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

A WORD OF CAUTION.
At this particular ~iuncture, when the prinei-
pies of our Order are in many parts ofthe state
in the ascendant, and our Division rooms are
thronged with candidates for admission into our
q circle Of honor" it win, doubtless be well to
be wary of results that may naturally follow
when this excitement" shall in some measure
subside. The older Divisions have passed through
ordeals ofthis kind. It is well known that there
are many men who are always trimming their
sails, to catch the popular breeze, AID as in 9TH
er institutions, so in ours, it may be expected
that many have been induced to unite with us
because of its supposed popularity. Others a.
gain have Joined for curiosity, to learn what at
fractions were to be found in the Division room,
and not from any love for the principles of the
Order, or for the cause of Temperance. 1t is
natural to suppose that such men will weary
in well-doing," being actuated by no high NOR
al principle. 1t is reasonableto suppose that, in
the future, as it has been in the past history of
our Order, these men on finding that fortunes
are not made at once, or that wreathes of glory
do not Immediately cluster around their brows
that in order to accomplish the object we have
in view iaboris required, as in any other great
undertaking. sorely disappointed, viii conclude
they are in the wrong place, and think it best
to get out the easiest possible way. Some have
drank OUT this was found the speediest way,
and in. many instances the most congenial to the
tastes of those concerned. Others, in view Of
the pledge they had taken, felt some eompunc-
tious visitings of conscience as TO this manner Of
leaving us, and adopted the plan of neglecting
the Divisions, and neglecting their dues, until
che Divisions to which they belonged thought
! proper TO expel them thus they seemed to con-
sder that they had left the Order honorablH for
getting that the obligation to pay dues and at.
tend meetings are just as binding as the obliga-
ton to abstain from the use of ardent spirits
| Others again have left US in an honorable man
ner, by resigning their connection with the Or.
i der. In one or another of these ways thousands
have ceased to be members, and their place:
e have generally been supplied with better men
temperance men from principle-men who act
n upon reflection instead of impulse-men wht
are not blown away by every popular breez,
. merely to be blown back by the next-men wht
4 have taken hold of the work with a full knowl
edge of what they have to do, and with q deter
mination TO accomplish it.
The history of the world shows that great re
i vivals are universally followed by declensions
A that when the public mind becomes excited, thou
+ sands fall into the ranks and move along as ia
as the path is smooth and fowery, but fur
back at the first obstruction or as soon as III
excitement passes of, leaving those only to pun
sue the steady onward way, who are influence
by reflection and governed by principle.
Is Divisions have, in many instances, fallen int
great errors; after having labored long to bull
up a Division, in preparing and furnishing suit
hc BILE balls in whicht to meet, the members come
the conclusion that their work was done, tn
ST. henceforth by some kind of perpetual motto
bt- operation the thing would go itself-that the
le- was no more labor required-that they could re
upon their oars, and see the Order glide
en- pleasantly over a smooth sea until the reform
he ton was complete. And such Divisions did 2
ere but instead of going forward they went BAG
nt ward, and instead Of a smooth sea, they run u
Of on breakers from which some were rescued, bad
zen damaged in their timbers, and others were
| of tai wrecks.
the IL sImposslple Tor the order TO prosper WI
,ar- out labor, and a brother that is not willing
labor in the cause is of no more use to a Div
ion than an idle man in a harvest field, and tn
Divisions that labor and toll to procure a SUI
oon bic hall and furniture, and then rest satisf
will accomplish about as much as a mocha
avo who labors and tolls for years to procure a che
set of tools, and then sits down and looks
them the balance of his life.
ba;r When we take into consideration the lengtl
that time the Order of S. of I. has been in existel
,unt and the amount of good that has been acc
yerv plished, we have abundant assurance that if
that remain true to the cause and to ourselves,
cav shall ultimately triumph. Thousands have b
0pce rescued from impending ruin, and how m
have been brought within the influence of
Order, who might otherwise have become
briates, no one can tell. Nor can any estin
ipbt- be formed with the least approximation to
= in tainty, of the extent of the beneficial effect.
rma- our efforts upon the rising generation.
That any of us shall live to see the day W
intemperance shall be entirely driven from
. land, is hardly to be expected. If this sh,
lran- be accomplished in the next century the II
lgev- nation would be the most speedy in its W
ands and the most beneficial in its effects, the W
ever saw. Let us labor to effect it.
that
, no Gov. Reid has notified the Counsellers of
to meet in Raleigh, on Thurday the 18th da
ven June, instant, to act upon the .appointmen
and Attorney General.