhibiting no mean powers of debate on the part of several members. The question was decided in the nega- tive. Half a century ago the affirmative must have had narrow ground to stand on, and feeble weapons to con- tend with. The young women of that day entertained proper ideas of domestic responsibility and economy. They were early taught all the essentials of good house- keeping, and generally made attentive wives and excel- lent managers. Men could then live cheaper, grow richer, and be happier, as husbands, than as celibates. It would have sounded ridiculous to decide the question in the affirmative then. In the present year of our Lord this is all changed. The question, as to the justification of celibacy, has become one on the affirmative of which a great deal may be said and strongly urged. Ladies, generally speaking, are no longer the economical mana- gers, and the prudent housekeepers they once were. Men find themselves compelled to support extravagant, waste- ful, and idle families. While they are exerting their mental and physical powers to the utmost to procure means to keep their position in society, their wives and daughters are squandering in luxurious living the hard earnings of their husbands and fathers. The multitudes of unmarried men and women in the country, now-a- days, exhibit a practical decision of that question in the affirmative.
In 1809 the name of this association was changed to that of the Wilkesbarre Beneficial Society; from which we infer that weekly or monthly dues were paid by members for charitable objects. Perhaps the institution assumed the character of a secret organization, as a rival to the QUINCUN SOCIETY OR TRIBE, which started into existence, in Wilkesbarre, in 1806. This, so far as we can learn, was the beginning of debating or literary socie-
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ties in Luzerne, which were kept up under various names until 1839, when the present Wyoming Literary Society was established. Many men, who afterwards became eminent, participated in the establishment and proceed- ings of these associations. There were Denison, Griffin, Cist, Mallery, Scott, Bowman, Wright, Beaumont, Bid- lack, Woodward, Butler, Conyngham, Lane, Burnside, Hoyt, Nicholson, Lee, Ross, Smith, and many others who trained their faculties for debate in these societies. The Hon. Charles Miner and Thomas Dyer, Esq., two of the original members of the first debating society, still survive (1860).10
In 1806 the Wilkesbarre or Wyoming Library Com- pany was formed. Its object was to procure a collection of valuable books, to be placed within the reach of all who desired knowledge. As is generally the case with libraries in country towns, the books became scattered, and many were lost. In 1826 a search committee was appointed, to restore the collection as far as practicable. The remaining books were brought together, and were divided among the members of the company by lot.
In 1839 the Wyoming Atheneum was established, and is still in existence. It has a valuable collection of books, numbering about 1500 volumes.
The Young Men's Literary and Debating Club of Scranton was permanently organized, by a number of enterprising young gentlemen, on the 23d of October, 1857, D. C. Harrington being President. During the winter of 1858 and 1859 courses of interesting lectures were delivered before the club by eminent men, whose services were procured at a cost of about $500. This institution promises much for the improvement of the young men of Scranton, and is worthy of imitation and patronage.
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The Excelsior Debating Society was organized in Pitts- ton several years ago. Connected with it are a reading- room and library.
Including the Sunday-school libraries, of which those of the Methodist Episcopal Church have about 12,000 volumes, the circulating libraries, and the libraries of the seminaries and institutes of learning, in the county, embrace about 30,000 volumes. These, properly used, would abundantly meet the religious, moral, and intellec- tual wants of the reading population of Luzerne.
In 1814 the Luzerne Association of the Presbyterian Church, and the Baptist Association, made strenuous efforts, separately, to collect moneys for the distribution of the Bible throughout the county. This resulted in a united effort, on the part of the several Protestant de- nominations, by which the Luzerne Bible Society was organized in 1819.
Through the instrumentality of this organization, every destitute family in the county was placed in possession of the Word of God. In 1835 and 1836, during the time in which the Rev. James May was president of the society, from two hundred to three hundred dollars' worth of Bibles were annually distributed. For a number of years after this the society declined, until 1851, when it was revived. The venerable Father Moister was ap- pointed agent, and the Word of Life was again dispensed to the poor and destitute. Since that period the spirit of speculation and the growing thirst for gain have seriously interfered with this good cause, as well as with other laudable undertakings.
In 1825, "The Luzerne Sunday-school Union" was organized for the promotion of religion, the distribu- tion of books, and the advancement of morals. David Scott was the first president, Garrick Mallery the first
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vice-president, and Robert Miner the first secretary of this association. It accomplished no small amount of good, but in time its members seemed to grow weary in well-doing, and it gradually dissolved, and was no more.
