Local matters.
Grand Division of Virginia--Sons of Temperance.--This body assembled in special meeting, in this city, at the
Hall of Hutcheson Division, Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock, and continued in session during the afternoon, and to a late hour of the evening.
The notice of the meeting was short — the call having been issued about ten days before it took place — but, notwithstanding this circumstance, and the inclemency of the season and troubles of the times, about seventy delegates were in attendance from various parts of the
State, viz: from
Petersburg,
Farmville,
Clarksville,
Lynchburg,
Charlottesville, University of Virginia, &c.-- and from various country Divisions.--Twenty-one new members were initiated, embracing valuable additions to the body.
The special business of the meeting, viz: The consideration of the interests of the "Virginia Conductor," the organ of the Order was brought up and received prompt attention.
This is a weekly paper, the property of the
Grand Division, published in
Petersburg, and edited by J. R.
Lewellen. During a career of gratifying success and usefulness, it had, under the influence of the extraordinary political and commercial crisis of a few months past, been brought to experience difficulties and embarrassments, which called for some measures for its immediate relief.
The Grand Division declared at once that ‘"the
Conductor' is a necessity and must be sustained,"’ the members present subscribed liberally, and adopted other measures to place the paper on a permanent basis.
This action shewed the spirit of the meeting and the healthy condition of the cause in
Virginia, a further evidence of which was found in the many warm, earnest and eloquent speeches of the occasion, breathing ardent devotion to the principles of temperance.
The Legislature of Virginia and the University of Virginia, the legal, medical and clerical professions, the military corps of the States, as well as the mercantile and mechanical classes, were ably represented, and facts were stated which showed that temperance principles are, to a greater or less extent, respected and felt in the persons of Sons of Temperance in all these various circles of society.
The following resolution, unanimously adopted, expressed the sense of the meeting, as to the prospects of the Order in
Virginia:
‘
Resolved, That, in view of the present gratifying demonstration — the convocation of so large an assembly of "Sons of Temperance," upon short notice, and under other unfavorable circumstances — we feel greatly encouraged as to the existence of an abiding interest in our Order in
Virginia, and we will return to our respective fields of labor with a serious purpose to devote ourselves with renewed zeal to the principles of this cause.
Since the foregoing was prepared for publication, a distinguished member of the grand Division has furnished us with a sketch of the proceedings, from which we make an extract:
"After the business was finished, some two hours passed away pleasantly, in a sort of general interchange of opinion and sentiment, earnest appeal, humorous sillies, and exhortations to energy in the work of the Order.--The general feeling was well embodied in a resolution proposed by
P. B. Price, of
Richmond, which, in substance, set forth the presence of so many members of the G. D. convened in special session upon so brief notice, gave encouraging proof of the vitality of the Order.
And indeed it was remarkable, that in the midst of the agitations and doubts of the times, when men's heads are so fully occupied with the aspects of political affairs, that so large a number of gentlemen could be induced to leave their homes and come to the city upon this mission.
Undoubtedly this was due somewhat to the deep interest which is felt in the
Virginia Conductor, fitly spoken in the words of the first resolution adopted:
"'Resolved, That the
Conductor is a necessity, and must be continued.'
"There is no doubt that it will be. We remark, in conclusion, that it was agreed on all hands that this short session was marked by peculiar earnestness and harmony, and promises to result in great good to the organization."
’
