Spirit of the age., 1853-06-22


an absent member to those of his Division
who are remaining at home and have allowed
it to become inactive in the great work in,
which they are engaged, will, we trust, be
read with profit not only by those immedi-
ately addressed, but also by every member of
Divisions who has allowed his Division to |
become in q like cold and Indifferent condi. |
tinn
To Woodstock DiUision Sons Of Temperance ):
BRETHREN: would fain hope that what |
shall be able to say will have a tendency to
buoy you up and make you more Jealous and
persevering in the great work of promoting
the harmony and advancing the interests Of
the glorious temperance reformation. Suffer
me to tell you in plain and brief manner,
what believe to be the cause that has here
tofore kept you from establishing a large and
fourishing Division in your vicinity 1t is
the want Of energy and perseverance on the
part of the leading members of your Division
that has kept you so far behind others. You
have your reputation as faithful and true
Sons of Temperance at stake. You have
voluntarily offered your services to aid in the
struggle for reform, and to make use of all
the honorable and reasonable means i'll your
power, for advancing the interest of the cause
of temperance. Have you done this? Have
you faithfully done what you know was your
duty to do? Do your consciences approve of
the course you have pursued The present
dilapidated condition of your Division an
swers no? The account-books of the whis-
key sellers in your district answer, no -
The inhamed eyes, the swollen faces and
staggering forms Of whatwere once men, say
no? The prayers of troubled and unhappy
mothers, daughters, wives and sisters, say
no! The tears, as they roll down the grief
worn cheeks of suffering widows and injured
orphans, cry out with a mighty negative,
that almost startles the confirmed drunkard
and makes him pause, before he enters the
filthy den of pollution-the place in which
men are prepared and taught to commit those
black deeds which fit and prepare them for
perdition.
! Had you, ms true Sons of Temperance,
faithfully performed your respective duties,
ere now you might have shaken the very
foundations upon which those detestable
groggeries stand, put to flight the unthink-
: ing drunkard makers, and thereby benefit
7 your whole district. | say if you had done
your duties when your prospect for large
, and hOurishing Division, was extremely brigh
: and 1attering, by this time your influence
would have been felt, and you would now bt
: bountifully receiving the certain remedy o
: your toll. But you have been too ready tt
: give up in despair.
willingly admit that you have had strong
; opposition to contend with yet that is moth
ing more than what other Divisions tundeI
similar circumstances have triumphantly
contended with. AS dark clouds have hume
over other Divisions as have over yours, yet
by their united efforts, untiring perseverance,
and accompanied with Heavens BLESSING on
their labors, those dark clouds have been dis
persed and brighter days have been restored
Who knows but this may soon be your ease
If you make one more effort to redeem the
reputation of your Division? lam surs YOU
: have very good reasons for expecting il, and
! also OF believing that God will aid YOU. who
= are only striving to make yourselves happy
r and free from the odious monster, intempcr
: ance. according to His own most blessed will
1t is not yet too late for you to increase youl
present reduced number, and make yours
take respectable stand among other Divis
ions. therefore hope you will immediate
! " set about the glorious work of reform will
redoubled energy. You have your influences
and beseech you, for the sake of posterity
touse it to the utmost in your efforts, to fret
! bleeding humanity from the soul DESTROYING
and tyrannical grasp of black intemperance
Rally around your faces and march Oh tt
battle, with the full determination to pres
onward until the last grog-shop in your dis
trict shall be deserted, and the last drunkarC
saved from the soul torturing pangs of blacl
, despair HIILFIELD.