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


IN others mere remnant, after witnessing
the death struggles and desolation around |
them for years, have heroically determin-
ed to rescue the sinking fortunes of the
Order from complete overthrow, and are
now, with Spartan bravery, facing the ene-
my that had almost conquered them.
The fiuctuating successes attending our
operations throughout hecountry. may be
readily understood. and accounted for, by |
those of us who have studied the system |
and watched its workings.
In their anxiety to adopt a matured
scheme on solid foundations, the founders
of our Order copied freely from existing
organizations established for other purpo-
ses. The country was ready and waiting
anxiously for some bond Of union under
which to rally for the suppression of in
temperance, whose great central principle
should be total abstinence from all intoxi-
eating drinks as beverage, and whose
prominent characteristic should be self
denying devotion to the good of mankind.
1t is not, therefore, surprising that thou
sands and tens Of thousands focked to our
standards; nor is it strange that in the
pressing throng that rushed into our ranks
at first, large number came with other
objects in view than those which all true
Sons of Temperance have, when entering
our circle of honor. Flushed with success,
and stimulated with laudable desire to
improve the auspicious beginning to the
very best advantage, the fathers of our
Order did not pause until the peaceful tri-
umphs of Love, Purity, and Fidelity, had
swept over the Continent.
But calm usually follows a storm and
so when the popularity of our Order had
reached its zenith, and the system under
which we had mustered so hastily, had to
abide the test of rigid scrutiny, of course
the dispassionate and searching enqui-
ry that ensued, detected numerous de-
fects in the organization and prudence
and discretion were then necessary to be-
gin the work of reform cautiously, so that
in due time the plan revised might embody
the experience and wisdom of the best
temperance men living.
Among the radical defects that stood
out in bold belief l shall be pardoned, 1
hope, for enumerating the following:
The exclusion of ladies entirely, and of
young men during the most critical period
of life:
An undue regard for mere ceremony,
and tendency to clustered seclusion from
the world outside, having in view proba-
bly, the recognition of the brotherhood
everywhere by some mysterious and pri-
vate tokens
An indiscriminate beneficiary feature, on
the principle of savings banks, which very
soon rendered our treasures bankrupt
usurped the throne of Temperance itself,
and made spurious Charity the leading
and most attractive inducement to join the
Order.
These fundamental errors have all been
} partially corrected, but time will be requi.
red to recover from them fully, and to
unite heartily in the change which expe-
. rience has demonstrated to be necessary
/, Impatient, restless spirits among US, howev
eI, took advantage of this opportunity tc
= originate other Temperance orders, with
t high-sounding titles, all having professedly
the same object in view. Copying from
/ our system all that they esteemed good
e and rejecting all that was regarded objec
/ tional-recruiting mostly from our ranks
y it is not surprising that thousands were in
} duced to wander off in search of bettel
: route.
y 1t happened too, unfortunately, just a
this critical period of our history, that thu
/. National Division, willing to conced
# something to the urgent demands of thos
It among US, who from the beginning deemc'
d elaborate and imposing ceremonies witt
i signs and grips of recognition, as essentia
: to the permanent success and stability Z
l. the Order, compromised the matter by re
cognizing and adopting an Adjunct Order
as an experiment probably. In my judg
, ment, the simplicity and unity of our OF
ganization suffered from this Innovation
: The degrees have not been popular or sue
cessful, and probably never will be-.
The admission of Ladies into our Divi:
= ions was strongly felt to be proper, fo
IL years before the question was sprung uE
on the National Division. Some of th
= = Grand Divisions impatiently urged the e,
- q pediency and necessity of admitting ther
! - Immediately to all the privileges of men
i bership; others hesitated and doubted th
~ ~ policy. The question was discussed wit
great earnestness and some feeling on bot
- " sides, and compromise was finally agree
q" upon by the National Division, which hi
given pretty general satisfaction and dor
. incalculable good to the Order. 1t migt
n be injudicious to disturb the present a
~ rangoment, which apparently works so we
70 70 and satisfactorily; but, if there happens
- be a general demand for further conces
- ions on the subject, it is due to our fair vi
- 10 itors to say that to them we are largely il
~ debted for the present improved conditic
Il of the Order throughout the country.
/ feel constrained to allude to anoth
d. important historical event. The adoptic
a. of what is popularity termed the "Mai1
e- Law" or prohibitory legislation in sever
at Of the States, was unquestionably a mo
es- important epoch in the great Temperan
reformation. 1t involved an entire chan
he Of policy, from regulating and licensing
,ar admitted evil, to the very opposite al
he more rational course of prohibiting tr
he fic at open war with all that is good, a
IN in close alliance with all that is evil in t
ed country. Without stopping to discuss t
,r- very debatable question as to whether la
in of this kind should be enacted in advan
are of public opinion, and thua become an e
IA ucator of the popular mind, or whether