Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-02-28
why 90 they not join the Order ?

Mr.. EDITOR The question that heads
this article. is one that | should like to hear
answered satisfactorily to my mind, but do
not believe that any man can give a good
reason for remaining out of the Order OF the
Sons of Temperance.
When we turn to the pages of holy writ
and there read, that the primeval state of
our first parents was pure and holy as the
great Author from whence they sprang that
It was one Of tranquility, peace and joy
pleasure without alloy and for a moment
view the condition Of their degenerate off
spring, the heart sickens, and with loathing
turns from the sad contrast, ready to ex-
claim. fallen! indeed, must be our con-
dition.
A desire to increase in knowledge and
happiness caused the fatal step to be taken,
which increased the disapprobation of the
Creator, causing Hiscurse to rest upon them
and their posterity. And the same inspired
pages also inform US, that imam has sought
many inventions )" no doubt with the fond
hope and ardent desire of ameliorating his
condition, and healing the awful breach thus
made. But, alas! vain and deluded man !!
led by that same spirit. which robbed our
forefathers in the garden Of their primitive
purity. his efforts prove abortive, and tend
to sink him deeper in degradation and ruin.
And there are nome which the inventive ge-
MUS of man has conceived and brought forth,
that has proved a greater curse, or has more
attendant evils. than that Of intoxicating
drink. Its only tendency from beginning
to end is to destruction. What little inn
press there may yet remain of Deity, upon
mortality, when encircled IN the folds of this
+ fendish monster, is e~ffectually blotted out,
and the unfortunate victim transformed into
a hideous monster. What friend Of human.
ity does not shudder, and shed the tear Of
sympathy, when beholding the miserable
condition in which their fellows have been
plunged by this Arch fend Of his Satanic
Majesty
But as the Eternal Himself has not beer
left without a witness, SO bleeding humanity
has always found among its fellows, thost
" who heed not the voice of the tempter, ,
! but led by that spirit which says to do good
andto communicate, forget not,are ever read,
. to impart it to others, to shed the tear o
sympathy over the fallen, raise a warnin,
voice to the straying, stay the giddy in fol
ly's course, extendrelie to the helpless sui
ferer. and a brothers hand and a brother
welcome to the returning prodigal.
And in what association formed by man
e having the sanction Of Almighty God, do W
find characteristics Of the true Philanthrc
pist and friend of suffering humanity NOR
o tremendously blended. and set forth, tina
in that glorious association, the Order of tn
II Sons Of Temperance?
IS In what association, either religious Q
i moral, do we find the members more united
one in which the spirit Of benevolenc
q abounds to a greater extent? one in whic
n all distinction is merged into one commo
brotherhood, each working for the other
ever ready to extend the helping hand to
l. distressed brother, and administer the hea
ing balm to the sorrowing widow? And
the operations of its seven short years ext
tence, are to be taken as an index to IL
= future, it will be zone that is destined to wor
the greatest moral reformations known
Of the history of the world.
IS Such being the Order Of the Sons Of Ter
lie p~erance, the question forces itself upon Il
lie mind with increased force. :" Why do the
p not join the Orderi" Why is it that we