The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-18

sHU1EeanessssssH.suE
aud tear from the Throne the sublime veil thai,
envelops Natures Sod
Ii IS astonishing how prone we are 10 overlook
IN ourselves, what we condemn in others The
merchant, while censuring the Urder seems to
forget his use of private marks and secret signs ;
the Senator, the secret sessions of the Senate :
the Cardinal his conclave; the Judge, his secret
Interchange of opinions in Banc. Washington S
army had lis outside sentinels. passwords. signs
and countersigns its formalities Of initiating and
drilling its members; it's exactions concerning
age and constitutional disabilities its private
rules and regulations. Its sick were provided
for, its disabled were peusioned. The pledge
which called 1t into existence will long he re-
membered. Its,ruck for Liberty and under God
and Washington secured it,
Our little disciplined cold water army is not I'm
like r--our secrecy is tn guard against imposi-
ton in the bestowment of benefits, our aim is
freedom from worse than Colonial vassalage-
may God in his infinite mercy grant us like sue
cess.
1t is further alleged that the tendency of such
secrecy is Injurious To this we reply that OK.
perience is to be the test. So far, the Order in
question has proved the contrary The tree is
known by its fruit, and on all sides of us. our
fruit may he seen in clustering profuson and
heathfu exuberance-in the reunion of several
poisonous atmosphere of those worse than Upas
plants-;he grog shops; in rescuring children
from ignorance and vice; in drying up the must
fruitful source of woman's affection Such fruit
Is not gathered from thistes nor thorns IL the
objection be tenable it is equally applicable to all
the institutions to which we have alluded -
These manfestoes are again proving too much
Ter the DIRECTORS. The gun,
whether aimed at duck or plover,
Shoots wide and kicks its owner over"
As to the objections sometimes made to our COL
lars. badges, &C., we have only to reply that, as
creatures of sense, we are all Influenced, in some
degree. by external appearance. Some adopt
peculiar mode of dress to distinguish them as the
founders of new doctrine-some to he dstn
gnshed from the common mass, and some in con,
fnrmity with supposed biblical authority The
Sons of Temperance have adopted theirs to SYM
bolize The three cardinal principles on which the
institution is based, and they believe they are not
censurable for bearing on their bosoms the repre-
sentaton of the LOVE, PURITY and FIDELITY
which should exist ,Uithin. The stars and stripes
at the mast head of his ship make the sailor not
less brave-nor does the straight breasted coat
make the Quaker less moral. The ample sleeve
of the Bishop, the surplice of his presbyter, the
long robe of the barrister, the nodding plume or
gttering epaulelte of the soldier, The magnificent
regalia of Aaron, the visible sacrifices of Moses
and Solomon, and the white linen ephod of ihe
ancient priesthood. did not deterorate the meri,
of the wearers. On the contrary, we have good
reason TO believe that the effect was beneficial
from the fact that God prescribed mode of dress
for his minisering servants in the tabernacle and
temple.
If the success of our Order among the intell-
gent and the good be any proof of Its merit, it
holds the highest place among the moral move
'nents ofhe age. Not yet four years in existence
1t numbers near fifty thousand members Six hun.
dred Divisions have already been chartered, and
twenty three States of our glorious Union are
giving evidences of their healthful sway. The
radiant star has peered above tho dark cloud of
objections that dimmed its early ustre, and is now
dispensing lis refugent beams from Maine to Flori-
da, snd from the Atlantic Seaboard to the confines
of the Republic. The indivisible triangle emilia
zoned with symbolic colors. like sign of promise
in the moral heaven, betokens covenant that the
fiery pillows are fast assuaging. The dove has
found resting place and herads the tidings of
relief. The Sons and Daughters are separating
the wheat from the tares. The patriarchs have
gone forth to husband the earth Conductors are
pointing the way. Sentinels are guarding the
laborers from intrusion. The flowers send forth
their accepted fragrance. The moral earth begins
to smile, and Heaven saves with kindred sym
pathy.