Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-11-21
The Division Room.

One of our exchanges remarks It is diff
hcult to over-estimate the importance OF eXpe-
ditious and efficient officers. They are indis-
pensible to a harmonious 'deliberation' of such
matters as claim attention for the interest of
the Order. The very best business talent
should be in the chair This thing of row~
ting through as by turn, for the honorfka
progressive failure, both to the individual ana
| the Division. Honor, is a thing of peculiar
composition, a result of reciprocal action; no
man is honored, by occupying a place he
lacks the fidelity to fill, nor can there be any
merit allowed to those so indiscrect in judg-
ment. or reckless of consequence, IS to place
such in position. 1t is not the only duty
of presiding officers 10 prevent infringement
on the constitution, rules, usuages; there are
other duties which he is justly expected TO
perform essential to the life and success Of the
cause. which can only be insured by The full
lest exercise Of wisdom and vigilance. E2-
AMPLE cannot fail; let it exert an influence
? on all around, towards the whole human
race, This much of the duty Of the head Of
the Division limited at, we have but 10 add,
that every officer should be equally circum-
spect in conduct that the mission of leneyO-
u lence may be accelerated in its puTposcs.-
A word now, in reference to the dispatch Of
business. When everything Is dragged
through, life becomes extinct and the mem
Is bership is SO wearied in the routine, as 70
y lose their relish for the Division. Hundreds
. and thousands that would have made excel
lent members have thus been lost to the cause
~ by b~ungling procedure. For this there but
one remedy proper exercise OF the law,
% which can only be had by an acquaintance
cf $ anSd energy, atEfqfgf ana IN S 5as ,zcs.
~ cution of affairs, can only be had by stpdv
:; they are the offspring of knowledge; ignorance
moves in trammels, where the subject rs.
sesses friendly emotions for the good Of bis
+ar kind, he is in fear, least he acts wrong
With such a one at the head ola Division. We
or care not how honest his purposes, there will
be hat informal dictation from the member
ship, so subversiye ofgood order and dispatch.
Under such circumstances, the most trivial
matters occupy from five to twenty minutes
te. in their disposition: the order is called the
~, matter presented, and after perhaps a minute
spent in study, to determine the ma..ne Of
IN. disposition, the officer ventures to give d.
%rection, when a voice, says, 4 think that goes
nc. to a Committee I; another objects; vhucup
,ed on an informal debate occurs. at the close Of
on which some declare the thing out Of ordC-
IN a fourth person cites him to a memorised see
and declares the whole matter from first Il
Oh last out of order. The W. P. now begins t.
take courage and finally, by the advice o
some, brings the thing to a terminus. We
have heard brothers debate all out Of patielo
~ when there was no question before the hi
vision. We have seen men look wise an
heard them loud in the advocacy Of a meas
ure' when all their authority was from son
manual, or founded upon their conceived N
TONS Of parliamentary usages got from,
ooht know where More anon.