Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-06-10
ORIGINAL PAPERS.
For the Spirit Of the Age.

For the Spirit of the Age.
Mr.. EDITOR Having made the at
tempt once or twice to give my views rela-
tive 70 temperance, and falling so far short
of doing the subject justice, | sometimes
conclude that anything may say cannot
be Instrumental in encouraging the on
ward tendency Of the cause. But when
retrospect the past, and call TO mind that
was once an anti-tempcranee man : not
only that, but was a moderdte drjHker-
1 say mOderate, because | think came as
near using it in moderation as any person
who uses it regularly as beverage-while
/ was tasting the dangerous cup in the So
oial circle, aud receiving the applause of
'wen done from my associates and my
friends, my relatives were daily growing
more ard more intimate with the Demon
(myself not excepted.) Yet there was
nothing visibly wrong in this course; GER
tainly not when my friends told me that /
was possessed Of that rare power of con-
trolling my appetite so we'll
At this time | was bitterly opposed to
Temperance societies | was stimulated
IN this course by the example of those
whose lives would do we'll and feel proud
to initiate in any other respect than this,
this OF using or attempting to use intoxica-
ting liquors in a moderate way. / was
with them both in deed and in sentiment.
Both my tongue and pen-though very
'weak--were speaking in opposition to tenn
peranoe. l was honest ih my sentiments
then ] am equally honest in them now.
Yet there has been a material change
/ And why this change? As we are all
--sshasssaasa5lc beings in a sTeaLer or less de-
changes too, contend that 10 Is a rfght
and duty which we should exercise under
all circumstances, when we think it proba-
bic that we can change for the better
Suppose farmer should become convinced
that his mole Of farming is u bad one, anC
all or a portion of his tools are of the wrong
kind, and he sees exactly how he can sue
ceed in making this desirable change II
n his farm, aud yet does itnot; would h
not be acting directly against his own II
terests But say you the prudent tarme
Gould make this change and l think
Zoo aud so think every prudent ma
should do, not only on his farm, but Q,
tend the same rule to every action in LIT
Such was the paramount incentive whlc
moved me to espouse the cause OF Tempe
ance
| became thoroughly convinced of Il
fact that | was at work with the wror
tools, and that the productions of my AM
temperance soil were likely to prove wor
than nothing at ALL My lot was cast In
land of far more temperate habits than Il
one in which was brought up, and whe
the uustained banner of temperance h'
waved its warning colors, and where 7
afFectiouate cOnsort of the inebrlate
been made 10 rejoice, together with her {
sprinr, in the return Of that peace she or
epioyed before this foe, Intemperan
took mp its abode in the family sanctua
Here | saw the worthy members OF
Christian Church engaged in atvocat
the cause Of Temperance. l. had b'
taught, that for man to profess the ma
Of Christ aud become united with
Church, was all that was required OF h
and that he would disgrace his profess
by uniting his name with any moral
modern institution, or in any way lend
aid to the same. This staggered me
some time. aEzi.sssI y
these are the vcry 'chaFacccfs
is TO place themselves in the front0 0fV
battle. Does not the pious christian
examples worthy to be initiated Sur
surely. And whilst intemperance Is
alarming evil, and is acknowledged as S
by every true follower of the meek
lowly Jesus, consider it one of the
duties of o christian TO abstain from
and all things which in any way may
10 lead his fellow-boiugs into this dau
Gus road. Then contend that 1T II
duty of all good men to abandon the
crate use of ardent spirits, as that st
the natural prelude to intemperance
vice.
| have become convinced that {
tian is diseharging no less than his
by giving his name and influence IN
Of temperance. While it cauuot,
matter Of course, 6t him for heaven
ception, without otherwise approve
may be the means of some worthy J
acquaintance, perhaps darling son,
IS. ing the poisonous cup from his Il
teaching him to never allow those lips
polluted with. that vile stuff which
,srit denounees as raging, and he
deceived thereby is not wise,"
here my mind reverts back to those
early acquaintance, at whose hands
received rich counsel and forwhon
the most sincere regard and respC
those who frsts taught the young
how to shoot y and while l would
the sincerest regard Of friendship ant
ton, while L-wOuld make all due ac