The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-06-16

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BRETHREN: am sens,ively alive 10 the i'm
nartance at my relation tn this saul stirring scene .
feel like some nautical tyro whu grows doubtful
of his skill and distrustful of his safety as the
swelling surge and the ocean prospect rise, in
boundless majesty. upon his eager vision. That
vast sea of heaving bosoms and upllfied faces
seems To enlarge my responsibility, while it les
sens my capacity to meet ii. am awed by the
eloquence of its greatness. Were It's current and
character different. | should refuse To begin The
voyage. But, Knowing Benrvuence 10 he its
presiding deity. and perceving myself beckoned
on by her trident of LOVE. PURITY and F,pELI.
TY, at once set sail under her charitable guidance
and generous protection.
In the brief space of time allotted me by the
distinguishing mark of your confidence and esteem.
propose 10 say something of the social principle
and the necessity of voluntary associations
Man. by nature, is gregarious animal He as
instnctively enters the social stale as the brute
creation into herds Indeed ST. entirely depen-
dent is he upon his kind for the promotion of his
'own true and substantial happiness" that this
relation becomes as necessary as il is natural
Ever active and eminently expansive, the social
principl continually seeks enlargement and diver
slry, proportnned to his multiplied and rnu,iDly
ing wants 1t proffers To the individual The Sc
cnritv of his person and property, which he could
not, from the depravl'y nt human nature, enjoy
nt,c
relative duties. upon the faithful performance of
which depend the power and extent of that pro-
lection. In other words, man sacrifices pcTtion
of his natural and absolute rights, that he may be
sustained and assisted by society in the proper on.
joymeut of his being To define the varvus rpla
lions incident 10 The just exercise of the social
principle, as well 10 enforce the observance of
the obligations which ii imposes. the enactment of
laws was found 10 be Indispensable And hence
he inst IutIH f,E i'll
| compelling obedience 10 municipal reoulatuns.-
| The healihinl exercise Of this high authority,
when derived "a IL ought To he, from the general
consent ut the social brotherhood not only dis
penses. impaTtially, the benefits of such society
but Teconciles lis members 10 the individual sacri-
fees essential In its existence But as there are
other duties which The written law cannot en-.
ioTce, and exigences and wants which in conse-
quence of lis uniformity and universally. it can
neither meet nor relieve, other developments nf The
social principle have been and will continue Ia he
| necessary and beneficial. And hence the ORIGIN
| OF VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS.
am aware that very many good and intelli-
gent persons oppose all new organizations. under
the belief that the old established forms and svs-
TENS are fully adequate To supply all that is pro-
poseu ny The new Such opposition. however,
not only manliests contracted view of the social
principle, but pfe-snpposes stationary character
In all that belongs 10 the mental and physical
powers and relations of fife. Iempora rnutnn-
tnr, ct mutantr cum Ills. Severe changes NAV
come over localities and classes, " hich cannot be
anticipated by any general system. Colleges and
endowed seats of learning possess advantages and
confer benefits, but the great mass of the people
cannot enjoy these inestimabe privileges Jnris
prudence and Philosophy may furnish MS with
great landmarks for our civil and moral Govern
ment but does ii follow that all that is necessa-
ry 10 the promotion of our happiness, is cOmpre-
hended within these limits? That NO means are
10 be employed, nor associations formed, To make
law more eifecUal IN It's operation, To facilitate
scientific Investigations, and to make the rich field
OF philosophy more beautiful and useful? MUM.
cIpal laws may declare rights and enurce obedi
ence to them. Colleges may clolbe The mind
with roles of logic, abstract Propositions and the
subIeiies and sinuoslties Of puIenc lore but they
do not rouse sIunbeTug philanthropy, incte path.
otism, nor Instruct us IN natural law and general
ethics, so pTOhtabIy evolved by The voluntary upp
ration OF The social principle. There are obIipa-
lions involving collective, and consequently lndi-
vidual happiness, which they neither contemplate
nor enforce. There is stream of benevoeuce
sometimes howIng from the human heart which
SweIs above these formal embankmeatss and, uni
ting with similar currents, seeks the arid and
cherries lowlands of neglected poverty, To revive
their parcled and plnlng flowers
1t Is not designed here 10 underaIue existing
institutions. 1t may be remarked, that new
voluntary associations, for specific purposes, not
uniTequently arouse them from objectionable
apathy or gross neglect, To renewed yea and less
selfish activity. This fact is particularly obser-
vable IN the conduct of the Church since the in
PRODUCTION of the Temperance enterprise. During
The l7th and 18th centuries, the munster intem
perance became so universal lavorite as to exert
even IN the Church, terrific influence. He
commended successfully with that body that So (ar
from the putting the bottle 10 ones neiohbor"
being denounced with curse it was an act of
generous hospitality and neighburly Kindness
and that, instead Of being a mucker,' he was
pleasant pfovocaIlOn to cheerful pety The pas
'orS-tOo prone, as they ever have been, TO be
governed by the bias Of their congregations rather
than the stern requirements of duly-were easily
persuaded, by this specoUs reasoning, to follow in
the Footsteps of their flOcks. 1t was no lincoln.
mon occurrence 10 see the " legate Of the skies"
staggering from the sacred ediiice--a loathsome
repTOach upon the halIowed functions he claimed
TO be commissioned to administer But no sooner
had some moral men associated themselves. in
the early part Of the present century, TO counter
act these gross abuses, to correct public sentiment
and to visit upon this mOckcry Of sacred thinos
just Indignation, than the Church took the alarm
sounded the tOcsin herself, and struck for re-