Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-09-29
Is It F~orgottens

IL SOGtEAs
Amid the mighty events that are trans
Pirlng around us-events that thrill every
heart and call into lively excitement every
patriotic feeling and tender sensibility of
human nature, causing the most anxious and
painful solicitude for the safety of our coun-
Try and the welfare of our gallant and noble
Soidiery-men have forgotten other dear in
terests and duties, the neglect Of which must
entail untold misery and danger upon US as
a people.
Prominent among these stands the great
temperance cause. We have forgotten and
neglected it. and the deleterious, blighting
effects are visible all around Us and already,
IN many places it may be truly said
Men drink now who never drank before.
AAo men who always drank, now drink the more"
And what will it be, at the close of this
war, If this great ~sheet-anchor of hope TO
the country be forgotten and ignored when
men returning from the vice and designations
OF the camp, shall be brought in contact with
our homes and children ? What must be
the consequence, If we at home abandon the
temperance sntAs.sse, and have no Ark Of
Safety into which the war-worn veteran, as
well as the rising generation can take shell
ter from the delnge of intemperance with
which cur country will be inundated
We mean no reflection upon the brave and
gallant men who are fighting our battles and
Winning such glorious victories to our cause
for they know far better than we, that the
camp and the army are poor promoters Of
temperance and nlorality-ana they know
that hundreds and thousands who wentinto
the army sober tetotalers, will come out
fond Of the intoxicating draught, and many
OF them confirmed irebriates. Returning to
tAeir homes, their families and to the society
in which they must associate, their example
will be perniciols and baleful need, and
must corrupt andruin the young around them.
Well, now, whit means has the history of
the past taughtts as the most eftsctua7, in eff
Getting ihe restortion Of the inebriate, in ar
resting the downward steps of those whose
love for lntoxicat n gdrinks is Just developing
itself, as we'll IS saving the young from
falling into the snare of the tempter? I'm
questionably-asociated effort, a combined,
organized association of men and women
whose duty and PLEASURE it is to invite, en-
treat and warn their fellows to fee from
errors path" Such an institution is the
Order Of the Sors of Temperance. It's ben
Efficient operations have snatched thousands
from the ranks Of drunkards, and saved HIM.
dreds of thousands Of others from falling into
these ranks, bat ssho for its influence MIGHT
have filed ~drunkard's graves.
This great agency will be greatly needed
when our soldiers shall return home-more
SO, in ell probability, than at any previous
penlod IN our history. Ought it, then, to be
neglected and overlooked ? should it be suf-
Tered to pass away from the consideration of
our people? No, verify! 1t must stand up
as the great breakvater between our children
and those who indulge-and its doors must
stand open night and day, as an asylum for
the unfortunate who would seek a place Of
refuge to save them from their destructive
course.
1t may be that lis meetings and operations
cannot be kept up as therefore,, but still let
the Divisions be understood as alive and
ready to work whenever there is work to he
done let the subject of Temperance be talk
ed OF among our children, eur neishbors and
IN the community, and by all means in our
power let the great principles of our Order
De known and felt around as. Thus shall wa
Keep alive an interest on the subject, and
When the time shall come for resuming reo,1-
lar active labors, we shall be found in the
harness ana IN the spirit-and great good
II ieoouno 10 ourelves, our children, the
community ID wAlct we live, and to our be-
loved country.