Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-08-23

l..
lnsIdlous foe time or space to rallv his bro
ken vow. And the total abstinence princi.
p e IS the only sure platform on which We
can MAINTAIN and propagate successfully
the virtues of temperance.
We need no new evidence to prove that
our moderate dram drinking citizens are
the most formidable enemies that retain the
field against the progress of Temperance.
" know that they are strong; many of
trust. Te such we would address onr a"u y
peaI. Tor we recognize no other o,,,,.,,-i
IN the field of contest. Ponents
The unreformed inebriate, the rumserros5
and lmposter, are mere supernumeraries,
and superannuates in your camp. They
bear no arms, they are under your pro-
lection; they exist by your support and
are emboldened by your lmpious example,
you may meet with scores Of poor inebri-
ates who have tried 10 become temperance
men, by following such dangerous exam
pie, but it has plunged them deeper in the
mire. Thousands are trying to arise from
habItual intoxication to a moderate use of
the intoxicating cup.
Alas, It IS your example (Moderate
Drlnker) that is holding out this deluding
phantom. Will you beguile them with the
fatal deIusion that they may again be mod
crate drinkers. Would you torture lin
gerlng Tantalus. with visions of the COOL
ing waters of life, with w hich he shall new
er be permitted to quench his burning
thirst
Shall that Incorporate Father, who has
acquired almost strength and resolution e.
nough to resist the TempteF ?-Shall that
husband who has just commenced life Of
reformation ?-ShaIl that disspated son and
brother, who has just been rescued from
the sea shore of ntemperance ?-shal
these be dashed and hurled back into their
| original ruin, by following your reckless
example? When the shipwrecked ma
riner has clung to his frail plank through all
the lnh ospitable wilderness of the stormy
ample, ndag' 0dt 1asse 0earck: ng tIFFss !EeopHfe
/ him on to breakers, whence, with his fraiI
IpreserVer he shall be dashed on the Cha
Irybdis of inevitable destruction When
with final and desperate effort he has
once laid hold ofthe life boat, and ark of
of safety, will you strike off his hands
and leave him to sink in the waves or to
be swallowed up by the whirlpool of des-
tructlon that is eddying round his precari-
Gus bark and threatening to engulf him !?
Who then, shall be accountable for the e.
wills Of intemperance? Will it be only the
inebriate himself, or will it not be those who
have the power, by their influence in the
circle in which Providence has placed you
| maintain that every moral man can, by
his expmple, WELD mighty influence in
directing public opinion, and in reforming
the evil habits of society,".
1t it is by the influence of your example
that the habit Of dissipation is to be re-
formed and corrected. 1t is by your per-
sonal efforts, that the world is to be eman.
cipated and saved from the degrading ef-
fects Of Alcohol.
Let the champions and friends of our
Order be encouraged and stimulated to this
work Of benevolence by the recollection
that there is no point of degradation from
5 whence some have not been raised and sa-
: we'd. The poor outcast was not always as
f he now appears. He has perhaps, a fine
: intellect heclouded-a noble heart though
4 brutalized, and powers and redeeming
: qualities, which may yet be called into &C.
], tion.
: None but the drunkard can know the hear
burnings, the yearnings after reformation and th
sense Of degradation which he feels but sees n
> mode of regainlng the position from which he ha
:, , thrown himself. His midnight purposes ar
q known to him alone Remind him that there
II sympathy in his behalf and hope for his recovery
d and you will find that these appeals are not with
n out effect. As one travelling on the Andes find
l. himself suddenly enveloped in the Shiny folds {
= the Boa Constructor and sees those huge ligament
binding upon him and feels the vital principle fas
:. ebbing away calls to his fellows to save hir
= : while they may 80 he who is enslaved by h
d cups, asks your aid to assist him in breakln
n the spell which binds him down to so degradln
1T and ruinous a service. As one who has been b
n nighted in a wintry storm and feels the chilln
n torpor benumbing his senses, desires TO sleep, b
N may you for your interference in his rescu
- now ; but he will surely bless you afterwards
y How cheering will be the reflection if you hav
IN made one home happy, if you have restored to 81
De ciety one prodigal son, it will more than recon
III pense all your sacrifice; it will repay all emotion
A. it will sweeten the cup of life, it will smooth Il
ur pillow of the dying.
V. After Bro. Woodward had concluded, and Il
u loud applause subsided which his remarks CALI
= FORTH the brethren were called up and sung a
~ other ode. After they We're again seated, b
u Humphrey introduced J. A. Avertt, Jr., to I
III audience, who made some brief, but very appl
v pirate remarks, Judging from the applause tn
ut, ELECTED, from the crowded assembly. After B