Spirit of the age., 1853-07-13
SrxsnURY. July S, 1853.

tefeBIcu In the success OF the CduoO' PuA
pose giving your readers an account OF a
celebration held on the End inst, IN Gates I
county. The Divisions at Sunsbury, Parker,s |
and Sandy Cross all agreed to have a joint
celebration of our National Independence.
Early on the morning of the End, the neigh |
bOrhood was alive with men and women, all
hurrying to the grove which had been pre-
pared. for the celebration. By 10 o'clock,
betwcan and 7 hundred ladies and gentle
men had assembled. About 200 Sons march
ed in procession to the grove where the COM
pany was called to order by the w. z. of
Sunsbury Division The Throne of Grace
was addressed hy Rev. Joshua Liyesay Dir.
C. Hines then read the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, after which the Rev. VILLAIN b.
Wellons of Suffolk, Va, who had been inVI-
ted to deliver the address, appeared on the
stand and for one hour and half enchained
the attention of all present.
Bro. WellOns commenced by saying he
felt somewhat embarrassed in appearing be-
fore a congregation that had listened to the
earnest appeals of a WHITE, the p werful
reasoning Of DoUB, and the thrilling elo-
quenco Of WALTER, but he would approach
the subject in the character Of minister of
the Holy Cross, and like Paul before Felix,
reason with them on theSuIjectof temperance.
lie first showed that Temperance was no neac
thing (as some supposed) and proved that
intemperance had ever been condemned and
was every where condemned in the sacred
writings. lie next gave history of Alco-
! holic drinks and their introduction as a bey-
erage, and concluded this part of the sub
| ject by statement of the evils which it had
! produced and was still producing.
| The next step taken by Bro. W. was to
give history of the Temperance reform from
the time the American Temperance Society
was formed in January, 1926, to the organi-
zation Of the Sons Of Temperance, in Sept.
1872 This period he marked as the rising
sun of righteousness upon the temperance
reform. The principles of the Order were
then explained both as a temperance and
beneficial society. He then appealed to those
present who were acquainted with the Order
to know if they had not done good wherever
a Division had been established By unani-
nous consent the statement was agreed to
He then asked what evil they had ever done
Waiting moment and receiving no reply
he showed that if an institution presented
its claims to the public which all acknowl
edge had done good and would do good, anC
no evil hal been done by it, that every gooc
man was bound to give it his influence. Iii!
reasoning on this point was oVerwhelming.-
But lest some might have objections, he the1
took up one by one every objection which h
had ever heard urged against the Order, anC
, answered them to the entire satisfaction O
every friend Of the Order On the subiec
of the adoption of laws to restrict the liquo
traffic, and the resolutions passed by som
" Divisions refusing to vote for any man VIII
would treat for the purpose of securing hi
! ! election, the speaker was very clear and com
! pietely demolished every objection which ha
been raised against the Sons on this account
: Ills address closed with an earnest appeal t
: moderate drinkers and men of all classes t
! give in their influence to the society. / hav
\ never seena congregation better satisfied wit
l. any address on the subject.
+ The whole company were then invited t
partake Of o beautiful collation. which ha
Il been prepard by the friends. A more sum-
IS tuous dinner we have seldom seen, spread g
n any occasion.
Y After dinner the company was called t
"a gether again, and Rev. Mr.. Ward, who W;
III expected to be present, having not arrive
~ Bro. WellOns was again called up and f
ol thrce-fourths Of an hour, most earnestly al
e eloquently appealed to those present to 81
fhfE n9Geae d Aaft ftn5n 5ndbHK&Ads t9 thM
TY-FIVE gentlemen handed in their nam
re for membership in the Order of the Sons
a. Temperance. His appeal to the ladies in Il
X afternoon was not without effectfor they aidt
le much in the procuring the names of app
re cants..
Il Thus closed one of the most successful
g forts which has ever bsen made in this Wei
Il ity in behalf of the temperance cause. Eve
or one left the ground delighted and only grie
T. ed that the day was not longer. l thil
oi the cause Of Temperance will now take
fresh start in this section. God speed it
eS its onward march. R.