Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-09-14
For the Spirit of the Age.
What is Most to be Feared.

The true Sons of Temperance often feel sad,
and indulge in gloomy forebodings even when
the cause of Temperance is in the ascendant,
and a revival seems to give a i new and pow
erful impulse to the cause everywhere. Not
that'they do not enjoy these seasons of re-
freshing and rejoicing to as great an extent
as those do who even seem to be more zeal
Gus and sanguine-but because they know
too well that many of the Sons will soon
"cool off" after some great "victory is won"
and sink down into a state of apathy and SUI
p~ineness, and seem to think that all is done
that can or need be accomplished at present.
1t is natural for a reaction, to some extent,
to take place with all men after some great
effort has been made, and thereby afford our
enemies ground to hope, and even to predict,
that we will not hold out much longer. Now,
if all who belong to the Order would mani
fest the same Indifference that many do, the
days of the great Temperance reform would
soon be numbered, and all that has been
gained for humanity, the peace and good or
der of society and for morals, would be lost.
Who does not know that many who join the
Order are Sons only nominally? They do
but little to promote the cause, and was it
not for their regalia, you would scarcely
know that they were 'of u.s." This is not
only true concerning the members of the Or
der, but it is empha.ically true concerning
many who have enrolled themselves under
: the banner Of the great Captain of salvation
; How long, think you, would our Divisions
! even maintain their existence, if there were
not Sons belonging to them who are willing
g to make sacrifices for the cause-whole-souled
0 men who are always ready and willing to
! speak and act in defence of the cause, and
a0hO are knoan eDeryaohere as whoLe.souLed
e ToYonoro4no M n II &c ithaca 1uko-uarpo
Sons that we dread; men upon whom the Or
e der cannot regimen who are only Sons
while at some big meeting or some great eel
/ ebrGtion.
Now all will admit that this thing ought
not te be so. If the cause is a good one
n plead for Tight for it-labor for it-and
let the enemies of the cause see that you die
re not Join the Order because others Joined, OF
Or because it was popular-but because you felt
at in your Utmost soul that something ought tt
lie be done to arrest, and if possible exterminatt
le from the land, the Hydra-headed monster
intemperance. To remove from society ar
~ evil, a curse, in which your sons and daugh
"a ters might be involved-let me beseech you
nc brethren, to arouse yourselves from your su
Ie- pineness-sleep over this evil no longer
o. will pay as well as anything in which 20,
can engage except the cause of Christ-anC
~ IL Is nearly dllleu W CudI-lcC Clc WOIlu Sc
tie and feel, too, that you are enlisted not only
II. in a good cause, but that you are enlisted
tie for the war-and that you intend to stand t.
your arms and fight v~aliantly whilst goa hao
a heart to feel, a tongue to speak, or q pen t
torite IN defence Of this noble cause. Remem
ny Der that a luke-warm Son is like a luke-warn
OF professor of religion-he must keep up tn
as appearance of that which he does not feel o
possess-and consequently derives no com
'ss fort from it to sustain him amid his trial
m and prosecutions. The cause must and vii
ultimately prevail, and let it be your pride an,
y, ambition to contribute by all fair and honor
ro- able means to bring about so glorious a re
ly, suit. Unborn millions twill yet rise up an
SITS call you blessed" for having been iustrumen
tin tai in destroying the dreadful curse of intern
perance from our country. Let me entrea
IRE you to attend as many of the meetings c
re- your Division as you can, consistently wit
A other duties-there the fire is kept burnin
led upon the altar of your hearts-and as 'iro
pie sharpening iron," so will your brethren .
as these meetings stir you up to diligence an
es- increased e~xertion in this noble cause.