The Georgetown news., 1856-01-03

it diseases the body; how it dlSturbS the e.
quilibrium of the intellect; how it polsons
the springs of generous affection in the heart,
and lays ruthless hand upon the whole
moral and spiritual nature. What drum
kenness does to its poor victim, and to those
who are bound to him by the closest ties,
you all know. al know, did | say? Let
us thank God, that few of you can know,
the inexpressible horrors which fill the soul
of the inebriate,-or the gloom and anguish
of heart which are the portion of his family.
You know enough, however, to feel that,
where this sin enters, there blight falls on
happiness, virtue and even hope; for, read
that dreadful sentence in the Word of God:
"Nor thieves, nor dr1mkards shall inherit
the kingdom of Cod" Look at the palpa-
bic shame, and misery, and guilt which col
lect within and about one drunkard' home,
and then multiply their dreadful sum by the
whole number Of such homes, which, at tljS
moment, can be found in this Christian
State, and you will have an accumulation
of sin and sorrow, which no mortal arith-
metic can guage, but which is sufficient to
appal the stoutest heart, and move to SYM
pathy the coolest charity.
But, my brother Templar, need not in
form yOu Of the evils resulting from Intem-
perance. | need not paint in dark colors
the sad realities which every where around
us, would make a most gloomy picture on
the canvass. Our heart sickens at the hOr-
rors which follow the traffic and use OF al
coholic beverages.
I have only to remind you, my brothers,
of the existing evil. | have only to bring
to your recollection, that in ass0ciating
yourselves together in these organizations,
you have done that which will ensure sue
cess in removing this evil, if you are faith
full to your VOWS and to your principles
Y our UO1c of total abstinence, of abstaining,
n0qr and toreUer, from the manufacture, sale
and use of alcoholic beverages, and that you
use all honorable means to induce others to
do likewise,-is VOW worthy indeed Of a
brave and good heart And your princi-
pies Of Fraternity, Truth, Love, Purity, FL
deity, Justice and Mercy, are principles
derived from the teachings Of God, himself,
in his Holy Word.
With this VOW, and with these principles
to govern us, we stand associated together
in a moral institution which is destined to
accomplish great good. 1t is an institution,
however, which does not claim divine Ori-
gin; but was organized by wise and good
men for the purpose of carrying out Gods
lessons to US respecting our duty to our fell
low men, TO whom we are united in the
bond of one great brotherhood. The incul-
eating Of Gods lessons to us respecting the
duty we owe to Him as our Creator, Sa-
vior and Judge, the founders of this institu-
ton wisely left to His church which he has
established on earth. 1t is our relation to
each other, as brother to brother, that we
seek to regulate, and to carry out in the
practical duties Of life, the lesson given us
by our Great Teacher,-and Mans best
BenetactOr, r,-"W hatsOeyer ye would that
men should do to you, do you even so to
them" But, as | have intimated, our re-
lationS to God, as creature and Creator,
further than the necessity Of acknowledging
his existence, and our personalaccountabil-
ity to Him, are matters of which our Asso-
citation takes no cognizance, leaving every
brother to cultivate his spiritual graces, and
to worship God according to the dictates OF
his conscience. Neither do we seek to IN
fuence a brothers political opinion.
Such is our institution,-such its princi
pies in general. Although never having
heard the lessons which are taught in the
various departments Of the Temple of Hon
or and Temperance, land | confess that |
feel somewhat restricted and trammelled as
your speaker from this fact) yet am war
ranted in assuring those who are also uniE-
itiated, that they are lessons which carry
out these principles in detail; that they are
lessons which every one who loves the pure
morality Of Christian teachings, has already
learned. And the Christian will find that
he is required to take no obligation which
he has not already taken when he vowed G.
ternal allegiance to Cod the Sovereign Of
Heaven and Earth,-to Jesus Christ, the
Savior Of the World
We are thus explicit on this point fol-
we are aware that some suppose we claim
more for the Order Of the Icmplars of Hon
Or and Temperance, than we have just sta
ted.
Here, then is a noble institution, with a
noble work to perform! Thus far, the work
accomplished through the instrumentality
OF this order is such as to give its friends
cause for great gratitude Our order is no
longer matter ofeXperiment. 1t has stood
test which shows, that by strict adherence
to its principles, and governed by wise, and
prudent, and good men, it is destined to
carry on a successful warfare with Intem-
perance. I do verify believe, that it is,
with the blessing of God, q mighty engine
for good, which may, and will be success
fully employed in demoishing the strong
legal castle in which the enemy is fortified.
L do believe, if we are true and faithful to
our VOWS, if we stand shoulder to shoulder
our hearts knittogether, beating with warm
sympathies for our suffering fellow men, vic
tins of the cursed traffic i'll alcoholic bev-
erages,-that you and [ shall ere long see
the banner Of "Entire Prohibition" wavino