The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-07-29
AN ADDRESS.

W Vhttt SFtL-f.> AM Oftoi HE|tNo h-'O
SISTERS:
You have all read and heard, many
a time, that "union IS strength" 1t is
a.trpth admirably inculcated by the
well known fable of the bundle of fsticks;
it is abundantly illustrated in history;
and the B;ble teaches it. Among the
earliest Of our impressions, is the de-
monstration that two draught-horses
can draw more than one: and that a
multitude of people can accomplish
more than 4 few. Bat, unless there IS
compliance with obvious conditions
unless certain characteristics are mani
tested, it is = lamcntable experience
. of the world, that union is weakness !;
and is oi:en followed by disastrous
failure-and deplorable, because the
natural and nnperverted tendency Of
united effort is towards success
As instances Of unwise combination re-
srlting in miscarriage, I point You to
the vast armies of effeminate PerSians,
which melted away before the conpa-
ratirely small numbers Of impetuons,
manly Greeks. I, also, recall to your
recollection that immense union Of men,
, wh0. during the last five years Of the
eleventh century, under the preaching
Of Peter the Hermit, attempted to march
through Europe on their way to Pales-
tine, to recover the Holy Sepulchre from
the possession Of the Saracens. You
remember, that the sturdy Bulgariaus,
whose country they invaded, in the
South of Europe, rose up in well-knit
bands, to defend their huts and their
granaries, and this quarter of 4 million
of undisciplined fanatics were utterly
swept from the face Of the earth.
Now the youngest student Of history
usually discovers the cause of this fail
ure. without any prompting from the
teacher. The reason is plain, and is
the same in all the multifarious instances
Of frustrated enterprise, that might be
adduced. Union without unity, combi-
nation without concentration, always
has been, and always will be inefec-
t7al. if not ruinous. In every organ
lied combination of forces for the &C
complishment Of a definite purpose,
each individual entering into the union.
must, in his intercourse with society at
large, be known by the striking family
likeness he bears to the order, of which
he is a member; and. in the conduct 0!
his membership, he must give his pres.
eace,and he must blend his untiring Ell.
ergies with the commou action Of the
Brotherhood. The nearer any one ap'
proaches the fulfllment of these require
ments, the more strength he gives tc
the cause he is pledged to support; the
farther he falls short of it, the more he
becomes an element of weakness, anG
stumbling block in the way Of success
Every member Of such IN association
should often mediate, with deep reve-
renee, upon that awful and mysterious
perfection Of union, and omnipotence ol
strength, upon which the Christian Re-
ligion relies for its final triumph, name,
", The Trinity in Unity. and the 1I1nitZ
i < x unity always remembering who
it is that has promised to be present
with even two or three, who have met
together in His name.
All who bear the name of Christians,
and, who really believe, rs they pro
fess, that the Holy Scriptures are di-
vinely true, must see at once tat, in
united e1ertion, the first great requisite
for success must be righteousness-the
end proposed to be gained must be in
accordance with the precepts contained
in Gods Word. 7 cannot dwell long
upon this point, so often discussed, and
SO universally conceded. 1t is neccssa-
ry, only, for me to point out the fact
that the purpose Of the Good Templar<
is confessed to be for the good Of man,
kin4. This Is granted even by the op-
eosers of the Order. The convlvialist
and the liquor-merchant both, look will
disgust, if not with pity, upon the sot:
thereby acknowledging tha. drunken
ness is monstrous evil; whatever may
be their modified opinion Of drinking
under decent restraint. The movement
then for the suppression Of this evil
must be under the incentive Of love fol
our neighbor, and is consequently com
mendable. It ought to be gladly re-
.ceivcd and aided by al Christian pee
p,c: becausc it stands near the Bible
Society, which the Church accepts, a;
IN auxiliary in extending the Gospel
It, also, moves by the side Of those en-
down,ents for the relief of distress
which the Church recognizes as help
ers, in ministering to those who are sicl
and in prison, naked and hungry. Ie
the Heathen, we have reason to be
lieye, may, without the Gospel, be ;
law unto themselves" and, under tht
eridance of conscience, work righteous
ness. with a prospect Of salvation; ant
we know, that dcstitution, unrelievet
in this world, can rest in Abraham:
bosom. But, though the heather may
s.be y law unto themselves" and Laza
rus can rest in Abraham's bosom, it il
written, that no drunkard can enter tht
Kingdom of Heaven. The beggar ma,
be suffered to die from neglect, yet i
be be faithful to the end, his very star
walton may be the springing board
from, which he makes his leap to glori
fication. The drunkard, though, mus
be removed from that short, but blacl
list. on which he stands prescribed. o
the highest platform Of fame or fortune
to which he may have attained, will b
the very trap-door through which h
must fall into perdition. The aim o
the Coed Templars then, is in harmon,
with the purpose Of Christianity, ant
must be gained. unless it is tl,warte,
ky some of those debilitating short-com
ings on the part of the members, (
which I have already made allusion
and to which now wish to direct ut
tention more particularly
Whenever 4 hurtful practice has, b,
its extension, become so conspicuous q