Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-07

change that mas Deen eHecIeu through
the agency of our Order on the public
mind, in favor of the legal restriction
and prohibition of the liquor traffic in
this State-the Grand Scribe's returns,
which will be read to you by that off,
Ger, will show slight decline in our
numerical strength, but from an exam
ination of the returns for the last Quar-
ter, | am happy to state that the Or
der is now decidedly on the increase.
Various causes contributed to the
diminution Of our numbers in the early
part of the year. Some Of which pro-
pose briefly to notice.
And first among these causes is the
pruning process that our Subordinate
Divisions have undergone and continue
to undergo from the recent very proper
amendment in their constitution, by
which the revenues of the Grand Di-
vision are derived from per capita
taxation on the members, instead of the
five per cent on the receipts as former
ly-thereby causing indolent and non
paying members to be cut of, as Divis-
ions were unwilling to pay the per cap
ita on members who contributed moth
ing to their revenues.
We have lost members from our Or
der who resigned their membership,
not because of any disaffection towards
the great principles of our organiza-
ton, but from the inconvenience of at
tending and keeping up the regular
meetings Of Divisions, in sparsely set
tied neighborhoods, but whose moral
influence is still with us. We have lost
others whose names have been enrolled
on the books of the Recording Scribe,
but whose hearts were never with us
in the work. Others who not having
counted the costs before joining us, as
soon as the excitement under which
they joined us had passed off, and the
novelty of their initiation, when the
storm of opposition arose-nOt having
$ the moral courage to "face the music, "
: went out from us, for they were not of
d us. Their weakness was a constant
. source of apprehension to the members
and their indifference perpetual clog
: to our progress. They are the dead
weights that destroy the buoyancy of
our order.
But Brothers, these things should
!. not discourage us,-on the contrary
|, they should have the effect of nerving
: us for more determined and vigorous
effort. We have had our seasons Of
d victory and triumph, and these appa-
rent reverses. We must expect in ouI
e progress in this great moral revolution
the great law of action and reaction
to prevail alike in the moral as physi
cal world. AS the grain is checked il
s: its growth by the cold storm, it gather
strength to put forth more vigorou
shoot and more abundant harvest
= Under this law, the sick man is res
na % tored to vigorous health-cold am
90 heat, summer and winter are adapte'
to our physical condition, by the sam
> great law. In like manner the plan
cts are accelerated and retarded i
is their annual journeyings around the
great source of light and heat.-Mors
ce Reforms have ever been governed b
as the same great law-the moral nerve
N require relaxation-under this relax;
he ton they gather power and strengt
ic- for more vigorous and effective effort
Ist This law is written upon all great R.
forms, both in the church and Stat
to The history of the great Temperan'
Ks Reform of the nineteenth centur,
er- forms no exception. How many r
lat verses, have for the time being, blaste
IN the hopes and blighted the prospects
Id the friends of Temperance in 9th
la States, but in their darkest hours, wht
ses the pail Of midnight seemed to low
Sa- Ger their prospects, an unseen pow
lth was at work-and 10 the bow of pr
eds mise spanned the heavens, auguril
SIS the glorious success awaiting their {
has forts. In virtue and morality there
hat a recuperative energy, tremendous
uc- resistible. You may throw a dy
ese across the mighty river, and drea
by that its current is arrested; but
lilly waters are only accumulating- gath,
de- ing strength and power to bear do
ind every obstacle, and rush onward wi
alth resistless and overwhelming tide to
ssed ocean home. How high then, m,
safe those who would arrest the progress
SEM this blessed work raise their BARR,
ory, until it reaches the Heavens "a
ause until it overtops the throne of G.
for God himself is it's author.
nos Ihave no hesitation in announc
y no toyou, from the reports l have recei
u during the year from my D. G. W
ar thy Patriarchs, that the cause of I
met hibition is stronger to-day in NJ
ad- Carolina in the hearts of her peo
that than it has ever been. Hitherto
part friends were to be found, mainly, if
rtles, altogether, among the members of
upon Order, and even in our Division
CO has heretofore been regarded as an Q
rong question. But now it has becom
vlr- fixed fact in the mind of every
sect, Son of Temperance, that the fnalit
n ex- our mission-the great object to W
work our efforts should be directed, is til
,tlon, ter determination Of the manu1ac
each and traffic IN Intoxicating liquor
eu TO we'll as it's use, as beverage.
H. i 4 I