Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-18

assumed IN certain quarters, against the order
of the Sons of Temperance, to wit that its
tendency is to infdelity, or at least callousness
and indifference towards our holy Religion, by
its members. A writer in the Salisbury Watch
man, over the signature of "CANDoR," gives
it as the result of his observation and ext eri-
ence, that this Order in particular, has been
the means of leading off " seriously disposed
and promising young men, from religious ex-
~ercises," from attending to the means of grace,
and that "not a few of them turn out to be
downright infdels, and perish with the world )"
and then gives it as bis decided conviction, that
no permanent good can result from an orga-
~nization that is not based upon and controlled
by, sound Christian principles and morality,
and that does not require of every one, thor
ough reformation of character, if Immoral, pri-
or to being admitted to membership"
Now we have not the most remote idea as
to the authorship of the article in question, but
whoever he may be, we make free to saw that
the disingenuousness of his charges lily COM
port with the title he has assumed. We have
not the authority, nor shall we attempt, to gain
say what he asserts to be the "result ofhis OBJ
servation and experience" because we have
no means Of getting at his " local habitation or
his name his quarters may be in Brogdinag
Lfliputia, or the Moon, for aught we know,
and having never visited those ~unexplored re-
gions, and being totally ignorant of the vernac-
ular of the inhabitants of those far-off domin-
ions, we cannot appreciate the peculiar defni-
ton they may place upon his cognomen-it
may mean precisely the opposite of our I'M
derstanding ofthat term. Who knows? We
do not But if the author, e" Candor'O be in
deed a citizen ofthe earth, and of North Car
DINA, we feel curious to know in what remote
corner it is, that he has witnessed such direfnl
results. We feel sure it cannot be among the
intelligent, moral, aye religious people of Sails
bury! Such an assertion would be a down.
right insult to that whole community. In that
Town, there are two large and fourishing Di-
visions of the Sons of Temperance composed
t in part of men who are communicate in all
the various Churches of Christ; and yet they
5 have not apprized the world Of their detection
| Of such things as " Candor" complains of in the
t Order. Will he charge them with intellectu-
t al obtuseness to discover them, or, what is
e worse, with neglecting the higher and holier
duty of exposing them, when discovered? Il
d is true they may not be possessed of such g op.
: ties keen,'' as to see things that are mt to b.
seem" but charity, common respect will COM
r pei " Candor" to admit, that If these thing,
exist, they have full opportunity to discover
them. Some Of them, doubtless, are member
of the Church with " Candor - has he evel
taken upon himself the trouble TO consul
their experience, to see if it tailed with hi
It " observation and experience " in these mat
tiers? Are they not to be relied on? Will b.
e tell them that their word is not to be taken il
the premises? We opine not. Can be be
lieve that christian men would remain connec
ted with an institution, whose tendency is sucI
W as he alleges? If so, is he not bound, as
|" candid man, to warn them of thtir duty t
abandon it? Vii he take this authority an,
in responsibility?
as But, in all seriousness, is it not a little re
0 markable, that the " outsiders - are the onl
ones who have the keenness of perception I
ID discover these hideous deformities, and here
he ical tendencies in an Order, composing a pal
IN of whose membership are more thai. invent
re thousand ministers of the Gospel, of all faitl
S; and creeds, and fifty thousand lay member
n of every branch Of the Church /! Do all WI
p become initiated into our Order become
of morally depraved and corrupt-are they
re shorne of their veneration for Religion and IL
Church, that they suffer them to 90 on une,
posed? They have taken upon themselv
no vow or obligation that would deter q
t a exposure of these things if met with in IL
to Order! Are all men made liars, and in
ty. dels, and heretics by an association with il
in If not, ask them. Their word would be t
MT ken in other matters, will "Candor :" del
We, them credence in this If he would be VII
lis his misnomer would imply, let him put the N;
at ter to this test.
in. But " Candor" roundly asserts. as /
" decided conviction, that no permane
not good can result from an organization tn
hat does not require of every one, thorough
,lm formation Of character, if immoral, prior
being admitted to membership" We
= cline to the opinion that "Candor kno
very little of the practical affairs of life,
pre- else allows his convictions to carry b
beyond the bounds of reason, for the p,
ppl- pose of making out his case. Very lit
un- .Candor" there, we should say. i
the pray, sis, will you require the Order to
up a higher excellency of character for me
bership than does the Church itself?
large, pious and influential branch of