Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-15
Gsmpsrantt 8eahing

ES- The following letter from the Edi-
tor was received too late for last weeks is
sue:
PHILADELPHIA, June 4, 1859.
Our time has been so constantly occu-
ped with the meetings Of the National Di-
vision, that we have had little opportunity
to prepare a well-digested account of its
proceedings in this letter. But we trust
to be able to make even this brief and i'm
perfect account interesting to our readers.
In our last letter, we merely announced
the organization Of the Nat. Div. Accom-
Panying this, we send extracts from the in
teresting and able report of the NJ. w.
Patriarch and also from the report of the
M. w. Scribe. 1t will be seen by the latter,
that the number Of members in the Order
has been increased during the past year by
over ten thousand, and that general re-
yival throughout the jurisdiction has pre-
vaied-and that at this time the Order is
IN more prosperous and advancing con-
dition than for the past five years. will
now resume my summary of the doings of
the National Division.
On the evening of the lst, the members
of the Nat. Div. attended grand Festival
given by "Ark of Safety Division" 1t was
glorious convivial neutrality-suspicious., wit
ticisms and repartee prevalled-accompan-
led by many of the good things of life, ma
king it indeed "a feast of reason and flow
of soul, )" without the use of those beverages
so often called into requisition to warm the
- g. Ivy Io
meeting continued till near midnight.
On tho I'd inst, large amount of bust
ness was laid before the N. D., most OF
which was referred to appropriate commit
tees. The memorial of the G. D. of North
Carolina, to allow youths at institutions Of
learning, under the age of eighteen, to vote
in their Subordinate Divisions, was not
agreed to by the N. D., for the reason that
all the G. u. Of N. G. asked for was allowed
to such Subordinates, under dispensation o.
the CD.
In the afternoon, the members Of the N
D., in accordance with the invitation O
Chestnut Hill Division, took an excursion
to that beautiful Village, some ten miles
from the City, and spent the afternoon
most pleasantly. We stopped at the flour
ishing town Of Germantown, and were sur
prised to see so large and prosperous
place, with a population Of some l4,00'
inhabitants. We went on the observator,
of Town Hall, which commands one o
the finest views we have ever seen. Her
we saw the battlefield of Germantown
so celebrated in our revolutionary history
We have never seen anywhere so man
beautifully adorned and elegantly laid ou
grounds about private residences, farm
houses, &C.; and we many times wishe
our North Carolina farmers could hav
seen what full and perfect cultivation wi
do on small farms. | would like to sa
much on this subject, but lave not tim
now. The afternoon was spent most dt
lghtfully, and we returned to the Cit
about o'clock.
At night the grand reception of the {
ID. took place in the mammoth Hall {
the Musical Academy-sa to be the mos
magnificent Hall, perhaps, in the world, an
capable of holding four or five thousan
persons. 1t was very nearly full of inte
estcd spectators, who paid 25 cents ell
trance fee. A. NJ. G.
Inc following Is inc
Report of the M Ost Worthy Patriarc
Most Worthy Brothers On enterin
upon the business of the Sixteenth Ann
al Session of the National Division, | col
cratulate you, Brother Representative
upon the favorable auspices under whiC
we have assembled.
Representing an organization that unit
in fraternal bonds, American citizens al
British subjects, from the frozen regions
the North to the sunny plains Of the Sout
spreading its benefcent influences east al
west. across the vast expanae of the Ne
World. from the swelling surges of Il
Atlantic to the gentle gales that sport c
the bosom of the illimitable Pacific.
"Nopent up Utica contracts powers,
But the whole boundless Continent is yours
Assembled in this beautiful city, renow
cd for humanity and brotherly-love fro
Ia earliest sentement identified with son
Of freedoms proudest triumphs and loftie
achievements, its stirring traditions al
hallowed associations, are OF thcmselv
coIcnlated to excite to noble cnterpris
and 10 nerve our hearts for the great wo
in which we are engaged.
As my predecessors have invariably
dressed annual Communications to the \
t;onal Division, will not presume to {
mart from the custom, but shall proceed
once to lay before YOU whatever sugg
tons | have to offer.
In several of the Grand Divisions
Order has fourished during the past "
more than ever before. In others,
cause las been nobly sustained, and
future is bright with promise. Some CO
tinue to "mark time" on ground occup
for years, recruiting and discharging,
ganizing and disbanding, so as to maint
regular force whose maximum numb
appear to be fixed satisfied, it wo'