Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-23
For the Spirit of the Age.
KNAPP of Reeds Division.

No doubt most of your readers will con
slider this the strangest name they ever
heard. However, there is in Granville Co.,
N. e., a Division bearing this name. 1t
was organized in 1852, aud still stands forth
as a beacon light to cheer and gladden. the
weary mariner, about to be dashed to pieces
on the hidden rocks of intempcrance. :.
Five years ago, this section of country,
beautiful by nature, az in every way cal
culated to impart delight to the most care
less spectator, was G oaning under the desc
lating influence Of Bacci,us. Grogshops
were seen in every direction, dealing out
death and damnation by the quart and pint,
and locking up many brave and noble souls
in the prison house of eternal despair. The
Sabbath was profaned, the name of God
blasphemed, and the highway of iniqnity
prepared for all the unhallowed passions of
unregenerate nature. Youthful innocence
and virgin beauty were unable to drive the
Bacchanalian host from their strong holds,
and TO restore again the reign of peace.
f 10 order, therefore, to effect this, and to
; bring about q better state of things, some
: of those who were disposed "to watch and
be SOBER" met on the 18th of May, 1852,
and organized this Division. And to do
/ this at that time required almost as much
! declare himself free from the %C tlhhuihahf 81 81
3 Rome, or for the american Colonies to as
| sert their independence in '76. All the
Prlncipalities, Potcntates and Powers of
% darkness, with Belzebub at their head,
a seemed to come forth against this " band of
n brothers, and to threaten them with an
h inglorious overthrow. But those who first
h set their names to the pledge remained
If faithful and true, and many others have
10 Joined their ranks and united their efforts
IN the cause of Temperance reform.
+ 1t is often asserted by public speakers,
Of that the Sons of Temperance have done lit.
tie or ne good. But any rejecting man.
who saw this section of country FIVE or ten
years ago, to see it now, would be convin
ced that such is not the fact. Every thing
both IN a moral and temporal point of view
!, seems to have undergone a radical change
Now no gTogshnps exist, the Sabbath dav
is observed, the Bible is read in almost eve
.bo ~ house, and the children are trained u
be. III the way they should go. Fields an
by meadows once neglected and overgrowI
of with thorns aud briars, are now in a higl
go state Of cultivation. And gardens of foW
Oh ers, aud fruits, aud ornamental shrubber
sls bloom III summer gayety, around wher
lovely females dwell.
to Here within the last year, on what wa
ex- called the wagon camp ground, or coal-kil
led hill, the Methodists have built an elegar
lee, new church. And within two or thr,
ION hundred yards of this, the BIptists have
20 church under contract, to be completed
Tho March. On the same hill, the Nasnns al
Sons have erected a large building, and
ave arranged in different departments, as
and furnish u Division room, Lodge room, al
school room. We now have u Mason
IN Lodge, a Division of the Sons, a h,uris
tan ing classical school, and two churches
the very ground where the worshippe
this Of Bacchus once held their nightly reye
or If one sma4lJ aiyisaan t4e ta9teffs III h 10 orr
rms iIL and even greater things? j. D.
: ~ January 18th, 1856.