The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-03-08
For The Cecil Wing.
The Order of the Sons of Temperance

No. 1.
The Order of the Sons of Temperance
is child of Divine Providence, sprung
into existence, by those to whom the
Great God had committed Its origin,
without any set purpose, on their part to
found such an order, or the most distant
conception of the magnitude of the en-
terprize they were undertaking.
The Temperance Reformation had
spread everywhere, and the greatest en-
thusiasm had been manifested in the
spread of the cause, but in this excess of
zeal there was wanting concert of &C
ton to give it efficiency.
''Tossed upon the waves Unpopular excitement,
the cause was u rudderless bark upon the sea of
time, without pilot or compass, treighted with
the materials of its own destruction. 1t might
survive n day or generation, as the current
swept it on-but its doom was sealed by the past
history ofall strong moral excitements. The
great truth, that human passions, however noble
the cause in which they may be employed, have
their height and their bounds and that their fru-
ton is but 100 often the first step to reaction
involving consequences fatal to the principles
that aroused them, was, III the minds of many of
the leaders in the cause, about to be exemplifed'
s'Somethng was wanting to consolidate and
combine the discordant materials of the move
mcnt--fo gire each an interest IN the common
cess Of the wh0Ie--to invest ii with social char
acte', and leave impressions of affection and ill.,
terast or the mind, in its connection with the
cause and its Objects"
Another object was to be gained; the
reformed were generaIly poor, and lily
provided with the means of sustenance
in sickness. Under these impressions
and circumstances few of the staunch
friends Of Temperance in New York,
consulted together and determined to
issue the following notice:
Sir:-You are invited to attend select meet
ing at Teetotaller's Hall, on Thursday evening,
Sept. 29th, lS42,-a past o'clock The oh
ject of the meeting is TO organize a Beneficial
Society, based on Total abstinence
The notice then went on to state, that
it was proposed to make an initiation
fee, and weekly due, and in case of sick
ness to appropriate weekly benefits, and
i'll case of death, to appropriate for flu
neral expenses. This circular was sign
ed by John w. Oliver-the present M.
w. P. of the Order-and nine others,
and sent to about forty persons. At the
the time appointed, the meeting was
held. Sixteen only, were present. A
constitution was submitted and adopted
and New York Division, No. 1, Sons of
Temperance was formed.
ITS OBJECT.
"To shield us from the evils of In
temperance; afford mutual assistance
in case ofsickness; and elevate our char
acters as men,"
To dry up the fountains from whence
misery and woe; disease and death; pol
luton and hell, flow out, in their course,
blasting, wrecking, and consuming many
of our fellows.
To arrest the manufacture, traffic, and
use of Intoxicating drinks.
To bring upon the trafficker, the in
dignation of wronged and outraged
people, and drive from the world the
cup of Devils.
1t claims not to be The Temperance
Reformation, but another link in the
chain, to bind the unfortunate inebriate,
and those who are exposed to the tempta-
lions of the alluring bowl, more securely
to the paths of rectitude and honor, and
to cement, by the ties of close alliance
and mutual benefit those, who sought
to maintain an unrelaxed spirit of per-
severance, in the ennobling cause of
Human happiness.
Basing its principles on the Fstrictest
virtue, morality and sobriety, it seeks
the elevation of the character of those,
who come within its fold.
With forms and principles so elevated
and yet so simple that none, however
high, but may be honored by connex-
ion with it, and none so low, if honest,
to be debarred from its privileges and
blessings-an order, emphatically finer.
acan-and in its simplicity beautifully
adapted to American institutions and
habits.
Its object is to erect mighty moral
structure whose foundation is Total .Ab-
stinemce, supported by pillars of Benev-
olence and Brotherly Kindness, with a
dome rejecting light and liberty, protec-
ton and elevation to mankind.
To plant Tree of Temperance and
Benevolence, under whose luxuriant
branches nation-aye, the world, may
take shelter, and partake of its precious
fruits.
To erect standard and unfurl the
Heaven-blest flag of Glove, Purity and
Fidelity" and bid it float DER every land,