The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-11
Before whose might, though hard the fight,

Intcmperancc dies away;
Our glorious plan to rescue man
From sorrow, vice and shame,
Still gathers strength, until at length
May 1t tho world reclaim
Brethren. it may perhaps appear presumption on
my part, to say, be faithful to your obligations,
stick to the pledge you have taken. allow nothing
to allure YOU from your duties go not again into
the service Of that Tyrant King, Alcohol; Tor he
! is the hardest taskmasler man ever volunteered
| To serve He requires all, every thing of his
| slaves. Health, strength, wealth, honor and hap.
| pness YES and even life itself. when nothing
else is left, and what he claims OF his subjects he
is sure to Obtain. And what does he promise in
return for all these great sacrifices. in life moth
ing, in death the drunkards death. in eternity
wo wi,hou, ceasing. lie, me advise you ever
| to keep these beautiful lines in your mind as a
tslisman against his eucroaches--
No more docs the sparkling glass invite
II hath no charms for me,
The spell that bound me With delight
Is broken, and am free.
have said all perhaps. that it is necessary for
me to say on this occasion, you have listened in
bye gone days to such flows Of eluquence, from
the lips of those who have waged war against
| the hydra headed monster tina, il would no doubt
| more become me To take my seat and not wear
out your patience and time but cannot take my
seat without contrasting the home OF good Son
of Temperance, with that of drunkard's would
as il in reality exists. Look yonder at that
dila pidated house, in the outskirts of some town
see the windows and cracks filled with cid rags,
10 keep out the keen blast of January's wind
that is bowling around it, you no cheering
smoke curling from The chimney top, all around
and about, seem nought but desoaton and power
~. But if the outside desulaiion was all, the
scene might be b)rne, but enter with me that
howell and sec
Within chamber pale and dim,
A pale woman waits in vain
Through the long anxious hours for him
Away in want and wasting pain
babe upon her knee is pining;
Its winning smiles all scared away,
She almos, hopes the suns next ray
May on its cold corsc be shining.
Poor watcher. He comes not, she dreams
Perchancc of her old home and
Upstarting with livid brow,
Claps the babe closer to her breast,
That dying child vet loved the best"
Within the fire place there dues not sparkle
one coal of fire, see stretched upon an old carpet
fur bed, the form Of once lovely girl Suffering
with Guild aud hunger; and where is the father. Go
with me 10 some rum shop, him sitting in a
state half conscious. half stupid, look his bloa
ed face. his matted hair, see the ravages of dis
sipation, and ask yourself the question, is this the
man that once promised at the altar, in the pre-
of God, to love and cherish that lone wo-
man ; yes, this is he, and he has buried every
feeling of affection, in his constant draughis of
ardent spirits, and she. his poor wife, has borne
all his and brutality aud is now fas, seek
ing that rest and happiness in another and bet
ter world, which she has been deprived of in this
by drunken husband. And when she is gone
what will become of her poor children, far better
would it DO for them if their spirits could shake
off their mortal frames and accompany their
| mother, TO that haven Of rest where neither want
nor sickness come.
Is this picture too strongly painted. No,
brethren. you know tits true. And now let us
look at tho other picture. Away situated off
| yonder at the head of that green lawn see that
| beautiful neat cottage, with its white wall and
green shutters, look at the and the jesSamne
| entwined together and seeking their way over
| the windows and doors see all around the well
kept yard, within its doors see that neatly we'll
clad female husy employed in her domestic
| avocations, every thing bespeaks peace. plenty
and happiness. And now hank, from the gate
cheerful noise arises, see those curly headed, clean
children have spied their returning father, and
they are flying to greet him. and with bouyant
step he hastens homeward. for there is winning
smiles to greet him there. Oh ,Chat contrast
and why.
The white rohed angel of Temperance has
been there the father of that family has entered
this circle. his name is enrolled as Son of Tenn
perance. Would that could persuade all men to
enroll themselves under our banner, for under its
fluids they will find an impregnabe barrier against
the evils of Intemperance.
And now, brethren of both Orders allow me tn
wish adieu, wishing that the twelve months to
come may be richly ladened with blessing to you
all may your different Orders increase. not only
in number bu, in goodly determine ion to be
more Jealous in the cause in which you have en-
listed, and may your labors be richly rewarded.