USA > Pennsylvania > Bradford County > History of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, with Illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 44
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The Independent Order of Good Templars .*- This order originated in central New York, in 1852, and was soon extended to this county. The first lodge instituted here was
the Keystone lodge at Athens, in April, 1853, probably by P. W. C. T. Nathaniel Curtis, an old Washingtonian of Ithaca. The records of Altus lodge, No. 55. Orwell Hill, showed that it was organized Aug. 17, 1853, by N. Curtis. This was just one year after the organization of the first grand lodge, at Syracuse.
A meeting of representatives of Pennsylvania lodges was called, and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was organ- ized at Mansfield, Dec. 28, 1853. B. M. Bailey, of Tioga county, was elected G. W. C. T., and Charles E. Chubbuck, of Orwell, Grand Worthy Treasurer. At this time there were ninety-six lodges in Pennsylvania ; thirty-six of these were in this county. The semi-annual meeting of the grand lodge was held in Standing Stone, in the fall of 1854, and its first annual session at Troy, Dec. 19 and 20, 1854. At this time there were 245 lodges in the State, of which Bradford had 67. The total membership of the order in the State was 14,000.
The names and numbers of the lodges in Bradford were:
No. 1. Keystone, Athens. No. 89. Asylum.
2. Sheshequin. 90. Terrytown.
" 3. Ulster. 91. Autumn, West Frank-
4. May Flower, E. Smith- lin. field. 97. Orcutt's Creek.
5. Radiant Star, N. Smith- field.
6. Rural Felicity, Troy.
7. Hopeful Band, Troy.
" 8. Temperance Star, Ed- sallville.
" 10. Temperance Wells, French Mills.
" 130. Samaritan, Le Rays-
" 20. Watchful Band, Canton. ville.
" 21. Banner of Hope, Alba.
" 22. La Charite, Le Roy.
" 23. Pleasant Valley, Troy.
" 24. West Granville.
" 134. Morley Hill, Union. " 135. Martha Washington,
" 28. Blooming Rose, Spring- field.
Camptown.
" 29. Sylvania.
" 136. Sugar Run.
" 30. Independent Star, West Burlington.
" 140. Olive Branch, Stevens- ville.
" 141. Centre Valley.
" 142. Optimus, Potterville.
" 161. Silver Hill, Albany.
" 50. Temperance Banner, Bentley Creek.
168. Monroe.
183. Highland.
" 53. Roman Phalanx, Rome. " 185. South. Ghent.
" 54. Valley Hope, Standing Stone.
202. Milan.
= 203. Radiant Light.
= 204. Heverly.
" 211. Wyalusing.
215. Herriekville.
= 236. South Litchfield.
" 237. East Herriek.
" 240. Excelsior, Litchfield.
247. Warren Centre.
248. Bradford.
" 88. Liberty Corners.
13I. Browntown.
132. West Windham.
" 38. Morning Light, South Burlington.
" 52. Wappaseening, Wind- ham.
184. North Ghent.
" 55. Altus, Orwell.
56. Golden Hope, Myers- burg.
" 75. Columbia.
" 79. Wysauking.
" 80. Towanda.
" 85. Franklin Dale.
86. Durell.
" 87. Woodland, Monroeton.
249. Wysox.
There were about one hundred representatives present at this first annual meeting of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl- vania. Among the names of representatives we find several well-known residents of Bradford County.
The report of C. E. Chubbuck, G. W. T., shows that the receipts for the year were $1287.81; expenditures, $1030.43.
* Contributed by O. J. Chubbuck.
" 100. South Creek.
120. Ezra (Sugar Creek).
124. Albany.
" 126. Renba, Wysox.
" 127. Safeguard, Ulster.
" 128. Rechabite, E. Burling- ton.
" 133. Rome Summit.
171
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Joel Jewell was elected G. W. C. T., having received 70 votes, J. S. Hoard 30 votes, and Charles Perkins 20 votes.
Charles Perkins was elected G. W. Counselor ; Warren Skeels was elected G. W. V. T. ; J. S. Hoard, G. W. Treas- urer ; and Mary C. Emery was re-elected G. W. Secretary.
The committee on resolutions, among others, reported the following :
" Whereas, The evils of intemperance have become a fixed fact in the history of our commonwealth ; it is therefore
" Resolved, That it is the duty of all persons connected with any and every temperanco organization to labor incessantly for the pas- sage of a prohibitory law in full for the whole State.
" Resolved, That no law, however stringent, which recognizes the right to sell intoxicating drinks, can receive our sanction, as we be- lieve the time has fully come when all efforts to regulate this traffic should be at once and forever abandoned."
