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diff --git a/77878-h/77878-h.htm b/77878-h/77878-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..58e5728 --- /dev/null +++ b/77878-h/77878-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,30830 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + History of the Woman’s Temperance Crusade. | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +.p4 {margin-top: 4em;} +.p6 {margin-top: 6em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } +hr.full {width: 95%; margin-left: 2.5%; margin-right: 2.5%;} + +hr.r65 {width: 65%; margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 3em; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} +h3.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} +table.autotable { border-collapse: collapse; } +table.autotable td, +table.autotable th { padding: 0.25em; } + +.tdl {text-align: left;} +.tdr {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: small; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; +} /* page numbers */ + +blockquote { + margin-top: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 100%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + +/* Footnotes */ + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +/* .poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} */ +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + + +/* Poetry indents */ +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3.0em;} +.poetry .indent2 {text-indent: -2.0em;} +.poetry .indent6 {text-indent: 0.0em;} +.poetry .indent8 {text-indent: 1.0em;} +.poetry .indent10 {text-indent: 2.0em;} +.poetry .indent28 {text-indent: 11.0em;} + + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp45 {width: 45%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp45 {width: 100%;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77878 ***</div> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_001" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_001.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MRS. ANNIE WITTENMYER,</p> + <p>First President Woman’s National Christian Temperance + Union.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> + +<h1> + HISTORY<br> + OF THE<br> + WOMAN’S TEMPERANCE<br> + CRUSADE. +</h1> + +<p class="center p4"> +A Complete Official History of the Wonderful Uprising of the Christian +Women of the United States against the Liquor Traffic, which +culminated in the Gospel Temperance Movement. +</p> + +<p class="center p4"> + BY MRS. ANNIE WITTENMYER. +</p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: small;"> + AUTHOR OF “WOMAN’S WORK FOR JESUS,” “A JEWELED + MINISTRY,” ETC. +</p> + +<p class="center p4"> + INTRODUCTION<br> + BY MISS FRANCES E. WILLARD. +</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_002" style="max-width: 18.75em;margin-top: 4em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_002.jpg" alt=""> +</figure> + +<p class="center p4"> + PUBLISHED BY<br> + JAMES H. EARLE,<br> + 178 WASHINGTON STREET,<br> + BOSTON, MASS. +</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span></p> + +<hr class="r65" style="margin-top: 6em;"> +<p class="center"> +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, by<br> +MRS. ANNIE WITTENMYER,<br> +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.<br> +</p> +<hr class="r65" style="margin-bottom: 6em;"> + +<p class="center p6" style="font-size: small;"> + BOSTON<br> + W. F. BROWN AND COMPANY, PRINTERS<br> + 218 FRANKLIN STREET +</p> + +<hr class="full"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span></p> + +<p class="center"> +TO<br> +<br> +THE CHRISTIAN WOMEN,<br> +<br> +<i>Who counted not their lives dear unto themselves, but followed<br> +the Master into the Saloons, and Gambling Dens, and<br> +homes of sin, and sorrow, and went joyfully<br> +to prison for Christ’s sake</i>,<br> +<br> +AND TO<br> +<br> +THE WOMAN’S NATIONAL CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION,<br> +<br> +THIS VOLUME<br> +<br> +<i>IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY</i> +</p> + +<p class="right" style="font-weight: bold;"> + THE AUTHOR. +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_4"></a><a id="Page_5"></a>[Pg 5]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFACE"> + PREFACE. +</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>This book is a carefully-prepared official history, of the +wonderful movement known as the Woman’s Temperance +Crusade.</p> + +<p>There has been no effort at literary excellence; yet many +of the thrilling experiences narrated in these pages in simple +words, will live in song and story as long as God and Truth +are honored among the children of men.</p> + +<p>The women who walked with God in the fiery furnace of +the Crusade have been allowed as far as possible to tell of +their work in their own words, and they should be accorded +a gracious hearing.</p> + +<p>In this record there are glimpses of home life, “like apples +of gold in pictures of silver,” for these women are true home-makers; +there are scenes in churches where the awful solemnity +is broken only by the sobs of strong men, as women +with lofty, heaven-born heroism, go out as God’s chosen leaders +in this holy war; there are scenes in the streets, where +bands of pure, true women, surrounded by a howling mob, +kneel in the snow, and with the light of the excellent glory +on their faces, pray as did their Master for just such another +blaspheming, mocking mob: “Father, forgive them, they +know not what they do,” and then out of the jaws of death, +out of the mouth of hell, guided by an invisible hand, sheltered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>by unseen wings, pass through the jeering, filth-reeking, +angry crowd, unharmed.</p> + +<p>There are many things in this book that will tax the credulity +of the reader, but <i>the statements it contains are well-authenticated, +and must be accepted as facts</i>. Nothing, perhaps, +could be more incredible than the accounts, oft-repeated, of the +base and cowardly indignities heaped upon American women, +in their own land, by foreigners, who were protected in their +outrages by the stars and stripes, for which many of these +women had given their husbands, sons and brothers.</p> + +<p>The liquor traffic of this country is mainly in the hands of +a low class of foreigners, and they are responsible for all the +mobs, and nearly all the insults offered to the Christian +women engaged in the Crusade.</p> + +<p>These pages have been prayerfully written, and the facts +they contain are earnestly commended to all who love God, +and Truth, and Justice.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Annie Wittenmyer.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="TABLE_OF_CONTENTS"> + TABLE OF CONTENTS. +</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<table class="autotable"> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"></td> +<td class="tdr">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER I.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Outlook at the Beginning of the Crusade</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Nation Living on her own Vitals</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Calcium Light turned on the Liquor Traffic</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">OHIO.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER II.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Beginning of the Crusade in Ohio</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Response to Dr. Lewis’ Appeal</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mrs. Thompson’s Story</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The First Saloon Prayer-Meeting</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_40">40</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Saloon-Keeper in Tears</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Battle with Dunn, the Druggist</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Lawyer Confounded by Prayer</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Prayer answered after Fifty Years</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Baptized in Whiskey</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Victory at Washington Court-House</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Kneeling in the Snow</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Furious Dutchman</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Facing the Dealer and his Lawyer</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Surrender of every Saloon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Wine banished from State Dinners in Ohio</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Work in Wilmington</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A General Surrender</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New Vienna</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Kenton, Gallipolis, and Greenfield</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Franklin</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Morrow</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Oxford</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">McArthur</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Georgetown</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_96">96</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Logan</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">McConnelsville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Marysville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_103">103</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Findley</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Jamestown</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mount Vernon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Warren</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Steubenville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Youngstown</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Alliance</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New Philadelphia</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">OHIO.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER III.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Cleveland</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_152">152</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ladies Beaten by a Mob</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_154">154</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Mock Prayer-Meeting</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Fierce Dogs subdued by Prayer</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_156">156</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Millersburg</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Zanesville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_168">168</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Painesville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_170">170</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ladies Imprisoned in a Saloon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ashland</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Bellevue</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_176">176</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Bucyrus</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Drunken Mob</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_190">190</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Brutal Treatment of the Ladies by the Police</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Arrest of the Ladies</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Tried and Condemned</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Elyria</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_206">206</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Athens</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Columbus</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_220">220</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Indignities offered to the Ladies</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Meeting in the State House</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Van Wert</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Cincinnati</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_228">228</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Crusade Dog</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_230">230</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Meeting at the Esplanade</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_232">232</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Cannon brought out</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Mayor knocked down by the Mob</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Forty-three Ladies Arrested</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_240">240</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Story of the White Shoes and White Dresses</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">What a Picture did</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Clyde</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Cedarville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Marietta</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Xenia</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_258">258</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Waynesville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_263">263</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New Concord</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_267">267</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ravenna and Marion</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">West Union and Felicity</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_278">278</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Lebanon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Grandville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_280">280</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Leesburg and Blanchester</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Goshen, Zaleski, and Troy</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mansfield</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_283">283</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ripley</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_294">294</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Tiffin</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_296">296</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Bellefontaine</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Springfield</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Newark</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_310">310</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Urbana</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_318">318</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Dayton</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_323">323</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Piqua</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Circleville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_330">330</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Madisonville and Delaware</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_332">332</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Portsmouth</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_334">334</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Stryker</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Chillicothe</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">INDIANA.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER IV.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Shelbyville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Jeffersonville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_348">348</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Chestertown</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Thorntown</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_363">363</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Crawfordsville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_366">366</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Evansville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_368">368</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Madison</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Indianapolis</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_391">391</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Richmond</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_396">396</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">ILLINOIS.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER V.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Chicago</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_399">399</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Visit to the City Council</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_401">401</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Mob of Five or Six Thousand</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_402">402</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Origin of the Daily Temperance Prayer-Meeting</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_405">405</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Jacksonville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_412">412</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Rockford</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_417">417</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Bloomington</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_421">421</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Moline</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_424">424</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">WEST VIRGINIA.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER VI.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Wheeling</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_442">442</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Visit to Laramie’s Variety Theatre</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_444">444</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Laramie’s Harangue</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_445">445</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Visit to the Dancing Girls</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_447">447</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Laramie’s Den Closed</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_448">448</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Savegaut’s Brutal Treatment of the Ladies</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_449">449</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Dealer Checkmated</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_450">450</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Captain Jack and Temperance</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_451">451</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_452">452</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Saloon closed by the Judgments of God</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_455">455</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Forgeries in obtaining Licenses</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_457">457</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Securing the President’s Veto</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_458">458</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Distinguished Paupers in the Poor-House</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_459">459</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">PENNSYLVANIA.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER VII.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Pittsburgh</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_465">465</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">First Arrest of the Ladies</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_469">469</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Their Acquittal</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_470">470</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Rearrested and taken to Jail</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_471">471</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Mob—The Ladies Arrested the Third Time</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_472">472</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Carried to the Court of Common Pleas</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_473">473</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Acquitted—Singing and Praying not Unlawful</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_475">475</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Acting Mayor in the Penitentiary</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_476">476</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Allegheny</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_478">478</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Williamsport</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_482">482</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Judgments meted out</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_484">484</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Blossburg</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_487">487</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Warren</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_488">488</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Philadelphia</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_491">491</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Graduate of Yale Redeemed</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_498">498</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">God can Save a Tramp</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_499">499</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Marvellous Answer to Prayer</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_500">500</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Montrose</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_504">504</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Susquehanna and Troy</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_505">505</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ashley</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_506">506</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">NEW YORK.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER VIII.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Fredonia</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_507">507</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">First Visit to Saloons</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_509">509</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Auburn</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_511">511</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Plattsburg</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_512">512</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Albany</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_514">514</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Syracuse</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_516">516</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Rochester</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_518">518</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Oswego</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_520">520</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Hornellsville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_525">525</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Utica</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_527">527</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Rome</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_531">531</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New York City</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_533">533</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Scene to melt the hardest Heart</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_538">538</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Meetings in a Dance-House</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_540">540</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Walls about New York City</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_543">543</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Brooklyn</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_544">544</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Strange Telegram</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_546">546</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Man Redeemed</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_548">548</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Every Saloon closed where they held Prayer-Meetings</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_551">551</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Captain Oliver Cotter’s Conversion</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_553">553</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Wonderful Saloon Prayer-Meeting</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_554">554</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Binghampton</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_557">557</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Poughkeepsie</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_559">559</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Geneva</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_563">563</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Peekskill</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_565">565</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND R. ISLAND.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span></th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER IX.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">VERMONT.</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_569">569</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">No Saloons in St. Johnsbury</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_570">570</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mechanics growing Rich</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_571">571</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Schemes to evade the Law</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_572">572</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">St. Albans</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_573">573</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">NEW HAMPSHIRE.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Concord</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_575">575</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Portsmouth</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_578">578</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Presentation of Flags to Sailors</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_580">580</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">RHODE ISLAND.</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_581">581</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Visiting the Saloons in Pawtucket</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_583">583</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Visit to the Legislature</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_585">585</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Ladies Victorious</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_586">586</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Reform Club Movement</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_588">588</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">MASSACHUSETTS.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER X.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Convention at Worcester</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_591">591</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Results of Work</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_592">592</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Protest against Wine-Drinking at Public Dinners</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_594">594</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Interview with the Mayor</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_595">595</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Memorial of W. C. T. U.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_596">596</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Response of the Mayor</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_598">598</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Action of the City Council</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_604">604</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">MAINE.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Bangor</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_605">605</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Petition to the City Council</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_606">606</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Establishment of a Club and Reading-Room</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_607">607</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Reformation of Dr. Henry A. Reynolds</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_608">608</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Augusta</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_609">609</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Stroudwater</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_611">611</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Portland</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_614">614</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Opening of a Friendly Inn</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_616">616</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Flower and Diet Missions</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_617">617</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Old Orchard</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_618">618</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">MICHIGAN.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER XI.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Adrian</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_619">619</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Lansing</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_625">625</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Jackson</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_627">627</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Grand Rapids</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_631">631</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Cold Water and Eaton Rapids</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_633">633</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New Boston</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_635">635</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Portland</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_641">641</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Howell</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_642">642</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Allegan</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_643">643</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ionia</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_645">645</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Hudson</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_647">647</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Morenci</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_649">649</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Flint</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_650">650</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Leslie</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_651">651</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Dowagiac</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_653">653</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Colon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_655">655</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, AND MISSOURI.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER XII.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">WISCONSIN.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ripon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_657">657</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Invitation to a Saloon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_658">658</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Praying in Underground Rooms</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_660">660</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Druggist driven away</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_662">662</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Josh and the Election</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_663">663</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Indignities offered</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_665">665</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">MINNESOTA</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_667">667</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">IOWA</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_668">668</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Manchester</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_670">670</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Wilton Junction</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_674">674</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Villisca</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_677">677</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Vinton</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_678">678</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Clinton</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_680">680</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">MISSOURI</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_683">683</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Carthage</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_684">684</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CALIFORNIA <span class="allsmcap">AND</span> OREGON.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">CALIFORNIA</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_687">687</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIII.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Victory at Oakland</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_688">688</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mob at Alameda</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_689">689</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Reign of Terror</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_690">690</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Sallie Hart Assailed</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_690">690</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">An Old Lady Insulted</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_691">691</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Effigy of Sallie Hart Buried</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_692">692</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">German Liquor-Dealers Responsible</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_693">693</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Statement of Rev. O. Gibson</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_695">695</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Affidavit of Officer Krauth</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_697">697</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">OREGON</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_698">698</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Visit to Moffett’s Saloon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_699">699</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">An Irate German</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_700">700</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Brutality of the Police</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_702">702</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mob at Moffett’s</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_703">703</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Pistols, Knives, and Gongs</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_704">704</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Ladies Arrested</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_705">705</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Trial</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_706">706</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Convicted</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_708">708</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Ladies Protest</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_709">709</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Sent to Prison</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_710">710</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Driven from the Jail</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_711">711</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Encouraging Words</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_712">712</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Murder in a Saloon</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_713">713</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">NEW JERSEY.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER XIV.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Newark</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_716">716</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Drunken Engineer Saved</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_717">717</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Drunken Tailor Redeemed</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_718">718</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Miracle of Grace</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_719">719</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Giving up Rum and Tobacco</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_720">720</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Reform Club Organized</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_721">721</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Delirium Tremens Cured</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_724">724</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Drunken Husband Reached</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_725">725</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Roseville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_727">727</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Lambertville and Rahway</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_731">731</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Jersey City</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_732">732</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mt. Holly and New Brunswick</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_733">733</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Hackettstown</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_733">733</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Trenton</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_734">734</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">MARYLAND</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_736">736</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Wail of Women and Children</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_737">737</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Organization</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_738">738</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">State Convention</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_739">739</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The English Sailor-Boy</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_740">740</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Farewell Meeting for Mrs. Parker</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_741">741</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Smallest of the Polished Stones</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_742">742</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Tryst of Maryland</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_743">743</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CONNECTICUT.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New Milford</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_745">745</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Battle—License or No License</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_746">746</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Eastford</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_748">748</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Plainville</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_750">750</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">New Haven</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_754">754</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Stafford</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_755">755</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Ministers Stoned</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_756">756</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Bridgeport</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_756">756</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Hartford</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_758">758</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="1">DELAWARE</th> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_760">760</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Visit to the Legislature</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_761">761</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">I made him what he was</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_762">762</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">A Dealer Confounded</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_763">763</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Mass-Meetings at Wilmington</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_763">763</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">OUTLOOK AFTER THE CRUSADE.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<th colspan="2">CHAPTER XV.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Watchword</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_764">764</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Pulpit</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_765">765</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Sunday-Schools</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_765">765</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">International Medical Congress</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_766">766</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Correspondence of W. C. T. U.</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_766">766</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Views of Drs. Mussey and Rush</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_767">767</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Answer of International Congress</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_768">768</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Alcohol Ruled out of its cherished Place</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_769">769</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Important Advancement</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_770">770</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">What the Crusade was</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_771">771</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Relation of Foreign Emigration to the Liquor Traffic</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_771">771</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Nationality of Dealers in Philadelphia</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_772">772</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Nationality of Prisoners and Paupers</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_773">773</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Outrages that stir Patriotic Blood</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_774">774</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Political Corruption</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_775">775</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">The Bartender to Manage Election Matters</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_776">776</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Sabbath Desecration</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_777">777</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">President Hayes’ View of the Bible</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_778">778</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Personal Liberty</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_779">779</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Hedged about by Law</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_780">780</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdl">Work, and Pray, and Wait</td> +<td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_781">781</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="INTRODUCTION"> + INTRODUCTION. +</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Ours is a famous country for protection. There is +the tariff to protect industry, while the patent laws are +a safeguard to invention. There are the land grants +for railroads, subsidies for steamship companies, charters +for corporations. In many of the States we have +societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, and +in nearly all, laws for the protection of game. Busy +with all these gentle, wise, and patriotic measures, +there is one place our brothers have forgotten adequately +to protect, and that is—Home. The Women’s +Temperance Crusade, embalmed in the pages that +follow, was a protest against this forgetfulness and this +neglect. It was the wild cry of the defenceless and +despairing, whose echo rose to Heaven and still resounds +in every ear that is not deaf. At the height +of that wonderful uprising, a sweet-voiced Quaker +woman led her band to the chief saloon in an Ohio +village. “What business have you to come here?” +roared the affrighted dealer. Going to the bar she +laid her Bible down and said: “Thee knows I had five +sons and twenty grandsons, and thee knows that many +of them learned to drink right in this place, and one +went forth from here maddened with wine and blew +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>his brains out with a pistol ball; and can’t thee let his +mother lay her Bible on the counter whence her boy +took up the glass, and read thee what God says: ‘<i>Woe +unto him that puts the bottle to his neighbor’s lips?</i>’”</p> + +<p>The saloon-keeper had but to point to the wall +behind him, where hung his “License to sell,” bearing +the names of prominent citizens of the village, and +emblazoned with the escutcheon of the Commonwealth. +They all met in that little scene—Gospel and Law, +man’s failure, woman’s grief; while the reason why, +and the place in which they met, gave ample answer +to the question heard so often: <i>What did the Crusade +mean?</i></p> + +<p>There is another question quite as often asked: +<i>What did the Crusade do?</i> One of its leaders made +this reply to the Temperance Sojourner, who writes +these lines: “Well, let me answer from my own experience. +Until it swept over our place, though I had +lived there twenty years, I knew so little about this +drinking business that I couldn’t have pointed out a +saloon in the whole town. I thought the queer-looking +places with blinds and screens were barber-shops. +Since then I have found out that they are shops where +men get shaved—not of their beards, but of their +honor. Since then, too, I took my little four-year-old +boy to market with me one morning, and feeling his +clasp of my hand tighten, I looked down and saw his +head turned backward apprehensively. ‘Why, Willie, +what’s the matter?’ I exclaimed. There were volumes +of meaning in the reproachful roll of his solemn +blue eyes as he whispered: ‘Didn’t mamma know that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span>her little boy was a-passin’ a saloon?’ Surely it was +the crowning achievement of the Crusade that it opened +the eyes of millions of women and children in this land +to the existence and the dangers of the rum-shop. In +consequence of this the public finger points to-day with +imperious gesture at the saloon, and woman’s voice +in tones of irresistible persuasion cries, ‘Look there!’”</p> + +<p>What did the Crusade do? Take another illustration. +In front of a saloon that had refused them entrance, +knelt a crusading group. Their leader was also +the most prominent Methodist lady of the community. +Her head was crowned with the glory of gray hairs; +her hands were clasped, her sweet and gentle voice +was lifted up in prayer. Around her knelt the flower +of all the churches of that city—Congregationalists, +Baptists, Presbyterians—many of whom had never +worked outside their own denominations until now. +At the close, an Episcopal lady offered the Lord’s +prayer, in which joined Unitarians, Swedenborgians, +and Universalists; and when they had finished, a dear +old lady in the dove-colored garb of the Friends’ Society +was moved to pray, while all the time below them +on the curbstone’s edge knelt Bridget with her beads +and her Ave Marie.</p> + +<p>“Going out on the street” signified a good deal +when one comes to think about it. First of all, it +meant stepping outside the denominational fence, +which, properly enough, surrounds one’s home. The +Crusaders felt that “unity of the Spirit” was the one +essential, nor feared to join hands with any who had +the Bible and the temperance pledge for the two articles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>in their “Confession of Faith”—who rallied to +the tune of “Rock of Ages cleft for me,” or had for +their watchword: “Not willing that any should perish.”</p> + +<p>Best of all, “going out on the street” brought +women face to face with the world’s misery and sin. +And here I may be pardoned a bit of personal reminiscence. +Never can I forget the day I met the great +unwashed, untaught, ungospelled multitude for the first +time. Need I say it was the Crusade that opened +before me, as before ten thousand other women, this +wide, “effectual door?” It was in Pittsburgh, the +summer after the Crusade. Greatly had I wished to +have a part in it, but this one experience was my first +and last of “going out with a band.” A young +teacher from the public schools, whose custom it +was to give an hour twice each week to crusading, +walked arm-in-arm with me. Two school-ma’ms +together, we fell into the procession behind the experienced +campaigners. On Market street we entered +a saloon the proprietor of which, pointing to several +men who were fighting in the next room, begged us +to leave, and we did so at once, amid the curses of the +bacchanalian group. Forming in line on the curbstone’s +edge in front of this saloon, we knelt, while an +old lady, to whose son that place had proved the gate +of death, offered a prayer full of tenderness and faith, +asking God to open the eyes of those who, just behind +that screen, were selling liquid fire and breathing curses +on his name. We rose, and what a scene was there! +The sidewalk was lined by men with faces written all +over and interlined with the record of their sin and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>shame. Soiled with “the slime from the muddy banks +of time,” tattered, dishevelled, there was not a sneering +look or a rude word or action from any one of +them. Most of them had their hats off; many looked +sorrowful; some were in tears; and standing there in +the roar and tumult of that dingy street, with that +strange crowd looking into our faces—with a heart +stirred as never until now by human sin and shame, I +joined in the sweet gospel song:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Jesus the water of life will give</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Freely, freely, freely!”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Just such an epoch as that was in my life, has the +Crusade proved to a mighty army of women all over +this land. Does anybody think that, having learned +the blessedness of carrying Christ’s gospel to those +who never come to church to hear the messages we +are all commanded to “Go, tell,” we shall ever lay +down this work? Not until the genie of the Arabian +Nights crowds himself back into the fabulous kettle +whence he escaped by expanding his pinions in nebulous +bars—not until then! To-day and every day +they go forth on their beautiful errands—the “Protestant +nuns” who a few years ago were among the +“anxious and aimless” of our crowded population, or +who belonged to trades and professions overfull—and +with them go the women fresh from the sacred home-hearth +and cradle-side, wearing the halo of these loving +ministries. If you would find them, go not alone to +the costly churches which now welcome their voices, +while to those who are “at ease in Zion” they gently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>speak of the great, whitened harvest. But go to +blacksmith shop and billiard hall, to public reading-room +and depot waiting-room, to the North End in +Boston, Water street, New York, the Bailey coffee-houses +of Philadelphia, the Friendly Inns of Cleveland, +the Woman’s Temperance Room of Cincinnati, +and Lower Farwell Hall, Chicago, and you will find +the glad tidings declared by the new “apostolic succession,” +dating from the Pentecost of the Crusade.</p> + +<p>There is another question often asked, to which this +thought of woman’s temperance work conducts us, viz.: +<i>What is the Crusade doing now?</i></p> + +<p>Those who ask it with supercilious glance furnish an +added illustration of the immense power of the human +mind to resist knowledge.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But his soul is marching on.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Just so with the Crusade. It has come and it has +gone—that whirlwind of the Lord—but it has set forces +in motion which each day become more potent, and +will sweep on until the rum power in America is overthrown. +There was but one Pentecost; doubtless history +will record but one Crusade.</p> + +<p>A phenomenon no less remarkable, though certainly +much less remarked, has succeeded that wonderful +uprising—indeed, is aptly termed its sober, second +thought. This is the phenomenon of <i>organization</i>. The +women who went forth by an impulse sudden, irresistible, +divine, to pray in the saloons, became convinced, +as weeks and months passed by, theirs was to be no +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span>easily-won victory. The enemy was rich beyond their +power to comprehend. He had upon his side the +majesty of law, the trickery of politics, and the leagued +strength of that almost invincible pair—Appetite, +Avarice. He was persistent, too, as Fate. He had +determined to fight it out on that line to the last dollar +of his enormous treasure-house, and the last ounce of +his power. But these women of the Crusade believed in +God, and in themselves as among his appointed instruments +for the destruction of the rum power. They loved +Christ’s cause; they loved the native land that had been +so mindful of them; they loved their sweet and sacred +homes. And so it came about that, though they had +gone forth only as skirmishers, they soon fell into line +of battle; though they had innocently hoped to overcome +the enemy by a sudden assault, they buckled on the +armor for the long campaign. The Women’s Praying +Bands, earnest, impetuous, inspired, became the +Women’s Temperance Unions, firm, patient, persevering. +The Praying Bands were without leadership save +that which inevitably results from the survival of the +fittest; the Women’s Unions are regularly officered. +The first wrought their grand pioneer work in sublime +indifference to prescribed forms of procedure; “So say +we, all of us,” being the spirit of “motions” often +“made, seconded and carried” by the Chair, while the +assembled women nodded their earnest acquiescence; +the second are possessed of good strong “Constitutions” +(with By-Laws annexed), and follow their +“Order of Business” with a dutiful regard to parliamentary +usage. The Praying Bands, looking for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>immediate deliverance, pressed their numbers into +incessant service; the Women’s Unions, aware that +the battle is to be a long one, ask their members only +for such help as can be given consistently with other +duties. Enthusiasm—“a God in us”—enabled the +Praying Bands to accomplish prodigies; patient purpose, +with the same faith that inspired the Crusade, is +conducting the Unions to victory—distant, but sure. +To-day twenty-three States are organized, with +thousands of local auxiliaries, and all confederated in +a National Union.</p> + +<p>It is safe to say that never did any form of philanthropic +work afford scope for so great diversity of talent +and of method as this branch of the temperance reform +“of the women, by the women.” In the days of the Crusade +a dear old grandmother said: “I’m of no use +except to go along and cry,” and in the same spirit a +negro servant said to the lady for whom she worked: +“I be’ant good for much, but I kin hold the ole ombereller +over you;” and even the family dog sometimes +walked with stately step beside his mistress as she lead +her “Band.” So, in these blessed days that have succeeded, +and which have brought such inspiration to our +lives that “I’m glad I’m alive!” is a frequent exclamation, +there is a place that seems “just made on purpose” +for every honest heart and helpful hand. Some +feel a special call to the gospel work, and others to +the execution of the law; some give their time to +organizing Unions, others to canvassing for subscribers +to our paper; some raise money, others raise the +tone of public sentiment; some work among the children, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>others labor for the men who drink and sell, and all +are warmly welcomed and find abundant “elbow-room.”</p> + +<p>It was the great Iconoclast, that wonderful Crusade! +It broke down sectarian barriers; it taught women +their power to transact business, to mould public opinion +by public utterance, to influence the decisions of +voters, and opened the eyes of scores and hundreds +to the need of the Republic for the suffrages of women, +and made them willing to take up for their homes and +country’s sake the burdens of that citizenship they +would never have sought for their own.</p> + +<p>But best of all, it revealed to the mothers and +daughters in our Israel their opportunity and duty to +employ the growing leisure which our advancing +civilization and multiplied mechanical contrivances +afford them, in building up Christ’s empire on the +earth. It is a very plain, practical matter to help +organize the kingdom of heaven in a human breast. +It is a business enterprise based on an eminently +practical treatise known as the New Testament. Replace +the brandy flask in the pocket of a drinking +man by the Bible—get him to read with sincere wish +to understand the words that are spirit and life, and +you have set in motion the forces of a new dispensation +in his heart. You have built him up within +instead of propping him from without. To give him a +loaf of bread, if hungry, would be a good thing, but to +put him on track of getting one for himself by feeding +him with heavenly bread, is better. To put a broken +arm in a sling is a kind act, but if one could by an +electric touch make that arm whole, that were the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>supreme benefaction, and analogous to that is the loving +“gospel work” by which we help to enthrone conscience +and enshrine Christ in a man’s soul. The +process is plain and simple as the Rule of Three. +The geometric formula that “all the angles of a triangle +equal two right angles” is not more demonstrable upon +the blackboard than this rule is demonstrable in a life, +namely: Prayer will cause a man to cease from sinning, +as sin will cause a man to cease from prayer. The +whole problem of “how to do it” was wrought out +over and over again by the women of the Crusade. +They proved anew to the great church militant that its +solution involves, and ever must, the individualism of +Christ’s own way of working; that “the masses” are +to be lifted up one by one, and not otherwise. It is a +question of contact. It is “elbow heathen” the Crusaders +reached, just because they found them at their +elbows. They acted on the principle that the man and +woman in the next alley to us are a part of our parish +in the geographical nature of things. Some people +spend a lifetime chasing after “the masses,” and are in +such hot pursuit they cannot stop to capture the unit +of the mass—and that’s the nearest and the neediest +man. The masses elude us; the next door neighbor +couldn’t if he would, and wouldn’t if he could. The +masses are a glittering generality; the man, poor, +needy, wicked, sad, is a most unglittering fact. It is +the way an army is recruited—one by one; it is the +way commerce marches across a continent and captures +it for civilization—one by one; it is the way Christ’s +church adds to its members, and heaven to its souls—one +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>by one. And first, best, and most sacred of the +lessons taught by the Crusade, was <i>this lesson of individual +work for Christ</i>, which must be learned by every +disciple before Christ comes as King in government, +in society and individual life.</p> + +<p>Travelling through Ohio two years ago, and resting +for a night in some dear temperance woman’s +home, how many times I said: “Now talk to me of the +Crusade,” and how significantly uniform was the reply: +“O, that was something only to be felt and lived; to +be wept and prayed over—it wasn’t to be told.”</p> + +<p>But as you, dear sisters of Ohio, Indiana, and other +States both east and west, were helped to do a work +so wonderful, even so, as I believe, has our dear President +of the National Union, which grew out of the +Crusade, been helped to be its faithful Chronicler. +We, who can but claim to be eleventh-hour laborers +at best, may never see the passion flower that +burst into such splendid bloom before your eyes, +but evermore we shall be grateful to her whose patient +hands gathered up its scattered petals and preserved +them for the herbarium of our memory. Nay, +not for ours alone. Posterity will listen to the story +and place its heroines in the Pantheon of undying +fame. And yet how well I know you have not wrought +for this; nor is it a regret to you that, as in this History +our friend has written, so in later times the record +shall embalm your deeds, but not your names. One +human life and work signifies little to the world. But +O, if we have tried to bless the lives about us, whether +in the sweet evangelism of our homes or in the grand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>philanthropies by which society becomes the foster-parent +of thousands who are worse than motherless, +we shall not have lived in vain. Wherever in the +nobler future of the land we love, there are safe and +happy homes, they will be safer and more happy +because we have lived and toiled. Wherever little +children grow to maturity with less to lure them into +sin, and tempted manhood finds more helpful hands +outstretched to save, there we shall still be blessing, +there we shall still be blessed, though our names may +be forgotten. O, “may we join the choir invisible,” +whose voices, sounding onward through the ages, shall +speak to sad humanity of Him who yesterday, to-day, +forever, abides the same!</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“In the cross of Christ I glory,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Towering o’er the wreck of time;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">All that’s bright in human story</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Radiates from its form divine!”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="right"> + FRANCES E. WILLARD. +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="smcap">Chicago</span>,</p> +</blockquote> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_026" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_026.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MISS FRANCES E. WILLARD,</p> + <p>First Corresponding Secretary Woman’s National + Christian Temperance Union.</p> + <p>Elected President in 1879.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + HISTORY<br> + OF THE<br> + WOMEN’S TEMPERANCE CRUSADE. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I"> + CHAPTER I. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak"> + THE OUTLOOK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE CRUSADE. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>We are a nation of God’s own right-hand planting. +The Lord has given us a goodly heritage—a land literally +flowing with milk and honey. It is estimated +that our grain fields are broad and rich enough to +supply the people of all nations with bread. We have +mineral wealth in rich abundance; and cotton, and flax, +and wool, and silks and furs with which to clothe ourselves +in royal apparel. Our scheme of government is +wise, and just, and humane—the best that was ever +vouchsafed to any people. And God has been with +us in his providence in a marked and wonderful manner; +so that all our enemies have been subdued before us +by the breath of his power. At his word steam has lent +her wings, and the lightnings their voice, and heaven +spread the wires of her whispering gallery, like a network, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>over the continent, to help on the cause of liberty +and human progress.</p> + +<p>Under these favorable circumstances, we might have +been the strongest and richest nation in the world had +not our rulers in their unwisdom encouraged the +liquor traffic, and adopted a scheme of raising public +revenue in connection therewith which has been destructive +to our moral, industrial, and financial interests.</p> + +<p>To avoid imposing a direct tax for the support of +the government, Congress in 1794 recognized and +taxed the liquor traffic as a branch of commerce. +State legislatures soon followed the same unwise and +suicidal course. From that time on, protected and +encouraged by the government, which shared in its +spoils, the traffic in intoxicating drinks increased rapidly. +In 1873, the beginning of the crusade, according +to the estimate of Dr. Young, Chief of the Bureau of +Statistics, our annual drink bill reached the enormous +sum of $600,000,000! This was an annual tax of +over $15 per capita for every man, woman, and child +in the country. If the government had levied a direct +tax to secure the amount she realized from this business, +the cost to the people per capita would have +been less than $1.80 instead of $15. And then the +government would have saved the immense sum +expended annually in sustaining a standing army of +revenue officers, detectives, and gaugers required in +connection with the liquor business.</p> + +<p>This enormous tax, which reached all grades of society, +fell heaviest on the laboring classes—upon those +who could not afford to pay it; and poverty and ruin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>came to millions. The whole land was filled with beggary +and crime, and a bitter wail of want and woe +without surcease went up to God. Millions who ought +to have been producers and bread-winners, became +consumers, tramps and criminals. Men, mad with +strong drink, reeled through the streets; women, +grown old before their time, toiled in their comfortless +homes in dumb despair, and little half-starved children +hid away in fear from their brutal fathers. It was with +us as it was with the Egyptians—there was one dead +in almost every house.</p> + +<p>But the liquor-dealers were so intrenched behind +law, so sheltered in politics, so guarded and sustained +by the government, that they were an oligarchy that +could dictate to statesmen, and control legislatures, and +defy public sentiment. Restrictive laws in most of the +states were weak and inoperative, and the demand for +“free rum” and a “free Sabbath” was fierce and loud, +and many of the old barriers against drunkenness and +lewdness and crime were being broken down. The government +of our large cities was largely in the hands of +liquor-dealers or the creatures of their choice, and the +police force under their control; many of the courts +were overawed or corrupted; Justice was perverted, +and Right and Truth trampled under foot. There was +no redress anywhere for those who had been wronged +and ruined by the liquor traffic; for the liquor oligarchy, +which was largely made up of foreigners, had the +government by the throat, and compelled her “to drink +of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”</p> + +<p>Spies were in the secret chambers of the government; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span>men high in places of trust guarded the liquor +interests; enormous frauds were planned and carried +forward year after year; men who ought to have been +in the penitentiary were lobbying their schemes for +plunder through legislative bodies; the air of the +national council chamber was reeking with alcohol and +tobacco. There seemed no hope for us or our country. +Congress was so much under the influence of the +rum power that they refused even to look into the +matter when “a commission of inquiry” was asked for +by <i>hundreds of thousands of the best people in the land</i>, +lest they should give offence to the liquor oligarchy. +Party managers were careful to lay down their platforms +so that liquor-dealers could stand securely on +every plank, no matter how many honest, worthy citizens +were crowded off.</p> + +<p><i>The nation was living on her own vitals.</i> For every +thousand dollars received from the liquor oligarchy, +the government sacrificed one of her own citizens. +Sixty millions of dollars received—sixty thousand men +sacrificed annually on this putrid altar of sin.</p> + +<p>This was asserted over and over again till the whole +land rang with it, but the government was too much +under the control of liquor-dealers, who counselled +silence and secrecy, to investigate the charge. Legislatures +cowering before the liquor power spent their +time making laws for the protection of the beasts of +the field, and the birds of the air, and the fishes of the +sea, while thousands of men and women who were “of +more value than many sparrows” were going down to +death. Men were fined for allowing Canada thistles +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>to grow on their land, but saloons were allowed to +scatter the thistle-down of profanity, lewdness, theft, +robbery and murder broadcast. And any attempt to +stop the ruinous work was branded by liquor-dealers +as a gross usurpation of authority.</p> + +<p>So the people were intimidated, and the drink curse +fitted down into every fold of society, and rested like +a heavy, crushing weight on every heart and home. +The darkness was intense. None but the angels of +God, whose wings of light parted the clouds of gloom +as they came down on errands of mercy—none but the +white-robed saints, who went with weary feet bearing +the lamp of truth into the habitations of cruelty, into +the saloons, and brothels and jails—knew, or guessed +half of the sin and sorrow curtained away behind the +black folds of the liquor traffic.