Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-10-18

destitute, the diseased and dying But ad-
hitting the truth of the objection, we must
reGnquish our organizations for the promo
ton of knowledge and the other benevolent
purposes. We must relinquish our Sabbath
Schools, Tract Societies, Bible Societies,
Colonization Societies, Missionary Societies; E
humane societies of every description. For
seventeen centuries of the christian era, the
world adopted this creed, and what was the
consequence Why the pail of starless
night rested On all moral subjects, and NOR
al death riOted in the darkness, not only up
on the bodies but the intellects and souls of
men. For half century these societies
have existed and been in successful opera
ton, and what change has it produced up
on society The clouds have been disper-
sed by the rising glory Of the sun of knowl-l
edge, and now those institutions like so ma
ny living fountains of moral influence are
rolling their pure and fertilizing waters out
in all directions over the desert waste of so
ciety. But the conclusions of the objector
not only obliterate those glittering way marks /
Of the progressive influence of religion in
4 the world, but it would strike with fearful
force at the root of civil government, scat
tering to the winds the wholesome laws and
restraints that now guard the interest of So
ciety. For if religion covers the whole
i ground, then our whole system of legisla-
| tive and civil jurisprudence, to say the least,
is superfuous, and ought to be abolished
, The same objection would destroy all family
discipline and government, for if religion is
sufficiently powerful to make children, do
mestics and servants good and obedient, why
e then have any family government. The
r church cannot accomplish this work of re-
e form, because on this subject she is not right
e herself. For she suffers her membership TO
G make, vend and use, every class of intoxica-
ting and malt liquors. How then, / ask, can
II she reform the drunkard and cure the evil of
il intemperanee. As well might we suppose
; that the church could cure the evil Of game
cling while her membership made, sold and
/, played cards. But there are many branch
IS les of the church who oppose the temperance
p reform, both by their teaching and legisla-
f ton how the church can accomplish this
e work when she opposes it by her legislation,
d teaching and practice, cannot understand
le That the church cannot remedy the evil
i is evident from historic fact The ehurcl
II has been in successful operation for more
E. than Is centuries, and intemperance has pre-
% vailed ihe7ery grade and circle of societ,
q to greater erless extent during the entir,
ID time, and what has the church done to de
nj liver the world from the curse. Even whil'
she has been preaching against intemperanc
te from her pulpits, and enaeting laws agains
IT. drunkenness in her halls of legislation, tn
n evil has increased, until the foodtide of in
re temperance, like an ocean of fire, swept b
re the wing of the tempest, has rolled its fame
DIT waves over the earth, blasting, burning
ld killing the morals, minds and bodies of mer
ny But there are many beyond the influence {
" the church which she cannot reach. The
attend not her worship, bow not at her altar;
'n- and wait not upon her ministry. She cal
hg not reform them, for they feel not her infil
eh Z enee, and you cannot get men to atten
.s .n9 church, to engage in exercises of devotion
ed or bring them under the ministry of Il
er- G world, while they are constantly intoxicated
in The church, from her very design, cann
led be made temperance society. Total abs
ure nence from all Intoxicating or malt liquor
= wine or cider, has not been made conc
in ton Of church membership by Christ al
ard his apostles, and we have no authority to
ual it now.
re- Such condition would throw beyond b
few pale, many of her valuable members. 7
ab- there are many valuable members Of t
e or church of God who are not Incorporate, b
= who sometimes use wine, cider and beer
the Such individuals are valuable members
Gus the church, men of exemplary piety a
liant earnest religious zeal fls@
and In many sections of country, wine, cid,
to beer and ale are used for dietie purpos
me take them from the inhabitants, and y
for would rob them of half their living. w
not total abstinence made condition of chul
pos membership, such sections of count
and would be cut off from the benefits of c.
am nection with the church. But as the chul
per- is designed to be universal, and extend
7lce' privileges and blessings to all, it is evid
ance that such pledge could not be made c
pies, dition of church membership The VII
up history however, of the temperance suhjc
4 his proves that such pledge Unnecessary
with the reformation Of the drunkard, hence i
:. evident that as such aspledgc cannotbe mi
hen a condition of church membership,
are church cannot be the remedy. ~
Itisl ----.' =. esss n
,yers r.. I'll u F.-.- e--. 4 ).
more SWEATING HIN. A young candid
e OBJ lately presented himself before certain n
/ suf ical society for examination, and, f ace
make ed, was to receive degree from the soci
0 OBJ The censors went on with the examina
from so far as to find him grossly ignorant :.
o ne embarrassments and modification had thr
nper- him into violent sweat. In this pic
.ty Of one of the censors asked him what CO