Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-02-07


to review the Address of Philip S. White, de- a
at Newton, on the 9TH of January
having heard that address, we are of course I
unable to say whether the writer correctly re-
ports the Speaker on that occasion-this much,
however, we do say, that his statements differ
very widely from the sentiments we have heard
Bro White advance in the many addresses
ace have heard him deliver. We trust some
friend viii inform US as to the correctness of
"a Hearers " report-and if his version be
true, we shall unhesitatingly declare our dis
sent from many of the positions here laid
down, as well as expose them as being at vari-
ance with the principles of our Order. We
have no idea, however, that this impartial hear
er halfway does justice to Bro. White; and
the glaring inconsistencies in which he causes
him to indulge, brand with faIsehood his pre-
tended honest version of the address. But
upon this we shall be able to speak more cor
rectly when we receive more authentic testi-
mony.
In the mean time, however, we may notice
somewhat in ertenso, this review of " A Hear
- ia AOSdta HIS uCfOIuiQdln0 bro.
White a /" coarse and vulgar man, we leave
the thousands who have heard him to saw how
much truth and justice there is in " A Hear
ers " opening remarks-and will only add,
that from SO generous a beginning, Of course
nought but fair-dealing is to be expected. Bro.
White is charged with asserting that he has
no sympathies for the drunkard." We can
not for a moment believe he ever made any
such declaration, for it would be giving the lie
direct to the noble mission in which he has
spent SO many years of his valuable life.
The speaker is next represented as saying
that !" the Church had not, and could not re-
form or suppress the evil of drunkenness !" and
" that the gospel had been preached eighteen
hundred years, and he demanded emphaticaIly
what good has it done p T" and he is further
charged with putting the Sons of Temperance
" above the perfect law and word of the living
God" Here, too, we are compelled to be-
iieve "a Hearer 'misrepresents the position Of
Bro. White. What we have always under
stood him to maintain on this subject is, that
the Church, with the discipline by which the
different denominations are governed, had not
and could not effect the reformation designed
by our Order, from the fact that total absti-
nence was not required of its members. The
Church, and not the Word of God, was at fault
in this matter. VIII +" A Hearer +" tell US how
many drunkards the Church to which he be.
longs Qor we AXE him to be a Churchman)
has reformed-and what would become of ma.
, ny who hold membership in it, if they were
I strictly dealt with, according to Biblical rules
for every time they have been known 10 be
Il any thing Else than sober? Will he answer
that question:
But +" A Hearer - is shocked at the idea thai
the Ladies should present the Sons of Tim
/ perance with A BIBLE! Now, we think, that
" among the most beautiful of the passing C.
e vents in the history of our Order, is the pre-
' sentation of Bibles. On such an occasion
| hundreds assemble to witness the interesting
ceremonies. The Son of Temperament
G who has registered sacred vow of fidelity I,
our cause, is there they whose hearts are fill
ed with noble philanthropy, and are gladdene,
b by these manifestations of our true object, ar,
there and above all, woman, who in ever,
age has worshipped with loftiest devotion at til,
shrine of virtue, is there, to cheer with he
words and smiles. There is none of that pom
pous pageantry which so often marks the pub
lie displays of human combinations. TIL
great features of the occasion are virtue an
philanthropy the gift, emblematic of a mo:
beautiful truth, and the presence of her VIII
~ gives purity to mans intentions, and loftine:
to his purposes.
Nori is all this a mere form, signifying notl
ing. The gift of a volume of the Holy Bib
is emblamatic of the great idea which gay
birth to our Order. 1t is emblematic of Ii
truth which is the first and greatest in OF
creed, that our institution is built upon tt
sublime tenets of Christianity-that its pu
pose is the diffusion of virtue and happiness
that 1t knows no distinction except those
merit, and is confined to no land or Cline
that its object is one of universal philanthropy
II and its mission, in connection with the christie
NJ religion, the II generation OF man. 1t is n
pretended that our Order can be a substitu
al for the Christian Religion. 1t is not prete
ded that it can, in any instance, dispense wi
its necessity, or, that it can induce that Iof
of ness of virtue, that entirenecs of devotion,
that immaculate purity of purpose which a
among the evidences of divinity of Religic
Its not pretended that it can teach men he
to die, but its glory is, as a handmade of chr
~tianity, to help to teach them how to lire.
OF But "a Hearer" exposes his ignoran,
hts when ne says a certain infdel, named Clal
was one of the founders of the Sons of TIE
perance. and pretends to quote Bro White