</p> + +<p>The slaves of appetite were not the only ones who +writhed beneath the iron heel of rum, and felt its hellish, +fiery breath. The innocent suffered with the +guilty. This black, fathomless gulf of death swept +right alongside of Christian homes, and children trained +in the lessons of truth with loving care, consecrated +at family altars and in the church, were swept away +from purity, home, mother and heaven, and cursing +God, went down, down with the mighty throng into the +dark abyss of a drunkard’s grave and a drunkard’s hell.</p> + +<p>The church, in the presence of these evils she was +commissioned to overthrow, was criminally silent and +inactive, and many of the watchmen on the walls of +Zion were dumb, and gave no warning voice when they +saw the approach of the enemy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span></p> + +<p>Temperance was not popular. Many who were +abstainers said: “It is folly to war against the drink +system; men will sell as long as men will drink, and +no power can stop men from drinking.” Temperance +societies that had labored heroically for nearly a half +century were holding their own against fearful odds—fighting +the battle single-handed.</p> + +<p>The women were hopeless. Oh, the agony, the +tears, the sleepless nights, the heart-breaking anguish +that wives and mothers suffered during those long, +bitter years of sorrow and silence, when few seemed +to care that the demon had come into their houses and +was doing his bloody work. When their hearts were +breaking, if they cried out in their agony or ventured +a protest in the saloon or court, the liquor oligarchy +howled them down with the “mad dog cry” of “Strong-minded,” +“Unwomanly,” “Go home, old woman, and +mend your husband’s breeches,” “Go home and darn +your stockings;” and the world joined in the laugh +of scorn, and the church made no defence of the +wronged and broken-hearted. And so the money that +ought to have come to them to buy new clothing, went +into the tills of the liquor-dealers, and they stayed at +home till the home was gone, and mended garments +till there were no garments to mend. No pen can +portray the utter hopelessness of the women into whose +homes the drink curse had come. The men who had +sworn at the altar to protect and honor them had become +demons from whom they fled in fear; the white-souled +children they had nurtured with tenderest care, +and cradled with prayer and Christian song, had become +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>loathsome sots, too low and brutish for companionship. +They had been robbed of all—property, social +position, brothers, husbands, sons, love and hope.</p> + +<p>Nor were their more fortunate sisters free from care. +The gulf of ruin was near each door, and an undefined +dread, an awful foreboding, was in the heart of every +thoughtful wife and mother lest all she loved should +be swallowed up in its black depths.</p> + +<p>Countless unspoken prayers went up to God. Women +weeping and praying through the long night-watches +appealed their cause, lost in so many of the +courts of earth, to the <i>Supreme Court</i> of Heaven.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the world was startled by a flash of +heavenly light. Hands of faith had touched the hem +of power, and a mighty spiritual swirl came down upon +the people. Christian women, many of whom had +never spoken or prayed in their own churches, under +this Pentecostal baptism went into the streets and +saloons preaching the gospel of Christ, and the people +gathered by thousands to listen to the truths that fell +from their lips.</p> + +<p>The air seemed surcharged with spiritual forces. +The angel of the Lord that John the Revelator saw +was before the altar, “and there was given him much +incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all +saints upon the altar which was before the throne. +And the smoke of the incense which came with the +prayers of all saints ascended up before God out of +the angel’s hand.</p> + +<p>“And the angel took the censer and filled it with fire +of the altar, and cast it into the earth, and there were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>voices and thunderings and lightnings and an earthquake.”</p> + +<p>The whole nation was stirred. Never before had +men so trembled under the power of prayer, or stood +in such awe of the fierce lightnings of God’s wrath. +Never before had society been so shaken by a moral +earthquake.</p> + +<p>The women who kept step with God in his grand +onward marching were calm and serene. To them +the thunder and lightning was but the roll and rumble +of God’s artillery turned against their enemies, and the +earthquake the tread of their Captain and his mighty +hosts. Inspired by a heaven-born heroism, they went +into the saloons, and facing the liquor-dealers in the +midst of their deadly work, entreated them in God’s +name to give up their business and seek pardon and +salvation in Christ.</p> + +<p>Delicately nurtured women, who had not felt the +awful evil in their own homes, and who had passed by +on the other side and hardly ventured to look toward +the dens where their neighbors’ children were being +murdered by the slow tortures that kill soul and body, +marched boldly into the saloons and on into the back +rooms where the awful secrets of sin and debauchery +are hid away, and preached to the spirits in prison +there. Men who walked among the tombs heard +through them the voice of the Master and were delivered.</p> + +<p>Public attention was directed to the liquor traffic as +never before. A calcium light had been turned upon +it, and the mass of the people were horrified at what +they saw and heard.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span></p> + +<p>Liquor-dealers writhed under this close scrutiny—under +this blaze of light—like serpents in the fire, +spitting forth their venom and stinging themselves in +their fury. But when Mrs. Thompson and the seventy +women who followed her went out of the Presbyterian +Church at Hillsboro’, Ohio, singing,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Give to the winds your fears;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Hope and be undismayed:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears:</div> + <div class="verse indent2">God will lift up thy head—”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">they heralded a new dispensation in the temperance +work—a union of the moral forces of earth with the +invincible forces of heaven, and victory was assured.</p> + +<p>The Crusade, then, was God’s method of arousing +public sentiment and consolidating the moral forces of +the land, and women His chosen instruments for this +important and unusual work.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + OHIO.<br> + THE BEGINNING OF THE CRUSADE. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II"> + CHAPTER II. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="HILLSBORO_OHIO"> + HILLSBORO’, OHIO. +</h3> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center">I am indebted to Mrs. Dean K. Fenner for this able report; I have added but +little to it.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>On the evening of the 23d December, 1873, there +might have been seen in the streets of Hillsboro’, Ohio, +persons singly or in groups wending their way to +Music Hall, where a lecture on temperance was to be +delivered by Dr. Dio Lewis, of Boston, Massachusetts.</p> + +<p>Some account of the town and people of Hillsboro’ +is necessary in this connection. It is a small place, +containing something more than 3,000 people, and +situated in a beautiful part of southern Ohio. Owing +to the educational advantages of the place—there being +two colleges for young ladies there and a large public +school—the inhabitants are rather better educated than +is usually the case in small towns, and its society is +indeed noted in that part of the country for its quietude, +culture, and refinement.</p> + +<p>But Hillsboro’ was by no means exempt from the +prevailing scourge of intemperance. The early settlers +of Hillsboro’ were mostly from Virginia, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>brought with them the old-fashioned ideas of hospitality. +No sideboard was considered properly furnished +unless the usual supply of decanters and +glasses was there. The habit of drinking was almost +the rule. For many years previous to the crusade the +professional men, and especially of the bar, were nearly +all habitual drinkers, and many of them very dissipated. +Of course the influence of their example was felt +everywhere about them, and extended to the next +generation. When a few earnest temperance men, +among whom was Governor Allen Trimble, initiated a +total abstinence movement in or about the year 1830, +the pulpit took up arms against them, and a condemnatory +sermon was preached in one of the churches.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that although from time to time men, +good and true, banded themselves together in efforts +to break up this dreadful state of things and reform +society, all endeavors seemed to fail of any permanent +effect. Outside appearances were indeed better. The +farmers could get their harvests in without a keg of +whiskey, and the family grocers no longer sold it with +their tea and sugar. But in many homes the light of +hope was gone out. Mothers were heart-broken and +wives worse than widowed. Sighs and tears were +continually poured out from sorrowing souls, who saw +no hand stretched out for their deliverance.</p> + +<p>The plan laid down by Dr. Lewis challenged attention +by its novelty at least. He believed and argued +that the work of temperance reform might be successfully +carried on by women if they would set about it in +the right manner—going to the saloon-keeper in a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>spirit of Christian love, and persuading him for the +sake of humanity and his own eternal welfare to quit +the hateful, soul-destroying business. The doctor +spoke with enthusiasm; and, seeing him so full of +faith, the hearts of the women seized the hope—a +forlorn one, ’tis true, but still a hope—and when Dr. +Lewis asked if they were willing to undertake the +task, scores of women rose to their feet, and there was +no lack of good men who pledged themselves to +encourage and sustain the women in their work.</p> + +<p>A meeting for the further development of the plan +was agreed upon, to be held in the Presbyterian +Church at ten o’clock next morning, Wednesday, +December 24th, and at the time appointed there was +gathered a solemn assembly. A strange work was to +be done, and by unaccustomed hands.</p> + +<p>On bended knee, and with uplifted hearts, they +invoked the blessing and guidance of Him “who knoweth +the end from the beginning,” and then proceeded +to the business of the hour.</p> + +<p>Rev. W. J. McSurely, pastor of the Presbyterian +Church, was called to the chair. A committee was +appointed to prepare an appeal which was to be presented +to the liquor-sellers; also a druggist’s pledge +and a dealer’s pledge.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_041" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_041.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MRS. ELIZA J. THOMPSON,</p> + <p>Leader of the First Crusade Band.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>Officers were then elected: Mrs. Eliza J. Thompson, +President; Mrs. Sally McDowell, Vice-President; Mrs. +Mary B. Fenner, Secretary.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Thompson is the daughter of ex-Governor +Trimble, of Ohio. She is a lady of culture, about sixty +years of age, of modest and pleasant appearance and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>very agreeable manners. She speaks with great simplicity, +in a conversational style, and with a quaintness +that is peculiarly attractive. Whenever she addresses +an audience she is sure of an attentive hearing.</p> + +<p>Her recital of</p> + +<p class="center"> +“THE FIRST CRUSADE” +</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">is somewhat on this wise: “On the 22d of last December +Dr. Dio Lewis lectured before our lyceum. It was +a literary lecture, and the subject was ‘Our Girls.’ I +wasn’t there. My boy came home and said, ‘Ma, +they’ve got you into business;’ and went on to tell +that Dio Lewis had incidentally related the successful +effort of his mother, by prayer and persuasion, to close +the saloon in a town where he lived when a boy, and +that he had exhorted the women of Hillsboro’ to do +the same, and fifty had risen up to signify their willingness, +and that they looked to me to help them to carry +out their promise. As I’m talking to you here familiarly, +I’ll go on to say that my husband, who had +retired, and was in an adjoining room, raised up on his +elbow and called out, ‘Oh! that’s all tomfoolery!’ I +remember I answered something like this: ‘Well, +husband, the men have been in the tomfoolery business +a long time; perhaps the Lord is going to call us +into partnership with them.’ I said no more. The +next morning my brother-in-law, Colonel ——, came +in and told me about the meeting, and said, ‘Now, you +must be sure to go to the women’s meeting at the +church this morning; they look to see you there.’ +Our folks talked it all over, and my husband said, +‘Well, we all know where your mother’ll take this case +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>for counsel,’ and then he pointed to the Bible and left +the room.</p> + +<p>“I went into the corner of my room, and knelt down +and opened my Bible to see what God would say to +me. Just at that moment there was a tap on the door +and my daughter entered. She was in tears; she held +her Bible in her hand, open to the 146th Psalm. She +said, ‘Ma, I just opened to this, and I think it is for +you,’ and then she went away, and I sat down and +read</p> + +<p class="center"> +THIS WONDERFUL MESSAGE FROM GOD. +</p> + +<p>“‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of +man, in whom there is no help. Happy is he that +hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in +the Lord his God; which keepeth truth forever; which +executeth judgment for the oppressed; the Lord +looseth the prisoners; the Lord openeth the eyes of +the blind; the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down; +the Lord loveth the righteous; the Lord relieveth the +fatherless and the widow—<i>but the way of the wicked he +turneth upside down</i>. The Lord shall reign forever, +even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye +the Lord!’</p> + +<p>“I knew that was for me, and I got up, put on my +shoes, and started. I went to the church, in this town +where I was born. I sat down quietly in the back part +of the audience-room, by the stove. A hundred ladies +were assembled. I heard my name—heard the whisper +pass through the company, ‘Here she is!’ ‘She’s +come!’ and before I could get to the pulpit, they had +put me ‘in office’—I was their leader.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> + +<p>“Many of our citizens were there, and our ministers +also. They stayed a few minutes, and then rose and +went out, saying, ‘This is your work—we leave it with +the women and the Lord.’ When they had gone, I +just opened the big pulpit Bible and read that 146th +Psalm, and told them the circumstance of my selecting +it. The women sobbed so I could hardly go on. +When I had finished, I felt inspired to call on a dear +Presbyterian lady to pray. She did so without the +least hesitation, though it was the first audible prayer +in her life. I can’t tell you anything about that prayer, +only that the words were like fire.</p> + +<p>“When she had prayed, I said—and it all came to +me just at the moment—</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘NOW, LADIES, LET US FILE OUT, TWO BY TWO, +</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">the smallest first, and let us sing as we go,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Give to the winds thy fears.”’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“We went first to John ——’s saloon. Now, John +was a German, and his sister had lived in my family +thirteen years, and she was very mild and gentle, and +I hoped it might prove a family trait, but I found out +it wasn’t. He fumed about dreadfully and said, ‘It’s +awful; it’s a sin and a shame to pray in a saloon!’ But +we prayed right on just the same.”</p> + +<p>That the choice was dictated by God we must believe, +for in all the trials and discouragements which +have beset us, and they have been many, her trust in +God has never failed. She had tested his faithfulness +through many years of heavy and sore trouble, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>had proved that his promises are “Yea and amen, to +them that believe.” And no other woman could have +kept up such a spirit of courage and hopefulness in +the little band of devoted women, who have met week +after week, all these years, to pray for God’s blessing +on the work.</p> + +<p>After the election of officers, came the plan for work. +It was decided to go to the drug stores first, so that +the saloonists might not plead their example as an excuse +for themselves.</p> + +<p>Mrs. J. M. Boyd was chosen to present the appeal +on that visit. All the druggists signed the pledge +except Mr. Dunn, of whom more hereafter.</p> + +<p>Next day the ladies held another meeting, but decided +not to make any visitations, it being Christmas-day, +and the hotel-keepers more than usually busy and +not likely to listen very attentively to our proposition.</p> + +<p>On the 26th, the hotels and saloons were visited; +Mrs. Thompson presenting the appeal. And it was on +this morning, and at the saloon of Robert Ward, that +there came a break in the established routine. “Bob” +was a social, jolly sort of fellow, and his saloon was a +favorite resort, and there were many women in the +company that morning whose hearts were aching in +consequence of his wrong-doing. Mrs. Thompson +presented the appeal, another lady read a selection in +the Bible, and then Mrs. Thompson began to talk to +him; and she did it with her heart all stirred up by the +memory of the wrongs the man had done to many +whose weakness he had taken advantage of, dragging +them down to disgrace and ruin. Ward was evidently +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>touched. He confessed that it was a “bad business,” +said if he could only “afford to quit it he would,” and +then tears began to flow from his eyes. Many of the +ladies were weeping, and at length, as if by inspiration, +Mrs. Thompson kneeled on the floor of the saloon, all +kneeling with her, even the saloonist, and prayed, +pleading with indescribable pathos and earnestness for +the conversion and salvation of this and all saloon-keepers. +When the amen was sobbed rather than +spoken, Mrs. Washington Doggett’s sweet voice began, +“There is a fountain,” etc., in which all joined; +the effect was most solemn, and when the hymn was +finished the ladies went quietly away, and that was the +first saloon prayer-meeting.</p> + +<p>This is a fair specimen of the saloon visiting as +carried on in Hillsboro’ for more than three months. +Then the doors were locked and the prayer-meetings +were held on the pavements; extreme care was taken +not to obstruct the passage-way.</p> + +<p>Mr. W. H. H. Dunn, the druggist, who refused to +sign the druggist’s pledge, and who was known to be +selling whiskey for drinking, and to minors, too, in disobedience +of the law, became very much incensed at +the continuous effort on the part of the women to persuade +him to sign the pledge, and I may say here that +not the women alone plead with him; a petition signed +by a large number of the leading men of the place +was presented to him by two of the oldest and most +respected citizens, without the least effect. Let it be +said as some excuse for him that he had bad advisers, +and that large sums of money were sent him by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>Whiskey Ring, that he might be able to fight the Crusaders +in the courts.</p> + +<p>The first thing done was the issuing of a “pronunciamento,” +forbidding the women to sing and pray on +his store steps, or on the sidewalk in front of his store. +This was printed on slips of paper, and copies scattered +over the town, and about the front of the drug +store in question. This was early in the morning of +the 31st January, 1874, and when the hour came for the +usual prayer-meeting, there was a great questioning +as to what was to be done; finally, some of the gentlemen +said the ladies should go on the street as usual, +and that by the time they had gone the round of the +saloons, a place would be ready in front of Mr. Dunn’s.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, in an hour or two, there was erected +in front of the drug store a covered structure, made +of boards and canvas, enclosed on three sides, and +open on the side next the store. The ladies soon took +possession and held a prayer-meeting.</p> + +<p>Mr. Dunn could not stand that, so he applied to +Judge Safford, then presiding at court in Hillsboro’, for +an injunction against this “tabernacle.” The injunction +was granted, and a notice served on Mr. Sayler, +a very active temperance man, after he had gone to +bed. It was Saturday night, and in order that he +might obey the law and still keep the Sabbath, he +dressed himself, procured some help, and had everything +removed by twelve o’clock. An appeal was made +at once by the temperance people for dissolution of the +injunction; the case was heard by Judge Steele, at the +February term of court, and the injunction dissolved +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>on the finding of a legal flaw in the application of the +plaintiff. But Mr. Dunn was not to be quieted. He +now brought a suit for “trespass” against the Crusaders, +and asked $10,000 damages.</p> + +<p>This suit was heard before Judge Gray, at the May +term of court, 1875. Able counsel was employed on +both sides. The question was felt to be a vital one, +and the court-room was crowded to overflowing for +<i>seventeen days</i>. The examination of witnesses occupied +thirteen or fourteen days, though not nearly all +of the two hundred were called to the stand.</p> + +<p>One incident of this trial must be told. It happened +during Judge Safford’s speech, one of Mr. Dunn’s +counsel. There was in the court-room a dear old lady, +Mrs. Margaret Foreaker, a genuine mother in Israel, +who, full of faith, prayed much during the trial, and +while Judge Safford was speaking, prayed especially +that he might be “confounded.” He had been going +along swimmingly, and entirely to the satisfaction of +his friends, when suddenly he seemed to lose the +thread of his argument, dropped his eye-glasses two or +three times, could not find his references, made quotations +not bearing on the points he was trying to establish, +and his embarrassment was so obvious that Mrs. +F. said afterward she did not know but she had +“prayed too hard.” The judge did not recover himself, +and one of Dunn’s friends went over to the hotel +and reported the case as “lost,” that Judge Safford +had ruined it.</p> + +<p>The jury were compelled by the ruling of the court +to bring a verdict against the defendants, and laid the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>costs on them, with $5 damages. Counsel for the defence +made a bill of exceptions to the rulings of Judge +Gray, and the case was carried to the Supreme Court +of the State. It is still pending, but will probably be +dismissed, as Mr. W. H. H. Dunn is now a <i>bankrupt</i>. +<i>Mr. Sayler owns</i> the store, and Mr. Dunn’s assignee +will not defend the suit in Supreme Court.</p> + +<p>The “street work” was not resumed after the Dunn +suits began. It was thought best not to defy the law +even in appearance until the decision of the courts +should be known. But there was plenty to do. The +new constitution was about to be presented to the +people of Ohio, and “License” or “No License” was +the great question. The women girded themselves for +the strife. Into the school districts and smaller towns +they went in little parties, held meetings, organized +leagues, circulated petitions, and kept on praying. +The license clause was defeated.</p> + +<p>A few miles north of Hillsboro’ is the little village +of L——. It is quite a pleasant little place; the people +are intelligent; there are two churches, good +schools, and a few stores, etc. But there was one +drawback to the peace of the community, and that was +the drinking-saloon attached to the hotel. The proprietor +was one of the oldest citizens, and when the +Crusade began it was hoped that he would at once +come over on the temperance side. But as he did not, +there was a meeting called in the little white church to +consider what should be done. The meeting was large, +and after a prayer, a visiting committee of ladies went +down to Mr. ——’s saloon. He met them at the door, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>and very kindly invited them into the parlor with his +amiable wife and daughter. There they talked the +matter over, but he refused to sign the pledge. The +next day they called again, and he was very angry and +locked the door; but on the third day, seeing that the +whole community was roused, he grew calm, and said, +“Ladies, I will not sign your pledge; but I will promise +you in the presence of God that I will never sell +another drop of liquor in this town after the 20th of +this month, and if I violate my word you may have +every cent I am worth. I will walk out and you may +walk in.” He kept his word for a while, but the temptation +to put a few more dimes in his pocket was too +strong, and he secretly bought another barrel of whiskey. +Just at this time several of the leading temperance +women were sick and could not visit him, but +“God met him.” The quiet village was alarmed by +the cry of “fire!” It was the <i>hotel</i>. It caught from a +segar thrown into a sawdust spittoon in the <i>saloon</i>. +While it was burning, a lady said, “O, dear! our town +is built so compactly, it will all burn.” “Never thee +fear,” said a good Quaker sister, “not a building will +burn but that one. Don’t thee see? not a leaf is moving; +the flames go straight up, and the sparks fall +back on the house.” She was right. The hotel, store, +saloon, and all belonging to it were entirely burned, +while not another house caught fire. Unappalled by +this judgment, Mr. —— built a room on the same lot +in which to sell whiskey, but became paralyzed, and in +a short time died a miserable death. There is no +whiskey now sold in L——.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span></p> + +<p>I want to relate one or two little incidents that show +the hardening effect of liquor-selling on the dealer.</p> + +<p>There was a saloon-keeper brought from Greenfield +to H—— to be tried under the Adair law. The poor +mother who brought the suit had besought him not to +sell to her son—“her only son.” He replied roughly +that he would sell to him “as long as he had a dime.” +Another mother, an old lady, made the same request, +“lest,” she said, “he may some day fill a drunkard’s +grave.” “Madam,” he replied, “your son has as good +a right to fill a drunkard’s grave as any other mother’s +son.” And in one of the Hillsboro’ saloons a lady saw +her nephew. “O, Mr. B——,” said she, “don’t sell +whiskey to that boy: if he has one drink he will want +another, and he may die a drunkard.” “Madam, I will +sell to him if it sends his soul to hell,” was the awful +reply. The last man is a peculiarly hard, stony sort +of man; his lips look as if chiselled out of flint, a man +to be afraid of. One morning, when the visiting band +reached his door, they found him in a very bad humor. +He locked his door and seated himself on the horse-block +in front in a perfect rage, clenched his fist, +swore furiously, and ordered us to go home. Some +gentlemen, on the opposite side of the street, afterwards +said that they were watching the scene, ready +to rush over and defend the ladies from an attack, and +they were sure it would come; but one of the ladies, +a sweet-souled woman, gentle and placid, kneeled just +at his feet, and poured out such a tender, earnest +prayer for him, that he quieted down entirely, and +when she rose and offered him her hand in token of +kind feeling, he could not refuse to take it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span></p> + +<p>But it was not always stormy; sometimes it was +summer-sunshine, as witness: One bright Saturday +afternoon, while we were singing the sweet songs of +Zion and offering prayer, an old gentleman, a stranger +to us all, stood at a little distance from our band, and +while listening to us was led by the Spirit to give his +heart to God. He went to his home bearing the glad +tidings to his friends. He told it in church the following +Sabbath, and a revival began then which resulted +in many conversions.</p> + +<p>As I go over these facts of a time so full of interest, +I recall the figure of a venerable, dignified old gentleman, +full of vigor and enthusiasm, though the frosts of +seventy-five winters had whitened his head; this was +General Jos. J. McDowell, the husband of our vice-president. +His interest kept pace with the work, he +was at nearly all the meetings, and had ever a word +of counsel or encouragement for the women. But +there was one thing lacking. He was not a professing +Christian, and his many friends grew sad when they +saw that he was drawing so near the close of life without +the only hope that can lighten the pathway to the +tomb. The time came, however, for the Spirit to do +its work. The ladies had been holding a series of +religious meetings in their consecrated league room, +morning after morning, for two months (January and +February, 1876). The presence of the One Mighty +to save and strong to deliver was gloriously manifesting +himself, and on one of these mornings General +McDowell came in and took his seat. Mrs. Thompson, +who was leading the meeting on that occasion, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>after a very touching hymn had been sung, Scripture +read, and prayer offered, proposed spending a short +time in testimony. One and another had spoken, when +Mrs. T—— said, in a kind, familiar way, “General +McDowell, we are most happy to have you with us +this morning, and as you have so often encouraged +our hearts in our temperance work, we should love to +hear <i>you speak</i>.”</p> + +<p>He arose slowly, and in a very solemn manner said, +“I do not feel worthy to speak on sacred subjects +before you good women.” After some hesitation he +resumed, “I have been a great sinner; for many years, +especially during the war, I had almost come to the +conclusion that there was no such thing as religion, +but seeing the spirit of divine love displayed by the +crusading ladies of our town, as they have knelt <i>on +snow</i> even, in front of the barred doors of these worse +than murderers, to pray for their souls; and as in the +churches I have watched the tears stream down their +cheeks as they have prayed the divine blessing upon +them and their families, I have felt my heart soften. +<i>Now</i> I feel that I can say <i>I love the Saviour</i>.” The +scene that followed can be better imagined than +described, as that devoted wife, who had prayed for +her noble husband for more than fifty years, received +him a new creature in Christ Jesus. All were baptized +afresh by the Holy Spirit, and we grasped with +firmer hold the hand of our Almighty Friend who had +bidden us walk upon the untried waves, December +23d, 1873.</p> + +<p>Since the departure of this dear friend of the Crusade +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>to the “Home of the Soul,” for which home he was +<i>rapidly matured</i>, wonderful developments of divine +mercy have been displayed in our highly-favored town, +Hillsboro’. Last spring a gracious revival resulted +from the “union services” of the Quaker Evangelists, +Nathan and Esther Frame. Scores of young men +were converted during these meetings who had been +the objects of our <i>earnest</i> and special prayers. Many +a mother’s heart was made glad, and the churches all +received their dead raised to life again.</p> + +<p>Thus God prepared our community for the glorious +dawn of the Murphy movement, and wonderfully +qualified by <i>reformation based upon conversion</i>, our +Congressman elect, Hon. Henry Dickey, for its inauguration. +The first Murphy meeting was held on the +evening of May 15th, 1877, and the first men to sign +the pledge were some of our prominent citizens in +every profession; but pre-eminently the lawyers, men +of talent and influence, but whose habit of intemperance +had long been a source of grief and anxiety to +their friends. Three hundred signed the pledge upon +the first evening; within two weeks over two thousand +names were upon the roll; some of the most energetic +workers in the movement were men who were foremost +in opposing the Crusade, unsparing and bitter in +their invectives against all concerned. That which +fills us with astonishment and devout thanksgiving is +the desire evinced by these men, that old scores be +wiped out, and Christian women come to the front and +help in the cause by their presence and sympathy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> + +<h3 id="BAPTIZED_IN_WHISKEY"> + BAPTIZED IN WHISKEY. +</h3> + +<p>Among the many interesting incidents of work reported +at the Woman’s Temperance Camp-Meeting +at Ocean Grove was the following, related by Mrs. +E. J. Thompson, of Hillsboro’:</p> + +<p>“During the Crusade, a saloon-keeper consented to +close his business. There was a great deal of enthusiasm +and interest, and we women decided to compensate +the man for his whiskey and make a bonfire of it +in the street. A great crowd gathered about the +saloon, and the barrels of whiskey were rolled out to +the public square where we were to have our bonfire. +Myself and two other little women, who had been +chosen to knock in the heads, and had come to the +place with axes concealed under our shawls, went to +our work with a will.</p> + +<p>“I didn’t know I was so strong, but I lifted that axe +like a woodman and brought it down with such force +that the first blow stove in the head of a barrel and +splashed the whiskey in every direction. I was literally +baptized with the noxious stuff. The intention +was to set it on fire, and we had brought matches for +that purpose, <i>but it would not burn</i>! It was a villanous +compound of some sort, but we had set out to +have a fire, and were determined by some means or +other to make it burn, so we sent for some coal oil and +poured it on and we soon had a blaze. The man who +could sell such liquors would not be likely to keep the +pledge. He is selling liquors again.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> + +<h3 id="VICTORY_AT_WASHINGTON_C_H"> + VICTORY AT WASHINGTON C. H. +</h3> + +<p>Most of the facts in the following history of the +work at Washington C. H. have been gleaned from +the official report of the secretary, Mrs. M. V. Ustick.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that the Crusade began in this town +only two days later than at Hillsboro’. And Washington +C. H. was the first place where the Crusade was +made prominent and successful.</p> + +<p>On Friday morning, Dec. 26th, 1873, after an hour +of prayer in the M. E. Church, forty-four women filed +slowly and solemnly down the aisle, and started forth +upon their strange mission with fear and trembling, +while the male portion of the audience remained at the +church to pray for the success of this new undertaking; +the tolling of the church-bell keeping time to the +solemn march of the women, as they wended their +way to the first drug store on the list. (The number +of places within the city limits where intoxicating +drinks were sold was fourteen—eleven saloons and +three drug stores.) Here, as in every place, they +entered singing, every woman taking up the sacred +strain as she crossed the threshold. This was followed +by the reading of the appeal and prayer; then earnest +pleading to desist from their soul-destroying traffic +and sign the dealer’s pledge.</p> + +<p>Thus, all the day long, they went from place to place, +without stopping even for dinner or lunch, till five +o’clock, meeting with no marked success; but invariably +courtesy was extended to them; not even their +reiterated promise, “We will call again,” seeming to +offend.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span></p> + +<p>No woman who has ever entered one of these dens +of iniquity on such an errand needs to be told of the +heart-sickness that almost overcame them as they, for +the first time, saw behind those painted windows or +green blinds, or entered the little stifling “back room,” +or found their way down winding steps into the damp, +dark cellars, and realized that into <i>such places</i> those +they loved best were being landed, through the allurements +of the brilliantly lighted drug store, the fascinating +billiard-table, or the enticing beer-gardens, with +their syren attractions. A crowded house at night, +to hear the report of the day’s work, betrayed the +rapidly increasing interest in this mission.</p> + +<p>On the 27th the contest really began, and, at the +first place, the doors were found locked. With hearts +full of compassion, the women knelt in the snow upon +the pavement, to plead for the divine influence upon +the heart of the liquor-dealer, and there held their first +street prayer-meeting.</p> + +<p>At night the weary but zealous workers reported +at a mass-meeting of the various rebuffs, and the success +in having two druggists sign the pledge not to +sell, except upon the written prescription of a physician.</p> + +<p>The Sabbath was devoted to union mass-meeting, +with direct reference to the work in hand; and on +Monday the number of ladies had increased to near +one hundred. That day, December 29th, is one long +to be remembered in Washington, as the day upon +which occurred the first surrender ever made by a +liquor-dealer, of his stock of liquors of every kind and +variety, to the women, in answer to their prayers and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>entreaties, and by them poured into the street. Nearly +a thousand men, women, and children witnessed the +mingling of beer, ale, wine, and whiskey, as they filled +the gutters and were drank up by the earth, while the +bells were ringing, men and boys shouting, and women +singing and praying to God who had given the victory. +But on the fourth day, “stock sale-day,” the campaign +had reached its height, the town being filled with visitors +from all parts of the county and adjoining villages. +Another public surrender, and another pouring into +the street of a larger stock of liquors than on the previous +day, and more intense excitement and enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Mass-meetings were held nightly, with new victories +reported constantly, until on Friday, January 2d, one +week from the beginning of the work, at the public +meeting held in the evening, the secretary’s report announced +the unconditional surrender of every liquor-dealer, +some having shipped their liquors back to wholesale +dealers, others having poured them into the gutters, +and the druggists as all having signed the pledge. +Thus a campaign of prayer and song, had, in eight +days, closed eleven saloons, and pledged three drug +stores to sell only on prescription. At first men had +wondered, scoffed, and laughed, then criticised, respected +and yielded.</p> + +<p>Morning prayer and evening mass-meetings continued +daily, and the personal pledge was circulated +till over one thousand signatures were obtained. Physicians +were called upon to sign a pledge not to prescribe +ardent spirits when any other substitute could +be found, and in no case without a personal examination +of the patient.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> + +<p>Early in the third week the discouraging intelligence +came that a new man had taken out license to sell +liquor in one of the deserted saloons, and that he was +backed by a whiskey house in Cincinnati, to the +amount of $5,000, to break down this movement. On +Wednesday, the 14th, the whiskey was unloaded at his +room. About forty women were on the ground and +followed the liquor in, and remained holding an uninterrupted +prayer-meeting all day and until eleven +o’clock at night. The next day, bitterly cold, was +spent in the same place and manner, without fire or +chairs, two hours of that time the women being locked +in, while the proprietor was off attending a trial. On +the following day, the coldest of all the winter of 1874, +the women were locked out, and stood on the street +holding religious services all day long.</p> + +<p>Next morning a tabernacle was built in the street, +just in front of the house, and was occupied for the +double purpose of <i>watching</i> and prayer through the +day; but before night the sheriff closed the saloon, +and the proprietor surrendered; thus ended the third +week.</p> + +<p>A short time after, on a dying bed, this four days’ +liquor-dealer sent for some of these women, telling +them their songs and prayers had never ceased to ring +in his ears, and urging them to pray again in his behalf; +so he passed away.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Early in the work Mrs. George Carpenter, Mrs. A. C. Hirst, Mrs. A. E. Pine +and Mrs. Ogle, who were appointed to draw up an appeal, presented the following</p> + +<p class="center"> +APPEAL. +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>Knowing, as you do, the fearful effects of intoxicating drinks, we, the women +of Washington, after earnest prayer and deliberation, have decided to appeal to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>you to desist from this ruinous traffic, that our husbands, brothers, and especially +our sons, be no longer exposed to this terrible temptation, and that we may no +longer see them led into those paths which go down to sin, and bring both body +and soul to destruction. We appeal to the better instincts of your own hearts, in +the name of desolated homes, blasted hopes, ruined lives, widowed hearts, for +the honor of our community, for our happiness; for our good name, as a town; +in the name of the God who will judge you, as well as ourselves; for the sake +of your own souls, which are to be saved or lost, we beg, we implore you, to +cleanse yourselves from this heinous sin, and place yourselves in the ranks of +those who are striving to elevate and ennoble themselves and their fellow-men; +and to this we ask you to pledge yourselves.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>This appeal was adopted, and was afterwards extensively used in other parts of +the State, and in other States.</p> + +<p>A property-holders’ pledge was also circulated—pledging men not to rent, or +lease property, to be used as saloons, nor to allow any dealings of the liquor +traffic to be carried on upon any premises belonging to them. This pledge was +generally signed by holders of real estate.</p> + +<p>During this week came a plea for help from Hillsborough. In answer to that +call, on Monday, January 12th, a committee, consisting of Profs. Morehouse and +Dean, and Mrs. M. G. Carpenter, Mrs. Judge McLean, Mrs. Judge Priddy, and +Miss Annie Ustick, went to Hillsborough, spent the evening in attendance upon a +mass-meeting there, and next forenoon in prayer and conference with the workers, +returning in time to attend the mass-meeting at home, bringing with them encouraging +words.</p> + +<p>By this time the new method of fighting whiskey began to attract the attention +of the press and people in surrounding places; and meetings were announced +to be held in every village and school district in the county. Committees of +ladies and gentlemen were sent out to assist in these meetings. Committees +were also sent, by request, into all adjoining counties, the meetings being constantly +kept up at home, and all the while gaining in interest.</p> + +<p>About this time came word from Columbus, that the Adair Liquor Law was +in great danger of being repealed; consequently the following communication +was sent to every known Temperance organization throughout the State, by the +Washington League:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p> + “<i>To the Secretary of Women’s Temperance League, at ——</i>: +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Sister</span>—By order of the entire body of our Temperance League, we +send you an urgent request that you immediately appoint a committee of not less +than six, of the most earnest and effective workers, who shall be ready at an +hour’s notice, to respond to the call embodied in the following resolution:</p> + +<p>“‘<i>Resolved</i>, That the secretary of this meeting be requested to correspond with +the ladies in all places where the Temperance movement is now, or may be progressing, +asking the same to appoint a delegation to appear at Columbus, when +called, if any action of the legislature, threatening the safety of the Adair Liquor +Law, may be contemplated.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> + +<p>“Please notify us of your decision in the matter, forwarding us one name to +whom we may telegraph if necessary.”—[Signed by the secretary.]</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Responses poured in from all Leagues addressed—the word “<i>Ready</i>.” But +the law remained undisturbed that winter.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The names of the following women, chosen by God and men to inaugurate this +great work and carry it forward to success, appeared in the columns of the +<i>Fayette County Herald</i> at the time:</p> + +<p>Mrs. George Carpenter; Miss Annie Ustick; Mrs. A. C. Hirst; Mrs. A. E. +Pine; Mrs. B. Ogle; Mrs. P. E. Morehouse; Miss M. A. Love; Mrs. Wm. +Stevens; Mrs. O. Grubbs; Mrs. J. Van Deman; Mrs. E. Milliken; Mrs. A. +Blakemore; Mrs. Wm. Smith; Mrs. P. T. Light; Mrs. H. L. Hadley; Mrs. +F. Nitterhouse; Mrs. D. McLean; Mrs. Allen Hegler; Mrs. T. N. Ustick; +Miss A. E. Robinson; Miss Julia Wood; Miss Anna Cherry; Mrs. S. Lydy; +Miss Brightie Ogle; Miss Flora Ogle; Mrs. Barnett; Mrs. Farmer; Mrs. Geo. +Dahl; Mrs. M. Gardner; Miss Kate Foster; Mrs. Col. Maynard; Mrs. Dr. +Dennis; Mrs. Dr. Coffman; Miss Belle Stuckey; Mrs. H. P. Cherry; Mrs. J. B. +Priddy; Mrs. M. Blackmore; Mrs. A. E. Silcott; Miss L. Milliken; Miss +Emma Wilcox; Mrs. H. P. Ustick; Miss Ida Dean; Mrs. J. Hopkins; Mrs. C. +L. Getz; Mrs. T. Gardner; Mrs. Wm. Gordon; Miss A. Kephart.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>But there still remained the beer hall of Charlie +Beck, about half a mile out. Carriages were furnished +the ladies, free of charge, from the temperance livery-stable +of Collins & Bitzer, and in these the band made +daily visits to Beck’s.</p> + +<p>At this time the Cincinnati <i>Commercial</i> sent a reporter +to view the land, from whose graphic pen we quote +the following:</p> + +<p>“I reached Washington at noon of January 20th, +and seeking Mr. Beck’s beer garden, found him in a +state of terrible nervousness, as the ladies had spent +the forenoon in front of this place. He evidently +regarded me as a spy, but was much mollified when +assured that I was only a journalist, and made voluminous +complaint in ‘high Dutch’ and ‘low English.’</p> + +<p>“‘I got no vitnesses. Dem vimens dey set up a shob +on me. But you don’t bin a ’bitual drunkard, eh? +No, you don’t look like him. Vell, coom in, coom in. +Vat you vant, beer or vine? I dells you, dem vimens +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>is shust awful. By shinks, dey build a house right in +the shreet, and stay mit a man all day a singin’ and +oder foolishness. But dey don’t get in here once agin +already.’</p> + +<p>“In obedience to this invitation, I had entered by +the side door—the front was locked and barred—to +find four customers indulging in liquor, beer and pigs’ +feet.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Beck kept open house nearly all that night; +the sounds of revelry were plainly heard in town, and +in the morning several drunken men came into town, +one of whom tumbled down into a livery-stable, and +went to sleep on a manure pile, from which he was +carried to the lock-up. Matters were evidently coming +to a crisis, and I went out early; but the ladies reached +there in force just before me. I met Mr. Beck hurrying +into town to consult his lawyer, or, as he phrased it, +‘to see mein gounsel ven I no got a right to my own +broberty.’</p> + +<p>“The main body of the ladies soon arrived, and took +up a position with right centre on the doorstep, the +wings extending each way beyond the corners of the +house, and a rearward column along the walk to the +gate. In ludicrous contrast the routed revellers, who +had been scared out of the saloon, stood in a little +knot fifty feet away, still gnawing at the pigs’ feet +they had held on to in their hurried flight, while I +took a convenient seat on the fence. The ladies then +sang—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘Oh, do not be discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">He will give you grace to conquer, and keep you to the end.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span></p> + +<p>“As the twenty or more clear, sweet voices mingled +in the enlivening chorus—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘I’m glad I’m in this army,’ etc.—</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">the effect was inspiring. I felt all the enthusiasm of +the occasion, while pigs’ feet party, if they did not feel +guilty, certainly looked so.</p> + +<p>“The singing was followed by a prayer from Mrs. +Mills Gardner. She prayed for the blessing of God +on the temperance cause generally, and in this place +particularly; then for Mr. Beck, his family and friends, +his house, and all that loved him, and closed with an +eloquent plea for guidance in the difficult and delicate +task they had undertaken. In one respect the prayer +was unsurpassed; it was eminently fitting to the place +and the occasion. As the concluding sentences were +being uttered, Mr. Beck and his ‘gounsel’ arrived. +The ladies paid no attention to either, but broke forth +in loud strains,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘Must Jesus bear the cross alone?</div> + <div class="verse indent0">No, there’s a cross for me,’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">when the lawyer borrowed some of my paper, whispering +at the same time, ‘I must take down their names. +Guess I shall have to prosecute some of them before +we stop this thing.’</p> + +<p>“I should need the pen of an Irving and pencil of +a Darley to give any adequate idea of the scene. On +one side, a score of elegant ladies, singing with all the +earnestness of impassioned natures; a few yards away +a knot of disturbed revellers, uncertain whether to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>stand or fly; half way between, the nervous Beck, +bobbing around like a case of fiddle-strings with a +hundred pounds of lager beer fat hung on them; and +on the fence by the ladies, a cold-blooded lawyer and +excited reporter scribbling away as if their lives depended +on it. It was painful from its very intensity.</p> + +<p>“The song ended, the presiding lady called upon +Mrs. Wendels, and again arose the voice of prayer—so +clear, so sweet, so full of pleading tenderness, that +it seemed she would, by strength of womanly love, +compel the very heavens to open and send down in +answer a spark of divine grace that would turn the +saloon-keeper from his purpose. The sky, which had +been overcast all the morning, began to clear, the +occasional drops of rain ceased to fall, and a gentle +south wind made the air soft and balmy. It almost +seemed that nature joined in the prayer.</p> + +<p>“Again the ladies sang—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘Are there no foes for me to face,’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">with the camp-meeting chorus,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘Oh, how I love Jesus,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Because he first loved me.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“As the song concluded, the lawyer suddenly stepped +forward, and said:</p> + +<p>“‘Now, ladies, I have a word to say before this performance +goes any further. Mr. Beck has employed +me as his attorney. He cannot speak good English, +and I speak for him here. He is engaged in a legitimate +business, and you are trespassers on his property +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>and rights. If this thing is carried any further, you will +be called to account in the court, and I can assure you +the court will sustain the man. He has talked with +you all he desires to. He does not want to put you +out forcibly; that would be unmanly, and he does not +wish to act rudely. But he tells you to go. As his +attorney, I now warn you to desist from any further +annoyance.’</p> + +<p>“Again the ladies sang—</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘My soul, be on thy guard,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Ten thousand foes arise.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">And Miss Annie Ustick followed with a fervent prayer +for the lawyer and his client; but they had fled the +scene, leaving the house locked up. After consultation, +the ladies decided to leave Mr. Beck’s premises +and take a position on the adjoining lot. They sent +for the ‘tabernacle,’ a rude frame building they had +used in front of Slater’s saloon. This they erected on +the adjoining lot, put up immense lights to illuminate +the entrance to the beer garden, and kept up a guard +from early morning till midnight.</p> + +<p>“For two weeks religious services were held in the +tabernacle day and night, and the women were constantly +on duty; at the end of which time an injunction +was granted Mr. Beck and the tabernacle was taken +down.</p> + +<p>“Temperance was still the pulpit theme on the Sabbath, +and on Monday morning, February 9th, all the +business houses were closed from 8 to 9 to attend +the business men’s prayer-meeting. Large delegations +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>were present from adjoining villages at that early +hour. At the meeting there came a messenger from +this man stating that he would give up his business, +which announcement was received with cheers. It +was then decided that all who were not enjoined from +so doing should march out to Mr. Beck’s beer garden, +where the proprietor met them at the gate, and after a +brief consultation with a committee appointed for that +purpose, he publicly announced: ‘You comes so many, +I quits. I will never sell any more beer or whiskey.’ +Again the crowd gave vent to their feelings in cheers. +Messengers were despatched to the women who remained +praying in the church, to join them. All the +bells commenced ringing, and the procession, numbering +two hundred strong, started out to Sullivan’s beer +house, now the only remaining saloon in the township. +Marching up Court street, the numbers increased, and +amid the most profound silence the men and women pursued +their journey. About half way there the man in +question was met and interviewed. He asked two days +to consider, which were granted. The procession then +returned, the bells all the time ringing out their chimes +upon the crisp morning air. Meetings, morning and +evening, continued with unabated interest, and at each +came to us the cry from other points, ‘Come and +help us.’</p> + +<p>“On Wednesday morning, February 11th, at mass-meeting +in the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Sullivan came +in and publicly pledged himself to ‘quit <i>forever</i> the +liquor business.’ A general rejoicing and thanksgiving +followed this surrender of the ‘last man.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p> + +<p>“Thus, through most of the winter of 1874 no alcoholic +drinks were publicly sold as a beverage in the +county.</p> + +<p>“The summer was given up to the defeat of the +license clause in the new constitution which was to +come before the people on the 18th of August.</p> + +<p>“Mass temperance picnics were a prominent feature +of the season, and the untiring zeal of the workers was +crowned with success on election day.</p> + +<p>“During the two intervening years weekly temperance +league-meetings have been kept up by the faithful +few, while frequent union mass-meetings have been +held, thus keeping the subject always before the people.</p> + +<p>“To-day the disgraceful and humiliating fact exists +that there are more places where liquors are sold than +before the Crusade. Does any one ask the result of +all this labor, and if the movement was a failure? We +answer to the first question of results: The idea that +<i>women</i> are to take an active part in the great conflict +between religion and the rum power, was evolved by +this very Crusade. None saw quicker than the women +themselves the weak and strong points of the movement, +and these praying bands have become thoroughly +organized <i>Women’s Christian Temperance Unions</i>; +and reform clubs, reading-rooms, coffee-houses, and +friendly inns are the outgrowth of these ‘unions.’ +Other countries have felt the impulse, and the best +women of Europe and Canada are being organized into +‘leagues’ and ‘unions.’</p> + +<p>“Was this movement, then, a failure? No! No! +The long list of reformed lives; the restored happiness +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>and prosperity of once desolated homes; the still +longer list of our noble young men, who were arrested +in their first downward steps in the path of intemperance +and ruin, and whose upright and useful lives will +be standing monuments of good for years to come. +Who dares to compute such results? The improved +public sentiment, banishing the wine cup from the +social circle, from the sideboards and cellars of respectable +homes—the awakening and uniting of all +Christian hearts in one grand work for God and +humanity. All these are the outgrowth of a reformation +which has since belted the world—the most far-seeing +being utterly unable to grasp its results.</p> + +<p>“An incident recently under the observation of the +writer is in point. During the winter of 1876 a grand +banquet was given the Ohio General Assembly, judiciary, +and military officers by some of the prominent +citizens of our capital city. No labor or expense was +spared in ministering to the comfort or pleasure of the +guests, yet no wine was to be found in all that banquet +hall. One of the hosts of the evening remarked that +‘before the “Women’s Crusade” the giving of such an +entertainment without wine would have been impossible.’</p> + +<p>“A failure? No! Eternity alone will unfold the +glorious success of that work. To have banished +liquor from the land, as at first the movement seemed +to promise, would have been a miracle, and God does +not now work in such manner; and the work we feel +he meant to do in this Crusade was to rouse up his +people to a sense of their duty; to awaken his church, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>which seemed to be strangely indifferent and asleep to +this terrible evil. Thus He crowned the movement +with success; and while His followers believe and trust +Him, the good work will go on to completion, for</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“‘Right is right, as God is God,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And right the day will win;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To doubt would be disloyalty,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To falter would be sin.’”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + + +<h3 id="WILMINGTON_OHIO"> + WILMINGTON, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>We are indebted to Rhoda Worthington and Mary +Hadley for the following history of the work in Wilmington:</p> + +<p>In pursuance to the call of the pastors of the different +churches of Wilmington, a large and earnest assemblage +of citizens gathered at the M. E. Church, on +Saturday evening, January 3d, to devise some plan of +procedure, by which all lovers of the race might be +brought to work in harmony for the suppression of +the sale of intoxicating drinks within the limits of the +corporation of Wilmington.</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order by the Rev. William +Runyan, pastor of the M. E. Church. After the +singing of the hymn, “All hail the power of Jesus’ +name,” the audience were led in prayer by the Rev. S. +H. Bingman, pastor of the Christian Church. The +meeting was then addressed in a stirring and thrilling +appeal in behalf of the movement, by the Rev. A. C. +Hirst, of Washington C. H., Ohio. Mr. Hirst, in the +course of his remarks, set forth the main features of +the plan pursued by the people of Washington, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>thought that, if the people of Wilmington would take +hold of the matter with the one object in view, viz., to +suppress the liquor traffic in our midst, some plan +suited to the local requirements of the case would +develop itself. At the close of Mr. Hirst’s address, +remarks on the duties of the hour were made by W. +E. Prichard and others. A temporary organization +was then effected. Mr. William H. Cole, superintendent +of public schools, was called to the chair, and J. +H. Grove was nominated as secretary.</p> + +<p>A committee of five, consisting of Messrs. Hildebrant, +Zeigler, Albright, Gaskill, and Outcalt, was appointed +to secure the names of such men as were +willing to pledge themselves to support the ladies in +efforts to suppress the sale of intoxicating drinks +within the limits of Wilmington.</p> + +<p>On the suggestion of Mrs. Mary N. Hadley, a minister +in the Society of Friends, it was moved, that all +women interested in the cause of temperance be requested +to meet in the Friends’ Church, Sunday, January +4th, at four o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, and that all men willing +to aid the ladies in this movement be requested to meet +in the Baptist Church, at the same hour, for prayer +and consultation.</p> + +<p>At the women’s meeting at four o’clock, Sabbath +evening, there was a good attendance. Rhoda C. +Worthington was called to act as president of the meeting. +She came forward and said, “As the children of +Israel did not see the Red Sea open before they came +to it, nor the prophets see the waters of Jordan roll +back until the soles of their feet touched the brim of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>water, so it seems we must go forward in this work, +trusting that a way will be made for us.” Rachel MacGregor +and Lizzie C. Runyan were then called on to +act as secretaries. Huldah C. Estes was elected +leader, and Sarah S. Walker secretary of the field of +labor, who was to make the report of our proceedings +to the public mass-meetings at night.</p> + +<p>At 10 <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span>, sixty-three ladies, some of them the +tearful wives of dissipated husbands, solemnly marched +forth amid the peals of all the church-bells of the town, +to visit the places where liquors were sold in Wilmington, +and pray for and with the dealers, and implore +them to desist from this work of destruction. Most +of the men of the congregation remained, and engaged +in prayer and supplication to God, that the +great mission of the mothers, wives, and sisters of +Wilmington might be successful.</p> + +<p>One young man told his mother that he placed himself +on a corner to see the fun as the women passed +along, “but,” said he, “they all came weeping, and I +wept, too.”</p> + +<p>In the congregation, as we passed out, aged men +bowed their heads, tears were seen to drop to the +floor; none seemed to notice, or scarcely know, that +others were weeping. The first place we entered was +Brown Bro.’s drug store. A hymn was sung, three +prayers were offered, and the pledge presented and +signed, the druggist shedding tears while he signed. +“Glory, hallelujah, our God is marching on,” was sung, +and we passed out.</p> + +<p>We made many visits before we obtained all the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>signatures of the dealers, continuing eight days in the +work, our numbers increasing to more than one hundred +women.</p> + +<p>We then had four drug stores and nine saloons. +During all the preliminary meetings, a number of +persons who manifested a deep interest in all proceedings—men +and women, too—were persons whose +faces had not often been seen inside of church walls. +But they tarried, not seeming to tire at the most +lengthy exercises. There was a greater unanimity +on the part of the different societies than had ever +before been observable in any movement looking +to the good of the general community. The feeling +as the women filed out of the church, two by two, was +of the intensest kind. It was no common errand on +which they started, and their appearance on the streets +awed to silence those whose hearts beat no responsive +thrill.</p> + +<p>From drug store to drug store, and from dram shop +to dram shop, these brave women went during four +hours and a half, daily, pleading, singing, and praying, +in behalf of those who were engaged in the unholy +traffic of rum-selling.</p> + +<p>The meetings were continued in the church until the +return of the women at half-past three in the afternoon, +when, after a short time spent in consultation +and devotional exercises, the meeting closed. At +night the church was packed in every part. Extra +seats had been procured, and the aisles and vestibule +were filled to such an extent that egress was an impossibility. +After a season spent in devotional exercises, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>the report of the work done by the women during the +day was read by Sarah S. Walker, and was listened to +with breathless attention.</p> + +<p>The remainder of the evening was occupied in the +transaction of business, speaking, singing, and prayer, +and securing signatures to the total abstinence pledge. +Some of these meetings were the most remarkable +ever held in Wilmington, and their influence cannot be +computed or gainsaid.</p> + +<p>On other days the same procession of earnest, devoted +women filed out of the church amid the ringing +of bells, and the supplication and prayers of their +fathers, husbands, and brothers, through snow and +sleet; and when the procession returned to the church +there was awaiting them a large meeting of men, to +give them a prayerful reception.</p> + +<p>The rain, sleet, and snow in an unusual degree kept +on falling, but the meeting at the Friends’ meeting-house +showed the indomitable purpose of the good +people who were engaged in this work. At one of the +many meetings the following appeal, having been prepared +by the women engaged in the work of visitation, +was read and adopted:</p> + +<p>“Sisters—Feeling greatly encouraged at the results +of yesterday’s work, and thanking God our Father, +who giveth us the victory through Christ, our crucified +but risen and glorified Redeemer, and feeling that, +from the character of the men engaged in the liquor +traffic, the amount of capital and financial interest employed +in the same, and the silent yet powerful influence +of many members of our community in backing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>up these men in their unholy calling, that we may have +a long siege—therefore, let us call upon all our Christian +brothers and sisters in the country surrounding +Wilmington, to at once earnestly identify themselves +with this great <i>Christian temperance movement</i>, by organizing, +and placing themselves in communication +with us, and thus be ready to help us in carrying forward +the work.”</p> + +<p>The Crusaders, as they went out on their mission of +love, were urged forward by the prayers and tears of +the active Christian community, and aided by the moral +sentiment of very many who made no pretensions of +religion. The unity of effort, fixedness of purpose, +and hearty support given to the work procured entire +success.</p> + +<p>As the women were engaged all day in their work, +arrangements were made for them to have lunch every +day during this protracted effort.</p> + +<p>Superintendent William Cole and Sheriff Hackny +took the lead in this matter. It was announced each +night, at the mass-meeting, where lunch would be +given, and who would pay for it. A correspondent +says: The saloon-keepers weakened in their efforts +to stem the tide of public opinion. Several were ready +to sell out and quit the business, but the women were +not willing to buy. J. R. Hawley, a colored saloon-keeper, +announced in the meeting that he was resolved +to quit.</p> + +<p>The ringing of all the bells in the town announced +to the people that the lines were broken, and victory +was only a question of time. The women were vigilant, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>and regardless of the weather, went bravely on +with the work.</p> + +<p>Half-way promises were made, but they desired a +complete surrender. Thomas Young, a colored man, +who had a saloon in Clarktown (a part of Wilmington, +over the railroad), signed the pledge, amid the ringing +of bells, and singing of songs of praise, that the outposts +were surrendering.</p> + +<p>It was resolved at this meeting, “That the business +men be requested to close their houses between the +hours of nine o’clock <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span>, and three o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, of +the following day.” This was generally done, and the +meeting held in the Friends’ meeting-house was largely +attended during the day. The procession was larger +than ever, and their influence correspondingly increased. +Whenever they found a saloon closed against +them, praying and singing was carried on in the street. +From Main to South, and up and down South street, +the procession moved as the ladies thought best for +the accomplishment of the good work in which they +were engaged. Mr. J. J. Stagg, of the Gates House, +generously entertained the women in the procession; +that day one hundred and thirty took dinner there. +That day the last place we visited before dinner was the +court-house, court being in session. We spent some +time in religious service there, but some of the members +of the bar made it convenient to be absent.</p> + +<p>One day before that, just after we had taken lunch, +we came out and stopped on the court-house steps, +and Lizzie C. Runyan led in prayer. We afterward +heard that a liquor case was just then being tried, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>the court became demoralized for a time until we went +away, and the lawyer who lost his suit accused his +opponent of making an arrangement with us to go +there; but we knew nothing of what was going on, and +acted only under the impression of the moment, many +of us not knowing we were going there until the one +leading stopped.</p> + +<p>At night the meeting was densely packed. At this +meeting a plan of work was arranged for Saturday, +somewhat different from the previous days; we divided +into as many companies as there were saloons, having +a few who could sing and some who would pray in +each company.</p> + +<p>Saturday’s meeting was held in the Baptist Church, +and the procession, large and formidable in appearance, +started out, and a regular detail went to each of +the saloons to watch and pray. It was arranged that +every fifteen minutes the church-bell would be rung, +and each company would then pass on to the next +saloon; that day our enemy became exasperated. Before +they were rid of one company another would be +seen coming. We soon became too earnest to hear the +bell, but went on from place to place. When any one +of the unfortunate fellows was discovered on the +street, a delegation of earnest, devoted women would +surround him, and escape seemed hopeless. Never +before had our town witnessed such a scene. Men +dry for drinks, who had come in expecting no trouble, +wandered disconsolately about the streets, and went +home at night-fall in a different condition from what +had been their habit on previous Saturdays, and the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>bowls of egg-nog already mixed up for their use were +still standing unmolested. They would see a company +of us at one place and think these were the Crusaders, +and they would go on hurriedly to another shop, perhaps +enter the door before they perceived women +were there, too; then some would very unconcernedly +ask for a half-dozen apples or something else, and +pass out. Through the vigilance of the women but +little liquor was sold during the day, and at night +all of the saloons were temporarily closed, and the +chances were much against any open purchase of +liquor. The week had been one of intense excitement +and active work, and such an up-building of public +sentiment as had never been manifested here before.</p> + +<p>Union service was held at the Friends’ Church on +Sabbath morning and evening. At the morning hour +Rev. James Kendall preached one of his characteristic +sermons, which was listened to attentively by as large +an audience as could be packed into the house. The +evening service was very good, made up of singing, +praying, and general speaking.