Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-10-12
Religion and Temperance.


A Coop INDIoATIoN.-Among the fa-
yorable indications of the present year, we
are glad to see that number of ministers
of the gospel are joining our standard, and
doing excellent service in our cause. This
is as it should be; for certainly no class of
men have deeper interest in our efforts
than the public representatives of religion.
The sober man is surely better supporter
of the church, better hearer of the truth,
a better co-laborer with bis pastor, while
his general influence at home, and in the
community around him, will be infinitely
better for all the interests of our common
christianity. This fact seems SO apparent,
indeed, that we ecould never understand why
so many of our clergy keep SO perfectly
aloof from all cooperation with temperance
men, as II, indeed, they were fearful of con-
tamination by the contact. However, we
have so little disposition to censure so wor-
thy and so useful class of men, that we
take pleasure in noticing the case of those
who, forming an exception to this too gen
eral rule, recently joined us and are doing
excellent service in our cause.
1t is in this connection we wish to no.
tice small incident, of very recent occur
renee. A member Of our Order was pres
ent at Sabbath School celebration, where
the pastor Of the church had been oppo
sed to all aid of the temperance cause
The Son of Temperance was invited te
speak, and dwelt mainly on the gain to so
ciety of Sabbath Schools, Christian associa
tions, temperance organizations, &C., by
bringing men of different churches and
classes in contact with one another. When
he was done, the pastor got up and said
that he heartily endorsed that speech and
that as for the temperance cause, he hac
just joined one of the Divisions, and was
heart and soul with all sound temperance
men, Virginia Conductor.
Rum IS NOT GIFT OF GoD.-From th,
hands of that benevolent Being who sit
teth upon the "circle of the universe" di
recting the destiny of the human family
we receive naught to injure or modest us
al his dispensations are for our good, ant
that only-and all bis gifts are for our hap
piness while upon the earth. Those Nigh
ty engines of human destruction whicl
damn our earth and obscure Heaven, ar
of human origin and human invention
Rum, the great Sire of them all, was con
ceived, concocted and created by man, 70
nowhere in creation can it be found anon,
the gltts OF our IIoavorI1y s-a4-a-s------
following beautiful paragraph upon thi
point we find among our scissorings
We affirm that il. all the world-nay
in all the universe of God, there is not
Intoxicating drinks. There is no such thin
in nature. Water, God has everywhel
given, spread it over the world, sent
down from the clouds, sent it bnbbling U
from the earth, made it journey in cease
less activity in rills and streams and gre'
rivers towards the ocean. He has, wherev,
man can live, given it to him at his vel
door, bat Intoxicating drinks he has prov
ded nowhere on the face of the who
earth. That gift whether good or ev
is not the gift of God, but the invention
man-an invention that has destroy
more lives, desolated more homes, occasio
ed more sorrow and anguish, than ";
pestilence and famine combined. 1t M
by many be thought questionable poll
to deprive men of the use of it by legi
r mate enactment, but to call intoxicati
drinks the Good gift of God,' is an abl
of terms, and burning reproach upon
7 benevolence and holy attributes of
Deity"
: : Rev. Thomas P. HUNT.-Many of (
). readers are acquainted with this venera
; and able advocate Of temperance, and ,
be pleased to learn that he is still do
good service in the cause. We have b,
v much interested in reading recent let