Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-09-27

private matter-and for no other purDose
but to ward of imposition. For we all know
that there are some characters who would
take advantage Of the society, and for no
other purpose but to get the benefits. and
how would each Division know Who were its
members, if they had no signl and this pass
word IS the sign. This password is known
by thousands, and 50 many knowing il makes
1t no secret at all. If the Sons are TO be
called secret society, the Methodists NAV
be called secret also, for they generally hold
their class meetings and conferences to thau-
selves and with closed doors. The societies
that are formed at our colleges and uuiver-.
sites are private also.
OBJ. II.-The Order is objected to ba-
cause regalia is worn of red, white and
blue. This badge represents the three car
'dlnal virtues Love, Purity and Fidebsy.S-.
. There IS no harm in wearing this badge;
-''aeFe y 10 idelslyy conParssd niih i. Ths
gaEm.nts 6 he Priests y 6nlsssd bs Cod
himssl Exodus xiv. y ffom ia record
here BE color # The. TIfe1ls zarn.ehts cor
fesp9 sas nearly = - 81. - Sons.
And Of the blue, and pssole and sesrlka,
they made clothes to do service IN The hs,Iv
place, and made the holy garments for a. aros.
as the Lord commanded Moses. Also II
the xxxvIn, hapter the directions were given
to Moses how the Priests garments should
be made-what colors should be used. DC.
Now, if God in his Almighty wisdom. and
Tor purposes best known to himself, ordered
the colOrs and materials of the garments Of
the Priests, what harm can there be in the
Sons wearing badge of red, white and
blue? In this land of liberty and freedom
every society has right to wear such
badge or dress as may suit their tastes.
OBJ. Tv.-The Order is objected to. be-
cause it raises disturbances in the church.
The first temperance organization was form
cd in the church. The question then arises
who raise the disturbances, the chu.ch or
the Sons? If the church had not turned
her members out for joining the Order and
being in favor of them. there would not have
been any disturbance. If the church had
exercised her legitimate authority when she
should have done so, there would have been
no use for temperance organization of any
kind. If she had made it a turning out
case In her ecclesiastical canons for her
members to make, sell or drink alcoholic
drinks there would not have been any use
to turn her members out for joining any kind
of a temperance organization. If the men,
bers of the church drink intoxicating liquors
those who do not belong to her will do so
too for just as high as the church raises
her moral standard, just so high will those
who do not belong to her raise theirs. The
stream will not rise any higher than the
fountain. The church has not exercised her
pterogatiye IN this liquor question. and now
she has no right TO turn her members out
for joining temperance society of any kind,
unless she can prove from Scripture that it
is morally and religiously wrong. st. Paul
says Try all things and hold fast to that
which is good If member of the church
finds that it is good for him to belong to q
temperance society, to turn him out Of the
church because he does, is bridIing his con-
science and as much as to say that he is
not capable of acting and thinking for him
self; and is too much like the old Roman
church, which took both civil and religious
from the people, and bound their consclences
as it were with band of iron. There were
no doctrines of any kind to be believed, but
these that were sanctioned by her decretak.
All others were subject to her anaihemas.-
People might commit any crime, if they
paid her money enough for their absolution.
No person was allowed free exercise Of
thOught--if any person brought in question
any of her doctrines or DEGREES, or doubted
her infalibility, he was straightway branded
as heretic-and punished for their impuni-
ty. And it is just the same way with that
church who will turn out her members for
joining the Sons-only this difference-to
turn them out is as far as her power can reach
in this free and enlightened country if they
had the power that Rome had in her palm
lest days, they would be as prosecuting they
would not stop at turning out. they would
take life also.
TO BE CONTINUED.
v Y