Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-11-09

collecting the dues from their members, in
asmuch as they will have to pay the per
capita quota, whether the members pay up
or not, and apprehcnd that but few Divis-
ions will be willing to pay for the member
ship of those who are far in arrears.
The new Ritual is loudly called for and
earnestly desired by the Order throughout
the State, but in response to inquiries that
have been directed to me, | have been un-
able to give any information as to when it
will be ready for distribution.
The advantage Of Travelling Lecturer
under the employment Of the Grand Divis-
ion has been thoroughly tested during the
year past, and from the able and efficient
manner in which Rev. Mr.. Doub has dis
charged the trust committed to his hands,
think there can be no longer doubt
as to the propriety of employing our own
States men, (if we employ any) in pref
erence to those who come from abroad /
would not wish to be understood as speak
ing disparagngiy Of those who have labor
cd with us in years past, but it is fact,
obvious to every one who has paid the least
attention to the subject, that the introduce
ton Of foreign lecturers is productive of
vast amount Of prejudice which is not en-
listed against one of our own citizens. This
is u subject, however, that demands your
most calm and mature deliberation, which
| trusti will receive. Your Grand Lee.
!. turer will submit to you report setting
forth the results Of his experience and la
bors for the year past.
There is a subject which I believe has
never been brought before this Grand Di-
vision, which deem Of vital importance,
and to which | would ask your attention
The education Of INDECENT children of the
Order In approaching this subject [ feel
agreatdegree ofdif1idence, from the fact that
inmy official addressI havenot time or space
allotted me to do the subject that justice
which its importance demands and [ know
that it is a subject to which 50 much anx-
ious inquiry and earnest investigation has
been given among other dcliberative bod
les of men, that it would be difficult to
present the subjectin new light; but deep
ly sensible as | am, of the importance of
the subject, have thought proper to lay
it before you for your consideration. [
believe that [ am safe in saying that igno-
! ! rance is the strongest barrier in the way Of
our success; at least, ignorance, supersti-
ton, bigotry and prejudice are our stron-
gest opponents, and the last three are the
legitimate offspring Of the first. The boy
who grows up in ignorance, soon becomes
the passive instrument of some old and
hardened sinner, and at the age when he
ought to take his station in the ranks of
men, and commence the great warfare of
, humanity with honor to himself and credit
to his friends, he is most likely found in
!. the haunts Of dissipation, profigacy, infa-
my and crime, with no higher aspirations
| than the brute that roams the forest He
: then becomes father, and his children
I growing up in the pernicious atmosphere
! of his polluted example, become the will
4 ling inmates of the grog shop and the
u brothel. This is no fancy picture-there
u is scarcely town or village in the State
u where instances of this. kind may not be
found to-day, and they will continue to ex-
J. ist until ignorance, the inducing cause, is
lie removed. This, then, is subject which is
le most intimately connected with the pros
$ perity of our Order. | would ask Of oul
IL Subordinate Divisions and of every private
y member of our Order, if he has not du
'e ty to perform in reference to this subject
9 | would ask of them if they can stand idle
't while the bright and innocent years O
~ childhood are passing swiftly away, and
IL many children who ought to be ornaments
y to the Republic in after life, are permitted
5, to grow up to the fearful destiny Of darl
- and ignorant manhood? While learnin!
'd is the friend Of virtue, ignorance is th
III friend of vice and can we expect to hea
TO the proud huzzas in token of our State
u redemption from the curse of Alcohol
'e- while Ignorance and infamy, arm in arm
and check by jowl, are stalking shameless
ne ly through our streets at monday, covered
"a with the loathsome slime of the last nights
IS pollution? But this picture, though
u stern reality, is too painful to contemplate
nc and turn from it. would, however, re
cl- commend to our Subordinate Divisions, an
at- to such members Of the Order as have tn
,se,S means, to select one or more of the dcst
Ill tutc children Of the Order and give thel
an the means Of a substantial, business educa
u- ton. And | would call the attention
so the Grand Division, to the necessity W
ur have for College or University, where tn
u sons OF temperate parents can be educate
III literally without the danger Of becoming
al- disgrace to their parents and curse t
themselves and community, through tn
srs influence Of intcmparance We have
In young and hourishing College of this kin
We in our State, which only lacks liberal er
on dowm2nt to place it on an equality wit
ey the best Colleges in the land. l alludc I
Ie1 Normal College, in Randolph county, whel
la- no student is permitted to enter or renal
wa who is not governed by the strctest pril
icy ciplcs of total abstinence. Now, if evel
ne Son OF Temperance in North Carolir
gre would contribute two dollars towards raj
WIS ING fund to be placed under the contr
~ ION OF the Grand Division, sufficient amou
'teI would thus be raised to pay the tuition
anu forty students at Normal, or to defrav 1
90 entire expenses of fifteen students, incl
axe ding tuition, board, books and incidenta
ma, And this fund could be kept under the
thls rection of the Grand Division; it cou
son elect Professor, name the professorsh
per- select the students who would become t
re recipients Of their charity, be entitled
the election of number of Trustees. D
the portionatc with the whole number, as
5 III amount of the Temperance endowment
ions all other endowments and this fund,
no" raised, could be invested in such a way Il