Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-06
From the Richmond Christian AGO
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

FTOIu IuG OuIISIl0u oUpCdLSi
THE LIQUOR TRAFFICs
Bro. LEE discover, in the NshviUe
Advocate, the report of the CommAee on
Temperance, and the resolutions aached,
which were presented to the last Rnerul
Conference. The resolutions oferl were
adopted. This is to request You y insert
the report and resolutions in the Nchmond
Advocate, in order that all our pep pple may
see the action Of the Conference bon the
subject, and that both preachers at people
may unite in expelling the evil bm our
Church
REPORT:
The committee to whom was Aeferred
sundry memorials, praying for solething
more definite in our Discipline don the
traffic in ardent spirits, so that our tembers
who are engaged in selling or giyig away
to their customers the drunkar& drink
may be brought 10 trial, beg leaY to pre-
sent the following report:
Your committee deprecate thl want Of
action by the Church on this sui Bet. Her
previous efforts, commendable teher zeal
and purity, though satisfactory } thous-
ands, fail, for want of specific ruleto meet
the wants and wishes of large pDportion
Of her membership belieyipgA We do,
that it is now time TO take Egher ground
in order to the entire extit tation of this
deadly vampire from the / pOsom Of the
Church.
The ambiguity or want defniteness
in the law Of the Church b; given rise to
laxity on the part of the administration,
thereby giving aid and conbrt to the foe,
the thing complained Of bWour memori-
alists, and thereby permittiy fragrant vio-
laters to pollute the sanchry of God by
their presence and positiof thus blending
responsibilities by associate with the pure
and the good, compelling fraternization
for which they have neitlr affinity nor
inclination; covering the Lurch in many
places with af1iction anf modification
retarding the progress ofiety, and sub
iecting our Zion to the sntrs of the perse-
cutter without the possibilit Of justification
or defence.
In view of the general d bpidation trans
piring among those moral ssodations call
ed temperance society of every Name, form
erly united together against the deadly foe,
! which, after having braved the fangers of
many well-fought field, now ala we fear
are retiring before the hosts of 1be enemy,
your committee think that renewed and
vigorous action is called for IN all the
churches of the land, in order ID some sort
to maintain the ground already Saned, and
present an opposing front, cen 4ated and
consolidated by the impregnablE principles
of revelation and Church disciHle, which
may encourage the friends Of thperance
again to rally and raise their b her in the
v face Of the foe. Your commik ke greatly
! deplore the fact, too plain to doubted
or denied, that intemperance i5tining as
cendancy in our land; towns an villages,
n where but recently strong diylShs OF the
5, temperance reformation were en- with
s banners floating in the breeze, the re-
l. gala of temperance votaries, thAadge Of
e total abstinence, held dominion, II, alas
J. deserted by the friends of reform dram
o shops, with their filthy associatiorand de,
rs moralizing influence, have taken rssession
d and, unforbidden and urblushing proclaim
n themselves the victors.
vel Your committee, moreover9 r9erecate tn
g want of cooperation upon tik pTt of tn
ID secular government lose toRaion of thi
as iniquitous traffic afdicts tie Eaton with
le calamity more appalling that b. devasta
is tions of war, pestilence, or kmgae. Oa
at Legislators, for considerations prey merce
De nary, in the absence Of wise lesishtlon an
sy knowledge of political econorh.., Gen thos
re fiery fountains which issue stfans of burr
1d ing lava more destructive thu al the vol
d? canos Of earth, destroying ike he inne
as cent and the guilty. The cdheqlences
h such blind legislation appesrh be no car
ch of theirs. They neither coAtmpIate t1
issue of their acts, nor are tbey rsised sui
Ter fciently high upon the pls1fPfm Of mora
is reformation to behold the ! of their dc
ed ings. Financially, they eg8ously err, /
ed supposing that a tax for sale OF tn
rd. LIQUID death, amounting a moiety,
vn, strengthen and enrich thachequer, bt
,ep comes the cause of evils win require mi
est lions to remedy, not cons'ging the e.
Ter. pense of crime, pauperismlnacy, ana a
ent other losses connected witt1e use OF spl
and ituous liquors, such as idlels, negllgenc
ore and dissipation, call from e pockets
the citizens millions to rer what the
the thousands produced. But Iuld they
her one moment see the interniiate miser