Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-11-01
For the Advertiser.

tianIty. and TO improve the Niorals oi Tue 1eo-
ple at large, it is susject of real regret, that
while so Iaudable zeal is manifested, and so
much pains taken TO remove the mote ont Of
our neighbours. eye. there should be no Socie-
ty formed, no pains taken, to induce men first
to cast the beam out Of their own; or, in other
words. Society whose end anu aim should be
TO examine our own hearts and lives. and see
if f,oe ourselves, are not guilty of some habits
and vices that need reform. which are equally
as bad az those, Which we are so ready to DIS
cover in onr neighbnrs.
This Society, i,would seem. ought TO take
the lead of all others; and it shall be the iirst
object Of our exerlions to suppress the iollies
and vices Of mankind.
physician heal thyselG," is an admonltion
coming from the highest authority, and Is rs
applicable Ia the ScriJcs and PharisccS now, as
it was 1900 years ago. Did the members OF
our popular societies as well as others, take
half the pains to examine hemSctres, aud cor
rect their own faults, that they do so TO hunt
up and expose the faults and foIlies of others,
how much more like Christians would they
act. How much more happy and peaceable
would be the condition of every community.
and neighborhoodI And, we've Society for
selcexamination once Instituted, in this, or any
other place and made as popular as our Tempe
rance Societies, and many others now are,
how much less running to and fro or, OF num-
bers standing in the cprers nf the streets. thank.
ing G cd that they are notIike other men, should
we then behold.
The following Constitution is submitted for
the government of said Society:
ARTICLE lst. This Society shall he known
by the name of The SELF-ExAMINISG Sotlc.
TY, and shall be conn., osed Of mer:.bers Of botl,
sexes, whose hearts and heads are capable OF
NOR / improvement.
ART. I'd. The object or this Society shall be,
while we may see all others faults to tccI and
correct our own; to suppress all manner OF de-
ceit and hypocrisy, slander and deianatlon.
back.biting, and evil speaking, with all that
tends 10 injure or defraud our neighbor, either
of bis property or character.
ART Sd. This Society shall be independent
of all other Societies. Each member shall be
vested with full power aud pri'iege, to attend
10 his own concerns, and he shall make it his
duty to mind his own business and let others
alone, and no Presidents. Vice Presidents, Sc
cretaries, Spies, lnformers. Committees. or
Delegates, shall ever be chosen by this Socie-
", to watch over the cundncl Of others, or make
reports Of their tie shbrrs miSdoings until such
a work Of Charity shall iIave~been begun al
home.
ART. a. There shallbe no public OF private
meetings Of this. Society on any appointed day.
to manage their concerns, or to hear lectures
delivered before it, but it shall be the duty of
every member TO meet himself alone every day.
and listen to the lectures of his own conscience.
ART. 5lh. No money shall he raised from
time to time, for funds to support this Society,
nor to circulate Sell-Examni,g Tract or Sell.
Examining Almanacs, or, 10 Iray Ministers or
Lawyers, tor delivering Addresses to convince
us how much easier it is 10 examine others
than ii is 10 examine ourselves.
ART. 9th. Every member Of this Society
shall show due regard to Temperance in Eat
ing, as we'll US Drinking. and in every thing
else. But, lie shall be his own Judge what he
shall cal, and what lie shall drink. and where:
wilhal he shall be clothed.--whife glnttonv.
drunkenness, and tightlacing shall be lett 10
the cravings of conscience, aud The consump-
ton, with all that popular reproacl they de-
serve, without tlIe benefit Of Clergy, or the
votes or lectures ofa Temperance Society.
ART. 7th. Every; thing shall be called by its
right name. Men shall not put hitter for sweet,
nor sweet for bitter, nor call for beer when they
mean rum, nor for cider or wine when they
mean brandy orgin. And no Tnnkeeper shall
put new wine into old bottles of Ffench bran
dy for the use of his Temperance customers.
!. and no Grocer, or Merchant, shall sell pre-
parations Of whiskey for Malaga or Madeira
wine, or St Croix rum.
ART. 9th. Every member of this Society
shall be allowed to drink tea or coffee. cold
waeT, or hat water. buttermilk or lemonade,
rs suits him best. or to chew or smoke tnbac-
co. or take snuff, when it is notso!fGnsive to
the company he isim. without heng'excommu-
nicated from good Society. or delivered over to
the bufettinss of:cod water Pharisees.
ART. 9Th. No member Of this Society shall
ever set himself above his fellows. or seek to
establish his own character and consequence
by blackening his neghbors good name, think.
ing thereby 10 make his own appear the whi-
ter; but it shall be the duty Of every one TO ex-
anime their own hearts and dispositions. and
set double guard against the sin that most
easily besers themselves.
ART. I0..This Society shall form no Chris
tian party in politics, land no political party un.
d, the name of the SelEExaminins Society.
II shall have nothing TO do with Masonry or
Anti,nasonry. Colonization or Autslavery. Mis-.
sionary, Bible, 'or Tract Societies, "a being in
Religious creed, test, or inquisition. council or
synod, ever be established or countenanced bv
this Snciety, but every member shah enjoy his
own Religion and allow to all others The same
liberty he claims HIMSELF without being point.
ed at as Hereto. or branded as an Infidel.
ART. l1th. Good Society shall not he exclu.
sively formed ont of the arisiocracy Of wealth,
nor made out Of the popularity. of swndling
spectators. or Of civil and religions profess
sions. It shall include the poor. who are hon.
est. intelligent, and Industrious, as well as the
rich.
ART. 18th. The members ofthis Society shall
seek to do good, and not evil.--ove. and no,
hate each other; and when reviled, they shall
not revle again; but they shall bear with the
faults and nfrmlties of others. knowing, that
they themselves are men Of like passions and