The following resolutions were also adopted :
" Resolved, That it is a violation of the spirit and intent of the ob- ligation of the order of Good Templars to imbibe unfermented wine or cider.
" Resolved, That this grand lodge, in view of the accessity of im- mediate and united action upon the question of a prohibitory law for this State, recommend to each subordinate lodge under the juris- diction of this grand lodge to take early action upon this subject, by circulating petitions for a prohibitory liquor law, and taking all other laudable measures to secure the passage of the law by the ensuing session of our legislature.
" Whereas, The province of Canada has adopted a prohibitory law, and the State of New York elected a governor and legislature pledged to the principles of the Maine law :
" Resolved, That Pennsylvania in general, and the northern counties in particular, are greatly in danger from the iuflux of ardent spirits and those engaged in their detestable and immoral traffic into our community, and that this is another argument urging all Good Tem- plars and the friends of temperance to call upon our legislature at the next session to give us a law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of all that can intoxicate."
At this meeting of the grand lodge a resolution was offered recommending " county conventions to be held upon the delegate system, for the purpose of seeuring harmony and unity of action upon all publie questions involving the temperance interest," and " that the sessions of these dele- gates be held in secret." This resolution was, on motion, referred to a select committee, who reported that, in their estimation, there is much need of some system by which unity of action shall be secured between the different lodges of a county, election distriet, and State. It recommended a county convention of lodges, to consist of one delegate for every fifty members in each lodge, to meet for the pur- pose of harmonizing the political action of lodges. It also recommended senatorial and State conventions, the action of these bodies to be reported to the several lodges of the State, district, or county, and to be binding upon all. This report was not adopted.
By the terms of the constitution for subordinate lodges, both males and females were admitted to the order, but none under twelve years of age. The initiation fee for each person was not less than fifty cents, and dues not less than one cent per week ; to be paid quarterly, in advance.
Each person before becoming a member must take the pledge to neither " make, buy, sell, or use as a beverage, any spirituous or malt liquors, wine, or cider, and to dis- countenance the manufacture and sale thereof in all proper ways."
There were two additional degrees which might be con- ferred, the fee for each of which must not be less than twenty- five cents, and which were not to be conferred on males under eighteen or females under fifteen years of age. The business in the lodges was conducted under the usual parlia- mentary rules and usages. Thus these lodges, organized and sustained for the purpose of promoting the cause of temperance, were, when properly conducted, valuable edu- cational ageneies. It is not strange, however, that conducted as many of them were, by quite young people, they should prove after a time uninteresting and profitless, and be allowed to go down. There were, however, so inany discouragements that some lodges did not live out their first year, and many more did not survive the second. In 1856 the grand lodge met in Meadville, where there were but seventeen lodges represented and only nineteen persons present. In 1861, 33 lodges only were reported in the State; in 1862, 45,-not one in Bradford. The writer has been unable to learn which maintained its existence longest.
In the report of the fourteenth annual session of the grand lodge, held in Pittsburgh, in June, 1867, Northern lodge, No. 223, of Towanda, with James H. Codding as deputy, is found. The whole number in the State was 353. The fifteenth session was held in Williamsport, in June, 1868. The increase of the order during the year was from 310 lodges at the close of the preceding year to 521, or from 20,009 members in good standing to 34,803. Two representatives from Bradford were present, viz., Gen. Wm. Patton, of Towanda, and H. B. Parsons, of Canton.
The following lodges appear in the report of that session :
No. 223. Northern Towanda.
" 474. Spring Hill. .Spring Hill.
" 484. Ulster. Ulster.
" 497. Franklindale Franklindale.
" 498. Canton Canton.
" 505. Ceotral. Burlington.
" 506. Springfield .. Springfield.
" 507. Granville Centre. Granville Centre.
" 508. Alba.
Alba.
" 520. Rock
Burlington.
" 521. East Smithfield .. East Smithfield.
" 538. Petterville .. Potterville.
" 539. North Towanda ... North Towanda.
" 544. Terrytown Terrytown.
" 545. Le Roy.
" 570. East Troy
Le Roy. East Troy.
The sixteenth annual session of the grand lodge was held in Scranton, June, 1869. A list of lodges is not given in the report of that session. Bradford appears to have been divided into three districts, viz. : Eastern, with Rev. D. Craft as District Deputy ; Middle, with J. B. Reeves, Esq., as District Deputy ; Western, with Rev. M. C. Dean as District Deputy. The attendance appears to have been large, the highest number of lodges represented 713. Annual session held in Gettysburg, June, 1870. The order was making healthy growth in this county. Rev. D. Craft, C. E. White, and H. B. Parsons were re- ported as deputies.
