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

tins of vice and drunkenness; over whom
devoted fathers and mothers are daily
shedding SO many bitter tears Yes, this
son over whom that mother has wept, and
for the reformation of whom that father
has so often and SO ardently prayed, is
victim of moderate drinking gradually
grown into excessive drinking Had this
sisAAeS but availed himself of the timely
r[estaning entirely from
spirits, tcaching his sons BY ex-
ample and moral suasion to initiate his ex-
ample, is it not in the highest degree pre-
sumabe that those tears and prayers would
not now be called for, in attempting to re-
store this loved though inebriated son.
But, says this Father, my neighbors all
indulge, and their children indulge; and
were to even deny myself and sons the
moderate use of ardent spirits, whenever
my sons start out in the world and feel
themselves at liberty to exele else their own
judgment, | fear they would run into in
toxication, to greater extent, than wereI
to teach them the example of using it mo-
derately. But let me say to this father,
and not to him alone, but to his neighbors,
suppose every good and influential man in
your neighborhood should adopt this rule
we have commended, what would be the
result? Why, this son would have no
drinking associates to lead him into vice
and iutemperance. And perhaps had only
one good man commenced the work, his
neTghbors would have been induced by his
example to have enlisted with him Thus
the society of your neighborhood certainly
would have been ameliorated. Therefore,
it is evident that the youthful mind is not
SO subject to corruption among good socie-
ciety, as among that of different charac-
ter
Having been opposed to Temperance
myself, l am acquainted with some of the
questions generally asked by anti-temper-
ance men:
The first thing demanded, is your reason
for joining? Well, if l give you good
reason, you certainly will acquit me and
if you find nothing wrong, I hope for the
good of yourselves and for the good of suf-
fering humanity generally, you will not on
ly acquit me but join me. In the first
place l would say that the society to which
belong is termed the Independent
! lsnIslr4nGs Society . and va. one Of tho
required from the candidate who applies
for membership. The pledge consists in
nothing bat simply binding the members
not4to use intoxicating liquors as bever-
age. Now, what objection l suppose
g you want to know the necessity Of joining
: or binding yourself to pledge. God said
d to his people, "where two or three arc as
g sembled together, there will l be also in
/ your midst" That leaves US to infer that
= the Christians love and zeal for his pro
% fession is strengthened, and he is thereby
% better enable to live up to his duties, by
coming together. His love for the cause
T. T. of Christ is drawn out, and he is taken still
- farther from the dangerous snares OF vic
- and sin. The same logic is as applicable
to temperance as to. religion. For where
10 number are assembled together, their objec
= being nothing more nor less than to con
y slider and discuss the subject of temper
% ance, they being band of brothers. Cel
taiuly this has u tendency towards stlmula
40 ting each member; and the one who is a
'1 most ready to despond and turn his bac
~ - upon the cause, is again strengthened an
HnS H an involuntary reflection arises somethin
'G or like this {: "There is pleasure in associ
40 tion the cause is good one; to comp
~ y" with the terms is easy, and there am pc
~ ~ fectly safe. Not to comply, perhaps | a
10 lost forever / will 60 op, and God be n
sn 'nc helper" Thus the doubling member
20 safe, surrounded with the safeguards
80 Temperance, when In all probability, had
~ not been for the influence and the stron
-, holds of brotherhood aud association,
49, @ might have found bis way into the drum
| -, ards path.
his Thus | have endeavered to explain m
for self on the subject of temperance WI
= n .lkskss- said know to be facts by expe
10 the cause It's progr'
Slf Nce forward 10 the day W
- hopeful anticipation, when temperaF
- L. througff-moral suasion (not by legaD sh
-, have It's tens to one So mote it be.
- J.. P. PHILLIPS.
and and Clayton, N G.
first TThc foregoing Communication COZ
any from section of country where no d
tend eu q Co.,, ou;.ts .nd uboro
Sl0U Ol Jue - DOuo cAAoIS, duu NhSASj
the ing to prejudices peculiar to that peo
mod it would be difficult if indeed possibl
ands sustain one But few philanthropic
ana rits, seeing.the devastation that intem
,br;s ance was spreading in the community,
duty termined upon establishing the L
favor pendent Temperance Society,"" freed
as the petty objections urged against the 5
" re- The experiment, we are glad to learn,
d. it succeeded admirably, and large SOC
goung has grown up, whose genial infuenc
dash. marked and manifest in that commu
ns. or This communication is intended t
to be adapted to this people, and we publ;
HoEs with pleasure, hoping it may.haye
hat IS [effect upon those for whom it isinter
Right We hail with cordial welcome {
Of nv agency calculated TO promote Temper
have by whatever name or organization it
I have be known.-EDIToR.
ect; to -s'
/" idea Light House Keeper. Benz Rob
tender has been appoiated Keeper of the
affec- House at Royal Shoals, N. c., with;
kuowl- ry of $500 per annum.