Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-12-18

great deal of your officers to leave their various
fields of duty and business-already heavy and
pressing, it may be, to follow up your Sessions
from mountain to sea-board. Remember, also,
your funds are low, and have not for years defray-
ed theexpenses of the Grand Division Is the busi-
ness of your Grand Division, heavy ut this date,
as to require four meetings to dispose of 1t! l
think not, and am persuaded that my Brother
officers will sustain me in saying that two or three
sessions during the year afford ample time TO
transact all necessary or important business. In
our palmy DAYS, when the number of Divisions
was about fourfold to the present figure, it may
have been necessary-it is certainly not so now.
If this suggestion meet your favor, let the exam
pie of other Grand Divisions be followed, and per-
mission be obtained from the National Division to
exercise our discretion as to the number Of Ses-
sions we hold during year.
l would also ask attention to another remark
that our Speakers and Lecturers have not-quite
as much as appears to me, proper and necessary
been in the habit of recommending before the
people, the efficiency of our Order to promote the
cause of Temperance. 1t may be that the number
of those who abstain from intoxicating liquors is
on the increase. If so, how do we account for
the very small figure, as members, sometimes re-
ported to US! Have not many left our ranks or
allowed themselves to fall off, not Joined US, be-
cause they do not understand properly the eff
cheney Of our organization? Has their attention
been sufficiently directed to the Importance OF
sustaining and extending our Order? Do they
clearly see the necessity of keeping the field by
the Sons of Temperance? Do our Speakers take
proper pains to convince the masses of their duty
in the premises? Do they not need more light in
this respect? Let US oil labor for the future to
prevent such palpablc omissions.
Another prominent cause Of our failure to win
complete, or even greater success, in my judg-
ment, is found in the fact, the clergy withhold
from us their active cooperation and support
Without intending to interfere improperly with
the sacred duties of these holy men of God, we
must be allowed to express the conviction, long
entertained, that the Temperance reform will nev-
er entirely succeed until our Divines take more
lively and active interest in the movement The
people arc in the habit-Tery properly too-of
looking to the pulpit for light on oil moral sub
jects, submitted to their consideration, involving
change in habit or in life. They ore generally
governed by the precepts or example OF their Pas
tors and if the Pastors Of the country are not
with US, of course the people have the greater
difficulty in hearing and obeying the calls OF duty
to join and aid US in our work Of benevolence and
mercy. Of the hundreds and thousands of Divines
in our land how few are hearty co-workers with
US in our cause? And how many thousands OF
the laity are prevented from joining US by the pre-
cepts and example of the clergy? Our cause is
now passing through a crisis. The public mind
is rather in an unsettled state to the expedien-
cy of prohbitory enactments. The Importance
of the present movement cannot well be over estl-
mated A very fair beginning has been made in
the proper direction. If we do not followi up
with energy and promptness, the public mind,
naturally Sravitating towards error and inact!vl-
ty, will fall back to former indifference and apa-
thy We may rely confidently upon the good
sense of the people, if properly agitate the sub
ject before them. Prohibition, to be successful,
must be often discussed and explained. Give the
people light in the premises and inspire them to
think, and they will be very apt to reach right
conclusions. To this end, employ Lecturers, If
possible, and cooperate heartily with the Commit
toe heretofore appointed in establishing Tenn
perance Paper in this Statc-an agency, of which
we have been deprived now for several months
Very shortly after the Session at Greenwood, the
Temperance Standard ceased to exist, and our Com
mittee since then, in con junction with the Com
mittee appointed by the Temperance Convention,
which met at Greenville, have issued Circulars
with view of establishing Temperance Organ.
The exact degree Of success, which they met with
in gaining subscribers, l am not apprised. Yet,
I would urge it as q duty upon every Son, to CO.
operate earnestly in establishing high-toned,
influential Temperance paper in this State. We
cannot we'll get along without one 1t is power
full means Of doing good, and We should oy all
means have our paper. 1t is Indispensable 70
have some common channel Of communication
with each other, and an Organ to publish our Re-
ports and proceedings. We have now no mode Of
publishing the minutes of this Session-and ask
your attention to the Importance of providing for
their publication.
There is also want of unfority in the p WIS,
adopted for the use of Female Visitors.
The G. W. P. was requested to furnish one to
his Deputies, and the W. P's, to be used during
his term of office. He finds, however, that ut
some places the Quarterly p. VS. of the Sons have
been given to the visitors. This is a violation Of
rule and we trust hereafter, that Brothers will
be inform and particular in this matter. The G.
W. P. can only supply the P. W. for visitors, and
none other should be given them.
The Committee appointed to have your Journ-
als printed in substantial form, have given at
tention to the subject They have procured es-
Inmates from New York, and from Charleston,
which are herewith submitted There are some
advantages in having them printed at the North,
and also advantages in having them printed at
home. You are to decide, and direct your Com
mittee in the premises. 1t will cost from $500 to
S400, to print 500 copies, and it is question for
you to determine how so much money is to be rails
ed.
The Transcript of the Minutes of the G. D., re-
quired by resolution passed at your last Session
has not been prepared, because the Journal was
forwarded to New York with view to have it
there printed, and after the Journal is printed,
reliable and corrected copy can be placed in the
hands of the G. W. P. and G. S. for use Of the
Grand Division.
The Committee appointed to examine into The
Indebtedness of Grand Division to the National
Division have attended to that duty They cor
responed with NJ. w. S., and found the Journal
of the National Division to be correct-that this
Body owes the debt therein stated. Our Grand
Treasurer was ord red Immediately to pay the
same, and his report will show the debt satisfied.
The following b. G. W. Ps., have sent in reports,
herewith submitted, viz: ]. C. Williams, of Will
lamsburg; James II. Smith, of Marion J. Hol-
man, of Barnwell: D. r. Barton of Orangeburg:
]. A. Walker, of Chester; J. C. Griffin, of Ander-
son; John May, Of Cocton; II. W. Gardner, of
Sumter; Ebenezcr Thayer, John L. Bell, w.
Kuuhardt, of Charleston; j. Caughman, of Lex
ington; T. J. Lamotte, of Richland A. NJ. Ken
nedy, of Kershaw; A. 3. Towers, of Anderson
Rev. Allen Gregg, of Chesterfield. In dissolving
my official relationship with these Brethren, l
must bear testimony to their efficiency and zeal,
and express the conviction that to the Deputies,
we are greatly indebted in many localities, for
the elevated and influential position of our cause
Many benevolent, and many excellent suggestions
have been performed and made by them, that nev-
er reach the public ear, and cheerfuly testify to
their energy, devotion, and philanthropy.
herewith submit report from our energetic
Tract Committee, showing the receipts and dis
bursements made in that important enterprise
Allow me to urge upon you, all needtul legislation