Funding for the digitization of this title was provided by R.J. Taylor, Jr. Foundation.
About A Friend of the family. (Savannah, Ga.) 1849-1??? | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1850)
yOLUME 11. DOCUMENTS from the National Division , Sons of Tern vtrance, held at Boston , July. REPORT OF SAMUEL F. CARY, M. W. P. J [)st Worthy Brothers: —Another year of vicissitudes, trials and ef | forts has passed, and a kind Provi dence has permitted us to come | cither from our distant homes to dis charge the high trusts confided to usbyour respective Grand Divi sions. Unlike any civil or ecclesi astical body of this vast country, we come with no sectional feelings to gratify, no party interest to sub jerve. VVe know no North — no South, our efforts are confined to jo geographical boundaries—our la bors of love and mercv know no limits but those which prescribe thp wretchedness of man. To bind (he whole family of man with the triple cord of love, purity, and fi delity—“to make men better, and consequently happier,” is our high and holy calling. As the supreme judicial and legislative tribunal of ourheaven-sent institution, we have ambled to take sweet Counsel to gether, and render, if possible, our brotherhood more efficient. Ihe past year has been one of peculiar trial and difficulty. The pestilence which at our last session had already began to reveal its deadly power, has passed through our land, desolating our homes and clothing us in the habiliments of mourning. Man’s weakness and God’s omnipotence have been vin dicated in the resistless march of the destroyer. In some portions of our jurisdiction the scythe-armed An gcl of Destruction has carved the bloody letters of his commission upon the posts of almost every door. Our fellow men have fallen beneath his stroke like harvest flow ers—many lilies of the valley re pose forever beneath the valley’s clod. The smiting hand which has swept away human life as though it were the sand of the shore, obeys no mandate but the Omnipotent; 2nd it becomes us to bow subrnis s,vely to the rod, and under the im pulses of a gospel faith, work out °ur salvation with fear and trem biing. VVe are admonished that what we do must be done speedily, and with direct reference to an eter- Da l slate of being; that all the best interests of man, for this life and which is to come, are involved lQ the triumph or defeat of our § rea t movement, cannot be contro lled. We have said that the last year has ken one of peculiar trial to our be- Wed Order. For a considerable the ordinary business of life * as partially suspended, and the Vision rooms were deserted, and a general paralysis seemed to in vade society. Some were induced to believe that safety and protection from ih e p es fii enC e might be found lil the accursed bowl. Yielding to wle invitations of appetite, or the j V| * c e of physicians, they have re- to their former habits, and 2fe hastening to their “ bitter end” by far a larger number of ihese will die of a more dreadful scourge than have died of cholera a niong those who remained true to their obligations. While no immunity was given to any class of society, and while some of our noblest and purest have fa ded before the breath of the pesti- yet our statistics will show lal afai less proportion of Sons of en ?perance died, than any other class of society. Our Order has been gradually ex tending itself the past year. A Grand Division has been organized West, since the last ses Dnmtrir ta iCitcrnturr, Irintre unit slrt, tjje nf Ctnipuatirf, cDiitr /ellnmsljiji, Hlasnnrtj unit (Sntrrnl 3ntellignirL sion of the National Di ‘ision. This was effected by the exertions of P. M. W. P. White, whose indefatiga ble labors in the cause of all man kind are worthy of all praise. On the 17th of December last a Divi sion was constituted in Liverpool, through the influence of brethren in the Province of New Brunswick.— feince that time eight others have been instituted in England, and one in Scotland. A charter for a Grand Division in England has been re cently granted. It is believed that our Order will rapidly extend itself in Europe, and that ere long a World’s Division may be de manded. For the details connected with our progress you are referred to the M. W. S.’s report. More than a year since, I com missioned a Worthy Deputy and furnished him with the requisite to open Divisions in California, if the condition of society there should warrant it. He was directed not to attempt to plant the Order there unless there was a fair prospect of success. After a year’s observa tion of the state of things there, he reports that the people are too much absorbed in money-making— too migratory and unsettled—too much given to luxury and dissipa tion—room-rent and furniture so expensive—that it would not be ad visable to attempt to plant our in stitution in that country at present ; and he accordingly surrendered his commission. My own labors the past year have been less than the year previous.