Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-01-26

For the Spirit of the Age.
Love thy Neighbor as Thyself."

BRO. GORNAN u now propose, in my
humble way, to show who it is that makes
Gn my humble opinion) the nearest ap-
proach to loving our neighbor as ourself.
But in doing so, am aware that some
may call in question the truth of my state
ments-but | am willing that candid and
judicious verdict be rendered by those
whose decision will stand the test, when all
our words, motives, and actions will be
scrutinized, and passed upon, by an ON
niscient Judge. 1t is contended by some,
that the Church is the only 1fcient, and
Heaven-appointed reform assNIdtion, and
that all human organizations that have been,
and are now employed to reform mankind,
are not only Inefficient, but uncaled for,
and mayjustly be regarded as unnecessary,
or in opposition to the divinely appointed
means that God has ordained to reform his
cming creature, man.
With all due Difference to the opinions
of those who differ from me, beg leave to
state, that if al human means, efforts, or
organizations are to be regarded as either
superfuous, unnecessary, or uncalled for,
then [ ask why have Sabbath Schools,
Tract Societies, Missionary Societies, and
in short, all the various institutions, both
moral and religious, that are now in opera
ton, been set on foot? The absurdty of
such view of the matter in Question will,
think, be apparent to any one who is not
I preiudiced against the Sons of Temperance
| never heard this objection urged against
reform associations until the enemies of the
Sons found themselves rather hardly press
ed for excuses for opposing the Sons o.
ofTemperance.
If time and space permitted, I woult
ike to anaIyse the above objection to al
moral reform associations, and show how
. such an idea conflicts with the views of {
: large proportion of the Christian Church
, I cannot help thinking that this objection
to all moral associations, as we'll asreligious
: had its origin in a deep settled hatred tt
e the Temperance reform, gotten up and ad
: vocated by the Sons Of Temperance. Ha
: the Church, as Church, ever accomplish
ed (according to numbers) half as mucl
e in the way of reforming the drunk
ards of our country, or has she ever don
: half as much in reference to preventing tn
5 youths of our country from forming th
c pernicious, dangerous, and ruinous habit c
: drinking ardent, Intoxicating spirits, as tn
n Sons of Temperance have? fa1swer en-
phaticallv no. The church as such Eek
o cept the Methodist brethren) do not prt
it hibit the use of the Intoxicating cup to he
d members as beverage, but allow her men
4 bers to use it as they may choose, onI
W dealing with them when they become il
le toxicated. Now by allowing the commo
L. use of it as a beverage, the habit of usir
Ill it is formed, and many even of her men
+ bers in this way become Incorporate, al
re have to be dealt with, and many of the
en- are communicated, and given up as il
corrigible drunkards. Now just here t
Id Sons step in and say to the poor unfortu
e a.e inebriate, vou have been cut loose fro
the church, and are given over for lost, Al
[r. vou certainly will be lost, both for time al
eternity, unless you reform; come join Q
nd Order, our appropriate business is to syl
lie, pathise with the unfortunate inebriate, q
re. endeavor to reform him, not on Y for b
ed own sake, but also for the sake of his falt
~ IL, and for the sake Of the communit'' 'e
it You are poor and destitute of nearI
.ht the comforts yea, even the necessali +
,ft, life, but if you will reform and go to i q
sas we will aid you in supplying your fThe
lu- with necessary food and raiment, untile'
nd can procure such things by your ose ri
nd dustry. The poor drunkard yields let
rds solicitations, and Joins the Sons, wefide
+ a him III every suitable way we cam. IL -
,es, comes reformed man, and soon ID oad ~"
op- to help himself, and soon you see hem
YES and family fed, and clothed, and anatte
oft, eral thing, he returns to the chugentle
1t which he was justly expelled. Nstate
be- whether the church or the Sons Ii Roads