Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-09
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER O. 1858

for the debts of the College. I have been
addressed on this subject by gentlemen
eminent for their zeal in both learning and
temperance, and | have given it my most
anxious anI serious attention, the result Of
which has been to convince me that the
Sons Of Temperance of North Carolina may
thus, without the least sensible inconye-
nience or expense, establish one OF the
most disintereSted and magnificent chari
ties in this, or any other country.
[ deem liberal distribution Of orthor-
dox temperance works Of great Importance,
believe that more good can be accomplish
ed in that way than by the expenditure Of
twice the amount of money in any other.
4 tract, worth one shilling, left in a neigh
borhood, may be read by twenty friends,
furnishing theme for thought, for fire.
side discussion and contemplation, and IN
many instances, that single tract, at a cost
of one shilling, will be productive Of more
good than a speech from first class tenn
perance speaker, at a cost Of twenty-five
dollars. The speech may produce the
greatest temporary excitement, but that
little, modest, unobtrusive tract, with its
unanswerable arguments, its tale of suffer
ing and infamy and it's statistical tables OF
grog shops, Of drunken fathers, of widow
cd mothers, of orphan children and of in
fanny and crime, will silently, but certain
ly do its work. ........
For a statement Of your financial affairs,
! I refer you to the report Of the Grand
Treasurer; and for information respecting
the state of the Order, [ refer you to the
report Of the Grand Scribe, both of which
will in due time be submitted.
There are Sons Of Temperance who la
Dor under the fatal delusion that they are
discharging their whole duty to the Order
in retaining from all use and traffic in ar
dent spirits who suppose that the Order
has no claims upon them for lives Of NOR
al purity and integrity, This is grievous
error, and we will never reach the high
position, in point of moral influence, tC
which we are entitled, until this error i!
eradicated. The true Son of Temperance
should be the friend of virtue and the fo(
of vice in all their forms. And while there
are many subjects that [ would wish tt
present for your consideration, would time
and space permit, [ will content mysel
with bringing to your notice the great car
dinal virtue of charity, which is the bright
est jewel in the christian character, ant
without which, no character can be com
plete; and while the bestowal of alms t.
the suffering poor is prominent feature o
this charity, [ still wish to recommend t,
you THAT charity which endureth all things
hopeth all things, and thinketh no evil o
its neighbor; that charity to which the in
spired Apostle so beautifully alludes whel
he says, though I bestow all my goods t
feed the poor, and though I give my bod
to be burned, and have not charity, | al
nothing
There are many persons to whom tn
God of Heaven has given ample means fc
the qualification of all their desires, an
for the relief of suffering Indulgence b
which they are surrounded Ought we t
enjoy the gifts of Providence selishly, {
ought we to let them shine like the glor
Gus luminary of day in acts of benevolenc
to the children Of sorrow, on whose hear
strings, soul-corroding eare, like the Pror
ethoan vulture, is preying with cankerol
tooth? Let US reflect, while we enjoy IL
bountics Of indulgent heaven, that the
are many bare, unsheltered heads, witho
food or home. The poor, the aged paren
Of numerous offspring stretch out the
palsied hands for relief. The helpless wi
ow, with her infant train, requests sou
small pittance. The care-worn soldie
whose manglod form bears honorable tes
timony Of his perils and suferings on Il
battle fields of our country, deserves q /
compense from our beneficence the sic
the MANNED, and the blind have claims u
on our bounty. Many and powerful a
the inducements to the noble and gcnero
deeds of charity. Should love of faI
be the prevailing principle of our condu
what can more rebound to the honor
man, than to wi pc the tear Of aflicti
from the eye Of his fellow Should 10
Of apredominate; what soul can kn
repose whilst numbers around are oppre
ed with disease and pain, accompanied
pining want? The hand of the cheer
: giver will surely be opened to the voice
such deepdistress. Should the loyeof pie
=, ure be the ruling passion, what higher gr
tifcation can man enjoy, than to raise t
wretched from the dust, and to contribl
in some measure to make that life BILE
l ing, whose miscries were almost insupp
table.
There are those men in the Order, b
speakers and writer's, who represent
: conflict as ended, and invite those who b:
been standing aloof, in idle Indifference,
come in now and share the glorious JUDI
! of victory, Such persons are greatly
error, and may do much harm by lulling
repose many who have already enlisted
The victory is not yet achieyed-for W
= the exception of some slight skirmishes "
the enemy, the great battle has not Ct
monced The most we have done
: been, like Clan Aldine's chieftain, to W
u the horn which summons brave, fear
- men to the conflict. The great battle
y mains to be fought; the battle between tr
- and error; virtue and vice. The sheer
FURNISHED armor is seen, the marshallin.
> squadrons is heard. We are going fl
- to strive for the redemption of North G.
- lima at the ballot-box and the one q
I, question that remains to be answered
- ARE WE READY? Are cur ranks f
- with brave men, men who indulge in
y fears for the result? Can we marshal
~ forces and after surveying them exclain
" did the chivalric Lochiel when he led
% sturdy warriors to the standard Of Chs