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

lure tue people, IL udS CdheH SGfOuS
hold upon the public mind, and thou
sands who are not members of our
organization are rallying to it's STAN
dard.
Our Order, it must be admitted by
every one-is now the cynosure of
the world in this great moral enterprise. .
There is no other Temperance organi-
zation so well adapted to all classes and
conditions of society, as our beloved in
stitution, and upon it the hopes of the
patriots and philanthropist are directed,
as the most effective in arresting the
tide of intemperance-this scourge of
our race-that islaying waste our beau
tifnl earth, sparing neither age nor
sex nor condition in its devastating
course.
It becomes us therefore Brothers, to
consider and devise the means best
adapted to the enlightenment Of the
public mind upon the great principles
of our organization and the question Of
prohibition, without which a stringent
prohibitory law would be Of but little
avail. For while we look to this law as
the consummation of our hopes, of
what avail would be the law, dependent,
necessarily as such law must be upon
public sentiment for its enforcement,
unless the public mind be enlightened
to sustain and enforce it.
And first | would recommend the circu-
lation of approved Temperance Tracts and
Newspapers throughout the State, as most
efficient auxiliaries in this noble work.
These silent and unpretending messengers
of light and knowledge can be scattered
broadcast over the State at a cost compar-
atively trifing; they will reach every hovel
and cabin where the Demon Of Intemper-
ance has left his footprints. They will
find access to those who have not the in
clination, and will be read in the hearing
of those who have not the opportunity
to attend public addresses on Temperance,
and like the seed of the husbandman, spo-
ken of in the Book of God, which fell up
on good ground, will bring forth an abun-
dant harvest.
AS another important agency in this
work, l would recommend the employment
of one or more able and efficient lecturers,
to canvass every county in the State, to
present the evil and the remedy before the
public.
By this means, vast amount of good
will be accomplished. The question of
Prohibition will be- fairly presented before
the people, it will revive the Order in the
State-resuscitate Divisions that have for
feited their Charters, and stir up the mem
bership to more vigorous and united ef
fort, to save our fellow man from the paths
of the destroyer. And thus, instead ofoul
hearts being saddened by the reports of ;
decline in our numbers, the Grand Scribe
returns at our next annual meeting, will
show prosperity unequaled in the histor,
of our Institution. Need present an,
arguments to you in support of this re
commendation The earlier history 0
our Order in this State since it's organize
tion-the unprecedented success resultin
from the employment of this agency, full
sustain it. The revolution in public SCI
timent, on the subject of prohibition, e
fected by the unanswerable argument
and resistless eloquence Of that distinguish
ed champion Of our Order, Gen. Sam'l
Cary, in the portion Of the State visite
by him last Spring, proves beyond dout
the efficiency of this agency | recon
mend therefore to this Grand Division, tt
appointment of Committee on Lectur
ship, whose duty it shall be to secure Il
services of one or more able Temperan'
Lecturers for the State, with the san
Q powers vested in said Committee, as ha,
been entrusted to previous committees
: the same subject.
| And here Brothers, permit me to bril-
f to your notice, the loss that we have ST
r tanned, in the death of our lament
n Brother, P. G. w. P, S. W. Whiting,
= efficient, active member of the Commit
). On lectureship appointed at your last 81
sion. His heart was always in the wor
and his mature judgment and jealous
votion to our cause, gave him apromine
I position in the front rank in our Order.
IS / thereforessubmit to the Grand Div
: ion the propriety of adopting Resolutie
e expressive of our grief, and rendering Q
n fraternal sympathies to his bereaved ia
IS lily.
= The admission Of females, as visito
= into our Divisions, l would suggest
! your consideration, as another means
= = infusing new life and vigor into our Ord
70 and imparting interest to our meetings
81 The National Division at it's last Sess
OF adopted beautiful and appropriate CT
r! mony for the initiation of Females, !
e, pared by Gen. Cary, and submitted
d, that body as work of the Order, to
used by Divisions deciding to ad
,c them. Upon consultation with Repres
8 tatives to the National Division, who
- ~ tried the system in their Divisions, |
u ceived assurances that the results were Il
'o encouraging. In Divisions where {
IN rum for the transaction of business cC
ie, with difficulty be obtained, the admis
Its of Females had attracted the members
not such numbers as to require more com
our dious halls for their meetings
it In view of the sufferings entailed I
zen woman by the destroyer of our race,
, the mighty influence she can WELD il
rua half of our cause, can we, aught we
, of withhold from her the boon which
;;cb would SO willingly award, of cheerin
on by her presence and smiles, in
." mission of benevolence? Surely not.
~re | submit the subject, therefore, to
, as favorable consideration, with the hope,
And from your action at this session. the