Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-25

q large number to the school house.
Mr.. Soberrnind called the meeting to or
der, and Mr.. John Smart was appointed chair
man of the meeting. Mr.. Smart was pi-
Gus and prudent man, of advanced age, and
well qualified to command the respect Of the
audience he was also true friend of every
object that might benefit his neighbors and
aid IN roofing out the demon that was des-
troying the peace of so many families. Mr..
Smart briefly explained the objects of the
meeting, stating that the design was to form
Temperance Society, and that they were
now prepared to hear any remarks upon the
subject.
After short pause, DR.. Slack arose, and
after variety of curious metaphysical re-
marks, entirely incomprehensible to the sim
pie villagers, and which were designed prob
ably to show his great learning, he told them
that grain was nutritious to the human sys-
ten, when converted into bread that the
grain converted starch was still more nutriti-
ons that the starch converted into sugar
|. was still more nutritious, and that the sugar.
when converted into alcohol vas still more
! nutritious, hasmuch as it was the nitritive
/ principle Of all our food, existed naturally.
in all vegetables and fruit He further re-
marked that he could not see what they wan
! ted witfTa Temperance Society he knew all
about them, and he could tell them in plain
English, that they were nothing but a city
humbug. Men, continued the learned
Doctor, must drink liquor to preserve their
t health, and to renew the wasted energies of
: the body, and moreover, it is the very best
o medicine that Providence has created and
0 |, Mr.. Chairman, am altogether opposed to
any such nonsensical affair as a Temperance
Society .s4
Mr.. Patrick NJ Finnigan, an honest native
of the Emerald Isle, and one of the village
storekeepers, next arose, and delivered him.
self as follows: Mr.. President, now ain
this enough to make horse laf why Mr..
T T President. you tell us you ay plidge to
: stop all drinking What sir, give up all
> our comforts, all our grog. all our liberty III
!; this blissed fra country, to plase two or three
n h men who are too poor or too stingy to buy
II the crathur? No, no, I'll oppose it tel
r. :. ye, till the dee ofmy death. if the gooC
- Lord spare my life so long, which Iearnest
y ly prayhe may. like the Doctor s notior
AZ about the matter, he understands it. And
- - know, too, by experience that it's a goot
~ medicine, and when the Docter can't be 90
le right away, it's the best thing in creation +
y give child that's scalded to dith.' Mr. M
n Finnigan, considering this a clincher. too
his seat amid roars of laughter, which b
y mistook for shout of applause.
Order having been restored, the villag
~ minister, the Rev. Mr. Dubious. took th
w. floor, and in the course Of a pretty lon
speech, he remarked that temperance was
H. H. undoubtedly, very good thing in its place
but men must not be coerced into any mea
- - ures in which pledges were eoncerDed tn;
=" there was no warrant in scristure for form
i ing such societies that he for one shoul
= have nothing to do with the matter thi
"a his duty as a minister, was to preach the 90
ny ny pei, and persuade all to join the churclg; TIL
,:S ,c1 the church was the oaly society that me
':I an were required to join; that he should nett
~. er join nor countenanee any association b.
'ui what was commanded in the Bible that
1 on was the duty of all to unite with the chhrc
liu W and as good christians to avoid drunkenne
u and every other sin that We had no mo
o. right to ask men to pledge themselves again
Ha' drinking than against adultery, or covetou
u. e ness, or any other of the numerous sins tt
,nd were practised.
for Ana 40 knoE' moreover dr' ire
of dent continued the Rev. gentleman, 'th
ooh these temperance societies have been Il
du- cause Of much evil, for know that persol
have, in moment of weakness, OF excit
cod ment, been induced to sign the temperm
/ Il pledge, and have afterwards violated it, al
,tos been expelled from the society, and thus b
ma a great evil been done and the friends
not the society cannot and dare not deny it. ;
o,n The Rev. Mr. Dubious Lad delivered hi
,me self with great energy, and apparently wi
ade great effect. Mr.. Crumpdihg and Mr.. \
,alf. Finnigan, the storekeepers, and Mr.. Sli
nill and Mr. Stub, the tavern-keepers, were
for sitting together, and for once, forgetting
4 a former animosities, jealousies, and bick,
wen ings, united in saying. that, to their motto
the parson had never made 50 good spec
res since his settlement in the village and tn
dan began to conclude That 1t was pretty mu
in all over with the temperance party now.
L. Squire Flytrap, was the Justice of t
bors Peace, and from the first, had dreaded t
ac- temperance movement he was short, thi
and set, round-headed, purple-faced gentlemt
one, who, like some individuals amongst us, v
the not made magistrate on account of any
hes perior mental endowment; for sure am,
rum was far better judge of whiskey than
thew law.
lers; The Squire well knew that the tavt
able broils gave him the best part Of his pock
money, and so he determined tothrow in
Ilage mite Of opposition, to help put down t
d, 'fanatical movement as he was pleased