Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-01-08

~ no5 OlteH mdnlIcSCeQ even at the
Lords table, Such soldiers will not be cast
~ conquered, for their trust is in Jehovah
Yours truly, j. s.. Erwin,
039&aor Nc-lF0g Chaplain,
/. CAMP VANCE, Goth Reg. N. @. W
-.ae' January 1st, 1862.(
The Neo Year Winter euofter8-Proha5i-
tory Ian DGfGadibg the gotEerboaeat--
Vasttt0 GreenstoT0- Temperance Sermon
FRI fpdE dggqrfalqgga bns 4asG
EDITOR SPIRIT OF TIE AGE The old year
has been succeeded by the new. 1t is a ia
vorable point from which to review the past,
and to form resolutions for the future. Let
us resolve TO spend the coming year more
uSefully than We have spent the past one.
Our wintor quarters-very comfortable
ones too-are nearly completed. They have
scarcely been needed SO far this has been a
remarkably pleasant winter.
b Ny experience in camp.has taught me<that
commandants have more trouble on the IL
quor question than on any others. Ifsol-
diers can obtain liquor they will ge. drunk,
and there is nothing more injurious to the
service than drunkenness. Commanders who
are fond of liquor themselves and who sneer
at the idea of prohibitory liquor law as a
. civil regulation, have found it "a military
necessity" What are the views Of the Off
GERS Of this regiment in relation to prohibi-
ton, | know not, but | know they have found
it necessary to dry up the liquor shops Of
Morehead City. Some of the grog sellers
have died hard.
Some time since a Lieutenant in the regi-
ment resigned his office and went home for
the purpose, as was supposed, of engaging in
the liquor traffic. A few days ago, he brought
several barrels of liquor to Morehead, for the
purpose, no doubt, of selling to the soldiers
of the vicinity. The barrels came in large
boxes, and the boxes were marked-"Pro-
visions for the Army"-(nice provisions
these } so you see the liquor came as gov
eminent freight, free of charge. Being for
hidden to sell his liquor in MCrehead, he re-
moved to, Beaufort. 1t was expected the
agent would make him pay freight, but I am
informed that he has been permitted to, en-
10Y the full benefit of this $ pious' fraud."-
Ihad thought that the discovery Of this ras-
81 cality would raise a big fuss, but it seems to
.s have created very little sensation. asa
81 | spent my Christmas, and also last Sabbath
sin the beautiful town Of Greensboro. | have
"a desire to love that place, but find it hard
TO do. The particular stratum of society
thai L hdNO hdPPSAhSO1 hNiSNOAOAO3 "
lin that town, has seemed tome cold, and UNI
social. Ihope | shall bemore fortunate when
II visit them again, and that | shall yet
"strike oiI'' somewhere in the social system
% of the place. While in Greensboro, | heard
a very able temperance sermon from Rev.
Mr.. Smith, of the Presbyterian Church. He
is delivering a series Of sermons on the vari-
Gus aspects, of the temperance question. His
subject, the day / heard him, was drunken
ness. The subject was we'll discussed. He
especially insisted on the propriety of avoid,
ling every practice thatleads to drunkenness,
He said that dram-drinking is as much pro-
?hibited by the Bible law against drunken
ness. as the lustful look is by the law against
adultery. or the malice that leads to murder
itby the law against murder. There was on!
'noint incthe sermon to which | took some
SLIGHT exceptions. The preacher severely
denouncedalt ridicule5anG fun intemperanc,
addresses. Now, e. like seriousness anC
gravity in their places, but it is a great mis-
take to suppose that those men do the mos
GOOD Who wear the longest faces. Ridicul
S, a talent implanted inman's nature for wis
nnrnoses: when cautiously employed agains
Vice Il is often a most formidable weapon
sThe nresent status of temperance affairs
vastly better than, that which existed fit
wears ago, has been brought about to. q grea
svfentA 81 that style of address to which tn
preacher objected While long-faced, puri
tanic, whining parsons, "a class Of ministel
Ito which | suppose MRS.. does not belong
far from IT'D have been consuming all the
time and employing all their ingenuity ]
ysbppoorting their clerical dignity, sensiol
lively, affable, benevolent laymen and men
o~f-ths-world, who have not had quite 4
much dignity to support, have been lecturin
haranguing, warning, persuading, and eve
I. ontcd0ting the people on the subject OF ten
. neranceL-and facts show thatthcy nave De,
successful in setting metes and bounds to Il
great Aooc of intemperance, saying to u
S"Hitherto shalt thou come, but no iurthe
here shall thy proud, waves be stayed,
.sbfye perhaps said too much on this point
dis Connection; for | admired the sern
very much, and | am glad hat the suDJe
hoe becn taken into such able hands.
-ssIabalhas Just trsnspired in Beaufort '
southern people are great people; AT 2
time we are lasting and praying, humDl
ourselves. in the dust OF HUMILITY, .
asking God to fight our battles for US at
other we are tiddling and dancing, a
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