</p> + +<p>Monday meetings were held at the M. E. Church. +The attendance was prompt and the procession moved +early, and took possession of the saloons. Men who +had been brave all the week before, gave in and surrendered. +Thomas Norton, Fred. Hineman, George +Lauber, Henry Getz, Washington Champ, and Patrick +Egan, gave up the business, and while they did not all +sign the pledge, they all promised to quit. Norton +and Hineman emptied their saloons.</p> + +<p>As an episode of the day’s work, the capture of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>Xenia ale-wagon and the frightened driver will long +be remembered. He entered town and was replenishing +saloons, while the attention of all were taken up +by the pouring out of a half-barrel of gin, given up for +that purpose.</p> + +<p>G. Thomas Young had signed the pledge, and his +liquors were poured into the gutter from the court-house +pavement; some poor fellows drank from the +gutter, taking it up with their hands; one ran up and +caught some in his hat and drank it, although his hat +was not a new one. The crowd dispersed: some went +home, but most of the temperance women and men +went to the M. E. Church.</p> + +<p>When it was announced that the ale-wagon was in +town and M. N. Hadley was beside it, it was soon +overtaken by a vast crowd. A colored boy caught hold +of the horses; the wagon was soon surrounded by the +women; earnest prayer was offered, and just as we had +a pledge written, to present to him, to sign, not to +enter our place again on such an errand by day or by +night, the city marshal told the boy to quit his hold of +the bridle, and the driver lay whip to the horses and +fled. We telegraphed to Salina, and they were ready +to receive him by the time he arrived there.</p> + +<p>The meeting that night was a joyful one, and the +work was reported in a much more forward condition +than any one could have expected. Thursday found +all ready for work, and there being a suspicion that +the saloon of Conners had been open during the night, +a delegation met early and was ready to take possession, +as soon as it was opened for business. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>meeting was held in the Baptist Church, and the procession +came out promptly. During the day Edward +Conners and Alice Bourke signed the pledge, thus +closing all the drinking-saloons or places in the town. +The men engaged in the work not feeling entirely +satisfied with the fulfilment of some of the pledges, +kept a watch.</p> + +<p>All the saloon-keepers signed the pledge except +Norton and Getz, and they both closed under the +promise not to sell again. Norton finally sold out at +auction, and poured out his beer and turned himself +into the street.</p> + +<p>Many individuals who worked without ceasing during +this effort we would gladly mention by name, but +not having room for all, we do not desire to discriminate. +The work encouraged all good citizens, and a +brotherly feeling has been wonderfully developed +among the different churches.</p> + +<p>It was estimated from freight books, that during the +six months beginning with July 1st, and ending December +31st, 1873, that the sum of twenty-five thousand +dollars was spent in this place for liquors.</p> + +<p>The above will give our readers some idea of the +immense injury which our town has suffered from the +sale of intoxicating liquors; over one hundred and forty +dollars a day.</p> + +<p>After the closing up of the saloons, the people on +the streets were universally sober, and in marked contrast +to former times. We are informed by one whose +duty it is to extinguish the street-lamps, that there is a +wonderful change in the order on the streets since +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>the closing of the saloons. Previously, disorder and +drunkenness was the rule night after night, but now +he will go around the town without any sign of disturbance.</p> + +<p>The Lebanon <i>Star</i> says, “In Wilmington, Clinton +county, there were, a week ago, we are told, twelve +saloons. On last Monday night there was but one +remaining. The women did it. No suits were brought; +but as we understand it, they just talked and sung and +prayed, and the hearts of the liquor-sellers (many of +them have hearts) gave way, and they quit the business. +As the walls of Jericho fell at the sound of rams’ horns, +so will the liquor traffic vanish in the presence of a +healthy public sentiment properly manifested.”</p> + + +<h3 id="RESOLUTION_OF_THANKS"> + RESOLUTION OF THANKS. +</h3> + +<p>The following resolution was unanimously adopted +by the women, at the last meeting held by them at the +close of their arduous labors in putting down the +liquor traffic in our town. It is a resolution which +fully explains itself, and we give it without further +comment:</p> + +<p><i>Resolved</i>, That we return our sincere thanks to our +Heavenly Father for putting kindness into the hearts +of the pastors, and so many of the brethren of all +denominations amongst us, together with our friend, +M. Rombach, and those who claim alliance with no +church organization, to so cordially co-operate with, +and encourage us in the performance of the duties of +the last few days by their prayers and sympathy; also, +kind attention in the bountiful provision for the sustenance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>of our bodies, and care for our comfort and +convenience by improving street-crossings, etc. And +again we will thank him for the silent breathing of +“God speed the work,” which we felt was with many +of our citizens and neighbors who had no opportunity +to manifest their interest and co-operation therein, and +in humility we desire to thank and praise his holy +name for causing the saloon-keepers with whom we +have labored, to treat us with such profound respect and +gentility. And last, but not least, we most devoutly +thank him that he has enabled us to work thus lovingly +together, until the language of our hearts is, “Truly +is it the Lord’s doing, and marvellous in our eyes.”</p> + +<p>On behalf of the women of Wilmington and vicinity.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">R. C. Worthington</span>, President. +</p> + +<p>There were many women who attended our league-meetings +regularly, who never went on the street as +Crusaders. When we would start out they would go +home, or remain at the prayer-meeting.</p> + +<p>These were led by ministers: W. E. Prichard, S. H. +Bingham, Wm. Runyan, and Friends.</p> + +<p>A relief committee was appointed, consisting of +both men and women, which did much to relieve the +poor of our town. The children of the public schools +were invited to come out.</p> + +<p>We taught them the following pledge:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">A pledge we make, no Wine to take,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or Brandy red, to turn the head;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Or Whiskey hot, to make the sot;</div> + <div class="verse indent8">Or fiery Rum, that ruins home;</div> + <div class="verse indent8">Nor will we sin, by drinking Gin;</div> + <div class="verse indent8">Hard Cider, too, will never do;</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> <div class="verse indent0">Or brewers’ Beer, the heart to cheer.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To quench our thirst, we’ll always bring</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Cold Water, from the well, or spring.</div> + <div class="verse indent8">Also, from Tobacco’s use we plead excuse;</div> + <div class="verse indent8">The filth and scent thus we prevent,</div> + <div class="verse indent8">That does accrue from Snuff and Chew;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And Smoke, we abhor, from Pipe or Cigar.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To this Pledge we live, for the joy it will give</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To Fathers and Mothers, our neighbors, and others.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<blockquote> +<p>Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Some of the saloons were open, but claimed to be +selling cider only. One had protested that he did not +sell whiskey, and tried hard to convince us of the fact. +His door opened into an alley. The children stopped +before his front window, and began repeating the +pledge; he raised the window, put his head out, and +said, in an impatient voice, and with an Irish brogue, +“What are ye all a doing here?” The children all +turned their sober little faces toward him, repeating +on. What he heard was just the line,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Or Whiskey hot, to make the sot;”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">when down went the window. It was very amusing, +but none laughed at the time.</p> + +<p>One place we visited was a livery-stable, where +many had been seen drinking and drunk. The +keeper was greatly incensed to think we had stopped +on his pavement—talked rather roughly; said, “If we +came there just once more, he would sell out, and +set up in the liquor business, and would show us he +could sell if he wanted too.” This was all the rough +language we had spoken to us, except by one druggist, +who was so thrown off his dignity to think we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>dared go to him; he asked us to sign a pledge that +we would not steal anymore, then he would sign ours; +many of them answered him they would, but he did +not present any: but we found afterward that John +Deck, the livery-man, perhaps would have been elected +our marshal had it not been for the way he talked to +us. How glad we were then that we suffered, that the +right man might be elected; some men said they expected +to have voted for him, but would not because +he talked so roughly to us.</p> + +<p>Mary N. Hadley, a minister in the Society of Friends, +may be said to have been one of our most indefatigable +private, as well as public, laborers at home and +abroad; while we have many whose faith and untiring +zeal and energy are worthy of a record, although +their share of the work was done in so quiet a way, +that eternity alone will recognize it all, and give it its +due reward of honor and praise.</p> + +<p>Lizzie C. Runyan, wife of the minister of the M. E. +Church, was, after she fully entered the work, most +gifted in prayer and public speaking.</p> + +<p>Some time after we had quit all visiting of the +dealers, either by committees or otherwise, on the day +of the spring election we met in the M. E. Church, +and continued most of the day in the capacity of a +prayer-meeting. The mayor, marshal and councilmen +we desired were elected, and served their time out +faithfully.</p> + +<p>In the beginning we felt ourselves, as it were, thrust +into the work by our Allwise Father, for we were +allowed no time to consult as to qualifications, or convenience, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>or scarcely of how to proceed until we found +ourselves in the work. Truly can we say: “This is the +Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.” One +of the most striking features of it to us, and one +which plainly shows the hand of Deity, is, that it is not +those who have suffered most directly, or are most likely +to suffer thus, from the evils of strong drink, who are +first to enter the field. As God sent his own Son to +give his life a ransom for his fallen children, even now +he calleth those who profess to be his followers to exercise +in their measure (though too small to bear comparison) +the same spirit of unselfish love. “Greater +love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his +life for his friends.” While we look upon the incomplete +condition of our work in this place, we are not +discouraged; we can say, hitherto the Lord hath helped +us, and in his own time he will again visibly move +onward.</p> + +<p>Wilmington was the third town to enter the Crusade, +and the first to cry Victory! and we felt the reaction +as deep and sore as any.</p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_VIENNA_OHIO"> + NEW VIENNA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade fire which came down like an electric +cloud upon Hillsboro’ and Washington Court-House, +Ohio, spread rapidly from town to town.</p> + +<p>New Vienna, a small railroad village, was one +among the first to become conspicuous, because of the +wickedness of one of its liquor-dealers, and the persistent +faith of the women engaged in the work.</p> + +<p>The last saloon to surrender was the “Dead Fall,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>kept by John Calvin Van Pelt. The building was a +miserable one-story frame structure near the railroad +depot, and Van Pelt had the reputation of being “the +wickedest man in Ohio.” In appearance he looked +like a prize-fighter, and in behavior he acted like one +possessed of devils.</p> + +<p>The very first visit of the ladies enraged Van Pelt +beyond anything they had ever seen. In his fury, he +threatened that if they came to his saloon again, he +would “hang, draw, and quarter them every one.” +And he looked bloodthirsty enough to undertake any +murderous deed.</p> + +<p>But, fortunately, these women were imbued with a +heroism that comes from above, and had a faith that +would not shrink in the presence of bodily peril. And +the next day about fifty of them marched down to the +“Dead Fall,” as though no threat had ever been made +against them.</p> + +<p>Van Pelt had made special preparations for them. +In one of his show-windows an axe besmeared with +blood was placed; in the other an unusually fine display +of whiskey-bottles; over the door jugs and bottles +were hung, and a black flag conspicuously surmounted +all; while within doors, Van Pelt could be +seen walking the floor and flourishing a club at invisible +foes. Now this was all very consistent—whiskey, +a <i>rowdy</i> to serve it; the black flag and the axe, the +symbols of the trade.</p> + +<p>The sight of the flag and the axe, nor even the +hostile demonstrations of Van Pelt, deterred the women; +they moved right on without halting, or a quiver +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>of fear, under the black flag of piracy and death, into +the very presence of the man with the axe and club.</p> + +<p>Van Pelt stood back in amazement, and the women +began to sing and pray. A great crowd had gathered +in the street about the saloon, but, notwithstanding +their presence, while the ladies were at prayer, and +one of them was earnestly praying for him that he +might be baptized with the Holy Ghost, with a horrid +oath he said, “<i>I’ll baptize you!</i>” and commenced +dashing buckets of dirty water over them.</p> + +<p>The crowd of men were enraged and threatened him, +but the ladies plead that he might not be punished. +But some of the fathers and husbands of the women +who had been drenched with beer and dirty water +had him arrested, and for a week he had time for reflection +in the quiet of the jail. He came forth, however, +more bitter and furious than ever.</p> + +<p>He had the audacity to go to the Friends’ Church, +where the ladies were holding a meeting, and try to +engage them in a public controversy.</p> + +<p>“Why did the Lord put the stimulant in the corn +and grape if it was not for the use of man?” he +shouted, furiously. His question betrayed his ignorance, +and they might have answered him that the Lord +did not put it there, but that it came only with decay +and rottenness, but instead, they sang:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“My soul be on thy guard,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Ten thousand foes arise,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And host of sins are pressing hard</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To draw thee from the skies;”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">and prayed for him especially.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> + +<p>On the 26th of January, when the ladies visited the +saloon, he met them at the door, and told them they +might come in and hold a prayer-meeting on condition +that he would be allowed to make every other prayer. +The women were amazed, but consented, and the +prayer-meeting began. A lady was the first to pray, +and she was followed by a long, blasphemous harangue +by Van Pelt.</p> + +<p>“He asked the Lord to have mercy on the women, +whom he classed with the brutes, and to teach them +wisdom and understanding. Woman, he said, first +caused man to sin, and there was great need of prayer +in their behalf. He said the Lord opened the first +distillery, and made the first wine, and that he was following +the example of the Lord, and other like words +of blasphemy.” The women, although filled with +amazement, prayed on, until Van Pelt had made three +long blasphemous prayers. They looked to see him +struck dumb by the divine power, but God is merciful +and long-suffering, and one week from that day he +surrendered.</p> + +<p>He had given some intimation that he would surrender +at two o’clock. Boys ran through the streets +ringing hand-bells, and crying at the top of their voices, +“Everybody meet at Van Pelt’s saloon at two o’clock, +and hear his decision.”</p> + +<p>There was a general gathering of the people, who +closed up their stores and shops and rushed to the +saloon. When the ladies arrived, Van Pelt presented +himself, and with a good deal of feeling said, “I do +not yield to law or force, but to the women, who have +labored in love.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> + +<p>Then ordering the men to stand back, he rolled out +his stock of liquors, and taking the axe besmeared +with blood, with which he had tried to terrify the +women, he knocked in the head of every cask, and +sent the contents gurgling down the gutter.</p> + +<p>Then drawing himself up to his full height, he said, +most solemnly, “Ladies, I now promise you to never +sell or drink another drop of whiskey as long as I +live, and also promise to work with you in the cause +with as much zeal as I have worked against you.”</p> + +<p>He also remarked that he hoped the women of the +United States would never cease until every drop of +whiskey was emptied upon the ground, as his was.</p> + +<p>Just then the train from Cincinnati arrived. The +crowd set up a deafening cheer. A photographist +caught the scene, and preserved it to posterity. The +women gathered around Van Pelt, shaking his hands, +and congratulating him, and the glad news spread +through the town, creating great excitement.</p> + +<p>The doxology was sung, and all the bells of the +town were rung in honor of the occasion. That +evening Van Pelt spoke at a mass-meeting and confessed +his wickedness, and denounced the business. +He referred to his saloon as a low doggery, saying, +“Yes, I’ll call it a low doggery, for no man can keep a +high one.” He had often taken the last ten cents +from a man for whiskey when he knew that the money +had been earned by his wife or child. Every man who +sells whiskey does this. Little faces thus robbed had +often appealed to his heart with greater force than +any words of man. He was now determined to quit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>this business forever, and throw his strength on the +other side of the question.</p> + +<p>Thus New Vienna was cleared of grog-shops.</p> + + +<h3 id="KENTON_OHIO"> + KENTON, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade work began early in January. The +town was canvassed, and a large number of personal +pledges obtained, and by the 2d February ten saloons +had surrendered, and two were closed by law.</p> + +<p>General Robinson, during the work, made a most +eloquent and impressive address, showing up the +whiskey-ring in a way that made them instantly quail.</p> + + +<h3 id="GALLIPOLIS_OHIO"> + GALLIPOLIS, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This town was settled by the French, in 1790, and +from that day on whiskey flowed freely.</p> + +<p>Early in January, the women commenced Crusade +work, and by March 2d, three saloon-keepers had +yielded. Mr. Crowley allowed them to take down his +sign and empty his whiskey into the gutter. Three +hundred habitual drunkards signed the pledge. All +sects and parties united in the great reform; and at +the annual election a majority in favor of a prohibitory +ordinance was secured, and five out of six of the seats +in the council, and all the school board, and most of +the minor offices were filled by temperance men.</p> + +<p>The result was, that sixteen saloons closed, and <i>the +police-officers reported crime lessened nine-tenths</i>.</p> + + +<h3 id="GREENFIELD_OHIO"> + GREENFIELD, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The secretary gives the following statement of work:</p> + +<p>Our league began the work January 12th, 1874, +and continued until the latter part of March.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span></p> + +<p>For nearly three months we visited saloons almost +every day. At the end of that time there was <i>but one</i> +saloonist who had not made some concessions to us; +and, except by the drug stores, and this one saloon, +there was no liquor sold in our town.</p> + +<p>Few of these, however, had signed the pledge, but +from outside pressure abandoned it for the time being.</p> + + +<h3 id="RESULTS"> + RESULTS. +</h3> + +<p>How we in our weak human nature love to <i>see the +results</i> of our work for Jesus!</p> + +<p>To-day, three years and a half after, we find four of +the fifteen places where liquor was sold have kept +their pledges; a number of moderate drinkers reformed +have stood fast. But the greatest and grandest result +is that of the change of public sentiment. Four years +ago a temperance lecturer, of no mean ability, could +scarcely find a respectable sized audience to listen to +him; but at any time since the Woman’s Crusade the +simple announcement of a temperance mass-meeting +would insure a crowded hall. Our League in all these +years has still prayed that in some way God would +carry on the work. One earnest petition was that +God would raise up some <i>one in our midst</i> who would +be a “sharp arrow,” and last May, God answered our +prayer, and Senator Dickey came over from the ranks +of King Alcohol, and from under the power of sin, into +the temperance army and into the fold of Christ. +<i>This man</i> inaugurated the Murphy movement in +Greenfield, which we feel to be the outgrowth of the +Woman’s Crusade. Many who have always scoffed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>at the Crusade now refer to it with the deepest +respect, and acknowledge it to have been a fore-runner +of this great thing which <i>we know</i> is +also of the Lord. I want to add that our ladies +were always kindly treated by the saloonists; we +have no thrilling experiences to tell or hair-breadth +escapes to relate; also that the gentlemen “held +the rope” <i>always</i>.</p> + +<p>When we met at the church to start to work, they +met with us, and while we went to the saloons they +prayed, or rather had all-day prayer-meetings, often +expressing their sympathy by ringing the bell.</p> + +<p>Then, too, we had messenger boys, who would carry +little notes from the league to the church, reporting +various stages of the work to our brothers at the +church. At the close of the day we returned to the +church to sing, perhaps, “One more day’s work for +Jesus,” before we went to our homes.</p> + +<p>Clinton, the worst man engaged in the business, +whose place was named “The Den of Iniquity,” said, +after his surrender, “I thought I had sand enough in +my craw to stand anything; but the prayers of these +women did stir me up; they were enough to sink a +wooden man.” Thirteen saloons in all were closed.</p> + + +<h3 id="FRANKLIN_OHIO"> + FRANKLIN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>There were six saloons in this village, when the +Crusade commenced, January 21st. Webber, a German +saloon-keeper, sent for a brass band to drown the +voices of the praying women, but prayer and tears +silenced the band, and they fled from the field, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>Webber himself signed the dealer’s pledge and gave +up the business.</p> + +<p>Five thousand dollars were raised to keep saloons +out of the town, and a library and social hall established, +and eighteen hundred dollars raised to purchase +books, and to pay the rent of the hall. The rent of +the hall was prepaid for twenty years.</p> + + +<h3 id="MORROW_OHIO"> + MORROW, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The ladies of Morrow commenced the street work, +January 26th, to encounter seventeen drinking-places, +fourteen of which were regular saloons.</p> + +<p>They labored unceasingly till all but two insignificant +doggeries were closed; these held out persistently.</p> + +<p>A correspondent of a Cincinnati paper gives the +following account of the town, which had been blasted +by rum:</p> + +<p>“Population, eleven hundred; drinking-places, +fifteen; increase of population in ten years, two +hundred persons; increase of municipal taxation, one +hundred and thirty per cent.; decline in business +reported at twenty-five per cent.; manufactures +nothing, and no increase in the value of property; +eighteen vacant dwelling-houses, and numbers of the +best citizens removed. Such are the facts given me +by the ‘old and reliable.’ Verily it was time for the +law or the gospel to do something. The place has a +beautiful and romantic site. They have three railroads, +and expect connection soon with a trunk line +to the East. On one side is the river, and on the +other the beautiful hill, with hundreds of sites for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>palatial residences. In the neighborhood is good +fishing and hunting, and all around is scenery unsurpassed +in the State of Ohio. Apparently this is just +the place for a favorite summer resort.</p> + +<p>“Twenty-five years ago Morrow had aspirations. +There were, and are, unsurpassed facilities for manufacturing—still +unimproved. Three large hotels at +that time were filled most of the summer with families +and visitors from Cincinnati. The society was good; +church, school, and lyceum were thoroughly organized; +and besides the manufacturing interests which were +being established, the place expected to become a city +of elegant retired country-seats. Somehow the +saloons got the start, the manufacturers took the +alarm, the expected good families did not come, and +many that were here moved away. If the place has +improved in twenty years, that fact is not apparent to +the naked eye. Still there are many good families in +Morrow. They have borne the demoralization and +tyranny of the whiskey power until it has become a +question of life and death with them; and they have +entered on this struggle in the spirit in which patriots +fight for their homes, feeling that unless they conquer, +they must emigrate. It is not a question of philanthropy +alone, and other people’s good, here, as in +some places: they must conquer or die.”</p> + +<p>Wilmington, a neighboring town, had been cleared +of the traffic, and Mrs. Runyan, the wife of a Methodist +minister, and Mrs. Hadley, a Quakeress, went over +from that place to Morrow to aid their sisters in the +Crusade. There was great enthusiasm; over fifty +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>ladies rallied around them, and the work commenced +in earnest.</p> + +<p>There were many hard cases among the saloon-keepers. +Looskins threatened to shoot the first +woman that crossed his threshold.</p> + +<p>A notice was posted up conspicuously in Opes’ and +Goepper’s saloon, “No singing and praying women +allowed here.” Martin Fath brought out his sewing +machine and ran it violently during their stay. Some +of the saloons locked their doors.</p> + +<p>Henry Scheide, who was a young man of some +culture, and kept the most respectable saloon in the +place, proved to be one of the hardest cases.</p> + +<p>A Cincinnati reporter gives us the following sample +of Scheide’s rambling talk:</p> + +<p>“We’ll worry ’em some, though I’m the only one +that lets the ladies in. It don’t bother me much; they +only sing and pray, and slay about half an hour. I’ll +open every time they come, shutting doors on nobody. +There’s no rowdies come into this place. Those +ladies don’t understand it: they have a foolish prejudice +about this business. Now I can run this establishment +just as nice as a dry goods store, and I +do.... O, if they’d stay all day, I’d soon stop that. +This is my business, and I won’t let anybody interfere +with it. There’s a State law against selling by the +drink, but nobody pays any attention to it. We run +that risk. No man but a low sneak, who has a spite +against you, will drink in your house, and then go and +make complaint against you. The council won’t +make any order here. They’re men of too much +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>sense. I tell you a town must have a decent saloon, +or it won’t prosper. All the farmers nearly in the +country, when they go to sell their grain or buy goods, +are going where they can get a dram. They will +have their beer or ale. Stop the sale here, and two-thirds +of our travel leaves us. Maybe, though, if no +town had saloons, it might make it even; but the +others will have them.</p> + +<p>“Women get along in all these towns because they +have no opposition. Mayor and officers and lawyers +are all with them, because it was a new thing. But +here we’ve got some rights. Our lawyers are with us. +It’s politics that’s really at the bottom of this thing. +It’s been tried here.”</p> + +<p>I glean the following facts from the writings of +T. A. H. Brown, in “Fifty Years’ History of the Temperance +Cause.”</p> + +<p>On the 17th of February, Henry Scheide went +before Judge Gilmore, of Eaton, with the following +petition:</p> + +<p>“The said Henry Scheide, plaintiff, prays that each +and every one of the said defendants, individually, +jointly, and collectively, be restrained, prohibited, and +enjoined from molesting, disturbing, or hindering the +said Henry Scheide in the prosecuting and conducting +his said business, upon any pretence or pretext whatever, +and invading, or meeting in or about his +premises, to obstruct his said business; and also prays +judgment against all of said defendants for the sum +of one thousand dollars, and prays for all other proper +relief in the premises.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span></p> + +<p>The said defendants were—</p> + +<ul style="list-style-type: none;"> + <li>Mrs. E. R. Grim,</li> + <li> Frank Forshnell,</li> + <li> Geo. W. Davis,</li> + <li> John Hanford,</li> + <li> Oscar T. Hanford,</li> + <li> B. F. Wilson,</li> + <li> H. J. Coffeen,</li> + <li> Josiah Fairchild,</li> + <li> Porter Corson,</li> + <li> Jas. H. Jeffery,</li> + <li> W. P. Hanford,</li> + <li> J. T. Welch,</li> +</ul> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">and one hundred and four other ladies and gentlemen, +among whom were Dio Lewis and Van Pelt.</p> + +<p>The trial came off at Lebanon, the 28th of February. +It was a great day in Lebanon. The whole town of +Morrow came over. A public dinner was given by +the Lebanon ladies to their persecuted sisters. Forty +of the defendants marched to the court-house in +solemn procession. Every inch of space in the +building was packed full.</p> + +<p>After noticing the first two points at length, the +judge decides on the third point of the case as follows: +Judge Smith presiding. “But there is another ground, +which, in my judgment, effectually disposes of this +motion. That is third, viz.: That the allegations of +the petition are not true. He alleges that he kept a +house where he conducted business according to law. +From the nature of the case, the character of this +business in this respect is directly in issue, and from +the proof it is perfectly clear to my mind that instead +of this it was a place where intoxicating liquors were +habitually sold, in violation of the laws of the State, +and where gambling was constantly being carried on.</p> + +<p>“Such a place as this our statute expressly declares +to be a public nuisance, and which being shown in a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>proper case would have to be ordered by the court to +be shut up. Now, the doctrine is perfectly well +settled that a nuisance, either public or private, may +be abated even by force, so no breach of the peace is +committed. Surely, then, the means used here, with +the view of abating this nuisance, were not unlawful or +in derogation of the rights of the plaintiff; for, as the +keeper of such an establishment, the maintainer of a +public nuisance, and a gambling-house, he can have +no standing in a court of equity, when he asks to be +protected in his unlawful and criminal business. The +injunction will be dissolved at plaintiff’s costs.”</p> + +<p>Thus the women triumphed in the only injunction +case of the Crusade that was decided on its merits. +There was great rejoicing at Morrow. A correspondent, +writing from there under the inspiration of the +good news, gives the following graphic description of +the scene:</p> + +<p>“As I write, the band is playing and marching +through our streets, followed by an immense throng +of men, women, and children, shouting and rejoicing. +Every church-bell, school-bell, etc., in town is ringing, +and two or three locomotives are creating a terrible +noise, whistling and ringing their bells. In fact, the +entire town is wild with excitement. Hundreds of +country people, hearing the noise of the bells and +general tumult, are flocking to town from all quarters, +many thinking the village was in flames. An immense +meeting is now in progress at the Presbyterian +Church, in addition to the immense throng upon our +streets. Speeches are being made, and cheer upon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>cheer is rending the air. Morrow never had such an +awakening, everybody being happy except the lawyers +who defended Scheide, and four or five saloon +patrons.”</p> + +<p>It was too much for Scheide. He shut up his establishment, +and left the town; and thus ends the history +of the “only respectable saloon in Morrow.”</p> + +<p>The women were out every day, in constantly increasing +numbers. Enthusiastic mass-meetings were +held every night. Almost every man, woman, and +child in the vicinity, not engaged in the liquor business, +signed the total abstinence pledge. One after another +the saloon-keepers gathered their traps about +them and silently stole away, until the number was +reduced to three or four.</p> + +<p>One of these was Max Goepper, a brother of the +wealthy Cincinnati brewer, who kept a low place close +by the depot. To this the women devoted their attention, +and passengers on the Little Miami trains might +see them at almost any hour, from six in the morning +until ten at night, kneeling on the steps before the +door with their piteous faces upturned, and pleading +with the Almighty to have mercy upon that saloon-keeper, +and change his heart. Just within the door +stood Goepper, with a cigar in his mouth and a +sardonic grin on his face, winking at the train men, or +at some old customer whom he saw in the crowd. In +the window hung a caricature of a dead man being +carried off on a bier, and underneath the inscription, +“This man was prayed to death.” It was a sight that +brought tears to the eyes of many a traveller, at the +same time that it provoked a smile.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span></p> + +<p>At last, on a morning early in March, the ladies +came as usual, and found only the empty shell of the +old shanty. Goepper and his effects had disappeared. +The bells were rung loud and long, and the patient +and persistent workers wept for joy. It was one of +the most signal victories of the campaign.</p> + + +<h3 id="OXFORD_OHIO"> + OXFORD, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Oxford, with a population of 1,800, had twelve saloons. +The women commenced Crusade work January 31st, +1874, and by the 27th of March every saloon was +closed but one.</p> + +<p>One noble woman, Mrs. Sheard, over seventy years +of age, put out her washing before daylight on that +morning, so that with home work all done, she might +be able to go with the Crusade band into the streets; +other ladies were equally energetic and determined.</p> + +<p>Wertz and Barraclough, after closing their saloon, +sold out their fixtures at auction.</p> + +<p>The wealthier citizens purchased them, and presented +them to the ladies as mementos. Glasses +brought as high as $1.50, and other things in proportion.</p> + +<p>March 31st, the last saloon-keeper, Mr. Taylor, +signed the pledge. Thus in just two months of prayer +and effort every saloon in the town was closed. A +jubilee festival was held, to which the saloon-keepers +and their families were invited.</p> + +<p>During the Crusade, out of a population of 1,800, +1,200 signed the pledge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="McARTHUR_OHIO"> + McARTHUR, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>McArthur is the county-seat of Vinton county; has +a population of 800. At the commencement of the +Crusade five saloons were in full blast; four of them +were closed in one week.</p> + +<p>One of the worst places was a gambling and faro-bank. +A correspondent gives us the following graphic +account of the closing of this den:</p> + +<p>Fifty women singing and praying in a faro-bank is +calculated to cause quite an interest in almost any +place, and especially in our usually unaccustomed-to-excitement +village. The rooms were crowded to overflowing +by curious and interested spectators. The +proprietor had boasted that the ‘praying band’ had +not enough ‘religion’ and too little ‘faith’ to visit him, +and even threatened violence should such an action be +attempted. After the conclusion of the evening services +at the churches, the ladies formed in line of +march, accompanied by the marshal and one or two +others, in case their services were needed in an +emergency, and the attack was made. They were +received without opposition. Crowds followed, the +rooms were filled, and a large number remained below +on the sidewalk. Singing and prayer were held for +about an hour, when the band took their leave, thanking +the proprietor for his courtesy, and he in turn +requesting them to return; but this they had not the +opportunity of doing. The next day he closed his +establishment, sold his tables and chairs, and decamped, +saying that being prayed out of town was a +new experience to him, and that he had best leave.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="GEORGETOWN_OHIO"> + GEORGETOWN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This is an old aristocratic town; like Hillsboro’, +many of the early settlers were from Virginia or +Kentucky, and had the same ideas of hospitality.</p> + +<p>My earliest recollections of Georgetown are of its +splendid monthly balls, and the fashion and gayety of +the people who attended them, coming many of them +from long distances.</p> + +<p>The inhabitants suffered terribly from the drink +ravages, and yet drinking was deemed respectable.</p> + +<p>The Crusade commenced late in January, and on +February 28th the last saloon closed.</p> + +<p>We give the following incidents of the Crusade from +a correspondent:</p> + +<p>“One man, on being approached by the ladies, had +nerved himself for the shock with the electrifying fluid +of his own establishment. By his side sat a glass half +full, ready to be swallowed as soon as the burning +effects of the first had cooled. When asked if he +would quit selling liquor, his response was, suggested, +no doubt, by the inward burning: ‘No! not till h—l +freezes over.’ Since then the wicked of this community, +before whom the lake of fire has been a dreadful +reality, have had great occasion to rejoice.</p> + +<p>“At the second place visited, the proprietor, fearing +the prayers of the ladies would annihilate his stock, +had it rolled out on the sidewalk and labelled ‘Cincinnati.’ +He told them, in answer to inquiry respecting +the cessation of his business, that they might +report him closed. This, however, was only a dodge +to evade the pressure of this movement. He afterwards +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>closed, however, and allowed his liquors to be +emptied in the street.</p> + +<p>“The proprietor of another saloon wept during the +first visit of the ladies; said he was a Christian man; +could not quit the business at present, as he had +bought property, and his word was out to pay for it; +said also that he could not let his wife and children +suffer for food and clothing. He gave a written +pledge, however, that he would never sell another +drop of intoxicating liquor after the present was gone.</p> + +<p>“Judging from the professions of the next man, we +would classify him with an ancient order of people. +‘He is not as other people; he prays twice a day; was +foreordained from all eternity to sell liquor; considers +it no more harm than to sell calico.’ A few days +afterwards, we thought his Calvinism knocked end-ways, +as he solemnly pledged the temperance people +he would never sell again. But nickels were too +tempting. The next day he was discovered selling. +Had this not been a ruse to secure the intercessions of +the ladies before the court in his behalf, his return to +his foul business would have verified the old proverb. +He persists that there was a mistake in his promise; +that it embraced a condition. We are happy to record +he has since closed up unconditionally.</p> + +<p>“At another place, the proprietor said as he was a law-abiding +citizen, and sold only according to law, that he +would lose every drop of blood in his body before he +would give up the business. This was severe on the +ladies. Until then they had not perceived they were +warring against legitimate business. But the next +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>day, on learning that some one had indicted all of these +<i>law-abiding men</i> before the grand jury, their conscientious +scruples vanished. At this place, too, temperance +triumphed and no blood was shed.”</p> + + +<h3 id="WHO_ARE_THESE_WOMEN"> + WHO ARE THESE WOMEN? +</h3> + +<p>In all adjacent towns, the wildest rumors are afloat +as to who the praying women are. Some say they are +strangers sent here to do this work. Those not in +sympathy with us say they are from the lower strata +of society, and that among them are women of questionable +character. Let the liquor-dealers of Georgetown +be asked, and, if men of veracity, they will say +they are the women of Georgetown, and the very best +of its female inhabitants. They are the wives and +daughters of the ministers, bankers, judges, lawyers, +merchants and mechanics of this place.</p> + + +<h3 id="LOGAN_OHIO"> + LOGAN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The following was reported by Mrs. John Walker:</p> + +<p>“Logan, the county-seat of Hocking, with two thousand +inhabitants, contained, before the Crusade, eighteen +saloons, most of them doing a profitable business. +Much of the wealth of the town was in the hands of +prominent liquor-sellers, and men in other business +quailed before them. Our lawyers and office-holders, +with scarcely an exception, were in their interests. But +God had a chosen few who caught the inspiration of +the Crusade.</p> + +<p>“It is a remarkable fact that several towns took up +the work simultaneously, and, with but little knowledge +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>of what the others were doing, worked substantially in +the same manner, as we found in comparing notes +afterwards.</p> + +<p>“We were, as we supposed, the fifth town in point +of succession, but found that other towns had commenced +at the same time. We felt the magnitude of +our work, for many of these liquor-dealers were our +neighbors and friends—some of them the magnates of +our town.</p> + +<p>“And I speak what I know of our women, when I +repel the accusation since made against the Crusade, +that one element in its work was a spirit of persecution. +So far as our work was concerned, all bitterness was +laid aside. We felt called to work for the Master, and +with as much of his spirit as possible. Our meetings +were solemn; our processions well ordered; our work +determined and telling; for God seemed to come so +near to us that we touched his guiding hand. No +woman among us, who entered into the spirit of it, +doubts for a moment the Almighty guidance. I can +never describe my own feelings as the leader of it. I +seemed under a mighty inspiration, so calm, so peaceful, +so fearless, so trustful, and with remarkably clear +views of God’s truth, so that I would select passages +for public reading without hesitation. I received +threatening letters. My husband was advised to compel +me to stay at home, as I would ruin his business +(banking, which was never harmed).</p> + +<p>“Country people flocked into our town and were +amazed; there was so much power in the work—power +from on high. It was a spiritual phenomenon, unexplainable, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>even to ourselves. ‘How our hearts burned +as we talked of Him by the way!’</p> + +<p>“Our Master walked with us. In three weeks, we +had the four drug stores under pledge, and all the +saloons closed except one. That one was upheld +by wholesale dealers in cities, and by the Catholic +priest at home. We labored with the priest, but he +steadily told us that he interfered with no man’s +business.</p> + +<p>“Our Lutheran minister also upheld his people +who sold liquor. Now for the results:</p> + +<p>“Although some of these liquor-sellers gave us their +hand before the crowd, and with tears promised they +would never sell liquor again, after a few months they +returned to it again, and as much liquor was sold as +before. There is a kind of brotherhood among them, +and they fear and influence each other.</p> + +<p>“But was the Crusade a failure, as some have said? +By no means. We gave the liquor business a blow in +<i>this town</i>, from which <i>it never has and never will recover</i>. +Some of our Germans in that business I think had +no idea until then how disreputable it was in the eyes +of Americans. They <i>feel</i> it <i>now</i>.</p> + +<p>“It is neither respectable to sell nor drink whiskey in +this town now, although much of it is done; for so long +as there is money in the business, it will be continued.</p> + +<p>“Public opinion has taken an <i>immense</i> stride. One +of these wealthy liquor-dealers has recently died, leaving +orders that no liquor should ever again be sold at +his place of business, and a nice hardware-store now +fills its place. Another young man has left the business, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>and opened a furniture store. Several others are +now shut for want of custom.</p> + +<p>“It was a fearful reaction which followed the Crusade—the +mighty wave threw up the mire and filth in +the community. This element festered, and in sheer +bravado many of them have tried to show <i>these women</i> +that they <i>will</i> sell and drink in spite of them. But our +‘boys in blue’ are coming to the rescue. Each temperance +revival seems to be an outcome of the preceding +one.”</p> + +<p>We add the following from D. Little:</p> + +<p>“But two of the twenty liquor hells in our town, that +surrendered, possessed any interest to those who do +not believe in the efficacy of prayer.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Barnhardt, the day of his surrender, knelt with +the ladies, and tearfully promised them that he would +never sell any more spirituous liquors; that he was +convinced that it was a great sin to do so. He hoped +they would be as successful at all the other saloons as +they were at his. He has been, ever since his surrender, +one of our best temperance men.</p> + +<p>“Mr. Rohler’s surrender was the same as Mr. Barnhardt’s. +Upon his surrender, the ladies sang ‘Praise +God,’ etc.</p> + +<p>“One of the most remarkable cases of God’s answering +prayer is told by our good sister F. Her husband +is a kind-hearted man, a good mechanic, and, +until he commenced drinking, was one of our most +thrifty mechanics. He ran through with all the accumulation +of years, and but for the hand-work of his wife, +his family would have suffered for bread.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span></p> + +<p>“Mrs. F. felt that there was no safety for her husband +without God would take from him his appetite +for whiskey. She believed that God would do it, if +she asked him. She prayed that God would take from +him the desire for whiskey. At this time he had not +taken any stimulant for a week. He would walk the +floor of his shop in the greatest distress, and in going +to and from his meals, he went through the alleys, +in order to avoid the saloons, knowing, as he says, he +could not resist the temptation.</p> + +<p>“After about a week of such suffering, his desire for +whiskey was taken away, and he says he has no more +taste for it now than when he was a child. He is +happy, cheerful, industrious, and says he will never +drink any more.”</p> + + +<h3 id="McCONNELSVILLE_OHIO"> + McCONNELSVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Eva R. Sprague writes of the work at this +point:</p> + +<p>We organized February 14th, 1874, under the name +of McConnelsville Women’s Temperance League; +officers: president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary.</p> + +<p>The usual constitution, by-laws, and pledges were +adopted, and one hundred and thirty signatures +obtained.</p> + +<p>We owed largely our success, under God, to our +venerable president, Mother Paxton, who, although +bending under the weight of years (she was at the +time seventy-seven), was, nevertheless, prompt in attendance +at each of our meetings, and in the street work, +no matter how inclement the weather.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> + +<p>As a result of our efforts, with the blessing of God, +every saloon in our town was closed. (There are now +six saloons in the place against which we are battling.) +Some of the persons who were then dealing out death +to their fellow-creatures are now efficient members of +Christ’s visible church. So manifest was the presence +of the Holy Spirit in our meetings and work, that denominational +lines seemed to have melted away, and a +heavenly union “like to that above” prevailed.</p> + +<p>A blessed revival of religion and an ingathering of +members to the churches followed, as a matter of course. +Our meetings were kept up for several months, and +were seasons of great soul-enjoyment to those who +attended, and the savor of their influence will, we +hope, never be lost upon the members of the League, +and the Christians of McConnelsville.</p> + + +<h3 id="MARYSVILLE_OHIO"> + MARYSVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>On Wednesday evening, February 14th, 1874, an +interesting mass-meeting was held in Union Hall; +every available foot of room was packed. This meeting +was the means of developing much temperance +feeling, which rapidly grew; and on Thursday, Friday, +and Saturday, devotional meetings were held at the +Congregational Church.</p> + +<p>Monday afternoon, thirty or forty ladies formed into +line, and marched to the saloons. At the places where +the saloons were closed against them, the devotional +exercises were gone through with, on the pavement, +in front of the saloon. Monday afternoon, Mother +Stewart, of Springfield, paid us a visit. In the evening, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>she made a two hours’ address, at the Methodist +Church, and was listened to by a crowded house. A +subscription was started for the purpose of prosecuting +all violations of the liquor laws. About six thousand +dollars were subscribed. On the whole, the +people were terribly in earnest.</p> + +<p>While a committee of ladies was visiting the saloons, +with the view of having an understanding with the +keepers, concerning their continuing to sell liquor, a +few young men, with more impudence than brains, +entered the saloon and called for drinks.</p> + +<p>At one of the evening meetings in the hall, the +cry of <i>fire</i> was raised; the audience became much +alarmed, and made a rush for the door. It was soon +discovered that a barn had been set on fire near the +depot. It was supposed to have been set on fire for +the purpose of breaking up the meeting. The same +ruse was employed a second time during the meetings.</p> + +<p>The druggists signed a pledge which they prepared +for themselves. On a Saturday, a beautiful day, the +ladies were out in full force; one hundred and +seventy-two in all. Large numbers of persons were +in from the country as silent spectators of the solemn +scene. Many stout-hearted men were melted to +tears, and all expressed themselves as singularly +affected.</p> + +<p>Not a word was spoken in derision of the movement, +nor was there a smile to be seen on the countenance +of any one. It was a wonderful work.</p> + +<p>The last week in February, 1874, was the memorable +week in the history of Marysville. It will be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>remembered as the week when every saloon in the +place was closed.</p> + +<p>Photographs, cabinet-size, of the ladies’ prayer-meeting +in front of the “City Beer Saloon,” were +taken, and became objects of historic interest.</p> + +<p>Monday evening, March the 2d, our citizens, to the +number of about three hundred, met at Mr. Peter +Baugh’s residence, and took supper with him. Peter +was among the first to yield to the wishes of the ladies. +He sacrificed all his liquors, by spilling them out on +the ground; then tore out his saloon-fixtures, cleaned +up his room, and spread a table capable of seating +eighty persons at a time.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant evening, in the way of genuine +enjoyment. After supper, addresses were made by +Mr. Stephenson, Mayor Kennedy, Rev. Mr. March, +Dr. Hamilton, Mr. Piper, and Mrs. Woods. All rejoiced +together that deliverance had come to those +who were in bondage.</p> + +<p>The supper given at Mr. Raugh’s proved a success. +The sum given so cheerfully and liberally amounted +to five hundred dollars. The kindly feeling which +prevailed convinced all that it is better to be ruled by +love than by law.</p> + +<p>Reported by order of the committee. <span class="smcap">E. J. March.</span></p> + + +<h3 id="FINDLEY_OHIO"> + FINDLEY, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Sarah A. Strothers, writing of the work in this +place, says:</p> + +<p>“In the month of February (about the 27th) the +great wave of the temperance revival, now known as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>“The Crusade,” reached Findley, Hancock county, +Ohio. A meeting was called to be held in the Presbyterian +Church, where the wonderful events that had, +and were transpiring, at Hillsboro’, and Washington +Court-House, were talked over, until the people were +enthused to such a degree, that, for the time being, +all other things seemed void of interest.</p> + +<p>The great incubus of intemperance that was crushing +us socially, and as a nation, was about to be overthrown, +by the great lever of faith—Faith in God. It +was claimed that at this day He would hear and answer +the supplications of His children, as He did in other +years, when He brought them out of the land of bondage. +The people assembled every day for two weeks. +The church was crowded. All were anxious that the +women should go out as their sisters were going in +other places.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 14th of March, the work of +organization commenced. A president and two vice-presidents, +and other officers were chosen. One of +the ministers present suggested that consecration was +necessary before we could work effectively. All +seemed to feel that this was indeed needed, and for +two weeks longer we met daily in the church for +prayer.</p> + +<p>The interest increased. Crowds came from our +county, and from towns and cities of the country adjacent +to these meetings. The baptism of power +came upon us. We then sent committees to the +saloons, to ask the dealers to cease their work of +death; and to say that if they did not abandon the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>traffic, prayer-meetings would be held in their places +of business. There were thirty-two retail and one +wholesale liquor store, in our village of four thousand +inhabitants. Although evidently much disturbed, not +one of them would promise to give up the traffic, +claiming that there was too much money in it; that +the government was kept up by the revenue derived +from the traffic in intoxicants. To be told this by a +foreigner was enough to make every American blush +for his country.</p> + +<p>When the committees returned, the church was +filled with women bowed in prayer; and, as one expressed +it, the very atmosphere seemed to be filled with +the Spirit. They had been blessed as were the disciples +of old, with a pentecostal baptism.</p> + +<p>All denominational lines were gone, and they +were as the Saviour prayed that his followers might +be, one in Him. The leader of the band went to the +front of the church to make the report. She said: +“My sisters—We have met with a defeat equal to +that of the army of the Potomac at Bull Run. Let +us once more bow before God, and ask for direction +and strength for the contest that is evidently before +us.” We then signed the pledge to work until the +victory was won, or till death should release us.</p> + +<p>At the evening meeting, held in the court-house, +many of the dealers were present, and so learned that +on the morrow we would move upon their works, +armed with the weapons of Christian warfare—Love +and Faith, backed by the power of Almighty God.</p> + +<p>At eight o’clock in the morning the church was filled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>with persons anxious to take part in the work, or to +see what was going to be done. After devotional +exercises, the men present pledged themselves to aid +by their prayers, their means, and influence, until the +work was accomplished. The leader now requested +all who were willing, and felt moved by the Spirit to +go out, to rise. Two hundred and twenty signified +their willingness to go. We then had a few minutes’ +silent prayer, after which we formed a procession. +The leader then said: “My sisters, we are going forth +in the strength, in the spirit of our Master, to follow +Him in trying to save men, and it may be going even +to death. Let us all feel that, following Christ, all will +be well. Let us leave all in His hands—life, friends, +reputation—all that is dear to us, in His hands.” +Persons were stationed in the Protestant churches to +ring the bells as soon as the M. E. Church bell would +ring. As we walked two and two out of the church +five bells commenced ringing. The streets were +crowded with men and boys, all excited over the +strange scene. It was, indeed, like a great funeral +procession.</p> + +<p>The first place we visited the proprietors had closed +the doors and fled. We sang “All hail the power of +Jesus’ name,” and offered two prayers. A man, in +giving his experience afterwards, said that that prayer +and hymn were the means of his conversion.</p> + +<p>The third place we visited was kept by a wounded +soldier. He had once known the Saviour. As we +sang he wept, and knelt when we prayed. All the +time we were out those who remained at the church +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>were praying. At the close of each prayer, the bell +would be rung, thus notifying us that they were holding +us up by their faith.</p> + +<p>The next place we visited was a billiard saloon. As +we filed into the room the players were startled; they +were not looking for us. One woman exclaimed: +“Merciful heaven, this is the gilded hell that is destroying +my sons!” The owner said: “We never sell +anything that will intoxicate.” Another mother present +answered: “I don’t see how that can be; my boys +come in here sober, and I have to help them home—they +are too drunk to take care of themselves.” He +was now becoming angry, and a sister, standing with +her hand on the billiard-table, said: “Let us pray.” +She prayed that his little son might never have the +temptations to evil that he was offering to her children; +that the father might become a Christian ere his boy +would know anything of his life. The pledge was +then presented. He said he would not sign it till the +Day of Judgment. He, however, came to the church +in the morning, and not only signed the pledge but +asked us to pour his liquor into the street. Oh! the +crowds that came to witness the funeral of the vicious +compound. We had a very joyous time; God was +with us in great power. Several of the dealers gave +up the business, and the five bells were rung, and +great rejoicing was heard all over the town. At one +saloon a sister was asked to lead in prayer; she was +a shouting Methodist, and she rejoiced with a loud +voice, to the astonishment of the beer vender.</p> + +<p>At one place we were in the habit of singing “Come +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>to Jesus,” and “Rock of ages.” An old German was +much disturbed by this. “What did des Rock of ages +mean?” he said. “He dakes mine shleep all de night. +I durns over, I hear <i>Rock of ages</i>, and den I hears +<i>Come to Jesus, all de time</i>; vat does it mean?”</p> + +<p>A man, a German, was in his place one day; a boy, +whose mother was a Crusader, was standing by the +stove. He did not observe the boy, but said to the +man, “Come now, haf a glass of peer, dem vemens +will not drouble me any more already. I dalked so +cross dey will not comes agin.” The beer was poured +out, but just as the man was raising it to his mouth, +“Rock of ages” sounded through the air, sung by a +hundred voices. “Quick, shut the door! mine Got, +dis dem vemens agin.”</p> + +<p>Most of the places we visited we held our meeting +inside, but the wholesale dealers would not suffer us +to come inside. One or two would go in to talk with +the proprietors. When the door was opened one +morning, five or six slipped in and commenced praying. +Oh! what a meeting we had—one good short +inside meeting, and a large one outside. We then +commenced picketing saloons; some rich scenes transpired +in this work. After we had enough evidence +accumulated (we had the McConnelsville ordinance) +we concluded to try the law. We had an old German +arrested and tried; <i>he was sentenced to fine and imprisonment</i>. +The Germans banded together, and took +him out of the prison, and there seemed no help but +to submit to a lawless mob.”</p> + +<p>What a confession! <i>A few German dealers defy +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>public sentiment and override the decrees of the court</i>. +And American men, who outnumber them <i>ten to one</i>, +submit to this lawlessness and insult, and allow the +triumph of vice over virtue; mob over the law.</p> + + +<h3 id="JAMESTOWN_OHIO"> + JAMESTOWN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Reported by Mattie B. Long.</p> + +<p>In the early part of February, 1874, the citizens of +Jamestown, Ohio, met at Christian Church of that +place; the object of the meeting being to organize a +band to go in the streets, into saloons, or wherever a +war might be waged against the liquor traffic. After +prayer by one of the ministers present, and some +remarks upon the necessity of the work now about to +be engaged in, a league was promptly organized, with +Mrs. Mattie B. Long as president, Mrs. Elizabeth +Davis vice-president, and Mrs. H. R. Brown secretary.</p> + +<p>A spirit of enthusiasm pervaded all classes. The +pastors of the three churches entered heartily into the +work, and were, as well as other Christian men, very +valuable allies in the warfare. While the women went +forth weeping, trembling, praying, these men remained +in the church praying for their success in the work +until they returned and reported.</p> + +<p>A band of about fifty ladies went forth, visiting first +the only drug store in the village, where they were +kindly received. The president asked permission to +have prayer, when an earnest, eloquent petition was +offered by Mrs. Mary Perryman, the first prayer, +perhaps, that had ever ascended to heaven from a +place where ardent spirits were sold as a beverage in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span>this town. This drug store and two saloons were the +only places in the village where liquors were sold.</p> + +<p>These places were visited daily for a week or more +before either of the proprietors agreed to desist; one +saloon-keeper finally yielded. Then the druggist, and +then the other saloonist “unconditionally surrendered,” +and gave permission for his premises to be searched. +All his liquors were given to mother earth to drink. +So that in the space of three weeks our village was +for the time freed from the curse.</p> + +<p>The experience of all engaged in the work was +that, while laboring for the good of others, their own +souls had been greatly blessed.</p> + + +<h3 id="MOUNT_VERNON_OHIO"> + MOUNT VERNON, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Mount Vernon, with a population of 6,000, had +thirty-one saloons.</p> + +<p>The Crusade work commenced the 16th of February; +in the short space of twelve days of prayer +and persuasion, twenty-three saloons closed their +doors, and the saloonists agreed never to enter into +the business again. The Catholic priest expressed +his sympathy with the movement, and organized a +society in his own communion.</p> + +<p>Mrs. E. A. Wright wrote, April 2d, 1874: “Our +success up to the present time has far exceeded the +expectations of the most sanguine; out of twenty-two +places where intoxicating drinks were publicly sold, +only six remain, and those doing but little. A great +change has been wrought in the outside element. If +a popular vote had been taken the first day of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>Crusade, whether we should retire from the streets, or +continue with our prayers, we would have been obliged +to disperse; to-day, thank God, so great is the change +that nine-tenths of the people bid us God speed in our +work, and would regard it as a public calamity, should +we cease our efforts. Men who hitherto had been +enslaved have, like true men, come up and with +trembling hands signed the pledge, that they might +be free, while their tear-dimmed eyes spoke the gratitude +that welled up from their hearts.</p> + +<p>Surely God is with us: he will not fail us, but his +work, like a mighty wave, will continue to increase +in volume and power until its boundaries shall only be +determined where the love of mother, wife and sister +cease to exist; where <i>such love dwells</i>, there shall the +standard of temperance be uplifted; not only uplifted, +but sustained. We may not live to see the glorious +consummation of this work, but I believe in God’s +own time this evil shall cease to be in our midst.</p> + +<p>A very stringent ordinance passed by the city +council has awakened terrible fears in the minds of +those who still continue the traffic, ordinances covering +so much ground, that they will be obliged to surrender, +if not from principle, from loss of profit. The council +stand nine to one (a saloonist) in favor of temperance.</p> + +<p>Let us educate our daughters to fill up the ranks +when we fall, looking always to God for support, going +forth in His fear, with His love in our hearts, to do +battle against this awful enemy of mankind, being +determined that not until the last rum-hole is closed, +will we rest.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> + +<p>On the 21st of February, Mr. McFeely, who kept +the finest restaurant and billiard hall in southern Ohio, +made a full surrender. After rejoicing over this great +victory, the women proceeded through the rain to the +Commercial Hotel, where they found the white flag, +the symbol of surrender, hanging out. After holy +praise to God, Mr. McFeely and the proprietor of the +Bergen House (which had surrendered a few days +before) invited them to dinner, while the owner of one +of the livery-stables sent hacks and omnibuses to +convey them to their homes. This generous courtesy +of those who had given up their business at the +solicitation of the women was a token of the kindly +feeling existing between the parties. After Mr. +McFeely gave up the traffic, he had an elegant motto +put up in his dining-hall, inscribed with the sentiment: +“God bless our noble women.” A reporter shortly +afterwards visited him, and gives the following interesting +account of the interview:</p> + +<p>“With some curiosity as to what the late liquor-sellers +thought of the movement and its effects, I went +to a billiard-room which, when I was here before, was +the most popular drinking-place in town, being +crowded every night with young men who rank high +in Mount Vernon society. The proprietor, an Irishman, +with the physique of a trained prize-fighter, had +told me that ‘the thing would never work in Mount +Vernon,’ and that ‘they’ (meaning the ladies) ‘had +better not try it on.’ I now found him in a much +more tranquil state of mind, as he stood dispensing +lemonade and soda to old topers, who have now to be +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>content with such mild substitutes for the old-fashioned +toddies and punches. ‘How do you feel after your +surrender?’ I asked. ‘Never better—never so well—in +my life,’ was the prompt reply. ‘I don’t know +anything about getting religion, but a fellow who has +just been converted must feel something like I have +felt for the last week. I actually enjoy going to +church. Somehow or other everything looks brighter. +The best day’s work I ever did was hanging out the +white flag on my saloon.’ ‘But you will go into the +old business again when this excitement dies out?’ +‘Not if I know myself. I wouldn’t be able to hold +my head up if I did; I couldn’t look a lady straight in +the face. No, sir, I don’t know what’s come over me, +but whiskey-selling don’t appear to me now as it used +to. Besides, everybody seems to look on me so +different now. The very men that used to drink at +my bar think more of me; and as to the ladies—why, +sir, some of the best ladies in this town have been +in my dining-room with their husbands to dinner since +I closed out.’ I could hardly realize that I was talking +to the man who a few days ago had, with angry tone +and defiant eye, wished the ladies to ‘try it on,’ and +who over this same counter tried to induce me to take +something in the way of cold-weather alcoholic drinks.”</p> + + +<h3 id="WARREN_OHIO"> + WARREN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>A Woman’s Temperance organization was effected +in Warren, February 28th, 1874.</p> + +<p>We are indebted to a writer in the <i>Morning</i>, for the +following facts connected with the work there:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span></p> + +<p>At the beginning of the work, the following pledge +was circulated:</p> + +<p>“We, the women of Warren, pledge ourselves to +use every effort in our power, (giving our presence, +time, prayers and influence,) towards the suppression +and total overthrow of the liquor traffic in our midst, +and that we will never cease to labor and pray until +the work is accomplished.”</p> + +<p>This pledge was afterwards circulated throughout +the city, and signed by 500 women.</p> + +<p>Pledges for different classes of persons were prepared +and extensively circulated. Our druggists were +induced to sign the “Iron-Clad,” especially drawn for +them. Prayer-meetings were held twice a day. +March 10th, 1874.—A mass-meeting was held at the +Disciples’ Church, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Bolton, +of Cleveland. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed at +this meeting. After the church was filled, the crowd +outside was so great, that an overflow meeting was +held at the court-house. The speakers addressed +both audiences. A citizens’ pledge was circulated and +signed by hundreds. The influence of that meeting +pervaded every portion of our city. Even the enemy +could no longer be restrained, but came out boldly +the next day in the form of two men mounted on a +cask of beer, drawn by horses through our streets, +drinking and dealing out liquor to all. The next day +at the prayer-meetings all felt that <i>now</i> was the time +to begin our warfare on intemperance, and that the +enemy must be met on his own ground. So the first +band of women, numbering 170, armed with God’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>own peculiar weapons, singing and prayer, went out +from the Disciples’ Church on Wednesday afternoon, +March 11th, 1874. We visited several saloons. At +some places we were admitted, at others not. We +went forth in bands day by day for weeks, into these +places of sin and degradation, carrying the love of +Jesus in our hearts, praying and urging those men to +give up their unlawful business. Prayer-meetings +were held daily the first six months; the next six, three +times a week; the last year, and at the present time, +once a week, on Thursday afternoons. Open air +meetings have been held Sunday afternoons, whenever +the weather would permit. On the 4th of April, +1874, a very large mass-meeting was held; the audience +was addressed by four of our District Judges, +Messrs. Freese, Conant, Canfield, and Glidden. April +6th, Election day, was a day of great interest; the +McConnelsville Ordinance was voted upon, a prayer-meeting +was held from seven o’clock in the morning +until six in the evening, the ladies going to the polls +in all the wards, and using their influence for the +Ordinance in every possible way. It was carried by +a small majority.