The Luzerne County Temperance Society, with its numerous auxiliaries, was in complete and successful operation as early as 1838. In a few years the effects of these societies were apparent in the force of the public opinion which they had created in opposition to the ruin traffic. They rescued a multitude, who were hurrying with rapid steps to an early grave, and extinguished the fires of many distilleries. They prevailed with the farmer to banish the whiskey-bottle from the harvest- field, and with the citizen to remove it from his sideboard. The combined efforts of these societies throughout the whole country arrested the fearfully-swelling tide of intemperance which, at one time, threatened to make America a nation of drunkards. These societies, also, after accomplishing much good, languished, and finally ceased to exist. Their place was supplied by a secret organization, called the Sons of Temperance. The Wyo- ming division of this order, No. 28, was established in Wilkesbarre May 29th, 1845. There were sixteen divi- sions in the county, and they continued their operations until 1853, when their meetings ceased.
The Lenni Lenape Lodge of Good Templars was or- ganized at Wilkesbarre in 1855. They finally numbered six lodges in Luzerne, but these are now no more. Both the orders mentioned were of a beneficial character, and had for their object the arrest of intemperance.
There is, unquestionably, yet a vast deal of intempe- rance in the land, but it is to be hoped that wise and judicious measures, of a moral character, on the part of
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the sober and religious people of the country, will eventu- ally extirpate this evil.
MASONRY.
It is asserted by the Masonic Order that a society of Masons existed prior to the erection of Solomon's temple, at Jerusalem, and that, on the occasion of the building of that temple, which was commenced on the 2d day of the month Zif, answering to the 21st of April, 2872 years ago, their society was reorganized. Indeed, it is con- tended that this institution is as old as creation, and that it actually had an existence 2992 years before Solomon laid the foundations of his great temple. This would give the order the protracted existence of 5869 years.
The first lodge within the limits of the old thirteen colonies was instituted at Boston, in 1733. The first lodge in Pennsylvania was opened at Philadelphia, in 1734, of which Benjamin Franklin was Master. The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was organized in 1764.
There were several Masonic lodges in the armies of the Revolution. ,When General Sullivan's forces, num- bering about 3000 men, were encamped at Wyoming, on the plain where Wilkesbarre is located, a lodge met at the marquee of Colonel Proctor, on St. John's day, which was the 24th of June, 1779. On this occasion one of the Rev. Dr. Smith's excellent sermons on Masonry was read by a chaplain attached to the army. In all probability this was the first lodge ever convened on the banks of the Susquehanna. In a few days after this meeting the solemn funeral ceremonies of the order were performed over the grave of two brethren, who had been slain in the preceding April. In April of that year a detachment
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of the 11th Pennsylvania regiment, in advance of the main army, was attacked by the savages, a few miles east of Wilkesbarre, and Captain Davis and Lieutenant Jones, members of the order, were killed. They were buried where they fell, but in June following their remains were disinterred and deposited, with Masonic honors, in the Wilkesbarre graveyard. The following is the inscription on their tombstone :----
" In memory of Captain J. Davis, of the 11th Penn- sylvania regiment, also of Lieutenant William Jones, who were murdered by the savages on their march to the relief of the distressed inhabitants of Wyoming, on the 23d of April, 1779. Erected by a Friend."
The second lodge of Ancient York Masons, held within the limits of Luzerne, was opened at the house of Jesse Fell, in Wilkesbarre, February 27th, 1794. Geo. Seytz officiated as W. M., J. P. Schott, S. W., Peter Grubb, J. W., and Arnold Colt, Secretary.
On the following St. John's day, the lodge marched in procession to the court-house, where a sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Drake, who, in connection with the Rev. Brother Cox and the Rev. William Bishop, appears to have been the officiating chaplain, for a num- ber of years.
On the 23d of December, 1799, the death of General Washington was announced to the lodge, and on the 27th the fraternity assembled in the court-house, to hear an appropriate eulogium from Roswell Wells, Esq. Several years ago, during the anti-masonic excitement, many con- tended that Washington had never been a Mason, but the fact is too well attested to be doubted by any one of ordinary intelligence.
In 1804, the lodge rented a room in the court-house, for which they annually paid the sum of ten dollars, and
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thenceforth they ceased to hold their meetings at the house of Judge Fell. In the same public building were held religious meetings, balls, political assemblies, and even the markets.
The forcible abduction of Morgan, in the state of New York, as the story was told to the world, excited a vio- lent prejudice in the public mind against the order of Masonry. Many absurd and ridiculous statements were put in circulation in connection with this matter, which were eagerly swallowed by the multitude. Designing demagogues forced the question of secret societies into the political arena. By raising a hue and cry against Masonry they hoped to secure positions of honor and trust for themselves. In many instances they were suc- cessful. A great number of lodges throughout the Union ceased to work, or to sustain an organization, so violent had become the ferment in the public mind. The last regular meeting of the lodge at Wilkesbarre, No. 61, was held August 12th, 1832. Among the earlier members of this lodge we find the names of Jonathan Hancock, Zebulon Marcy, Eleazar Blackman, F. Depuy, James Campbell, Josiah Wright, Samuel Jameson, Peter Yar- ington, Charles Miner, Joseph Wright, Oliver Helme, Isaac Bowman, J. and E. Bulkely, Caleb Hoyt, Asa Dimock, Ezekiel Hyde, and Stephen Tuttle.
