Believing strongly in the influence to be exerted by example, he joined several associations, whose object was of a reformatory character. Uniting himself with the Odd Fellows and Good Templars, he took an active part in the business of both of these orders. In these associations he was among the first to see that the rules were implicitly obeyed and kept inviolate. On one occasion a fellow member of the order of Odd Fellows was on trial for violating one of the sworn conditions on which he entered the lodge, by persisting in getting intoxicated whenever he felt disposed. The member who was most opposed to continuing this habitual drunkard in the lodge was Charles Smedley. In his little speech made in opposition, he boldly and fearlessly asserted that it was immaterial what position the person on trial might occupy--by his late actions the accused had unfitted himself to be continued any longer in the association, and in his opinion should be expelled. In the Order of Good Templars Chas. Smedley attained the highest position in the Lodge of which he was a member. Through his influence many other young men were induced to join and forever eschew that accursed evil which has led to the ruin of many noble youths and caused them to fill premature graves. On the twenty-first of April, 1862, he gave up his interest in the mills, having in contemplation a visit to some of the northern cities. After traveling several weeks in central New York, and spending a few days in the great Eastern Metropolis, young Smedley returned to Pennsylvania on the twenty-first of May. The great rebellion had now been in progress for a year. Throughout the sections of country visited by him, the young men of the North were rapidly volunteering for their country's defense. Thinking it was not right for him to travel now and spend his time, he came home with the determination of serving his country in her hour of peril. Well knowing that the consent of his parents could not be obtained, (they being members of the Society of Friends, one of the most important tenets of which is "a testimony against war,") he bid them adieu and started for Philadelphia, where, on the 29th of May, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company G, 90th Regiment Penna. Volunteers. For some the life of a soldier has its attractions. The sound of martial music, the gay uniform, the novelty of camp life, and the desire for fame--all contribute to allure many into the military service. None of these inducements had any weight with Charles Smedley. No one had a greater hatred of war; but like many others, he felt that this war was prosecuted on the part of the North for _National existence_, and as such differed from wars of aggression. Hence he thought it was _his duty_, as it was the duty of every man, to assist in putting down the rebellion. Maintaining these views, and from motives of the highest patriotism, Chas. Smedley joined the army "for three years or the war."