Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-06-27

" the melancholy intelligence of the death of
is only son. The deepest sympathy is felt in his al
Fiction, and great regret for his necessary ab-
enee from our c~ounsels.
The representation in attendance is very large,
nd the best feeling prevails. 1t is truly a gath
ring of brothers and friends of humanity.
Thereport of the NJ. W. P, has been presented f
md referred. 1t is an eloquent document, and :
presents a highly satisfactory view Of the Oondi- I
and prospects of our beloved Order. We o
some of its striking portions. n
Most Worthy Patriaroh's Report. t
TORONTO, June II, 1851.
To the National Dirision Of lie Sons Of Temper I
dRce of North america. {
MosT WORTHY BROTHERS :-Again has a mer-
ciful God permitted us to assemble as the foun-
tain head of the Sons of Temperance. For the
first time in our history we leave the country
which gave our Order birth, and come to take
counsel in Her Majesty's dominions. Though in
a strange land, we find ourselves among broth
ers. The same glorious banner of Love, Purity
and Fidelity, waves over our heads. The same
holy objects animate our hearts. And herein is
one of the chief g%lories of our Order made mani
fest.
May our cause be blessed in our coming to-
getherl May our meeting hasten the hoped-for
day, when the last moderate drinker shall be en-
lightened, the last drunkard reclaimed, the last
grog-shop closed, and the last d%istillery fire put
out-when in this wide world, no human being
shall be found base enough to put the bottle Of
confusion to his neighbor'smouth-but when the
inhabitants of the earth shall dwell together in
Temperance Brotherhood, and Join with renew
ed vigor in singing-"G Glory to God in the high
est, on earth peace and good will toward men"
While l have anticipated this meeting with
pleasure, am free to confess it has not been I'M
mingled with pain. During the past year the
jarrlng elements of Diseord have grated upon
our ears-for a time foreboding extensive evil.
Great as has been the responsibility resting up
on every previous session of the National Divis-
ion, a vast accumulation rests upon this. CUES
tons will be presented which, if not wisely and
generously met, may shatter our Order, and undo
the work of years. May God avert a calamity
so terrible, and give us strength according to our
necessities! May our love for bleeding humani-
ty triumph over all sectional feeling and perso-
nal prejudicel
In this connection, I feel constrained to ipdi-
cate to the National Division, after extensive OBJ
servation and mature elaboration, nv views as
to a leading line of policy which should be adop-
ted. Our Order was instituted not for the ben
eft of a single town, county, state or nation
but for the world. Wherever Intemperance has
unrolled his bloody flag, or placed his iron heels
upon the hearts of men, there should the pure
banner of our Order be unfurled, there should
the heaven-born influence of our fraternity be
extended.
From the very inception of our Order to the
: present time, have we been hoping, laboring and
!, praying for a Worlds Division of the Sons of
Temperament which the representative of ma
tions should hold sweet communion together
More than once has the National Division given
formal expression to this idea. Even now, this
body-originally intended, as its name imports,
to be confined in its jurisdiction to the United
States-has extended its paternal care to the
British Provinces, and to England-and its en-.
f actments are equally binding on Sons of Tenn
f peranee in all these sections. The thought, then,
/ that l would impress upon the minds of my
brethren, is this-lf, as we profess, we really de.
sire to render our Order a Temperance Brother
hood for All Nations, the action of the Supreme
! Tribunal must be as liberal, broad and compre
Il hensive as its jurisdiction. Standing as we do
, at the head of some $780, 600 Sons of TIE importance
5 scattered over a large portion of the habitabl,
l. globe, we must not legislate for a section. Ii
other words we must not narrow down the plat
Is form of the National Division. If we do, w
j shall certainly crowd our brothers of-to tn
~ great Joy of our enemies, and the lasting iniur,
of q common cause.
s. No sane peron can expect to make our Orde
mr. useful in England or France, In Italy or Germe
;, ny, at the South or at the North, if we incorpc
d rate into our discipline fundamental laws d
ce rectly inimicalt to the public sentiment of thes
sections. We must either show "a decent r.
spect for the opinions of mankind" and abal
don sectional legislation at once and forever t
OF the respective Grand Divisions, or see our b.
II loved Order contracted to an extremely mario
sphere, and thus shorn of its glory and its ia
proportions.
ne These thoughts are thrown out in franknes
he They are the honest convictions of a heart dee
,ol " devoted to our whole Order, and sensitive
:, alive to all that pertains to its stability, succe
H. and onward progress. Ishould have felt that
ty, had done less than my duty had l failed to col
in municate them.
a. After this thoughtful and eloquent openir
'u- the Report proceeds to give a narrative of t
ro- leading events of the year in the history of t
nee Order, which of course embraces much that /
bic been already furnished to our readers at the til
oftheir occurrence. Among these events are i
ted the planting of the Order in California, o
gon, and in Canada East. In England a Ora
Division has been instituted, and an informal
p~lication made for one in Canada East.
On the question ola new ceremony for Sub
pal dinate Divisions, referred to the Grand Di,
re- ions for their opinion by the last National Di7
ion, the result is-In favor of a new ceremo
IA Grand Divisions, entitled to &C votes at
the session. Opposed, Z Grand Divisions entitled
by % votes. N-on-committal three. Four repor
zpe- !" no action" The report urges the subject
wer on the consideration of the National Divisi
lun- and advises the employment of the best ava
AVE BILE talent of the civilized world in drawing
NOT anew form.
r Of The finances of the National Division are
anv good condition, that body being free from d
If and having a surplus of from $4,000 to 4,C
(which should be securely invested. Bills
drafts to the amount of 81, 5O7 81 have been
lom- proved during the wear.
h for After noticing a practical difficulty in
working of the travelling password, and rec
mending that the rule be amended so that br
e, by ers NAV be admitted on the travelling passw
] alb in use at the date of the card, the Report
aner- concludes:
avon In conclusion I am happy in the belief that