Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-03-11
NUMBER %.
Temperance Consolidation.

Editor Spectator.
Whilst we are 10th to open
an argument on the proposed Temperance
ConsoIldatlon," yet we do not hesitate to give
lew iactsln regard to this moye-the proposed
| oons0huatlon OF various temperance ORDERS
Lover OF the cause. i" 10 the last issue of
the VTginlan says: 1T is matter that ought
to be considered WELL" True; this is sub
Ject which should be discussed well In every
councll ana y, lodge room in the State Allow
Us, Mr. Editor, to briefly notice a few impor-
1t will not work. '
| First, Notice the harmony and good feeling
that now exists between every order in the
| State. Look at the great amount of good each
| order has accomplished In its respective way.
One strikes at the very root of intemperance,
| and lneuicates in youthful minds the evil of
drunkenness, whilst another does not admit the
youth at all. One allows the women only seat
ll the nall; while In another tho right of 'fe-
nate suurage IS given her. AS the temper
ance cause now stands we have an order that
Will meet the approval of every man who wish
eS 20 exert bis influence with others in the
great work of humanity.
Second, It would be almost an irnpossibility
| to organize an order that would meet with the
great success which the present system has:
! and the cardinal principles of each order could
not be embodied into one new organization
Inc workings OF each order are so far different
| from one ANOTHER, that it would take not less
Una. seven olSlnet degrees to satisfy the organ
ization: LIST, The 3rd degree pledge of the
| Good Templars; 2nd, The admission of onlv
| adult male members in the Sons of Temper
| ance; 3rd, the admission of females as asso-
clate members in the Friends Of Temperance;
4th, the peculiar feature of the Rachabites-
Wnen they once expel member they never ad-
nit him to membership again.
NOV now Is it proposed to arrange these de-
grees! Some have signs, tests and passwords,
grips and signals; others have beneficial de-
grees, while one has no unwritten work at all.
But still IN this union, the peculiar features of
soildatIon will be successful when every men,
Der OF the Convention lays the merits of his Or
der before the assembly and insists upon as
much OF the work of his order to be included
| IN the new order as practicable, while another
would not sustain the principles OF his neigh
Dor S institution, but would try to have the new
order IS near like his own as possible? Can you
| suppose the same harmony would exist under
the 1eW system as under the old? or that it
would make man any more jealous in the
cause than nov? If, by the eloquence or wire
working OF some one OF an order, who would
be representative at the convention, more of
his work would be adopted for the new order,
than that OF his brothers, and perhaps leave
out Altogether the features Of one, would there
not be room for animosity and hatred toward
the new order? And those ia the minority
could not help but think there was partiality
SHOWN IN the new organization in faVof of him
who was most gifted with the power Of CAB"
and Is 1t not natural 10 Suppose they would not
enter into the union, because their work was
not included, and continue on in their cid way,
noH L.
had.
all the temperance organizations 10 the State
aTe IN prosperous condition. Every day We
can read Of a new Lodge or Council being in
stltuted and why? Because they are separate
and distinct bodies at work, each striving to
see II their order can rot accomplish the great
eat amount OF good in the community. Il ere
ates Jealous feeling, q determination to be
more active IN canvassing for his order, and
yet, there Is not any animOsity Or unbrotherly
| feeling existing, because one does more work
than another. They work il union and in har-
mony with each other. Then why is cousoli-
datlon called for? It it because the original
movers OF the consolidation think it would prof
1t their individual order, that crisis will soon
| come upon them, and that If something ia not
5000 done, they will sink into nothingness p
No lt Is not for this reason th9t the conven-
ton Will meet. is IL because this union will
promote the temperance cause? or do they
| think by their union more can be gained? Ger
tainly not this-especially the latter-for the
success that has been met with By the orders,
Is sufficient proof that nothing more could be
| galned than what has alrerdy been ACCOMPLISH
| ed 10 their iabors to spread the principles of
temperance o er the land
A recent letter on the subject from North
Carolina, says a convention will be called on
the Goth of July for the purpose, using the
writer language, "to organize new, strong,
popular and efficient ORDER
How long, wonder, does the writer ina CINE
an order should last2 Does he remember We
now have al order which has been in existence
only q years! and is as strong an order as all
the others combined? Is it found necessary to
organize new order every 20 years, to satisfy
the cause OF temperance? As to organizing a
strong order, the one to which we ailude is one
of the strongest orders 10 existence and is daily
increasing in strength. The last report of the
r. W. Ct. Sec showed clear report of AZ
Grand Lodges, 6,697 Subordinate Lodges and
oversS50, 446 members. Does this not prove
| her strength As to her popularity and eff
| clency 1t is matter that is not to be question
ed, as her past history and present membership
IS enough to speak OF her standing.
Is 1t probable union could be made to en-
brace as high moral principles, as the orders
| are now based upon? or one that would meet
with the same success? AS things now stand,
we are all thrifty, but let there be oonsolida-
ton, and the same men who now ere working
most zealously in the cause, vii! lose their ZEAL
for there will be nothing to encourage them to
work. A rivalry is kept up-each one tries
and does bring to the lodge-room as many can
didates as they can, so their own Lodge or Coun-
Gil will out-number their neighbors bat if
united, and having but one, this rivalry will
cease, and the cause Of temperance lose its
standard.
| TEMPLAR.