</p> + +<p>July 4th.—A temperance celebration was held and +largely attended. July 14th.—A county convention +was held in Warren, to inaugurate plans for canvassing +the county in the interests of anti-License, +preparatory to the election on the 18th of August. +December 18th, 1874, the temperance women of +Trumbull county met at Warren and organized a +County League. This League meets quarterly and is +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>in good working order, the interest growing deeper +and broader until nearly every township in the county +has organized a League. January 28th, 1875, a Soup +House was established under the supervision of the +ladies. April 5th, 1875, the young ladies of Warren +organized a “Young Ladies’ Temperance League.” +A Constitution and By-laws were drawn up and signed +by eighty-five members. Through their efforts a Free +Reading-Room has been established in a good location, +attractive and comfortably furnished. It has a +library of 200 volumes, magazines, periodicals, and a +large number of daily and weekly papers. We feel +that by these means many have been drawn away +from saloons and other bad places. May 6th, 1875, +the League made application to the editors of the +<i>Western Reserve Chronicle</i> for a space in their paper +to be devoted to the interests of temperance, and to +be edited by the League. The request was kindly +granted, and a column has been filled from week to +week with temperance matter.</p> + +<p>September 25th, 1875, a Boys’ and Girls’ Temperance +Society was organized, consisting of 175 members. +The question would so often come up, “Am I doing +all I can to save the boys, my own, my neighbors’ sons, +those who in the years to come will be our glory, or +our shame?”</p> + + +<h3 id="STEUBENVILLE_OHIO"> + STEUBENVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>When the Crusade commenced in Steubenville there +were one hundred and twenty-five saloons and liquor +stores. Twenty-five of these were closed by the Crusade. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>An ordinance, which became effective April, +1874, growing out of the Crusade, closed forty more.</p> + +<p>The friends of temperance and good order were +hopeful, and the prospects were bright. But in the +midst of their work there was a “Personal Liberty” +club formed, the object being to obtain the drink in +defiance of law. This action gave the saloon-keepers +new courage, and some of the saloons were reopened, +and the traffic was carried on in defiance of law. This +cry of “Personal Liberty,” has bewildered many. +There is no such thing as personal liberty except +among savages.</p> + +<p>The reader will find this subject fully discussed in +another chapter of this book.</p> + + +<h3 id="YOUNGSTOWN_OHIO"> + YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>We are indebted to Mary G. Moore for the following +statement of work:</p> + +<p>In the winter of 1873 and ’74 strange reports +reached us, from central and southern Ohio, of how +women, moved by a horror of the liquor trade, were +organizing themselves into companies, and seeking the +men engaged in liquor-selling at their places of business, +and by prayer and entreaty trying to persuade +them to quit it.</p> + +<p>The first newspaper reports were read with a +mixture of astonishment and incredulity. It could not +be true. But they were soon verified. Then came +speculations as to what kind of persons these women +were. Fanatics surely, or women driven to desperation +by drunkards. But no; the word came that they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>were generally persons of moderation and refinement, +who were actuated by a single noble purpose to do +something to stop drinking. Then the results were +noted, and the progress of the work was watched with +hourly increasing interest.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon the question commenced to be whispered +as it came eastward: What if it should come here? +As if it were not here already, and all the time; the +iniquity and wretchedness on the one hand, and sympathy +and Christian zeal on the other, the latter only +waiting to be kindled into a flame by a spark from that +consecrated fire that lighted at first the Woman’s Crusade. +Finally, one said to another, “Let us meet and +pray;” and early in March, a Woman’s Temperance +Prayer-Meeting was started, which has never been +discontinued to the present. It was at first held in the +Methodist Episcopal Church, but for the sake of convenience, +it was soon removed to the First Baptist +Church. This was held daily in the morning hours, and +daily increased in numbers, until hundreds came. +Gradually it assumed the character of a conference +meeting in connection with the more solemn service +of prayer. Scores came to pray and hear the discussions, +and commit themselves personally to temperance, +who declared they never could and never would go into +the streets to work. But many of these, in the after +days, might be seen kneeling on the sidewalks in the +immediate presence of the public; this only illustrates +how we change our mind.</p> + +<p>A Woman’s League was at once organized, with a +membership of over four hundred, and by its influence, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>a League of the men was formed to co-operate with the +former. A common inference from this action was that +the women might pray, and the men would vote. The +Woman’s League was based on the one condition, of +taking a simple abstinence pledge from all intoxicants +as a beverage.</p> + +<p>The first public work, was the canvass of the town +with the property-holders’ pledge. This was largely +successful at the time, and it holds yet, the majority +who signed it. The most flagrant violators of it, are, +in some instances, conspicuous members of society here, +and in other cities, holding property here. When a +pledge was circulated among druggists and physicians, +this carried to a considerable extent also; but what +was said of the other pledge, may be repeated of this.</p> + +<p>Prominent practitioners and dealers set the example +of breaking over. Finally, after a fortnight of meetings, +it was resolved to attack the enemy on his own +ground. The forces were mustered, and, be it said to +the credit of woman, very few desertions were recorded. +A very small number made excuse “their husbands +would not let them,” but as a rule the husbands and +fathers and brothers, the men, nobly seconded the +women. The meetings were presided over and the +Crusade led by Mrs. Ashley, the wife of the Baptist +minister, then of our city, a woman eminently qualified +by nature and education for such an undertaking, for +she had not only the courage and culture, but the +Christian zeal that would prosecute such a work with +steady enthusiasm after the effervescence of popular +excitement had disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p> + +<p>Day after day, and week after week, the women, in +numbers ranging from fifty up into the hundreds, convened +at the Baptist Church, where, after an hour spent +in prayer and conference, they would form into companies +of twenty, or thirty each, and taking different +wards or streets, go from door to door of the saloons, +and, where admittance was granted, by religious services +and personal entreaty try to effect a change. +Where they were not permitted to enter, services were +held on the outside. This was quite common at first, +but very few persisted in closing their doors to the end. +And here the Crusaders counted a gain, for many had +declared with blasphemous oaths that no meddlesome +women should get into their establishments, who finally, +with civility if not courtesy, invited them to enter. +Places never before trodden by women, whose walls +had echoed nothing but the language of bar-rooms for +years, now resounded to the music of Gospel hymns, +and Scripture lessons, and fervent prayers. Who +shall say this was seed, that, though seemingly unproductive +at the time, in the majority of cases may not +yet bear fruit? And so the Crusade went on for about +six weeks, and thirty-five saloons were closed—not +particularly eventful from first to last. There was at +once an absence of boisterous enthusiasm, and riotous +opposition. Many of those who yielded, did it without +ringing of bells and firing of guns, and those who held +out, never countenanced the mob. Of course, the +thirty-five that succumbed, were only a drop in the bucket +to the number who kept on in the work. In a population +of about twelve thousand, we had nearly four +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>hundred saloons, and we probably have pretty nearly +that number yet; but as one—not a pronounced temperance +man by any means—remarked the other day, +there is not the money in them that there used to be.</p> + +<p>So, in estimating the Crusade, we should consider +it as formative, and developing in its results, rather +than defined and immediate, although whiskey neither +surrendered of itself, nor was vanquished by legislation, +yet drinking in saloons is much less popular and +general than it used to be. Somehow, they say, since +1874, it has constantly been growing unfashionable. +As for the men who closed out the business then, it is +believed the major part have kept their promise. One +of the men is on our police force, three are respectable +temperance grocers, and others are doing honest labor +in our mills and factories. Indeed, there are only two +or three cases of returning to the business.</p> + +<p>But, as the labor of the Crusade seemed about accomplished, +or, at any rate, as if no more good could +be done by visiting saloons, the ladies cast about them +for something else: And here I might set down what +we, in Youngstown, have ever regarded as one of the +first and most beneficial fruits of the Crusade, namely, +what it did for the women themselves. It quickened +their energies; strengthened their courage; in short, +educated them, and at the same time opened up a +field and showed them the harvest.</p> + +<p>We had long known the need of a free reading-room, +and the ladies felt it pressing more and more, +as the boys and young men, and many middle-aged +men pledged themselves away from those haunts of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span>amusement and temptation, which have cursed our +town pre-eminently, in the last dozen years.</p> + +<p>They resolved to open one, and run it for the benefit +of those who would forego the dram shop for the +daily newspapers, and fresh magazines, a bright fire, +pictures, flowers, a standard cyclopedia for reference, +etc. But in 1874, places were scarce, and rents high; +so, after much discussion, they concluded to build.</p> + +<p>This, for us, by the way, in a manufacturing town +where iron is the staple, pushed sorely by the hard +times, was no little undertaking. And then the burden +was borne by a handful. The League, by no means +as a body, indorsed the enterprise of a reading-room. +Most of the members said, Wait; the times are too +hard; money is scarce; wait, wait. But they did not +wait.</p> + +<p>A liberal gentleman offered them the ground-rent +free for ten years of a most eligible location, upon +which they immediately commenced the erection of a +building, worth, at the lowest estimate, twenty-five hundred +dollars. This is a two-story house, with a commodious +room on the ground for a reading-room, and +a business room adjoining; above, a large temperance +hall, occupied by the Good Templars and other societies; +and two other rooms adjoining, suitable for +offices. This building in due time was finished, furnished, +and dedicated, and has been run at an annual +expense of about four hundred dollars.</p> + +<p>So far it meets the demands made upon it, and +seems to answer the purpose of its design. It was intended +to be self-supporting, and will eventually be +put on that basis.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span></p> + +<p>Since its organization, our Temperance League has +been the almoner generally, for the different charities +of our town, and very liberally has it contributed in +this way, its own resources. Establishing local prayer-meetings, +visiting the poor and the sick, looking after +those who do not attend church, and the children +not in school, and not attending any Sabbath-school, +is the work the League has been prosecuting all +along.</p> + +<p>A Juvenile Templars’ society was organized, and +carried on for more than a year; but during an epidemic +of the scarlet fever, it was discontinued, and has +not been called since.</p> + +<p>The Reformed Men’s movement was inaugurated +here last winter by the Woman’s League, and was +directed largely by their labor and zeal.</p> + +<p>Thousands signed the pledge and tried to reform, +and though many have broken it, many, very many +more, are keeping it, and are better a thousand times +for it. And so the work goes on, as the world goes +on, little by little, not always bright, not always on the +crest of the wave, but always <i>advancing</i>.</p> + + +<h3 id="ALLIANCE_OHIO"> + ALLIANCE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>We heard reports of warfare waged by women +against their common foe. The weapons of their warfare +were <i>not</i> carnal, but spiritual. There was no +sound of cannons’ roar, or crash of musketry. No +glittering swords or bayonets were gleaming in the +sun that shone upon the rank and file of soldiery.</p> + +<p>The sounds that came to us as we passed through +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>towns, where the enemy’s forts were being stormed, +were those of sweet <i>voices</i> singing sacred songs, and +breathing fervent prayers.</p> + +<p>That new strange army’s only sword was the +“sword of the Spirit,” and its only shield the “shield +of Faith.” Its book of tactics was the Bible, and its +General the Prince of Peace. Wonderful to every +one, was the baptism of spiritual power that descended +upon the Christian women in those days. And we +lifted up our hearts in earnest consecration, and received +the power and the commission for the work +allotted us.</p> + +<p>Alliance and Mount Union, distinct incorporations, yet +one in situation (the latter being a college town in which +no intoxicants were sold), united their temperance +forces. And on the third of March was inaugurated +among us the new Crusade, so different in every way +from the Crusade of the olden times. Then Crusaders +carried red crosses on their breasts, insignia of +their purpose to possess the burial-place of Christ.</p> + +<p>The Crusaders of the nineteenth century, equally +loyal to the cross, labored not to find the place of the +sepulchre; but realized that <i>Christ had risen</i>, and +labored to lift up fallen ones for cleansing in the precious +blood that was shed for all our sins.</p> + +<p>A brother called our first meeting, but a sister +presided; and in it one hundred and twenty-six women +“volunteered for the holy war.” An organization +was at once effected; the list of names increasing +daily, until it numbered about five hundred, +in a population of seven or eight thousand, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>with thirty-two places where liquor was sold in our +borders.</p> + +<p>Many of us had never engaged in any public work. +Some had never even breathed a vocal prayer at their +own family altars.</p> + +<p>Realizing fully that only from Jehovah sufficient +strength could come, we remembered the command of +the Master to earlier disciples: “Tarry ye in the city +of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on +high.” And we tarried long at the foot of the cross. +Ten days we “waited on the Lord” to renew our +strength. Earnestly we consecrated ourselves to the +work of turning back the tides of iniquity that were +sweeping our loved ones from our hearts and homes. +When the command came to us, Go out and meet the +foe, we <i>obeyed</i>, <i>silently</i> marching <i>two and two</i>, in +solemn procession, praying silently as we went that +grace might be bestowed sufficient for that time of +special need, and our mission of mercy be crowned +with rich results.</p> + +<p>While we went out upon the streets, our husbands +and brothers remained in the hall to pray for our success, +and at the close of every prayer the college-bell +was tolled, and we knew another petition was registered +in the courts of heaven in behalf of the cause +we loved.</p> + +<p>The pastors of nearly all our churches gave us +sympathy and co-operation. Many of the business +houses were closed during the morning prayer-meetings +for a time.</p> + +<p>We held mass-meetings nearly every evening for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>three months, which were very largely attended, and +great enthusiasm prevailed. On Sabbath evenings, +many of the churches held no regular service, but +united in the temperance meetings, for several weeks.</p> + +<p>When we visited saloons, some dealers received us +very kindly, and others locked their doors against us, +and then we held services on the sidewalks, kneeling +on the cold stones, amid storms of rain, or snow, and +later beneath a burning sun. Those meetings on the +sidewalks were attended by crowds of rough men +who would not enter the hallowed precincts of a +church.</p> + +<p>They came to mock at first, but often their jeers +were merged into weeping, and they stood with uncovered +heads, to hear us read from God’s own word, and +their hearts were touched and tendered. Thus we +were carrying the gospel to the masses, who would not +come to hear it in the house of God. We cannot +attempt, in the brief space allotted us, to give minute +details of our three months’ campaign. Neither can +we speak personally of the brave women who wrought +so nobly. Some who faithfully performed the most +arduous duties of the band held no offices. All cannot +be spoken of. Therefore, knowing that consecrated +women want the Lord to have all the glory of our successes, +<i>we mention not a name</i>.</p> + +<p>The press was favorable to our work; all our +papers reporting it fairly, and advertising our meetings +free of charge. Three local papers gave space for +Temperance Departments, that were edited by members +of our league. One paragraph so clearly shows +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>the animus of all our editors that we quote it verbatim, +from the “Alliance Local”—“It was a scene to +make angels weep. Amid the blinding fury of a fierce +March storm, out in the bitter cold, their fragile forms +shivering and swaying before the biting blast, one hundred +and fifteen of the noblest and most highly accomplished +ladies of our city, kneeling with tearful eyes +and pleading tones, before the door of a drinking-saloon, +beseeching the saloonist to cease the disreputable +business.</p> + +<p>“In contrast, there stands the proprietor barring their +entrance to his comfortable room. With scornful sneers +he listens to their touching plea, and with obdurate +shake of the head refuses their earnest prayer. The +cold and storm are too severe for him to stand and +listen to their arguments, and the door is rudely closed +in their faces, and they left, kneeling upon the icy +pavement, to plead in loving words that God might +soften his hardened heart.</p> + +<p>“The voice of prayer ceases, and the sweet tones of +a woman’s voice, singing ‘Nearer my God to Thee,’ +rises upon the air, and swelled by the united voices +of the entire company, is carried away upon the wintry +blast. And then those loving hearts, not discouraged +by their ungracious reception, retraced their steps, +singing beautiful hymns, with hearts full of prayer +to the God who has commissioned them to go forth in +this labor of love. This scene was witnessed in our +streets on Thursday last, and wrung tears from the +eyes of men who were never known to weep.” The +owner of the opera house gave us the use of a large +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>room in that building for our head-quarters, for one +year, free of rent, which was thankfully accepted and +the room formally dedicated to temperance.</p> + +<p>As time passed on many methods were tested. At +first after the prayer-meetings (which always preceded +street service), we would form one large band (sometimes +numbering over two hundred), and visit saloons +<i>en masse</i>. Again several different bands were formed, +and various saloons visited simultaneously.</p> + +<p>Sometimes committees of ladies, in pairs or trios, +visited saloons for personal conversation with dealers.</p> + +<p>After a few visitations some of the saloonists surrendered, +hanging out a white flag, with “Unconditional +Surrender” printed on it. Then we would go +in a band and sing “Praise God, from whom all blessings +flow,” at the closed saloon. Sometimes the men +would come to our mass-meetings, and sign the pledge +prepared for dealers, and thus publicly thank the ladies +for having come to them and shown them the exceeding +sinfulness of <i>Sin</i>.</p> + +<p>These successes greatly comforted us, and we took +fresh courage and went bravely forward, though often +much wearied and worn. One day several saloonists +told us that, if a majority of our citizens were opposed +to their traffic, and would make it known, they would +cease to sell the odious liquors. Acting on their +suggestion, we wrote a petition—a kindly, earnest +“Appeal to Saloonists”—setting forth some of the evil +effects of their business in our community, and asking +them, on behalf of our common good, to cease to sell +intoxicants. We then appointed committees of women, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>who spent days in visiting families and shops, and a +very large number of signatures were obtained, covering +<i>two-thirds of the voters</i> of our city, besides women +and minors.</p> + +<p>One evening we invited all the dealers to come to +our head-quarters. Many of them came, and we reminded +them of their promises, and presented our +petitions. They examined the names, and seemed +much agitated, but, with utter disregard for their +word of honor, declined to fulfil their promises. +Then we knew how false were those with whom we +had to do. Prayers and pleadings having failed to +accomplish our object with them, we felt that they +were <i>below</i> the reach of <i>moral suasion</i>, and must have +some <i>legal suasion</i>.</p> + +<p>As the voices of so large a majority of our citizens +had been disregarded, in the petitions, we felt that it +was time for the majority to assert their authority +over the obdurate few, through the majesty of the law. +The gentlemen formed a separate organization, and +subscribed funds for prosecutions. Crusaders were +provided with blank books, one for every dealer, with +his name upon it. Armed with those books and pencils, +we went by twos, and taking chairs from some +convenient friend, we would sit near saloons, and note +down the violations of State, or municipal laws, which +we witnessed. Sometimes the sale of liquor to minors, +again the sale to a man already intoxicated, etc.; and +thus, by hours of wearisome watching, much evidence +was gathered.</p> + +<p>An “officer of the day” would be stationed at head-quarters—keeping +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>the record of picket work and +assigning places. The pickets would go out quite +early in the morning, and continue sometimes until ten +o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, or even later; one set of pickets remaining +on duty from one to three hours, then being +relieved by reserve guards. Valid testimony was +obtained and placed in the hands of proper authorities, +and the temperance brothers conducted the prosecutions.</p> + +<p>They met many failures and some successes. One +man convicted under the State law was kept in court +during the trial, and while the judge was preparing to +read the sentence, he escaped from his guards, and +left the county. After some weeks he returned and +was rearrested, and sentenced to thirty days’ imprisonment +on bread and water, and as large a fine as the +law allowed.</p> + +<p>Some of our workers had intemperate husbands; +these prosecuted saloonists under the Adair law, and +some of them obtained judgment against them, and +received damages. Thus the liquor business became +<i>unprofitable</i>, and public sentiment was being rapidly +raised to a temperance standard. The McConnelsville +ordinance was passed by our city council, but +prosecutions were not conducted under its provisions +so successfully here as they were in some other +places.</p> + +<p>The Constitutional Convention of our State had +offered to the people a new constitution, with a license +clause, and they were allowed to vote “License, or +No License,” according to their own convictions of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>right. The temperance people called conventions, +sent an organizer into the field, and the entire State +was organized against license: not, of course, including +<i>all the people</i>, but some citizens of each county.</p> + +<p>In <i>our</i> county anti-license meetings were held in +almost every church and school-house, and speakers +were found not only among the brothers, but also +among the sisters, who for the first time in their lives +dared to lift up their voices in the congregations +of the people, in earnest, eloquent appeals to those +who represent us at the polls, not to legalize, by +their sacred right of franchise, the curse we were +laboring so earnestly to drive from our beloved State. +Much previously unknown and undeveloped talent +was thus brought into active service, and the defeat +of the License Constitution in Ohio, by a large +majority, was one of the grand results of the Woman’s +Crusade.</p> + +<p>During the vigorous work of that campaign, we +also continued our meetings at head-quarters, and +saloon visitation, a part of the time. We held many +open air meetings, in groves, on the public square, +and on the platform at the Union depot.</p> + +<p>Later a juvenile temple was formed, which held +weekly meetings, and soon had two hundred members. +Another was organized in Mount Union, and the two +held occasional union meetings, and public concerts +and literary entertainments, and the hearts of many +parents were reached through their children, that +had remained indifferent to all the wonderful experiences +of the Crusade.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> + +<p>To recapitulate: When we ceased to visit saloons, +seventeen men and women, who had been selling +liquor when we commenced our work, were engaged +in more honorable employments.</p> + +<p>A very large number of persons had taken the total +abstinence pledge. A Temperance Reading-Room was +established in Alliance. Many of our workers have +never ceased to labor for the Temperance Reform, +though in different ways from those of the Crusade +days. Women’s Christian Temperance Unions are +now in existence both in Alliance and Mount Union. +The Crusade is not ended! but is going on with steadily +<i>increasing power</i>, and our forces are being increased +continually by enlisting the help of the Sabbath schools +everywhere. This “tidal wave” of Temperance will +go on, broadening and deepening, until it will sweep +the Rum Power from his throne, and we will be in +very deed a <i>free</i> people, enfranchised from King +Alcohol.</p> + +<p>A number of conversions occurred at our meetings, +and the <i>workers</i> learned to <i>trust in God</i>, as they had +never done before. As Moses stood between the +erring Hebrews and their God, and on Mount Sinai +the presence of Jehovah well-nigh overwhelmed him, +so <i>we</i> stood interceding for the fallen, and, at times, +the glory of God shown to <i>us</i> was all that we could +bear. The promise that “no evil should befall us” +was verified. A saloonist threatened to place gunpowder +under the floor, and cause an explosion beneath +us, but we visited him, and no harm came to us. +Another turned a fierce dog upon us, but the dog +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>hung his head and ran away. A dealer’s wife stood +close by a kneeling Crusader, and held a <i>hatchet over +her head</i>, but the uplifted arm fell harmless by her +side. Guns were loaded and flourished at the windows +near us menacingly, and many desperate threats were +made. But the Lord of hosts was with us. “In the +Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: we will trust in +him <i>forever</i>.”</p> + +<p>The summing up of the results of the Crusade cannot +be perfected until the records in the “Book of +Life” are read. Many of them are like the tender +seed we plant in spring-time—we see them not as +they germinate under the soil, yet they spring up, and +bring forth fruit in their season. <i>We</i> sowed precious +seeds of truth “beside all waters,” and we note not +the silent germination going forward in the souls of +those who received them, but we shall find the perfect +fruitage in the glorious Harvest Home of the Hereafter.</p> + +<p>We append some incidents of our work, that we +trust will be of interest to all our readers.</p> + + +<h3 id="INCIDENTS"> + INCIDENTS. +</h3> + +<p>The Lord truly makes the “<i>wrath</i> of man to praise +him.” This was manifested to us on many occasions, +one of which was the following:</p> + +<p>One cold wintry day we were assembled for prayer +and conference, when word came to us that a saloonist +had prepared a “<i>Crusader in effigy</i>,” and placed it +at his door. We formed a band, and marched to the +place. The novelty of the affair brought a crowd of +listeners to hear our hymns and prayers; and as we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>knelt around that hideous image, intended as a reproach +to us, we seemed very near to our blessed +Redeemer, who was mocked and persecuted, and +<i>crucified, for us</i>, and who said to his disciples: +“Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute +you, and shall say all manner of evil against +you falsely for my name’s sake. Rejoice, and be +exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven.” +Those services were blessed to our own souls, and +those of our hearers.</p> + +<p>Afterwards the saloonist apologized for his conduct, +saying the image was placed there in his absence. +We told him it did us no harm, but was overruled to +our good.</p> + +<p>An extremely wicked dealer was so convicted, as to +tremble mightily, on the occasion of our first visit to +him, yet would not relent. Afterwards, when intoxicated, +he accosted the ladies with such a volley of +profanity, that a policeman arrested him. He was +kept in the lock-up all night, and in the morning, when +the ladies were expected to appear in police court +<i>against</i> him, they went and plead for <i>his release</i>. +Giving him good for evil, so deepened his convictions, +that he came to our evening meeting and surrendered +his business.</p> + +<p>One evening, a small band of women were singing +and praying in front of a saloon, the door of which was +closed. Inside a few desperate men were trying to +drown the sounds of prayer by singing a parody on +“Mother, dear mother, come home!” and by dancing, +and drunken revelry. A Quakeress felt moved by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>the Spirit to effect an entrance all alone. She opened +the door partly, when some one within suddenly closed +and locked it, catching the front width of her plain +full dress skirt and holding it fast in the door. The lady +was thus held in a stiff and uncomfortable position +until a customer from the street, whose rap was evidently +recognized inside, caused the door to be opened; +the Quakeress entered and the door was closed; the +dealer raised his hands to thrust her out, but she took +his arms in her hands and knelt quickly before him, +and breathed an earnest prayer. A policeman followed +her into the saloon and ordered the men to be +quiet. The revelry ceased, and silence reigned +among the rowdies. When her mission of love was +completed she went forth filled with peace, and those +men were responsible before God for one more offer +of mercy; for when the Holy Spirit indites a prayer, +he also convicts the hearts of those for whom the +prayer is heard, and then as free agents they receive +or reject the Holy Spirit.</p> + +<p>Soon after our active Crusade work commenced, +the Whiskey Ring was roused to action, and they sent +out great showy posters announcing an anti-Temperance +Meeting. And those opposed to the “Woman’s +Whiskey War” were invited from all the surrounding +country. On the afternoon of their meeting we +gathered in a church for social prayer. Some of our +temperance men sent us word that it would not be +prudent for us to patrol the saloons that day, as a <i>riot</i> +was expected if our band was on the street.</p> + +<p>We took not “council with flesh and blood,” but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>asked direction of the Lord of hosts, and from Him +our marching orders came. It was a long procession, +and a very solemn one, that wended its way from the +church to a point near the depot that afternoon. Three +saloons were adjacent to each other, and we held our +services on the street in front of those. While we +were kneeling on the sidewalk—in two rows on the +edge of it—leaving three feet between us for passers-by, +a train of cars came rushing in, bringing a large +delegation from neighboring towns. They took up +the line of march, headed by the Mozart Brass Band, +which accompanied them. The band struck up a +lively tune as the procession started to pass between +the rows of kneeling women.</p> + +<p>Many of them were so drunk they staggered against +us as they walked; but our voices went on, and the +music ceased, and the tune melted into silence unfinished; +and a great stillness came over that crowd of +men who were scoffers at first; and the white dove of +<span class="allsmcap">PEACE</span> descended upon the women who had thus +humbled themselves to kneel at the feet of a mocking +rabble; and the living presence of the Master filled +our souls with joy unutterable.</p> + +<p>The Whiskey mass-meeting resulted only in the +passage of some resolutions, denouncing the “present +mode of female warfare,” and declaring that they did +not approve of <i>intemperance</i>! Two of these we quote:</p> + +<p>“<i>Resolved</i>, That we <i>condemn drunkenness</i>, <i>despise +drunkards</i>, and <i>pity</i> those who, for want of more moral +power, try to fortify themselves against the violation +of the laws of Temperance ordained by nature.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span></p> + +<p>“<i>Resolved</i>, That we are willing to support the laws +for the diminution and <i>prevention</i> of <i>intemperance</i> as +far as in our power; to advocate a more appropriate +<i>punishment</i>, and the <i>correction of inebriates</i>, and to +use our influence to <i>regulate</i> the sale of liquors by an +effective license law.”</p> + +<p>The vice-president of the meeting and many of the +audience were liquor-dealers, and such resolutions as +these were passed by those who sell what produces +<i>inebriety</i>, and it is their philanthropic (?) design to +punish men for the effects produced by liquors, the +price of which clothe their wives and children! Thankful +we are, that Justice is with God, and <i>will</i> be <i>dispensed</i> +to us all in the eternal ages!</p> + +<p>One gloomy April day, as we sat in council, a message +came to us that a wholesale dealer from Cleveland +was in town for the purpose of selling liquors +to the dealers here. He was a very portly, pompous +millionaire, we heard, and was boasting that the Crusaders +in his city were afraid of <i>him</i>, and dared not +molest <i>his</i> place of business. Desiring to prevent +him from supplying liquor to be sold in our town, we +went in a band down Main street. He saw us coming, +and sought refuge in a clothing store. We followed, +and before he could escape, he was literally <i>surrounded</i> +by kneeling women; a prayer was offered and +a hymn was sung. He then crowded past us into the +street; we followed in procession; he went into a +hotel, but as we were about to enter, he did not wait +to transact any business <i>there</i>, but felt an immediate +call to visit a neighboring saloon: <i>so did we</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> + +<p>He evidently hoped to enter alone and lock us out, +but when the door opened wide enough to admit his +<i>corpulent</i> figure, it was wide enough for two small +Crusaders to find entrance, which they did so very +close behind him, that when the door was quickly +locked, it was <i>astonishing</i> to him that his fair followers +were <i>also</i> there; he turned a woful face towards the +back door, but lo! <i>they</i> were coming! the Crusade +band! The <i>front</i> door was thrown open and in came +<i>another</i> division of the band, and they knelt, and the +persecuted nabob was again in the centre of a lively +prayer-meeting, which continued until he forced a +passage to the street; we followed in solemn order, +singing a hymn. We kept close behind him, going +up Main street until he found a buggy standing idle, +with a driver, and he was driven rapidly away, while +we went quietly on to head-quarters as though we had +no other intent. We considered and felt certain the +warm reception we had given him would remind him +of pressing business at home, that he must reach by +the next north-bound train. Near train time a Crusade +band was at the station. Soon after our arrival, +a guest of a hotel near by, came to us and said, “The +man you are <i>Crusading</i> is hidden in an upper room +at the hotel; I heard his plans, they are going to take +him out the back way to the train.”</p> + +<p>After a time we saw a frightened-looking individual +of great avoirdupois, accompanied by a very small Jew +for protection, coming up the railroad track from the +rear, having taken a long walk down back alleys, to +avoid the public thoroughfares. They entered the back +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>door of the car, puffing with exhaustion; and just as +our <i>hero</i> drew a breath of relief, thinking how <i>shrewdly</i> +he had evaded his pursuers, he noticed some Crusaders +entering at the front door of the coach; he +turned to flee, but others came in at the back door, +and in despair he sank into a seat. The aisle was immediately +filled compactly with women. The terrified +man threw up a window seeking egress, but it would +not do, his body was too large to pass through the +aperture, and besides—— <i>What</i> greeted his bewildered +vision? An immense crowd of men and +women—Whiskey Ring, saloonists, and temperance +workers—<i>all had come</i> to the <i>prayer-meeting</i>. Crusaders +to right of him! Crusaders to left of him! +Crusaders everywhere! And close at his side a +solemn voice was uttering an earnest prayer.</p> + +<p>We exhorted him to cease his sinful trade in Rum, +and we sung Crusade hymns, the conductor detaining +the train for our services. The passengers in +the car <i>wept much</i>, and cried aloud, “<i>God bless the +women!</i>” We finally made our adieux to the dealer, +telling him we were his friends, and inviting him to +return and we would give him another meeting! A +telegram was sent to Crusade head-quarters at Cleveland, +asking the band of ladies there to meet him at +the train and escort him home, which they did, following +him singing Crusade songs.</p> + +<p>The whole transaction here was conducted with the +<i>utmost</i> solemnity, and the prayers were full of spiritual +power. The ludicrous aspect of the proceeding never +<i>occurred</i> to <i>us until it was all over</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span></p> + +<p>There was a large billiard hall in the opera house, +just across the hall from our head-quarters. We +found that liquors were sold there, in a quiet way.</p> + +<p>We visited the proprietor in a band and he was +very courteous, though unyielding. One <i>night</i> two +women “on picket duty” stood by his door. He +grew very angry and roughly <i>pushed</i> them out into +the hall. Next day the leader of the band was +warned, that it would be unsafe to go there, he seemed +so wickedly disposed. After praying about it, the +band leader felt especially impressed to visit him that +very day; the band went, the leader rapped at his +door and asked timidly, to be allowed to hold a prayer-meeting +there. He gave a reluctant permission, and +after a hymn had been sung he said to the leader, +“Will you read a portion of Scripture that I will select +for you?” She gave an affirmative reply, and he +found the sixth chapter of Matthew and asked her to +read the first eight verses. She did so, silently +praying all the time, that Christ would lead her to act +wisely.</p> + +<p>Having read it she proceeded to speak from it: +saying, “We do not think we are ‘doing alms’ when +we carry the gospel to our sinful brothers for whom +Christ <i>died</i>, neither do we expect to gain any glory +for having knelt in saloons and on the unclean streets +in prayer; on the contrary, it is the greatest cross that +we have ever carried, to thus humble ourselves before +the people. Yet, we are made willing to do so <i>for +your sakes</i>, and the sake of the fathers and sons you +are poisoning with alcohol!” She then gave a brief +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>exhortation to the <i>unsaved</i> to come to Jesus. Thrilling +prayers were offered and hymns sung, and it +seemed to the worshippers that the Shekinah itself +hovered over them.</p> + +<p>The proprietor was much affected. Several men +who had ceased playing billiards at our entrance, gave +eager attention, and many eyes were <i>red</i> with weeping, +when the little band departed.</p> + +<p>Some weeks later the leader of that band was +speaking to a congregation in the African Church. +At the close of her remarks, a white man arose and +asked permission to speak. “Once,” he said, “I was +a liquor-dealer, but I saw the error of my way, and +changed my business, but I never was converted, +until the day you visited the Opera House billiard +hall, and you read the sixth chapter of Matthew and +spoke from it—<i>then</i> and <i>there I was converted. I will +never doubt</i> my <i>conversion</i>,” etc., and he has ever +since continued a faithful member of a Christian +church. Reported by M. E. G.</p> + +<p>Rev. William Hunter, at that time Editor of the +<i>Pittsburgh Christian Advocate</i>, residing at Alliance, and +working in the Crusade meetings here, composed the +following beautiful hymn, which we used very often in +our temperance meetings. He has since been called +“up higher,” to sing the songs of the redeemed.</p> + +<p class="center"> +“BATTLE-HYMN OF THE WOMEN CRUSADERS.” +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">The light of truth is breaking,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">On the mountain top it gleams,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Let it flash along the valleys,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Let it glitter on our streams,</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span> <div class="verse indent0">Till all our land awakens</div> + <div class="verse indent2">In its flush of golden beams,</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!</div> + <div class="verse indent10">Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!</div> + <div class="verse indent10">Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!</div> + <div class="verse indent10">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">With purpose strong and steady,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">In the great Jehovah’s name,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">We rise to save our kindred</div> + <div class="verse indent2">From a life of woe and shame,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the jubilee of freedom</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To the slaves of sin proclaim.</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">From morning’s early watches</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Till the setting of the sun,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">We will never flag nor falter</div> + <div class="verse indent2">In the work we have begun,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Till the forts have all surrendered,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And the victory is won.</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">We wield no carnal weapon,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And we hurl no fiery dart,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But with words of love and reason</div> + <div class="verse indent2">We are sure to win the heart,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And persuade the poor transgressor</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To prefer the better part.</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">When dawns the day of terror,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And the awful trumpet’s sound</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Shall waken up the sleepers</div> + <div class="verse indent2">From beneath the quaking ground,</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span> <div class="verse indent0">May no blood of fallen brothers</div> + <div class="verse indent2">On our startled souls be found.</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Our strength is in Jehovah,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And our cause is in His care,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With Almighty arms to help us</div> + <div class="verse indent2">We have strength to do and dare.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">While confiding in the promise</div> + <div class="verse indent2">That the Lord will answer prayer.</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Our God is marching on.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The following poem was composed by Mrs. M. B. +Reese, at that time President of the Alliance League, +and sung in our mass-meetings, to the tune, “Tenting +on the old camp-ground:”</p> + +<p class="center"> +“THE COLLEGE-BELL.” +</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">A lowly consecrated band,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Who loved the Master’s name,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With patience waited on the Lord,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Until the answer came.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Many a form has bent ’neath the <i>storm</i>,</div> + <div class="verse indent8">The burden of souls to tell;</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Many are the hearts gladdened to-day</div> + <div class="verse indent8">The burden of souls to tell;</div> + <div class="verse indent6">Listening alway, for chimes that say,</div> + <div class="verse indent8">Your brothers pray as well.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Go forth, ye trusting ones, He said,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">In faith to sing and pray,</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span> <div class="verse indent0">No evil shall your steps befall,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">I have prepared the way.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Many a form, etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Dark shadows swept the wintry sky,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The tempest echoed loud;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But, oh! we know our Father’s face</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Smiled on us from the cloud.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Many a form, etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">No threats disturbed, no fears oppressed,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Nor care, least man should mock;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">We only heard the Shepherd’s call,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">“Fear not, ye little flock.”</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Many a form, etc.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">His love hath kept, His hand hath led,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Our footsteps day by day;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And victory soon will crown our cause</div> + <div class="verse indent2">If we but watch and pray.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0"><i>Chorus</i>—Many a form, etc.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + + +<h3 id="INCIDENTS_1"> + INCIDENTS. +</h3> + +<p>Two ladies were sent to interview the priest, hoping +to gain his gracious permission for the women of the +Catholic Church to work in the saloon visitation. He +received them courteously in his private parlor. But +on learning the object of their visit, his denunciations +were bitter. The ladies felt the exceeding uncomfortableness +of their position and politely offered to withdraw +their request, also their presence. In an excited +manner he commanded them to be seated while he +proceeded to explain that Christ’s commission was +given to the Apostle, through whom it was delegated +to the Pope, thence to the Priesthood; and sneeringly +added, “Where did you get your commission to go on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>the streets and teach men the gospel? Tell me, +woman, <i>I demand it</i>; where did you get your commission?” +Remembering that she must not “deny +the faith that was in her,” with coolness, she replied, +simply, “I get my commission from my Bible.” Striking +his clenched hand on the sacred word, he vehemently +demanded, “<i>Where?</i>” Without hesitation, the +Holy Spirit helped her to the words, “Christ says, +‘Lovest thou me? feed my sheep.’ St. Peter’s words, +‘The Rock of the Holy Church.’” Their utterance +fed his anger. He reiterated, almost fiercely, “Woman, +<i>dare</i> you place yourself on a level with St. Peter?” +Accompanied by sneering denunciations of the work, +again he demanded, “Where in the Bible do you find +a commission to women to teach the gospel upon the +street?” Again the Spirit’s quickening power enabled +her to reply, with calmness, “On the resurrection +morn, Christ told Mary to ‘Go tell my disciples, to go +quickly;’ in her haste she probably ran through the +streets, proclaiming as she went the risen Saviour.” +He made no reply. His manner softened; with a half-apology +for his excited words, he courteously permitted +the ladies to depart.</p> + +<p>Nearly two months of the siege had elapsed. The +light of earnest and patient labor shining within the +haunts of vice, revealed the strong, deep shadows. +The women, no longer invigorated by the keen, biting +March winds, felt the pressure of household care, as +well as the lassitude of spring-tide. The ranks were +perceptibly thinned. The work of picketing the saloons +grew wearisome and discouragingly monotonous. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>An energy born of consecration alone nerved +the faithful to carry on the desperate struggle. In the +proceedings of the city council, an ordinance to restrain +and prohibit ale, beer, and porter-houses, or +shops, or habitual resorts for tippling, had passed its +second reading. The time for the third and final +reading drew near. The saloon-keepers hopefully +reviewed our depleted bands, and carefully tithed each +ounce of popular sentiment, knowing their interests +hung in the legal scales of the city council. They did +not recognize a Gideonite band that made them daily +visitations. Each member, humbled with the publicity +of street parade, felt she had laid her face in the gutter +that her brother might walk erect in sobriety and +virtuous manhood. If the voices were fewer that sung +“Nearer my God, to Thee,” the strains rose higher; if +lips faltered as they plead for strength, the prayer was +deeper as it went from burdened hearts to the ear of +the Great Eternal.</p> + +<p>At this issue, through the long afternoon, two ladies +kept picket-guard at a notorious saloon in an obscure +part of the city. In their conversation, the question +arose in this immediate crisis: What can be done to +quicken the flagging interest? A serious question. +As they left the post of duty, they took it with them +to their homes. One of them took it to her closet, +and in earnest prayer besought the Lord to wisely +direct, else a worthy cause and worthy efforts must +suffer defeat.</p> + +<p>As she rose from her knees, a full conception of a +Temperance Convention flashed upon her mind. The +plan was laid before the presiding officer, and heartily +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>approved. Committees were speedily at work to +effect its consummation.</p> + +<p>The following Tuesday evening was the time for +the final reading of the ordinance. That day was +chosen for the convention. Announcements were +freely but quietly made. The noon trains brought delegations +from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Salem, Ravenna, +and towns of the vicinity, where leagues had been +formed. Mount Union College sent a delegation of +faculty and entire body of students. Alliance Hall +was filled to overflowing. With addresses full of devotion +to the work, and encouragement to the workers, +and music that stirred all hearts to renewed energy, +the meeting was one of wonderful enthusiasm. At +the close of the afternoon service two hundred and +twenty-five Crusaders filed out of the hall, down Main +street. The saloon-keepers, suddenly surprised and +awed into submission by the number, offered no resistance, +and an impressive street service was held. +During the evening session the enthusiasm was at its +height, when a messenger brought the glad tidings that +the hotly contested ordinance had passed. The old +college-bell rang out gleefully; the men almost lost +decorum in sounding cheer; but the “Women of the +Whiskey War,” with uplifted faces, sang with hearty +earnestness, “Praise God, from whom all blessings +flow.” Reported by A. M. B.</p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_PHILADELPHIA_OHIO"> + NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The Secretary of the League, Callie A. Everett, +gives the following interesting account of the closing +of the saloons in this town early in the Crusade:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span></p> + +<p>“Mr. Schmidt, a German,” proposed many times +that the ladies buy him out; this, however, was against +our principles, and we urged him to “dare to do right,” +and trust to our temperance people to give him a fair +start in something else; finally, prayers and entreaties +prevailed, and he carried out his liquor, and showed +the women how to open the barrels. As it streamed +over the ground, the expression of feeling in different +individuals was noticeable. Some wept, others laughed, +the men cheered, anvils were fired, and all the bells in +our city pealed forth the glad news.</p> + +<p>The women surrounded and overwhelmed him with +thanks, and he, with tears flowing rapidly, assured +them “he was glad, too.” His saloon-tables, glasses, +etc., were at once offered at auction.</p> + +<p>The cheering news spread like wildfire, and a large +crowd assembled to bid-off the various articles. One +tumbler was sold three times to the same man, bringing +in all seventeen dollars. At this rate he was soon +recompensed, and has started, a number one, butcher +shop.</p> + +<p>John Myers likewise poured out, or allowed the +ladies to empty, twelve barrels of wine and whiskey +into our streets, and as he was better off financially +than Schmidt, did not need so much assistance; however, +the women bought his tables, etc., and by their +presence urged the men to buy. He has started a +saddler shop.</p> + +<p>The demonstrations on this occasion were similar to +the one mentioned before.</p> + +<p>Mr. John Furney asked that no public demonstration +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>be made over his surrender, and the ladies obtained +his name quietly, only evidencing their triumph +by the irrepressible joy beaming from their countenances. +Mr. Furney has started a “Temperance Restaurant” +in connection with his grocery, and on the +4th of April, 1874, fifty ladies ordered him to prepare +dinner for them.</p> + +<p>These cases of surrender were from the very ones +that at first opposed us in every way. At Schmidt’s, +particularly, they danced and sung, jeered and drank +over the women’s heads.</p> + +<p>The worst cases generally yielded first.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span></p> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III"> + CHAPTER III. +</h2> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + CRUSADE IN LARGER TOWNS. +</p> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CLEVELAND_OHIO"> + CLEVELAND, OHIO. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>Mrs. Sarah K. Bolton gives the following graphic +account of the Temperance Crusade and its results in +Cleveland, written for the <i>Morning</i>:</p> + +<p>The noble work of the women of southern Ohio had +touched every Christian heart in Cleveland. On the +10th of March, 1874, a meeting was called under the +auspices of the Women’s Christian Association, and +600 of the best and truest of the city came together to +ask their God what they should do, for the destroying +of this evil of intemperance, and the up-building of +His kingdom. They were women, for the most part, +who had been active in the churches, and in all benevolent +work.</p> + +<p>An organization was effected, and Miss Sarah Fitch, +President of the W. C. A., a woman whose executive +ability and consecration had gained for her the confidence +of the people, was chosen President of the Temperance +League.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> + +<p>Immediately pledge-books were obtained, with property-owners’, +citizens’, and dealers’ pledges.</p> + +<p>The city was districted, and women of influence, over +one hundred in number, volunteered to canvass the city +for signatures. In a short time over 5,000 women +were enrolled members of the League, each one signing +a pledge neither to use intoxicants, nor offer them +as a beverage, and to discountenance their use in +every possible way, and about 10,000 names to all the +other pledges. The question was constantly asked: +“Will the women of a wealthy, conservative city go upon +the streets as a praying band?” Liquor-dealers said: +“Let the women come quietly by committees, and we +will receive them, but coming in a body to pray with +us, brands our business as disreputable.” The time +came when the Master seemed to call for a more complete +consecration, for a higher power brought to bear +upon the liquor traffic. When, in a large prayer-meeting, +volunteers for Crusade work were called for, +twenty-two brave women, several of them the wives +of clergymen, said: “Here am I. Send me! The +Lord’s will be done.” They proceeded directly to the +most fashionable saloon of the city and were permitted +to enter. “There is a fountain filled with blood” was +sung, the first hymn that was to inaugurate a Christian +warfare against 1,200 centres of evil. The Bible was +read and prayer offered. Men bowed their heads +abashed and were silent, and women, consecrated +anew by their trust in God, and a revelation of the sin +they were called upon to meet, went back to the +church in the midst of a surging crowd, strong to do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>the unknown work before them. The next day +saloons were visited, and again the eager crowds +gathered, some listening tearfully to the hymns, some +jeering and scoffing. On the third day the liquor +interest seemed to have awakened to a full consciousness +of the situation. The beer element began to feel +that its liberties were being fettered. Drinkers, +dealers, and roughs, gathered in large numbers, in the +streets, to wait for the praying women. Beer and +whiskey had done their maddening work with the +brain, and made them ready for riot.</p> + +<p>In the central part of the city, forty women, pressed +upon by a jeering crowd, went forward in their work +of prayer. In the western part, a smaller number, +refused entrance at a saloon, knelt and prayed upon +the sidewalk. A mob, headed by an organization of +brewers, rushed upon the kneeling women, kicking +one badly in the side, another in the back, and striking +others with their fists.</p> + +<p>A Mr. Doolittle, attempting to defend them, was +brutally beaten, (has been obliged to keep his bed for +nearly two years,) and would have been killed at once +had he not been hurried away by the police, some of +whom even were badly injured. The praying band +were locked in a store away from the infuriated mob, +who, by the arrival of more officers, were dispersed, +cursing and yelling as they went.</p> + +<p>The next day, taking their lives in their hands, a +large company of women went out, and similar scenes +were enacted.</p> + +<p>In the meantime public meetings had been called +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>in the churches, and such throngs gathered that they +could not find standing room.</p> + +<p>The clergy as one man came to the front to defend +the Christian women, who had done nothing save walk +quietly upon the streets and pray for men who were +making the city and the land one vast ruin and desolation. +True it called attention to the groans of drunkards’ +wives and the cries of drunkards’ children, and +marked as the direct cause, the liquor-dealers, but for +this the traffic, (not the praying women,) were at fault. +All good citizens rose up in indignation and horror +that their wives and mothers were at the mercy of a +liquor mob. Business men left their stores, ministers +their studies, and a thousand manly men went out to +defend the women.</p> + +<p>The mayor was visited by a committee of citizens. +A proclamation was immediately issued, which, while it +did not permit the women to hold meetings on the +sidewalk, left them free to call upon all the saloons, +with none to molest or make them afraid. The +military companies were ordered to be in readiness +resting on their arms; the police force was increased, +and the liquor interest soon made to feel that the city +was not under their control. The mob never again +tried its power.</p> + +<p>For over three months, with scarcely a day’s exception, +the praying bands went from saloon to saloon, +holding a prayer-meeting where the proprietor was +willing, giving temperance tracts and cards to the +crowds that gathered to hear the singing and the +prayers, having warehouses often thrown open to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>them for services when the saloons on the street refused +to admit them; sometimes entering a vacant +lot, and surrounded perchance by a hardened crowd, +with none to protect them but their God (the police +having been withdrawn), they preached the gospel of +the Son of God, crucified for sinners.</p> + +<p>One man, a German, very angry at their visits in +his street, and rude in his treatment of them, held a +mock prayer-meeting in his shop, had his leg broken +by his horse next day and died soon after.</p> + +<p>At a Jew’s saloon, a picture of Christ, crowned with +thorns and draped with black, was held up on a pole +before the crowd, who were drinking beer and +blaspheming.</p> + +<p>On the same street, from one of the worst saloons, +where cock-fighting was carried on, three fierce dogs +were set upon Mrs. Charles Wheeler, who was that day +leading the band. Without ceasing her prayer she +gently laid her hands upon their heads, and as though +taught of a higher power than their master’s, they +crouched at her feet and were quiet. This saloon has +since become a friendly inn, most inviting and beneficial.</p> + +<p>Often several bands visited different parts of the +city during the same day. Again, as many as 500 +women, two by two, quietly and silently, making a +procession of over one-fourth of a mile in length, followed +by scores in carriages, went to the larger wholesale +liquor-houses, club-houses, hotels, etc. Often +they were bidden to enter. “Tell me the old, old +story,” “Almost persuaded,” “I am trusting, Lord, in +Thee,” were sung, and prayers uttered, whose tenderness +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span>and earnestness brought tears to eyes unused to +weeping.</p> + +<p>Often a saloon-keeper with his heart not wholly +seared by his occupation, wept like a child. Many +gave up the business, some rich, some poor, and never +resumed it.</p> + +<p>Those were wonderful days, when a city was baptized +by continuous prayer; when women, forgetting +the ease and luxury of their homes, went down to +these places of desolation to save those for whom +Christ died. Men took off their hats as the procession +went by. Little children gathered close to the singers, +and, catching the words, sang them months after in +their dingy hovels. Haggard women bent their heads +as they murmured with unutterable sadness, “You’ve +come too late to save my boy or my husband.” Men +dying in attics sent for the praying bands to come and +tell them about the Saviour. Men who had lost all +hope because of the appetite that mastered them, +heard the glad tidings of salvation from women’s lips, +and stretching forth their hands were lifted upon the +Everlasting Rock.</p> + +<p>During these three months of Crusade work, three +distilleries, eight breweries, thirty-one drug stores, +thirty-five hotels, forty wholesale dealers, and 1,100 +saloons were visited, many of them again and again. +Four hundred and fifty of these places often admitted +the bands for services. There were seventy outdoor +meetings in warehouses, etc. Mass-meetings on the +Sabbath, conducted by women, were held in wigwams +in different wards, as well as churches, and always +crowded.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> + +<p>Meantime the prominent men of the city, believing +that the laws of Ohio forbidding the sale of liquors to +be drank on the premises should be enforced, as also +the Adair law, which makes a man responsible for the +harm which the liquor that he sells causes, acting on +the plan of the government in ferreting out crime, +employed detectives, and soon had 900 indictments +against liquor-dealers; and cases for wronged women +and children, under the Adair law, covering $150,000.</p> + +<p>The Liquor-Dealers’ and Brewers’ Association report, +1874, 5,969 prosecutions; and in the year 1875, +4,207 prosecutions.</p> + +<p>Opposite sections of Cleveland, where different +praying bands labored, show varied and blessed results +of the work. The lower part of the city, by the river +dock, where saloons were thick, and sin flaunted itself, +was assigned to Mrs. John Coon, a woman of wonderful +faith in God, and great strength of character, and +her band of twenty or thirty devoted workers. At +first they were refused admittance at all, or nearly all +the saloons, but one dealer, touched by her kind spirit, +relented and sent for her and her band to return. He +was the son of a clergyman, finely educated; had held +a good position in the army, and been successful in +business till he began travelling for a wholesale grocery +and liquor house combined. He soon went into the +liquor trade for himself; and the descent was rapid to +the keeper of a low saloon and a debauchee. Some +days after, at the earnest request of his wife, he <i>signed</i> +the pledge, and gave up his business. Among those +present in the saloon, drinking and playing cards, was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>a friendless and prematurely white-haired man, to +whom the saloon-keeper had given shelter. Southern +born, a Colonel in the Confederate army, a gentleman +in manner, a member of the press in honorable standing +for years, becoming addicted to drink, then gambling, +he left his wife and little girl, and wandered +from city to city, sinking lower and lower, a profane, +broken down inebriate. His wife had spent long years +in searching for him, one year using $700 of her own +earnings to find him; but at last had given him up as +dead. The hymn sung by the praying band touched +his heart. He asked for one sung years before by his +mother, and joined in the singing. At last he signed +the pledge, and was taken to the home of a generous +citizen. Here, some days after, wrestling with God +one whole night in prayer, he found peace in believing. +Some weeks later a letter was written to the wife. +She fainted when she read it. She hurried to meet +him; and at this house, in the presence of a hundred +guests, the worn wedding-ring was once more placed +upon her finger, and the marriage service, touching +and beautiful, again repeated. Mrs. Coon led the +exercises, different members of the band praying, and +singing the Crusade hymns. None who witnessed it +will ever forget this affecting scene. The closed saloon +was at once transformed into a clean boarding-house +called the River Street Friendly Inn. This being too +small for the crowds who gathered at the meetings, an +adjoining warehouse, three stories high, 25 by 100 feet +long, was rented, the lower story made into a dining-room, +the second into a reading-room and chapel, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>the third into sleeping-apartments, with seven neatly +furnished beds. The chapel walls are decorated with +such mottoes as “Peace on earth, good will to men;” +“The Spirit and the Bride say, Come;” “Jesus is my +only Refuge.” Each day, after calling at the saloons, +a meeting was held here by the band, who often repaired +to the river docks across the street, and there, +where as many as a thousand persons, sailors and +others, frequently gathered, these godly women offered +the bread of life, the only <i>sure</i> safeguard against intemperance. +From the captains of the boats, the praying +women received the kindest attention. A platform +was built for them and seats provided.</p> + +<p>Following these afternoon meetings, a meeting for +inquirers was held at the Inn. Scores of men would +repair thither, more sometimes than could be conversed +with before the evening meeting, at eight +o’clock, held in the chapel. How many found Christ +will never be known till the judgment day reveals it. +Very few, as far as is known, have fallen.</p> + +<p>A weekly prayer-meeting was at once started, with +social entertainment for other evenings. Both these +prayer-meetings are still conducted by Mrs. Coon and +her band: Mrs. Hall, Smith, Noble, Hanna, Brayton, +Preston, Johnson, Butts, White, Saunders, Burridge, +Mittleberger, Chittenden, and others. No time was +wasted. Testimony is borne successively, by from +eighty to one hundred men recently converted, of the +power of God to keep them from falling.</p> + +<p>River street is a changed locality. The saloons have +less custom, and the presence of the praying women +is heartily welcomed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span></p> + +<p>Another locality, St. Clair street and its surroundings, +was assigned to Mrs. Charles Wheeler, a woman +loved by all; the friend and advocate of the poor, and +well fitted for this field. After much hard work and +many mass-meetings sustained by her, Mrs. Stephens, +Porter, Detchon, Greene, Reese, Gilbert, Couis, and +others, the saloon above mentioned was opened as a +Friendly Inn, under the control of Mrs. George +Worthington and Mrs. Wheeler, now President of the +League, a devoted woman whose wealth has been +generously given for the cause. Through this inn, +families have been reunited, and lost ones returned to +their parents and their God.</p> + +<p>Among the 550 families visited the past year about +this inn, were a father and mother who had strayed +from the fold. The father had become intemperate. +The only son was taken ill. The temperance women +were unremitting in their care, but nothing could save +him. Their hands brought flowers for his burial, their +own carriages were sent, and the only hope of his +parents was laid tenderly away. This kindness won +the father back to rectitude, and he and his wife are +rejoicing again in the comforts of Christianity. Besides +the Sunday meeting, a most interesting Bible reading +is sustained weekly by Miss Andrews, recently our +missionary to China; and a social gathering every +Saturday evening.</p> + +<p>Broadway and its adjacent streets, a part of the +city where thickly settled saloons have borne bitter +fruit, was given to Mrs. W. P. Cooke, a woman of +piety and ability. Day after day she, with Mrs. Hill, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>Brigham, Morehouse, Tagg, Bowler, Johnson, Mudge, +and others, did heroic and blessed work. A Friendly +Inn resulted from these labors, under the directions of +Mrs. Rev. Duncan, then President of the League. +Mrs. Cooke being ill from overwork, to Mrs. Duncan’s +executive ability, judgment, and spirituality, the Crusade, +as well as the Friendly Inn, is greatly indebted. +This Inn, made from two stores, each 44 feet long by +20 feet broad, has the same general features as the +others. Mrs. Duncan having removed to another +city, the control came into the hands of Miss Jennie +Duty, under whom it has been signally blest.