Sons of Hermann Lodge2

Seattle I urn V erelr+By Udo kfesse A Branch of the Atnerican Turnerbund HEREVER German immigrants to tution, without outside financial aid or at the Tremont school in Boston. All of W this country settled in considerable consideration of any kind, which at times these men were associates and disciples of. numbers,~ one of the first acts of a social seems almost overwhelming. For a while Jahn and well educated-apable of filling nature, tn such a commumty, was to tOmI during the war this condition, which was regular faculty chairs at any of these in- a Turn Verein, for the purpose of prac- severe at the best, was greatly aggravated stitutions. tising and further developing that system by reason of the rabid war hysteria, which But it was not until after, the big of physical and mental exercise called turn- placed the organization and its members movement of German immigrants to this ing. The doctrine of “Father” Jahn that under unjust and unreasonable suspicions. country in the years following 1848, that “a sound body is a prime requisite for the However, these conditions are slowly ad- the practice of turning acquired significant abode of a sound mind” is so strongly justing themselves and the future of the proportions. With that event Turn inculcated into the being of a vast majority Verein seems comparatively bright. Since Irereins, in ever increasing numbers, of Germans, that a Turn Verein is an the gymnasium and its activities have been sprang up in the large cities of the East absolute necessity for physical exercise and under the direction of the present instruc- as well as in the small pioneer hamlets of social activities. Seattle is no exception to tor, Mr. Ernest E. Behnke, who has the Middle West. In 1850 the American this racial phenomenon. The Pacific been in charge of this work since 19 12. Turner Bund. being an association of all Coast of the United States is a region the gymnasium classes have shown con- American Turn Vereins, was founded. upon which German immigrants and sistent improvement from year to year. During the years following 1850, Americans of German extraction have al- with but a few minor exceptions, which the American Turn Vereins prospered ways looked with great favor, when seek- were wholly due to the abnormal condi- phenomenally. But with the outbreak ing a change of environment. So it came tions, existing during the war. of the Civil War all this changed. to pass that on April 17, 1885, when the The Turner organizations were of the population of Seattle contained a liberal utmost importance. and practically inde- sprinkling of German-Americans, the spensable to the Union cause during the Seattle Turn Verein was formed and in- first months of the war. By reason of corporated. their gymnasium training they were the Among the names contained in the list only large body of men. familiar in any of charter members, are the following: degree, with the carrying out of mass Albert Schlossmacher, G. Bcnninghausen. evolutions, such as are essential in army Adam Orth, R. Damus, August Mehl- maneuvers. As soon as the Turners were horn. Fred Gasch, Gee. Michel, Otto provided with uniforms and equipment Ranke, Fritz Wuesthoff, H. Argens and they were ready for the fray. Since the others. Property was acquired and a hall Turners were loyal to the Union, with- constructed, at the southwest corner of out an exception even in the border states. Fourth Avenue and Jefferson Street. Here they afforded the government considerable the Verein flourished for a number of relief during the early stages of the com- years and the membership roster, aside bat. In Missouri the prompt action of from those mentioned above, contained rhe Turners, in taking possession of the the names of the following, as active par- military buildings. supplies and equipment. ticipants in the early development of the in the name of the United States. no organization: H. A. Schroeder, Col. E. -doubt preserved that state for the Union. P. Edsen. Max Kreielsheimer, Henry Heck- And the same holds true for the state of mann, A. C. Auernheimer, A. Schaab, Maryland where the Turners acted with Chas. Osner, Henry Herkenrath, Eugene equal zeal and dispatch. Brunner and others. For a time the gym- Gymnasium apparatus was removed and nasium classes were directed by volunteer the halls and athletic fields of the Turner instructors from the membership. Mr. organizations were placed at the disposal H. A. Schroeder, who is still a member E. E. BEHNKE of the Government as recruiting stations of the Verein, was particularly active in and drilling places. In this manner the this service. Later, as the classes increased Born in Friedland, West Preussen. property of the Turn Vereins fell into in number and attendance, professional in- Seattle since 19 12. disuse, as far as the purpose for which structors were employed. Turner August Instructor, Physical Culture, Seattle they had