Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-05
.prpIlsnRp by ORDER OF THE DIVISION.

sprBLIsHEp by ORDER OF THE DIVISION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN Il am con-
strained to state, that l feel myself iucom-
petent to the subject which has brought US
together, as am unaccustomed to public
speaking, and make no pretentions to oratory.
You; will, therefore, please bear with me
while Ishall tell you few plain truths, in
azplaipway, aud if shall have done this SO
as to fasten the conviction of them on your
minds,I will then have accomplished all
that design on the present occasion. We
have not called you together that we might
make display of eloquence, with which We
are unfortunately not gifted; nor to tickle
yourfancies with finely wrought composition,
but to tell you what we are trying to do
how we are trying to do it; to make plain
what we think your duty is, by answering
some of your objections. and thereby gain
you over to our; assistance in great work
The sole object of the organization we advo-
cate, is the suppression and determination of
the vice of Intemperance, and thereby rid
the country of the greatest and most wither-
ing cprse that rests upon it. 1t is not our
purpose to war directly and individually a
gainst the myriad of vices which are the Off
spring of ;Intemperance; but to strike at the
root of the matter-to kill the parent and
starye, out his children; or in other words,
to remove the cause of vice, that the effects
may cease.
Our great aim is toSplace the rising gene
ration in an attitude of defence against the
growing evil of Intemperance; to inculcate
feeling of disgust, at the use of intoxica-
ting liquors Gas a beoerage," and to reform
as far as we car those who are fastening
precipitately and unconsciously to drunk
ards grave.
The manner in which we propose to ac-
compIish these great and desirable ends, is
by1a organization, which, for beauty and
system, stands anriyaled in the annals of So
cieties. The organization is as purely re-
publican as the government under which we
iye;r and strictly harmonizes with the purest
principles of morality and propriety. You
have been told that it corresponds in this re-
spect to the government Of the Presbyterian
Church, and I can think of no other organ
lied body by which its workings can be so
clearly illustrated.
1t consists of National Division, cores
ponding to the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church, and made up of dele
gates from the Grand Divisions of the States;
which Grand Divisions correspond to the
Synod, and are composed of delegates from
the; Subordinate Divisions, which Subordi-
nate Divisions, correspond in some respects
to the Presbyteries of the Presbyterian
Church. The organization is such, that any
member Of the Order, with proper qualifca-
tions, may pass to seat in the highest Di-
vision, and eventually become the chief Off
Ger, or president, as it were, of the whole
Orler-corresponding in this respect, to our
Republican form of government.
Members have the right of appeal from a
lower to a higher court, as it were, just as
we have from Presbytery to Synod, and from
Synod to the General Assembly, or from a
County to Superior thence to Supreme
Court We might enumerate various other
features of the Order, but deem it unnecessa-
ry, being persuaded that you now under
stand its motives and leading principles.
We pass on to notice some of the various
objections which are urged against it. 1t has
been objected by some that it originated at
the North, and was therefore an abolition
movement; by others that it is the offspring
of Catholicism, and that its treasures all flow
into Catholic Golfers; but time and observa-
ton have sufficiently dispelled these un-
grounded objections. Had either of these
things attached to the Order, it would, long
ere this, have been proclaimed trumpet
tongued to the world, since hundreds of
Shareholders and men Of the purest stamp Of
christianity are now associated with it, and
are intimately acquainted with all its opera
tions, in all their public and secret rami6ca-
tions. Can there be doubt then, as to the
groundlessness of these objections? We
leave reason and common sense to answer the
question. -.... .-
1t has been objected from various quar-
ters that the church is sufficient: that it i'll
become men of the world to dabble in mat
ters which belong to her, and to assume du-
ties which belong to her Ministers and off,
GERS, and that therefore, there is no necessi-
ty for such an organization. Do the expe-
rience and teachings of the past justify this
conclusion? We are forced to answer, No I!
Prior to the establishment of any temperance
societies, this secret enemy and vile monster,