Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-12-13
OriginnI YuFtra.
WARRENroN. Dec. Sd, 1850.


Bro. GoRNAN: It is charged against us,
that We, the Soass of Temperance, have
marshalled our armies, and gone to battle |
with the Churches of our Fathers !4fhat it
is our design to pull down those be1aVed
and time honored Institutions, till there
shall not be vestige left to mark the spot
where once stood the Tabernacle Of the
Great and Living God That songs of
praises shall no longer arise from the affairs
where our Fathers once knelt and poured
out their thankful hearts to high heaven,
for the blessings bestowed upon them and
their country.
What sir We, who have met 50 often
around our mothers knees and listened To-
words ofholy instruction as they fell from
their hallowed lips, sinking deep into our
young hearts, bidding lips to murmur bless
ed be the names Of our mothers we, who
were carried in our mothers arms to the
Fount Of Baptism, and sealed by the seal
Of the cross, and by her committed to the
Ark in which our Fathers passed through
the angry waves Of this tempestuous world
safe to that haven above, where storms are
not, and billows do not roll we, the sons
'ofsuch mothers, raise our voices against
thechurch of GOda PreposterOusl know.
and all know who walk our halls in all the
pride ofa good Son Of Temperance know,
that our purpose is not to assail the Church
or State; but to battle against that destruc-
tive foe which turks beneath the sparkling
wave of the vine cup and insinuating glass
OfstrOng drink. Our voice is never heard
but in gentle whispers to the widows bleed
ing heart-kissing the falling tear from her
bhghted check. Let those who wish to as
sail US. gather together their elements of
wrath, and like the volcano, belch forth its
mighty foods of lava; let than send forth
their whirlWinds and their storms; let their
fhunder loll; their lightning fash through
the heavens; but fear not, ye noble Sons Of
Temperance, for their fury win fallas harm
less at your feet, as the ripples Of the laugh
fng brook, which kisses its moss covered
banks. Fear not you are safely housed in
the hearts Of your eountFyme
Often, when contemplating the Order oI
Sons OfTemperance, they are presented to
my mind, bearing the same relation to the
Church Of God, as the Daguerreotypist bears
to those beautiful lights and shadows that
emanate from the sun. No doubt you will
ask, how can this be? l viii explain Let
the Sun, which burns so, beautiful in the
heavens, represent the Son Of God !; thu
light which Shadows forth its beauties, th,
Church or the Word OfGod the rude ant
unpohshed plate he holds in his hand, ma,
be most titly compared TO the drunkard u
his fallen, degraded and unhappy state
the Dageurre0typist to the noble Son often
perance as he takes from the rubbish of tn
earth, this plate coated over with the accu
mulated rust Of ages. and by his magic DOW
erpOlishes il until its bright surface sparkle
as diamond. and 80 exquisite is its sensibil
ity to impression, that thing imperceptibl
to the eye, riding on the feecy wing of light
makes deep and lasting impression on il
surface which may last for years. perhau
for ages. Solifelike and beautiful are thos
impressions, that friend who may hay
been absent for years, IN this shadowy viisi
seems 50 tue to life, that we can see th
smile, and almost hear the well known word
that once fell with such sweet melody on ou
ear.
So It's with the Sons Of Temperance,
They 60 forth among the sons of men, an
from the outcast rubbish, take the poor in,
briate who is clothed in shameless rag
while with confusion offace he hides himse
among the things of the world that are ca
of and forgotten, where there is no eye
pity, no hand to save who stands near tn
awful precipice, the Drunkand' 8 grave. II
men like these that the Sons Of Temperan,
take, not only in their arms, but upon the
bOsoms, bearing them to their home Of sal
~, and bid them drink of the sparklir
tount, whose waves wash away the stain
otack inteMPeraace. Il is now that the
present hun whom they have snatched fro
adrunkard's grave to the Church, with
reason restored, calm and gentle with
tace beaming with smiles. Our work beir
hnlshed, our labOur ended we wish not, N
can we go any farther. We are conten
for Angels look doRn from heaven and swe,
smile upon our labours. We are williI
70 leave hun in the hands Of the ehIrc
hoping that i win carry on the good wo
commenced, until his heart shah 5e chanv
into the likeness Of Jesus Christ our T,6y
Tbs is our purpose and our work and
doing these things we are content.
Yours in L. P. q