The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-10-31
. FRIEND
no THE pUBIJC.

Wy s'"'eci NdsnlhBtOnlane. It's general OBJ
lccte aro moral and benevolent, and its pecu.
liar design is to ensure success to the npor-
tant Temperance Reform, by concentrating
the moral aud social power of the friends OF
total abstinence, and creating for their pledge
and principles. that continuous and permanent
lltc and activity which are essential to The
triumph of Temperance.
IT in no wise designs 10 surperccde or di-
minish the highly useful operations of other
Temperance Societies.
ORGANIZATION is the principle of its power
and is the keystone which binds and supports
the whole fabric OF our lofty Temperance cf-
fort
by its fruits VIC would claim your appro-
baton. The order, not yet seven years old,
numbers already hundreds Of thousands of
members. Cast your mental vision forward
for the half OF another such term, and with
tho beauty and bencvolence of tho Order on
our side, with its great principles at work,
and all these hundreds Of thousands Of Sons
as so many recruiting officers, who will set
limit to our success, or tell our numbers
Come and aid our cause, which is also your
cause, and unuediy. in one grand army, let us
accelerate the downfall of Intemperance, and
give a second independence to our beloved
country.
Our Divisions, distributed like so many
garrisons of regular Temperance Troops,
overawc our common opponents, inspire the
tmd friends fihe cause, give courage to the
stoutcst, and confident assurance of victory &c
all. The members of our Order are, general
| ly, far more active than any ether equal body
Of Temperance men of the times. The entire
Order, by its quiet: but to the enemy, new.
and alarming tactics, is rapidly and broadly
advancing the march ol Temperance in the
United States. We have no onths, no mock
cries, no secret modes Of recognition such as
many dislike. The spirit OF the Order is
Temperance, rohed in Love, Purity, and Fl
deity, associated with Benevo!cncc, Charity,
and Good Will to all mankind. Those who
cherish this spirit must be improved rs men,
fathers, husbands, sons, and brothers, and rs
advocates of the Temperance cause.
The Order has enlcavored to profit by the
past experience Of other associations, and to
adopt their plans Of operation; and is, in our
judgement, better adapted to the exigences
OF the times than any other organzltion.--
Thus you perceive, our Order is a noble instru-
mcnt, auxiliary to the great cause OF Temper
ancc.
The object of the Order OF S. Of r. are
!. a Universal Temperance Reformation.
= a Brotherhood in Love, Purity and FL
deity.
3 The rccuniary relief Of sick Brethren.
a The encouragement Of Morality.
s. The diffusion of Good VIII to all man.
kind
l. The pledge OF the Order is as follows:-
mo brother shall make, buy, sell, or use as
Il bererdge, ary Spirituous or Malt Liquors.
Wine or CIDER
The penalty for violation of the Pledge is
expus:on; but i'll some cases. reinstatement
may be made by n vote Of two-thrds of the
members present at a regular meeting, after
winch an individual can he rcadnitted only at
tho same expense aud by the same baloltlng
as new member
Brothers are particularly recommended hv
resolution of the National Division 10 be indi-
vidually active in the general temperance field
>. 4 iraicrnal spirit is continually exhibit.
c'l and enforced in the charges, ocs, ccrc
monies, and rules OF the Order, and is insist
ed on as essential to its harmony, happiness
and success
3. The pccuniary relief of sick brcihrcn, to
The exlcn, ot not less than three dollars per
week, is sustained by initiation fees and week
ly dues. IT has proved itself OF ncs,i,nnl,lc
advantages To many afflicted members, and
when assaed by disease, The best medical
attendance, comfortable lodgings, kind friends,
nursing, g., are always at hand On the de-
cease oln brother not less than thirty dollars
arc appropriated ~ q funeral benefit and on
the dcccase OF a brothers wife, ,,ol less than
half that sum.
4. The Order demands that every candi-
date shall sustain good moral character
yet makes allowance for the errors of the in
cbratc. This il does in The spirit fits great
object. Integrity, Honor, Truth and Virtue
are held up as standard moral principles.
8. Good will 10 all men and a suitable ben
evidence. together with sympath sing inter
est in others, is cnioined. We are especial.
y directed to look round upon mankind, and
warn our fellow mcn from the path of error"
The travelling brother has the right OF en-
tering any Subordinate Division Of tie Order,
IN The United States, and wherever such
DVision exists, finds pleasant home, ana :.
band ot Kind and well prncipled hro,hers.-
lhe secrecy OF the Order is only such as pru-
d'nce' mani ness and kindness require, and
IL CHIEFLY similar TO that which is incident to
all social organizations; but inasmucIl as The
Order is too extensive and numerous for any
personal knowledge of membership, and eve
rywhcre accords rights, alraniagcS, comforts,
and prit'ieges, 1t s ncedlul to provide for our
"lanIly circle" some uniform vel private
mode, whereby those rights and benefits NAV
be enjoyed, without exposing them to the
vicious and unprincipled. The mode is sim
PIE, alld Consists IN our passwords and their
frequent changes. in fact our association
was not formed for keeping secrets. but we
DO keep Tho private matters of our Order 10
ourselves, and admit nonn but members to be
present at, and participate in. our lransactions
OF business; that we may pcrpctuatc our sol.
enn league and covenant against all ipebri,
alton and its innumcrabc and untold O.
Wis. Our secret things constitute not our
honh OF union nor any object OF our coal-
ton; but they are merely matters Of prudence
and sclf-prcservation II Churches, Agricul-
tura Associations, the learned Professions.
civil interpretations, circulating Libraries and
horticultural exhibitions, require for their
benefit, some limit and term OF exclusion
so do our Divisions. Ii other useful combi-
nations OF men must have some terms of fel. |