Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-08-12
For the Spirit of the Age.

DEAR SPIRIT Having sometime since
in a special communication-given YOU and
your readers a very limited sketch of our In
dependent Temperance Society established
at Clayton, N. c. feel it to be no less than
my duty to give you and your readers anoth-
er hearing from a society which promises SO
much good and one too that is thriving per-
haps as fast as any other.
In order to give justice to all, | must say
that in my opinion the Rev. w. B. Jones,
may, with much propriety be termed the
father of the Independent Temperance Socie-
ty.
This gentleman, though young in years,
has not only distinguished himself as a
preacher of the Gospel, and in teaching the
young idea the Importance of treading those
paths which eventually lead to eminence and
usefulness in life, bat as we have good rea'
sons to believe, has been instrumental in or
> ganlzlng an institution, which is now encir-
: cling and will in time to come encircle the
, hearts of many aspiring youths, with its
j humane and soul preserving tendrils and
e whose fond influence will keep them without
t the paths of vice aad drunkenness.
a This gentleman, about ten months ago,
k through sympathy towards his fellow beings,
: suggested to some Of his particular friends
= the necessity Of establishing or making an
s effort to establish such a society as the one
above mentioned. He gave it as his opinion
= that an Independent S~ociety-forced from
q the petty objections 50 often and strenuously
urged by the'opposers of the Sons of Temper
I ance, would in all probability take among the
\ people. Nor was he mistaken in his ideas
= In this respect, for, it is needless to add that
his friends heartily acceded to his proposals.
Among those friends was another Rev. gen.
tleman, whose well known station in life my
to pen fails to describe. Suffice to say, that he
az is one excelled by few both as a youthful
~ citizen and jealous christian.
A few days previous to the 18th day of
g Nov. 1856 it was narrated throughout the
neighhorhocd that on the day mentioned
there would be a Temperance meeting held
at In the seminary at this place. Accordingly
it the time arrived there was quite a respecta-
in BILE number present, considering the place
ia and circumstances connected Herewith; some
"a no doubt prompted by one cause and some
by another. But whatever might have been
Gu the prompting of each individual present on
lie, that occasion, one thing was evident, there
nd was an interest manifested in the cause OF
on Temperance, which would have done credit
. a to many places of greater distinction than
nd the young and beautiful little village ofClay
ton. Who can conjecture the results of this
u.s. meeting? Who can contemplate the vas
ne amount of good it may one day bring to bear
she and then say it was not an act of wisdom
tar Who can calculate the tears, poverty AM
ice wretchedness, stayed by this one patriotic
tho step, taken in behalf of mankind? Here
SO Immediately in the midst of those who ha
declared themselves averse to Temperance
0S'' societies-where the people assembled. Her
the evils of Intemperance were closely poin
and ted out, and the beautiful indelible colors {
EN-, Temperance waved in the winds eye, Will
ives listening to those who were discussing th
oms p7au'leS ol temperance WINE Ihe sPeecht
here made might not be such as would ador
a Senate chamber or Capitol dome, yet the
were speeches in which truths, importal
o truths were brought to bear. And here tt
lif- pledge, well drink no Intoxicating liquor
and &c, was presented. The result of that OF
on meeting, for that one day, that twenty-eigh
comprising both male and female, boldly d
clared themselves members of the Indepe
e@tS dent Temperance Society, by writing al
yet giving their names to be written nndernea
lit the pledge above alluded to. This was n
beginning.
Our meetings we're regular and we'll atten
ed and great interest has been, and continu
to be, manifested in the cause of Temperant
Even those who had for no considerable til
past been engaged in dealing out the poisc
IL in Gus liquid to their fellow men, came for
vide. and boldly Joined the pledge. Accessio
crowded our list, until We now number SIX
OF nine in good faith and order, SO far as t
attic writer is apprized. During the period viii
], al w !" ov aJ1Tno' h"t oo $3.50 mombon on n1u m I;ia0
ldest can but regret that this is even so, we
joice that this is the worst.
Perhaps it would not be amiss here to IN
ton that the citizens of this vicinity have
rife clared themselves unable to support even c
? Or. grogshop. This is certainly so, as seve
have undertaken itand the last regular liq,
! A. seller, really acknowledge d that he was
= = making board and as a matter Of cou
'caUed m.'
was While the citizens of this neighborht
have declared themselves unable, or un1
1t an ling rather, to support n GROCERY, they h
The found themselves we'll able to build ut
ed by number one school, whose average mum
is some where between fifty and sixty
+bou dents, if the writer is not mistaken. WI
lnder Ill " ~ ~ anoo LII 'nan ~,a' Pn@aso :. y
Wllo and not rejoice that such is the fact? T
Is the our children henceforth are to be instruc
n the in the paths of Literature, Temperance
rife morality, instead of being led on and on
was the examples of those who are consta'
cit laying their snares in which to catch the
~ suspecting youth.
Oh of Perhaps you may near from me again.
ort of you 40 not | VIII say 70 one anu all 'no
every Death NAV nm Tppns avav our devoted frie
who are now laboring in the cause, your
with worthy servant likewise. Yet / rejoice
# the the hope that the progress will be onwar
ollow- it is now. And sincerely hope that "
every member whose name is now enrc
somo on our list, shall have exchanged mort;
on for Immortality, that the Independent I
eAPe- perance Society will still exist, and that
dying children and children's children, may c
for a and obtain protection under the benign i
ecame ence of the same. L.. p.
Is at a Clayton, Aug. 4, 1857.
line l
DIS for For the Spirit of the Az