The eighteenth annual session was held at Erie, in June, 1871. The order made good progress, and new life seems to have been given it in this county, owing largely to the interest awakened by the district conventions, which held quarterly sessions, and were becoming more interesting from year to year.
District Deputies .- Wyalusing district, S. C. Gaylord ;
172
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Rome, Henry Yontz ; Wells, Wm. H. Taylor ; Canton, J. E. Mckay ; Towanda, C. M. Hall.
At the annual session held in Harrisburg, June, 1873, Hon. B. S. Dartt was appointed State Deputy for the sixth district, composed of Bradford, Tioga, Wyoming, and Sul- livan counties.
The twenty-second annual session was held in Towanda, June 8, 9, and 10, 1875. G. W. C. T., Louis Wagner, presided; other officers present were: G. W. C., B. S. Dartt; G. W. V. T., Ellen S. Southworth; G. S., Sadic Jackson ; G. T., S. S. King. The attendance was large,. about one hundred lodges being represented. Twelve new lodges had been organized in the county during the year, and one reorganized, making in all, at this time in the county, twenty-five lodges in good standing. Hon. B. S. Dartt was elected G. W. C. T. Thirty-one new lodges were organized in the county the next year and seven rcorganized, making in all sixty lodges, as reported up to Aug. 26, 1876. B. S. Dartt was re-elected G. W. C. T.
The next year's report-June, 1877-shows several new lodges organized, while some disbanded ; still maintaining, it is claimed, the honor of being the banner county in the world for Good Templarism.
Northern District Convention .- The district convention, I. O. of G. T., was organized in June, 1867. The call was made by Wm. Patton, C. E. White, Rev. D. Craft, and Sher- man Hill. Rev. D. Craft was elected W. C. T., and held that position for two years. In 1869, Benj. S. Dartt was elected W. C. T. At the time of its organization there were less than twenty subordinate lodges in the county in good standing. At the quarterly session held at Stevensville Sept. 28, 1870, thirteen lodges were represented, viz., To- wanda, East Spring Hill, Wyalusing, Dushore, Canton, Rome, Martha Washington, Smithfield, Stevensville, Le .Roy, and La Porte; names of others not given.
Open session was held in the evening, and addresses made by Brothers Dean, Dartt, Craft, and Taylor. Among the many resolutions adopted at this meeting is the follow- ing:
" Resolved, That we hold it to be grossly inconsistent and wrong for men of temperanee principles or members of churches to sign petitions for license, and that in future the order should publish the names of such signers."
Dec. 21, 1870, convention met in Towanda, G. W. C. T., S. B. Chase presiding. Lodges represented : Athens, Martha Washington, Wyalusing, Canton, Rock, East Smithfield, North Towanda, Terrytown, Le Roy, Highland, New Al- bany, East Troy, Larksville, Northern, Leona, Smithfield, etc. There were 67 delegates, representing seventeen lodges. Public meeting was held in the evening, in Mercur's hall, addressed by G. W. C. T. Chase. Resolutions were adopted condemning the license law as a disgrace upon Christian civilization, in favor of the "local option law," encouraging the circulation of temperance papers and literature.
At this meeting I. L. Richardson, a delegate from the Wyoming and Luzerne district, was present; and at the next meeting, held at Camptown, Feb. 22, 1871, the same district was represented by Brothers Brown and Hiller.
The annual session held at Canton, June 1, 1871, was largely attended ; thirteen lodges were represented. C. E.
White was elected W. C. T., Annie Beidleman, W. V. T., and S. C. Gaylord, Sec.
The territory in its jurisdiction was re-districted, and district deputies recommended as follows, viz .: Wyalusing district, S. C. Gaylord ; Rome district, Henry Yontz; Can- ton district, J. E. Mckay; Wells district, Bro. Taylor; To- wanda district, Charles Hall; Sullivan district, Wm. Lan- caster. G. W. C. T., S. B. Chase was present,
At the quarterly meeting held at Troy, Aug. 9, 1871, eighteen lodges were represented. This meeting adopted the following :
" Whereas, The license laws of eur State have proved entirely in- adequate to the suppression of the demoralizing, destructive, pauper- making rum traffic ; therefore,
" Resolved, That we will never he satisfied with anything short of a general stringent prohibitory law, with right to recover by the in- ebriate's family or friends for time spent, injury and damage sus- tained, together with other penalties commensurate with the evil and suffering and consequent misery upon the sale of intoxieating drinks."