</p> + +<p>A young lady of culture and indefatigable as a +Christian worker, she has given her whole time and +strength to the work since the Crusade began. She +is superintendent at the Inn of a Sunday-school, numbering +200 scholars, and is instructor of the Teachers’ +Bible Class, held every Monday evening, made up +largely of the reformed men. A Sunday meeting, +not excelled in interest by any in the city, is conducted +by her, Mrs. Partridge, Ford, Cogswell, Williams, Taylor, +Dutcher, and others, who have given devoted +service to the cause. A free supper is given to hundreds +every Sabbath evening. The rooms are crowded +at the meetings. There has been one continuous revival +for over two years.</p> + +<p>The past winter there have been over one hundred +conversions. A young woman, among others, came +to the meetings, desiring a different life. She was ill +and afraid to die. After a few weeks all was changed. +The aged mother watched by the bedside of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span>daughter she loved, now happy beyond expression. +Perhaps no little room was ever more filled with the +presence of the Saviour. After death, the women +who had told her how to find her Lord, laid her away, +prayed at her open grave, and went back to their work +of leading others up higher.</p> + +<p>In the eastern part of the city, the 16th and 17th +wards, where the temperance element is strongest, +the bands did efficient work. On the 17th of August, +1874, when the State, after an intense struggle with +the freely spent money and influence of the liquor +power, reiterated her vote of twenty years before, of +“No license,” the praying bands, in a booth trimmed +with flowers and evergreens, furnished a dinner to the +voters. A morning prayer-meeting, started at the +beginning of the Crusade, has never been discontinued +for a single day. A union temperance prayer-meeting +is held every Sunday afternoon, which <i>is +union</i> indeed and full of spirit. At both of these, +many have been converted. A temperance reading-room +is sustained, mass-meetings still held, and the +cause kept bright in the hearts of the people. The +band-leaders have been Mrs. Ford—a noble, Christian +woman, who stepped from out a quiet, domestic life to +be one of the most efficient—Mrs. Bucher, who did +valuable work till her health failed, Mrs. Sloan, Colby, +Bolton, and others, all devoted workers, who have had +the satisfaction of seeing their work bear precious +fruit already. In the western part of the city, where +the Crusaders first received violence, trusting in God, +they went forward fearlessly to duty. Hundreds of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span>saloons were visited, some wayward ones converted, +and public sentiment wonderfully elevated. The +leaders in this work, that had the seal of martyrdom, +were Mrs. Breckenridge, a brave, true, earnest woman, +Mrs. J. C. Delamater, Sheldon, Chapman, Ingham, +Lee, McKinney, Stork, A. H. Delamater, Janes, Jones, +Redington, Story, Mrs. Cheney, and others.</p> + +<p>A Friendly Inn has recently been started here. +Beautiful mottoes adorn the walls, and everything +invites to temperance and virtue. At its head is Mrs. +W. A. Ingham, to whose energy, courage, and devotion +the Crusade owes much of its effectiveness. She +had charge of all the praying bands, laid out the +part of each, and with the skill of an able officer, +carried through a vigorous warfare against a mighty +enemy.</p> + +<p>In still another portion of the city, the 18th ward, formerly +Newburgh, efficient work was done under the able +leadership of Mrs. Rev. Curtiss, Foote, Palmer, Slade, +and others, before the Crusade work was undertaken +elsewhere in the city. A centre for the manufacture +of iron and steel, the saloon-keepers knew well where +to build to tempt the workingmen. With great energy +and persistence, the good women have held temperance +meetings every Sabbath afternoon, in the summers +in the open air, have speakers from abroad often, +and have now a renovated saloon, “a home,” of their +own. It is sustained by monthly contributions, none +over one dollar, some as small as ten cents. They +have nicely furnished eating and sleeping rooms, with +an apartment above which will seat over a hundred +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>persons. Their social gatherings, intended to offer +an attraction other than saloons to young men, are so +largely patronized that they have been obliged to repair +to a large hall, where five cents admission is +charged, and the least they have taken at the door is +$9.45, usually three times that amount. The pledge +is offered at all these meetings. They are now visiting +those who drink or have drunkenness in their +families. “I wish I could say,” writes their earnest +and efficient secretary, Mrs. Foote, “to every feeble, +half-dead League, no matter how small the town, how +few the workers, start a home, a little central place, +from which in every direction temperance sentiment +shall radiate. It will prove to the League what a home +is to the family.” Its chief workers are Mrs. Palmer, +Bes, Slade, Morgan, Fish, Brown, Morton, Gladding, +Way, and others.</p> + +<p>Other band-leaders and efficient workers in other +parts of the city deserve especial and honorable mention. +Mrs. Joseph Perkins, Adams, Strong, Sheppard, +Lockwood, Whitney, Thomas, Starkweather, Stewart, +Morgan, Hanna, Rose, Burge, Bradley, Southworth, +Williamson, Witt, Canfield, Stone, Sachell, Herr, +Pope, Wright, Nyce, Castle, Benton, Hicky, Porter, +Ely, Talbott, Hart, Stebbins, Dutcher, Doty, Warren, +Excell, Prather, Dissette, Mason, Edwards, Hinsdale, +Stevens, Galbraith, Ingersoll, Massey, Francisco, and +many others. When hundreds have given time and +strength and life itself for the cause, it is impossible to +write them all on paper.</p> + +<p>God keeps the record and a grand record it is.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span></p> + +<p>Another result of the temperance movement has +been the formation of the Young Ladies’ Temperance +League, numbering hundreds of the best young women +of the city, pledged to discourage the use of wine, beer, +and distilled liquors, and not to furnish them for social +entertainment. Its president, Miss Flora Stone, only +sister of the wife of John Hay, loves the work, and +gives herself unreservedly to it. The moral weight +of such an association cannot be overestimated. Temperance +work soon led them to see that there was more +of sorrow in the world than they had ever supposed. +Their hearts turned toward those of their own sex +less favored than themselves. A desirable house was +rented, made attractive, and matron employed. Their +object is to furnish temporary relief to poor, friendless +girls, and help them in some way to provide for their +own support. Since its opening, 124 young women +have been received, and retained, on an average, eleven +days each; 270 have been assisted to employment. +Homes for several young girls have been found, where +they can have an education. Sewing is furnished to +those needing it, and the garments sold.</p> + +<p>A temperance fete was held by the League, from +which $1,000 was realized. Similar gatherings keep +the work before the people, and popularize the cause. +Prominent in this League have been Mrs. Lovis, Ingersoll, +Fuller, Younglove, Prentiss, Hall, Andrews, +and many others. Much work is done among the +children.</p> + +<p>A new generation trained in the belief that the use +of intoxicants is a <i>sin</i>, will change most effectually the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>habits of society. Temperance literature, showing the +effects of whiskey or beer as beverages, and the total +disuse of them as medicines by many of the best physicians, +showing the duty of the church on this question, +is being extensively circulated. Cities, countries, +States, and counties are being thoroughly organized; +and the women of Cleveland uniting with them, abating +none of their interest, still holding over twenty +gospel temperance meetings weekly, are working and +praying and waiting for the Master to give the victory +over evil.</p> + + +<h3 id="MILLERSBURG_OHIO"> + MILLERSBURG, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The temperance movements of the ladies of Millersburg +was inaugurated by meetings at private houses, +from time to time. During the month of January, 1874, +mass-meetings were held, pledges were presented, by +committees appointed to visit every house and place +of business in the town.</p> + +<p>Prayer-meetings were held daily, alternately at the +different churches, for two or three weeks, preceding +the commencement of the street work. On the 19th +of February, 1874, the first regular visiting of the +saloons was begun. At that time <i>ten</i> saloons, and +three drug stores, comprised the number of places +demanding attention.</p> + +<p>At first we were allowed to enter all of these places. +In addition to singing and prayers, personal appeals +were made to the proprietors, and selections of Scripture +read in their hearing. The proprietors of the +three drug stores signed the pledge; after the first +visit, regular visits were made, almost daily, until the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>middle of April, by which time all the saloons but four +were closed.</p> + +<p>These were all kept by Germans. A strong effort +was made to elect municipal officers, at the spring +election, who would enact the McConnelsville ordinance. +In this, we were unsuccessful.</p> + + +<h3 id="WORK_IN_ZANESVILLE_OHIO"> + WORK IN ZANESVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. J. T. Ohe, in the <i>Morning</i>, says: The wave of +temperance agitation did not reach the staid city of +Zanesville till most of the neighboring towns and the +country communities had been thoroughly aroused.</p> + +<p>Early in March, 1874, the first meetings, called in +Second Street M. E. Chapel, enlisted the deep sympathy +of the women of the city; and here, as in so +many cases elsewhere, those the most shrinking, unknown +to public effort of any kind, became the most +efficient and inspiring leaders. The first organized +effort was toward the enactment of a municipal law +to restrain and prohibit a certain low class of tippling +shops. Petitions were circulated through every ward—many +of the first women of society going from shop +to shop, urging signatures, and obtaining them, too, +where men would have utterly failed.</p> + +<p>The petition was more than eighty feet long, and +contained nearly 5,000 names. The city council, +strongly influenced by this demonstration of sentiment, +passed the law. During the six months it was +well enforced, the drinking shops decreased in number +from 118 to 50. Many of those retaining licenses +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span>reported greatly diminished sales, and “a gratifying +scarcity of victims of the police courts was another +feature of the change.” On the 4th of July, 1874, notwithstanding +it was a general holiday, and in this +manufacturing community, <i>not one case of</i> drunkenness +on the streets was noticed, nor any arrests. If only +the men of the place had stood firmly to <i>their work</i>, as +conservators of the public good, these benefits would +have been permanent. But some reaction took place, +and a fort so strongly intrenched was not to be dislodged +by one year’s siege. At the very outset of this +movement, the Liquor-Dealers’ Association, under the +lead of a notorious wholesale dealer, put forth a most +offensive and insulting manifesto, threatening to ostracise +all citizens whose wives were identified, etc., etc., +the sole effect of which was to rouse the men to support +the women <i>gallantly</i>.</p> + +<p>But little “Crusading” on the public streets was +done; the members of the League preferring to go +quietly, in twos or threes, to interview the dealers, and +with very few exceptions, they met courteous treatment, +and felt assured that their visits would bear good +fruit.</p> + +<p>One of the most estimable women of our city, as the +leader of a band of six or seven, was arrested, (under +the ordinance against obstructing the streets,) by complaint +of a woman who had for years kept open a +drinking-place, the terror of the neighborhood. Under +the protecting ægis of the Dealers’ Association, she +appeared in court to annihilate the offending Crusaders. +But here, as in so many other cases, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span>cause visibly triumphed, and the irate madam departed +breathing threatenings. The whole scene in the court +was “one for a painting.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. H. G. O. Carey, writing June 6th, 1876, says: +“I believe no city of its size in the State, accomplished +a more thorough closing of the saloons than did Zanesville. +For seven months no one could get a glass of +beer in the city, except by stealth; and in real fear of +prosecution, our dealers became very cautious. The +internal revenue office showed that sales were reduced +during all that time, until the repeal of the ordinance, +forty to forty-seven per cent. The improvement +in morals was most apparent: a public sentiment was +created which made it possible to punish the guilty. +Our work was almost entirely done by small parties on +the alert everywhere, supported by constant prayer +and faith in God. League prayer-meetings have never +been omitted to this day, and I believe no man either +drinks, or sells liquor of any kind without compunctions +of conscience to which formerly he was a stranger.”</p> + +<p>It was in this town that a young lady, connected with +one of the bands visiting the saloons, said, when reproved +for doing so: “Where my brother goes to drink, +I certainly ought to be allowed to go to pray.”</p> + + +<h3 id="PAINESVILLE_OHIO"> + PAINESVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>We have gathered the following facts from the +Painesville papers published at the time:</p> + +<p>Pursuant to a call for a “Temperance Mass-Meeting,” +the large audience-room of the Congregational +Church was filled to overflowing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span></p> + +<p>The audience numbered over one thousand of our +best people, and showed by the deep interest manifested +that the “tidal wave” had indeed reached this +place.</p> + +<p>Rev. T. R. Peters offered prayer, and was followed +by able speakers.</p> + +<p>At the ladies’ meeting, on Tuesday morning, there +was a very large attendance. After singing and prayers, +addresses were made by several ministers of +Painesville.</p> + +<p>The ladies enlisted for the war, and are still engaged +in active service.</p> + +<p>One evening, at eight o’clock, they formed into three +large bands, at the church, and went by three different +routes to three of the largest saloons.</p> + +<p>The first, led by Mrs. Hitchcock, was received, and +held a good meeting among the crowd of billiard +players.</p> + +<p>The second, led by Mrs. Curtis, not gaining admission, +held a meeting on the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>The third entered Stacy’s and commenced services. +During prayer the doors were locked and the keys removed; +a hot fire was built, and pepper thrown liberally +on the stove, the fumes of which made the place +almost intolerable.</p> + +<p>But the songs and prayers were exultant, triumphant, +and the appeals to the bartender very feeling and +earnest.</p> + +<p>Their songs were heard a square away. Friends +came and released them, after having one of the best +meetings they ever held.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span></p> + +<p>They had a list of twenty-eight saloons furnished +them. Four of these they found had quit the business +in consequence of fines imposed by the court. Everywhere +they met with a courteous reception. They +were evidently expected: some had waited more than +a week for them, some had expected a larger band, +but liked this better. No doubt they did. Most of +the saloons were as clean as soap and water could +make them, and often not a thing could be seen at the +bar more contraband than a box of segars. In fact, +if we may believe the word of the dealers, there did +not seem to be a place in Painesville where whiskey +or rum could be bought to be drunk on the premises. +Everything is claimed to be done strictly according +to law.</p> + +<p>Nearly every one wished himself out of the business, +and would be glad to sell out at a fair valuation; +but very naturally, none were ready yet to sacrifice +their property for the public welfare.</p> + +<p>At McFarland & Hazen’s saloon, they were kindly +received. Spectators were excluded, and they proceeded +to hold a prayer-meeting. At the close of the +exercises the pledge was presented to Mr. McFarland, +which he refused to sign; but said he would be willing +to close if any one would take their lease off their +hands, but they were paying much more than the +rooms would rent for, for other business.</p> + +<p>They next visited Mr. Hennessey’s saloon. He +said he would be glad to leave a business of which he +is ashamed, as soon as he could find another business +opening.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span></p> + +<p>At Mr. Rochat’s bakery, the meeting was a very +affecting one. He and his wife seemed almost persuaded. +He also had a bar, and said he had been +trained to the business, and knowing no other, could +not sign, and thus throw himself out of employment, +and people would not buy the lunch without the beer. +But on their next visit, after prayers and singing, +and while they were deeply affected, Mr. Rochat and +his wife yielded so far as to pledge themselves to sell +no liquor for the space of one month, and <i>never</i> to do +so if he could support his family by his legitimate business, +and gave them permission to pour the liquor he +had on hand into the street. There was deep feeling +over the occurrence, and all felt that God had heard +and answered prayer. Seven or eight ladies laid hold +of the cask, carried it up-stairs to the pavement, and +amid much rejoicing and enthusiasm poured the liquor +into the street.</p> + +<p>Messrs. Warner, Garfield & Jewell, of the Cowles +House and Brewery, said their capital was invested in +the business, and no business man would expect them +to sacrifice this without compensation. They would +be glad to sell out the brewery, and stop both the +manufacture and sale of liquors. When they entered +this business, it was considered as respectable as any +other, but public sentiment had changed, and now it +was difficult to find a purchaser. If our public-spirited +men would make a stock company, and convert the +brewery into a tannery, for which it was well suited, +they would sell for $5,000 less than its appraised value, +and also take stock in the new business.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Sullivant, who opened a saloon near the depot, +admitted that it was a bad business—a lazy business, +but said her husband might as well have his liquor +at home where she could watch him, as elsewhere and +keep her going after him. She refused them admittance, +so they held a prayer-meeting in the yard. Mr. +Babbitt, of the bakery, said he could not think of signing +our dealer’s pledge, as <i>one barrel of beer</i> was worth +more to him in his business than <i>ten barrels of flour</i> +made up into bakery products, and so refused to admit +them, but they held their prayer-meeting on the sidewalk +in front of his bakery.</p> + +<p>The dealers near the depot claimed that their patronage +came mostly from the road, that they spent +more money in Painesville than they took from it, and +they would not be controlled by the people of the +place.</p> + +<p>At the close of an interesting meeting Mr. Dayton +pledged himself never to sell another drop of intoxicating +drink. The women were hopeful, as the following +will show: “Our hopes for the future are +great. It is not with us, as I have heard it said, ‘A +noble impulse sheltered behind a because,’ but an earnest +resolve, born of much thought and prayer and +self-consecration.”</p> + +<p>This reminds us of an incident that occurred in +Columbus.</p> + +<p>John had stayed at home to take care of baby, while +Mary was praying in the saloons, and when she came +back John says, “Well, Mary, the baby has cried all +the time you were gone; I don’t know but it’s all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span>right, but home isn’t what it used to be when you +stayed at home.” “Well, John,” Mary answered, “it is +better that baby should cry for me now than that I +should cry for baby twenty years hence.”</p> + +<p>It has been emphatically true of women, that feeling +little responsibility beyond home, their prayers have +not gone out largely for others. We must all be +better patriots, as well as Christians and philanthropists.</p> + + +<h3 id="ASHLAND_OHIO"> + ASHLAND, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade terminated here after four days only +of street work, and nothing of special interest, other +than the one great cause for which the ladies labored, +transpired.</p> + +<p>There were five saloons, three drug stores, two +hotels, and one billiard-room where drink was sold. +The druggists signed on the first presentation. The +saloonists had determined to resist their prayers and +pleadings, and were under the leadership of one of +their number, a man of influence in the German +church, who kept the most <i>respectable</i> place in town; a +place where the young men congregated, and where +many of the older ones found it pleasant to linger. +He was the only one who refused the ladies admittance, +compelling them to sing and pray upon the +pavement before his door. He was the man whom +they expected would be the last to yield. A man +of iron will, they expected to besiege him daily, perhaps +for weeks; they looked for insult and abuse, +yet he was the first to sign a petition presented by a +score of our citizens, (some of them in the habit of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span>visiting his saloon,) asking him to discontinue the +traffic. When he signed, all the rest were ready to +sign also.</p> + +<p>One saloonist has opened a grocery, another has +bought a stock of boots and shoes, a third is looking +for a farm, in the meantime has left his old quarters +entirely, one (a woman) keeps a restaurant, and he +whom they feared most of all, confines himself exclusively +to his grocery trade. The conquest was easy +and complete.</p> + + +<h3 id="BELLEVUE_OHIO"> + BELLEVUE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>There were several unconditional surrenders in +Bellevue, none of which present any features of striking +interest. West received the committee pleasantly, +and acknowledged that he did not approve of the business. +Two days afterward, when the ladies called on +him in a body, he told them he would quit in a day or +two, and sign the pledge, but was not prepared to do +so at that time.</p> + +<p>The next day he sent word to the association that +he was prepared to surrender his liquor and sign the +pledge, which he did. Four kegs of wine and one of +beer were thrown into the street; his whiskey was +sent back. He and his wife attended several of the +mass-meetings, and took a share in the league fund. +He afterwards found the Saviour, and commenced a +better life. He looks like a new man.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ailer also received the committee when they +called in a body in much the same way as did West, +and the next day sent word that he wished a conversation +with Mrs. Goodson and Mrs. Sawseer. He felt +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>willing to close out, but did not feel able to throw away +his liquors: said he would send back all he could if +the society would pay him for the rest.</p> + +<p>After considerable persuasion he agreed to sign the +pledge the next day, which he did, throwing away nine +gallons of blackberry wine, twenty-nine gallons of +cherry wine, three of gin, seven of whiskey, and two +barrels of ale.</p> + +<p>Seth Cook was a young man, just married, and all +he had was invested in a billiard-room and tables. He +told the committee, at first, that he was bitterly sick of +the business, and was willing to sign the pledge and +throw away his liquors, if he knew what disposition to +make of the rooms. He allowed the ladies to come +whenever they chose, and was respectful.</p> + +<p>After two calls he sent word that he had concluded +to throw away his liquors, which he did.</p> + + +<h3 id="BUCYRUS_OHIO"> + BUCYRUS, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The account of the work at Bucyrus is, in its detail +of events, almost verbally copied from the weekly narrative +in the <i>Bucyrus Journal</i>. The editor of this +paper was, in sentiment, opposed to the Crusade, but +he defended the ladies in their heroic sacrifices. Anticipating +that hereafter the Crusade would form a +most important era in our social history, he was careful +to publish in his paper, from week to week, a most accurate, +impartial, and detailed history of the movement, +giving everything of importance concerning it.</p> + +<p>Bucyrus, a town of four thousand inhabitants, is situated +in the northern part of Ohio, on the Pittsburgh, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad. It is the county-seat +of Crawford, a county which obtained a national +notoriety by the treasonable actions and sentiments of +a portion of its citizens, during the late war of the rebellion. +This place was the scene of more ruffianly +disorder, and the ladies suffered more abuse at the +hands of the saloon-keepers and their friends, during +the Crusade, than in any other town in the State. Bucyrus +contained at the time of the Crusade eight churches—four +English and four German. The Presbyterian, +Lutheran, Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, and German +Methodist Churches, and a few of the members of the +German Reformed Church, joined in the work of this +great reform movement, and the bond of union between +them was never so strong as when, in a combined +effort, the members of these churches united +against their strongest enemy—the liquor traffic. The +German Lutheran, German Catholic, and most of the +members of the German Reformed Churches, sympathized +with the saloon-keepers, and aided and encouraged +them by their counsel and influence. When the +Crusade was first inaugurated, the town contained +twenty saloons, one brewery, and one wholesale liquor +establishment and sample-room. Before the street work +was discontinued by the ladies, the wholesale +establishment and four of the saloons had quit the +business.</p> + +<p>On Monday evening, March 2d, 1874, a public meeting +was held at Rowse’s Hall, for the purpose of considering +the advisability of inaugurating the Crusade at +Bucyrus. The hall was crowded, and great enthusiasm +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>prevailed. A committee, composed of two from each +church in the place, was appointed to prepare a plan +by which to conduct the temperance movement in +Bucyrus, and this committee reported at a second +meeting, which was held in the Presbyterian Church, +March 9th. The report made contained the following +resolution, which was adopted with great applause:</p> + +<p>“<i>Resolved</i>, Inasmuch as the efforts of the women +have proven the most efficient means, under God, of +closing the saloons in many places where they are +organized and at work, we therefore pledge to the +ladies of our town our sympathy and hearty co-operation +at any time they deem it proper to inaugurate the +movement here.”</p> + +<p>Saturday, March 7th, the saloon-keepers and their +friends held a meeting, at which they resolved to lock +their doors when the women came around, and, at the +approaching spring elections, to vote for no man who +favored this temperance reform. The conversation of +this meeting was mostly in German; many were excluded +from it, and the proceedings were kept as +secret as possible. March 9th, they held another +meeting, and resolved to issue a printed card, pledging +themselves, hereafter, to conform strictly to the law, +and they drew up a pledge to this effect, which all the +saloon-keepers, twenty in number, signed.</p> + +<p>Tuesday morning, March 10th, a committee, composed +of two ladies from each church, was appointed +to organize the ladies, and every afternoon during the +week they assembled for prayer. March 14th, the +druggists were visited, and asked to sign the druggists’ +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>pledge. Two of them consented, the third refused. +The saloon-keepers were also visited, and asked to +quit, but without success. Every evening, union temperance +meetings were held at the different churches, +and numbers signed the pledge.</p> + +<p>Tuesday morning, March 17th, an immense crowd +gathered at the M. E. Church, and upon the streets +were many scattered groups of restless citizens, who, +by their constant uneasiness, would have betrayed to +a stranger that something unusual was transpiring, +even if it had not been well known that the women +were about to appear. Promptly at ten o’clock the +church-bell began to toll, and forth from the church +came one hundred ladies, among whom were those, +who, for their unaffected piety, for their exemplary +lives, and by the position and character of their husbands, +were the very first women of the community. +By special invitation of the proprietors, the ladies first +visited the saloon of Everett & Ricketts, who were at +that time making arrangements to close their business, +as the lease of the room they were occupying had +been refused them for another year. The ladies were +refused entrance to several of the saloons, but were +treated politely by the saloon-keepers. While they +were holding their exercises in front of Jahn’s, some +of the German women who were looking on made +some very objectionable remarks in German. While +the second prayer was being offered in front of Bieber’s, +a young man, under the influence of liquor, spoke +loudly and said, “Pray, God d—n you, pray! Jesus +Christ! why don’t you pray louder?” But when he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>saw the marshal approaching, he stopped his oaths. +Some of the saloon-keepers were visibly moved when +the friends and companions of their youth, knelt before +them and offered fervent prayers for their wives and +children.</p> + +<p>The second day, Wednesday, March 18th, the ladies +continued their good work, and the crowds around the +saloons were quiet and orderly until late in the afternoon, +when they were in front of Mollenkopf’s. The +proprietor of this saloon had a musical clock, which +was wound up and started as the ladies approached, +and a large crowd of men and boys assembled in the +saloon and commenced to sing, and the prayers of the +ladies were drowned by these indecent noises; but one +of the ladies beautifully reported:</p> + +<p>“We felt in our hearts that our prayers reached His +ear to whom they were addressed, and it seemed as if +the sound of those noble, manly voices in so bad a +cause, only made us the more anxious to labor for their +conversion, and to pray that some day they might be +heard in prayer and praise.”</p> + +<p>This sort of a reception only strengthened the ladies +to more earnest devotions. Soon a good woman +offered a prayer in German, and instantly all noise +within ceased, showing that the hearts of those men +were not utterly hardened, and that they had tender +memories of woman’s dear voice raised in the tones +of fatherland to the Father of all, and every noble +woman outside felt encouraged. Even the unseemly +riot and song thus proved a blessing, for it was followed +by such a strange stillness, that the calm seemed holy, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>and the prayers glowed with increased fervor, and +every heart beat in unison; and at the next saloon the +exercises were so unusually fervent that one of the +ladies afterwards reported:</p> + +<p>“It seemed as if each of us sensibly realized that +God was supporting us, and sending His Holy Spirit +to comfort and sustain us.”</p> + +<p>The exercises under such influences impressed the +careless bystanders with a solemnity exceeding anything +previously experienced. During the time the +ladies were on the streets, a prayer-meeting was in +constant progress at the church.</p> + +<p>March 19th and 20th, the ladies continued their +exercises at the different saloons without any disturbance, +and were either kindly treated by such of the +saloon-keepers as admitted them, or ignored by the +majority, who closed their saloons when the women +approached.</p> + +<p>Saturday evening, March 21st, while a band was +holding religious exercises in front of Donnenwirth’s, +the proceedings in the saloon were very boisterous. +Two women were inside, and several men, and their +actions were such as to demonstrate the effects of the +saloon business in a style not calculated to elevate it +in public estimation.</p> + +<p>Monday, March 23d, the weather was cold and raw. +In the morning the women, in bands of four, visited +various places and people and labored in the work of +the great reform without any street exercises. In the +afternoon they were out in three bands. Tuesday +morning a German saloon-keeper and baker named +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>Pfleiderer admitted the ladies to his parlor and then +stood at the door, and, representing to the ladies that +he had been injured in his business, by reports that +had been circulated about his having struck and kicked +one of them, refused to let them out until it had been +proved that the report was without foundation.</p> + +<p>On the morning of March 25th, William Shaw, a +candidate for street commissioner for the third term, +in order to gain the good will of the saloons, placed +himself in front of a praying band at Hesche’s and +commenced a loud and blasphemous harangue and +prayer in which vulgar allusions and oaths were mingled, +to the horror of every respectable person. The +scene was awful, and involuntarily excited in the minds +of many an expectation that such a bold, bad, blasphemous +man would be struck dead for his startling +defiance of the living God, whom he was violently +professing to worship. But the insulted women continued +their exercises and even prolonged them. Upon +moving to another saloon Shaw followed them, and +proceeded again with his violent indecency. In the +afternoon he followed the ladies, and at every saloon +where they held exercises, excepting two where the +proprietors refused to let him speak, the indecent and +disgraceful actions of the morning were continued, but +it seemed as if the ladies only became more fervent +under such brutal treatment. At Mollenkopf’s this +man repeated his ribald, blasphemous, brutal harangue, +while citizens stood horrified all around the square, +realizing for the first time how degrading, how injurious +to society, and how dangerous to the best interests of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span>the nation must be a traffic, which had to resort to such +unparalleled brutality in a vain endeavor to stop a +band of devout and earnest women from praying and +singing. Close at hand and supporting Shaw, were +many of the saloon-keepers, and on the outskirts of +the crowd was a body of men and boys, many inflamed +by liquor, cheering, yelling and hallooing when some +remark unusually brutal, profane or outrageous, fell +from the lips of this saloon orator, who seemed to think +he was doing a noble act, in bullying and abusing praying +women—the teachers of his children in the Sunday-school, +and the mothers of their companions. At +Peters & Lauderbach’s the scenes enacted were even +more disgraceful than before. Not only did Shaw +repeat his harangue, but, as a most painful variation, a +woman appeared with two children and some beer, +and tauntingly gave it to the children to drink in the +presence of the women who were laboring that those +children might be preserved from the terrible effects +of the liquor traffic. (The husband of that woman and +the father of those two children committed suicide +several months afterward while in a fit of despondency +caused by excessive drinking.) She also brought beer +and gave it to Shaw, and then threw the dregs over +the band of ladies before her. The saloon-keepers and +their friends dared any one to attempt to arrest Shaw, +and the mayor of the town, all the time declaring that +these violent proceedings must be stopped, never once +realized that it was his duty to order Shaw to desist +under penalty of being arrested if he did not. Passing +from these violent and disorderly scenes the band proceeded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>to Thomas Fuhrman’s, where they had always +been kindly treated, and, as usual, he admitted them +and then locked the door, and, as one of the ladies reported, +“enabled them to feel that they were once more +alone with their God, and to implore Him for strength +to endure the terrible ordeal to which they were being +subjected.” Other bands had been visiting other +saloons, and when they met at the church there was +an impressive sight not soon nor easy to be forgotten. +Half the women were in tears at the brutal treatment +they had experienced, but a more resolute band of +heroines, a body of women more resolved to hold +together and continue to the end, it is safe to say were +never before assembled in Bucyrus. One could realize +the effect of persecution on the martyrs of old, and +could plainly see <i>how</i>, as well as understand <i>why</i>, the +blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, as he +looked upon and studied those resolute women and +heard them speak; yet not a word of anger, not an +unkind, not an unchristian thought. It was as if each +now, for the first time, realized the extent of the depravity +of the saloon business, and was more than ever +convinced that, before her God, it was her duty to +labor on to the end.</p> + +<p>These are not the speculations or opinions of the +writer, but the actual facts openly presented, and +affording material for wonder and astonishment as well +as for the most earnest thought.</p> + +<p>In the evening the usual immense temperance mass-meeting +was held. The saloonists also held a meeting +for consultation. On the morning of the 26th, three +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>large bands of women appeared on the streets, and +during their exercises the disgraceful scenes of the +day before were repeated. At noon a warrant was +issued for Shaw’s arrest, and instructions were given +that it should be executed in case he did not behave +himself. Shaw, upon being notified that the mayor +had issued the warrant with these instructions, decided +that it was time for him to quit; and in the afternoon, +when the ladies continued their exercises, the crowds +who witnessed them were quiet and orderly. In the +evening the town council held a special meeting, and +passed a resolution which closed as follows: “We are +impelled to instruct our executive officer, the mayor, +to appoint such additional police force, as, in conjunction +with the marshal, may be necessary, mildly but +persistently, to prevent any person or persons being for +any length of time around, about, in, or in front of any +place of business or private house, within the limits of +the incorporated village of Bucyrus, Ohio, without consent +of the owner or occupant of the same, for the +purpose of singing, praying, or making speeches, or in +any way annoying the prosecution of any branch of +business, or disturbing the quiet of any citizen, or impeding +or interrupting the means of passage upon the +sidewalks or streets.” The next day the resolution +and a proclamation by the mayor to the same effect +was published and circulated throughout the town. +The women appeared on the streets as usual and issued +the following:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span></p> + +<p class="center"> +WOMEN’S PROCLAMATION. +</p> + +<p>“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine +a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, +and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, +and against his anointed, <i>saying</i>, Let us break their +bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. +He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord +shall have them in derision.” Psalms, chap, ii., v. 1 +to 4.</p> + +<p>“And they called them, and commanded them not +to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But +Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether +it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you +more than unto God, judge ye.” Acts, chap. iv., v. +18 and 19.</p> + +<p>“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts, +chap. v., v. 29.</p> + +<p class="center"> +TO THE PUBLIC. +</p> + +<p>“In the Temperance movement we have undertaken, +we have had no purpose to violate the laws of +the State, or interfere with the rights of any citizen. +We have malice in our hearts toward none, but charity +for all. We believe we have the right to persuade +men from strong drink, and to plead with the liquor-seller +to cease from his traffic. Believing, too, that +God has called us to the high duty of saving our +fellow-men, we will not cease to pray and labor to this +end. It is our solemn purpose, with love in our hearts +to God and man, to go right forward in the work we +have undertaken, and if the hand of violence be laid +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>upon us, we make our humble and confident appeal to +the God whom we serve, and the laws of the State, +whose faithful citizens we are.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">Executive Committee.</span> +</p> + +<p>“In behalf of the ladies engaged in the Temperance +movement, Bucyrus, Ohio, March 27th, 1874.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The mayor, at first, experienced some difficulty in +obtaining men to serve as a special police, and the +ladies were pleased to learn of strong remarks made +by those, who, when offered the position, declined to +aid the mayor in his dirty work. When the mayor +announced that the police were not wanted to molest +the ladies but to protect them, he found no trouble in +securing men.</p> + +<p>Saturday, March 28th, the women were out in full +force, and also on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday +of the next week, although at times the weather was +very cold and disagreeable, the authorities making no +attempt to enforce their resolution. Wednesday +evening a band of ladies surprised several saloons, +and caused no little consternation by walking in and +holding an evening service. At one saloon a number +of young men and boys were found drinking and +gambling. Thursday, April 2d, the ladies were encouraged +by the surrender of J. R. Miller. In the +afternoon he hung out the white flag, and the ladies +marched up in full force and held a final meeting in +front of his establishment. The church-bells were +rung, and many steam-whistles united to create a jollification. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>That afternoon they were treated with great +discourtesy at the saloon of Peters & Lauderbach’s, +one of the proprietors laying his hands on one of the +ladies, and, in the admirably chosen words of the +council resolution, “mildly and persistently” trying to +make her leave.</p> + +<p>Monday, April 6th, was election day. The ladies +remained at the church all day holding a prayer-meeting, +and praying most earnestly for the success of the +temperance ticket, and the defeat of the ticket supported +by the saloon-keepers and their friends.</p> + +<p>It is in order to remark here, that all the outrages +hitherto committed by the saloonists were in defiance +of the authorities. The disgraceful scenes of March +25th and 26th were permitted by the mayor, because +he supposed he was powerless to stop them. But +when Shaw was defeated at the Democratic primaries +for the nomination of Street Commissioner, because he +had acted in such an outrageous manner; and a strong +citizens’ movement had been organized, and a citizens’ +ticket nominated, the candidates for the council being +men who would close the saloons under the law commonly +called the “McConnelsville Ordinance” (now +repealed) if they were elected, the authorities who +were seeking a re-election became alarmed, and they +would permit no further outrages because they “feared +the people.” The election, however, resulted in the +defeat of the temperance ticket, and the mayor and +council, having been re-elected, had nothing to fear, +and they permitted their friends, the saloonists, to +conduct themselves as they pleased. When the result +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>of the election was known, the whole of the north end +of town, where most of the saloons are situated, became +one blaze of excitement, and a perfect saturnalia +of drunkenness appeared to prevail until midnight.</p> + +<p>Tuesday, April 7th, the women appeared on the +streets, and commenced their exercises. The saloon-keepers +had hired a travelling brass band of Hessians, +and when the ladies prayed, the band struck up, but +the ladies continued their devotions until the melodious +Hessians were well-nigh exhausted. They then +followed the weakest band of women from saloon to +saloon, constantly becoming more and more fagged +out, while the ladies gained more and more strength. +At Lindser’s, some miscreant was about to throw a +hatchet at the ladies, but his arm was caught by Mr. +Lindser, and he was dragged inside. In the afternoon +the saloon-keepers rigged up a platform on a wagon, +hitched four horses to it, and having put the Hessian +band and representatives from all the saloons (except +Fuhrman’s and Steinberg’s) upon the platform, they +drove out to the brewery, and were treated by the +proprietors to all the beer they could drink. In about +two hours they appeared on the square, and announced +they were having a jollification over their victory at +the election. While they were at the brewery, the +women left the church in three large bands, and commenced +their exercises. A dense crowd gathered +around the little band of heroines who were singing +and praying in front of Rettig’s. On the doorstep of +this saloon was a young man, his face flushed with +liquor, the slobber oozing from his mouth, and a bottle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span>of whiskey in his hand, from which he occasionally +took a sup, and he all the time talking blackguard +slang in German, which the ladies could not understand, +and jabbering in broken English, to the astonishment +and disgust of over five hundred people. Seated +on the steps, in a maudlin, blear-eyed condition of +drunkenness, was another young man, and every few +minutes they would drink from the bottle. Here was +a young man who stood brandishing a bottle of whiskey, +blaspheming and drinking, the very picture of +drunken daring, and offering stimulus to the other +young man, who was too far gone to stand up, and not +far enough to keel over in a drunken stupor. Near +him pure and earnest women knelt and prayed, or +gazed in horror on the hitherto unrevealed depths of +depravity yawning before them; near by were men +talking about this frenzied brute having as much right +to curse, blackguard, and drink as the ladies had to +cry and sing and pray; while on the outskirts stood a +dense crowd, receiving the full force of the practical +temperance lecture presented to them; while the +young man stood brandishing his bottle, striking the +thick end violently on the house, blowing a dog-whistle, +blear-eyed, besotted, staggering and contending for +the right of such as he to degrade himself. This +young man followed the ladies around and repeated +his disgraceful actions at several saloons. When the +ladies were in front of Mader’s, the wagon-load of +saloonists appeared, and stopped nearby; the Hessian +band, by this time nearly exhausted, played as long as +they could. Then Shaw, who was on the wagon, commenced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>a loud and violent harangue, and a disgraceful +scene of confusion ensued that should be seen only +to be realized. A wagon-load of men far the worse +off for liquor, some too drunk to stand, others compelled +to hold lest they should fall, helping to cause +all this confusion, because a few weak women dared +publicly to pray Heaven that the evils of the saloon business +might be stopped. Witnessing these disgraceful +scenes at a safe distance, stood prominent +citizens, who, by their votes the day before, had helped +create this infernal spectacle, and who, by their sullen +silence, approved it—men, any one of whom could, +by a word, have stopped it, and who let it continue. +The ladies proceeded to Peters & Lauderbach’s, only +to experience the same treatment, and in addition, +some of them were drenched with foul water, and the +disgraceful scenes were continued until they retired to +the church, having finished the rounds as laid out by +their committee.</p> + +<p>Wednesday, April 8th, the Pilgrims appeared, and +so did the Hessian band, but the latter were forbidden +by the mayor from annoying the ladies, and the day +passed quietly. Every saloon was visited, and the +crowds who witnessed the exercises kept the best of +order. Thus the tardy order of Wednesday demonstrated +who was responsible for the disgraceful disorder +of Tuesday—not the women, who continued +their exercises as usual, but they who sought to interrupt +them, and the guardians of our peace, who permitted +peace and good order to be sacrificed at the +expense of their oaths of office and the good name of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>the town. Thursday, the Hessian band, in some instances, +was inside the saloons when the ladies approached, +and they played lustily during their presence +outside, but there was no excitement, no crowd, and +no event of special note. In the afternoon the ladies +entered the store of George Ritz, who endeavored +violently to eject them, and in closing the door he +injured one of them so that she could not move her +arm. Several days afterwards the doctor discovered +that her shoulder-blade had been broken. She was a +very frail young lady, the youngest daughter of the +Baptist minister, Rev. L. G. Leonard, D. D., and the +accident was very much regretted by Ritz.</p> + +<p>About this time the ladies adopted the picket system, +which consisted in two or more ladies remaining +in front of a saloon, and taking the names of all who +entered. The pickets were on duty two hours at a +time. This system was carried on for several days, +during which time the bands of ladies continued to +carry on the work with more or less activity. At +several of the saloons these pickets were furnished +with chairs. Some of the ladies on picket duty were +insulted and subjected to mean remarks made to them +by coarse and vulgar men.</p> + +<p>When the Crusade was inaugurated in Bucyrus, +petty politicians proclaimed that the ladies had been +sent out by certain men in order to create an excitement +by which the spring elections could be carried, +and they sneeringly declared that as soon as the election +was over the ladies would discontinue their work. +But when the women continued their exercises before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span>the saloons day after day, the saloon-keepers became +alarmed, for their business had fallen off fully one-half, +and they demanded of the authorities that the Crusade +should be stopped. The town council and the mayor, +having been elected by the saloon-keepers and their +friends, were their willing tools, and on April 17th, an +ordinance was passed by which the Crusade could be +stopped. This ordinance was to take effect May 2d. +The ladies did not appear disturbed at the prospect +before them, but continued their work. Union meetings +were held at the different churches, addresses +being delivered by prominent workers from all parts +of the State. Tuesday evening, April 28th, the Ladies’ +Executive Committee met the town council, and explained +to the members of that body that while they +could not discontinue their street exercises, it was +from no want of respect for the council, who represented +the constituted authority of the town, but +because they considered themselves conscientiously +bound to continue, from a sense of duty to a higher +authority than the town council. The council, +through the mayor, gave the ladies to understand that +the ordinance would be enforced and they would be +arrested. One of the members of the council read to +the ladies from Romans, 13th chapter, verses 1 and 2: +“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. +For there is no power but of God: the powers that be +are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth +the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they +that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” +One of the ladies turned immediately to the second +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>chapter of Romans, and read the third verse: “And +thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do +such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape +the judgment of God?” And also verse 21: “Thou +therefore which teachest another, teachest not thou thyself? +Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost +thou steal?” Meanwhile the Christian women were +fervently in earnest, relying on their own conscientious +sense of their duty to their God, while the council +were shamefully determined to cast their whole power +in favor of drunkenness, crime, systematic violations +of law, full poor-houses, crowded jails, and overflowing +penitentiaries, and to crush out temperance, virtue, +happy homes, and the Christian women who adorn +them. The women were informed by the Hon. Judge +Scott, who was a member of the Supreme Court of +Ohio for fifteen years, that the ordinance was unconstitutional, +and they were advised to pay no attention +to it. During the three weeks which intervened between +April 9th and May 2d, the ladies were permitted +to continue their exercises; very little attention was +paid to them by the proprietors of the saloons, and but +few or no spectators attended them. This profound +calm continued until Friday night, May 1st, and the +ordinance was to take effect the next day.</p> + +<p>Saturday, May 2d, the town was filled with an +unusually large crowd; the ladies, having previously +determined, that, as they seldom appeared on the +streets Saturdays, they would not go out on the 2d +day of May. Sunday evening an unusually large +temperance mass-meeting was held at the Lutheran +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>Church. Monday morning the weather was inclement +and very damp, and the ladies did not appear. In the +afternoon four bands, of about twenty each, left the +M. E. Church and proceeded to the saloons of Messrs. +Ritz, Mollenkopf, Hesche, and the Alcorn House, at +the western side of the public square. At the three +latter places the exercises were held, and no attention +was paid to the women. At Ritz’s saloon a large +crowd collected, and the ladies were well-nigh surrounded, +but there was no special force or disturbance +used by the extra police, who were active in keeping +order, in requesting the women to move on, and in +taking the names of such as refused, and they succeeded +in getting all their names. The appearance +of these four bands on the square at the same time +and the sound of their voices in singing was unusually +fine. Passing from the square the four bands proceeded +to Fulton’s drug store, to Mader’s, and to +Peters & Lauderbach’s. At Fulton’s the clerk came +out and commenced to speak roughly, and to push the +women, when one of the special police immediately +caused him to desist, and not create confusion. Some +earnest urging and rather rough handling was experienced +from some of the other specials, but nothing +serious, and the exercises proceeded. At Peters & +Lauderbach’s there was considerable confusion and +some roughness, but after a short time the ladies held +their ground and the exercises proceeded. At this +place, while one of the ladies was kneeling with her +companions, one of the specials, three several times, +lifted her up and carried her to the railroad (several +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>rods from her companions); each time she rebuked +him in the most earnest terms, and each time returned +immediately to the band. Finally, her censures +and rebukes were so earnest that the fellow got +ashamed of himself, and retired from his post, vowing +he would make no further attempts to oppose the +ladies. Thus the noble women went on with their +good work, and in the evening returned to the church. +It was a matter of general surprise that no arrests +were made, but it finally “leaked out” that no provision +had been made by the council for trying the +ladies; and in case they demanded a trial by jury, to +which they would be entitled, the authorities would be +powerless, for no provision had been made for forming +a jury. The mayor, therefore, instructed the +special police, to keep the women “moving” but make +no arrests.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Tuesday, May 5th, commonly +called “Black Tuesday,” by the Crusaders of Bucyrus, +the pilgrims appeared. A band of them approached +Ritz’s saloon. Immediately a scene took place that no +power or words can adequately describe. A swarm +of specials almost instantly appeared, and when the +noble women prepared to stop, they were seized, and +pushed, and pulled, and hustled, and driven, and +dragged in a most outrageous and brutal manner, until +they were finally gotten to the pavement in front of +Morgan’s barber-shop. Here they stood bravely at +bay, and told the specials that if they intended making +any arrests they would offer no resistance, but they, the +specials, had no right to interfere with them or touch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>them in any other manner—that Morgan had not ordered +them away, and they had a right to remain. The +unfortunate specials, each one, with a few exceptions, +armed with a regular hickory bludgeon—a sign far +more of his cowardice than of his authority—realized +their want of power, and the brave ladies proceeded +with their exercises. These being concluded, they +passed on to the adjacent saloon of Mollenkopf’s. +Here the same scenes of outrageous violence were re-enacted +with increased brutality: the women were +pushed, and pulled, and hustled, and dragged, and savagely +assaulted, and openly abused, with vituperations +and oaths by wretches who were not worthy to dust +the shoes of these women. They experienced, literally, +every indignity but a square blow. Such cowardly +blows as could be secretly given, seizures and +violent pushes, amounting in effect to blows, were +given continually, but the brave band held its ground, +by retiring from the pavement to the curb in front, and +then stood at bay and defied the cowards, who, if they +had any manhood whatever, would have suffered themselves +blows and kicks without number rather than thus +to have outraged their manhood by such treatment of +women. One miserable wretch, who has not done an +honest day’s work for years, approached two ladies, +and standing opposite to them, after they had brought +the specials to bay, and defied them, cursed and blasphemed +in vindication of his manhood, and said to +them; “You are a d—d pretty set of Christians, you +are! you’re a d—d set of hypocrites; that is what you +are!” Such detestable conduct from a miserable coward, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>sworn to preserve order, was exceedingly abominable.</p> + +<p>While these scenes were being enacted, another +band of ladies was being treated in the same outrageous +manner in front of Donnenwrith’s saloon. Citizens +who expostulated with the ruffians were seized and +hurried from the crowd. A stranger by the name of +Furguson, a gentleman from Delaware, Ohio, who +committed the heinous enormity of saving a lady from +falling down a cellar, into which she was being pushed +by one of the mayor’s pets, was taken before that illustrious +magistrate and fined five dollars. Another brave +policeman captured a youth of sixteen, and the only +reason was, the bully wished to arrest some one, and +young Howenstein was delicate, quiet, and easy to +take. Still another arrest was made by a special, and +when he appeared with his prisoner before the mayor, +the only charge he brought against his man was, “that +it was Bill Trimble, who was a good temperance man.” +A young man was struck down with a billy, and the +blows six times repeated on the nape of the neck, as +each time he attempted to rise. This act was wanton, +without any provocation whatever. During that morning, +at every saloon they visited, these atrocious outrages +were perpetrated by this band of ruffians, acting +as a special police, who were, with a few exceptions, +the “scum” and the “off-scouring” of the community. +Women were thrown down, were dragged and wrenched +by brute force from posts and rails to which they clung; +were seized by ruffians who were intoxicated, and carried +several rods from their companions. The police +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>would join hands, and the brutal crowd behind them +would push, and the power exerted by this solid force +of men was sufficient to fairly sweep everything before +them, and they thus succeeded in making the women +“move on.” All the time these helpless ladies were +demanding to be arrested if they had done wrong, but +protesting against such violent treatment, but of no +avail: at every saloon the same odious acts and detestable +proceedings were enacted, until the whole town +trembled on the verge of a bloody riot. A more +atrocious, abominable, iniquitous series of outrages +were never offered to ladies; and these the wives, +daughters, and mothers of the best men of the community! +suffering such infamous treatment because +they dared to publicly sing and pray against the evils +of the liquor traffic.</p> + +<p>At noon, citizens appeared before S. S. Caldwell, +justice of the peace, and entered complaints against +several of the specials, and warrants were issued for +their arrest, on charges of assault and battery. In the +afternoon a test trial was held before the same officer, +and one of the specials was bound over to appear before +the grand jury. The editor of the <i>Journal</i> +earnestly and indignantly remonstrated with the mayor, +against the acts committed by his specials, and finally +obtained from that officer the following declaration, +which he immediately printed and circulated: “My instructions +to the special police are, to use no violence +either to the women, or to the men; and, if any such +violence has been used, I shall instruct the police immediately +to desist from it.” In consequence of these +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span>instructions and the effect produced by the arrest of +several specials, the ardor of the willing police was +cooled, and the afternoon passed without any further +disturbance, except in front of Shaw’s. This man, +who is a sensible, orderly citizen, when sober, was inflamed +with liquor; he had just opened a new saloon, +and was most indecent in his treatment of the ladies. +He told them in plain terms, in a violent harangue, +that they were no better that the vilest women of the +street, whereupon, Mr. Furney, a livery-stable-keeper, +of Mansfield, who had a wife and daughter among the +Crusaders of that place, caused him immediately to +“take it back,” which Shaw did. Excepting this indecent +insult, the afternoon passed without any serious +disturbance.</p> + +<p>Wednesday, May 6th, large crowds followed the +women, but the best of order prevailed, and they were +permitted to continue their exercises free from insult +or injury, save at the saloon of Peters & Lauderbach. +The wives of these men had prepared for the ladies, +and in some cases literally drenched them with water. +Some of the citizens, indignant at such treatment, +could hardly be restrained from sacking the house; +but prominent men interfered, better counsels prevailed, +and the excitement subsided. Thursday, Van +Amburgh’s show exhibited in Bucyrus, and the ladies +did not appear on the streets. In the evening the +council passed two ordinances to amend and correct +the deficiencies of the former ordinance, which two +were to take effect on the 18th day of May, and until +that day the ladies continued their work, no further +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>obstacles being placed in their way by the authorities. +The women desired to test the ordinance by a trial, +and having retained Judge Scott to defend them, they +discontinued their work in front of the saloons for a +few days, because the judge could not devote his time +to their case until court, which was then in session, +adjourned. During the next ten days they held religious +exercises in front of business establishments, in +different quarters of the town, permission having been +obtained of the owners. The ladies presented a very +fine Bible to Mr. Harvey E. Morgan, a colored barber, +for kindly permitting them to remain in front of his +shop, and continue their exercises on Tuesday, May +5th, after they had been swept from the pavement in +front of Ritz’s, by the overpowering force of the +brutal police. Having granted them permission to +hold a prayer-meeting on his pavement, he was seriously +injured in his business by twenty-five of his +customers removing their shaving-mugs from his +shop.</p> + +<p>The street work was all but discontinued, and many +of the ladies had virtually abandoned the work as +hopeless; but they desired to place the responsibility +where it belonged—with the town council; and on +Monday, June 1st, they renewed their exercises in +front of the saloons, having, since May 18th, held exercises +at the most public places of the town, and all +around the saloons, without creating any disturbance +whatever, and, therefore, demonstrated that street-praying +and singing, in and of itself, did not cause any +disturbance. In the evening they visited Lindser’s, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>who was evidently completely taken by surprise, and +exclaimed, somewhat roughly, in effect, if not in words, +“See here! Get out of this! I thought this thing was +played out. I won’t have you here.” The ladies +moved to the edge of the sidewalk, and finished their +exercises, and proceeded to Jahn’s, Rettig’s, and then +to Shaw’s, who commenced with his usual ruffian indecency, +and a large and disorderly crowd commenced +to assemble. A scene of intense excitement and +confusion immediately took place. The ladies were +violently interrupted. The indecent crowd, whose +faces had become familiar to them, began to jostle and +jam and swear and riot in the old style. Shaw ordered +the ladies away, and, as they did not go, he proceeded +to take their names. The ladies continued +their exercises, subject to these interruptions, and +retired to the church.</p> + +<p>Shaw complained to the mayor, and the following +indictment was preferred against Mrs. Trimble, one +of the ladies:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center"> +AFFIDAVIT. +</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">The State of Ohio</span>, Crawford County, <i>ss</i>.<br> + <span style="margin-right: 0em;">Incorporated Village of Bucyrus.</span> +</p> + +<p>Before me, James M. Van Voorhis, Mayor of said incorporated +village of Bucyrus aforesaid, personally appeared William R. Shaw, +who being duly sworn, according to law, deposeth and says, that +on the first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand +eight hundred and seventy-four, at and within the incorporated +village of Bucyrus, aforesaid, one Kate Trimble, then and there +being, upon one of the streets of said incorporated village, did then +and there, unlawfully and wilfully disturb the peace and quiet of +said village, and the citizens thereof, by then and there unlawfully +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>and wilfully hallooing, vociferating and singing upon the said street +of said village, in violation of section three of an ordinance of said +incorporated village, entitled: an ordinance to preserve good order +within the limits of Bucyrus, and prevent annoyance to business, +disorderly conduct, noise and disturbance within said village, +passed April 17th, 1874.</p> + +<p class="right"> + W. R. SHAW. +</p> + +<p>Sworn to before me, and subscribed in my presence by William +R. Shaw, this 1st day of June, 1874.</p> + +<p class="right"> + J. M. VAN VOORHIS. [Seal.] +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Mrs. Trimble appeared before the mayor, and by +her counsel demanded a trial by jury. The case was +adjourned until Wednesday afternoon, in order that +the necessary arrangements might be made, and then +readjourned until Thursday morning. The mayor, +after considerable hesitation and parleying, consented +to hold the trial in the court-room, in order that all +who desired might attend. Thursday morning the +jury was formed, and the trial began. It extended +through three days, and was a perfect farce, committed +in the name of justice. Throughout the trial the corrupt +mayor, by his partial decisions and the most +unjust rulings, aided his friends, the saloon-keepers, +to the full extent of his power. The jury was packed, +and everything else had been arranged for the conviction +of Mrs. Trimble. Friday afternoon Judge Scott +delivered a very long and able speech in behalf of the +ladies. Saturday afternoon the jury rendered a verdict +of guilty, and Mrs. Trimble was fined $15 and +costs, amounting to $100 more; (this was paid by the +Men’s League.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span></p> + +<p>The counsel for the ladies filed a bill of exceptions +to several of the rulings of the mayor, and upon being +carried to the Supreme Court, the decisions were +reversed, and a new trial granted. Owing to the +crowded condition of the docket of the Supreme Court +of Ohio, this case was not reached until several months +afterwards, and a new trial was not pressed, but the +case was dropped. After the verdict was rendered, +Mrs. Trimble refused to pay the fine, and refused to +take security, which was offered by several, preferring +to go to jail. She was advised to do this by a number +of the ladies, but their counsel protested against such +a course, and the security was accepted by her, and +she was discharged. A number of the ladies were in +favor of continuing the work, and suffering the penalty, +but they were advised by prominent temperance men +that it would be useless, and the street work was discontinued. +The ladies still continue their union temperance +prayer-meetings, and are waiting and praying +for the time when every knee shall bow to, and every +tongue proclaim the glory of their great Leader—Emanuel.</p> + +<p>Although but three years have passed since the +ladies of Bucyrus were so shamefully treated for praying +that the saloons might be closed, three of those +saloon-keepers have passed to another world. One +died from old age; another was thrown from his wagon +and sustained injuries which caused his death a few +days afterwards; the third, while under the influence +of liquor, committed suicide by shooting himself +through the brain and heart. Shaw, who abused the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>ladies so terribly, signed the pledge during the Murphy +movement, and has since that time been a new +man.</p> + +<p>Our ladies have discontinued their “street” work, +but their prayers have never ceased to ascend to the +God who preserved his chosen people for forty years +in the wilderness, until he finally permitted them to +enter the land of promise. The liquor-dealers are +more powerful, more corrupt, and more defiant than +ever before; but the “soul” of the Crusade is “marching +on,” and it will continue to march on, until every +saloon and brewery and distillery in the nation has +been closed, and America is free from the terrible +curse of intoxicating liquors.</p> + +<p>In connection with the disgraceful scenes which the +impartial historian has been forced to record in the +history of the work at Bucyrus, I desire to call attention +to the subject of European emigration and the liquor +traffic, discussed in another chapter.</p> + +<p>The liquor traffic is mainly in the hands of a degraded +criminal class of foreigners—a class who, +although clothed with the rights and privileges of +citizenship, are enemies, open and defiant, to American +institutions and usages, and noted for lawlessness. As +a class, they are criminals and criminal-makers.