Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-05-20

nursue similar course with the Divisions them
selves. During the year 1855, i had the honor to
urge these views at some lengths, may be seen by
reference to pages 470 and 494 Of our published
Journal as to which I would again respectfully
refer.
The receipts of the Quarter from oil sources,
have been S27l 81, which appears in detail on
the financial statement herewith submitted. Of
this sum, S82 rs is the ordinary income for per-
centage; and $186 96 is derived from the settle
ment of Ledger balances. due chiefly for tho New
Ritual, recently sent out to every DIVISION under
our jurisdiction in good working order.
It has given the Grand Scribe a great deal Of
trouble to render and to collect these accounts but
it will certainly be gratifying tothe Graad Dlyls-
ion to find its Treasury thus literally repenished
with ample means to pay all demands against us,
and respectable surplus left over for contingen.
cies. . ...... ..s. ...-,. -...,. -,,. -
By reference to the printed Journals Of this body,
nublsbed last year it will be seen that the satis-
teal tables or abstracts of quarterly returns were
only published up to January 1851 because the
publication of such table work was found to be
incou yenient and expensive. The Gand Scrbe's
have however, continued ever since that period,
to submit and to file these statistical tables on
large sheets with his quarterly reports.
It occurred to the undersigned, soon after his
election, that these abstracts recorded in book
manufactured especially for the purpose, with all
the necessary headings and columns, Wouid oe .
source of deep interest in future, to any VINO
might desire to trace the history Of any Division
in South Carolina from its origin to the current
time, and accordingly procured the book as men.
toned in my report ut Winnsboro', and have had
the record brought up to date. Hereafter, 1t Will
cost the Grand Scribe no extra labor to continue
this valuable record. d.
All the books and files Of this Office are now be-
lieyed to be in complete order, and it gives me
great pleasure to report from position where the
pulse of the Order can be felt throughout the
State, that the entire machinery of our organfza-
ton is in fine working condition. and is moving on
tremendously and steadily, if not rapidly.
have received since our last meeting, the pro-
ceedings of the quarterly sessions Of seven other
Grand Divisions besides ours-some OF them marK-
ed ssplease reciprocate." Having no extra copies
of the "Yorkville Enquirer" containing our iast'
Ihave been unable to exchange courtesles wlth
such Grand Scribes in other jurisdictions as have
favored us with their Journals. Hereafter, it
NAV be we'll to supply the Grand Scribe with
small number of copies of the proceedings of this
body, to enable him to exchange with those Grand
Divisions. at least. who ore considerate enough to
forward US copies.
We are indebted to the following Grand D:7is-
ions for the copies of their late proceedings viz
Maine. Massachusetts, Maryland, Kentucky,
Missouri. Canada West and Nova Scotia. e.
have carefully looked these Journals over, and
find the Order reyiying in all the States and Provln-
cesembraced BY the Grand Divisions referred to- 1t
is to be regretted that complete system OF inter-
change of Journals is not instituted between all
the Grand Divisions in North America, that we
might see at o glance, the workings Of our Order
thoughous the Continent. In the proceedings,
herewith submitted, discover some usages well
worthy of our imitation, and many that we
sbould not desire to follow. Aconstant fatnilisr-
Of great advantage to the Order generally.
Some three years ago, when l had the honor to
OCCUPY the Chair of G. W. P, in this State, be-
came satisfied from close observation, that the
benefit system was sponging up our treasures
producing jeslousies and petty squabbes, besides
diverting the attention of our membership from
the main purpose of our organization Attention
WAS called to this subject, and my views express
cd at some length in the extra Report, submitted
at Charleston in June, 1855, and in the Quarterly
Report, submitted at Anderson G. H., July looo,
as NAV be seen By reference to our published
Journals, on pages 472, 49s and Ava. It's grao,
flying to observe that the evil has been corrected
throughout the entire State-but 80 was pald LOT
benefits the past quarter But tits to be reared
from certain Indications that another evil ID IKE
" to grow out Of the downfall Of the system Just
alluded to. Many Divisions under our !urisoic-
ton, having no longer any use for fund 70 pay
bene6ciares conclude that there Is little necessity
for money in the Treasury for any purpose, and
accordingly reduce their weekly dues so low as to
impoyerish the Treasury quite as much as before.
Wherever such action has followed the abolition
of benefits the epl is still not correct,a-but simply
charged from one to another.
This movement did not originate in disposition
to relieve Sons of Temperance from the payment
of weekly dues, rs one of the conditions OF mem
bership, but rather in a desire to use the funds
which accumulate In this way, for Temperance
rather than for Charity purposes.
In my judgement, Sons of Temperance general
ly, are not sufficiently liberal with their means
If we would expend more money for the support
and extension of this cause, we should advance
more rapidly, and feel more deeply Interested In
the work ourselves. The more we invest IN On
enterprise, the more anxious do We usually feel
for its success. Money does, to some extent be-
come the measure of our interest in any unuerta-
king which requires funds to keeps its machinery
in motion.
Can we, then, expect to flourish greatly, solong
az we continue to exc out our reluctant desires so
spsringly to the Division Treasures, and then IN
expending the petty accumulations to cling with
misery tenaeiey to every dollar which is not to re-
turn to the immediate neghborhood in which the
money is raised? Such calculating devotion to
"the cause of all mankind" is entirely too contrac-
ted, and is inconsistent with the genius OF our
Order respectfully invite all true Sons OF lem.
| perauce to consider these hints candidly, and II
these selfish, not to say sordd considerations do,
10 any extent characterize cur feelings or actions,
that We individually and unitedly, resolve to ele-
vate ourselves to the apprehension and true dlgnl-
~ Of our glorious mission. As the Order OF the
Sons OF Temperance is now the only general Tenn
perance organization in South Carolina, the
weighty responsibility devolves on US OF pushing
on this reformation vigorously. But are we tul-
filing our pledged and implied obligations in this
respect?
With nearly so working Divisions, embracing a
membership of about 1000. including nearly all
the old, long tried veterans in the State the en-
quiry presses itself upon US continually, what Is
this select band Of trained temperance champions
doing for cause, whose "central principle is TO-
tai abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, and
whose prominent characteristic is self-denylng
devotion to the good of manknd?"
According to the figures in the beginning OF
this report, it is rue the membership is sustained,
and the receipts are sufficient to pay current e.
penses. But what are we doing to EXTEND the
cause-to ENLARGE this circle of sobriety p
Without single lecturer in the held-our subor-
dinate Treasures with but few exceptions empty
the Grand Division by the exercise OF rigid
economy and good management out OF debt ana
small surplus-but entirely too poor to accomplish
ANYTHING beyond its routine of prescribed duties
the order STILL however, lives and almost fourishes,
in spite of the dead weights with which it is en-
numbered, but what can We nationally hope under
such circumstances beyond mere existence!
NV brethren! I take no pleasure in these hu-