The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-06-01
Cullllllunlrntiuns.
For THE LEDGER.
MONROE, May 90, 1853.

YIN ihb bEDCEk.
MONROE, May 26, 1853.
Mr.. EDIToR,-lf thought it was required
of me, would most assuredly apologize for
introducing the subject of Temperance to
the notice of the numerous intelligent read
ers of your interesting and inestimablc pa
per. But deem it unnecessary, for your
charitable heart and good judgment, have
had you to throw open the columns of the
Ledger to correspondents upon any subject.
If in your estimation, it be worthy of publ
cation, with your permission then, | will
introduce the subject of Temperance, as n
theme upon which the Patriot, the Phian-
thropist, and the Christian, have dwelt with
uncqualed delight Since the Patriarchal
days to the present, and that even the dark
est ages of the world when the Romish
Church held dcspotic sway, ruling nations
with the iron rod of cruel tyrany, encourage
ing dissipation, crime, vice immortality, and
every species of corruption the principals
of temperance, found an asylum no doubt,
IN the bosom of many who dare not unscal
their lips at the peril of their lives, but being
led by prophetic eye, TO see through the
dark vista of the future, the light of the day
that is now breaking upon us when every
argument within the range of human thought
or observation, should not unhappily pass,
without being used to convice crring man,
that the influence of iutemperate habits upon
the body was destructive in the extreme,
and its effects upon the soul was to dam il
to all eternity, "they rejoice" but lived not
to see the day. How much more then should
should joy be increased, who passes the
light and blessings Of the day, when the re-
straint of romanism is not felt or known
among us, and endeavor to benefit future
generations, by throwing the weight of our
influence in favor of the glorious cause of
temperance, and giving it the active energies
Of our minds to help it on to its ultimate
victorious end. But let us trace the lone
Star Of Temperance back, rs il persued its
would be traceless way, were il not for the
vlrtuous deeds it did and see il as gentle
spirit, visiting the sick, administering TO the
wants OF the poor, clothing the naked, feed
ing the hungry, restoring peace and love,
where all was hatred and confusion, prevent
ing women and children from becoming
helpless widows and orphans, and cheering
the dropping spirit of men, preventing them
from falling into n drunkard's grave and
drunkard's hell, and comforting legions Of
blessings upon the human family which
could not be numbered. Yet this gentle
spirit has had many sore combats, while on
its errand of mercy, but its mightiest conflict
has been since the middle of the seventeenth
century, with the Giant Ignorance, and while
struggling in the strong embraces of the
hellish monster both equally anxious for the
mastery. Suddenly rs by magic, the flick.
ering light Of Temperance is seen gliding
athwart the moral heavens as swift as
thought bearing off the palm of victory,
guided by the steady hand, and protected by
the mighty arm Of an unerring Providence
who always gives the victory to n righteous
though sin for time may seem to prevail,
and the day is not far distant when the lone
star of temperance will reach the zenith of
glory, and the day is equally near when
King Alcohol will be hurled with vengeance
from his burning throne already stepped in
the blood of thousands of human victims.
with whose soul he has peopled the tormen-
ting regions of hell, down the rugged prcci-
pice into the deep, the dark and bottomless
ruin below, and strangled in the blood of
millions of souls, created for the mansions
of immortal glory, but driven 10 reckless
despair by his most cruel reign, and in his
stead Temperance, the royal Queen of the
morning will mount the imperial throne,
throw wide her banner, and spread its ample
folds to every breeze, to hear peans of joy
sung and upon every sea and joke. and upon
the ocean, and echoed by hills and noun
tains both far and near, that earth may be-
come with the sound of her praises then
we may know that the time is near at hand,
when the christian religion will be owned
and embraced by the nations Of earthas the
only true religion, and the world converted
to God, the eternal Son.