Unless you have carefully read Dr. O. N. Bradbury’s “Norway in the Forties”, names such as The Temperance Watchmen, The Druclaian Society, or The Catephormical Society will be new to you.

Human beings are gregarious by nature and seek groupings with similar interests or concerns. Organizations tend to be established for a defined purpose or purposes, as determined by a segment of society. Such was the case in the early days of struggling small communities like Norway. The process of establishing an identity for these groups often resulted in the creation of unique names.

Let’s start with the Temperance Watchmen. According to Merriam-Webster, temperance is “moderation in, or narrowly, abstinence from, the use of intoxicants.” You can see where this is going.

The temperance movement began in the early 1800s. Excessive use of alcohol was common, especially among those engaged in hard physical labor. Drinking on the job was a way of life. Many considered alcoholic beverages safer than water, which could be contaminated. In 1851 Maine was the first state to declare a total ban on the manufacture or distribution of alcohol.

In 1845 a group of dedicated young zealots met weekly in a second-floor hall at Ford’s Corner. As Bradbury described them, “They had seen but little of the world, and in the innocence and simplicity of their hearts, believed they could make over and make better their part of it…” They were the Temperance Watchmen.

On one occasion, word reached their ears that in the dark of a certain night, two barrels of the wicked vice, probably rum and whiskey, were to be transported from Norway Village to Harrison in violation of recent lawmaking. (A licensing law was already in effect in Maine but not enforced in Oxford County.) The Watchmen decided that a committee should be appointed to watch for the movement of the contraband. On an elevated piece of ground near the lake, where the committee could easily see any movement along the road from town, the Watchmen stood guard. No information regarding their intended response to said illicit transport was indicated. Perhaps they would simply surprise the unsuspecting driver and convince him to return to Norway with his load of corrupting beverage, thus saving the inhabitants of Harrison from temptation.

However on this night, after establishing their observation post, wind, thunder, lightning, and heavy rain forced the committee to take shelter in a nearby home. The teamster, having been previously informed of the impending trap, held the horses back, out of sight of the lookout. When the storm gained full force, he drove the wagon through the darkness undetected and, we can reasonably expect, dutifully delivered his freight to its Harrison destination. No further details were found of any continuing exploits of the Temperance Watchmen.

The next group of interest, also from the 1840s, is the Druclaian Society. This was a literary group organized within the Norway Liberal Institute. The society held weekly public meetings, called Lyceums. At each Lyceum a publication called “The Cathairian Rill” was presented. (A rill is defined as a very small book.) The offerings presented in the Rill would often include poetry and conundrums. These conundrums were questions whose answers included a play on words regarding local individuals or locally known information. Example: “Why is a certain scholar like a tired horse?” Answer: “Because he
is about Tuckered.” The scholar could have been a member of the Tucker family that ran the harness shop in town.

The third example of a group with a unique name and purpose is the Catephormical Society. Dr. Bradbury refers to this group as leaning toward Behemianism. Is it possible that he meant Bohemianism (an unconventional lifestyle pursuing music, art, literature, or spirituality)?

The membership appears to have been mostly farmers drawn from the greater Norway area. Organization occurred in the first decade of the 1800s and by 1828 the group was large enough to require the use of the upper floor of the recently built Red Store at Ford’s Corner. This may have been the first fraternal society established in Norway, predating the Masons, Odd Fellows, Grange, and Knights of Pythias. As such, the members looked after their own when in need of assistance because of sickness or other unfortunate circumstances.

Those joining went through an initiation that explained the purpose, demonstrated the Society handshake, and presented the passwords and Test of Membership. Meetings included speeches, telling stories, singing, and the occasional enjoyment of a spiritous libation. When a member died, a meeting was dedicated to remembering the deceased for his positive traits and deeds as well as his wise sayings. The ceremony concluded with a toast to his memory.

At some point, the group decided not to admit more members. So, after half a century when only two members remained, the most recently departed was memorialized in the customary way, a drink was had, and the symbols of the Catephormical Society were stored away for the last time.

The Norway Museum and Historical Society is open to the public Saturdays from 9 to 12. Visit us at www.norwayhistoricalsociety.org.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.