The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-02

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MEssRs EDIroRs: The citizens about
Bishopville have recently had the privi-
iege Of hearing couple OF lectures ON
the subject of Temperance. from Philip s.
White, the renowned, Champion Of this
cause. He appeared in our midst on
Tuesday, the 4th inst, and was greeted by
a large audience, that had been drawn
together by the fame of this celebrated
man. He lecturcd during the day and at
night. -.
His lecture during the day was charac-
terized by considerable ability, inter
spersed with amusing anecdotes well told,
and altogether was agreeably received by
the hearers But his lecture at night
"what falling off was therew Either
from want Of success in gaining converts
during the day, or from some other cause,
he met his audience at night, to admin
ister severe cast!gation to the poor de-
hnquents about the village, who had from
reason OF their own, stood aloof from this
temperance movement. The lecturer
though an entire stranger in this part Of
the country, yet had remarkable know
ledge of the characters of those who had de-
clined to embark in the enterprizc in which
he is so zealously engaged, and distributed
his scathing rebukes accordingly. Query.
How did he obtain his information y 1t
is to some structures that Mr.. White saw
fit to make upon certain individuals and
churches, that the writer designs briefly
to animadvert.
No one having heard this Apostle of
Temperance, will deny that he has rare
qualifications to render him successful in
his mission, but it is lameenr...::,nu,,y painfu,
that he feelss called Upon to make gross at
lacks upon every individual of prominence
throughout the country who does not en-
ter heart and soul in this enterprise. 1t
is, to say the least of it, bad policy, and
will not much contribute to hasten the
end which he so ardently desires to see
effected.
We live in n country that guarantees
to every man the right to follow the die
tates of his own reason and conscience in
all moral and religious enterprises and
and men who have proper respect for
freedom and intelligence, will not be forced
into any society by the pressure Of out
ward circumstances merely, independent
ly Of their own convictions Of its lawful
ness or expediency.
Mr.. White seems to arrogate to him
self the prerogative of Keeping the con-
science Of every man with whom he comes
in contact, and speaks as if he regarded
every one either as n dolt or knave,
who does not see the perfection of beau
ty in the order Of the Sons ofTemperance,
and who does not put forth every effort
to render the establishment of the Order
universal. No one whatever may be his
position, vocation, or standing in the
community, is secure, from the vituper-
alton Of this man, If lie does not belong
to total abstinance society in some
form or other; if he does not come out
"tooth and nail" in lavor Of Temper
ance," he is legitimate subject for his
calumny. This is not only despicable
and mean in the individual, who Is gull
ty Of it but disreputable in the commu-
nifty that toieratcs ir. Du nut only so;
this man enters the portals Of the church,
and il he find any there Of prominence,
especially il they are office bearers, Dea-
cons or Elders who do not favor the
Order" lie would have us believe the v
are men
Who steal the livery ofthe Court of Heaven,
To serve the devil in"
Mr.. White, processes to be a christian
but indiscriminatc, and uncalled for at
tacks upon individuals Of respectability
docs not SAVIOR much of that spirit Of
meekness, and patience, and charity, in
culcatcd in the gospel.
But to illustrate the foregoing remarks.
In the course Of his lecture ut Bishop-
vile, Mr.. White saw fit to make an un-
gentlemanly attack upon the character of
=" certain clergyman, not Hundred
miles from Cheraw," who has expressed
some conscientious sentiments, adverse to
the "Order of the Sons Of Temperance. -
mentioning at the same time, fippantly.
some tergiviations Of this clergyman on
other subjects during his past Me. And
who is this ..'certain clergyman" TO whom
he sneeringIy alludes Let tine history
Of his past ife-his present position and
the character he sustains in the communi-
ty in which he resides answer. The uni
versal sentiment Of those who know him,
is that he is "a man without fear, and
without reproach,"-a gentleman, a pa.
triot and christian. And is this the
man who is to be tho object of gross in.
vectiye from every Inherent hireiing who
passes throughout the oountryi Has this
clergyman no friends whose feelinos are
outraged when he is wantonly calumpia-
tedi Has he no friends in BishopyilIe
who feel grossly insulted when he is slan
dered and evil spoken of without cause
Agsin, Mr.. White said there is n church
not far from this place ",rheys he had leo.
faroa ogore ANA sOhsrs TINS ':Cheraw Fhii.
osophy" prevails, the Session of whicl, /.
in the habit Of assembling on the mon.
days after the sabbaths Of Communion u
attend to church business, and 10 fnisl
The i"ias that had been lett from tie hoi,
ordinance ~ ne Lor1"s Sapper I and
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