Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-16
Progress of the Order.

Notwithstanding the great excitement IN
the country on other matters, we are glad
to see that the Temperance cause is not for
gotten, but that a goodly activity and zeal
prevails inmany sections. The Grand Scribe
has issued four Charters for new Divisions
recentiy-one to be located in Haywood
county another in Cleaveland, another in
Elizabeth City, and a fourth in Granville
And the Returns from the Divisions now
coming in for the past quarter, give good &C
counts of progress considering the lines.
Our inducements, then, to continued and
faithful labors, are of the strongest character.
We wage war against the common enemy
Of our race. Intemperance is a social evil,
its blighting influences cast their shadows
especially over the cheerfulness and happi-
ness of home, whitening the hearts best af-
~fections and destroying the hopes that give to
the domestic circle its happiest hours. Apart
from this, it fills the country with untold
crime and evils, and Expresses it with the
most burthensome results; this great evil
must therefore be overcome by a combination
Of effort IN the part of those who love our
principles, and dare to battle in their behalf.
1t is no easy contest in which we thus en-
gage; our opponents are many in numbers
their pecuniary means are almost unlimited
their influence among politicians is powerful
and they hesitate at no device or subter
fuge to accomplish the purposes they have
in view. When Paul preached at Ephesu,
against the idolatry of the Greeks, Demetriu.
the silver smith, raised an cutlery for the sake o
his craft, shouting great is Diannar and thu
gained many to his ranks because of their low
for their divinity and so like Demetrius
the rumseller of our day makes an outer,
for rights; and as ir the former case, the or
ly care was for the success of a peculia
trade, so in the latter, the only object is tn
gain of pelf, at whatever cost of life. Shout
VIC not therefore be united as the heart G
one man in the prosecution of our great III
dertaking, prepared if need be to make sacr
fees for our principles and for their diffusion
If we love this cluse we should be read
to la! or for it, and by laboring for it we wi
learn to love it. By persuasion, by entreaty
by affectionatc appeal, We must win the DRUM
ard FROM his cups, and Keep back our risir
youth from the alluring path of danger. F.
whom do we labor ? For innocent children
for rising youth for the mature of streng
and years; for the hoary head, descending
j. the tomb for fathers and mothers for t
! worse than widow, the ~drunkard's wifi
for the worse than orphan, the drunkart
; offspring nay for the drunkard hims
= ave and for the drunkard maker too, tn
} all, all, may be saved. Brothers, we are me
bers one of another we are each his brothe
keeper for what we do, and for what
neglect to do, we shall be held accountable.
Oh! that we may be faithful in this gre
enterprise. and that of the blood of eve
drunkard our skirts may be clear. Letus tn
: brothers, begin the work anew, laboring
the Order and for the Order; doing all
may to make our Division meetings not Oh
interesting but profitable, and the world '
say as our cause advances, it is because
. the progress of our Order.