Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-09-05
How to Revive the Order.

The main difficulty IN the way, appears to
be the want of individual action. In the ear
lier period of our organization, there was
much more enthusiasm in the Order than
can be perceived at the present time and
that enthusiasm was mainly owing to the
fact that each individual Brother felt that he
had something to do, in the great cause in
which he had engaged. Each felt the impor
lance of our organization, to restrain not only
but his Brother from the paths of in
temperance and perdition. He knew that
our Order was designed, not only as a bond
of union among the friends of Total Absti-
nence, but also to encourage and sustain each
other, in the paths of Temperance, Virtue,
and Honor and he felt that he, too, must
be at work, to promote these great ends.
Had he an erring friend-our Order was
the shield between him and temptation and
within our borders he was free from the snares
that beset him, and secure from the grasp of
the destroyer. Each felt that he had taken
a position among the advocates of our Cause,
and he assumed some portion of the respon-
sibilities of that position.
1t vas this inward feeling of indiuidual
responsibility, that made our Order what it
has been. May we not hope that it may
again rekindle, and light anew the fires on
our desolated hearth-stones, so that the de-
cayed branches of our Order may again be
revived, and blossom anew with life, bringing
light and joy to many a despairing brother ?
How is this to be accomplished ? you may
p~ertinently ask In reply, let us ask you,
Do you yourselves, Individually, feelthe same,
or any portion of the same interest, the same
zeal, the same ambition, that you did when
you joined our Order? If you do, the work
is half done One strong, r~esolute, and de-
termined Brother in a Division, can do a
great deal towards preserving it from decay,
if he but choose TO erert himself.
If you believe that our Order is still calcu-
lated to accomplish a mighty work in this
great reform,-and who doubts it ?-let this
belief stimulate you anew to hework. When
you go hence to your homes, 60 with this de-
termination in your innermost breast, GAS
for me-, | will do what | can to revive the
dropping energies of my Division" Pledge
yourself to your Brothers, that every week,
when the meeting night comes round, that
you will be present. Go to the meeting with
the desire in your heart to do or say some
thing that will revive the disheartened spirits
of your brothers, and our word for it, if you
carry this determination with you from week
to week, it will not be long ere you see some
signs of a revival in the Order. Others will
catch the inspiration, and it will spread from
breast to breast, and its influence may extend
till our Order shall again stand in the front
rank of that brave array, before whose might
Intemperance dies away.
Every meeting of the Division should be
opened punctually at the appointed hour
Nothing tends more to injure Divisions than
delaying and losing precious time. The
Brothers are apt to get in a habit of being
late. Have the regular business of the eve
ming done dccently and in order. If there
be an Initiation, go into the work piM q aoiU,
as though you teH that the sublime teachings
of our Ritual were not all mere qCords, mere
sound. Let the new Brother see, by you1
countenances, that you are really sincere,
! when you extend the hand of welcome. Let
1T be a cordial grasp, with your heart in it.
There should be no disorder, no hating il
the ceremonies. A little care renders the
6 work easy to be performed and you should
always bear in mind that a great deal de
: ponds on first impressions.
Some care should be had in the choice O
Officers, to select, if possible, such Brothers
as can carry out the design of the Ritual t,
its fullest extent. But care must also be hat
9 that you do not wound the feeling of som,
more humble Brother, who may have beer
overlooked, and though he may not be quit
so well qualified to fill important stations a
some others, may perhaps be trained to il
by a judicious course on the part of the mem
bers.
After all the business is done, let ever
f. Brother in the room, as far as practicable, b
called upon, by name, in rotation, by the W
= p, and asked to say something for the goo
of the cause. What if a Brother says bu
ten words, those ten words may be the ke
= note, which shall vibrate and find a respons
: in every breast. If you have a visiting brotE
= er, let him not be overlooked, but urged t
= contribute his quota to the general good.
In some Divisions it may be advisable
!. Introduce regular DEBATES, and where tn
can be done SO as to interest all, it may |
nc advantageous, but it should never be done
the exclusion of less gifted brothers, who ms
be perfectly able to cast in their mite in
conversational manner, but dare not tru
lu themselves in the deep waters of a regul;
wv argument.
OF OCCASIONAL LECTURES, or short address,
from the members, can oftentimes be mac
ur to fill out an evening. No matter if the qua
ity is not quite so good as you might expe
is from aprofessional man, donotreject iton tn,
ry account, for it may open to you a new fou
tain Of inspiration, that, were it not for Il
K genial influence of our Order, might nev
or have known the light.
Occasionally some Brother may find in Il
ad course of his reading, some item bearing
cd the cause of Temperance, which, if read
be the meeting may be the means of awakeniI
an a train of thought and conversation, viii,
may prove ~edifying. To this end, TEMPE