A resolution was passed instructing the executive com- mittee to appoint a committee of three in each election dis- trict, whose duty it should be to circulate pledges, to be pre- pared by the committee, binding the signers to vote for none but known temperance men for office.
The annual meeting was held at Monrocton, May 29, 1872. Fifteen lodges were represented. It was
" Resolved, That hereafter our convention lodge meetings be held in open session (extraordinaries excepted), and that every temperance and religions organization in the county he requested to send dele- gates to our next meeting, to the end that a united effort ' against license' may he organized."
In the evening open session in the Baptist church the resolution that the licensing of houses for the sale of in- toxicating drinks is unnecessary and sinful was very fully discussed. It was also resolved that measures be taken immediately to organize Good Templar lodges in every dis- trict in the county where no temperance organization now exists. Resolutions were offered expressing gratitude for the hearty co-operation of Christian ministers and people ; also urging every temperance man to attend the primary political meetings, to secure the nomination of temperance men for office, etc. Officers elected for the coming year : W. C. T., C. M. Hall; W. V. T., Olive Maynard ; W. Scc., S. C. Gaylord; W. T., A. H. Spalding ; W. C., S. G. Rhinevault ; W. M., M. O. Loomis ; I. G., Anna Myers ; O. G., E. A. Andrus. A. Keefe, of Rome, was recom- mended as District Deputy for the castern district, and C. E. White for the western district.
The next meeting was held at Rome, Ang. 22, 1872, and is a memorable one in the history of this organization. It was largely attended, and was noted for its able discus- sions. There was also a large attendance of those not rep- resenting organizations .*
# At this convention, besides representatives from the several lodges and a number of churches, there were three divisions of the order of the Sons of Temperanee represented, viz. : No. 135, Myers- burg ; Pleasant Mount, No. 78; Orwell and Towanda (number not given) ; also an independent temperance organization at East Spring- hill. In the report of townships, but two divisions of the Sons of Temperance are mentioned. There has been a division also in Ulster. The statistics of these organizations have not been obtained.
173
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Reports by townships were made as follows : Albany, Good Templars' lodge supported.
Armenia, no organization.
Athens, temperance strong in township and borough. Alba, no organization ; one hotel. Asylum, no organization ; no hotel.
Barclay, two organizations supported.
Burlington township and borough, no division of Sons of Temperance or Good Templars' lodge, but churches at work.
Burlington, West, Good Templars' lodge, well sustained.
Canton, borough and township, a flourishing lodge of Good Templars and six temperance churches ; five Sunday- schools earnestly at work.
Columbia, a temperance lodge in operation, and will give a large vote against license.
Franklin, two licensed hotels ; one working lodge of Good Templars.
Granville will give 200 votes against license.
Herrick, no organization ; people temperate, and very radieal on the temperance question.
Le Roy, lodge gone down ; people unanimous against license.
Litchfield, no license or temperance organization.
Le Raysville, temperance element good ; able to get signers for license.
Monroe township and borough, three lodges; two hotels ; majority for temperance.
Orwell, no temperance organization ; six years since license in township.
Overton, one of the few townships that would probably give a majority for license ; no organization.
Pike, no license in township.
Ridgberry, good missionary ground.
Rome township and borough, lodge in borough of 134 members, all zealous workers; no license in township; one hotel in borough.
Smithfield, no temperance society ; four churches ; strictly temperate.
Springfield, two organizations ; majority against license.
South Creek, a working lodge of Good Templars ; no licensed house.
Sylvania, one hotel.
Sheshequin, equally balanced ; no organizations ; one hotel.
Standing Stone, majority in favor of license.
Towanda borough, organized society of Good Templars and Sons of Temperance ; probabilities against license; fif- teen saloons; nine hotels; four drug-stores; four wholesale liquor houses; churches for temperance.
Towanda township, no organization or hotel.
Towanda, North, probably a small majority against license.
Troy, three hotels; will give a majority against license.
Terry, in favor of temperance; no license ; one lodge of Good Templars.
Tuscarora, no license; organization of 300 members ; temperance element strong.
Ulster, two organizations ; temperance element strong.
Warren and Windham, two licensed hotels.
Wyalusing, in favor of prohibition.
Wysox, two hotels licensed ; temperance work pro- gressing.
Wells, temperance principles prevailing.
Wilmot, no license.
