Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-03-21
THE BROKEN CONTRACT.
BIZ n. M. COLEMAN.


iaseilsaasBT n. a.. COLEMAN. tr 7a
Since the advent of iertotaIism. no E.
vent produced such glorious results as
the signing Of the temperance. pledge By
the immortal six" n Baltimore, some
time during the year 1840. This year
will long be distinguished as the one in
which the great temperance reformation
received an impetus that told, and will
continue to tell, upon the best intei ests
Of our country. SO ''a1
The simple act Of signing temperance
pledge, BY six men, long addicted to The
use Of alcoholic liquors. and the relation
Of their sufE.rings while slaves to a de-
based appetite, filed the land with as.
tonishment A great moral problem had
been solved. and it was proved by de-
mOnstralion, that mental treatment could
triumph over physical change-that the
PLEDGE, with its associations, was a
specific Gor what had long been deemed
an inc1fsble malady-that the determi-
nation OF an hunest persevering spirit.
could change the morbid and diseased
condition OF Those who had long suffered
from the poisonous fangs of the serpent
Of the still. 80, asa,a.
Many for time, doubted; but when
after lapse Of months the g sir, pewith
the many who had united with them in
the movement, were found faithful and
stesdiasi, the most sceplical were obliged
10 Danish their doubts. The friends ol
the inebIiate were confined in their
fOndesl antieipalions. and the general
pulse beat high with joy. As the news
spread of the great doings, in the . old
monumental city," Of those who had
beep snatched from the brink of the
drDnkard's gave, hope and gladnes.
spFang up IN the breasts Of Thousand,
who had long suffered from the serpent
The work progressed rapidly. Like
the undnlations Of the waves produced
bycasting stone in silent lake, it ex
tended ffomcentre to circumference, frou
city 10 city, from town to TOW n, until ev.
ehy valley was filed with the loyou,
shouts of.viclory, and every hill ant
mountain gave back an answering res
ponse. II was year Of general Joy =
Tie good work swept onward and on
ward. filing the hearts of thousands witt
gladness; wIping away tears from th,
face Of beauty kindliug wthe cheer
ful Ere on the domestic hearth, and scat
tering ON every hand blessings and glad
ness. The " void waste" as well a
the sacity full, ,'1shared in the genera
blessings Of the glorious reform. a
While listening TO the simple tale o
the reformed inebri0te and witnessing il
him the saving power Of the pledge, III
poor, aud almost hopeless drunkard, fe
anew life springing up in bis soul, an
like them, they signed the pledge, an
stood before their fellow men firm in
dissemination 10 be free. Strange sight
the dvunkard Of yesterday the TEN PEE
ance advocate Of to-day bearing in hin
self the value Of the doctrine he prc
claimed. G 81 BIS i9o 989i nai al
In short time this blessed reform
tion reached the city in which the WI
ter resided. Its power and value wer
soon made evident in the saving Of mar
who had long been considered beyor
Fedetnpfion. Among the number wi
embraced the principles Of total abs
nence was young physician, who
one time enjoyed the confidence Of mai
in the city, but his continued habits
dissipation had driven all from him.
Soon after his reformation. he was ca
ed upon to enterthe field Of labor. a
surely il was singular sight, to see
mae Just ''plucked as brand from I
burning" now asrociating with ministI
OF the gospel, and day after dav 10 Gro
.ded aBGiences, holding forth even FRI
the Vsacred desk" and seeking TO
duce the wandering and unwsry TO
fnem the snares which beset them, 9
70 enter into the good work to WHICH
owed so much. aal fasJesn
he doctors field Of labor was exit
sive, and it was during one Of his Vi'
70 ? neighboring State. The following
'cident occurred, and we shall procs
% relsse i, as i was given TO US Sc
Amsng ether places visited BY I
'sslo me Doctor, was the church at--
'navine xeceaveda kind invitation Il
fne pastor 50 to do. The reverend 2
tlemaa Antormed me in his letter, that
.dld oct know how might succeed,
there wonld undoubtedly be strong
position TO the movement, and that
ne was sorry % say, from many inf
tial members OF his church
The audience was ali attention.
at the close Of the address nnward.
one hundred came forward and sic
abe pledge Of total abstinence. An