</p> + + +<h3 id="ELYRIA_OHIO"> + ELYRIA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The following facts were furnished by the Society, +through Mrs. S. C. Ely:</p> + +<p>The great temperance wave that swept over Ohio +reached Elyria, on the evening of March 5th, 1874. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>An enthusiastic mass-meeting was held, and an appointment +for a meeting of the women of the place +was made for the next morning at the Presbyterian +Church. The large edifice was well filled, and an +attentive audience was addressed by a lady from +Cleveland, and other speakers.</p> + +<p>The women of our staid little town were moved as +never before. They had hitherto obeyed most faithfully +the apostolic injunction to “keep silence in the +churches;” but the flood-gates were about to give +way. Lips were unsealed on that occasion; voices +were consecrated to the cause of truth that still ring +out in its defence with no uncertain sound.</p> + +<p>Among those present were many who had borne +the heavy yoke imposed by intemperance, and touching +were their appeals for help against their mighty +foe.</p> + +<p>All the strong woman-heart responded in the solemn +affirmative to the question, “Shall we organize a +Woman’s Temperance League in Elyria?” To many +the answer contained the martyr’s heroic decision, so +repugnant seemed the warfare; but the unwillingness +to meet the solemn duty of the hour was still more +awful.</p> + +<p>An organization was effected, and seventy names +secured. Encouraged by able and devoted Christian +pastors, the movement was baptized in prayer, and +has ever since held on by the same strong arm for +its support.</p> + +<p>At the opening of the Crusade there were sixteen +saloons, one brewery, and four drug stores where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span>liquor could be purchased, in Elyria. The first visit +was made to the druggists, and after a few days the +names of the four were enrolled on a stringent druggists’ +temperance pledge.</p> + +<p>On March 9th the first saloon was visited. A procession, +consisting of seventy-five ladies, passed slowly +along our principal streets, two by two, producing a +solemn spectacle, watched by many with uncovered +heads and tearful eyes. It was decided to visit first the +largest and strongest fortress of the enemy, and as the +long company filed into the bar-room the interest became +intense. All was quiet at our approach, and even +solemnly did the landlord and his wife receive us. +After permission to hold religious services, which was +always gained before proceeding in our exercises, the +whole band broke forth into the hymn, “Nearer, my +God, to Thee.”</p> + +<p>The contrasting scenes served to give a fresh meaning +to the words, throwing them into bold relief, and +thus aptly expressing the old conflict between good +and evil. Prayers, earnest and full of inspiration, followed; +and argument and entreaty were used. Then +began the pleas so constantly put forward afterwards: +debt, the necessity of continuance in the business for +the support of the family, overtures to sell out at fabulous +prices—till it began to seem that the Crusade +might be turned into a vast relief agency for the benefit +of bankrupt saloonists.</p> + +<p>That March afternoon witnessed the same long file +wending its way down the principal street, filling another +saloon with sacred influences, and raising the look +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>of wonder and awe in faces unused to praise. At last +the bolted doors of two saloons in close proximity demanded +the necessity for services upon the steps. A +crowd gathered eagerly around the band, hymns were +sung, and in that bleak March air, prayers went up for +the inmates of those saloons. Pledges were afterwards +circulated among the crowd, and many names +secured. Earnest appeals were made to all, and a +solemn influence was felt, as if Heaven were very near. +One more saloon visited, and the first day of the Crusade +was over.</p> + +<p>The opposing forces were now fairly met, and their +strength vaguely measured.</p> + +<p>From this time on, for six weeks, two daily prayer-meetings +were held, from which committees went forth +to plead, with prayer, song, and argument, with the +men who dealt out these destructive drinks.</p> + +<p>Evening visitations were often conducted. Quietly +but suddenly a band of women would stand in the +midst of drunken revelry; the coarse, brutal jeer +only stimulated the women to greater effort, and made +them feel the full force of the giant evil they were combating; +and deeper grew the power and solemnity of +their appeal to God, that He would exorcise this fearful +demon, and restore order and beauty to His creation.</p> + +<p>Many touching remarks were made among the bystanders +at the saloons. Said one man: “Men have +worked forty years to accomplish what women, aided +by the Spirit of God, have done in one month.” Another: +“Oh! that they had begun this movement ten +years ago—before I was bankrupt in body and soul,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>And often from fevered lips a murmured “God bless +you!” gave a fresh impulse to effort.</p> + +<p>After three weeks of constant labor, the first surrender +was effected. Solemnly was the name written +to the dealers’ pledge, followed by prayers within and +ringing of bells without, while “Praise God from whom +all blessings flow,” broke forth spontaneously as the +beer was poured into the gutter. Another dealer, at +the same time, signed the pledge for three months, but +soon after sent word he would sign it for life. The +full force of the Crusade, one hundred and twenty-five +ladies, met him and received his final pledge. In the +general enthusiasm, amid a great throng, the barrels +were rolled into the gutter, while “Glory, Hallelujah!” +filled the air. Following this, an aged lady, whose life +has been an intellectual, and a spiritual benediction to +this people from their earliest days, offered prayer.</p> + +<p>Being small of stature, a pulpit was quickly improvised +from a beer barrel, and never did priestly altar +serve a grander purpose. Her spiritual face and form +lifted above the crowd, with outstretched arms, as if +accepting the opportunity as the crowning gift of a +long and useful life, she gave utterance to one of +those inspired petitions that have their birth in a moment +of spiritual exaltation. The troubled sea before +her seemed to feel a divine influence, and to hear the +voice saying: “Peace! be still!”</p> + +<p>Yet other victories were gained, until eight saloons +had closed their doors.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, no stone was left unturned in the +great struggle. Campaigns, flank movements, military +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>stratagems and surprises, worthy of the brain of a Von +Moltke, were planned and executed. The Catholic +priest and the two German pastors were visited and +appealed to for their influence in their different +churches. They were all interested in the success +of the cause, but were not quite sure of the means +used, nor of the propriety of removing a temptation, +which, in the mind of one of them, had a divine origin.</p> + +<p>German citizens were visited, and a commingling of +nationalities took place never before known, and +though much antagonism was created, each learned +to view the situation from the other’s standpoint more +clearly than ever before, and to make allowance for +difference of opinion.</p> + +<p>To the question of an intelligent German saloonist, +“Why should the women of America feel more on this +subject than the women of Germany?” the answer +was made, “In your country men and women alike are +under one central power—one emperor controls you +both. Here <i>you</i> are all emperors, while <i>our</i> part in +this great government is simple obedience. Now there +is one right we women <i>must</i> be allowed, and that is, to +see to it as far as we can, that you carry a clear brain +and a true heart along with this power.”</p> + +<p>The McConnelsville ordinance prohibiting the sale +of ale, beer and wine by the glass, was passed March +28th, creating much irritation, for though not directly +the work of the Crusade, it was charged to it, and the +saloonists intrenched themselves behind what legal +rights they had left, more strongly than ever, and for a +time, visiting saloons seemed powerless for good.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span></p> + +<p>At this period our membership amounted to 209; +114 calls had been made, and 519 signatures to the +pledge had been secured.</p> + +<p>April 29th marks a golden day in our calendar, for +that evening, Temperance Hall, an old saloon which +had been fitted up attractively with pictures, papers, +magazines and a musical instrument, was dedicated +as a home for those we had rescued, and a rallying +point for ourselves, the crystallization of our work. +Here, for two months, a meeting for prayer and business +was held every afternoon, and from them, bands +were sent forth to visit. A committee for each week +provided for the evening’s entertainment of music, +readings, etc., and during the summer the hall was +liberally patronized. A prayer-meeting was also sustained +here during the entire year on Saturday eve. +Saloon hours were observed, and many a young man +was brought under religious influences, and signed the +pledge and dates the new life from those days.</p> + +<p>The McConnelsville ordinance being manifestly disregarded +and disorder prevailing, these earnest workers +felt they could not give up the ground they had so +courageously fought for, and began the arduous and +unpleasant duties of “picketing.” This proving very +exasperating to many in our community, all objectionable +features were removed, and a “visitation” was +substituted by which bands would ask admittance to +the saloons, and, if allowed, would remain many hours +in conversation with the saloonist and his friends, +urging the great duty of the hour. Many times, it is +true, he would retaliate, and ladies found themselves +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>prisoners, but always employed the time to the best +advantage. Persecution also showed itself at Temperance +Hall; stones were thrown into the room +through the windows, and angry crowds collected at +the doors.</p> + +<p>On June 2d, the Lorain County Temperance Society +was organized at a lively meeting held in Elyria of +representatives of nearly all the towns in the county, +and continues a vigorous organization. Reports +showed that twenty-one out of the thirty-nine saloons +in the county had been closed. At this time a county +visitation was provided for, Elyria being assigned six +towns to visit before the August election for the new +State constitution, with a license clause to be added +or rejected. Thirty meetings were held in the different +towns and school districts, addressed mostly by women, +though often carrying ballast in the form of minister +or lawyer, (more often one who combined all the professions,) +to satisfy the shrewd farmers, incredulous of +the mental capacity of women to expound the weightier +points of the law.</p> + +<p>Visitation from house to house was kept up for +many weeks previous to the election, and in the house +and by the wayside, much temperance seed was sown. +The result, so well known, strengthened the hearts of +the laborers.</p> + +<p>The Elyria <i>Republican</i>, one of the best weekly +papers in northern Ohio, and a sterling advocate for +the temperance cause, was started in October, 1874, +and grew out of the Woman’s Crusade. The order +from the Lake Shore Railroad Company prohibiting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>their employés entering a saloon, was the result of the +temperance agitation of northern Ohio.</p> + +<p>During the ensuing winter of 1874-75, the spirit +of work being upon us, but laws unobserved, and +public sentiment unfavorable to direct temperance +effort, a Relief Committee for the poor of our place +was added to our League. The town was districted +and thoroughly visited. The sum of $358.11 was +raised, besides numerous articles of comfort contributed +and distributed among our poor, with the exception +of $63.47 sent to the relief of Kansas sufferers.</p> + +<p>A large and commodious room was secured in +place of the old one, and occupied April 1st, 1875, +and Temperance Hall still continues to be an important +institution in our midst. A Tuesday afternoon +prayer and business meeting is always held there, and +so much of importance requires attention on these +occasions, that three hours are often spent by the +faithful ones, who never fail to attend.</p> + +<p>The Temperance Lyceum, composed of sixty-seven +young people, often attracting many more to their +lively debates and entertainments, on Tuesday evening +of each week, is the most hopeful feature of the winter +of 1875-76. A jail visitation has also been added +to our work during the past winter, from which reports +have been of deep interest.</p> + +<p>And now, as we cast our eyes over the years, we +miss the beloved faces of many who started with us in +this work. The patriarch whose constant presence +and prayers at our meetings were a ceaseless benediction; +the voice, sweetest of all in its pleading tones +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span>for the right, now caught up into the angel choir; the +aged mothers in Israel who led in feeble strains our +earthly petitions, now strong in the life above, and, +with the door scarce closed between us, the man of +God, who strengthened us by every good word and +work—“All folded their pale hands so meekly,” +“Spake with us on earth no more.”</p> + +<p>And our work—what shall we say of that? To the +superficial view the result is humiliatingly meagre. +Broken promises lie scattered along the past, thick as +dead leaves in autumn; friends grown cold and faithless, +enemies defiant and triumphant.</p> + +<p>But to the vision opened by faith a fairer view is revealed. +In that unseen realm, where every true +prayer here, sparkles with its own divine radiance, and +every struggle for God and humanity is wrought into +beauteous form and color; there may we see, undimmed +by the mists of earth, the glorious fabric we +have helped to weave.</p> + +<p>Let us then be up and doing, and by all the experience +of the past two years—richest of our lives—and +by the memory of our cherished dead, renew our vows +and clasp hands again for the work, as long as a +brother man lies in the sepulchre of drunken degradation, +and we have power from God to work.</p> + + +<h3 id="ATHENS_OHIO"> + ATHENS, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Miss Helen Walker for the +following facts: The temperance wave touched our +place on the evening of February 4th, when in a little +company of Christians, a letter from McArthur was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>read, speaking of the work there, and urging the +women of Athens to attempt a similar one here.</p> + +<p>A prayer-meeting was appointed for eight o’clock +the following morning, to which came a number of +earnest women, and a few men ready to encourage +them. Women came who knew what it was to see +loved ones cast away strength, and talents, and all +fear of God, and lie down in a drunkard’s grave; and +women came, who in secret, with tears, had been crying: +“How long, O Lord?”</p> + +<p>Since the commencement of this work, an aged +mother in Israel has often remarked: “No one knows +how the evil of intemperance has burdened my heart +during the past winter. Though not suffering from it +in my own family, yet to see so many young men +yielding to its influence made one tremble for the future +of our country. Oh! how many nights I have +besought God to stay this evil. There were times +when I could pray for nothing else.”</p> + +<p>No doubt other Christians in our land had this subject +pressed home to their hearts in the same way, +and the foundations of this wide-spread temperance +revival lies in such prayers.</p> + +<p>Well, the women who met on that morning of +February 5th, 1874, organized their meeting, chose +President, Vice-President, and Secretary, drew up +pledges, and talked of the work before them. But +beyond all that they cried to the Lord their God, and +set themselves to walk carefully before Him, and seek +His guidance. Other prayer-meetings followed until +the day fixed upon for going forth to the saloons. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span>Ah! then there was sinking of heart, and shrinking +and trembling.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 10th of February they signified, +by rising to their feet, their willingness to go +forth. How weak they felt, yet how courageous, and +what a <i>strange</i> courage is that which accompanied +trembling limbs and tear-bedimmed eyes. Then was +illustrated Paul’s paradox, “When I am weak, then am +I strong.” But with some the shrinking so prevailed +over faith, that they went not up to the battle in the +beginning. With slow steps and prayerful hearts +they left the church, after joining in the solemn hymn:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“A charge to keep I have,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">A God to glorify.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>They walked under a heavy burden that morning, but +trusting in the Lord, they went forth feeling in their +souls, that “He had sounded forth the trumpet which +should never call retreat.”</p> + +<p>Three saloons were visited, but no signatures obtained, +but an unseen Leader strengthened their +hearts. One of the number said, “When I first opened +my lips to pray, my heart grew light, and never before +did I experience such a sacred nearness to God.”</p> + +<p>In the afternoon the band increased in numbers, +and they visited five places, still no signatures. The +following day, February 11th, five saloons in the edge +of town were visited, and one signature obtained on +the dealers’ pledge; at the end of the week three +druggists and two dealers had signed the pledges +presented to them; a third dealer had given his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>promise not to sell, and a fourth had closed his saloon. +These two names were afterwards placed upon the +pledge.</p> + +<p>During the next week prayer-meetings were held +in four different saloons, which also had been visited +the previous week. Two saloons closed this week, +one saloonist putting his name on the pledge. On +Friday, February 27th, one dealer signed the dealers’ +pledge, and the personal pledge for one year. The +following Monday, March 2d, still <i>another</i> dealer +signed. No name was obtained from <i>this</i> time until +three weeks had elapsed, but on the afternoon of +March 25th the last druggist signed the pledge, and +our work seemed drawing to a close. But much yet +remained to be done to give permanence to what had +been already accomplished, and to crown the work +with complete success.</p> + +<p>But still they keep praying for those who had +agreed not to sell or drink intoxicating liquors. They +were often remembered in prayer by name, that God +would keep them faithful to their pledges.</p> + +<p>One day when the workers were gathered in a +place which seemed strange and unfamiliar, one of our +number spoke In these words: “Ever since I engaged +in this work I have seemed to see before me my +Saviour hanging on the cross. I see Him with His +bowed head, suffering, dying for me, and I want you +all, with me, to think of this when our work seems +heavy to us, and the way grows weary. He has done +so much for us, let us do somewhat for Him.” After +that sweet appeal their hearts burned within them, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>and did they not draw nearer to the dear cross? At +other times, when the flesh was weary, and faith +drooped, how a few words from the Bible would cheer +them! “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from +whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the +Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord shall +preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this +time forth even forever more.”</p> + +<p>Time would fail to recall the many incidents and +memories connected with this work. We have been +more than repaid for all our weariness and anxiety, by +our sweet Christian communion with each other, and +with Jesus, and by seeing this cause, which is of the +Lord, prospering, and we pray that he will still carry it +on to a sure completion.</p> + +<p>Laura Ballard adds the following:</p> + +<p>The Crusade work in our town was characterized +by great earnestness and spirituality; and those of us +who were engaged in it will never cease to thank the +Lord for the part we were permitted to take in it. +The sin of intemperance is very far from being done +away with in our town; but when some sneeringly tell +us, “the woman’s work did no good, things are worse +than before,” we can only say, we don’t understand +just how, and why it is; but we <i>know</i> that, that work +was of the Lord, and we were called to it, and the +Lord never makes mistakes.</p> + +<p>A temperance prayer-meeting has been kept up +ever since that time, and is now well attended. We +meet during the warm weather at eight <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span>, on Friday +morning. It is cheering to see twelve or fourteen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>mothers and housekeepers lay aside their morning +work for an hour of earnest pleading with the Lord +for a blessing on those who never pray for themselves.</p> + + +<h3 id="COLUMBUS_OHIO"> + COLUMBUS, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The gospel wave of temperance had cleared many +of the villages of Ohio of rum, before the larger +towns engaged in the movement. The work in the +cities was undertaken with many misgivings. The +saloons were so numerous, and the foreign population +so large, and because of appetite, or interest so identified +with the liquor business, that many worthy +Christian people advised against saloon visitation. A +mob and bloodshed might be the result.</p> + +<p>But in Columbus, Ohio, the women met daily to +counsel with each other, and to pray. And on the 3d +of March, while at prayer, in the First Presbyterian +Church, the baptism of the Holy Spirit came down +upon them, and fifty women, consecrated to God and +His work, rose from their knees and marched forth +from the church to the saloons. Not, however, till +they set the great bell, hanging in the steeple, to +ringing.</p> + +<p>The tolling of the bell attracted the attention of the +people, and the news that the women had begun a +Crusade against rum, spread like a flash, and in a few +moments vast crowds of people were following them.</p> + +<p>After visiting the principal hotels and saloons, they +returned to the church, and a rousing prayer-meeting +followed. Many who had not been accustomed to +hear the gospel, were there to listen to the songs and +prayers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span></p> + +<p>The next day the number of Crusaders had increased +to three hundred, and there was great enthusiasm +among the better class of people. As the women +slowly filed out of the Presbyterian Church, many of +the church-bells were rung. Thousands of people +lined the streets, and many a “<i>God bless you</i>” followed +them. But the German beer-dealers were very angry, +and were determined to break the matter up, or turn +it to ridicule, if possible.</p> + +<p>One saloon-keeper had provided a brass band, and +when the ladies appeared before his saloon, the band +struck up, “Shoo, fly, don’t bother me,” and many of +the drunken roughs joined, with inharmonious voices. +But the ladies, not the least disconcerted, sang one of +their sweet gospel songs; and many a tear was +brushed away from manly cheeks, as amid the jargon +they lifted their gentle voices to God in supplication +for these wretched lost ones, who gloried in their +shame. The band, however, changed to “Home, +sweet home,” and they were followed by laughter and +jeers, as they moved away.</p> + +<p>The saloon-keepers rallied their forces. Their +wretched victims, crawled out of their dens, to join in +the hooting and howling with which they greeted the +purest and best women of the city, and mock prayer-meetings +were held, after which beer was freely dispensed, +without pay. It was evident that Satan’s kingdom +was stirred, and a strong stand would be made +against the Crusaders.</p> + +<p>Passing through Columbus, about this time, I caught +a little of the spirit of the movement, and heard many +interesting facts.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span></p> + +<p>A Boston gentleman, who boarded the train at +Columbus, but who looked back wistfully as we moved +out of the city, told me that he went there prejudiced +against the whole movement. He could not reconcile +it with his ideas of social propriety, or womanly delicacy. +But curiosity led him to their meetings, and he had +followed them, day after day, through the streets, till +all his prejudices were gone. It had given him a new +view of Christianity, as an aggressive power against +sin. He never had been so impressed with gospel +truth in all his life, as in these meetings held in the +streets and saloons. The solemnity of the judgment +day rested down upon the masses of the people: +others acted as if possessed with devils.</p> + +<p>It was an awfully solemn sight, to see arrayed on +the one side, the best and truest Christian women of +the city, with earnest, solemn faces bending in prayer, +and appealing in gentle, eloquent words to God, in +behalf of those who reviled them, and who were ruining +their homes and their city; while, on the other +side, men of avarice leered at them from behind their +counters, and the bleared and bloated victims of rum, +with the leprosy of sin written all over their faces, +mocked at the truths which alone could save them +from a drunkard’s grave and a drunkard’s hell.</p> + +<p>“With all my prejudices against women speaking +and praying,” said he, “it didn’t take me long to determine +which side I would take. I have stayed a week +here, since getting through with business, to enjoy the +Crusade, and marvel at the wonderful works of God. +<i>Thank God for the Crusade!</i>” he added, reverently.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span></p> + +<p>A German, who had listened with unconcealed interest, +now broke in upon the conversation.</p> + +<p>“You b’lieves in dem Crusaders? I dinks dem +vimins has besser be at home mit der chil’ren. I has +von goot frien’ in Columbus, and dese vimins spile +hees pisness entirely already. Mine frien’ is von nice +man, has much riches already, and von fine house and +carriage, and everyding so nice. But dese vimins +come so much singin’ and brayin’, and so much foolishness, +that he loses much money already, and dey +most set him crazy mit der brayin’.”</p> + +<p>“What business is your friend in?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“He keeps von nice lager peer saloon.”</p> + +<p>“How is it that he loses money? The women don’t +take it.”</p> + +<p>“He give away so much peer already to get the +peoples to come dere and drink, so that the vimins will +be ’fraid, and go way purty soon.”</p> + +<p>“The women don’t want him to give away his +beer.”</p> + +<p>“Well, dey rob him; dey trive the people from der +schop.”</p> + +<p>“How many horses and drays were sold, and how +many women and children did he rob, that he might +buy a carriage?”</p> + +<p>He took the hint immediately, and spoke up with +some spirit—</p> + +<p>“Dat is dere pisness. He dakes gare of hees own +wife and chil’ren.”</p> + +<p>“And these women are taking care of their business +and their families, by breaking up his trade.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span></p> + +<p>“Dis is von strange countre—I never vonce see +vimins do zat in Schermany. Zis is no free countre +any more. Good-day, madame, I goes into de schmoking-car.”</p> + +<p>It was very evident that the mass of ladies and gentlemen +near us were in sympathy with the Crusaders, +from the undisguised pleasure they took in the hasty +withdrawal of the knight of the beer mug. I saw his +face no more.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of March two or three hundred of the +women of Columbus, marched in a procession to the +State Capitol, and held a meeting in the rotunda.</p> + +<p>The members of both houses left their seats, and +stood reverently, with uncovered heads, during this +meeting. The women were preparing for a struggle +that they foresaw would come, and they went to their +work boldly. A bill was introduced in the legislature +to protect the sale of ale and beer.</p> + +<p>The women met it with counter-petitions, and mass-meetings. +Delegations came from all the neighboring +towns, and the capitol building was crowded during +every session with the friends and enemies of temperance. +It was a hand-to-hand fight with the rum power, +and the women gained the victory.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of April they had the satisfaction, after +the midnight hour, of seeing the legislature adjourn +without doing anything in the interest of rum.</p> + +<p>Columbus contains a large foreign element, and the +work was, therefore, the more difficult and dangerous: +the men hooted, blasphemed, and even spit upon the +kneeling women. While the women were at prayer, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>before a saloon, one day, a German shouldered a keg +of beer, and marched through the prayer-circle, and +the men and boys set up an unearthly shouting and +screaming. But good results followed: several saloons +closed out business, and liquors of all kinds were banished +from the Union Depot; many men reformed, and +many citizens signed the pledge, among them James +G. Bull, mayor of the city. At a State dinner, soon +after, where every luxury was provided, wine was banished; +such was the advance made in public sentiment. +A State dinner without wine would not have +been thought possible before the Crusade. And so +the women work on, looking for the time when complete +victory shall crown their efforts.</p> + + +<h3 id="VAN_WERT_OHIO"> + VAN WERT, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The work began about the 10th of March, 1874.</p> + +<p>The following officers were chosen: President, +Mother Webster; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Elcock, Mrs. +Hines, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. Sevinford, Mrs. Richey; +Secretary, Mrs. M. J. McFadden; Executive Committee, +Mrs. M. M. Minger, Mrs. M. Harnly.</p> + +<p>The Spirit of the Lord seemed to move upon the +hearts of the women. A meeting was called to be +held at the M. E. Church. I doubt whether any one +had any definite plan in view.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dr. Hines (one of the faithful workers), in +relating her experience of those days, says: “I heard +of the meeting, felt quite undecided about going; but +I felt a restlessness, and could not be satisfied to stay +at home. I took my seat in the back part of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span>church, thinking I would not say a word. Very soon +some one called out, ‘There is Mrs. Hines: let us +hear what she thinks of this movement;’ and then, +without a moment’s hesitation, I said, ‘I thought the +work would be a success, that God was about to answer +the prayers of those crushed women and children, +who had felt the power of the demon drink so +long, through those that should have been their protectors; +and from that day to this the work of the +Crusade has been dear to my heart.’ Another says:</p> + +<p>“As for myself, I remember well when I first heard +the work talked off. I thought if it ever came here, I +would do all that I could, <i>quietly</i>, so that it would not +be noticed; but firmly determined in my own mind +that I never would go into a saloon to pray, nor go +out upon the streets, under any circumstances, or +appear in public, but would be a silent worker. But +nothing could make me believe that the Crusade was +not the direct power of God upon the hearts of His +children. The work was inaugurated at that first +meeting I spoke of, and almost before I had time +to think, I was addressing an audience of hundreds. +God gave me power, and for a year, with others, I +went to different places in the country helping to defeat +<i>license</i>. Ohio gained this victory through the +Crusade.</p> + +<p>“Although of a very delicate constitution, I, with my +sisters, went through mud and slush, standing or +kneeling in the snow, going to meetings night after +night, visiting saloons in the daytime, and through it +all, and all the opposition, God preserved us by His +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>mighty power, and to His name be all the glory. After +a while the number thinned, until but the faithful few +remained. Our prayer-meetings have been kept up +until the commencement of the reformed men’s movement +this spring.</p> + +<p>“Our aged President, Mother Webster, was always +a power in the Crusade, faithful to the last.</p> + +<p>“During the first week of the work in Van Wert, +one saloon-keeper, a German, who had always been +accustomed to drink beer, refused the ladies admittance, +while his wife made sport, and laughed mockingly +at the ladies. But one morning, when the band +stopped at his door, he admitted them, and told the +ladies he had sold his last drop. Then there was +such a joyful hand-shaking, and a prayer-meeting of +thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>“Another German, who was poor and had a family +of interesting children, was very much opposed to the +ladies’ visits. For some time they were refused admittance, +and prayers were offered in German and +English. About a week afterward, he disposed of his +liquors, put out his white flag, and started to meet the +ladies, telling them he had sold his last drop of liquor. +It was a sacrifice, for he was dependent upon his daily +labor for the support of his family.” We are indebted +to Mrs. M. Harnly and Mrs. Elcock for the above +facts.</p> + +<p>The contest, with various successes, continued until +the 6th of March, when a decided victory was gained +at the municipal election. The ladies worked and +prayed, and many of the temperance men were energetic +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>and persistent. The issue was squarely made, +“whiskey or no whiskey.” The temperance candidates +won a decided victory. When the result of the election +became known, the bells rang out a joyous peal, +and the new mayor-elect, Mr. T. S. Gilliland, rolled out +a barrel of apples that were in his office as a temperance +treat. A prohibitory ordinance was passed, and +the saloons were closed.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_234" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_234.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MRS. SARAH KNOWLES BOLTON,</p> + <p>First Assistant Corresponding Secretary Woman’s + National Christian Temperance Union.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h3 id="CINCINNATI_OHIO"> + CINCINNATI, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>There was much prayerful interest in Cincinnati. +Many of the best women of the church, bending low +at the dear Christ’s feet, were asking: “What wilt thou +have me to do?”</p> + +<p>The difficulties in the way seemed more formidable +for saloon work there than at any point in the State, or +perhaps in the country. But these consecrated women +were ready to follow the Master wherever He led.</p> + +<p>Cincinnati was a great manufacturing centre. The +annual trade in spirituous and malt liquors amounted +to over $33,000,000, and there was immense capital +invested in massive buildings and machinery.</p> + +<p>One-third of the population of the city were Germans, +accustomed to beer-drinking, which tended to +make the traffic respectable.</p> + +<p>Any interference with the trade was regarded as an +attack upon their personal liberties. Many of them +were ignorant bigots or infidels, who were ready, on any +pretext, to cry out against the Bible and Puritanism, +and many of them belonged to the criminal classes, as +the police records will show.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span></p> + +<p>To meet this class in the saloons and beer-gardens, +when the city council was made up largely of men interested +in the traffic, and the mayor of the city was +ready to do the bidding of the liquor oligarchy, was a +fearful risk. But Christ led the way and gave the +courage.</p> + +<p>The first saloon visited was a fashionable resort, +called the “Custom House,” next door to the Merchants’ +Exchange. The house was well patronized by +first-class drinkers.</p> + +<p>The time chosen was the lunch hour, when many of +this class were lingering over their cups.</p> + +<p>The women, unheralded, were in the saloon before +any of them had time to escape. In a moment an immense +crowd was surging about the door, and escape +was impossible. A prayer-meeting was held, which +lasted about half an hour.</p> + +<p>The proprietor, affecting indifference, invited them +to “come again,” an invitation which they accepted; +but when they visited that saloon again it was like “a +banquet hall deserted:” the merchants and fashionable +drinkers were careful not to be caught there again.</p> + +<p>The trade began to be interfered with, which aroused +bitter opposition, and the saloons were closed against +them.</p> + +<p>The Esplanade, a large, paved square in the heart +of the business part of the city, and the market-places, +became praying-stations, and many a season of prayer +was held on the curbstones opposite saloons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="A_CRUSADE_DOG"> + A CRUSADE DOG +</h3> + +<p>A lady in one of the bands had a large Newfoundland +dog, that always accompanied her.</p> + +<p>He seemed to know their business. He would walk +before them with stately mien, till he came to a saloon, +and then stop and turn around, as much as to say: +“Here is work for you.” He would walk back and +forth before the saloon while they sang; but as soon as +they knelt to pray he would go and set himself down +on his haunches beside the woman who lead in prayer, +no matter if she were a stranger, and reverently maintain +his position till the prayer was ended. Then he +would start briskly off to look for another saloon.</p> + +<p>It is said that he showed a decided preference for +only <i>one</i> prayer at each saloon. Perhaps he knew that +there were nearly three thousand in that great city, and +feared that they would not make the rounds, unless he +hurried them.</p> + +<p>A German saloon-keeper tried to set his dog on one +of the bands, (not this one,) but the poor brute had +more sense, and politeness, and humanity, than his +master, and wouldn’t even bark, but hung his head in +shame.</p> + +<p>One day the crowd about the Esplanade was very +large and threatening. Every foot of space was occupied, +and all the streets approaching it were filled. +But the ladies had advertised a meeting there, and +they went forth, in the name of Christ, to face the howling +mob.</p> + +<p>They marched right on, two and two, as though no +crowd menaced them. Many temperance men, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>order-loving citizens, were there mingling with the +crowd, determined to prevent, if possible, a riot. Mrs. +Leavitt led the band. The crowd parted as they +approached. A scissors-grinder had been hired by +the rum party, for twenty-five dollars, to push his cart +through the crowd, ringing his bells. He undertook +the job, but his cart was broken into a thousand pieces, +and he was arrested and marched off to jail, and subsequently +fined fifty dollars. So his enterprise did +not pay. Mrs. Leavitt gave the following graphic +account of the beginning of the <i>Crusade</i>, at one +of the mass-meetings held in connection with the +annual meeting of the National Union at Newark, +which was reported by Miss M. E. Winslow for <i>The +Morning</i>, from which we copy:</p> + +<p>“People at the East have little idea of what the +Crusade really was. One of our local papers described +its opening in these terms: ‘Hell on earth! The +devil woke up! The women on their knees!’ I +always knew that liquor was an awful thing, but I felt +no responsibility about it, and when I first heard of the +Crusading in Hillsboro’ and Washington Court-House, +I felt in my heart, though I did not say so, that it was +a prostitution of prayer. But there came to <i>that city +of 3,000 saloons</i>, (open twenty-four hours of every day, +and seven days of every week, with an average of +15,000 men pouring out death by the glass all the time,) +a call for the women to meet and consider the subject +in a certain church. I went to my room and asked +the Lord what I should do. It was a short prayer, for +in ten minutes I was at the corner with my hat on, on +my way.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span></p> + +<p>“The church was fuller than I had ever known it, +women, old and young, rich and poor, praying and +sobbing; and such prayers I had never heard. In an +hour or two about eighty of us started—I hardly know +how we did it—for one of the most fashionable saloons. +The wealth represented by those eighty women being +over $3,000,000. We walked two by two; some men +blessed us as we passed, and some cursed. We went +into the ‘sample-room,’ and asked permission for a +moment of prayer, which was granted. You can +imagine the praying we did, as we agonized that Jesus +Christ would come and convert that rum-seller. Eight +thousand people had gathered outside in a few +moments. I had never opened my mouth to pray in +public before, but God opened it now. We were there +thirty or forty minutes, and then went out, where men +pointed a finger of scorn at us, and every one thought +we would be crushed. But we never felt so near +heaven as we did then. We walked homeward, singing, +‘There is a Fountain filled with blood.’ Every +day after that we met at nine o’clock, and went out in +bands every hour, visiting different saloons, hundreds +following us.</p> + +<p>“One day I led a band of eighty, or a hundred to the +Esplanade. The authorities had said this must be put +down, and the mayor had privately given orders to +the police to ‘be scarce where the women were.’ +We did not know that; and after visiting fourteen +saloons, we marched towards the Esplanade, where we +found a dense mass of several thousand men awaiting +us. I heard a man say, ‘<span class="smcap">Jack, a woman’s foot shan’t +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>touch the Esplanade to-day</span>!’ And I said, ‘Lord, +give us the Esplanade.’ One great brutal-looking +fellow stood in my way, debauched and degraded, yet +with a look which told there was a heart somewhere. +I took it for granted this was Jack. Bless God for +woman’s intuition. I walked right up to him and said, +‘Jack!’ He started as if he wondered how I knew +his name. ‘Jack, we are a band of broken-hearted +mothers and wives, weeping and praying because you +are all going to hell as fast as you can go. We want +to pray here, right by this fountain, and I want you to +make way for us and keep the men still till we get +through our service.’</p> + +<p>“First he looked like thunder; then he looked foolish; +then I smiled sweetly at him (always smile at a +man if you want him to do what he don’t want to), +and he said, with a fearful oath, ‘I’ll do it. Make +way for the Crusaders!’ and as he forced his great, +brawny shoulders through the crowd, many voices +shouted,</p> + +<p class="center"> +‘GOD BLESS THE CRUSADERS!’ +</p> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">I never asked the Lord for a policeman again. I’d +rather have Jack. At last we stood close to that +central fountain, which is the glory of Cincinnati, and +sang, ‘<span class="smcap">Jesus</span> the water of life will give,’ and I think +there must have been joy among the angels of God +at the chorus that rung through the square. Then +we sang ‘Rock of Ages,’ and then I talked to the +crowd. I forgot all about the liquor-saloons, and +thought only of Jesus Christ upon the cross, I then +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>called upon all who wanted to be saved and have us +pray for them to kneel down, and 2,000 men, mostly +reeking with the fumes of rum and tobacco, knelt +there on the pavement seeking Christ, with tears and +sobs.</p> + +<p>“The next day our church was so full that we were +obliged to have some place to hold an overflow meeting, +and we telegraphed to Rev. Mr. Beecher (nephew +of Henry Ward Beecher), that we must have his +church in ten minutes. ‘Ten minutes, do you say? +You shall have it in five,’ was the answer, and in ten +minutes it was packed to overflowing; and afterward +we held two daily meetings.”</p> + +<p>One of the regular meeting-places of the praying bands +of Cincinnati was a large, open market-house. +Thousands gathered there daily. The place and all +the avenues leading to it were usually well filled. +But one day, as the band of women approached, they +found an unusually vile and belligerent crowd. Butchers +fresh from their stalls, with their sleeves rolled +up, and their bloody aprons on, and their butcher +knives in their hands; villanous-looking men with +ugly pistols protruding from their pockets; and women +debased by strong drink, uttering curses, were all +huddled together, while just across the street a cannon +had been placed so as to sweep the market-house if +fired.</p> + +<p>Altogether, the circumstances were anything but +encouraging. But the women marched right on to +their usual meeting-place in the centre of the open +space and began to sing:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“There is a fountain filled with blood,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And sinners plunged beneath that flood</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Lose all their guilty stains.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The crowd was somewhat hushed into respectful +silence by the singing. Mrs. Leavitt, who led the +band that day, made the opening prayer. As they +knelt on the paving stones she found herself facing the +cannon, with a possibility of its being fired.</p> + +<p>The crowd, that seemed to expect such an event, +surged to either side so as to be well out of the way. +But her consecration to God covered all that, and she +remembers saying to herself: “If God wants to take +me, as He did Elijah, to heaven in a chariot of fire, I +would just as soon go that way as any other.” And +she thought no more about the cannon or the vile +men with knives and pistols, but prayed straight up to +God for the perishing multitudes about her. And +there came down upon the people such mighty awakening +power, that the most desperate and unbelieving +bowed their heads, and tears streamed down many a +sin-scarred face.</p> + +<p>And when the meeting was over, and they invited +the people to come with them to the house of God, +many followed them to the church, and hundreds remained +to pray.</p> + +<p>The placing of the cannon was a trick to frighten +the women, but it did not succeed; and as they took +no notice of it, the experiment was never repeated. +The falling off in the liquor traffic in Cincinnati was +very great; the trade in the leading houses in that +business losing tens of thousands of dollars.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span></p> + +<p>During the first six months of the Crusade, in the +United States Revenue District in which Cincinnati is +situated, the falling off In the revenue on liquor alone +was about $3,000,000. And such was the interest, +that one day the Merchants’ Exchange suspended, at +least for a time, their business, to follow a few women +who modestly and quietly sang and prayed on the +Esplanade, or before the large saloons near by.</p> + +<p>At first, the manufacturers and dealers laughed at +the attempt of the women to call public attention to +the traffic. But when they saw that this was effectually +done, and that they were losing by thousands, they +were wild with rage.</p> + +<p>I overheard a conversation between two Cincinnati +liquor-dealers at the time.</p> + +<p>They were seated just behind me in a railroad car, +so I could but choose to hear; and the curses they +heaped upon Christian women were loud and deep; +almost every word was emphasized with an oath.</p> + +<p>“We must do something to stop this horrid thing, +or we are ruined,” said one.</p> + +<p>“The press has played the mischief with us,” exclaimed +the other, “by publishing their movements. +We must buy up the press. If they don’t stop writing +about it, we must withdraw all our advertisements. +Let this be a united thing with us, and they will soon +have to look after their own bread and butter. These +women have cut down my sales more than $20,000 +this spring.”</p> + +<p>“The mayor and city council ought to do something +before the city is ruined. They are a pack of fools +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>to let a few praying women ruin our business in this +way.”</p> + +<p>And then they talked and planned earnestly. The +press was to be dealt with, the mayor brought to issue +a proclamation against the women, forbidding their +singing and praying on the streets, etc.</p> + +<p>The mayor and city council were quite willing to +serve the rum cause, as results show.</p> + +<p>The ladies soon after were informed that they could +no longer hold meetings in the streets, but must confine +themselves to the public squares and market-places, +unless a saloon-keeper chose to open his doors +to them.</p> + +<p>They obeyed orders, and went on with their work +in the places designated. But one day, while one of +the bands was quietly walking up the street, they were +met and surrounded by a mob of the vilest men and +women in the city. They were, no doubt, sent out by +the dealers to intimidate the women, and received their +reward in strong drink on their return.</p> + +<p>The mayor also, accompanied by his private secretary, +came to them and earnestly appealed to the ladies +to quit their work and go home.</p> + +<p>“I’ll not be responsible for your safety unless you +do. For God’s sake, ladies, desist.”</p> + +<p>The ladies in turn appealed to him to disperse the +mob. They were quiet, unoffending citizens, walking +the streets, which was their right; and as for their +lives, they relied on God, not on him. All the while +this parley was going on, the vile drunken mob was +hooting and howling.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span></p> + +<p>No attempt was made to disperse them. But the +mayor was exceedingly annoyed with the violence and +obscenity of a German woman near him, and turning +upon her he commanded silence. “Shame! shame! +such indecency.” But the words were scarcely out of +his mouth till she began cursing him, and the mob +uttering a horrid yell rushed toward him. He raised +his hand, waving them back; but they came on like a +herd of wild cattle, pushing each other forward, whirling +him like a top from the sidewalk into the gutter. +His secretary ran like a frightened deer, and the +mayor, as soon as he could gather up himself and find +his hat, followed suit. They remembered Lot’s wife, +and never looked behind them. Some of the women +of the band had been knocked down; but they soon +fell into line, and now that the mob was behind them, +marched down into the heart of the city, singing,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Nearer, my God, to Thee,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Nearer to Thee,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Even though it be a cross,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">That raiseth me.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The insults offered to the ladies aroused a feeling +of indignation, and an address was prepared, and a +committee of gentlemen appointed to present it to the +mayor. The reading of the paper brought on a discussion, +in which the mayor said it would take all the +police force within twenty-four square miles of the city +to protect the ladies.</p> + +<p>Dr. Payne—“Do we understand you to say that +you are powerless in the hands of a mob?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p> + +<p>Mayor Johnson—“It would appear so from the +practical experience of yesterday afternoon.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Payne—“Then, sir, it is high time that the pulpit +began to thunder, and that all good men should arise, +and see that men are elected who will enforce the +law.”</p> + +<p>The committee then entered upon a defence of +the rights of women to go upon the streets as they +had been doing, notwithstanding the riotous crowds +which surrounded them, and the disorders consequent +thereon, which point the mayor met by saying, that he +believed with Lincoln, that the blow should be aimed +at the cause.</p> + +<p>Dr. Payne—“Yes, but the cause is the liquor traffic, +not these women.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Taylor—“We only claim their rights, and if +women cannot be protected by law, the result will be +that neither can we, and the blow that strikes them, +strikes us. If they be prosecuted for praying, so may +I. The same mob spirit that attacked women yesterday, +may attack citizens. If we cannot obtain protection, +by addressing you, where shall we go?”</p> + +<p>In the course of the conversation, the mayor said, +that the whole Board of Police Commissioners were +opposed to the women.</p> + +<p>Immediately following this interview the mayor +issued a proclamation, addressed: <i>To the ladies composing +the Temperance League</i>; forbidding them to hold +meetings on the streets, basing this action on an old +sidewalk ordinance that had been a dead letter for +years.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p> + +<p>I quote again from Mrs. Leavitt’s speech.</p> + +<p>“By this time there was such a falling off in the +liquor trade that the mayor and common council, +twenty-three of whose members were in the liquor +trade, said the Crusade must be stopped; so they +raked up an old sidewalk ordinance which said that no +group of more than three should occupy the sidewalk +at any one place and time. But we knew nothing of +it, and we went to a saloon where we were denied +admittance, so we knelt outside. The pavement was +eighteen feet wide, of which we occupied about thirty +inches. I was leader that day, and gave out, ‘Rock +of Ages, cleft for me,’ when a policeman laid his hand +on my shoulder, and said, ‘<i>Mrs. Leavitt, you are under +arrest!</i>’ ‘All right,’ said I. ‘Let me hide myself in +Thee.’ And then we prayed for that policeman, and +for the others, and for the crowd. We tried the +patience of that policeman a little, for our service +lasted sixty minutes. Some shouted, some cried, but +all were happy; and then we rose and walked in an +orderly manner, two by two, about two miles, to the +station-house. As soon as we got there we kneeled +down and prayed again, and then they asked our +names, nativity, and ages. They took mine first, and +while they were taking the others, I thought may be +the Lord had something for me to do there; so I went +round to the cells and talked with the inmates. In +one I found a boy of eighteen, who said, ‘I wouldn’t +have my mother know I am here for all the world. I +came in under an assumed name. Did you?’ So I +visited every cell, and pointed every prisoner to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>Christ. I tried to guess a conundrum (I never +guessed one in my life), and I will give it to you. +‘How is it that every one I spoke to was put in for +drunkenness, and we forty-three women were brought +there for trying to put it down?’ We expected to be +sent to the work-house for thirty days; so presently +the husband of one of our number came in, and asked +in the most touching tones, ‘<i>What shall I do with the +baby?</i>’ ‘Go home and feed him,’ said his wife, ‘I +wouldn’t be got off for twenty babies.’ Then the +mayor came in. You have heard of the man who +drew the elephant in a lottery, and then didn’t +know what to do with it. The mayor looked just +like that man. At last, when we had stayed two +hours, the common council excused us till Monday +on parole. So we marched back to the church, and +gave our report, and it seemed as though the roof +would come off with the ring of the doxology that followed.</p> + +<p>“On Monday morning we went to the police court, +and while they were trying the prisoners for drunkenness, +we who were arrested for trying to stop them from +drinking went round, preached Christ, and got twenty +signatures to our pledge. When our turn came they +did not know what to do with us. We had put on all +our best things, and though I say it, were <span class="allsmcap">FORTY-THREE +OF THE PRETTIEST-LOOKING WOMEN YOU EVER SAW</span>, and +all just as happy as could be. Six of us were ministers’ +wives, three wives of rich bankers, and all the +rest of wealthy citizens. At last they told us we had +been naughty, but they would forgive us this time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>if we wouldn’t do so any more. We went back to the +church, and a few of us went out crusading.</p> + +<p>“But we didn’t want to break the law, and just at +this time the Crusade began to change its form from +active crusading into steady, organized work; so we +only went out in parties of three or four, and we have +been doing this ever since.”</p> + +<p>The city officers and the police force were in the interests +of the liquor traffic, and the arrest of the ladies +was a part of a well-concerted plan to break down the +temperance work.</p> + +<p>We must not omit to give the names of the forty-three +women arrested and thrust into the common jail:</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rev. S. K. Leavitt, Mrs. Rev. W. I. Fee, Mrs. +Rev. C. H. Taylor, Mrs. D. H. Baldwin, Mrs. Charles +Folger, Sarah Shipley, Mary Whitaker, Mrs. May A. +French, Mrs. Olive Roseboom, Mrs. Lottie Oldrieve, +Mrs. Lizzie R. Harvey, Mrs. A. F. Whiteman, Miss +Ellen King, Mrs. S. E. Massey, Miss Kate M. Warden, +Miss Helen Russell, Miss Susan Sutton, Miss +Annie Nunn, Mrs. J. R. Squire, Mrs. Mary J. Montford, +Mrs. Ellen Hewson, Mrs. Whitredge, Mrs. Rev. +C. H. Payne, Mrs. Rev. A. McHugh, Mrs. Dr. Carter, +Mrs. S. J. H. Elstner, Mary White, Mrs. Kate Traugh, +Mrs. Maria Stevens, Mrs. A. V. Crum, Mrs. H. Robinson, +Miss Lottie Nunn, Mrs. Lucy M. McKenzie, +Mrs. May Francis, Miss May Talbot, Miss Jennie +Forbes, Miss Mary Scott, Mrs. E. B. Dalton, Miss +Eliza Hughes, Mrs. Frederick Hanbold, Mrs. Mary +Warner, Mrs. E. H. Mance, Mrs. Wealthy Fisk.</p> + +<p>Dr. Fowler, of Chicago, who happened to be in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span>city at the time, and went with them to the jail, at a +mass-meeting said: “Although I do not belong to this +city, I say as an old heathen said, ‘Whatever concerns +mankind, concerns me.’ Not only the immortal forty-three, +but every woman in the land went down into +the streets yesterday, and was scoffed and jeered at +by those who stood in the saloon doors. You are not +alone. All the good people of the land say, ‘You are +fighting our battle,’ and from 10,000 pulpits are going +up prayers for those who have made one bright page +on the records of the police courts. The day may +come when you can sell that page for money, enough +to buy all the saloons in the city.” (Applause.)</p> + +<p>Stirring, eloquent speeches were also made by Dr. +C. H. Payne, Mr. Rowland, Rev. S. K. Leavitt; and +Mrs. Leavitt followed with a solemn, earnest appeal, +that brought nearly all the men and women in the +house to their feet.</p> + +<p>There was a meeting of citizens of the first ward, +and a protest was prepared and sent to the mayor +and city council—a protest, strongly condemning their +action and calling upon them to maintain law and +order.</p> + +<p>Nearly all the pulpits of Cincinnati thundered +against the liquor traffic, a strong public sentiment +was created, and the women have gone steadily on +with their work from that day to this. A large number +of meetings are sustained in various parts of +the city, and at Walnut Hills; tens of thousands have +signed the pledge, and it is no longer respectable to +sell or drink intoxicating liquors in Cincinnati.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p> + +<p>A large hall has been secured for head-quarters, +where meetings are held daily, and their influence is +felt throughout the entire city.</p> + + +<h3 id="WHITE_SHOES_AND_WHITE_DRESSES"> + WHITE SHOES AND WHITE DRESSES. +</h3> + +<p>One morning, during the Crusade, a drunkard’s wife +called on Mrs. Leavitt. She carried a babe in her +arms only six weeks old, and was pale and weak from +sickness and fasting, and this was her pitiful story:</p> + +<p>“My husband is drinking himself to death; he is lost +to all humane feeling; our rent is unpaid, and we are +liable to be put out into the street, and there is no +food in the house for me and the children. He has a +good trade, but his earnings all go into the saloon on +the corner near us; he is becoming more and more +brutal and abusive. We seem to be on the verge of +ruin. How can I, feeble as I am, with a babe in my +arms, earn bread for myself and children?”</p> + +<p>“Why not have your husband converted?” questioned +Mrs. Leavitt, as the drunkard’s wife finished +her sad story.</p> + +<p>“Oh, there is no hope of such a thing. He cares +for nothing but rum.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll come and see him this afternoon.”</p> + +<p>“He’ll insult you.”</p> + +<p>“No matter; my Saviour was insulted, and the servant +is not above his Lord.”</p> + +<p>That very afternoon Mrs. Leavitt called at the little +tenement house. The husband was at work at his +trade in a little back room, and one of the children +was sent to tell him that a lady wished to see him. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span>The child, however, soon returned with the message: +“My pa says he won’t see any one.”</p> + +<p>“You go back and tell your pa,” said Mrs. Leavitt, +in her energetic way, “that a lady wishes to see him +on very important business, and she must see him, if +she has to stay till after supper.”</p> + +<p>She knew there was nothing in the house to eat. +A moment afterward a poor, bloated, besotted wreck +of a man stood before her.</p> + +<p>“What do you want?” he demanded, as he came +shuffling into the room.</p> + +<p>“Please be seated and look at this paper,” she +answered, pointing to a vacant chair at the other end +of the table at which she was sitting, and handing a +printed pledge to him.</p> + +<p>He read it slowly, and then, throwing it down upon +the table, broke out violently:</p> + +<p>“Do you think I’m a fool? I’ll drink when I please, +and let it alone when I please. I’m not going to sign +away my personal liberty.”</p> + +<p>“Do you think you can stop drinking?”</p> + +<p>“Yes: I could if I wanted to.”</p> + +<p>“I think you’re a slave to the rum-shop down on +the corner.”</p> + +<p>“No!”</p> + +<p>“Then you love the saloon-keeper’s daughter better +than you do your own little girl.”</p> + +<p>“No, I don’t, either.”</p> + +<p>“When I came by the saloon-keeper’s house I saw +his little girl coming down the steps, and she had on +white shoes, and a white dress, and a blue sash. Your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span>money helped to buy them. I come here, and your +little girl, more beautiful than she, has on a faded, +ragged dress, and her feet are bare.”</p> + +<p>“That’s so, madam.”</p> + +<p>“And you love the saloon-keeper’s wife better than +you love your own wife.”</p> + +<p>“Never; no, never!”</p> + +<p>“When I came by the saloon-keeper’s house, I saw +his wife come out with the little girl, and she was +dressed in silks and laces, and a carriage awaited her. +Your money helped to buy the silks and laces, and +the horses and the carriage. I come here, and I find +your wife in a faded calico gown, doing her own work: +if she goes anywhere, she must walk.”</p> + +<p>“You speak the truth, madam.”</p> + +<p>“You love the saloon-keeper better than you love +yourself. You say you can keep from drinking if you +choose; but you helped the saloon-keeper to build +himself a fine brick house, and you live in this poor, +tumble-down old house yourself.”</p> + +<p>“I never saw it in that light before.” Then, holding +out his hand that shook like an aspen leaf, he continued: +“You speak the truth, madam—I am a slave. +Do you see that hand? I have a piece of work to finish, +and I must have a mug of beer to steady my nerves, +or I cannot do it; but to-morrow, if you’ll call, I’ll sign +the pledge.”</p> + +<p>“That’s a temptation of the devil; I did not ask you +to sign the pledge. You are a slave, and cannot keep +it. But I do want to tell you this: <i>There is One who +can break your chains and set you free.</i>”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span></p> + +<p>“I want to be free.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Christ can set you free, if you’ll submit to +Him, and let Him break the chains of sin and appetite +that binds you.”</p> + +<p>“It’s been many a long year since I prayed.”</p> + +<p>“No matter; the sooner you begin the better for +you.”</p> + +<p>He threw himself at once on his knees, and while +Mrs. Leavitt prayed she heard him sobbing out the cry +of his soul to God.</p> + +<p>The wife followed Mrs. Leavitt in an earnest prayer. +The words were simple and broken with sobs, but +somehow they went straight up from her crushed heart +to God, and the poor man began to cry in earnest for +mercy.</p> + +<p>“O God! break these chains that are burning into +my soul! Pity me, and pity my wife and children, and +break the chains that are dragging me down to hell. +O God! be merciful to me, a sinner.” And thus out +of the depths he cried to God, and He heard him and +had compassion upon him, and broke every chain and +lifted every burden; and he arose a free, redeemed +man.</p> + +<p>When he arose from his knees he said: “Now I will +sign the pledge, and keep it.” And he did. A family +altar was built, the comforts of life were soon secured—for +he had a good trade—and two weeks after this +scene, his two little girls came into the Sunday-school, +with <i>white shoes, and white dresses, and blue sashes on</i>, +as a token that his money no longer went into the +saloon-keeper’s till.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span></p> + +<p>But the lesson that should impress us most is, that +this disciple, helped of God, devoted <i>less</i> than two +hours to this service of redeeming a family for time +and for eternity. Go, thou, and do likewise! <i>The +Master is waiting for you</i> in many a desolate home. +Go, speak in His name, and He will be with you, and +help you.</p> + + +<h3 id="WHAT_A_PICTURE_DID"> + WHAT A PICTURE DID. +</h3> + +<p>The heading of <i>The Reform</i>, an illustrated tract +paper, is composed of three pictures. The first represents +a drunkard staggering home to his family. +In his hand he holds a bottle; his wife, with her babe +in her arms and her little boy clinging to her dress, is +shrinking from him. Terror and fear are depicted +upon the countenances of the three.</p> + +<p>The second picture represents the same man, standing +at a table, a woman holding out a pen to him with +one hand, and with the other a paper upon which are +seen the words, “Temperance Pledge.”</p> + +<p>In the third picture we see the same man, well +clothed, walking erect, with a cane in his hand, and +leading a little boy up a flight of steps to a nice house, +in the door of which stands the wife, with beaming +smile upon her face, and hardly able to hold the baby, +who is overjoyed at seeing the father.</p> + +<p>A bundle of these papers was sent to one of the +ladies in Cincinnati, who distributed them in the +market, at the hospital and jail.</p> + +<p>Two months afterwards she was stopped on the +street by a German woman, who told her the following +story:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span></p> + +<p>“You shoost stop von minute vile I tells you vot is +in mine heart. You come von day to mine stall in de +market, you give mine old man a paper, and you gives +me a paper.</p> + +<p>“Ven I goes to mine home, mine children dey cries +for dere dinner. I says, ‘You shoost keep still, and I +vill give you von paper a vomans give me in de +market.’ So dey spreads a paper on de floor, und +dey kicks up dere heels, und dey looks hard at de +pictures. Vile I gets mine dinner, dey visper. Mine +leetle boy he says: ‘Dat is pap mid the bottle! dat +leetle boy vot hides hind his mudder’s dress is me, ven +I’m skeered at pappy, und de baby is Helwig, cause +dat is shoost de vay he hides hind mudder’s ear when +pappy’s drunk.’ Den dey say, ‘Mudder, vat dat +voman do mit de table?’ I says, ‘De temperance +voman vants de man to sign de pledge, and says he +drinks no more beer or whiskey, den his wife and children +be no more feared of him.’</p> + +<p>“Dey looks hard at de picter, den dey vispers and +dey say, ‘Mudder, will pappy look nice like de udder +picter, would he sign de pledge?’</p> + +<p>“And I says, ‘Yes, childrens, your fadder would +look shoost like dat if he goes no more to saloons.’</p> + +<p>“Mine old man den he comes in to his dinner. He +loves his children ven he is sober. My children dey +see he no drunk, so dey runs to him mid de papers, +and dey say, ‘Pappy, that is you mid de bottle, and +dot voman is mudder, and de baby wot hides hind his +mudder’s ear is Helwig. Pappy, vont you go to de +temperance voman’s mit de table, and sign de pledge, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span>and den you will look shoost like dat nice man mit de +cane, and Helwig he will look shoost like dis baby vot +tries to jump out of his mudder’s arms and is so glad +to see his pappy?’ Mine old man he gets so mad, +and he says, ‘I eat no dinner, I hates de temperance, I +hates de temperance,’ and my children dey cry, dey be +so scared. My old man he slams de door, and he +goes off. He comes home to supper and he say de +first ting, ‘I hates de temperance, I hates de temperance,’ +and he no speak to de children, and dey be so +skeered.</p> + +<p>“After supper mine old man he makes de children +go to ped, and he smokes, and he scolds, and he gets +so mad he no goes to de saloon, like he always does +all his life mid me.</p> + +<p>“Ven it vas bed-time mine old man he lay down his +pipe and he says: ‘Old woman, I’s no been good to +you; I gets drunk no more; I goes no more to +saloons; mine heart is sick mit what mine children say. +I loves mine wife, I loves mine children ven I gets no +drunk.’ Den I put mine apron to mine eyes, and I +cries, and mine old man he cries. Den we stand by +de childer’s bed, and mine old man he kiss me, and he +kiss de children, and he says, ‘Mine heart is so sick +all de day mit vat de children says to me.’</p> + +<p>“I tells you I loves dat leetle paper, mine heart is so +glad dat you gives it to me. I folds it up shust so +nice and I puts it mit a handkerchief round, and I puts +it in mine under-drawer in mine bureau mit mine children’s +tings what died.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="CLYDE_OHIO"> + CLYDE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The women worked and prayed faithfully for five +weeks. During the first two weeks, two saloons +closed, one dealer disposing of his liquors, the other +giving them up to the ladies to be emptied into the +street. They were poured into the gutter amid great +rejoicings, and the singing of the doxology.</p> + +<p>While one of the women was pleading with Carroll, +a saloon-keeper, she referred to the fact that her boys +were becoming drunkards. “Oh!” said he, “I do not +think I ever sold your boys any.” “But,” said the +noble woman, with tearful emphasis, “you sell to somebody’s +boys.”</p> + +<p>One Saturday evening, as the ladies approached one +of the most prominent saloons, the proprietor came +out and informed them that they could not hold services +in front of his house; that he would spill his last +drop of blood before they should do it. He had his +back yard and saloon full of help. The ladies immediately +commenced their exercises, and he called +his rabble out to hoot; a pail of cold water was splashed +into the face of the one who was praying. She never +broke a sentence, but said: “O Lord, we are now +baptized for the work.” The effect was good, it was +a most complete victory. All became quiet, and the +saloon-keeper accompanied them to the church, and oh, +such earnest prayers as were offered in the church for +that man. Mass-meetings were held every Wednesday +evening, and the pressure of public sentiment +became so great, that the saloon-keepers closed for an +indefinite time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="CEDARVILLE_OHIO"> + CEDARVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>In 1873, the ever-memorable time, in the history of +the women Crusaders of Ohio, we in Cedarville were +aroused to work by the call from our Father in heaven.