West-Jersey pioneer., 1869-02-19
Gnnn TEMpLARS.

resolutions finance, place Of future meeting,
nominations, &c., after which the Convention
adjourned until P. NJ. and was opened with
the usual ceremonies and prayer by Rev. G.
X. Morris, Grand Chaplain, after which the
reports of committees were received aud dis
resolutions, proposing certain plans to secure
the success of temperance principles called
out spirited and friendly discussion, which
was participated in by Messrs. Morris, johnson,
Wyatt, G. X. Bishop and others.
The resolutions were recommitted, and sub.
sequently other resolutions Of different char
scter were submitted and unanimously ap-
proved. The report on the state Of the order,
showed it to be in aourisLing condition,
many new lodges having been instituted since
| the last meeting Of the Convention.
The evening session was opened with music,
under the direction of Mr.. A. D. Maui; prayer
was offered by Rev. MIR. Clouse. The grand
! feature o. the evening exercises WAS the able
and thrilling address by Rev. g. h. Morris.
A. NJ. On this occasion MIR. Morris fully sus-
tanned his reputation as an orator and logician'
and with apparently no effort ON his part the
large audience was enwrapped with his elo-
quent and forcible remarks. The brief out
line we give below cannot, however, do justice
to the speaker The soul-stirring appeals,
clothed in beautiful and appropriate language
the keen and forcible logic-combined with
| F,,l cannot
be fully appreciated unless listened to- The
theme was Reserved Force" and the subject
was handled in mastery manner.
The speaker proceeded to develop his
thoughts on the subject announced, in sub
stanoee about as follows:
There is in nature an incslculable amount
of reserved force. The tear drop that sparkles
on the cheek of an infant surrounded by the
proper conditions, would generate sufficient
electricity to forward over the sea q message
that should rouse the spirit Of war in Europe,
and lead to the marshalling of hostile armies
on many bsttle field. The spark of fire
which you see so barmlessly expire, had power
| in its gloomy bosom to explode magazine in
yoiving the destruction of a regiment, or to
| fire oity, wasting all its weslth and beauty.
The musket, with its thimble full of powder
and ounce CT lead, discharged under proper
conditions, might madden whole people, and
change the history of the world. One cannon,
discharged in Charleston hsrbor, set America
on fire with the flames of civil war, conjured
up the war cloud that hovered over our fair
land, until its deluge of fire and blood descend
ed on our hills and valleys, bringing gloom to
every house and sorrow to every heart.
Yankee proposed to utilize the water
Of Niagara. Could that be done, We would
have power enough to drive the machinery Of
the country.
He inquired how much power men possess
which is not used. What amazing exertions
man viii put forth in emergency. How much
more power he can develop than he was sup
posed to have possessed. As in the case of
the poor, rheumatic beggsr, who dropped his
crutches and ran like deer, when the cry of
''mad dog.n frightened him into forgetfulness
of his pain. How astonishingly society will
sometimes develop its reserved force, as when
the cry of famine was borne from Ireland over
the sea, or as when our hospitals were flied
with suffering soldiers, who needed the care Of
the charitable. Yet in these and similar cases
it was held that the unusual results were se-
cured, not by the creation of new power, but
by the development Of what was latent
.okt Iaa nf
what might be done if all reserved force could
be brought out.
The world is greatly the loser by the con-
stant waste of reserved force. Ii was remarked
that the Southern army gained msny battle
against odds by the skillful use of its reserves,
and that Hooker's battle of Fredericksburg
was lost because too many troops were held in
reserve. Thus, he observed, in countless in-
stances important interests are sacrificed. The
speaker further said that it was impossible to
estimate the reserved brain power of the
world. 1t may be that many Shakespeare is
living in embryo, because nothing has ever
occurred to call out his powers, and men with
the power Of Wesley or a Judson or an Ed
wards, live and die without having created
suspieicion of their abilities. For the same
reason how Franklins will never got beyond
the type case, and how many Lincolns are
still splitting rails in the forests of the West !?
The speaker developed thst the loss to the
world was inealculsble in the waste of reserved
muscle power, money power, and also the
moral power of that part of community pro-
fessedly good. He was particularly forcible
here, but our space will not permit us to follow
his remarks. 1t was simply the developing
of reserve power that lead to the discovery of
America, that laid the wires over the sea, is
tunneling the Alps and spanning our continent
with the Pacific road Developing the power
of the church would build church in every
dark spot, carry the gospel to every soul, and
redeem the world in less than half q century.
If good people would only shake off their un-
accountable lethargy-their criminal modera-
ton, how startling would be the result
Gambling hells would soon cease their ruinous
work. The smoke of the distillery would no
longer darken the sky as the smoke of the pit.
Whiskey rings would be crushed without ruth,
amid the execrations Of the people; rum selling
would be made so infamous that none bu. the
vilest would engage in it. Lager beer shops
would be marked IS plague spots and forever
closed by the strong arm of the law.
He said that to the earnest man there is
something of hypocrisy about the moderate
talk and conduct Of moderate people concern
ing these great evils. Do the lager men want
license they put money and brains and per-
severance together, elect to the council their
shameless creatures, who would unblushingly
do the bidding of the devil for vote, and
secure their object. But the professedly good
people look supinely on, or satisfy themselves
with childish and dishonest whining. Do the
whiskey men want laws chsnged to suit their