— For some months alter the session of the N. D. the state of my health was such that I could not endure the slightest exertion. From time to time, as health has permitted, 1 have devoted myself to the public discussion of our principles. For the last two months 1 have been constantly in the field. During all that time I have had no respite.— The Order in those portions of our jurisdiction which I have visited, is in sound and healthy condition.— Besides visiting several of the States, I have recently taken a tour through the Provinces of Nova Sco tia and New Brunswick, and I must be permitted to say that there is no part of our jurisdiction where our principles have taken a stronger hold than in these provinces. One of the evidences of this is, that in almost eve ry city and village, neat, capacious, and comfortable temper ance halls have been erected, adap ted not only for the use of Divi sions, but for holding public tem perance meetings. This important matter has been too much neglected in the States. The temperance hall is a rallying point for our forces, arid its erection gives evidence of a de termined spirit and a promise of sta bility and permanence. As your representative, I was every where received with great respect and distinguished honors. I cannot forbear expressing my re gret that, for want of time, 1 was compelled to forego an anticipated pleasure of visiting Pr. E. Island. But I am assured that there the Or der is laboring with a zeal and suc cess not surpassed in other locali ties. Notwithstanding all our rev ersesand misfortunes, the desertion of friends, and the increased hostil ity of enemies, our Order to day, at this seventh annual session of the N. D., is stronger, and its prospects for usefulness more flattering, than at any previous period of its history. The time-serving and ambitious, the laint-heatted and selfish, who had swelled our numbers, but di minished our strength and impaired our uselulness, are gone. “They went out from us because they were SAVANNAH, GA.. SATURDAY, JULY 13. 1850. not of us.” The spirit of revival is pervading our ranks, the faithful are strengthened in their purposes, better acquainted with the cause, have a higher appreciation of its merits and of their relations to it. What was once a problem, is now an established fact, that the Or der of the Sons of Temperance is one of the great, permanent, effici ent institutions of the age, for ihe advancement of “Teviperanoe, Benevolence, and Brotherly Love.” It was feared by many of its warmest friends that an adverse gale would demolish the whole su perstructure, but it has withstood the violence of the tempest, and not a timber has been removed for it is founded upon a principle as solid and immovable as the eternal ill rone. We have not had nor can we ex pect to have in future, a continued succession of triumphs, an uninter rupted advair ement. These never attend the moral progress of our race. As well might we expect in the natural world a perpetual har vest. It is Heaven’s decree that while the earth remained], summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, and day and night, shall not cease. The history of every movement that has for its object the elevat on and renovation of man, is made up of revivals and declensions, days of light and rejoicing, nights of darkness and sorrow. The pecu liar excellence of our Order over every temperance association pro ceeding it is. that it has elements of stability—a peculiar adaption to any emergency. In the harvest-time a store is provided for the succeeding winter. A night of tempestuous storm came upon die Washington ian forces, and they were disband ed and scattered like the proud ar my of Napoleon before the winds and snows of a Ifussian winter Not so our Order. We may be weakened by desertion and spiritu al death, but we still have a trained band, well-disciplined, with their armor bright and ready for service, when anew crusade is projected. The Order having extended itsell beyond the limits anticipated for it by its projectors, it has been found necessary, from lime to time, to modify it so as to render it more efficient and useful. Doubtless your enlarged experience and your increasing knowledge of the reform and its wants will suggest other changes. We man keep up with the spirit of the age, and avail our selves ofany and every advantage which may enlarge our sphere of usefulness, and give stronger hold upon the affections and confidence of the good and virtuous. The modification made at the last session, in the beneficial feature of our Order,has resulted in great good. Many Divisions that were on the threshold of hopeless bankruptcy were relieved bv a partial or entire abolition of weekly benefits. Oth ers, in a more solvent condition, have so modified their rules as to enable them to do more for the gen eral cause of temperance, while they have not permitted the needy among them to suffer; while .hose who had the ability and the dispo sition to continue the old system, were permitted to do so Nothing so seriously hinders the progress of a Division as frequent and ruinous drafts upon the treasury. The wis dom of the action of the National Divi ‘ion on this point is further manifested in the diminished