Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-08-12
Temp&ranee Watttr.
ADDREss OF 3. D. TOWNSEND,

AlneTlCd.
/ Most Worthy Brothers:-That I should
express to you, profound gratitude for thls
proud elevation, and promise to discharge
the duties of this high Office with. all the
ability and fidelity which I-am capable, Of
exercising, is what you have a right to e1:
pect. But 1 desire from the depths of'my
heart to assure you of my high appreciation
of the honor.
If, in my past life, ambition has prompted
me to eeek advancement, and to indulge IN
aspirations for distinction and glory in any
of the social, political, moral, or religious as
sooiations to which I have belonged, it is
certainly in this benevolent enterprise, the
executive management ofwhich has Just beer
confded tony hands.
To preside over, and to direct a movement
so vast in its extent, 50 pure, 80 exalted and
so philanthropic in its aims; purposes and
accomplishments, is a position Of trust, honor,
responsibility and power, which it is difficult
to over.estimate. ::
Butsif, from this proud elevation, survey
ing the immense territory, and thousandsand
tens Of thousands subject to the Jurisdiction
of this august body, pride or vanity should
temptingly, approach, the weighty response
bilities of the position will Neutrality-suspicious.
aud rebuke such ~selfshness, and let down the
incumbent to a humiliating sense of his ut
ter inability to do justice to the office.
Ifbeiug actively identified with the lem
peranee movement in this country for nearly
a quarter ola century-with the Order ofthe
Sons of Temperance for nine years; i q
thorough understanding ofthe Constitutions,
Rules and Usages of the Order' and, o love
for the Cause so intense and full as to run
over all State, and even National lines-are
qualifications for the Office to which you have
prompted me, then perhaps to this extent !
may have deserved your confidence and
favor. .
Nor do I regard it i improper, or indicate,
to avow my exemption from local or section
al prejudice, and from deceit in sgraspIng
cordially by the hand all whose ''names arc
enrolled among the champions of Temper
ane," even if this circle of sobriety shall be
enlarged until it shall embrace the entire
Brotherhood of Man!
| Nevertheless, 1 feelau oppressive sense OF
my unworthiness to oceupya place which has
been filled heretofore by some of the most
distinguished champions of Temperance iv-
ing, or that have ever lived. ,, .-
Indeed, when I consider the history ofthis
! Order-the illustrious names that adorn our
records-the whirlwind. like velocity with
which the Continent was swept by the irresis:
tible power Of this movement in its early
career, and then the calm which fofovedthe
storm-when from the vast army.that focked
to our standards originally, hundreds ofthous'
auds.desereed, leaving our ~atteouated ranks
weak, detected and almost lifeless-when !
remember the struggle for existence thai
followed for years-"redeeming the time BY
improving the defects 10 Dur Ritual, the Con
stitution, Rules and Usages Of the Order,
aud that we seem but just now o'have re
solved by common consent to rally again
around our once victorious Banners,-I say
in view of all this. r would BE much morss
agreeable aud CONSISTENT with my retiring
disposition to follow the lead of other more
accomplished and renowned Captains:
Having been designated. however, by the
SURFACES of this body to assume the direc
ton of affairs, I will not decline the respon
sibilty, but relying on the assistance of the
other experienced officers, and the united
support of our entire membership, [ will ad
dress myself euergetically to the task, as
sured. that the partiality of those who con
E6ded to me this great trust will look indul
gently and forgivingly on my weaknesses
errors, and short comipgs. :
At the very beginning of my administers
ten it may be we'll to announce that it is my
purpose to go to work unassumingly, patient
ly, systematicall heartily, and deyotedly, t
establish the Order. on the substantial anc
ample foundations already laid-satis6ed
with our present machinery and materials ts
build up gradually a sauperstructure, which.
as it grows and towers upward toward Hea
ven, shall challenge in the future, if it does
not now, the respect and admiration o.
Christendom!
1t is unnecessary in this presence and on
this occasion, that I should commend the
Order as the grand instrumentality on which
we should rely for the accomplishment o.
our Heaven.directcd purpose. 1t has defects,
perhaps, but the power reposes in this body
to improve them all, as time, observation
and experience shall point them out and sug
gest the remedy.
Let US all. therefore, resolve anew, as we
have often heretofore heartily pledged our
selves, to return home to our respective cir
Giles of influence, with a fixed and abiding
determination to apromote the harmony, ad'
vance the interests, and to preserve uusulli'
ed on our part the reputation Of the Sons Of
Temperance"
Satisfied ourselves with a system whose
"~central principle is total abstinence from
all intoxicating drinks as a beverage, and
whose prominent characteristic is a self-de'
nying devotion to the good of mankind"
let us not divide nor compromise our ALE
glance to this cause by embracing less per-
feet schemes, having the same objectin view,
drifting about on the currents of popular
anxiety for something novel and attractive
only so long as it is new-but throwing our