In 1844, the lodge was reorganized, Isaac Bowman act- ing as P. M., Andrew Beaumont, W. M., Henry Petti- bone, S. W., John Turner, J. W., Hezekiah Parsons, Treasurer, and Henry Colt, Secretary. The Lodges in the county are as follows ;-
No. 61, at Wilkesbarre.
No. 233, St. John's, at Pittston. No. 249, at Carbondale.
No. 261, Hiram, at Providence.
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No. 291, Union, at Scranton.
No. 301, at Waverly.
No. 323, Peter Williams, at Scranton.
No. 327, at Hazleton.
No. 332, at Plymouth.
The Chapters are-
Eureka, No. 179, at Carbondale.
Shekina, No. 182, at Wilkesbarre.
Lackawanna, No. 185, at Scranton.
The Encampments are-
Palestine, No. 14, at Carbondale.
Cœur de Lion, No. 17, at Scranton.
The total membership of these lodges is about 625. Hon. Charles Miner (deceased) and Jonathan Buckely, Esq., were the oldest surviving members of No. 61 in 1860.
Soon after it became known to the loving, but inquisi- tive and suspicious matrons of Luzerne, that their husbands and sons had established a secret society, under the name of a Masonic lodge, there was trouble in the domestic circle. The husband held in his bosom dread secrets, which the "partner of his joys and sorrows" could never know; and on stated occasions he must repair to the lodge, where, it was rumored, infernal rites were cele- brated. Night was the time selected for their meetings, and it was surmised that no good could come of an insti- tution which imposed the seal of secrecy on its members, and chose the cover of darkness to conceal its proceedings. Mrs. J- was a high-spirited, thorough-going woman, with many of the virtues, and some of the weaknesses of her sex. Her husband was a respectable farmer, residing a few miles from Wilkesbarre, and was a member of Lodge No. 61, whither he steadily repaired to meet his brethren of the mystic tie. Mrs. J- expostulated with him on the iniquity of his career, and the diabolical character of the proceedings of his lodge. Her entreaties were all to
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no purpose-nothing satisfactory could be extracted from the husband, so firm and silent on this question, while on all others he was so communicative and obliging. Finally she resolved to adopt prompt measures in order to put a period to his monthly visits at the lodge, " where," as she said, " the women were shut out, and all kinds of devil- ment were carried on." Lodge night arrived. Mr. J- being shaven and dressed, had nothing to do but eat his mush and milk, mount his horse, and ride away to Wilkesbarre. The mush and milk was eaten, and the horse had been mounted, when suddenly the rider was seized with violent cramps, and sickness at the stomach, which was followed by severe vomiting. Mr. J- was compelled to dismount, and take the recumbent posture, for Mrs. J- had introduced a double dose of tartar emetic into his bowl of mush and milk. She followed up her energetic operations with the decision of a bold spirit, until he, eventually, yielded the point, and aban- doned the order.
" Adieu ! a heart-warm fond adieu ! Dear brothers of the mystic tie : If I again should meet with you, Dame J- has sworn that I shall die."
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Some writers assert that this order had its origin in the days of Moses; others declare it originated from an association in the Roman army, under Titus, called the Society of Fellow-Citizens, to whom he gave the name of Odd Fellows, from certain peculiarities which charac- terized them.
The first lodge in England was opened in London in 1788, the formation of which suggested to Montgomery, the poet, those beautiful lines commencing -- 28
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When Friendship, Love, and Truth abound, Among a band of brothers," &c.
In 1819, Thomas Wildey, a blacksmith, residing in the city of Baltimore, published a call, through the news- papers, for a meeting of Odd Fellows, who might happen to be in this country. He was met, at the time and place appointed in the call, by John Welch, John Duncan, John Cheathem, and Richard Rushworth. The result of this meeting was the establishment of Washington Lodge, No. 1, the first in North America.
Pennsylvania Lodge, No. 1, opened at Philadelphia, was the first in this state, and the Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania was instituted in the year 1822.
On the 6th of August, 1831, a meeting of Odd Fellows was held at the house of T. H. Morgan in Wilkesbarre, who petitioned the Grand Lodge for a charter for a sub- ordinate lodge, which was granted under the name of Wyoming Lodge, No. 29, and this was the first lodge opened in Luzerne county. The officers were Whitney Smith, N. G., George G. West, V. G., John R. Dean and William Hartley, Secretaries, and William Merrit, Trea- surer.
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The Lodges now in the county are as follows :-
Wyoming, No. 29, at Wilkesbarre.
Cambrian, No. 58, Carbondale.
Hazelton, No. 65, Hazelton.
Olive Leaf, No. 156, Carbondale.
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