Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-03-10
FOR rue SPIRIT OF rur AGE

Mr.. EDITOR Through the columns {
your paper, | wish to call the attention o
the young men of Raleigh to . society tina
has long existed in their midst, formed foi
the most laudabie objects, but which has nos
been appreciated as its merits deserve. /.
allude to the Raleigh Literary Society,""
This institution was orgaEized on the 15tl !
of September 1856, and has since that date
by the steady adherence, constant zeal an,l
strict fidelity of some of its members. man
tanned its organization until the nresen
tiHe-a longer period than any organiza,io, $
OF the kind has ever existed in Raleigh. An |.
L appear TO the young men of the CITY nc
10 permit 1T, after it has struggled so earn
estiy and successfully during that long De
Giod, 10 langulsh Tor want OF their support
surely no argument is necessary to demon
strate the beneficial results, mental and NOR
al 10 be derived from a connection will
sucn a society. In order to be fitted 70
tue various duties of life, it is absolutely ne.
cessary 10 cultivate a correct mode of speak
mg ana department and be qualified by
Practce 10 express our opinions and con-
uuct ourselves in public in a correct man
hcf that the extension of our information
On all subjects and a correct department ac-
corning To established usages, calculated to
improve US, is highly commendable: and ex-
perlence has abundantly proven that these
ends can in no other way be so SO speedile
accomplished as by the formation Of socie-
ties for such purposes"
The debating society has been aptly term
ed the school of the orator. and when mad
to suoserve those purposes for which sucl,
societies are only organized, cannot possibly
be productive of harm, but must result i,
the moral and intellectual advancement {.
those connected with them.
In the generous emulation, the honest ri
r valry, the harmless strife for the master
In debate, by the earnest application Of tht
SUBJECT Immediately under d~iscussion-pow
ers OF mind are developed, which would 9th
erWlSe have lain dormant and unknown {
the possessor. This is no mere whim of th.
fancy, but a fact illustrated in the expert
ence of many of our ablest men.
, Hon. Thos. S. Bocock, for a long time th,
J talented representative of the distric
) OF Virginia in the Federal Congress, and nov
. the representative of the same district in tn
Confederate Congress, ascertained the mar
= Velous capacity of his own mental powers il
a debating society in Richmond, Va, A mem
. Der of a lyceum long and favorably know
IN that city, his earnest desire and studio
efforts to achieve success in that little sphere
was but an index of the success and applaus
= that should welcome him in a grander aren
= and before a more celebrated audience. Vii
- cent Witcher, the apostle of the Intern;
Improvement prinsiple and policy of Virgin
. ia, a name revered by every Virginian f
20 has eminent services to his native State-a
a. CURED the rudiments of his education aft,
- he had attained his majority, in o village s
= ciety. And numerous other examples migl
- hn Plta6 mt thnco NAV tIfH =, aeI 90 III
causes produce like effects. those to who
this appeal is made, may draw the legitima
inference.
As an evidence of the estimation in whic
the society has been held, it is only nece+
Sary to mention, that it numbers amor
if its honorary members, such men rs He
if Kenneth Rayner, Hon. L. OBJ. Branch, He
nd John II. Bryan, Hon. Sion H. Rogers, our
We mented Governor Ellis, Henry w. Miller, Els
IS, w. W. Holden, Esq, Editor N. C. Standar,
ats Jno. Spelman, Esq, Editor State Journal; Jr
on W. Syme, Esq, Editor Raleigh Register; A.
I'D Gorman, ESQ.,, Editor Spirit of the Age, a
es, others of equal celebrity, from each of whC
testimonials have been received of tn
4, appreciation of the laudableness Of and I
.ne ability of the Society to achieve the obje
70 for which it was formed.
lcn The Society has connected with it a lib
ry, though not very large, yet it contai
the the works of the best authors, which of
he self should prove a sufficient argument
is. its merit, to those who have a desire for i
re- provement.
nee While we hold that everything should
made to succumb to the vigorous prose(
ton of the war which our enemies h;
forced upon US, to the bitter end, | do
age believe that it is either expedient or adv
I'LL BILE to disregard or ignore the claims of
best organizations known to our institute
the calculated to foster the enlightened, the
ore rest and Hottest sentiments of morality,
age triotism and humanity, and permit them
the languish and eventually die for wan of
support of those for whose benefit they W
organized.
All that the friends of the Society ask
that its claims may be inpartially consit
ed, and they will confidently abide the Isl
,m' Raleigh, March, 1862. SIDNEY
Is THIS So ?-The Iredell Express say
v;So 1--WE are informed that an opinion is pre-,