The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-03
A PLBA FOR OHAMPIONsHlp.

Allow me short space in your Valua-
BILE paper to lay. before your readers
few of the commeudab!e features of the
Order of c. R. C. The objects of the Or
der are briefly set forth at the head OF
our directory published in your col
umns, and l wish all would not only
read that manifesto, but carefully con-
slider every sentence of it, and say
whether there could be more laudable
work undertaken by mortal man than
the carrying out of the objects of cham
pionship, "To shield the innocent, to
succor the tempted, to encourage the
struggling, to give relief to the suffer
ing, to bury the dead, and more fully to
strengthen the fraternal bonds that
should unite all true men and women
in their mission of mercy and love-"
As for the temperance part of the Or
der, think it goes far enough. 1t re-
quires of all applicants for membership
a solemn pledge of total abstinence from
all alcoholic beverages, and that they do
all in their power to promote the cause
of temperance What more could any
one do?
The initiatOry ceremony of the first
degree impressively sets forth the great
importance of this pledge, and all our
laws require a strict adherence to it. To
cement by fraternal bond, to knit to-
gether by the strongest ties of friend
ship and love all those who compose
this division of our temperance army,
our obligations to each other are as sa-
cred and as binding as is consistent with
Justice and morality. Believing that
virtue is the only safe basis of true
friendship, all our ceremonies inculcate
aud our laws require the strictest NOR
ality of all Champions, and no less con-
sistent is the man who, after taking
upon himself our solemn obligations,
continues to use alcoholic beverages,
than he who leads an immoral life.
A belief in a God and our aecounta-
bility TO Him are Prerequisites to mem
> bership, and love TO God, love of coun-
! try, and love of our fellow-man is char
acteristic of every worthy Champion,
and as the candidate advances in the
q Order, these principles are most beauti-
4 fully and forcibly illustrated by in
structive and pleasing ceremonies, as
: we'll as by the most solemn obligations.
. The Order is divided into four degrees,
O each of which is formed upon principles
O distinct from the others, and each sue
cessive degree inculcates higher and
" higher moral precepts. Here woman,
n whose province has hitherto been to
+ suffer and to wait, can join her
q brother on a plane of perfect equality in
q the great work of human elevation I;
% here parents and children, husbands and
N wives, brothers and sisters, can unite as
f a great family in a common cause, that
o of promoting the material and moral
ts welfare of the race.
! The history of all temperance organl-
n cations has been marked by instability.
At one time we see the public mind ex-
u cited to the highest pitch, to be followed
N by a reaction, and the fondest hopes of
y the friends of the cause are for the time
"A being buried. This Order seeks to pro-
II duce no undue excitement, but to enlist
~ men and women in its work who will
,e act from principle, and who, should
q they weary of well-doing, would be
w aroused from their lethargy by the
70 thoughts of Champions obligation
IN staring them in the face. The failure
N to secure united effort has greatly re-
h tarded the cause heretofore, but so
70 perfectly is the machinery of our Order
10 arranged that any measure contem-
oO plated can be rapidly communicated
of throughout the jurisdiction, and united
,r effort or immediate aid speedily Sc
= cured The reformation of the inebriate
to is, to say the least, difficult matter
IL The innumerable violations of pledges
10 in the various organizations is evidence
,io of this fact We believe that something
no more than mere pledge is necessary
reformation must begin with full de-
49, termination or u pledge, but it must not
- stop there. The depraved appetite, the
- clouded intellect, and the calloused
heart, must be treated with antidoteS
suited to the disease. He must be lee
by sympathizing hands to cooling
streams, through blooming fields o
- moral science along the paths of duty
y to cleanse, to refine, to elevate. We, a!
y Champions, aim to teach all such by ou
j example lessons of temperance, virtue
and brotherly love. Intemperance i!
pre-eminently a social evil, and those
: who are of a social disposition, as Goo
Is, intended US all to be, are far more liable
= to be overcome by it than the selfish
- the unsocial. In majority of instances
- the habit is begun in the society o
youthful associates, not unfrequently il
the society of otherwise pure young la
dies a the social party or family hearth
Iat Hence there could not be more poten
he power than sociability employed to cor
'g' rect the evil, and we as Champions en-
IL deavor to display this virtue in its mos
of attractive garb, not only in our Encamp
he ments, but outside of them everywhere
,er We also aim to bring all the weight o
woman's influence to bear in behalf o.
Vi temperance and morality, in attracting
Ter onr faIIOw-man of every age and cOndi