Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-15
For the Spirit Of the Age.
Where can we avoid it?

We, the people of North Carolina, are sur
rounded on CIV y side by a fearful enemy, {
and one that I see no chance to escape from
We can go in no circle of society without he
ing in danger of being wounded by the hand
of an inebria.e, or poisoned by his offensive
breath. Where shall we, as young men who
wish to have and deserve the respect of those
who know US, go, in order to be freed from
bis presence Shall we go to the different
precincts of our county on election days,
where our fellow citiZens meet to elect those
who are vested with power to make laws by
which our State IS to be governed? II we
do, we will there find brutes in the shape Of
men, t~ottering to the polls, perhaps to vote
for a man for giving them a drink of ardent
spirits. Such as this is allowed in this our
free, beloved Carolina! Shall we 60 in the
fashionable circle, where the fairer portion OF
Gods creation are, with the expectation that
their queenly presence will subdue the huge
monster !? There we will find the fashiona-
bly, and gracefully attired form of a lady,
moving accurately with a glass Of sparkling
wine, offering it perhaps to some young man
whose dying mother had caused him to prom
Use her he would never yield to the influence
of our formidable enemy but as he gazes on
the sparkling fluid in the jeweled hand of
beauty, her influence causes him to break the
golden resolve, and he grasps the wine glass
and drinks until he realizes the awful warn
ings Of his dying mother.
Such as this, Mr.. Editor, is countenanced
by the ladies of our Old North State. Can
we go to our neighbors' houses, and be freed
from the presence of the Rum God !? no not
even among thgse who profess to be old We
terans of the Gloss. They place him in the
most conspicuous part on their sideboards
and ask theft friends to kReel with them il
paying him lhoIAage, before seating them
selves at thel Fables and calling on the Co
! ct eeIHt fFa FE5sFpftt tel s5rna Sas the Ieae fred eflo which AM a 5e en- e
practice of mahy of the protested follower
Of Christ in tbs, the old North State ShaI
we connect ALIlselYes with an institution {
learning, which has strict regulations cor
corning the use pfardentspirits? We will ther
find in the suEbunding community men VIII
will sell to negloes and suffer them to carr
it to our fellow students, and we are almoS
compelled to be annoyed by its use. This
true of many, if not all the institutions
learning in North Carolina Shall we go
the House of God and free ourselves from h
presence? Alas many, we regret to sa,
who visit this most sacred place, are not G.
empt from his presence. We there find tho.
who profess to live and labor for the cause
Christ, coming in with their breath telling
too plainly they have bowed lowly to the Ru
God before coming to serve their Lord ar
Saviour Jesus Christ.
lean conceive ofno situation more unplea
, ant than a seat at Church by a member wi
has been INDUCING in the practice of dra
!. drinking before leaving home. We also ha
: young men in our country, who have becon
/, so much accustomed to taking their drains tn
3 they are not willing to attend divine servic
: without having some with them or procuri
it from servants while there. Young ma
: blush at the idea of thus dishonoring t
) cause of your Saviour and bringing disgra
; on yourself and causing others to be suSpt
S ted who may be compelled by som mea
to associate with you. We hope yet to Fl
0 one neighborhood, if no more, where we c
| live without being compelled to witness
n many disagreeable scenes which are caus
l. by the use of ardent spirits. G. R. L.
d Wake CO., N. c..