Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-09
Ho! for the Grand Division!


HoI for the Grand Division!
BROTHERS Another year has we'll nigh
closed, since in annual convention we deliber-
ated for the good Of our noble cause in North
Carolina. A year ago, a small ray of sun
shine glimmercd through the dark clouds
that had for years obscured the day-star Of
our prosperity, inspiring fond hopes of a
brighter and more useful epoch for our be-
loved Order. Then, we thanked God and
took courage. The hearts of the true and
faithful were fired with a new zeal, and they
pledged themselves to labor with increased
energy in behalf Of our great enterprise
And the Grand Division of 1858 closed with
brighter prospects than it had known for
years before.
Very soon after the return of the members
to their respective fields Of labor, evidences
began to pour in, that the pledges there CIV
ven were not idly made, to be forgotten as
soon as removed from the scenes that inspir-
cd them. mol But on the contrary, that
they were being redeemed with a zeal and
sincerity worthy of the noble cause to the
promotion Of which those pledges had been
given. First they went to work to scatter
the Temperance paper among their neigh
bors, and scores and hundreds Of new sub
scribers were added to the list. Then we
began to hear Of new recruits to the old Di-
visions, some doubling and trebling their for
mer numbers. Application followed appli,
cation for Charters for new Divisions-and
when we met in semi-annual session in July
last, were most agreeably surprised to learn,
that some twenty odd new Divisions had
been chartered since the previous December
that many defunct Divisions had been revi
we'd, and that our total membership in thu
State, had nearly doubled since that period
Truly, il was a time for rejoicing-and W,
did rejoice in that beautiful forest grove, ant
thousands came out to witness and unite il
our delightful jubilee.
A few weeks more and we shall again NEE
in annual session. There is good news to b
told then, too, of how our blessed Order ha
shed it's benign influence, and how its cor
quests still continue to spread, and wider
and'adorn and beautify. Many a new Ten
perance temple has been erected since on
July -scssion-many aproud trophy wonfror
the enemy's camp-many q hearty praye
gone up to Heaven" Col bless the Sons {
Temperance =" Songs Of praise go up fror
those who have been blessed by its redeem
ing and its saving power.
Brethren of the Grand Division, let L
meet, by scores and hundreds, to swell tn
glad anthem, and renew upon our sacred a
ter Of "Love, Purity and Fidelity" our dew
ton to our hcaven-born principles. Nov
that the tide is flowing in, in prosperou
surgcs, let us not force an ebb in its rushin
waters by our supineness and lethargy-b
our absence from the session of the Graz
Division. 1t is not merely an idle ceremon
or usage that convenes us on such occasion
but it is the assembling Of men devoted to
great work, for the purpose of arranging IL
best plans to promote and advance that worl
Momentous and vital consequences often d
pend upon these convocations. But for ther
we verify believe our Order would have cea
cd to exist long ago. But for the assemblir
of the Grand Divisions at Greensboro, al
White Hall, and the kindling Of the fir
there that have burned so brightly in maj
parts of the State, we should not now be I
ioicingi in our strength and usefulness.
There is much work for US yet to dot
enemy yet possesses many s%trongholds tn
must be demolished. Let us meet and
solve upon his final overthrow. Let eve
Division resolve to have at least one, if
more, representative in attendance on t
Grand Division that meets in Raleigh on
9TH day Of December proximo.