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

"'o x ea' amount ot GOOD, anu Is calculated TO
do much more. But when contrasted with the
Order of the Sons Of Temperance. il mev he
likened TO great ship resting msjestically upon
a becaIned sea. her canvas lazily Tapping the
mast, and awaiting some favorng breeze to suc
cessfully lay her course and feel her helm
While the other. like some richly decorated
steamer of improved shape, sonnd tilnbers; a per-
feet model. engine of her own, and expecting no
accidental aid. plows the waves steadily and
boldly, and seeks her destination by the safest
route without lacking or making leeway
There are many conscientious Christians who
object to voluntary Associations of all kinds, and
| particularly to the Sons of Temperance bee ,use
The Church is believed, by them, TO be abundant
ly sufficient for all purposes of reformation Is il
| not strange that such cannot perceive that
The denial of the rigSt and propre,y of such
affiliations would apply with eq,,al fnrce TO any
man becoming a member of the Church Can
they not see that this parity of reasoning leads to
a direct opposition To the laws and government
under which they live2 | have often wondered
why such ObjectOrs did not come out boldly for
| theocracy. The glst of their reasoning certainly
has that extent. But the objections TO the Order
OF the Sons ofTemperance are perhaps more pau-
sble. will therefore notice some of those most
cummoniy urged. And | am the more inclined
To do SO, since they come from or two grave
Presbyterles in the form of maniestos OF public
dec aratons
The first will notice, because it is the princi-
pal one. is the alleged secrecy OF the Order.
Secresy is defined 10 be, and properly is, a
state of separation. To secresy i'm this sense the
Order pleads guilty. and hopes ever to remain
separate from the drinking usages of society.
But these formidable bulls attribute to it SAVIOR
ing OF criminaty. As might have been expected
from such quarter, they commence by torturing
the sacred volume into supper, of their pious
a vacf str home ~
Truths, they have laid hands IN the following
passages: " he that doeih truth cometh TO the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest that
they are wronght of God" Every one that
doeth evil hateth the light lest his deeds should
he reProved.' No should doubt the trnth
here conveyed, and its applicability TO the cases
which the Inspired Writer had in view when
The passages were penned. But is it 10 be
| inferred that allusion made to persons whose
principles are publicly avowed and v hose en-
tire object is declared? Do these presbyteties
wish us to understand from the above quotation
that all onr sayings and doings should come to
the Gght?' If So, | would respectfully ask of
them the Interpretation of the following passages
from the same work Z" A tale bearer reyeale,b
secreis but he that is of faithful spirit conceal
eth the matter" Prov. XII I3 "a prudent
Wan eoncealeth knowledge" Prov debate
thy cause with thy neighbor and discover not a
secret to another" Prov. XIV. 8, g. eff tby
brother shall trespass against thee 90 and tell 4
him his faults between thee and him alone
Mat. xviii. Is. when thou doest aims, let
not thy left hand know what Thy right hand do
eth that thine aims may be in secret" Mat.
W. 5, A. In addition TO this high authority for
secresy In many things pertaining to our moral
relations, We have beautiful disqualification of
ITS propTlety in the person of our Saviour When
ne came down from the mountain and healed the
eper. he turned to him in a manner BECOMING
divine eXemplar, and said, - see Mou tell no
man" When he touched the eyes of the two
hlind men and they were healed he enjoined upon
them also profound secresy, saying, =" see that no
man knotp u" Christ evidently did not wish
this matter to " come 10 the light" otherwise he
would not have enjoined cOncealment of his God
Ike act. Was Christ criminal in the eve of
these grave and candid presby teries? Our Sa-
viour knew that these grateful men, with swell.
ing hearts would trump his fame thrnuuh the.
land but Christ had none of mans pride NOR
vanity, and he enjolned profound secresy How
often, IN our Division Rooms, am reminded Of
these beautiful examples as relief after relief ia
extended TO some sick or unfortunate brother.
whom the worlds charity would not have reach
ed.
Besides if" there must be something wrong II,
that which seeks conceal ment," as these Presby
'erIaDs ailege, they prove too much. They sea
'he mole IN orr eye. without feeling the beam in
their oWn. have been told more than once bv
a polite sexton, that could not enter the church
men, as they were transacting private matters
Know OF more than one pastoral association
whose meetings are secret, and whose resolutions.
secretly passed, declare that all their savings and
doIngs "sball be strictly confidential WHY
not let them " come 10 ight7' We freonently
see announced in the journals, that some General
Assembly, Conference or Convention will sit
to-day with closed doors" Why should thesa
bodies attribute impurily Of motive TO our Order
when they arc thus liable to similar imputstion
why should the Romish Priesthood refuse bur;al
IN consecraied ground to member of any Secre,
Order, when their confessional is SO lannon's far
The reason Of the obieciion2 Snch criticisms ara
iarcIcal. Secresy pervades the Universe. il veils
the person OF the Creator, il is indeliby written
upon the wonderful mechanicism of his creatures.
who but God can understand the hidden emo
ions OF the human heart2 And who. possessing
mat heart, will reveal all IFS secrets Neither
angel, man nor devil can unlock its mystic cham
oeTs and expose IFS cherished contents. Would
you restrain the pious feeling that would steal
the social Babel to wrap itself in its sacred mus
ings would you put out the fire of the spirit
tnat exhaes the incense Of the contrife heart as
1t rises silently and secretly from an anipathy of