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

there. Now the mystery cf the paper was
TO me. He had concluded to join
the " Sons and quit selling the " Owls per-
There is now a flourishing Division
at that place, and no spirits sold or drank there.
This paper was the " Spirit Of the Age y and
never open il without thinking of where | first
it. | have always thought | should do
something for it and here send you the pay for
five subscribers. And may this Spirit or some
other 90 forth and enter every grog-shOp in the
aud may intemperance be speedily
oanlshed from the world. y.
Bro. GoRMAN In the Carolina Watch
man" of the 10th inst, l notice a commu-
nication on secret societies, by some one I'M
der the signature of "Candor." From the
tone of his efusion. and the great ignorance
Of the principles, operations and government
of those societies, which he displays, | pre-
sumo he has never been a member of any of
them. Consequently he speaks-not from
experience, but from observation, a little
clouded by prejudice.
He takes as his text the following extract
from the christian Intelligence" viz
: True, these societies profess not to be a.
gainst religion, but neutral. Yet it is a
lamentable fact that seriously disposed
and promising young men, at the time
Of joining these societies, whatever be the
cause, have been observed soon to leave off
religious exercises, cease to attend the means
Of grace, question the inspiration of the
Scriptures, begin to talk loud about priest
craft and learn the usual lessons about
Jonah and the fish, whilst not a few of them
turn out to be downright infdels, and perish
with the world" "Candor" adopts these
more than silly views-and charges that
" effects deleterious to religion have grown
out of the practical workings of secret soci-
ties which be concludes " no one can sue
cessfully gaiusayI' We are at issue-the
charge can be sustained neither by observa-
ton or experience. These remarks, he says,
apply more properly to the Sons of TEN
perance." Now no one, who has calmly
observed the progress of this Order; on ha!
been initiated into a Division and marked
the beautiful ceremonies through which h,
/ passed and the sublime moral truths impress
ed upon him at every stage of the proceed
ings, could have arrived at any such absur,
and fallacious conclusions. Every step
candidate makes in his initiation is illumit
ated by the beacon Of morality.
The tendency of every>ceremony, rule an
! regulation is solely for the benefit of suffel
e ing h~umanity-the relief of the orphan
the consolation of the widow-and the 10
of the wife, as she seesher drunken and d,
y graded husband transformed into an indu
trious and respectable citizen, snatched as
were a brand from the eternal burning.
defy "Candor" to point out 81 single il
stance of a man who has been made worse /
joining the Sons of Temperance Or any ot
! err benevolent society. Ask that wife VIII
effect the connection of her once drunke
husband with the Sons of Temperance, hi
had upon herself and family! She will te
s. you it has made him a good and kind COZ
e. panion-it has clad her lately ragged oh
c. dren-and has thrown many little comfor
to around her, of which she had heretofo
been deprived. Can such an institute
lead a rational creature Tor even a moo
stricken fool) to infdelity!
Can it cause seriously disposed you
men to question the inspiration of the SER
lures, and grow lax in their attendance
the regularly instituted means of grace !"-
Is it possible that any association could ha
ur such contrary effects as to change a bloate
is whiskey maniac into an affectionate husba
ng and kind father, and by the same mea
y, make him an open, u%nblushing scoffer at
III ligionl The idea is a ridiculous creation
h, an illogical mind. No such instance
n. ever been known. If any one has becol
ss- sceptical after joining the Sons" tht
surely must be som other cause than the
ne fuence of the society. "Candor." shol
OF remember that the post hoe, ergo prop
lgs hoe," is a most fallacious mode of reas'
ing. If " Candor" is correct in his u
10 candid opinion, is it not " passing strang,
er- that SO many great and good men should
be come and remain devoted members of tn
} to i~rreligious, infdel societies! Does he s.
to pose that the fifteen thousand ministers
en- the Gospel of Christ in the U. s., who
isl members of the Sons of Temperance, wo
al. league themselves together to push forw
the cause of in6delity, or would remain
and moment longer in a society that tended
ing the smallest degree to that end! &C
anG dor " mast think that instead of being
ded by the angel of mercy, we poor, d.
ded Sons, are the disciples of that arch fe
y the devil himself.
leave i" Candor " and his fimsy as
'it4 tons. Our march is onward and, W
,ora we have such men with us as the Presid
lbat of the q. s., Theodore F~reelinhysen,
tell Judge of our own Supreme Court-sev
ye," Judges of our Superior Court-Lawy
ght. Doctors, Farmers and some of every o.
iat l patton, we have nothing to fear from croak
anne though they croak "never so wisely"
TRUTH
La