and diminishing clamors about benefits. No further change on this subject is perhaps desirable at present; except it should he to declare the law in re lation to funeral benefits*—it being considered doubtful whether the ac tion at the last sesion, in amending the 2d Section of Art. VI. of the Con stitution, gave to Subordinate Divi sions the power over that subject— or whether the old law still prevails. There being room for doubt, we should declare the law, that diffi culty and controversy may be avoided in future. The subject of tract distribution, rocommcnded in my last annual message, and reported upon by the Committee on the state of the Or der, has met with universal favor. The plan partially matured, and acted upon during the year, has been productive of great good.— Two of the series have been pub lished and widely circulated, pro ducing an effect in favor of the cause, both in and out of the Or der. The further prosecution of this subject, and the details which may be necessary to act energetical ly and svstematicallv in carrying it forward, I trust will occupy your early and serious attention. •/ There are no instrumentalities we can employ which will reach the masses of society and produce a lasting impression like these.— They cost but little, and their dis tr.bution furnishes every Son of Temperance with something to do. Thousands of our brethren who would live and be active, actually die spirituallv for the want of em ployment. They join the Order, soon become familiar with its cere monies and routine of business, and having no great plan of opera tions and effort before their minds, become listless, inattentive to the Division, and finally leave the Or der or permit themselves to be sus pended for non-payment of dues. With all the light that has been shed for years past upon the guilt of the manufacture and traffic, and the evils, physical and moral, politi cal and social, which are insepara ble from the use of alcoholic li quors, the masses are still in pro found darkness. Comparatively few have ever heard these subjects discussed and a still less number have considered them. We may and ever should pour light into ev ery palace and cabin in our land.— The living voice and the press, aided by the united example, are tbe great heaven-appointed means for the moral renovation of the world. With the means in our power, by the blessing of God, by wise, united, persevering, benevo lent action, we may secuie glorious and everlasting success. We know we are right, and the heart and con science of our countrymen attest the correctness of our positions.— Thus armed and thus fortified, we are cowards and traitors if we do not triumph. There is another subject to which I would invite your earnest atten tion, with a hope that your united wisdom may suggest some mode to remedy a great evil. The subject upon which our institution is based is one of dignity and importance ; and to give it favor in the eyes of a refined and intelligent people, its accredited advocates should be able to discuss it properly, and he them selves its living epistles—their lives conforming to their teachings. It i is not to be concealed that our cause has been degraded by unworthy ad vocates. Persons entirely unfitted, by their habits and moral charac ter, impose themselves upon the Order and the public, as teachers and lecturers. They pass from point to point, under pretence of benefitting the cause, and render themselves so obnoxious, bv their vulgarity and insolent demands for pecuniary assistance, that those who are em’nently worthy can scarcely get an ai-dience, or be treated with becoming civilities af terwards. In fact, to be known as “ a temperance lecturer ” in many places, is to be treated with con tempt, and at least to be regarded as unworthy of confidence. We all have abundant evidence of the truth of that declaration of Holy Writ: “One sinner destroyed] much good.” I know of no one thing whichlias injured our cause more than this, and if there is a remedy to be found, I bope you will apply it. A number of the Grand Division have employed hon orable and worthy men to canvass their respective fields, and going forth with such letters of credit, the dignity of the cause has been main tained, and incalculable good effect ed. There are good and devoted men who are not so employed, who are equall}’ worthy of countenance and support, and whose services the cause demands. Must all such bed riven from the field bv travel ling, peddling, temperance mendi cants, who steal the livery of our cause to serve their unhallowed purposes ? Finally, so far as I am informed in relation to the condition of our Order nothing is wanting but a mis sionary spirit—a spirit that will be content to labor and suffer, practice self-denial, and not yield while there is a distillery, or a grog-shop, or a drunkard, to curse the earth. We must not listen to the clamors of pretended friends, nor fear the vengeance of enemies. The true moral reformer must not expect the applause of his own generation, and this is especially true of the Tem perance reformer. The liquor fra ternity, if