Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-19
Hunts Store, July, 1854.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

Mr.. EDITOR In your paper of the fifth inst, is
an article over the signature of Marcus Z. Cross"
in reply to a communication of mine which YOU
copied from the Christian Sun, in which Mr.. Cross
was censured for obtaining money in Suffolk un-
der false pretences. Justice to myself, the friends
of Temperance in Suffolk, and all concerned, re-
quire at my hands a well authenticated statement
Of facts. This expose I propose to make through
the cage" leaving the public to decide as to the
correctness or incorrectness of the statement first
made by nae, and which Mr.. Cross denies.
On the 9th day of May last, Mr.. Cross came t,
Suffolk an entire stranger, and introduced himself
to Rev. Allen R.. Bernard and myself, as a Presby-
terrain Minister and an agent of the American
Temperance Union" in New York, and desired us
to make arrangements for him to lecture on the
subject of Temperance in Suffolk. Bro. Bernard,
who is a Methodist Minister, question ed him close
ly, and examined some papers which he exhibited.
Being satisfied that all was right, he was invited to
preach in the Methodist Church, in Suffolk, the fol-
lowing sabbath morning, and at his own suggestion
preached q Temperance sermon at night. He was
introduced to the congregation by Bro. Bernard, as
an authorized agent of the American Temperance
Union, and at the close of his remarks he stated
positively and tmequirocaLy, that he was the agent
of the American Temperance Union, and a part of
his business was to collect funds to aid the Union
and as an inducement to get the friends of Temper
ance to subscribe literally, he stated that the soci-
ty had recently lost several thousand dollars by a
fire which destroyed their printing Office, stereotype
plates, &C., and hence the necessity for sending out
agents 70 collect funds to repair their loss. The
next day he called upon our citizens, and as the
Agent of the American Temperance Union, received
their contributions. As to the exact amount re-
ceived I know not. He says "About $40" 1t is
knoton here to be considerably more than that. He
paid two or three days board at the Washington
Hotel at 81 per day, and not Isl so" as he says.
L mention these small things to show that the gen.
tleman is not as correct in his statements as he
might be.
After leaving Suffolk he visited Chuckatuck, at
my suggestion. There he also lectured and made
collections. Shortly after leaving Chuckatuck, I
learned through a gentleman residing there, that
the first man Mr.. Cross called on for a contribution
at Chuckatuek was Gen. John G. Crump, a GENTLE
man of high responsibility and extensive influence.
Gen. Crump declined giving anything to him. AT
the very next house he called at, be had Gen.
Crump's name to his subscription, and an amount
marked paid! Others were induced to subscribe in
this way who would not have contributed but from
the fact that Gen. Crump's name headed the sub-
s%cription. This was the first circumstance that ex-
cited my suspicion, and induced me to write to Rev
John Marsh, D.. D., Corresponding Secretary and
Publishing Agent of the American Temperance
Union at New York, making enquiry concerning
the agency of Mr.. Cross. From DR.. Marsh I re-.