Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-15
Seventeenth Annual Session of the Natl
DiVision-Condition of the Order.

its Seventeenth Annual Session at Portland,
in last June.
It is always interesting for the social re-
former to look into document like this.
He finds therein the indiees of the practical
workings Of some great system, that have the
good of mankind at heart; that is composed
of a class of men, who, actuated by some
purpose or other, will not sleep, and let thou
sands around them travel fast on the high
road to ruin. Their suggestions are what we
wish to know, what the moralist, the social
reformer, the statesman and the intelligent
citizen, all wish to know; that is to say, they
give us the hint of how these working men
in good cause accomplish their great results
hence we take a look into this Report.
Mr.. B. D. Townsend, the NJ. w. p, stated
that many expeditions had been resorted to,
to unite the friends of Temperance under a /
firm compact, to carry out the great purpose /
they had at heart--that all measures had |
proved futile until this Order was started, |
which was done on the 18th of September, |
eighteen years ago.
The Order is now divided into three class |
ifcations, Subordinate Divisions, Grand Di- |
visions of States and Territories, and the
National Division. The National Division
was organized June 18th, 1874, by Represen-
tatives from New York, New Jersey, Mary
land, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. The
Order at this time consisted of six Grand
Divisions, and II Subordinates, embracing
6000 members. At the second annual ses-
sion of the National Division, the next year,
there were ten Grand Divisions, 194 Subor-
dinates and Il, 900 members At the third
annual session, there were fourteen Grand
Divisions, $50 Subordinates, and 40, 900 men,
bers !. and on the fourth, held in 1s47, there
were % Grand Divisions, 1900 Subordinates,
and 100, 600 members.
This shows how a good thing, among us
active minded, and a free people, will take
fire and move forward to grand results
This rapid increase is certain evidence Of the
excellence of the cause; for we cannot look
upon it as one that can carry people by tide
Of enthusiasm. Its natural working among
the people is slow, sure and sincere. The
Order, the NJ. ". p says, base ; its great sue
cess upon ation-assoeiatio first, and
organization now In united action only, can
we find great social results
We see also, that from 1S4s to 1S49 inclu-
sive,- zoe, SAT members have been initiated
into the Order; that S., ,oS4, AT have been
collected by the Order; that of this sum
81 ,415, ,465 have been paid out for benefits !;
that $274,7S3 have been paid in to support
the Grand Divisions, and that these have
paid in to support the National Division $40,
100. Or, making the calculation in another
way, 63, 600 members have been initiated an
nually for the last twelve years, $432, 600
e annually collected, and $11s,000 annually
paid out as benefits for the same time
r These are figures that can be understood
+ on State and Wall streets, and will carry con
!, fyiction there, when the Bible and Beeciiel
! both would fail TO make an impression. Fig
ures' have an,actuality, a tangibility abou
them, that carries a decided conviction wher
) ever they go-hence we send these figure.
Z forth--we hope State and Wall streets viii
e see them
s Then comparison is drawn between wha
g is done by the Order, and the American Bi
e BILE Society, formed in 1916, During the las
twelve years, that Association has received
= for the purpose of carrying out its objects
81 4,0s6,714 and the Order has received, dur
J ing the same time, $5,0S4,477 This Ger
: tainly shows the popularity of the Order,
= not its effectiveness as benevolent institu
y :. ton. The American Bible Society is popnla
!. with all denominations of Protestant Chri.
> tia.is, it has the most complete Organization
!. for forwarding its objects at home and abroad
it has the commendation Of the State. an
the historical sentiment Of several centure
'e growth to support it, and the first though
would be, that its support would be muc
: more powerful, in point of money, than an
= mere social organization for the moral ad
- - yancenent of society. But we fino that it
a a not as the figures above prove.
a Yet this decided support in money has nj
= been weighty upon the members of the o.
=, der. As the calculation is made, it has ayel
I, aged, during the last twelve years, onl
y about fifty-ive cents for each member of tf
: Order, per annum. This is not great Ia,
- considering the benefits that arise to eac
! member of the Order, and also to society j
= general If every tax payer in the countr
were taxed one half that sum, annually, /
dry up the innumerable fountains of vice tn;
send their putrid waters out upon the worlC
to cut off the dram shops, the court house.
the jails, the houses Of correction, the dist
leries, the salaries OF officers of the law, WI
l., are required to remedy the evils that th
ba abominable traffic is annually precipitatin
N ], upon US, every tax payer would soon ha'
~ double that amount put into his pocket
~ return, in the value of his property, in IL
- - character of his poorer and even wealthii
: '. neighbors, in the general advancement
p education, in the effectiveness of labor by ii
"a laboring classes in the superior safety
nu property, and of life. But this is an arg
'' ment that will not have practical force,
l,s cause men will not be taxed for benefits tn
~ seem to lie so much in the distance. We "a
~ have weakness for immediate returns to Of
.a labor.
W " The order has had old prejudices to cor
- bat, and new ideas to inculcate. 1t has hi
- ~ its fluctuations in this battle. 1856 show,
VI signs that were disheartening, but 1859 Civ
- 80 US again hope. The increase of 1853 W
~ ~ some 400 Divisions, and $4,000 member
y, male and female This shows return
y; .oi public sentiment anu public activity in o
~ favor OF its continuance, We can give
'ii g assurance; but of its efficiency while IT do
~ continue, we can not have the lea; t dou'
-. ~ 1t will form nucleus around which t
-, 80 Maine Law, in many of the States, will Fl
:, its friends clustering, and from which tn
- - law will find its MOST decided support. Th
;nn i, have become, and they will remain polite
.oi ~ power. that must be consulted in the sta
politics, and as long as they remain sac
-. they can accomplish great good in the eau
mi There is one recommendation OF the N.
p. with which we most heartily concur, q
oiS that is. the admission of boys Of twelve
the the Order, with privileges of holding sol
The Of tic inferior Offices; and also Of breaki
;-st down all barriers to Office after reaching I
age of eighteen 1t seem to us that Il
lich would be an excellent movement in the rig
ALI direction. Young America must be rec'
on nized as working and living power m q
and x.a carfa;afu cbouid he clad n