Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-06
For the Spirit of the Age.
John 81. w. Hawkins.

I've thrown the bowl aside,
To me no more shall flow
It's ruddy stream or sparkling tide,
How bright so e'er it glow;
I've seen extending wide,
Its devastating sway
Seen reason yield its power to guide,
I've cast the bowl away"
The distinguished reformer whose nam
is above, may well be imagined to have ut4
tered the lines above to his fellow-men as,
he urged upon them to drink not at all
| was grieved to learn from the Courier
and Journal, published at Albany N. "
on the 18th of September, that Mr.. Haw1
kins, on the 26th of August in his 61st
year, died after a few hours illness.
| had the pleasure to make his acquain-
lance, years ago, when he lectuled in
Charleston, S. G. | have heard him re-
late his wonderful reformation how he
was snatched, as it were, from the yawning
pit OF drunkenness, by the pathetic e%ntreat-
les Of his little daughter, Hannah Hawkins.
Mr.. Hawkins was one of the six Wash
ingtonians sentfrom Baltimore to N. York.
He was a Tailor by trade and wholly un-
accustomed to speaking. We may easily
consider his embarrassment, when he found
at every corner placards announcing that
SIX Westinghouse would speak at night,
at the tabernacle. Toprepare for such an
occasion, he wrote his speech, and when
night came and he reached this Taber-
nacle, he found it packed from garnet to
foundation with auditors; he was first an
nounced, and coming forward to speak, he
found that his written speech was in his
pocket, but not in his head; he had to dis
card 1t, and give his own experience; it was
the most ~etfectual oratory to which he could
resort. While he was speakinga poor de-
r graded man sprang around the dock in
the gallery, and said-"is there any hope
for me| Yes! was Hawkins impassion-
| ed reply, I" come down and sign the pledge
> He accordingly came, Hawkins met him in
. the aisle, conducted him to the platform OF
i stage-he signed the pledge-and turning
e to the audience, he presented the well
known features of a man degraded, but re.
d cognized by the New York audience. a.
e one born to better things. The effort wa.
overwhelming and New York was filled
with converts to the Washingtonian faith
~ kiNN IL u AOVu AOlcu dill over the u
J: States, cities, towns; villages, hamlets, til,
n mountain tops, and the humbIest vallies re
g joiced in the reform.
Hawkins was one of the ablest in til,
great work but he did not, like his fell
"a lows, reject the means Of securing the tri
umph of reason, truth and sobriety by til
- provisions of law. He was in favor of pro
: hibition.
n, For eighteen years this gifted man Ia
bored increasingly in this great work. Fl
has been literally worn out in it!
n, | regret to learn, that he has left b
Ut wife and his noble daughter, Hannah. i
20 necessitous circumstances. Are theyto b
#. left to cherries poverty! Is there not
"a feeling among temperance men ever,
ry where, which will provide for them?
hope every organization of Tempe
IS ance in the United States will set ana,
re something for their support, and send It
az his son, the Rev. VIM. G. Hawkins. Rect,
: St. Johns Church, Piqued Valley, Pen,
,at sylvania.
ate JOHN BELTON ONEALL
af P. w. P, Nat. Div. S. of T. of N. J