Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-01-30


thefe is health in it there is power. 1t is
the drink God has prepared and eiven-
no" refreshing! How swset, when feeble
nature Graves refreshmentl How sweet to
the weary traveller to reach a cooling spring.
ans. sake his burning thirst. God has Civ
en- IL. lie gave i1 to our first parents. It
was their only drink, and his only provis-
ION Ior them; and at the completion of earth,
he pronounced all things good But man,
IN ms sinfuness, has introduced the LIQUID
polson-the fiery serpent 1t is of the,S: sil.
now many who have started out in IIfs the
pride OF fond parents, and in whom they
fondly hoped for comfort in declining years
whose prospects were for future happiness,
VINO oid fair to become shining lights in the
"orld, nave fallen slaves to this curse of all
curses. Tonight, could we look beyond
oeaens swelling tide to eternity's portals,
anu mere cast our eyes DER the assembled
nosts' what picture, think you, would be
presented L leave you to imagine.
but, brothers, it is not necessary for US to
wander In our imaginations to eternity. to
iearh the mlserles of intemperance In our
miostf m day to day, dread d.scenes are enacted
Inc zoe IS always present; his influence is
ieit upon our public streets, where the LIQUID
poison is dealt out, Who would be a rum
seller? Who would place the bottle to his
helShoors mouth Upon such, curse is
pronounced He is a curse to himself a
curse TO his family, a curse--a nuisance
70 the community. His hands may be said
70 De stained with the blood of his fellow NOR
tals, ana upon his garments are found the
marks OF bloodshed and murder. Murder.
TOO, a,, IN It's vllest form for it drags damn
fancying that days and years are yet his, TIL
the brittle thread of life is broken, and MS
form borne from our view, with few mourners
and few to regret his departure.
Sirs, there are thrilling scenes connected
with intemperance. Look you to-day upon
that fond couple, who stand before the hy-
menial altar, and take upon themselves vows
which are sacred. That bride has liked her
affections upon one whom she CONSIDERS Wor
thy of her love. She has bid adleu TO pa
rents, brothers and sisters, around whose
hearts are entwined affections only to be sur
passed by the love of fond husband. She
has left these, and entrusted herself to the
care of one in whom she expects TO Ind
protector comforter in her declining years
Here at the altar has be taken upon hlmsel
solemn vows which are to be broken by th'
great enemy of mankind. Upon their coun
tenances is depicted bliss, and every act be
4 ttetnperance. Along his pathway the temp
ter stands, and before him spreads the liqui
fascinator, till he tastes and in tasting feel
the exhilirating influence of the poisonous
. dranght which still urges him on, until a
, last he is an acknowledged drunkard. Ofte
at the midnight hour he wends his way t
, that home, which was once the home of hap
piness, bat where now dwells one who's
hopes are all blasted and her prospects fc
: life all crushed beneath the ruins of falle
I husband.
: This, brothers, is no fancied picture. u
' on many widowed heart, there are engrave
: scenes far more heart rending. O. who woul
r not strive to save the world from such scene:
e Who would not lend hand in raising ia
/ len wreck of humanity? Sisters, brother
e let us each feel as the three angels whic
o have been represented in our introduction
n this order. Their names are LOVE, PURI1
" and FIDELITY Let US have it in our hear
t to say with them, in this great mission
: mercy: Send me to caution the tempted,
raise up the poor drunkard, and tell him aga
I to be a father, a son, husband" Send n
Y. to show the children of earth how to be spc
e. I less in life. Send me to teach the sons
/ men to have faith in God, and to perfor
r their duty faithfully to one another.
" The Summons is not, " 60 one" bat
e, all" Let US go. Let us go out and bid t
world come with us; for we will do the
,e good. Let US heed the cries of that moth
I'd when she would have US rescue her son. [
re us listen to the beseechings of that sst'
n when she would have us restore to /
ed again brother beloved. Let us aid that S
Id in rescuing fallen father 1t is often t
no case that those persons who fall victims
ay the curse OF intemperance, are the most
ok BILE, generous hearted men of our land. Th'
cd in their sober moments, are possessed of XII
set ness, beneyolence, and all the finer feeliF
Of which belong to man. These are whom
ge, seek to raise to the position they may ag
lg- be respected.
az Brothers, how many there are to-day Y
DC. stand up as men, and are valiant soldiers
~. the great army of temperance-who n
~ have hope beyond the grave-that ha,
ate not been for this institution, would have b
he numbered with the silent dead, and Ger tt
ast graves the bird of despair would be sou
= ing its melancholy notes, while living n
rst would pass by, and speak Of them as inc
da ates, and curses to society Is it not a nc
sak institution that will bring back to the he
md stricken wife, a husband, and around
of ireside deal out happiness? That will.
self tect the weak, administer to the wants of
ate needy yea, save man from drunkard's de
- fit him for usefulness here and happy h,
the hereafter! All this have the Sons of L
perance done! In heavens high gale
ued there stand, leaning DER its breastworks,
the mortal Spirits that have been rescued
protected by the strong arm of the princi
was of Love, Purity and Fidelity, and bid
ter, onward go, fearing nothing. Why shoult
the fear evil? Our cause is right 1t is 70
1t ed on holy writ, and established by reason
lely ter much experience.
IN Itvould seem that enough had air
WAS been said to convince the minds of mel
of1a that even the blind might see, and SET
walk in the paths of rectitnde 1t W
=, seem that experience and observation
no done enough to make the heart grow siC
wing the approach of King Alcohol. But a,
less, observation teaches ms that now as ev'
In is necessary fer US to act, thasit is neces
oeen to declare our hatred to the soul-dam
per- curc4 and ever and anon endeayor to
suade men to turn from that path "
SON. downward grade is fast fastening then
aaiy the deep valley of degradation and ruin.
Mess Brothers, we should not only let our
eath ciples be known in this hall, but to the '
Is u should We scatter them, and endeayor t
atest ert salutary influence. Let the world
ana that we are net only Sons Of Temperan
tnan name, but in principle
WV Sisters Brothers "0nr names are
7, rolled among the champions of temper
49, Her cause is to be our cause; her hol
- n confid, to our keeping, and our rewar'