Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-23
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
The Church and the Temperaace Cause.

In making this appeal to you, my brethren
Of the church, shall rely entirely on your
candor; and when you have read it hope
you will comply. 1t jSfhis: We as Sons of
Temperance have comMned ourselves togeth-
er for the purpose of impeding the progress
of drunkenness-to fight against the most
formidable enemy that ever visited our sin.
cursed world and if possible to destroy the
destroyer of our race. We earnestly ask
your cooperation in this great reformatory
movement. You have stood aloof long now,
and as many who once occupied the same po-
'sition that you do at paeeens,, ssFer aow our
most prominent men, we still feel at liberty
to ask your help.
The time has been when you might have
been excusable, even in doubling the propri-
ETY. or at least the necessity of acting in con-
cert, with this organization; but that time is
past. You no longer wonder why men ever
| thought of Total Abstinence Society, but
the wonder now is, why men pretending to
| be enlightened, did not think oft sooner. The
good which has been accomplished by our
Heaven favored Order, has become SO evil
dent that no unprejudiced thinking man will
deny it. True, there are some from whom
we little expected it, who will indirectly op-
pose us; who still look on indiferently, and
arc waiting, as some say, 6 to see what will
be the result" "Thou art the man." the
very man to whom | write; the very man
who is indirectly opposing the Order of the
q Sons of Temperance. Yes, 'he that is not
with US is against us )" and although you dc
not drink, nor directly oppose our Order
yet, as christian you are bosnd by the
immutable words of uneriing truth to i'm
pede the progress Of gIGs u Nsas fs<m 50.
ever you find it; anse2xanlssstain ansxalsEtain utsn5uc rnt
least fear of successful contradiction, tina
J drunkenness with its coneomitant evils, exec
all others. That is to degradation, to poverty
to death temporal and eternal.
[ But need not attempt to portray to you
minds the evils lsofdrunkenness in order to con
vince you that you should act in concert wit
any organization which has for its object tn
( destruction of the destroyer of our race, a
e ours has. No! You are fully convinced G
the evil but thus far what have you done
= Very little, imagine. The enemy has to
e strong hold, forindividual effort to do much
l. If he is ever conquered, it must be done by
Il combination of seber, persevering men, VIII
are willing to work for the good of all maj
;, kind, despite of ignorance and the sneers
l. whiskey guzziers. OF men who have th
moral courage to act according to, aud wal
d in the channel of eternal truth; of whic
kind OF men, thank heaven. We have gooc
i ly number. And what is mest cheering, v
Ut are constantly being joined by others Of Il
e same grit-the same Hrmness.
v. But, says one, 81 would Join the Ord
a. were not convinced that many who belor
to it continue to drink behind the door,.
IN Suppose this to be true, is that derogato
n to the character of our Order By no mean
IL We do not pretend to say that all who be
y, the name of Sons of Temperance are worth
1g of it. Would to God they were 1t is
n griesous fact to all men of fidelity, that the
at is no society composed entirely of such me-
nd bers as could be wished. Not even t
er church, the institution of Heaven, is wit
out its neutrality-suspicious. You must ha
p forgotten the old saying, THAI no society
chargeable for the misapproved conduct
lst certain individuals" Do yoa not see
absurdity of your excuse? Will you q
ast the church because all do not act in COM