Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-10-25


the judgement and the understanding-and
forced conviction upon the minds of all.
In the afternoon, the Grand Division, in a
body, attended by invitation from the gentle
manly Principal of the Deafand Dumb Asylum,
upon an exhibition of the Students of that Insti-
tuition. The exercises were of the most inter-
esting character, showing great proficiency of
the inmates in the mysterious language of
Signs, marked by an intelligence and under
standing truly astonishing.
At night, addresses were delivered in the
Presbyterian Church, to an overlooking audi
ence, by P. w. P. Geo B. Wetmore, and
P. NJ. w. P. Philip S. White. The remarks
of Bro. Wetmore were truly logical and unan-
swerable, and gave evidence of a mind well
skilled in all the elements of debate. His vim
dication of the Order against the many asper-
sions and objections urged by;its opponents,
was thorough and complete, and must have 81
fenced the dispositions of those who have sys-
tematically attempted its overthrow. He was
followed by Bro. White, who completely over
whelmed his audience with his powerful ap-
peals, his racy anecdotes and whitening sarcasm.
And thus closed the first days public exercises,
the good effects of which can only be revealed
in Eternity.
On Thursday night, the Presbyterian Church
was again filed to overlooking, and the evening
was occupied entire by P. S. White. Great
as had been his previous efforts, this was pro-
nounced the speech of the occasion. Tired Of
appeals to the philanthropy Of men Ito use the
language of another) he turned to the selfish
and sordid passions of our natures, and spoke
to them in a language that would have moved
the heart of anchorite or outcast. Then came
a perfect story-book of incident and adventure,
of simple tale and lively anecdote. Pathos and
humor-tears and smiles-the journey of hu.
man life with its many shaded scenes-were
represented in his graphic and inimitable man.
ner. Then came a few of his own personal re-
miniscenes. These he told in that manner in
dicative ofdeep feeling, coming from a heart
fully alive to human woe and suffering. The
experiences oflfe, after all, are worth more in
the cause Of a reformation Of the past, than the
most polished rhetoric, or the most imprisoned
oratory. Philosophy may spread out before us
its dry detail, but its most cogent reasoning viii
fail when brought into contact and opposition
with the truths of history. In History man
speaks to man; a suffering heart to a frail and
erring brother; in Philosophy, intellect discour.
ses to intellect I; mind talks to mind-eyeI
reasoning, but never concluding: pursuing
their onward course until they arrive in the
airy land of speculation and theory. Their
dullness begins; then Philosophy losses it.
charms. and falls upon the ear like the pain.
full monotony of a dry, dull master of weari
ness.
For full three hours Mr.. White held his large
congregation asif Spell-bound by his eloquence
and mastery strokes Of wit, humor, pathos, rid
icule, sarcasm and denunciation, At one time
his hearers were bathed in tears the next con
yulsed with laughter. His whole speech wa.
truly an intellectual treat-such as one hear
only at the end of every score of years.
On Friday night, P. ". P. Luke Black
nner, Of Salisbury Division, delivered an appro
pirate and interesting address in the Presby
terrain Church. Combining himself to answer
ing the various objections urged against thu
Order, he took them up, one by one, and scat
tered them to the Withstand wound up by hap
PLY demonstrating it to be the duty of all men
to throw the weight Of their character and in
fuence into the great scale of Temperance
and aid in Kidding the world of the creates
evil that has ever afflicted and disgraced blu
mainly.
The result Of this seriesof Temperance ad
dresses upon our citizens is most manifest. 4
large number ave come and are coming int.
the Order; whilst a great many others, VIII,
may never perhaps do so, have been complete
ly disarmed of their ~prejudices and oppositiol
to it, and willingly concede it to be one of tn
most elevated and Heaven-approved reforma
tory elements of this mighty age.
On Saturday Bro. White spoke, both in til,
afternoon and night, at Louisburg, where
large eoncourse of People were in attendanc,
on the session of the Baptist Convention-pro
ducing the happiest effects and completely en-
listing the sympathies and interest of that res
pectable and numerous Denomination, in be
half of our Order. On Monday he spoke a
Garysburg, from whence he proceeded on hi
Eastern tour, as previously advertised. w
are g~ratiied to state that his services have bee
procured to Lecture through the State unit
the first Of January; so that the People i
a great many Counties will have an opportu
nifty Of testing the justice of the high-wrougE
eulogiums which have been passed upon hin
wherever he has been.
a A Brother writing from Warrenton, say
-"I regret that l could not be with you /;