Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-05-23
Il. F. schenck,s Renly.

L0dteS-Hermlts me, IN 0eDaf OF tnlS !
Division, to return you our warmest thanks
for the valuable present we have received |
from your hands: 1t is with much pleas
ure that we accept it it, both as amonitor,
and an offering from you indicative of your
approval, and a generous desire for the pros
perity Of oef Order. .---%s.@e
History is fraught with the many changes
time has wrought since the creation of our
world, and the many evils our race has been
heir to. War has been waged, attended
with its usual calamities, devastating the
most fourishing countries and disenthroniug
kings; cities, renowned for their ancient
beauties and splendor, have crumbled into
dust, leaving but a barren waste behind as
the only memento of former glory famine
has spread abroad throughout the land and
perished its thousands !; pesiiience has visited
US, and with its destructive hand swept many
Of our fellow beings from among US out in
this enlightened day, there is an evil more
destructive than all these, stalking abroad,
throughout this our native land not only
unrestraihed, but protected by law, tempting
the rising generation from the path of rec
titude, degrading man in the prime of life,
rendering him totally unfit either for bust
ness or respectable society, making him
terror to his family, nuisance to the com
munity, and finally hurting him into eternity
without the slightest hopes of future happi-
ness making widows, orphans and murder
ers. Blasting domestic happiness, demoral-
izing society, destroying the soul and crow
ding our poor-houses, prisons, and asyums
with its unfortunate victims.
This evil is intemperance and yours is
the sex that feels most sensibly the wrongs
it lnt1icts upon the human race. 1t is the
wife who is bowed down in sorrow Ger the
ruins of a once happy family, her children
piteously begging for the bread that is with
held from them by the drunken father, that
he may replensh his bottle and the more
effectualy work out their ruin and his own
condemnation. The brightest talents have
been blasted by this destroyer; the great
est orators, whose voices have held assem-
bies speli-bound ard whose towering elo-
quence has won them renown and fame have
been ruined by the deluding poison The
most promising youths have fallen victims
to itsalluring temptations, thus blighting the
brightest hopes of father and wringng the
tender and affectionate tseass of a mother
with anguish. 1t has dragged our most no
! BILE men from high position in society and
], their blood has stained its unhallowed al
tars. 1t eZpels reason, browns memory,
distempers the body, defaces beauty, and
weakens the brain; nor has it one redeem
ing quality in it.
In his great struggle, Ladies, you arc
/ most deeply interested for as our cause
) advances, it dries up the fountain of woman
3 grief and turns her tears of bitterness int
: tears of joy. On our success hangs th,
: pres2qt and future welfare of our State, anc
it is with feelings too grateful for words t.
t describe, that we welcome you as co-work
e ers in this great reformation. Your iufu
ence is unbounded. To you is mainly lef
e the task of pouring into the youthful min,
|. its first impressions of duty, and stampint
i on its susceptible heart the first image of il
God.
i It rests with you, in a pre- eminent dc
r gree, to give tone and elevation to society
!. by deciding what degree of virtue shall b
e necessary to afford passport into your s.
ciety. If man holds the political power
IS society, you have in your hands, the nor
J. important moral power. You material
n influence lis manners and opinions. and "
D. are gratifed to see you throwing your gel
tie influence around it, to hold it back fror
the cup Of death. heartily congratuat
you, Ladies, on the noble stand you hay
; taken in this great struggle of moral r
> FORM for in it you display spirit admir-;
bly, adapted to the fulflment of these duti
ar that every daughter of North Carolina ow
Is to her native State.
s congratulate you also, on the happy S
lr lection you have made in the present v
d. have received. Nothing is better calcul
u ted to inspire US with zeal than this sacre
OF volume of inspiration. 1t is peculiarly
a dapted to our wants, and indispensabII "
as cessarY to the maintenance of ourx6eg
rs 1t contains the choicest mattsSJ LuVL, ~, H.
er Of any other book. Itsrom M ,bose 90 nr;n 10
M Piles that we bavs>r,ondod our % Prln pin
M ur motto Of .cvs. Purity and Fidelity al
rs. oy Isacred truths do we expect to maj
them. On this foundation we ha
"a reared our order, and having it for our guid
os, justice for our shield, your approval a
ed unbounded influence for our encourageme
'm and the good of the state for our goal,
'ur expect to realize our highest anticipation
esS s by retaining society from the fetters tt
tie the tempter has riveted on it, and conve
Au- ing the most hopeless inebriates into sol