Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-11-27
CIRCULAR.

CIRCULAR.
RICHMOND, Va, September, 1891.
In tn chain that heretofore bound together the
North and the South, our Order formed q link
That chain has been rudely sundered by a fanati
cism unparalleled in the history of the wor d.
Every link has been shattered. In the path of
Commerce, the Church. and the State. We too
must follow in the general separation and indie
pendent organizations. though no formal actof
separation has been passed by the constituted au,
rhorities of our Order, still 10 one at all familiar
with the recent actien of some of the Grand D-
visions of Northern States, and with the positions
taken, and sentiments entertained and avowed by
some of the prominent So1s of Temperance at
the North, can for a moment suppose that our
National organization no longer can preserved.
No Southern man, with any respect for himself,
could again meet, upon the floor of the National
Division, upon terms of equality and frateraity,
some of the Temperance Leaders who have re-
Gently become leaders of the Lincoln Dynasty.
and who have spoken of US in terms Of reproaeh
and contempt not to be borne; and who would
enslavs Us. burn our houses and cut our throats.
OF course these men, so far from being rebuked
by their brethren of the North, will be applauded
by them.
Nothing then remains for US of the Southern
Confedsracy to do, but to organize a National Di
vision fer ourselves. AS soon as the condition Of
the country will justify it. q call will be made for
a meeting of Delegates from the Southern Grand
Divisions, to organize " The National Division of
) the Confederate State"
Let each Grand Division, at its approaching
Fall session, appoint delegates to such a conven-
ton.
Time, place and othe. details must be govern
ed by future events. As t. the place, however, ii
may be stated that Nashville, Tennessee, il look.
ed to, as being central, and because it is the
place where the last National Division was to have
assembled.
As acting Most Worthy Associate, and there.
fore the highest officer acting in the South. this
office is looke1 to, to assume tho authority of ia
hing initiatory steps towards the formation Of q
separate and independent organization in the
South. Toe authority is assumed with difidence,
yet with no reluctauce-no fear of ultimate sue
cess. The time has arrived when the annual pass
words shoud be sent to the several Grand Divis
ioas for the ensuing year. They are herewith en-
closed. 1t we desired it, We would not get to-
password from the source from which they art
usually obtained, because all communication be-
tween Us is cut off. But we do not desire it, as we
do not expect to visit their Divisions, and do no,
mean that they shall visit ours.
Yours in L.. P. and F.
TH0S. J.. EVANS, NJ. W. A.
1t will be seen that the NJ. W. Associate pro
poses that the Grand Divisions, at their Fall oes
sions, shall appoint Delegates to a Convention, u
be held " as soon the condition of the ceuntt'
will justify it" for The purpose of organizing tn
" National Division of the Confederate States,
anu tue IAhlDRO OF OLn6r necessary steps IOr IN
formation of a separate and independent organ
cation of our Order in the South. All of whic
recommendations will receive, no doubt, prope
attention at the hands of this Grand Division.
The present session of our Grand Division j
held in the midst of wars dread alarms. I'll
Northern States have engaged in deadly strif
with tue people of the South, for no other reaso
than that We. un wiiiing to submit to the injas
tice and disgrace attempted to be ilficted upo
US by a relentless and uascrapuloas minority !
the old government, chose to Withdraw fruiu il
oppressive and degrading dictum and set up
government of our own, by which we could mar
age our own affairs in our own way. To preveI
Us from a withdra val which they themselves ha
forced upon ms, they have appealed to arms an
declare their intention to sshjugate and reduce /
to colonial vassalage. to conhscate our propert,
emanclpate our slaves, AMI carry fire and sweI
into the peaceful dwellings of our wives and chi
dren. And they have planted their polluted fe
on our soil, they have Inflicted upon some OF OF
fair country women II disgrace TO which dea h
its most tortuiing forms would have been far pr
ferable. They have murdered helpless wone
and infants in cold blood. and have not spar,
the invalid in the sick CHAMBER, or old age in
decrepitu3e. They have Decorated the Tempt
of the Living God, ravaged our houses, destroy,
and stolen our proper y, and committed acts
sacrilege and barbariiy eclipsing those of Il
! wor.d-condemned uotns and Vaudals of OLD.
: TO .epulse and furnish this infamous Hessii
a horde, the people of the South. invoking t
blessing of God upon their just and rigntso
cause, have rushed TO the conflict and to day
have nearly or quite a halt million of freemen
arms, resolved to conquer or die in defence of
that is sacred and dear To them.
Of this number, a fair proportion are memb,
of the 0ider of Sons Of Temperance and Il
Grand Division has many noble representative
Commanders of Regiments, and Companies, =
whole souled, patriotic privates in the ranks. "
are periling every thing In their count,y's eau
!, There has scarcely been a conflict during I
war, in which the Grand Division of North Ca
lima has not had brave and gallant reprssen
, tives. In the battle of Bethel, where North C
. olina bravery reflected such lustre upon the CT
federate arms, and whose victorious result s.
the first thrill nf iovous axul,ot;on f,or -