been created was concerned. and Springer, whose name is still enrolled on Turnverein, 19 18 8th Avenue. with the active members in the army, the the membership list, was the first profes- membership of these organizations was sional instructor to serve the Turn Verein. Without recounting the activities of the soon reduced to practically nothing. But Conrad Wiedemann and Wm. Retzer were American Turner Bund, which is the rapid as this decline had been, the close also employed as instructors during the Turners national organization. and of of the war saw these institutions recover pioneer days of the Verein. which the Seattle Turn Verein is a unit, even more rapidly. In 1898 the Fourth Avenue property no resume of Turner achievements can be In 1860 the American Turner Bund was disposed of and for a number of complete. Originated by Dr. Friederich founded a normal school for gymnasium years the, Turn Verein occupied rented Ludwig Jahn, in the first years of the instructors which, until 1907. was con- quarters. In pioneer times, the Turn nineteenth century, for the purpose of ducted in connection with the Teachers Verein also conducted a regular school. promoting mental development among the Normal School in Milwaukee. In 1907 in whicin the German language was German people, in harmony with the idea the A. T. B. Normal School was removed taught, addition to the ordinary and spirit of freedom. liberty and justice to Indianapolis where this institution is elementary sub.jects. In 1905, under the and to produce the physical development flourishing today. The movement which A- presidency of Eugene Brunner, the Verein necessary to demand, acquire and main- has resulted in the adoption of physical became more active and aggressive, acquir- tain these ideals, turning within a year. exercise as. a requisite in nearly all the ing the present Turn Verein property on became so popular that it was practiced schools of the larger American cities was Eighth Avenue between Olive and Stewart by practically the entire population of proposed and initiated by the A. T. B. in Streets. Here the Verein has pursued its Germany. On the initiative of Dr. John 1880. The American Turner Bund can * purposes, with varying success, for the G. Coffin and Dr. John C. Warren, pro- also claim the honor of having been in- past eighteen or twenty years, and since fessors in Harvard University, this system strumental in the introduction of this its activities since that date are compara- was introduced into the United States in form of exercise into the military and tively recent history, but few comments 1826 and the first University and high naval establishments of the United States are necessary. The reverses that the or- school gymnasiums, patterned after the located at West Point and Annapolis, re- ganization has suffered from time to time. Jahn model, were opened in this country spectively. were of course of a financial nature, and at that time. Karl Beck opened a gym- The American Turner Bund can view due principally to the difficulty of operat- nasium at Round Hill school in Northam- with smug satisfaction the record of its ing an institution of this character, paying ton: Karl Follen performed a similar ser- beneficial achievements in the United its way and heavy overhead expenses, on vice at Harvard University. while Franz States, with the full knowledge that bet- the same terms as a strict business insti- Lieber busied himself with a similar task ter results have been achieved by none. i T- P ACE SEVEN-C The Order of the Sons of Hermann HE origin and history of the order of the sum of $500.00 for full benefit or T the Sons of Hermann takes one back half that amount if so desired. This bene- about eighty years. The German immi- fit is payable strictly according to instruc- grants who came to the United States tions given by the member. In order to during the period from 1840 to 1848 secure to members the payment of insur- were subject to a great deal of hatred and ance benefits the Grand Lodge has insti- spite and even persecution. Especially was tuted a guaranty fund, which under the such the case in the large citie.s where they careful and prudent management of the were practically without protection. Sev- officers and trustees of the Grand Lodge eral educated and capable men in the city has now reached the sum of $65,000.00. of New York met for the purpose of im- This money is carefully invested in inter- proving conditions concerning these im- est bearing bonds, and thus far the Grand migrants, and they finally concluded that Lodge has been able to meet all obliga- conditions could only be improved tions promptly from the contributions through the organization of some strong received from the subordinate lodges, and union of these Germans without regard to likewise has accumulated this surplus class distinction and that in such a way fund.

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