An executive committee of seven was appointed to effect a thorough organization of the county, to secure a large vote against license under the provisions of the "Local Option Law."*
The next meeting was held in Athens, Nov. 1, 1872. The resolutions request clergymen to preach at least one sermon on the subject of temperance in the month of De- cember ; also one in January previous to the vote on the local option question ; also to provide for correspondence and publication of articles in the county papers ; also for the holding of temperance meetings in every school district previous to the third Friday in January, the day the vote was to be taken.
The Athens Gazette was to be adopted as a temperance campaign paper, and a committee appointed to secure sub- scriptions and extend its circulation. The next meeting was held at Canton, Feb. 19, 1873, and some twenty lodges were represented.
Resolutions were passed expressing gratitude to God for the emphatic vote in the county against license, and the hope that the Constitutional convention, in session at Phila- delphia, would meet the just expectations of the people in relation to temperance.
The annual meeting was held at Barclay, May 28, 1873. The order was represented to be in a flourishing condition, and the teniperance element of the county determined to enforce the law.
Officers elected for year : W. C. T., A. Keefe; and W. V. T., Mrs. A. N. Spalding.
The territory within the jurisdiction of the convention was divided into three districts, viz. : Eastern, O. F. Young, District Deputy ; Middle, W. H. Brown ; and Western, A. T. Lilley. Several resolutions were passed : one in favor of increased penalties for violation of the law against the sale of liquors; one asking the legislature at its next session to pass a law authorizing the arrest and detention of any per- son found in a state of intoxication until information is given as to where or of whom he obtained his liquor.
A committee was appointed to make arrangements for holding a temperance mass-meeting at Towanda the coming fall. Nov. 20, 1873, convention met at Franklindale. In the afternoon G. W. C. T. Wagner presided. The address at the evening session was made by G. W. C. T. Wagner.
Wyalusing, Feb. 18, 1874, convention was called to order by C. E. White, W. C. T. pro tem. Sessions were open.
Brother Gridley addressed the convention at the evening session. One of the resolutions adopted strongly protested against the repeal of the local option law, and authorized Brother Dartt to go to Harrisburg to represent the conven- tion, which was alleged to represent six thousand temperance men (voters) of the county of Bradford and four hundred in the county of Sullivan, before the committee on vice and immorality.
# The legislature had passed what was popularly called the "local option" bill the session before, and the vote was to be taken at the following township and borough elections.
174
HISTORY OF BRADFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
The annual session was held at Dushore, Sullivan county, May 27, 1874. Lewis Lantz was elected W. C. T., Wm. T. Lawrence W. S.
Aug. 19, the convention met at North Towanda, and was well attended. Rev. P. Holbrook delivered the evening lec- ture. Among the resolutions adopted was this : " Resolved, That we, as temperance men, will not vote for any caudidate for publie office who has not openly and clearly defined his position in favor of temperance and prohibition."
The next meeting of the convention was held at Rome, Nov. 25, 1874. District deputies were requested to select discreet brothers to eanvass their districts and aid in organ- izing lodges. A committee of nine was appointed to eall a convention the following season to put in nomination a temperance ticket.
Feb. 25, 1875, convention met at Monroeton. The con- stitution and by-laws revised by committee were adopted and ordered printed in pamphlet form. Deputies reported nine lodges organized since August, 1874.
C. E. White, John F. Chamberlain, and S. S. Butts were elected to represent the convention in the State convention to be held in Harrisburg in Mareh, 1875, and a committee was appointed to arrange accommodations for delegates in attendance at the grand lodge session in Towanda in June following. Among other things it was " Resolved, That the ' local option law' has done great good in our county, and that we hereby request our members of the legislature to use all honorable means within their power to prevent its repeal."
The annual meeting was held at Canton, May 25, 1875. The attendance was large.
Four new lodges reported, and good interest was in the old lodges. M. E. Chubbuck was elected W. C. T., W. T. Lawrence W. S.
This resolution was adopted, viz. : " Resolved, That those members of our legislature who voted for the repeal of the ' local option law,' together with the governor who approved the repealing act, have manifested a disposition to disregard the expressed wishes of the people, and are thereby deserv- ing the eensure of the good people of this commonwealth ; and that they have forfeited all claims to future support from temperance voters."
The meeting at Barclay, Ang. 31, 1875, was largely at- tended, some twenty-five lodges being represented.
Litchfield, Nov. 31, 1875, convention met in Grange Hall.
This was a spirited and interesting meeting, as was also the next meeting at Towanda, Feb. 29, 1876, which was fully attended by delegates from some forty lodges.
The annual session was held at Camptown, June 6, 1876. Twenty three lodges were represented. Col. Hoy addressed a large audience in the evening. William Maxwell was elected W. C. T., and Brother Parks W. S.
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