Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Canada
Extract from the minutes of the Grand Division of the Order of the Sons of Temperance of the province of Canada, (incorporated by act of provincial Parliament,) at its semi-aunual session, held at Cobourg, Canada West, on the 29th day of June, 1865.
Resolved, That this Grand Division has watched with much interest the struggle just brought to a close and successful issue in the United States, and [Page 195] that although party strife ran high, and the blood of thousands of her noble sons has stained the soil, yet we conceive that one of the mightiest achievements in the world’s history has occurred, namely, the liberty of her slaves. And whilst we rejoice at the general results to this end, we feel that we would fail in our duty did we not express the deepest sorrow and commiseration in the calamitous event and death of President Lincoln, a gentleman in whom we discovered virtues of the highest order, under whose government the most disastrous civil war the world ever witnessed was brought almost to a successful issue, when his valuable life was taken by the hand of an assassin.
Therefore, we, this Grand Division, do deeply sympathize with the executive government and people of the United States in their great loss; but more particularly would we sympathize and condole with Mrs. Lincoln and family in their irreparable loss and bereavement. The nation may lament over and deplore the loss of their muchloved President, but the sorrow of Mrs. Lincoln and family under the unhappy occurrence must be such as to demand the condolence of the civilized world.
We furthermore record our unanimous detestation of the merciless villain and associates who either directly or indirectly plotted and carried into execution this abominable act of assassination.
Resolved furthermore, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the executive government of the United States at Washington, and to Mrs. Lincoln and family of the lamented President.
Grand Scribe.