</p> + +<p>It seemed as though a few of the sisters here, were +called out for the work, even before the sisters in Hillsboro’. +We had our first meeting announced, and a +speaker engaged, and had of ourselves determined to +organize for work. But by a providence of God we +were kept back to let the sisters at Hillsboro’ and +Washington Court-House commence first.</p> + +<p>January 2d, our first meeting was held, and we were +fully equipped for visiting the saloons. We did not +need to wait, and hold our prayer-meetings in the +church; the Lord had prepared us before, in our +homes, so we went at once to the saloons to hold +prayer-meetings; we felt the Lord had made such a +distinct call for us to go, that we had no fears: we +knew that He would lead us. Our mouths were filled +with song and prayer; our sympathies were awakened +to such a degree, it seemed nothing on earth could +have stopped us from going on in the path the Lord +had laid out for us. Thanks be to the Lord for the +faith He gave us.</p> + +<p>We felt that we must do something; that if we did +not, our homes would be made desolate, our hearts +would be broken, our sons would all perish. The +words, “What wilt thou have me do?” were spoken so +plainly that we felt we <i>must</i> do something to help the +wretched souls out of their bondage. My husband +being a zealous temperance man, was easily aroused +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>to action; he sent for a lecturer, Dr. Watt: he came, +and spoke earnestly for the cause; the next day we +made our first visit to the saloons, through the snow +and bitter cold, but we were not cold; we went early +and late until all our saloons were closed.</p> + +<p>We had three saloons and two drug stores—one of +the drug stores was as bad as any of the saloons, and +we thought worse, for there our best young men went +to drink, when they would not have been seen at a +saloon. One of the druggists signed the pledge, but +one would not, notwithstanding we prayed and plead +earnestly with him. He had a suit pending in the Supreme +Court at that time, and he was very much embittered +against us. A lady of our town had sued +him for selling liquor to her husband, and had gained +it in the county court; but he had appealed it to a +higher court, so we did not expect him to give up +very soon, but we made him a special object of prayer; +he was not an ignorant foreigner, but a native of this +place, and had been taught better things, and knew +the power of prayer, and knew too, that we were +praying earnestly for him, that his wicked business +might be stopped. We think he wanted to be clear of +the whiskey, but he didn’t want to lose a dollar, so he +sold it all in a lump; and for a short time we were +clear of the traffic.</p> + +<p>But as the whiskey men found their cause was in +great danger, they put forward a man and sustained +him. We made a powerful effort to stop him, got out +a petition and tried to get all we could to sign it, but +some we had depended on as being firm friends of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span>temperance, failed us, said there was no use trying: +if the people couldn’t get whiskey here they would go +to “Xenia” to get it.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding all our efforts, the saloon was +opened, and in a short time another one. Then we +were in great trouble, but concluded we had better hold +prayer-meetings again at the saloons. Some thought +the time was past for that, but a few of us felt we <i>must</i> +pray for their removal, and it was not long until one of +these men took fits: he was taken sick about four o’clock +in the afternoon, and died at two o’clock that night. +In our meeting that day we had prayed especially for +him. As we watched these saloons every evening from +dusk of evening until about ten o’clock, (that being the +time when most of the drinking was done,) and prayed +they might be removed, it did seem as though the +Lord answered our prayer in a marvellous manner. +Nor was this all: just about that time the other saloonist +had some sort of a strange spell which was pronounced +fits; he took them just when the women were praying +for him, he got frightened, closed his saloon, and went +into the grocery business. He thought that would save +him, but he still has fits. In answer to our prayers both +saloons were closed.</p> + +<p>We still have our prayer-meetings; they have been +kept up regularly ever since the Crusade. We still +have one saloon, but there is not one-third the quantity +of whiskey sold now. Many have reformed; it has +become unpopular to be seen going to a saloon, and +none will go, except those who care nothing for their +reputation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span></p> + +<p>We see great results from our temperance work +here, but still we expect to work on, while there is a +saloon in operation.</p> + +<p>We have a temperance fund; some have subscribed +as much as $500: I think over twenty have subscribed +that much. There is about $38,000 in the bank; ten +per cent. of that money can be drawn to defray any +expense the association may have in law suits, etc.; +the men have a business committee to look up cases +for prosecution, and to watch the saloons to see whether +they sell according to law. Thus it will be noticed we +have public sentiment in our favor.</p> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. R. O. Stewart for the facts in +this account.</p> + + +<h3 id="MARIETTA_OHIO"> + MARIETTA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. J. M. Eells for the following +account of the work in Marietta: It has been my +privilege to be engaged in the cause of temperance +for many years, but never have I seen the power of +God so manifested as in the Crusade, and the recent +reform movement. Previous to the work here in +Marietta, many groaned under the heavy burden of +the sin of intemperance. Feeling that something must +be done, and that prayer would avail, yet we did not +lay hold on the means of grace as we should have done +until stimulated by the persevering efforts of our sisters +in Washington and Hillsboro’.</p> + +<p>Thanks be to our Heavenly Father for the great +good that has been accomplished by our feeble efforts. +When our work commenced, if I am rightly informed, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>the number of saloons amounted to about sixty in this +place and vicinity—kept mostly by Germans. Our +sympathy embraced all classes of drinking men; but +our efforts were more closely drawn to the saloonist +for a time.</p> + +<p>With prayers, tears, songs, and entreaties we went +from the house of God to the doors of the saloons, and +we trust to the hearts of the saloonists, though few +surrendered, until affliction laid them low: six have +gone to their final account.</p> + +<p>There is one remarkable incident connected with +our work. A young man, of upright character in society, +was engaged in dealing out to others <i>that</i> which +he would not drink himself, though from childhood he +had been employed in a saloon. During all this time +he was never known to touch a drop of intoxicating +drinks. The ladies labored with him, endeavoring to +show the inconsistency of such a course, pressing the +question: “Are you doing by others as you would that +others should do to you?”</p> + +<p>The answer would invariably be: “This is my way +of getting a living. People will drink. I might as well +sell it as any one else. I know what I am about. I +read my Bible—attend church with a hope of heaven.”</p> + +<p>We left, saying we feared he was deceiving himself. +He kept on and on until, in the stillness of night, +his house was wrapt in flames. We thought he had +lost his all, but a few days later we were invited to call +at his new establishment, fitted up in fascinating style, +to allure the weak. At this crisis he was attacked with +a disease which, in a few days, numbered him with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span>dead. In his ravings he was heard to cry, “<i>I cannot, +I will not die.</i>”</p> + +<p>Our encouragement in laboring with drinking men +has been great, especially when we hear them in our +gospel meetings testifying to the goodness of God in +reclaiming them from a life of sin, and taking away their +appetite for strong drink.</p> + +<p>Through the efforts of the ladies, and the recent +Reform movement, many, very many families have been +made happy and provided for well, by the reclaiming +of a father, husband, son, and brother. Yes! we have +seen the tattered, reeling, profane man clothed and in +his right mind; also the weeping mother and half-starved +children with their tears wiped away, and fed +and clothed; and the rough, defiant saloonist bathed +in tears.</p> + +<p>Something like two thousand signed the pledge +during these movements.</p> + +<p>Words of cheer often come to us in these late days, +from one and another who were blest during the Crusade. +One man said he wished the ladies had thought +of the poor drunkard long before; it would have saved +<i>him</i> ten years of wretchedness. He never met with +anything that went to his heart as their appeals did.</p> + +<p>We are encouraged more, by seeing in our walks, +places where a bar had been kept changed to a neatly furnished +sitting-room. We like to enter and converse +with the occupants. They always invite us to call +again, saying, “Doesn’t this room look better than when +the bar was in it?”</p> + +<p>Our work is still going on, under the influence of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span>Good Templars, gospel meetings, and the Woman’s +Christian Temperance Union. The work has gone on +here very much as in other places.</p> + +<p>We still hold it to be God’s work, and pray that He +will bless all efforts put forth by His people for the +overthrow of the monster vice, Intemperance.</p> + + +<h3 id="XENIA_OHIO"> + XENIA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This city, beautiful for situation, is the pride of +southern Ohio, and contains a population of about ten +thousand inhabitants. At the commencement of the +Crusade there were one hundred and twenty places +where liquor was sold—one saloon to eighty-three +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>Dr. Dio Lewis assisted in organizing the movement +in this city. Temperance soon became the all-absorbing +topic of conversation among all classes. The +women organized under the leadership of Mrs. Colonel +Lowe. The women of wealth and culture came at +once to the front, to take their share of the burden of +the work. Denominational lines were broken down, +and women accustomed to psalm-singing joined heartily +in gospel songs.</p> + +<p>One of the worst saloons in the place was the +“Shades of Death,” kept by a young man named +Phillips, who kept a liquor shop and gambling den +of the worst character, although he had been well +brought up.</p> + +<p>A special correspondent of the <i>Cincinnati Gazette</i> +gives us the following graphic account of the work at +this saloon:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span></p> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">Xenia, Ohio</span>, February 13th. +</p> + +<p>“At the close of my letter yesterday the women +held the ‘Shades of Death’ in close investment. It +was agreed by the ladies to adjourn for dinner, and so +I announced; but there was no adjournment. The +determined women could not find it in their hearts to +leave, and they did not until near five o’clock. Such +as found it necessary to go home to their families did +so, but were early back to the place of prayer.</p> + +<p>“This saloon is a brick house on the corner of +Whiteman and Second streets, having one door on +each. Under the back room there is a deep cellar, +where much of the gambling is carried on, quite out +of sight. At first the women held their station on the +two sidewalks, but at length discovered a third door +in the rear, through which some of those caught in +the saloon had already made good their escape. This +outlet was quickly occupied by the women, and so the +place was surrounded. The keeper, Phillips, was not +prepared for this, and came to the door and remonstrated +vigorously; but the response came in spiritual +song:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“‘A charge to keep I have.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“In vain Stephen assured the women that their +praying would do no good. They only sang the more +fervently,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“‘To patient faith the prize is sure.’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>“A fiddle was played inside, and some dancing +attempted, but this did not last long. Through a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span>broken window the services outside were distinctly +heard inside. The proprietor sent for a glazier, and +had the missing glass replaced. The faces of bloated +white and colored men appeared at the windows side +by side.</p> + +<p>“The representatives of six wholesale liquor-houses +were here yesterday, offering the saloonists all the +liquors they can make use of, while the campaign lasts, +free of charge.</p> + +<p>“One of these gentlemen was in the ‘Shades of +Death’ when it was invested. About two o’clock he +came to the front door to tell the women that they +were helpless, and could do nothing; that they did not +know where their own sons and husbands might be at +that moment. His own wife had no idea he went to +such places. An estimable woman of God began to +pray for him, and, as he retreated through the door, +they followed him in. Phillips came out about three +o’clock, accompanied by his brother, to draw the crowd +away. A part followed him across the street, but the +siege was not lifted.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">Xenia, Ohio</span>, February 19th, 1874. +</p> + +<p>“Just as I sealed my letter, I heard a great shout in +the street, and soon after all the church-bells in the +city commenced ringing. At the same time there +arose a prolonged cheering from the Grangers’ Convention, +just across the street from the hotel, and it +was evident that something unusual had happened. +Going on the street for the news, I saw crowds of +people thronging towards Whiteman street, and heard +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span>on every hand in joyful accent, ‘The “Shades of +Death” has unconditionally surrendered.’ The good +news, as the temperance people considered it, proved +true, and I found Whiteman street thronged with people. +At a little before three o’clock, as it appeared +from the general account, Mr. Steve Phillips, proprietor +of the ‘Shades of Death,’ invited the ladies to enter, +and announced that he gave up everything to them, +and would never sell anything intoxicating in Xenia +again. Then the ladies, joined by the spectators, sang,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“‘Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">while the liquors were rolled into the street. A half-barrel +of blackberry brandy, the same of highwines, a +few kegs of beer, and some bottles of ale and whiskey, +were soon emptied into the street, amid the shouts of +an enthusiastic multitude. The leading lady then +announced that if Mr. Phillips went into any other +business in Xenia, they should feel it a duty to support +him. A despatch was sent to the Grangers, +eliciting three cheers, and all the bells were set ringing +in honor of the first great victory. When I arrived, +the liquor had mostly collected in one depression in +the street, and such a stench went up—‘a rank offence, +that smelt to heaven’—as made me think it a very +fortunate thing for somebody’s insides that the liquor +had been poured out. Of the women around, some +were crying, some laughing, a few alternately singing +and returning thanks. One elderly lady in the edge +of the crowd was almost in hysterics, but still shouting +in a hoarse whisper such as one often hears at camp-meeting: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span>‘Bless the Lord! O-o-o, bless the Lord!’ +She had the appearance of a lady in good circumstances, +and a citizen informed me that she is ordinarily +one of the quietest, most placid of women. +One of her sons died of intemperance, and another is +much addicted to liquor. On every side nothing was +witnessed but smiles, laughter, tears, prayers, hand-shaking, +and congratulations.”</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>Phillips opened a meat-market at his old stand, and +was most liberally patronized.</p> + +<p>The good work went on. At the close of the second +week, twenty-five out of the forty-seven saloons were +closed, some permanently, others during the war. +The street prayer-meetings were kept up without +intermission for over a month, when the ladies decided +to try the picket work, which proved quite effectual.</p> + +<p>But at the municipal election, the whiskey party was +triumphant; not because there was a lack of temperance +sentiment, but for lack of unity, and earnest +effort on the part of moral and temperance men.</p> + +<p>The liquor element became defiant and insulting. +While Mrs. Monroe’s band was at Hollencamp’s brewery, +a man came out with a mug of beer in his hands, +and stopping a woman in the midst of her prayer, +offered her a drink; holding out the foaming beer, he +told her it was Jesus.</p> + +<p>One day, while the ladies were holding services, +Bloom, Altschul, and other liquor-dealers, with their degraded +customers, surrounded them, and the interruptions +became so boisterous and threatening, that Mayor +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>Keever and Marshal Riley interfered for the protection +of the ladies.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding all these discouragements, the +ladies continued their work, <i>and will continue till a complete +victory is won</i>.</p> + + +<h3 id="WAYNESVILLE_OHIO"> + WAYNESVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>“Waynesville is a quiet village in Warren county, of +strong Quaker proclivities. It is situated on a gentle +slope which descends to the little Miami river. Across +the stream is the little village of Corwin, named after +the illustrious governor and statesman of Ohio. Together +these two towns boast that they have a population +of twelve or fifteen hundred. The groups of +white houses form a very quiet, pretty picture.”</p> + +<p>The women of this quiet little village commenced +public work January 17th, and maintained one of the +most protracted and determined campaigns of the +Crusade. There were three saloons in the two towns: +two in Waynesville, and one in Corwin.</p> + +<p>The first real work of the Crusade was the circulation +of a petition, which was largely signed, and sent +to the town council, asking them to prohibit the sale +of ale and beer. The desired ordinance was passed. +In the meantime the ladies held prayer-meetings, and +prepared for street work, if that should be necessary. +A report having obtained that the women intended to +commence crusading on Saturday, Timothy Liddy +printed and circulated the following notice, which I +give <i>verbatim et literatim</i>.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Notice.</span>—As it has come to my hearing that there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span>is a rumor in circulation that some of the ladies in and +about Waynesville, O., are about to visit my grocery +on Saturday, the 17th inst., for the purpose of holding +a prayer-meeting, I advise all the ladies concerned in +the movement to keep clear of my grocery, and keep +within the bounds of the law, as my grocery is not a +place of worship.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="allsmcap">TIMOTHY LIDDY.</span> +</p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Waynesville</span>, O., Jan. 16th, 1874.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The women accepted it as a challenge, and marched +at once to Mr. Liddy’s saloon for a prayer-meeting. +Mr. Liddy was very obstinate, and his wife maintained +a threatening attitude.</p> + +<p>“I’ll scald yez! I’ll scald yez!” she cried. But the +women had enlisted for the war, and were not deterred +by her threats. The other saloon in Waynesville was +kept by William F. Raper; the saloons were on +diagonally opposite corners, which was a great convenience +to the ladies, as with their large band they +could keep up a continual prayer-meeting in both +saloons. Mr. Liddy declared that “These wimmen +are worse than haythens.” Both saloon-keepers closed +their doors against the women, and on the 7th of February, +with the ground covered four inches deep with +snow and the snow still falling, they sang and prayed +again and again in front of Raper’s saloon, and some +of them afterwards declared that it was a most delightful +meeting.</p> + +<p>As the weather continued inclement, a few of the +ladies took shelter in covered carriages drawn up in +front of the saloons for their use, while on picket duty; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span>a vacant room on the third corner was fitted up for the +use of the band, so the siege went on with a degree +of comfort. Books were kept in which the name of +every man entering either saloon was registered; the +result was a large falling off in the patronage.</p> + +<p>The house occupied by Liddy was finally bought over +his head, and he was forced to close, and Raper soon +afterwards surrendered. He wrote Miss Esther Pugh +the following letter:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Miss Pugh</span>:—I have thought the matter over, and +have come to the conclusion to let the ladies empty +the ale.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">William F. Raper.</span>” +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>There was great rejoicing, and immense enthusiasm, +and in response to the letter, the ladies marched +through a pouring rain to the saloon. Mr. Raper very +graciously assisted the women in rolling out his liquors +on the pavement. But the enthusiasm of the women +was so great, that they didn’t wait for assistance, but +seized the kegs of ale in the cellar, and by almost +superhuman effort carried them up the steep cellar-stairs +into the street; and their contents were soon +poured upon the ground.</p> + +<p>The whole force was now concentrated upon Tom +Franey’s saloon, at Corwin. Tom was noted for his +politeness. The ladies who came to pray in his saloon +were treated with great consideration, and when the +prayer-meeting was over, and he had shaken hands all +around, an omnibus was at the door to carry the ladies +back to Waynesville. The ladies were not turned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span>from their purpose by his blandishments, but continued +their work till it began seriously to interfere with his +business. His saloon was the only one now in the +centre of a large district, dotted over with villages. +But the country people ceased to come with their +jugs and bottles, and the polite Franey became ungracious, +and went so far as to threaten to sue the +Society for damaging his business. After securing +legal advice, he changed his mind, and closed his doors +against the Crusaders; but they sang and prayed +beside his door until he, too, surrendered unconditionally.</p> + +<p>The officers of the League which did such valiant +work were: President, Esther Pugh; Vice-Presidents, +Mrs. Devitt, Mrs. Rebecca Randall, Mrs. Levi Cook, +Mrs. Kate Allen; Secretary, Miss Annie Fisher. +Among the workers were, Miss Phebe Bailey, Mrs. John +Fetter, Miss Addie Keys, Miss Eliza Bunting, Mrs. +Israel Wright, Rachel Hopkins, Mrs. Dr. Way, Eliza +Nedry, Jane Jones, and others. It was the habit of +these ladies, when visiting a saloon, to fall at once upon +their knees, and remain kneeling most of the time +during their stay. The company was made up of all +denominations, members of the Society of Friends pre-dominating, +Orthodox and Hicksites commingling, and +all sang together gospel songs. Their meetings were +characterized by deep religious feeling, and were intensely +solemn. The siege, that resulted in closing all +the saloons in these two villages, was protracted <i>forty-nine +days</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_CONCORD_OHIO"> + NEW CONCORD, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>We are indebted to Mrs. E. J. Oxley for the facts +in this report.</p> + +<p>The Christian Women’s Temperance Union of New +Concord, Ohio, was organized March 18th, 1874, at a +meeting held in the Presbyterian Church. Prior to +this time, a few of the Christian women of the village +had met several times in the capacity of a temperance +prayer-meeting.</p> + +<p>A temperance mass-meeting was held in the Reformed +Presbyterian Church, on the evening of the 27th. +Two of the ministers were staunch temperance men who +had nobly battled against intemperance for many years. +These men, hand in hand, and shoulder to shoulder, +did much to assist the women, who pledged themselves +to labor for life against intemperance, and +adopted as their watchword, “eternal vigilance and +perseverance.”</p> + +<p>These meetings were well attended, partly because +the people were becoming excited on the temperance +question, and partly because it was the “Woman’s +movement.”</p> + +<p>The novelty of women holding public meetings, +perhaps, drew out some who would not otherwise have +attended a temperance meeting.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of May, committees were appointed +to canvass the town with copies of the <i>pledge</i>, in order +to obtain all the signatures that could be secured, and +leave all without an excuse. The canvassers met +with unexpected success. In a short time our pledge-book<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span> +contained 277 signatures to the citizens’ pledge, +and 60 to the “Band of Promise” pledge.</p> + +<p>A “Band of Promise” was organized May 5th, 1874. +Its pledge prohibited the use of intoxicating liquors of +any kind as a beverage, the use of tobacco in any +form, and also stipulated that the subscribers would +refrain from the use of profane language.</p> + +<p>Some of the parents who were quite willing to have +their children become members of the Band of Promise, +objected to their signing the pledge, because they said +<i>they</i> could not keep it, but it was not long before the +children were allowed to sign it. This Band proved a +great benefit, not only to the children themselves, who +were receiving a course of thorough temperance +training, but also to their parents, many of whom +could not have been induced to attend any of the other +temperance meetings, but were eager to attend the +children’s mass-meetings, to hear their own dear little +boys and girls sing or speak their particular pieces: +proving that this is the <i>great field</i> for temperance +workers: the field where the seed now sown will, at +some not far distant day, yield “an hundred-fold.”</p> + +<p>The entertainments by the Band of Promise were by +far the most Interesting temperance meetings held in +the place; their music was sweeter and more attractive +than any other, and their performances were more +highly appreciated than the most eloquent speakers who +could be brought forward, simply because the people +were generally interested in children. They are the +hope of both church and state.</p> + +<p>Although there was no saloon in our village, there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span>was one just a little out of town, in one of the best +places for that business that could well be found—outside +of the corporation, out of view from town, and accessible +by four different ways. This was kept by +Wm. Wylie, who claimed to be selling according to +law, and could not be gotten rid of until the summer +of 1875, when at last he grew tired of the frequent +visits of the “preachers and temperance women,” and +closed out.</p> + +<p>Prayer-meetings and temperance visitors had made +his <i>trade dull</i>, so he concluded to give up the business +and try to earn an honest living by the “sweat of his +brow.”</p> + +<p>The last visit, and perhaps the one productive of +most good, was made about the last of July, 1875, when +a procession of fourteen or fifteen women, accompanied +by five men, three of them ministers—Revs. M’Arthur, +M’Clurkin, and Murch—marched out one afternoon. +On arriving there they found the house closed, as if +there was no one at home; but they soon had evidence +that the family were there, and proceeded to hold a +prayer-meeting in front of the saloon. After a while +Mr. Wylie came out, and they had an opportunity of +talking with both him and his partner. He threatened +prosecution, and <i>did</i> come to town to try to get <i>law</i>. +Soon after this he quit selling liquor, and has since +signed the pledge.</p> + +<p>The only street or outdoor work this League ever +had to do was on the 23d of May, 1874. This was +Saturday, the day of an “animal and circus show.” +It was also a communion season with the people of +the Reformed Presbyterian congregation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span></p> + +<p>Early in the morning some of the League received +information that a man from a neighboring village +had brought a wagon-load of liquors, and was +prepared to sell near the show grounds. He had +selected a very good place for his business, a short distance +out of the corporation, by the roadside, and was +doubtlessly anticipating a <i>fine day’s work</i>; but before +he had time to make many sales the temperance women +were on the grounds, too, to <i>watch</i>, and to see, at least, +that he did not sell to any of their friends, or any others, +if they could prevent.</p> + +<p>This little band of eight or ten women, led by Mrs. +Murch, first vice-president, and accompanied by perhaps +half a dozen of the <i>good</i> old temperance men, as a kind +of <i>escort</i>, at first tried to persuade Mr. Davis to go +away, but they could neither induce him to sign the +pledge, sell out to them, nor accept any proposition +which they could make. He seemed invincible, determined +to <i>sell</i>, “according to law,” as he said. Soon a +large crowd of men, women, and children had gathered +to see what this little handful of temperance women +would or could do with a man who seemed to defy +both them and “<i>their law</i>.”</p> + +<p>Other women continued to come, until by afternoon +the few who had gone out in the morning were pretty +strongly reinforced, and as the day wore on Mr. Davis +learned that temperance women and those restrained +by their presence, were not very good customers.</p> + +<p>But not until late in the afternoon did he show any +signs of retreat. The law protecting persons holding +religious services being found, was read to him by Mrs. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span>Murch; he being within the limits prescribed by that +ordinance, as the Reformed Presbyterian people were +holding religious services in their church. Soon after +the law was read to him, he began very reluctantly to +pack up his kegs, boxes, and other saloon arrangements, +and turned his face homeward, followed by a +large and promiscuous crowd, some of whom followed +him entirely out of town.</p> + +<p>The shades of evening fell upon a quiet and peaceful +village, and many hearts rejoiced that there had +not been one intoxicated man in town that day.</p> + +<p>This day’s labors strengthened the temperance +women, and brought them into favor with some who +had before thought they were transcending woman’s +proper sphere. During the summer of 1874 frequent +public mass-meetings were held, at which the question +of “License or No license” was freely discussed, there +being one article in the new Constitution which was to +be submitted to the vote of the people of Ohio on the +18th of August. <i>Union</i> temperance prayer-meetings +were held almost every week in some one of the +four churches, through this summer, fall and winter.</p> + +<p>These meetings were called union meetings, because +the different pastors had been invited to conduct them, +and a general invitation was extended. These soon +became very interesting, large numbers attending. +On the 18th of August, an all-day prayer-meeting was +held, the object of which was to plead that God would +guide the voters throughout the State, to cast their +ballots in favor of “<i>No license</i>.” Their prayers were +heard—the decision was, <span class="smcap">No License</span>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span></p> + +<p>A most interesting entertainment by the Band of +Promise was given October 26th, in College Hall, +about sixty girls and boys taking part. In this meeting +there were some from almost every family in town. +This entertainment consisted of music, temperance +songs, declamations and select essays. They were +highly appreciated, some of which would have done +credit to much older boys and girls. The children +were not only benefited, but highly delighted, so much +so that in a few weeks there were many anxious “little +folks,” inquiring of the committee of arrangements, +who had drilled the class, when there would be another +children’s mass-meeting.</p> + +<p>This was the <i>first</i> of these “Temperance Exhibitions,” +but not the <i>last</i>. They were held as often as +once in three months, and sometimes oftener.</p> + +<p>In January and February, 1875, petitions to Congress +and the Legislature, asking for temperance legislation, +and also petitions to the Centennial Commission, +asking that no brewery or distillery be allowed on the +Centennial grounds, and that the gates be closed on +the Sabbath, were circulated with unexpected success.</p> + +<p>Again, in January, 1877, petitions to Congress and +the Legislature, asking for prohibitory laws, were again +circulated with still better success, this time securing, +in the village and country neighborhoods around, 868 +signatures to one petition, and 800 to the other. The +winter before, only about 300 names were obtained.</p> + +<p>The W. C. T. U. still hold weekly prayer-meetings, +but with much depleted numbers. Instead of forty +and more members, as at first, there are but ten or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span>twelve of the Crusade members, and a few others. +Many do not think it is necessary to keep up a temperance +organization when there is no public work to do.</p> + + +<h3 id="RAVENNA_OHIO"> + RAVENNA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>An organization was formed in Ravenna, March +12th, 1874. It was called the Woman’s Temperance +League, Mrs. M. A. Woodbridge, President, Mrs. R. +B. Witter, Secretary. The features of the work were +similar to those throughout the State. Daily prayer-meetings +were held, from which bands of women went +forth in the name of the Lord to visit saloons, a portion +of the League remaining in supplication at the church +until their return, much good resulting therefrom. +These meetings were held continuously for many +weeks, with frequent mass-meetings in the evening.</p> + +<p>After the close of the Crusade, the meetings were +held regularly, with more or less frequency, as circumstances +required, until early last year, when the League +was suspended, and the commencement of the present +year a Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was +formed, auxiliary to the State Union. Most excellent +temperance work has been done in the town and +county, for which we give God the glory.</p> + + +<h3 id="MARION_OHIO"> + MARION, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>“For weeks before we took any forward step in the +temperance work in our own place, our hearts had +been fired by reading of what had been done in other +places. Hillsboro’ and Washington Court-House +seemed the scenes of miracles. Other towns and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span>villages fell into line. But we halted. Could we do +anything?”</p> + +<p>At last an informal meeting was held on February +23d. It was resolved to circulate two petitions, one to +our State Legislature, asking that “no change be +made in the famous Adair Liquor Law,” and one to +the Constitutional Convention, praying that our legislative +bodies have the right reserved to them of enacting +prohibitory laws with regard to the sale and +manufacture of all alcoholic liquors. Twelve hundred +and twenty-five signatures were obtained to the first +of these petitions, and twelve hundred and fifty-five to +the second.</p> + +<p>A large and enthusiastic mass-meeting was held on +Sabbath, <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, and on Monday, March 2d, a business +meeting. Most of the places of business were closed, +and the largest audience-room in the place was packed +almost to suffocation. One hundred and eighty-five +women pledged themselves to co-operate in the +“Women’s Temperance Movement,” until the sale of +intoxicating liquors, as a beverage, was abolished. +One hundred and sixty men pledged themselves to +sustain the women in their work. It was decided to +hold a daily prayer-meeting “during the war.”</p> + +<p>“March 6th, Mother Stewart was with us. The +following note of the day is in the words of our Secretary +at that time:</p> + +<p>“Although the day was exceedingly inclement, we +decided the trial-moment had come, and we marched +upon the street with Mother Stewart at our front. +We went with trembling, but God’s grace, which never +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span>faileth in the hour of need, strengthened us by the +way, and as we knelt upon the muddy pavement, we +felt God’s Spirit overshadowing and leading us. Four +saloons were visited, but the doors were barred against +our entrance. We prayed that the Spirit which can +work, and no man hinder, might enter there.</p> + +<p>“At a mass-meeting on the evening of March 9th, we +were cheered by our first unconditional surrender. A +stock guarantee fund of forty thousand ($40,000) dollars, +afterwards increased to fifty thousand, was also raised +at this time. The object of this fund was, so it was +stated, was to prosecute liquor-dealers, and it could +only be used for prosecutions, and for defending the +women in prosecutions, should any arise; and great as +has been our need of funds at different times, not a +cent of it has ever passed into our hands.</p> + +<p>“As the days and weeks passed by we received other +promises from liquor-dealers to stop selling. Six +ceased entirely, though some of them have since resumed +the traffic. New ones have started up within +the past two years, so that we are often met with the +taunting question, ‘What good did your Crusade do? +The town is worse off than it was before.’ But looking +back, we can see good that has been accomplished. +Daily the bands visited the saloons, and the voice of +prayer and praise was heard from such unaccustomed +places, for a brief while each day, though often the +sounds of cursing and revelry mingled with the +prayers. One such scene the writer remembers distinctly. +It was Saturday afternoon, and the village +was thronged with people from the surrounding country, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span>full of curiosity to see the ‘praying women.’ +One of the bands entered a saloon on the busiest part +of Main street. Coarse, rough men, others quiet, +observant, and boys eager and interested, thronged +the pavement. The rear part of the saloon was full +of men, one degree coarser than those without, smoking, +drinking, swearing, scoffing. As the band entered, +one of our sweet Crusade hymns rose on the air. +We were told to ‘be brief. They were very busy, +and wanted no interruption.’ A few verses of Scripture +were read, and a sister led in prayer, and <i>such a +prayer</i>. The wife of the proprietor told her to stop, +but she prayed on; finally, she shook her, but the +prayer flowed calmly and earnestly on, as if the air +carried no sound but her own voice to the listening +ear above. A German sister immediately followed, +and while she prayed the door was locked. Whatever +may have been the intention, the door was opened +while we sang at the close of her prayer, and we +passed out. Committees of two or three were also +sent at times to talk with saloon-keepers.</p> + +<p>“We had at this time two hundred and sixty-two +women pledged to the work.</p> + +<p>“Early in April, pickets were stationed at the principal +saloons. This work was kept up more or less +closely until the Crusade work ceased.</p> + +<p>“April 6th, being our local election day, and the +saloons closed by law, was devoted to an all-day +prayer-meeting. We began at six o’clock in the +morning, and during the hours of the day, earnest +prayers went up, that the cause of right and temperance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span>might triumph, and the Lord show His power in +controlling the affairs of men. The liquor interest +made a desperate fight, but the victory was essentially +ours, though much of the good we hoped from it was +lost by the mismanagement of men.</p> + +<p>“Nothing daunted the ladies prepared and presented +to the council a petition, signed by three hundred and +sixty-five men and four hundred and sixty-one women, +praying that a prohibitory ordinance be added to our +municipal code, but though there was a majority of +the voters, the council was divided against itself, and +our petition was lost.</p> + +<p>“May 20th, the chairman of the executive committee +of the guarantee fund requested that the ‘ladies +should retire from the streets.’ After considerable +discussion, it was decided to do so for a time. We +never resumed the work in that form.</p> + +<p>“July 9th, officers were elected, and constitution +adopted for permanent organization. Weekly prayer-meetings +have been held ever since.</p> + +<p>“The county has been thoroughly canvassed twice; +once against the license clause of the new constitution, +and once in the endeavor to thoroughly organize it.</p> + +<p>“After the formation of the Woman’s National Union, +we changed our name of League, to Women’s Christian +Temperance Union, of Marion, Ohio.</p> + +<p>“We feel that we have done, and can do, oh, <i>so</i> little; +but we can pray, and ‘prayer moves the arm that +moves the world.’”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="WEST_UNION_OHIO"> + WEST UNION, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This little village, of only four hundred inhabitants, +had four saloons. For years and years they had been +doing their deadly work, paralyzing business and +wasting the resources and ruining the homes of the +people.</p> + +<p>The women of this staid old town had never thought +it possible to change this order of things. But as soon +as the success of Crusaders elsewhere became known, +they rallied to the work with such zeal and earnestness +that in a very short time the whole town was ablaze +with temperance enthusiasm, and <i>every saloon was closed</i>.</p> + + +<h3 id="FELICITY_OHIO"> + FELICITY, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Felicity, a quiet little village, a few miles back from +the Ohio river, and thirty miles by road from Cincinnati, +had one saloon.</p> + +<p>The women had watched the desolating work of +that saloon, and encouraged by the example of their +sisters in other places, they determined, if possible, to +close it.</p> + +<p>A meeting was called, and the women met and consecrated +themselves for any part of the work God +might demand of them.</p> + +<p>But while they yet prayed, He answered; and when, +a few days later, the band visited the saloon, they found +that terror had taken hold of the dealer, and that he +had shipped his liquors back to Cincinnati, and the +room was being cleaned and put in order for other +purposes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="LEBANON_OHIO"> + LEBANON, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Lebanon was noted for its morality.</p> + +<p>The town contained about four thousand inhabitants, +and had nine churches, and only three saloons.</p> + +<p>It had been, from the very beginning of its existence, +a temperance town, and a prohibitory ordinance +had been passed years before by the town council.</p> + +<p>These men, in defiance of law, were selling liquors; +but the municipal authorities did not put a stop to the +traffic.</p> + +<p>A great deal of enthusiasm had been created by the +trial of the ladies of Morrow, which took place in this +town. Many of the citizens of Morrow had accompanied +the ladies to the court, and the Lebanon ladies +provided dinner for them, and rejoiced with them when +Scheide was defeated. But the ladies were slow to +begin the Crusade work.</p> + +<p>They believed that the men, who had the law on their +side, ought to shut up all three of the saloons without +their help. And perhaps the men thought so, too, but +it was not easy to get evidence.</p> + +<p>Rev. E. B. Burrows, a young Congregational minister, +went to Cincinnati, secretly, and employed a detective.</p> + +<p>The detective, after lounging about the saloons for a +few days, had proof enough to sustain a prosecution, +and Brady and Glady were arrested. Brady owned two +saloons. The liquor-dealers rallied the roughs and +drunkards to bully the court and carry through the +case after the usual style. But the temperance element +was aroused, and the building was crowded with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span>the best and wealthiest citizens of the town. The two +men were convicted, fined, and sent to prison.</p> + +<p>Immediately they began to negotiate for a compromise—“If +the fines and imprisonment were remitted, +and the prisoners allowed to go free, they would +leave the town.”</p> + +<p>And so a compromise was made, and two of the +saloons closed their doors.</p> + +<p>The other saloon-keeper, Nate Wood, was arrested, +tried, fined, and imprisoned. He paid his fine, served +out his time in jail, and went back to his business as +though nothing had happened. But he now confined +himself to legal sales. Under the law of the State, +liquor must not be sold to be drunk on the premises. +He filled little bottles for his customers, and they could +pass out to a vacant lot or some convenient corner and +take their drinks.</p> + +<p>The women organized and visited his saloon, and +entreated him to stop. At last, after much boasting +that he had plenty of money and could stand the siege, +he closed his saloon and left the town.</p> + + +<h3 id="GRANVILLE_OHIO"> + GRANVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>There were only four saloons in Granville. One +of the dealers being a Jew, would not, on “account of +his religion,” allow the ladies to come into his saloon +to pray. But he spread carpeting on the sidewalk, +and brought out chairs for their accommodation, and +they held their prayer-meetings daily in front of his +saloon.</p> + +<p>One hotel-keeper closed his doors against them, but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>standing by the closed door they sang: “Behold a +stranger at the door.” A lady who was present said: +“It seemed as though the words had been prepared +for the occasion, and O’Kane had written the music +for just such a time and place: it can never sound to +me again as it did that day.”</p> + +<p>There was a woman who kept a saloon and grocery +just outside of the corporation limits. Just before +leaving the church to visit her saloon, the women were +told that she was a rough and dangerous character, +that she had whipped her husband and driven him +away, and that the parish priest, for she was a Roman +Catholic, could do nothing with her. But trusting in +God, the women went forth to visit her. They found +her son in charge of the store; she was in the back +yard very angry. The ladies went out to her, but she +told them she had no time to talk with them.</p> + +<p>When they next visited her saloon, the liquors had +all been sent away; and she was willing to talk to the +ladies in a respectful manner.</p> + +<p>The Crusaders then visited the brewery. Mrs. +Thomas Adams gives the following graphic account +of that visit: “Two ferocious dogs were kept by the +brewer, which he let loose upon us, but the dogs +would not harm us. The man paced to and fro like +an enraged lion in his cage, and raved like a mad +man.”</p> + +<p>In a short time all the saloons were closed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="LEESBURG_OHIO"> + LEESBURG, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade, which commenced January 29th, closed +out all the saloons in two weeks, and $50,000 was subscribed +as a guarantee fund to keep it clear. A correspondent +wrote: “The last spike was driven in the +coffin of King Alcohol to-day.”</p> + + +<h3 id="BLANCHESTER_OHIO"> + BLANCHESTER, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The work commenced in February, and the little +village of 600 was soon cleared of the traffic.</p> + + +<h3 id="GOSHEN_OHIO"> + GOSHEN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade was successful in this place, and when +the last saloon closed, all the bells in town were rung.</p> + +<p>The overjoyed people, who were in their homes at +the time, ran bareheaded into the streets, to join the +praying band; the children of the public schools were +dismissed, which added to the enthusiasm. The only +keg of beer found in the saloon was rolled out, and +the bung knocked in, and its contents poured into the +gutter. The enthusiasm was so great, that many embraced +each other and wept for joy.</p> + + +<h3 id="ZALESKI_OHIO"> + ZALESKI, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>All the saloons in this little village were closed by +the Crusade.</p> + + +<h3 id="TROY_OHIO"> + TROY, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>On the 18th February, 1874, the Christian women +of Troy came together <i>with one accord</i> to pray for the +removal of the curse of intemperance. They numbered +fifty-three. Their number increased from day to-day, as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span>continued meetings were held. A wonderful degree +of the Holy Spirit was manifest.</p> + +<p>On the 22d, a Temperance League was formed by +the simple election of a President (Mrs. J. B. Riley), +and Secretary (Mrs. E. B. Meeks), and the adoption +of the solemn agreement to “<i>Make common cause +against the common enemy, Intemperance.</i>” To this +pledge were signed 737 names. That pledge has been +kept until the present date, September 20th, 1877.</p> + +<p>Daily meetings were held for two years; since that +they are semi-weekly. Many have been reformed. To +God be the glory forever.</p> + + +<h3 id="MANSFIELD_OHIO"> + MANSFIELD, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Fanny W. Leiter, State +Secretary, for the following facts:</p> + +<p>The deep interest on the subject of Temperance +which had been aroused in the hearts of our citizens +by the spirit which was abroad in the land, found relief +in action about the 25th of February, when a petition +was circulated, receiving 600 signatures, and presented +to the mayor, praying for a better enforcement of our +Sunday laws.</p> + +<p>Immediately following this, a few of our earnest +women assembled at the residence of one of their +number, and, as a result of this gathering, on Sunday, +March 1st, notices were read in all the churches, calling +for a meeting of the women, to be held in the +basement of the Methodist Church on the following +afternoon. Before the meeting was called to order +every chair was occupied and standing room was in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span>demand. The faces of that audience would have been +a study for an artist. Deep earnestness was the prevailing +expression, varied by every shade of emotion, +such as curiosity, doubt, fear, credulity, enthusiasm, +hopefulness. Young faces took on an unusual gravity; +older ones were lighted by new and strong feeling; +even women, bowed by three-score years and +ten, seemed filled with youthful ardor, and added dignity +and animation to the scene.</p> + +<p>The petty distinction of wealth and social standing +was forgotten, as swayed by one common impulse, +all minds were busy with the question: “What can +we do to destroy this common evil of intemperance?”</p> + +<p>Mrs. McVay stated the reasons that seemed to +demand such a gathering of the women of our city.</p> + +<p>After the appointment of a temporary chairman, +many short and telling speeches were made by women +who, perhaps, had never before expressed their minds +to an audience, and, as a forward step, a committee +of seven ladies was directed to call upon the mayor, +and see what he could do to aid us. This committee +met on Tuesday, and after prayer, proceeded to visit +his honor, the mayor. His signature was obtained to +a paper promising to do all in his power to enforce +the laws bearing upon the sale and use of intoxicating +liquors.</p> + +<p>The meeting of April 5th was held in the Methodist +Church, filling the audience-room.</p> + +<p>After some preliminary discussion the “Women’s +Christian Temperance League,” of Mansfield, was +organized with the following officers:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span></p> + +<p>President, Mrs. J. H. Reed; Secretary, Mrs. Fannie +Leiter; Corresponding Secretary, Miss M. Brinkerhoff; +Treasurer, Mrs. G. W. Geddes.</p> + +<p>A Vice-President from each of the twelve churches +in the city, was also appointed.</p> + +<p>A strong personal pledge was passed around, and +signed by nearly every one present. Letters were +read from several of the ministers of the city, expressing +sympathy with the movement, and bidding us +“God speed.”</p> + +<p>Restrictive pledges, signed by most of the physicians +and druggists, were handed in, unsolicited.</p> + +<p>Women held morning prayer-meetings, which were +largely attended by business men who had agreed to +close their places of business during one hour in the +forenoon.</p> + +<p>The men agreed to raise a fund, if possible, amounting +to $100,000, to be assessed, not to exceed more +than one per cent. This was a very substantial proof +of the interest the men took in the work of reform, +and the women were very thankful for the means to +carry on the work. Prayer-meetings were held both +forenoon and afternoon, and largely attended by men +as well as women. Committees appointed to visit +saloons, by twos, performed their work faithfully. +One of them, the smallest one too, said she had “seen +the giants” and was <i>not affrighted</i>. All seemed of +one mind that the time had come to visit saloons in +bands, and pray for saloon-keepers face to face. The +President expressed her willingness to do so if enough +were agreed as touching this one thing. After some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span>talk and a few moments spent in silent prayer, the +question was put, and over one hundred rose to their +feet, though with manifest trembling.</p> + +<p>The ladies who went to Ashland returned and made +a favorable report of the street work being done there. +The desire to undertake a similar work here was acted +upon. All of the advisory committee approved, and +on taking a vote of the League, all rose to their feet. +Feeling had <i>intensified</i> and <i>conviction deepened</i> until +many who, at the outset of the work, shuddered at the +thought, were willing to take the course so strongly +pointed out to them by Providence. The weather was +very inclement, and physical as well as moral courage +was in demand. A feeling of great solemnity prevailed +as the procession, headed by the president and +secretary, moved out upon the street. The band was +formidable in point of numbers, nearly five hundred, +many who were not members of the League, joining +in, to express their approbation of the movement. +All the saloons on each side of Main, down to Fourth +street, were visited.</p> + +<p>The first three compelled us to hold our services +upon the pavement, all kneeling during the prayers. +The proprietor of a fourth was willing to admit the +ladies, but the room, an underground apartment, was +already so packed with men and boys, who had congregated +for the purpose of witnessing, and thwarting +the effort, that it was impossible for more than twelve +or fifteen to gain access; and the uproar of the multitude +proclaiming for their idol, seemed to defeat, for a +little time, our purpose. Finally, one of the band, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span>pressed in spirit, stepped upon a chair,—in the very +presence of that rebellious crowd. They were hushed +in a moment to profound stillness, as she poured forth +her soul in behalf of the perishing people.</p> + +<p>The ladies, as many as could get in, were admitted +in several other places, and treated with respect.</p> + +<p>The convictions that followed the experiences of +this day proved the turning-point with many women, +who, previous to this, were undecided as to their duty +in this matter.</p> + +<p>March 13th.—The ladies went in two columns and +visited all the drinking establishments from Fourth +street to the railroad. Exercises were conducted +mostly on the pavement, large crowds of people +standing around; some listened reverently and others +talking angrily; the angry tones were mostly in a foreign +tongue. Some declared that if this thing was to +go on long, they would go back to Faderland, where +they could drink their lager in peace, with no <i>vimmen</i> +to “molest or make them afraid.”</p> + +<p>March 14th.—We divided our forces into smaller +bands—organizing six, with the more active ones as +leaders. Three bands met together in the morning, +spent an hour in prayer, and then an hour or two in +singing, praying, and talking temperance, either in +saloons, or on the pavement, or gutter in front of +them. This programme was repeated with little variation +in the afternoon. They were warned against <i>concentration</i>, +and threatened with the contents of beer +barrels; nevertheless they continued to <i>concentrate</i>, and +“bearded the lion in his den” so long as seemed unto +them good.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span></p> + +<p>The McConnelsville Ordinance, somewhat modified, +was passed March 17th, to the great joy of many +friends of temperance and the sorrow of others, who +believed that prayer was the only weapon to be used +in this warfare, and that the rum-sellers themselves +were quite as open to its influence as the executors of +the law. Election day, April 5th, was observed by +the members of the League as a day of fasting and +prayer. There was undivided joy over the result of +the election, which gave a majority, considered in favor +of temperance, and left the council as before—three +against and five for the ordinance.</p> + +<p>April 1st, the day when the ordinance should have +gone into force, saw every saloon closed, at least in +appearance, and silence reigned in our streets for +the space of half a month, save an occasional meeting +in one of the wholesale liquor-houses. Several saloonists +had agreed, previous to this, to quit the business—two +of them women. Eighteen less licenses for +selling liquors were taken out on May 1st, 1874, than +on May 1st, 1873. Official returns showed a great +decrease In the amount of liquors of all kinds sold in +the month of February, March and April, of 1874. +A property-holders’ pledge was circulated and generally +signed. Druggists’ and physicians’ pledges were +pressed earnestly and signed, with but a very few exceptions, +by the men of influence. A petition against +license received nearly 1,000 signatures. Personal +pledges were made by many, the turning-point to a +better life. Our all-day sessions of the League, the +four mass-meetings a week at the Opera House, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span>Sunday afternoon prayer and conference meetings, +were all attended and participated in by a very large +number of the better class of our citizens.</p> + +<p>In a word, a strong tide of temperance sentiment +prevailed, which, taken at the <i>flood</i>, by those who +should, for the sake of humanity, have ruled our city +in the fear of God, would have led on to the entire +overthrow of the liquor traffic and its consequent evils. +This fortunate end was not reached.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, in the language of one of our beloved +co-workers, Mrs. Wilson, “God honors the smallest +particle of faith in Him.” We hesitate not to claim +the undeniable good wrought in our midst as answers +vouchsafed to the many believing prayers offered by +earnest and untiring workers in the cause of temperance. +We heard more than one ex-saloonist say that +he was glad he had quit a business which did harm +to himself and customers. Our hearts were gladdened +every Sabbath by seeing those seated among us, +clothed and in their right minds, who, one year before, +were estranged from church, family and friends by that +destroyer of all the better faculties of the soul—<i>intemperance</i>. +Many of our faithful and devout sisters +gave it as their experience at the close of the year, +that it had been the richest and noblest of their lives. +“Good measure, pressed down and running over,” +was given them by the rewarder of the faithful.</p> + +<p>The daily meetings of the League, the visiting of +saloons in bands, or as committees, the circulation of +the various pledges and petitions, the distributing +of tracts, the visiting of those sick, and in prison, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span>a large amount of private temperance work, took a +great deal of time and strength. This work was +done, mostly, by women whose domestic cares had, +heretofore, occupied their time and thoughts. It was +a work <i>added to</i> the <i>more important</i>, and done in place +of the less important duties of wives, mothers and +sisters, but it was done promptly and cheerfully, and +not <i>one of them all died</i> from the overwork or exposure.</p> + +<p>We have yet to learn that any member of the house-holds +represented, were <i>materially injured</i> by the reduced +fare of their tables, or the depleted state of +their wardrobes. Still, after so long a time as eight +weeks, the fact was recognized that the Crusaders +were not blessed as the wandering Israelites, “whose +garments waxed not old upon them, whose shoes +waxed not old upon their feet, and whose bread +dropped from heaven!” Working-time was at first +reduced one-half; then three meetings a week were +held, and this continued until the 1st of August. The +work upon the street changed its form several times, +to suit the change in the impressions of the workers, +as to the better mode of conducting such services. +The last direct appeals to the saloonists, were made on +the 27th of May—nearly three months from the beginning +of the work. The dealers in liquors, both wholesale +and retail, who, at first, were at least polite, and +often apologetic, in their talks with the ladies, offering +to quit the business if any other employment could be +found, or to sell out at half or one-fourth the value, +again revived their courage, under the failure to enforce +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span>the ordinance, and evident cooling off of some +advocates of the movement, and closed their doors +and ears to all appeals. Outdoor meetings were held +in various parts of the city, in the daytime conducted +by the women, and on Friday evening in the Park, +mostly addressed by our ministers and lawyers, who +were not yet afraid to speak their minds on the subject +of temperance. Meetings of this kind were kept up +as long as the weather permitted. Then prayer-meetings +in private houses were undertaken, under +the auspices of the League, which have been fruitful +of much good.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Leiter, an active member of the League, was +chosen as Secretary of the State Temperance organization. +A convention, held in the interest of the +cause, made up of delegates from the several townships +of Richland county, convened in the Opera House, +June 13th, 1874. A permanent county organization was +effected, with Mrs. McVay, President; Mrs. Patterson, +Secretary; Mrs. Mercer, Treasurer, and one Vice-President +from each township.</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of a good work for this +county; men and women going miles into the country +to talk temperance up, and license down. The majority +against license was largely increased by the vote +of Richland county. A temperance picnic, held on the +4th of July, and addressed by “Mother Stewart,” was +a success in every way. On July 25th the trial of Wm. +Etz, for breaking the Ale and Beer Ordinance, was +begun, and occupied the attention of the people for +five days, being held in the court-room. The temperance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span>women attended, both as witnesses and spectators, +and were compelled to hear more unkind remarks, and +to receive more discourteous treatment, than during +the entire campaign, up to that time. The water +showered on them, from a down-town saloon, was (to +speak in a figure) but a <i>drop</i> to the <i>buckets full</i> dashed +at their devoted heads by these vigorous defenders of +the beer-keg. To have their own <i>favorite weapons</i>, the +words of <i>holy writ</i>, arrayed against them by their enemies, +was both a surprise and a grief. The verdict +rendered in the case was a death-blow to any hope of +the ordinance being of use under the existing administration. +Nothing was really lost but much gained +by the trial; among other things a better knowledge +of the foes of our cause, who stand as well behind the +bar of justice, as the bar of the saloon.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the second quarter a constitution +and by-laws were adopted. Previous to this a +simple pledge served to bind us together. At this +time, also, a reporter was appointed, who gave to the +public, in a series of articles, such work of the League +as seemed of general interest.</p> + +<p>Several temperance meetings were held on Sunday +afternoon, especially for children; but this important +branch did not receive the attention it merited until +after the close of the first year. In the latter part of +August the League meetings were reduced to one +each week, and these have since been held regularly +upon Wednesday afternoon. At least one general +temperance meeting was held each month during the +year.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span></p> + +<p>During the winter a permanent place of organization +came into effect. Committees were appointed +to canvass the city for members, presenting at the +same time two petitions for signatures—one to be +sent to the Ohio Legislature, praying against the +repeal of the Adair law; the other a memorial to +Congress, asking for restrictive laws in the manufacture +of alcoholic drinks in the District of Columbia, +and the Territories.</p> + +<p>Three assessments were collected in part, on the +$30,000 of stock actually taken by the temperance +men of Mansfield, for the use of the League. At the +time of permanent organization the stockholders were +released from further assessment.</p> + +<p>However much the work fell short of the desired +end during the months usually denominated the existence +of the Crusade proper—whatever weakness +was manifested in plan or performance, we are sure +of one thing: it was done in the fear of God and for +love of humanity.</p> + +<p>The great <i>mistake</i> committed by some, was in considering +the <i>Crusade ended</i> when the street work +ceased. That was a striking feature of the work, but +a feature <i>only</i>, not the soul or body, as the following +months have demonstrated.</p> + +<p>Of the enthusiastic 500 who went forth upon that +eventful day in March, 1874, the majority are not with +us in active work at this time, having either from +necessity returned to imperative home interests—though +their hearts are still in the work; or, with the +ebbing tide of popular sentiment, drifted to the open +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span>sea of indifference, but continuing in readiness to help +swell the next oncoming wave.</p> + +<p>A score and more of earnest laborers have continued +faithful, through some opposition and many discouragements, +during the past three years, guarding +with a jealous care, the true interests of this great +reform; and to-day ask no greater reward, than the +consciousness that they have been following the path +of duty.</p> + + +<h3 id="RIPLEY_OHIO"> + RIPLEY, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This beautiful town is situated on the Ohio river, +and contains about 3,500 inhabitants.</p> + +<p>The place became prominent during anti-slavery +times, because of its “<i>underground railway</i>.”</p> + +<p>If a fugitive slave once set foot on the streets of +that town, he was safe, no matter if his pursuers were +at his heels. Somehow or other he was spirited away, +and though every house was searched with a lighted +candle, he could not be found.</p> + +<p>My first recollections of Ripley were in this connection. +I lived in Maysville, Ky., a neighboring town, +which was an important slave market, and often whole +families would escape from their masters and find a +refuge there; and though so hotly pursued that they +were in sight when they entered the town, nothing +more would be heard of them.</p> + +<p>But while fighting human slavery so heroically and +successfully, that all southern Kentucky was in a +measure stripped of her slaves, the other slavery—the +worse slavery of the drink habit, was carried on +without restraint in their midst.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span></p> + +<p>But early in the Crusade movement, the women +rallied to this work, and carried it on heroically.</p> + +<p>The Crusade began in Ripley, February 5th, and in +nine days seventeen saloons were closed. Some of +the German dealers were so frightened and disgusted, +that they returned to the “Faderland.” The German +minister who tried to rally them for the conflict, was +soon prayed out of town.</p> + +<p>A correspondent writing from there while the contest +was going on, gives the following graphic account +of one day’s work:</p> + +<p>“Saturday we went to Sprenger’s with an advance +guard; for we had heard most bitter threats that he +had made. Imagine our delight when he met us in +the most cordial way, and, after singing and prayer, +gave us his name to the dealers’ pledge. Mr. Hauser, +the German druggist, who first declined to sign the +pledge, sent for the ladies and gave his name most +willingly. Mr. Scholter promised, by his country, his +God, and his wife, never to sell another drop of intoxicating +liquor, and we know he has kept it in the face +of strong entreaty to the contrary. Mr. Reinert received +the ladies the first day, but the second closed +his door. Down on their knees the ladies fell upon +the pavement, in snow and sleet, with a most pitiless +wind blowing. Men stood with uncovered heads, and +the crowd wept. A commander of our navy, who +has faced death and danger, said he could not endure +this sight, and tears coursed over his face. Close +against the pane a mother bowed in prayer, and a +moment later the door was opened, and Mr. Reinert +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span>said, ‘Ladies, I will quit the business; send a committee +of your business men to me.’ They went, and +he arranged to dispose of his stock.”</p> + +<p>Rev. Granville Moody, a Methodist minister, who +had been a colonel in the Union army during the war—a +man of wonderful courage and possessing great wit +and power, was stationed there at the time, and backed +up the work by his influence. His wife, a talented +leader, was prominent and efficient in the work.</p> + +<p>The ladies entered every open door.</p> + +<p>The steamer <i>Wildwood</i>, which plied daily between +Maysville and Cincinnati, received a share of their attention, +because of the bar on board.</p> + +<p>One day, as she came in from Maysville, a large +crowd of Crusaders were awaiting. When she blew +her whistle they responded with sacred song: “Shall +we gather at the river.”</p> + +<p>Captain Powers, a born gentleman, received the +ladies politely, and conducted them on board the boat, +where they held a prayer-meeting. Captain Powers +signed the personal pledge, as did many others, and +“the barkeeper promised not to sell to citizens of +Ripley.”</p> + +<p>All the meetings in this town were remarkable for +spiritual power, and the prayerful efforts of the women +in their work were crowned with a good degree of +success.</p> + + +<h3 id="TIFFIN_OHIO"> + TIFFIN, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This town, with a population of nine thousand, had, +at the beginning of the Crusade, sixty-five saloons.</p> + +<p>After visiting the saloons for some time, in bands, the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span>ladies changed their tactics, on the 31st of March, and +placed pickets at nearly all the saloons in the city. At +some they were admitted, at others locked out. Several +of the saloons closed on account of the pickets, +and the proprietors went to the country.</p> + +<p>The city marshal, at several places where the guards +were denied admittance, opened the doors, and told +the ladies to enter and stay as long as they pleased. +The traffic dropped off wonderfully. Christian Mueller, +the principal brewer, said that if the Crusade continued +thirty days longer he would be compelled to +shut down.