Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-17

hers. as / am satisfied both from Observa-
tA,p and experience we may, the time Is
not far distant, when not only the disfille
nv and groggery viii cease to pour their
lioui&. fires over this our fair heritage,
but when our children and our property
by legal enactment viii be secured against
the withering: bIishti1g curse ontailed up
Another cause of the recent decrease In
our numbers, | doubt not, may be found
in the late political contest through which
we have passed. The angry waters Of
party and sectional strife have been fear
fully agitated, and the minds of men have
been absorbed with the great questions
which were supposed to involve interests
Of the utmost Importance, if not our very
existence as unitcd people. However
much we may regret that men will permit
themselves to be carried away with parti-
zan politics, we cannot be blind to the fact,
that these periodical contests, do for a time
draw off the minds of our people from mat
ters of equal, yea, of greater importance.
And we may hope, now that the contest is
over, many of our friends will retarn to
our ranks and become again jealous in the
temperance cause.
As temperance men, we may derive les
sons of wisdom from the course of the po-
litician, while we must stand rebuked by
his zeal and efforts to advance the interests
of his party. He loves his country aud
believes she is approaching crisis, which
can only be averted by the success of the
principles he advocates. He labors ear
nestly, while every attitude, gesture and
expression of countenancc indicates that
his whole heart is in the work. How ca
gerly does he strive to bring his friends
and neighbors to adopt his sentiments
How patiently will he argue to overcome
their preiudices and answer their objec-
tions. At what sacrifices of time and COM
fort will he attend meetings and counsel
as to the best means by which final tri
umph can be secured.
We would do well to initiate his self
sacrificing devotion, while we are careful
to avoid the rancor which such devotion to
party too often engenders. 1t is believed
that our Order is approaching crisis in
North Carolina. If, we do not succeed,
the tyrant of intcmperance will be rolled
back upon orr State, involving in ruin our
:sldrsusi pur htsSss :!!s-d cur frleEds-5
! a ruin that will affect them not only for
, time but for eternity, Can we contem-
plate such catastrophe without a shud-
/ der; or stand idle when consequences so
| momentous depend upon our action? A
D cold, listless attachment to our principles
q will not convince our friends that we are
n in earnest, or prevent still further decline
e in our numbers. If the Temperance Re
g form is abandoned now, ages may elapse
e before it can be revived in this Common
;, wealth. And who can describe the pal
r, of blackness and darkness that will hang
+ over our future. But, brethren, am per
C suaded better things of you. Revive the
d Order, advance its principles, push on its
h triumphs, and you will dry up the grant
source of pauperism, crime and wretched
I ness; diminish exceedingly sickness, in
i sanity and death; remove one of tht
t. greatest dangers to which our social, civi
is and religious institutions are exposed /; anC
- one of the mightiest Instructions to the eff
r, cacy of the gospel and all the means of grace;
le you remove that which with thouands an,
r tens of thousands now hinders the infuenc
le of that overfowing mercy which God ha
re opened upon a guilty world, through So
N viour; and which if not obstructed an
In restrained would illuminate and purify
G. cheer, bless and save from the rising of th
r, sun to the going down of the same, wit
o. an everlasting salvation.
lc trust, in its wisdom, this Grand Divis
ds ion will be able to adopt such measures &
Ill will avert the evils threatened, and secur
he prosperity again to our noble Order |
1 addition to the suggestions made in til
Il, able report of my predecessor and to whic
nd | would again call your serious attention
ur | would submit to your consideration tt
propriety of employing one or more alb
't, and efficient lecturers, whose efforts sha
raj be chiefly directed towards the Ord'
RS itself-encouraging feeble Divisions, rev
sc wing the dormant and forming new on
we wherever it can be dohes Hitherto the lie
ch turers we have had in the field, have mac
III the claims of the Order a matter of secon
re- airy Importance in their public addresse
ca The public mind has been enlightened
De- to the propriety of arresting the evils Of j
Pc temperance by legal enactment, while Il
'ur claims of our peculiar organization ha
or for the most part been ignored. The co
= sequences are now visible to ALL 1t
es- not enough that men be correctly iLform
asst upon this subject, they must also have
en- efficient organization, if they would accol
&C. plish the object proposed. Union
Or strength. And organized, visible union
will consolidated, permanent, and ever-growi
us strength. Had those, convinced by t
not sound, unanswerable arguments of the e
ave cient laborers we have sent forth, been
ed, corporated into our Divisions, how diff
leg ent would have been the returns of our
her Scribe on this occasion. The good Sc
esh has been scattered broadcast over the la1
our but for want of proper culture we hs
- failed to reap the anticipated harvest. I
om- great work before US now ought to be
an build up the Order, until it shall encir
that in its protecting arm our young men "
ntl- are now in danger of falling beneath
pro- fiery tread of the destroyer. Men of
d Of right qualifications might do immense g
'yed in this field already white to the harv,
way If the Grand Division should not feel
and self able to employ such lecturers to c
ntly vass the whole State, would suggest I