Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-01

of Religion and Literature.
-<S0O-
B6~ The October No. of the Guardian
contains the Constitution Of a new Temper
ance organization, styled the " Order of hide
pendent Americans" 1t seems to have
originated at Greensboro, and has the names
of a number of true and influential temper
ance men connected with it. 1t is designed
to have National, State and Local Clubs,
and officers for each were elected on the 18th
October, ult. The character of the Order
may be gathered from the following extract
from the Constitution of Local Clubs"
ART. I.-Any American citizen, entitled by
the Constitution of the State in which he re-
sides to vote for any civil officer, shall be
eligible 10 membership, and may berome a
member Of any Club by paying to the Treas
urer thereof the sum of twenty FIVE cents,
subscribing the Constitutions in the presence
of two witnesses, and taking the following
PLEDGE
deliberately and solemnly pledge my honor
as a man and as an American citizen, that |
will not vote Tor any candidate for any Offices
OF honor, trust, or emolument, in whichhe can
give official opposition to the suppression of
the traffic in intoxicating liquors by legislative
enactment, believing him to be opposed to such
mode OF suppression And l furthermore, as
above, pledge myself to give the force Of my
social and political influence to such measures
as | conscientiously believe will finally result
in the suppression of the traffic by legislative
authority, and ! will as far as consistent with
individual and political freedom endeavor to
harmonic the action Of the Club to which |
belong, and Of the Order generally, that our
votes at all elections may as far rs practicable
be thrown together.
In addition | pledge myself to consider the
Obligation, now entered into, sacredly binding
until three months after the day upon which
shall have made formal application. as in the
Constitution ofmy Club provided, for a card OF
withdrawal.
Finally / pledge myself asmuch as in me lies
to promote the growth and the success of the
order, observing all its laws. rules and regula.
tons by propagating its principles.
1t is not designed to be a private Order.
but all the meetings of the Club shall be
open, except those called by the chairman,
and in which a member is to be tried for the
violation of his pledge, in which case a per.
son not a member, may, nevertheless, be
called in as q witness.
The following is the form of application
for q Local Charter:
The undersigned, inhabitants of - be
lieving the Order of Independent Americans
to be we'll calculated to suppress the liquo
traffic, and to promote the general welfare o
society, respectfully petition the State Club o
the - Of, to grant them Il Charter t.
open a new Club, to be called the - Club
No. Independent Americans, of the - o
- to be located in .-, and under you
jurisdiction.
We pledge ourselves, individually and co
l~ectively, to be governed by the rules and usi
ges of said State Club, and also, by those
the National Club.
Enclosed is the Charter Fee 81. (Signe
by at least three voters
1t must also be stated whether the applicant
are members of the Order or not, if they ar
of what Club. To be directed to the Stat
Secretary, free of postage.
| The following are the officers elect, all
l them, we believe, resident at Greensboro
the only place where a Club has yet bee
r formed. We mention their residence so tn;
persons may know where to address then
Q NATIONAL CLUB
Charles F. Deems, President.
e Richard Sterling, Vice President.
F. M. Paul, Secretary.
: j. w. Shive, Treasurer.
STATE CLUB.
N. H. d. Wilson, Governor.
T. M. Jones, Vice Governor.
C. C. Cole, Secretary.
T IT FaptresS Treasurer