not in the majority, are united, and have thus succeeded in invoking all the nower of the law, for their protection—and appeals to vicious appetite and corrupt de sire are generally most potent over sin-ruined man. We must be unit ed in our determination to expel the enemy from his legal fastness es, tear off his political and judicial vestments, and show him forth in all his naked and vile deformity. The better disposition beginning to be manifested by many of our legis latures, induces us to hope the day is not far in the future when the liquor-seller will cease to be regard ed as a civil functionary created for the public good. The agitation of this subject by the Order is siowly, but I think surely, producing an effect. These agitations must be increased, and the public mind aroused, anti the public heart ener gized, by public lectures and the distribution of tracts and by appeals from the pulpit and through the periodical press, until the whole mass shall be leavened with the truth. SAMUEL F. CARY. EXTRACTS From Report of jV/. IV. Scri'je. 1. “With regard to the presentment to the Order of Forms and Cere monies of a literal and moral char acter comparative to other Orders, commensurate wiih the superiority of the principles of the Order of the Sons of Temperance, much obser vation compels me to declare the demand imminent.” 2. “In relation to extension of or ganization, I respectfully refer to ‘Benevolent Divisions,’ as stated in my report as the late term ; to ‘Honorary Members,* and a wise and attractive plan of popular Con sociations, embracing the Tract System, eirher consociate to Subor dinate Divisions, or emanating from Grand Divisons, and holdingcertain relations of report; privilege and unity with the Order, as the safe and powerful means.” 3. The system of “Benefits” also demantis a sound and finally re gulated condition. The benefits of the Order are in the gature of con tract between the Order and its quarter of a million of members, and involve the grave question of right to change or suspend them without the consent of the parties. Equity, and all the legal principles of contract, therefore, and the inter estsofihe Order, require that this body should arrange ultimately that delicate and important and partment of the Order, and surrender what ever further power it may have in the premises. At present, the beneficial system is in a state of the most lamentable dilapidation, as contrasted with its original institution, and is clearly calculated from its legalized uncer tainty and insecurity, to bring dam age to the charai ter and principles of the Order and its members. Its conditions are: Ist, That Divis ions may pay a weekly benefit of but one dollar. 2d, That they need not pay benefits for the first week’s sickness or disability, nor does any enactment define when they shall. That they need not pay benefits to any individual for more than six months in one year, and on the same principle, there being no law as barrier, perhaps for not more than one week. 4th, That by a two thirds’ vote they may suspend payment of benefits altogether. Admitting, as this Office heartily does, that the beneficial part of the Order is highly necessary to its gen eral utility and progress and has done much good, yet it is clear that under these regulations, inadver tently perhaps adopted, it presents no attractions of interest on the one hand nor any assurance forthe safety of the interest it creates on the oth er. To the wisdom of the National Division, the facts will be sufficient to challenge its earnest attention. 4. An elaboration of the general pecuniary status ofthe Order from its present Procrustean condition, would, in the opinion of this Office, be hailed with pleasure by many portions of our Order and people, and is entirely necessary to some communities. The various pursuits and sentiments of our population make this evident. I subjoin, how ever, in support of this view, some incidental remarks of Bro. A. Campbell, P. G. W. P. of the Grand Division of New Brunswick, contained in a letter of business to this Office : “Nothing,” says P. G. W. P. Campbell, “preventsou r or ganization from extending its bless ing through every community in the Province sufficiently numerous to sustain a Division, but the want of the necessary funds to support the pecuniary branch ofour institu tion. The business of the country generally, is depressed, and has been for some time. Many are prevented from joining our ranks from pecuniary considerations : and others and good men too, are driven from us by the same cause ; a very large majority of our expulsions being for non-payment of dues.” 5. Yet the earnest advice of this Office to the National Division is to make no important changes or ad ditions to our present laws or usa ges, hastily. “This Office respect fully proposes that the state of the Order seriously requires that the future shall be well devised, and consequently thatall novel or radi cal alterations in our laws, form, or policy, affecting Grand or Subor dinate Divisions, should be subject ed to your best deliberation.” ‘ NUMBER 19