</p> + +<p>The second saloon surrender took place April 7th. +It was kept by D. Bartell, and was one of the worst +saloons in the city. The proprietor signed the pledge, +and the ladies emptied the stock of liquors in his cellar, +into the gutter.</p> + +<p>Wagner & Brickner, proprietors of the distillery, +were driven almost to desperation. They were compelled +to redeem from the bonded warehouse $5,000 +worth of whiskey per week until the 1st of May, and +their sales were too slim to aid them in the task.</p> + +<p>A public meeting was called, April 8th, in the city +hall, to take measures to get the mayor, to issue a +proclamation forbidding the women the right to carry +on the Crusade any longer. The meeting was a failure; +only about one hundred and fifty saloon-keepers +and bummers congregated, while the temperance mass-meeting +at National Hall was overcrowded.</p> + +<p>The ladies, besides going to the saloons in bands, +resorted to the picket system, and smaller bands remained +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span>at the saloons, from eight <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span> till ten <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, the +pickets being changed every hour.</p> + +<p>This proved, during the Crusade, to be the most +effectual way to break down the traffic. None but men +lost to shame will go into a saloon in the presence of +Christian women, and over their remonstrances and +prayers, to drink.</p> + + +<h3 id="BELLEFONTAINE_OHIO"> + BELLEFONTAINE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. I. S. Gardner, April 6th, 1874, wrote the following +in regard to the work:</p> + +<p>The first surrender of special consequence was that +of J—— J——. Mr. J—— is of Irish descent, and has +been used to liquor-selling all his life. He was one +among the first that was visited, and while he treated +the band with respect, he was very loud in his denunciations +against this interference in his business. His +place was considered one of the worst, as a general +resort, for those not only long addicted to drink, but +also for those just commencing. The ladies had reason +to suppose it would take a long siege to convince him +of the wrong, much less induce him to quit the business.</p> + +<p>On Monday the first visit was made. On Wednesday +he began, under the influence of Mother Stewart’s +talking, to show signs of weakening. He had prepared +himself for a vigorous biblical controversy, having +his Bible in hand and passages selected which seemed +to him to support his position. But she speedily +knocked the props from under him, and left him without +the support he had counted on. At the morning +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span>meeting on Thursday he made his appearance, and announced +his readiness to surrender, and at the suggestion +of those in whom he had confidence, made it complete +by signing the pledge not only to cease selling, but +also to abstain from drinking. The scene was impressive. +Every heart that sympathized in the movement +was full, and the ladies of the League, and others, filed +by where he was standing, and taking him by the hand +bid him “God speed.” Since then he has made some +very telling speeches, and given evidence of a contrite +heart.</p> + +<p>The other case is that of Mr. T. L. M——. Even +before any visits were made to him, it had been reported +that powder and lead would be used in case +of interference with his trade, and a band went there +with considerable doubt, but with brave hearts. For +about a week, visits were made under various conditions; +sometimes noisy demonstrations were made, +as well as rudeness offered, and again a better show +of respect. There were many interesting incidents +connected with this case, which would take too much +time and space to relate. Finally, one afternoon, he +hung out a white flag, and it was supposed to be a +token of surrender, but on being visited by a band, he +refused to sign the pledge, nor would he let the ladies +stand near the door. On the next day a similar scene +was enacted. At his request a committee of gentlemen +visited him, and settled the matter, so that, on +Wednesday evening of the week following the first +visit, he made his appearance at a mass-meeting and +signed the pledge. On the following Sabbath he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span>attended church for the first time, it is said, in five +years. It is believed by every one that he will remain +true to his pledge. Mr. M. was a wholesale and retail +dealer.</p> + +<p>Mr. R—— is the only one who holds out, under, it +is believed, the support of dealers in Cleveland and +Cincinnati, but the women are as determined as the +dealers, and have the advantage, in being at no expense. +The dealers may as well succumb, as the +women say they have started out on this Crusade for +<i>life</i>, if necessary, to stop the traffic, and will instruct +their daughters to keep it up. The only work performed +here is picketing Mr. R——’s establishment, +which is done more to redeem the hard drinkers, who +are about the only ones that visit the place, than with +the expectation of closing it up. This latter is merely +a matter of time.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 9.0em;"><span class="smcap">Mrs. I. S. Gardner</span>,</span><br> + President Ladies’ League, Bellefontaine, Ohio. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>I glean the following from the <i>Cincinnati Gazette</i>: +April 4th.—“Roades declares that only law can prevail +against him. Monday’s election will be an exciting +one. Ladies are calling on voters and urging them to +do their duty on Monday.”</p> + +<p>April 9th.—“The election passed off quietly, although +some of the offices were hotly contested. +Mayor Walker was re-elected. The women are untiring +in their work against whiskey. Judge West +addressed a large audience on Tuesday evening, and +Judge Cole will speak to-night.”</p> + +<p>“The women of this town have settled down to +solid, earnest, persistent work.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="SPRINGFIELD_OHIO"> + SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The following facts are gleaned from the <i>Springfield +Republic</i>, the special correspondence of the <i>Cincinnati +Gazette</i>, and from Mother Stewart’s statement:</p> + +<p>“The first mass-meeting mentioned occurred January +23d, 1872. Allen Hall was well filled, on Monday +evening, on the occasion of an address on the liquor +traffic, by Mrs. E. D. Stewart. The speaker gave an +interesting and able address.” <i>Springfield Republic.</i></p> + +<p>The editor of this paper, Mr. C. M. Nichols, a +member of the Congregational Church, was a staunch +friend of temperance, and in every way, before and +during the Crusade, gave aid to the cause.</p> + +<p>Several suits, brought by the wives of drunkards to +recover damages, under the Adair law, from liquor-dealers, +added to the general interest.</p> + +<p>Mother Stewart hearing accidentally that a woman +had such a suit pending in court, in company with +Mrs. John Foos, went to the court-room, and the +attorney for the plaintiff induced her to make the +opening plea to the jury.</p> + +<p>The case was won, and the wife was awarded one +hundred dollars damages.</p> + +<p>In October, 1873, another case was brought to her +notice. A woman in deep distress, with streaming +eyes, told her a sad story of suffering and want. Her +husband was a drunkard.</p> + +<p>This woman belonged to a worthy family, was the +sister of a distinguished minister in the South, who at +that time was president of a college; she had always +been accustomed to plenty, till robbed of all by the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span>liquor-dealers. Knowing Mother Stewart’s connection +with the case above mentioned, she appealed to her.</p> + +<p>To fight this matter through the courts was not a +pleasant task, and she was about to turn away from +the woman; the lines of wretchedness on that sad, +tearful face, arrested her. “No, I dare not do that; +she will haunt me in my dying hour,” was the thought +that brought her to a decision. So she not only +accompanied her to the law office of Mower & Rawlins, +and secured the aid of one of the firm, but she +stirred up the ladies of Springfield in behalf of this +woman, so cruelly wronged and robbed by liquor-dealers.</p> + +<p>The trial was fixed for the 16th of October, and +many ladies were in the court-room, but the defence +secured a postponement till the 21st. The papers +took up the matter, general interest was excited, and, +when the day of trial came, the court-room was +crowded with the best men and women of the city. +The excitement was intense. Mother Stewart made +a plea, and charged the jury. The suit was gained, +and $300 awarded to the wronged wife as damages.</p> + +<p>In the meantime a petition to the city council was +circulated, and the names of six hundred ladies and +sixty men were secured, asking the council to enforce +the laws for the suppression of intemperance. This +petition was presented by the ladies, and Mother +Stewart and Mrs. J. A. S. Guy addressed the council +in its behalf. The committee, to whom this petition +was referred by the council, made the following report, +which shows that they were “men of <i>words</i>, if not of +<i>deeds</i>:”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span></p> + +<p>“We also give it as our deliberate judgment, that +the matters to which this petition refers is one of such +transcendent importance as to demand of this council +the exhausting of every means within its power to +divest it of its capacity for making misery and crime +within our midst.</p> + +<p>“The universal sense of the Christian world condemns +drunkenness as a crime.... And if +this be so on recognized principles, measures are +demanded to prevent it and punish it.</p> + +<p>“The temperance movement throughout the land +has suffered more from the indiscretion of its friends +than from the open opposition of its enemies.</p> + +<p>“We are therefore not in favor of recommending +council to grant what is asked for by the petitioners.”</p> + +<p>The city council formally adopted the following:</p> + +<p>“<i>Resolved</i>, That the indulgence in intoxicating drinks, +whereby neglect and want are brought home to the +family, is a crime against nature, and it is expedient to +exercise any authority, or impose any punishment, +necessary to prevent it.</p> + +<p>“<i>Resolved</i>, That it is an apparent and acknowledged +fact that there is an indulgence in intoxicating drinks +in this city, which deprive families of peace, comfort, +and a proper support, and there are those who take, +in exchange for their drinks, the money known to be +needed for family support, contrary to law.”</p> + +<p>These bombastic resolutions did not frighten the +rum-sellers. They went on with their illegal sales +without fear. They had learned long before, that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span>these official utterances were to quiet the public conscience, +and shield law-makers from well-deserved +contempt.</p> + +<p>The Bible in the pulpit of one of the Methodist +churches was stolen and sold for drink in a saloon. +In the meantime, Mrs. Guy, after a night of watching +and prayer, wrote a resolution, and presented it to the +City Benevolent Association.</p> + +<p>The result was, a committee was appointed to confer +with the ministers, and secure their co-operation in +holding mass-meetings. The ministers were called +upon in their weekly meeting, and a union mass-meeting +arranged for in the Lutheran Church. This +first meeting took place December 2d, 1873. The +second mass-meeting occurred December 17th, and +was addressed by Revs. J. W. Spring and Allen, Mr. +Jackson, and Mother Stewart. Every seat in the body +of the Central M. E. Church was filled, and the aisles +were seated, and every foot of standing room taken.</p> + +<p>The speeches were strong and spirited, and there +was a great deal of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Nichols was called on to speak, he asked +that the audience might be addressed by Mother +Stewart instead. When she came forward, carrying a +glass tumbler full of liquor, and told where and how +she got it, the interest was intense. It was against +the law to sell liquors on the Sabbath day; but everybody +knew, and the city authorities knew well, that this +law was being broken every week. On Sunday +morning, December 16th, she had disguised herself +with an old circular cloak and sun-bonnet, and gone +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span>into a saloon through the back door. She found a +number of young men and old buying liquors. Approaching +the counter, she asked for a drink. And +when asked what she would have, she said, “Sherry +wine.”</p> + +<p>The barkeeper poured it out; she questioned him +before the men as to what it was, etc., and then laying +a ten-cent piece on the counter she took the glass and +rushed from the room with all possible speed.</p> + +<p>She appealed to the men as to whether they would +prosecute this case, and several hands went up.</p> + +<p>Weekly meetings were decided upon, and the next +mass-meeting was held December 24th, in the Presbyterian +Church.</p> + +<p>On January 7th, 1874, a Woman’s League was +formed, with the following officers:</p> + +<p>Mother Stewart, President; Vice-Presidents, 1st +ward, Mrs. Wm. Barnett; 2d ward, Mrs. Dr. Tee-garden; +3d ward, Mrs. Thomas I. Finch; 4th ward, +Mrs. John Foos; 5th ward, Mrs. James Kinney; Secretary, +Mrs. J. A. S. Guy; Treasurer, Mrs. James +Cathcart.</p> + +<p>Springfield was a large town, larger than any of the +towns where the Crusade had been made successful, +and there was a general feeling that the plan of saloon +visiting, introduced elsewhere, could not be carried +out in cities.</p> + +<p>But the women, who were following the pillar and +the cloud, on Tuesday, January 11th, commenced street +work. The first day there were only thirty or forty +ladies in the band, but the second day the number +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span>was doubled. The first visit was to the Lagonda +House Saloon. Admission being refused, the ladies +held their services before the door, Mrs. Cosler making +the first prayer, and Mother Stewart addressing +the crowds of people gathered to see the strange +sight. The next day they were in the street again. +They were admitted at the Lagonda House, but the +crowd was locked out. The prayer-meeting was +held in the billiard-room.</p> + +<p>At the next saloon they were not admitted, and +when Mother Stewart attempted to talk to the crowd, the +saloon-keeper came out and shrieked, “Get away: get +away, every one of you; I don’t want any trespassers +on my premises; you shan’t stand on my steps!” +But the people cried, “Go on! go on!” and a policeman +took the irate saloonist in charge and restored +order.</p> + +<p>That evening Dio Lewis spoke in Springfield. The +Opera House was packed, and the meeting, which was +addressed by Van Pelt, Dio Lewis, and Mother +Stewart, ended in a blaze of enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The next morning, at nine o’clock, the Central +Methodist Church was crowded with ladies. Dio +Lewis and Van Pelt were present, and a still larger +number of ladies were enlisted for the work. Not +long afterwards Mrs. James Kinney was chosen as +leader of the band. Hundreds of women engaged in +the work, and labored hard and long. Among the +prominent workers were Mrs. Kinney, Guy, Foos, +Cathcart, Banes, and many other noble women whose +names cannot be mentioned, but whose record is on +high.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span></p> + +<p>Mother Stewart was called out much into the general +work, and did efficient service during the canvass +against the “<i>License Clause</i>,” in the new Constitution, +which was defeated by the efforts of the women of the +Crusade, and the zeal they inspired among temperance +men.</p> + +<p>The State was thoroughly canvassed, and the victory +won.</p> + +<p>A State Temperance Convention was held in Springfield, +February 24th. About one thousand delegates +were present. Dio Lewis acted as temporary chairman +and organized the meeting.</p> + +<p>Mrs. H. C. McCabe, of Delaware, was elected permanent +president, a position she was well calculated to +fill, and which she has held ever since.</p> + +<p>There was great enthusiasm in the convention, and +many of the heroic workers, who met each other for +the first time in this, the first State convention of women, +have, in the years that have followed, worked +and planned for the extension of the cause like sisters, +with loving trust and confidence.</p> + +<p>April 3d, a county organization was formed in Clarke +county.</p> + +<p>The convention was held at Springfield, in Black’s +Opera House. Four hundred and fifty women marched +from head-quarters in procession to the hall. Mother +Stewart was elected President; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. +Bennett and Mrs. Cathcart for the city, and one for +each township outside of the city; Secretary, Mrs. J. +A. S. Guy; Treasurer, Capt. Penny Stewart.</p> + +<p>This is said to have been the first county organization +in the State.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span></p> + +<p>On April 6th the spring election for municipal officers +took place. The claims of temperance had been +pressed, and the ballot-box, it had been urged, was the +most effectual way to curtail the power of alcohol. The +election was one of the most exciting the city had ever +known. On Saturday evening previous, large mass-meetings +of workingmen were addressed by Mrs. M. +W. Banes and Mother Stewart; and on election day +an all-day prayer-meeting was held.</p> + +<p>The temperance ticket was carried by a fine majority.</p> + +<p>The plan of work soon after changed, the picket system +being resorted to. The guards were relieved +every two hours. But as there were, at the beginning +of the Crusade, about one hundred and thirty saloons +scattered over a town of fifteen thousand inhabitants, +to station such an army over the town demanded a +heavy force and great sacrifices. The traffic fell off +wonderfully. Some saloons were closed, a better public +sentiment prevailed, and a more faithful execution of +the laws against beer and tippling houses was secured.</p> + +<p>The men in this town stood gallantly by the women +in their work. Special mention should be made of the +faithful labors of C. M. Nichols, editor of the <i>Springfield +Republic</i>—a fearless advocate of temperance and +anti-license; Dr. Cloakey, of the U. P. Church, who +was always ready to help the women with prayer or +counsel, or a speech, and who brought forth treasures, +new and old, from his rich storehouse of scripture +knowledge, with marvellous aptness and effect. Though +very aged and feeble, he seemed as enthusiastic as in +the prime and fire of youth. He has two sons in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span>ministry; both follow in his footsteps, and are ardent +temperance workers. Rev. J. W. Spring, of the Methodist +Church, was an earnest, capable worker, and a +competent adviser; and Rev. M. W. Hamma, of the +Evangelical Lutheran Church, a most enthusiastic +worker and eloquent speaker. Many of the laymen +did effective service, and contributed largely to the +success of the women’s work in Springfield.</p> + +<p>These pages are not devoted to the workers, but to +the <i>work</i>; and yet, when the names of heroic workers +are known, they are recorded.</p> + +<p>It seems eminently proper in this connection to +refer to the services, abroad, of Mother Stewart, which +resulted in great good, and, with the co-operation of +Mrs. Parker, the organization of a “British Woman’s +Temperance Union.”</p> + +<p>She was met and welcomed at Liverpool; and at +almost every town she visited in England, Ireland and +Scotland, grand receptions were given her, at which the +dignitaries of the towns presided and made speeches. +The greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and large audiences +greeted her everywhere. In London an audience rose +to their feet and waved their handkerchiefs and cheered +enthusiastically when she was introduced as “<i>A Crusader</i>.”</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most magnificent reception given her +was in Glasgow, Scotland, in the Queen’s room, which +had been most elegantly draped with white flounced +lace curtains and American flags, and flags of various +nationalities, looped up with roses and ivy; while the +rarest exotics ladened the air with perfume. Six +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span>hundred of Glasgow’s most prominent and respected +citizens were there, as a select company, to give +addresses of welcome, and partake with her the sumptuous +feast provided. Mrs. Margarete E. Parker was +very active in securing for her a favorable hearing.</p> + +<p>Every American woman has reason to be proud and +thankful, for the marked attention shown to one of her +countrywomen, but especially the women who worked +in the Crusade; as the respect and attention shown to +Mother Stewart was very largely due to her connection +with that wonderful movement, which at the time +won a world-wide fame, and which future generations +will commend, and embalm in song and story, as the +Woman’s Crusade.</p> + + +<h3 id="NEWARK_OHIO"> + NEWARK, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>This town contains about 3,000 inhabitants, and is +situated at the intersection of the Baltimore and Ohio, +and Pittsburgh, Chicago and St. Louis railroads.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the Crusade there were in this +little town <i>fifty saloons</i>, or one for every sixty of its +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>The writer of these pages has occasion to remember +the miserable tumble-down old building where unfortunate +passengers were forced to wait to make connection, +and the whiskey saloon, called a “Restaurant,” +near by. One night detained at this place till midnight, +the drunkenness and revelry and profanity were +positively alarming.</p> + +<p>The yelling, hooting, wrangling and fighting were +kept up with little intermission till the midnight train, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span>that bore us away, came in. The fumes of tobacco +and whiskey as that crowd of men gathered at the +depot were almost stifling.</p> + +<p>Fifty or sixty men, in all stages of intoxication, reeled +out from their midnight orgies to see the train come +in and block the passage-ways.</p> + +<p>But early in March the Crusade began. At first +there was a strong feeling against the movement. +Men were afraid their business would be injured. +Some went so far as to forbid their wives having anything +to do with it. But it was not long till all this +opposition broke down, except on the part of dealers.</p> + +<p>The women went to the church, and there consecrated +themselves to God, and marched out right past +their homes, right past their husbands’ stores, and +banks, and offices; and as the solemn procession filed +into the saloons, singing gospel songs, irate husbands, +melted to tears, all anger, all opposition gone, stood +reverently, with uncovered heads. It was not long till +the railroad saloons were closed by the companies, +and those horrid dens of iniquity broken up.</p> + +<p>A correspondent gives the following:</p> + +<p>“Yesterday was the Ides of March in whiskey in +Newark. It is as assuredly inaugurated there as the +rebellion when the first red-hot ball leaped from +Sumter’s wall, and upon its panoply is already written, +‘Mene, tekel upharsin.’ The Fort Sumter of the +whiskey war was the first prayer proclaimed from +woman’s lips at Washington Court-House for the +Great Father above, who presides over our destinies, +to assist them to abolish that which has enervated the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span>mightiest minds, and brought ruin and desolation to +many a happy and prosperous family. Never shall +I forget the touching and imposing spectacle that burst +upon my view as I beheld, walking calmly, solemnly, +and deliberately, over two hundred ladies, representing +our best society, enshrined with silence and beautified +by tears. The streets were crowded by thousands +as they moved, and many a head was uncovered as +the ladies passed, as if they had a special power from +God.</p> + +<p>“Soon they stopped before one of our saloons, and +the ladies were received there, as at other places, with +politeness and consideration. Failing to get the signature +of the proprietor to a petition, they knelt in fervent +prayer, and, with eyes raised to heaven, asked the +God of love to help them. There was in the attitude +of those women, with eyes raised to heaven, something +far more powerful and touching than speech; for even +if God had turned a deaf ear to their earnest entreaties, +yet in that attitude they would have been dignified. +Men stood there, not in ridicule, that probably never +heard a fervent prayer, with uncovered heads and +tearful eyes, as if impressed that the angels of heaven +were hovering above them. On several occasions, as +our ladies took some of our saloonists by the hands, +tears could be seen streaming down the cheeks of both +men and women, and as eyes met eyes, they dropped +in reverence, as if to conceal their thoughts. Even a +laugh at such a time seemed to jar discordantly on +such enchanting silence, for they seemed, in that +touching immobility, as if in communion with God. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span>Laugh, as I have, ye that may read my letter, at its +magic power; but when one reflects that it is our +mothers, our sisters, our wives, that are praying, weeping, +beseeching, and asking in the name of humanity, +in the name of God, to overcome an evil that has +ruined millions of the human race, and filled our jails +and prisons, unless one be destitute of feeling, they +cannot look upon such scenes unmoved. As the +ladies passed a house yesterday, the husband stormed, +and the wife laughed; but no sooner had that multitude +of solemn women commenced to sing,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“‘Nearer, my God, to Thee,’</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">than the husband burst into tears, and, throwing his +arms around his wife, he said, ‘My dear wife, I cannot +resist that song. I am now convinced that it is the +power of God that moves that column. Go and join +them, and may God bless you.’ Bulwer says, ‘The +pen is mightier than the sword.’ I declare that prayer +uttered from woman’s lips is mightier than the law. I +hope that moderation and consistency may ever +accompany these movements, and nothing transpire to +mar their dignity or true nobility. The epoch that +crowned this movement will never be forgotten. It is +just in its infancy; it will not only sweep over the +republic, but knock at all the doors of Europe for +admission, and women will at last, by this movement, +have an epitaph written upon that which is less perishable +than marble—upon the hearts of untold millions—by +the touching pencil of gratitude. Our women, as +I close, are again on the march. They have divided +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span>into squads, and their songs and prayers constantly +fall upon the ear, thence to be borne aloft upon the +invisible chords, and rehearsed to the courts of God +by the heavenly harpists.”</p> + +<p>The enthusiasm became so great that the church +was crowded every morning long before the hour for +meeting had arrived. Business houses were closed, +and a solemn silence pervaded the streets.</p> + +<p>A friend of mine visiting Newark during the Crusade, +reached there on the nine o’clock train. The +streets were empty, the doors of the business houses +nearly all closed.</p> + +<p>She hastened to the church, which she found +crowded to its utmost capacity. Pushing through the +group about the door, she obtained a view of the +audience. A deep solemnity pervaded the place. The +very air seemed surcharged with spiritual influences. +Many were weeping.</p> + +<p>She kept her position by the door till the band arose +to move out on the street. A passage-way was +cleared by a motion of a hand, and the ladies marched +out two and two, like a funeral procession. She fell +into the procession, and went with them to the saloons, +and saw what she had never seen before, a hand-to-hand +fight with the powers of darkness, led on by +<i>Christian</i> women. The struggle was too intense to +last long; but victory turned on Israel’s side, and +many saloons were closed.</p> + +<p>Visiting the town the following autumn, it seemed +transformed.</p> + +<p>No saloons about the depot; no drunken men reeling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span>through the streets; but a degree of thrift and +good order was visible on every side.</p> + +<p>The week before there had been a county fair, and +liquor had flowed freely there, and many of the weak +had fallen into the snare.</p> + +<p>But the town authorities, if they were not diligent in +punishing the men who had sold to minors, and drunkards, +contrary to law, were very prompt in arresting +the victims, and thrusting them into the jail.</p> + +<p>In company with other ladies, I visited the jail. It +was a cold, frosty morning.</p> + +<p>The massive iron door closed behind us with a +heavy clank, and was locked. But there was still another +wall of iron lattice-work between us and the +prisoners, which was opened, and we were ushered +into the presence of the inmates, and the iron gate +locked behind us. The atmosphere was stifling. +Groups of men and boys were sitting on the stone +floor, for <i>there were no chairs</i>. They arose when we +entered. It was a pitiful sight. Most of them were +ragged and filthy and unkept. There was no chance +for personal cleanliness, and little for fresh air. No +books, papers, or anything to encourage thoughts +of a better life, or give comfort. With a hearty +“Good-morning, brother,” we shook hands with each. +We told them that we were the friends of Jesus, and +came in His name to tell them that He loved them, +and wanted to be their Friend in this the time of their +need. As we talked, many were moved to tears.</p> + +<p>We sang “Rock of Ages, cleft for me,” and knelt on +the cold, hard, stone floor to pray. Some knelt, others +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span>crouched down on the floor, and hid their faces in +their ragged sleeves, and sobbed aloud as we told +God all about their need of Him as a Friend and +Helper.</p> + +<p>“What can you sing?” inquired one of the ladies. +“Shall we gather at the river?” several responded, +and most of them joined in the singing. They had +learned it in the Sunday-school. Looking around, +we saw curious iron cages across the entire end of the +room, and eyes glaring at us like the eyes of animals, +and fingers thrust through the iron lattice like claws. +Human beings thrust into these dark cells, with stone +walls on seven sides of the room, and only the iron +grating on one side for light, and heat, and air. And +for what crime? Drunkenness. Every man and boy +in that jail, and there were about fifteen, was there for +drunkenness, but one. He was there for forgery, and +he too confessed that he drank freely. Going to one +after another of these cages, unfit for animals, and +pressing my face against the iron bars, I could see +that the rooms were about seven by four or five feet. +More than half of the prisoners were under age. +Where were the saloon-keepers who sold them liquor +in violation of law? Why were they not behind these +bars instead of these boys? Perhaps at that hour +they were hob-nobbing with some politician as to how +they would carry the next election, and break down +the Crusade and all law. I could only thrust two of +my fingers through the grating in an attempt to shake +hands, as I said, “Good-morning, brother.”</p> + +<p>Immediately the fingers were clasped by the hand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span>of the inmate, and the sad eyes lighted up with a look +of welcome.</p> + +<p>“You are very young to be here,” I said to one, <i>a +mere boy</i>, who held on to my finger tips, while his eyes +filled with tears. “Have you a mother?”</p> + +<p>“No. She died when I was a baby.”</p> + +<p>Oh, what a story of neglect and heart hunger and +temptation <i>that</i> little sentence told.</p> + +<p>“Have you a father?”</p> + +<p>“No. Leastwise I dun no’ if he’s alive. He never +paid no attention to me. He never cared for nothing +but whiskey.”</p> + +<p>“I hope you don’t drink.”</p> + +<p>“I take a spree sometimes. I took too much at the +fair, that’s the reason I am caged.”</p> + +<p>I talked to him kindly and lovingly; the tears ran +down my face, till the iron bars were wet, while he +sobbed as though his heart would break, and the dear +women about me were all in tears, and many of the +men were weeping, when we knelt there to pray in +his behalf, that the All-pitiful Father would look on +this orphan boy with compassion, and pleaded for His +mercy upon them all.</p> + +<p>When we bade him farewell he sobbed out, “I’ll +never drink any more.”</p> + +<p>Oh, that God would hasten the time when liquor-dealers +will be put behind iron bars for selling intoxicating +liquors, instead of boys for drinking them.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="URBANA_OHIO"> + URBANA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The facts that make up this report are gleaned +mainly from a <i>Temperance extra</i> published daily, furnished +me by the Society.</p> + +<p>The Crusade wave reached this place March 9th, +and found the Christian women ready to obey the +Master’s word, “Go ye also into my vineyard and +labor.” They too had, with feelings of grief and +terror, seen the ominous cloud of intemperance +settling down over the fair cities and happy homes of +our land, and had called aloud upon the Lord for deliverance, +and he had heard them.</p> + +<p>In response to notices given in the different +churches of the city, a large meeting of the women +was held in the Presbyterian Church, at three o’clock +<span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, March 9th, 1874. After singing and prayer, they +organized with the following officers: President, Mrs. +G. W. Hitt; Vice-President, Mrs. M. G. Williams; +Secretary, Mrs. T. D. Crow; Treasurer, Mrs. James +Anderson. They felt that the time for work had +come, and from mansion and cottage alike, they went +forth, with faith and courage, strong to accomplish +the work assigned them in that part of the Lord’s +heritage, and in His name to “rescue the perishing.” +Their hearts were aflame with the love of Jesus, +and they were yearning for the opportunity to “tell +to sinners round, what a dear Saviour they had +found.” And for more than three months they labored +daily, from <i>four</i> and <i>five o’clock</i> in the morning +until nine o’clock at night.</p> + +<p>Thursday, March 12th, was the first day that saw +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span>the Crusaders upon the streets of Urbana. A day +long to be remembered by those who went forth, +the willing instruments in the hands of the Lord, for +the accomplishment of His work; and there were not +wanting those who, in fear and trembling, bid them +“God speed.”</p> + +<p>The ladies met, that morning, in the First M. E. +Church. Mrs. Jennings read the Scriptures; and after +singing that grand old hymn, “All hail the power of +Jesus’ name,” Mrs. Patrick prayed a short, earnest +prayer. After the singing of another hymn, Mrs. Hitt +gave the word to go forth. It was a solemn moment; +and as they followed Mrs. Kimber and Mrs. Shyrigh, +ladies who led them that day, their hearts were lifted +up to God for guidance and wisdom.</p> + +<p>Out into the bitter blasts of a strong east wind they +went, their hearts warm with the love of the sinner’s +Friend. Old women, with bent forms and silvery hair, +walked with feeble steps. Young women, radiant +with beauty, purified by Christian faith and love, +moved along with light and eager step.</p> + +<p>The first place visited was the Weaver House +saloon. The saloon-keeper had been warned of their +approach, so the ladies found themselves barred out. +But they went on with their singing and prayers; +kneeling down upon the cold hard stones of the pavement, +determined to do their duty, notwithstanding +the winter blasts and hard hearts of the men. As the +sweet notes of “I need Thee every hour,” floated out +upon the wintry winds, a crowd began to gather to +witness this strange sight; men who believed their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span>work was God-given, gathered close around, trying to +shield them from the wind.</p> + +<p>The next place visited was Henry Fulwiler’s beer +saloon, on South Main street. This place was also +closed against them. From his warm quarters this +man heard all the loving, tender petitions, that went +up to God for him, but was unmoved. Miss Saddie +Thompson, Miss Belle Stayman, and Miss Emma Long +stood in the doorway and sang, “Jesus, Lover of my +soul;” after which Mrs. Jennings read the sixth chapter +of Ephesians, and Mrs. Hitt prayed. A crowd +had followed them, which grew larger every moment, +until the streets were filled; and from every window, +and from the house-tops, the people gazed upon this +earnest band of godly women, praying for the souls +of men who had never prayed for themselves. While +they were praying, three men, who were in the saloon, +raised their glasses of poison and drank confusion to +the souls of the ladies. No violence was offered them +by the crowd.</p> + +<p>From this place the Crusaders proceeded to Samuel +Wheritt’s saloon. This place was closed, also. A +man named Joe Pence came along, and made a disturbance, +and demanded that the pavement be cleared. +He was so disrespectful towards the ladies that he was +marched off to the calaboose. The ladies, to avoid +any more trouble on this account, divided into two +lines, one close up to the house, the other on the curbstone, +and so continued their meeting. This was the +last place visited that day. The ladies returned to the +church, where a large company was waiting for them, +and received their account of their work with joy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span></p> + +<p>The ladies concluded to divide up into several small +bands, and follow each other. Band No. 1 was led by +Mrs. J. M. Boul; No. 2 by Mrs. Dr. Goddard; No. 3 +by Mrs. West; No. 4 by Mrs. J. G. Hedges. These +bands numbered about thirty each, and were led by +elderly ladies, and each numbering among its members +some of the younger ladies to lead in the singing. +The bands left the church about twenty minutes apart, +and followed each other, so that about the time one +band was leaving a saloon another would be in sight. +And so they kept the enemy within his stronghold, in +rather bad humor, it is feared.</p> + +<p>A laughable incident occurred one day, at Owen +Coughlin’s. This man has a saloon and a bakery adjoining. +He did not understand their management of +forces, and one day he watched the first and second +bands come and depart, and looked upon the arrival +of the third band. In the meantime, band number four +had come up and joined its head on to the rear of number +three. As the third moved off, Coughlin came to +his door, and, looking up and down and seeing no more +advancing, thought he would now have a respite, and +stepped out, with an air of relief, upon the pavement. +But when the head of column four reached his door, it +halted and began a hymn. A look of mingled astonishment +and despair came over his countenance, as he +turned and entered his door again. We should think +he would conclude that baking was his best chance for +a living.</p> + +<p>The saloon of Mrs. Breslin was visited, and when +the band entered they beheld the whole family standing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span>in the background, dumb with amazement and terror. +Mrs. B. informed the ladies that if there was any +legitimate business by which she could earn a living for +herself and twelve children, she would quit liquor-selling. +She stated that she had worked out; but, one day, +upon coming home, she found that the children had set +fire to the house. So she began business in her own +house.</p> + +<p>After the work had been in progress some two +weeks, Mrs. Hitt called for volunteers to go on picket duty +at the doors of the saloons. Women, young and +old, willingly offered themselves for this very trying +duty. Promptly each day these soldiers of the cross +took up their positions, and held them in spite of wind +and weather. Groups of citizens would gather round +the pickets when they were on duty. Men brought +chairs and seated the ladies who were shut out of the +saloons. Robes were provided to throw over them +while they quietly noted down the names of those who +had the hardihood to enter in their presence. One +night, when it was extremely disagreeable, and the +picket outside of Murphy’s had remained to a late +hour, that gallant Irishman could not stand against +such devotion any longer, and coming out said: “Now, +ladies, if you will go home, I will lock-up, and will not +open again to-night.” And so, believing him sincere, +the guard departed.</p> + +<p>Mass-meetings were held every week, which were +well attended, and full of interest; and such an enthusiasm +was aroused in the cause of temperance as +never was known in the history of Urbana. As evidence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span>of interest awakened, an ordinance, prohibiting +ale, beer, and porter-houses, was passed by the city +council, and a public sentiment was aroused which sustained +the enforcement of the ordinance in several +notable instances.</p> + +<p>When the warm weather came, it was thought best +to have the bands go out in the morning at five o’clock, +and in the evening at seven, remaining out for one +hour each time, and visiting as many saloons as possible +in that time.</p> + +<p>The ladies of the League addressed political meetings +all over the country, which doubtless contributed +largely to the defeat of the license clause in the county.</p> + +<p>There were twenty-seven liquor-dealers in Urbana +when the Crusade began. At the time for renewing +their license only <i>five</i> presented themselves. Some +who promised to quit selling are faithful to their +promises.</p> + + +<h3 id="DAYTON_OHIO"> + DAYTON, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Dayton is a beautiful, well-built town, in central +Ohio. Its streets and avenues are broad and well-paved. +It has handsome residences, fine churches, +substantial public buildings, and massive business +houses. But many of its palaces are red with the +blood of murdered innocence, and many of its massive +edifices have been built with the price of souls. For +liquor-making and liquor-selling has been no inconsiderable +part of the business of the place. At the beginning +of the Crusade there were not only the usual +array of saloons, and gambling-dens, and brothels, +where liquors were sold and drank, but there were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span>massive breweries, and great wholesale houses, that by +their influence and money sustained the traffic; and +the business was largely in the hands of a rough class +of foreigners, mainly Germans. This class, in the +towns already reached by the Crusade, had been insulting +and riotous.</p> + +<p>Against all this array of evil—this wickedness in +high places—a few women were praying and crying to +God. Encouraged by the success of the Crusade work +at Hillsboro’ and Washington Court-House, and other +towns, they set themselves to walk carefully before +the Lord, and to know His will.</p> + +<p>Dayton had a population of about forty thousand. +At the beginning of the Crusade there were in this +town over five hundred saloons, or one to every sixty +of its inhabitants; or, divided into families of five each, +<i>one saloon to every twelve families</i>.</p> + +<p>Large and enthusiastic mass-meetings were held; but +it required more than ordinary courage to go out into +the saloons, and face liquor-dealers in their own dens, +and meet the class that congregated in these places, +many of them speaking a strange tongue. But there +were not wanting women in Dayton, pure, consecrated, +Christian women, who were ready to take their lives in +their hands, and go forth in God’s name, and speak +and pray in the saloons, and on the streets.</p> + +<p>A permanent organization was effected February +20th, and a private canvass of the saloons made by +small companies of ladies, but no results followed. +Mass-meetings were held daily; two hundred women +were enlisted for active aggressive work, and on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span>morning of the 6th of March, two companies, led by +Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Weakley, filed slowly and +solemnly out of the church, to visit the saloons. The +rain was falling steadily, but the women were sheltered +under water-proofs and umbrellas. The saloon doors +were closed against them.</p> + +<p>T. A. H. Brown, correspondent of the <i>Cincinnati +Gazette</i>, in “Fifty Years’ History of the Temperance +Cause,” gives the following:</p> + +<p>“Saloon after saloon was visited, services generally +being held before the doors; and at last one man, who +had a light stock of liquors, offered to surrender if +they would pay him first cost. The vile compounds +were then emptied into the gutter, amid much rejoicing. +In the afternoon the two bands exchanged territory, +so that the same saloons received two visits.</p> + +<p>“The excitement now began to increase. The +bands increased in numbers, and more favorable +weather brought out great crowds of people to witness +the strange spectacle of women actually praying +on the streets. The rabble began to grow turbulent +and threatening; saloon-keepers saw the matter was +putting on a serious aspect, and fought every inch of +ground by the most unscrupulous means. It soon +came to be known that the visit of the ladies to a +saloon meant free beer and whiskey at that place, and +there ‘the boys’ rallied in force like vultures over a +dead carcass. The result was, more drunken men on +the streets than had been seen since the 4th of July; +and as if this round about warfare was not sufficient, +direct insults were heaped upon the ladies. The voice +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span>of prayer and song were drowned by those of ribaldry +and blasphemy. Bits of bologna and crackers were +thrown at the kneeling women, who bore these indignities +meekly, with no word of reproof. One of the +worst elements in the noisy mobs was women, mostly +of foreign nationalities, who joined their screaming to +the shouting and swearing of their male relatives.</p> + +<p>“The result of this unseemly mocking and jeering +was to inflame the public mind, and bring thousands +out to the evening mass-meetings, where the reports +of the day’s proceedings were read, and commented +upon.</p> + +<p>“Under such dire persecutions, the band steadily +increased in size, and grew more determined.”</p> + +<p>Another correspondent says:</p> + +<p>“The women form for action near the curbstone, +and are speedily encompassed by the crowd, who +watch with varying manifestations and emotions. +Lines of men file into the bars to quench real or +affected thirst, and the clink of foaming glasses chimes +in with the soft, pathetic notes of the worshipping +women. But the plaintive voice of prayer, when the +women on bended knees supplicate the mercy of God, +produces an instant and indescribable hush even in +the bar-rooms; and as the eloquent pleadings ascend, +the influence quickly strikes the nearest rank of spectators, +and penetrates to the outermost rim of the +ragged semicircle formed about them. There are +moments, when the women weep and pray, that their +influence is thrillingly impressive, and men even, who +do not approve of the saloon devotions, are unconsciously +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span>but irresistibly affected. Excepting among +the depraved, there is not the remotest suggestion of +levity in the scene. It is touchingly solemn.”</p> + +<p>Becker, one of the saloon-keepers, admitted the +ladies; but insisted that none should pray in his +saloon unless they were without sin.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of April, the municipal election was held, +and by the help of the dealers, and bummers, Butz, the +whiskey candidate, was elected over Houk, the temperance +candidate; and a majority of councilmen elected +were in favor of whiskey. This was taken by the +saloon-keepers as a verdict for free whiskey.</p> + +<p>Undeterred by the results of the election, the women +met at Grace M. E. Church, determined to go on with +their work. But they were met with the following +proclamation from the Board of Police Commissioners:</p> + +<p><i>Whereas</i>, It has become apparent to this board, that +the visits of the recently organized bands of ladies to +the various saloons in the city, and the occupation by +them of the sidewalks and streets for religious exercises, +have, on several occasions, attracted large crowds +of riotous and disorderly persons, who assembled in +the vicinity in such numbers as seriously to threaten +the peace and good order of the city, and materially +to obstruct the free and proper use of both the sidewalks +and the streets; and,</p> + +<p><i>Whereas</i>, It is, by the laws of this State, unlawful for +any person or persons, by agent or otherwise,</p> + +<p>1. To sell, in any quantity, intoxicating liquors (except +wine manufactured of the pure juice of the grape, +cultivated in this State, beer, ale, or cider), to be drank +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span>in or upon the premises where sold, or in or upon any +adjoining premises connected therewith;</p> + +<p>2. To sell any intoxicating liquors whatever, without +exception, to minors, unless upon the written order of +their parents, guardians, or family physician;</p> + +<p>3. To sell intoxicating liquors, of any kind whatever, +to persons intoxicated, or in the habit of getting intoxicated; +and,</p> + +<p><i>Whereas</i>, All places where liquors are sold in violation +of these laws are declared public nuisances, and +upon conviction of the keeper thereof, are required to +be shut up and abated as such; therefore,</p> + +<p>Be it known, that orders have been issued to the +police force of this city to prevent the use and occupation +of the streets and sidewalks as aforesaid, and to +give special and careful attention to the enforcement +of the said laws, and make prompt arrest of any and +all persons violating the same.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 7em;">By order of the Police Board.</span><br> +<br> + <span style="margin-right: 7em;"><span class="smcap">Wm. H. Sigman</span>,</span><br> + <i>Mayor and ex-officio President Police Board</i>. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>After consultation it was decided best not to go into +saloons in large bands, and thereafter saloon visiting +was carried on by bands of three or four. Wherever +they were admitted, they conversed with the proprietors +and their guests. The saloon-keepers were generally +averse to these visits, and insisted that the election had +settled the question, and the people had indorsed their +business at the polls. But the ladies were not deterred, +but pushed their work in every possible direction. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span>Women’s meetings were held daily for prayer and consultation, +followed by mass-meetings at night. Enthusiastic +meetings for children were held, and the better +class of people were thoroughly aroused. The men +began to bestir themselves, and a guarantee fund was +raised for the enforcement of the law.</p> + +<p>And so the women go on with their work against +fearful odds, assured that victory in due time will +crown their efforts.</p> + + +<h3 id="PIQUA_OHIO"> + PIQUA, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The work at Piqua commenced early in the Crusade, +and was carried on with great enthusiasm and determination. +As the women knelt in front of saloons on +the sidewalk, the mighty power of the Spirit was displayed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stephenson was chosen as the leader. The +ladies held a meeting, and by ten o’clock of the same +day they were out on the streets. They seemed to be +urged on by an invisible power to the work for which +they had consecrated themselves.</p> + +<p>The first day three of the druggists signed the +pledge. There was much to contend with in Piqua; a +large German population; heavy wholesale liquor-houses, +and wealthy men who rented their property to +liquor-dealers. The opposition was violent, the crowds +in the saloons disorderly; men mocked, while women +prayed. But insult and opposition tended to increase +their zeal, and greatly augmented their numbers.</p> + +<p>Their way of conducting these visitations was to go +to the door of a saloon, and ask if they could come in. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span>If they were answered in the affirmative, they went in +and held a prayer-meeting. If they were refused admittance, +they held their meeting on the sidewalk in +front of the saloon. The ladies found that, although +the saloons were closed against them, their prayers +could penetrate the doors. Many saloon-keepers gave +up the business, others became violent and insulting, +and offered indignities to the ladies. In one saloon a +mock prayer-meeting was held and the Lord’s Supper +celebrated with beer and crackers by saloon-keepers +and their drunken customers.</p> + +<p>It may be proper in this connection to state, that the +men who were engaged in this mock service have +nearly all died violent and awful deaths.</p> + +<p>The ladies were arrested, and held to trial for praying +on the streets. But their trial was postponed, and +the better class of citizens, who were now thoroughly +aroused, petitioned the council for a prohibitory ordinance, +and before the day of trial came on a prohibitory +ordinance was passed, which effectually broke down +the opposition.</p> + +<p>The ladies, very much encouraged, went on with the +battle, and still continued the contest in a more permanent +and quiet form of organization.</p> + + +<h3 id="CIRCLEVILLE_OHIO"> + CIRCLEVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>In justice to a few faithful workers, Circleville deserves +mention.</p> + +<p>I am indebted to Lizzie W. Scovile, Secretary, for +the following facts:</p> + +<p>We have nothing thrilling to relate, and cannot +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span>point to such marked results as some are able to do. +The Crusade was entered upon very reluctantly, in +this place. Daily meetings for prayer had been held +in the church nearly two weeks previously, but on the +18th day of March, 1874, the Spirit descended in +power, and the women went forth to visit the saloons. +All through the summer the work was prosecuted in +various forms, visiting saloons in bands, picket work, +daily prayer-meetings at our League Room, open air +meetings, etc. Several saloons were closed, but, with +only two or three exceptions, were again reopened.</p> + +<p>We can point with certainty to but one conversion, +and that was of one of our ladies, who, though not a +Christian, went with the band to help sing, and was +converted in one of the saloons during one of our first +visits.</p> + +<p>When the street work was first entered upon, our +numbers were so large it was thought best to form +two bands—one under the leadership of Mrs. S. H. +McMullin, wife of the minister of the First Presbyterian +Church, and the other under Mrs. Dr. Ray, a good +old mother in the Episcopal Church.</p> + +<p>A Presbyterian gentleman, noticing that a number +of ladies of his denomination had been assigned to +Mrs. Ray’s band, said to her, “You will have to furnish +our ladies with prayer books.”</p> + +<p>Many went out, thinking they could do nothing but +uphold the hands of others, but the spirit of prayer +descended, and prayer books were not needed: the +dumb spake.</p> + +<p>Numbers of these ladies had never prayed in public, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span>until they offered prayer in saloons, or upon the +street. Now, at the end of three and a half years, +although the numbers have fallen off, there still remains +enough of the faithful to sustain the prayer-meetings, +generally two each week, and prosecute +other branches of work. As to results, we can point +to the brotherly love which has grown out of this +union work: the churches of different denominations +are united, as never before, and woman’s prayer-meetings +and missionary societies have received fresh +inspiration from the Crusade.</p> + + +<h3 id="MADISONVILLE_OHIO"> + MADISONVILLE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>The work commenced in this town on the 19th of +February, but the Crusaders met with an obstinate +resistance, especially from the German dealers. One +of them, Hendel, told the ladies, “he would not quit +selling whiskey till hell froze over.” Other saloon-keepers +deluged their sidewalks with water, and they +were soon a glare of ice, but women living near tore +up their carpets and brought them for the use of the +Christian workers, and the songs and prayer and work +went on in spite of all opposition.</p> + + +<h3 id="DELAWARE_OHIO"> + DELAWARE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Delaware, the Athens of Ohio, only a few miles +from Columbus, has a population of about six thousand +inhabitants. The moral sentiment of the town was +opposed to the liquor traffic, and yet at the beginning +of the Crusade twenty-three saloons went on with +their deadly work, day and night.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span></p> + +<p>Dio Lewis was invited to lecture for the Chi Phi +Society of Wesleyan University. A large audience +assembled to hear him, and at the close of the lecture, +he pressed upon them the importance of the temperance +cause, and pledged the women to the Crusade +work. The women held a meeting at William Street +Methodist Episcopal Church the next day, and a permanent +organization was effected, with Mrs. A. S. +Clason as President, and Mrs. Bishop Thompson as +Secretary. All classes came forward to engage in the +work. The pledge was freely circulated. Nearly a +hundred young men of the Wesleyan University refusing +to sign the pledge, great excitement and indignation +followed. The young ladies of the town were +so aroused, in view of this, that they formed a league, +pledging themselves not to associate with any young +man who had not signed the pledge. The young men, +who had not counted on this, were speedily brought +to terms, and most of them signed the pledge.</p> + +<p>The saloon-keepers tried to compromise with the +women, offering to sell nothing but beer, if the women +would withdraw from the work. This the women refused +to do, and the good work went on. Saloon +after saloon surrendered, and the women were in a +fair way to close all the saloons by prayer, when the +men came forward on election day, and elected the +entire temperance ticket. The greatest enthusiasm +prevailed. All the bells of the town were rung, +cannons were fired, and a praise meeting held in +the Opera House, which was crowded to its utmost +capacity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span></p> + +<p>The next day the women were on the street, as +usual, determined to continue their work until every +saloon was closed.</p> + +<p>This town is the home of Mrs. H. C. McCabe, the +able and efficient President of the State Union.</p> + + +<h3 id="PORTSMOUTH_OHIO"> + PORTSMOUTH, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Portsmouth is a beautiful town on the Ohio river, +near the mouth of the Scioto. It was one of the first +points of settlement in the State, and from the day the +first shanty was built, whiskey had flowed freely, without +a protest, until the Woman’s Crusade.</p> + +<p>Men came with their jugs and bottles weekly from +the rich valley of the Scioto, and from the farming +districts up and down the Ohio river, to get them filled +with intoxicating liquors. And it was not uncommon +for them to drive out of town too drunk to manage +their horses.</p> + +<p>Distilleries were built, and the products of the +immense corn-fields of the valley of the Scioto, one of +the richest valleys in the world, instead of being turned +into bread, were sent to the distillery, and turned into +the waters of death; and while the people grew poor, +and the town began to put on a dilapidated appearance, +the distillers and the liquor-dealers grew rich, built +themselves fine houses, and became the nabobs of the +town.</p> + +<p>The people had groaned under the heavy burdens +of the liquor traffic—crime and pauperism; and women +with tears and prayers had cried unto God for deliverance, +but all in vain. Despair had settled down on +almost every true heart.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span></p> + +<p>The tidings of the Crusade inspired them with fresh +hope, and the women, after meetings for prayer and +consecration, went out from the church into the saloons. +They met with great opposition on the part of saloon-keepers +and their customers, and the business men of +the city refrained from taking any active part in the +temperance work, for fear of losing trade and influence +with the liquor party. The ladies, however, went on +with unabated zeal in their work until the 6th of April, +when the whiskey candidates were elected by an +average majority of only forty-five, which the temperance +men might have overcome if they had sustained +the women in the work. Weaver, a colored barber at +the Bazaar Hotel, was elected as a member of the +Board of Education, the colored folks all voting for the +whiskey candidates.</p> + +<p>The ladies, undeterred by the liquor vote, were out +on the street the next day, in larger numbers than ever. +John Price, a saloon-keeper, whom they had visited, +and prayed with frequently, but who claimed to sell +only according to law, was soon after indicted for +illegal selling, and tried before Hon. Judge Harper, +and fined seventy-five dollars, put under bond for one +thousand dollars, and sent to jail for thirty days. The +severe penalty inflicted on Price by Judge Harper put +a check upon the illegal traffic.</p> + +<p>A correspondent of the <i>Cincinnati Gazette</i>, ten days +after the election, gives the following report of the +work there:</p> + +<p>“The interest in the work here has greatly increased +since the city election. The determination on the part +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span>of the temperance people to put down the traffic in +our city is stronger to-day than it has been since the +work began. The street work commenced Monday, +March 16th. Since then the Ladies’ League have +held over ninety street prayer-meetings each week, or +nearly four hundred and fifty since the work began. +Our success has not been as great as we had hoped +for. The first surrender here was that of Mr. Redenger, +who kept the most respectable saloon in the city. +At that time we had fifty-two licensed saloons, nine +wholesale liquor stores, and eight drug stores, which +were in the habit of selling liquors without asking any +questions. This gave us sixty-nine places where +liquor was sold. Since then nine saloons have been +closed, and all the druggists have signed the druggists’ +pledge. The steamer ‘Granite State,’ one of our +regular packets, has removed its bar; all our physicians +but one have signed the physicians’ pledge; and one +wholesale dealer the personal pledge. Hundreds of +our citizens have signed the personal pledge. In +addition to the above, our liquor men admit that their +sales have fallen off from one-half to two-thirds. This +work the ladies feel has been done in answer to the +prayers of God’s people. The street work still goes +on, with increasing strength and numbers. All day +prayer-meetings are still held every day (Sundays +excepted); mass-meetings every night, except Wednesdays +and Saturdays; mass-meeting also on Sunday +at three o’clock. From the above you will see that +the war is not over in our city.”</p> + +<p>Passing through the town since the Crusade, I could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span>but notice the great change that had come over the +place, and the improved moral atmosphere everywhere, +although the distilleries and the saloons were still +doing business. Just after the Crusade, there was a +great flood in the Scioto and Ohio rivers, which +destroyed nearly all the corn, and much other grain +and property. The feeling was so intense against the +distilleries on account of the scarcity of grain, and +the high cost of bread-stuffs, that one wealthy distiller +promised not to use up their grain in that way, a +promise which, if reports are true, was not kept.</p> + +<p>The women continued faithful through all the discouragements +and successes, and are still at work.</p> + + +<h3 id="STRYKER_OHIO"> + STRYKER, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>A REMARKABLE SCENE.</p> + +<p>Mrs. R. R. Wallace wrote from Stryker, Ohio, April +18th, to the <i>Western Advocate</i>:</p> + +<p>“The ladies of our village have organized themselves +into a ‘Woman’s Temperance League.’ We have not +as yet visited the saloons, but are laboring in a different +way. We meet as a band every Tuesday and +Friday afternoon for prayer and speaking, and once a +week prepare an entertainment or general mass-meeting +for all interested in temperance. We held our first +meeting on Friday evening, April 17th, and a more +impressive scene was never witnessed in Stryker. +The room was crowded to its utmost capacity. Several +of our most prominent saloon-keepers were +present. Our meeting was opened by singing and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span>prayer; then a short address by Mrs. Lindsley, President +of the League. We were next entertained by +some very able and appropriate remarks by Colonel +E. D. Bradley. While he was speaking, the husband +of our president, who is a confirmed drunkard, came +staggering toward the platform. With shame, mortification, +and deepest anguish depicted on her countenance, +the wife sprang to intercept him, not knowing +what he would do. He pushed by her and reached +the rostrum. Just as he passed her, she slipped the +protruding bottle from his pocket, and placed it on the +table at her side. In the meanwhile, the drunken, +half-insensible husband returned to the audience and +sat down. All was still as death; rising to her feet, +and holding the bottle up to view, the half-frenzied +wife exclaimed: ‘Here is the cause of my sorrow! +Here are the tears—yea, the very life-blood of a +drunkard’s wife. Look at it, rum-seller: Here is the +poison dealt out by you to the once loved husband of +my youth; but now (pointing to her husband) behold +the remains—nothing but the remains—of what was +once a noble and honored man. Love, truth, and even +manhood itself has fled. Now behold him! And here +(pointing to the bottle) is the cause.’ She stopped for +a moment, and nothing was heard but the sobs of the +audience; then turning her pale, anguish-stricken face +toward heaven, she exclaimed, ‘How long, O Lord, shall +intemperance reign—blighting our dearest earthly hopes +and draining our very life’s blood!’ Then, turning to +the audience, ‘Can you wonder why I raise my voice +against this terrible evil? Sisters, will you help me?’ +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span>Cries of ‘Yes, yes!’ came from almost every lady in +the house. She sat down pale and exhausted. The +meeting concluded, but impressions were made that +can never be erased. Sisters, take courage! the Lord +is on our side, and right must prevail.”</p> + + +<h3 id="CHILLICOTHE_OHIO"> + CHILLICOTHE, OHIO. +</h3> + +<p>Chillicothe is one of the oldest towns in the State. +It was settled while the Indians still had possession of +the territory. Like Hillsboro’ and Georgetown the +early settlers were largely Kentuckians and Virginians, +and the same idea of hospitality obtained. From +the first settlement up to the present, whiskey has +abounded.</p> + +<p>Forty years ago, there was a large number of distilleries +in the county. But public sentiment had gradually +improved, and drinking became more and more +disreputable, until the Crusade put its stigma upon it. +Situated in the valley of the Scioto, this town will +remain an important station between the corn-fields +and the distilleries, till the traffic is overthrown.</p> + +<p>Chillicothe has the honor of being the birth-place of +Mrs. President Hayes, who sympathized with the Crusade +movement, and has since done signal service by +banishing liquors from the Presidential mansion.</p> + +<p>Saturday, April 5th, the Ross County Temperance +Alliance met in Chillicothe, and although the ground +was covered with snow, and the morning cold and raw, +there was a large attendance of men and women. In +the afternoon four bands of women, of about forty in +each band, went on the streets, while the fifth band +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span>remained in the church for prayer. They drew large +crowds upon the streets to witness their visits, but +for a while the voice of prayer and praise sounded +out upon the comparatively still streets. The bystanders, +although curious, were respectful, and only +inside the saloons from which the women were excluded +was there anything like opposition. At some places +there was whistling, singing and dancing, while the +women were singing and praying.</p> + +<p>The women of this town, finding that Sabbath was +the best day for the sale of beer and whiskey, continued +their Crusade work on Sundays as on other days.</p> + +<p>At the municipal election, the whiskey power was +successful. But the ladies continued their work with +increased zeal, regardless of the defeat at the polls; +petitions and pledges were circulated, and finally a +Women’s Temperance Union organized, with a view to +a long and determined siege.</p> + + +<h3 id="OTHER_TOWNS"> + OTHER TOWNS. +</h3> + +<p>The following towns had a part In the Crusade, and +were more or less successful: London; Logan’s Gap; +Pomeroy; Middleport; Lancaster; South Charleston; +Sydney; Loveland; Middletown; Higginsport; Milford; +Nelsonville; Frankfort; Upper Sandusky; New +Lexington; Cadiz; Toledo; Berea; Darrtown; Woodstock; +Somerville; Hamilton; Walnut Hills; Plymouth; +Norwalk; Galion; Dennison; West Jefferson; +Harmony Village; Yellow Springs; West Milton; +Hanover; College Corner; Mechanicsburg; Mount +Carmel; Fort Ancient; Mount Sterling; Sunbury; +Osborn; Alpha; Ironton; and Sandusky.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size:large;"> + INDIANA. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV"> + CHAPTER IV. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="SHELBYVILLE_INDIANA"> + SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Prof. Harrison for the following +facts:</p> + +<p>On the 20th of January, 1874, a number of earnest, +devoted women first made their appearance on our +public square, to prosecute the glorious work of the +Crusade. It is true, faithful men had been engaged in +the cause forty or fifty years previous to this; and a +noble work they had done, both for temperance and +religion. We would honor the names of the workers +in such a blessed cause.</p> + +<p>During this time various societies had sprung into +existence. First, there was the Total Abstinence +Society; then the Washingtonians; next the Good +Templars, and so on.</p> + +<p>But all this time women, for the most part, remained +in the background, hoping and praying at home, and +in their closets, for the success of the efforts of their +faithful husbands and brothers.</p> + +<p>But previous to the opening of the Crusade, things +grew very dark and discouraging to some of the wives +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span>and mothers in Shelbyville; and, hearing of the success +of their sisters in Ohio, they resolved to ascertain +whether Indiana liquor men had yielding consciences +like those of Ohio. So, after careful and prayerful +consideration, a mothers’ meeting was called, to determine +what had best be done. No one but those +who were present at that meeting could conceive how +wonderfully they were encouraged to go to work, trusting +in the Lord for success. It seemed as if they had +an inspiration from Heaven for their great undertaking. +At a meeting of the Good Templars, held the next +evening, some of the gentlemen present suggested +that a committee of ladies be appointed to visit an individual +who was talking of opening a new saloon, +never dreaming that out of this the Women’s Crusade +would commence in Indiana. Volunteers were called +for, and ten Christian ladies offered their services. The +next morning all met at the house of a devoted sister; +and there, in solemn, fervent prayer, invoked Divine aid.</p> + +<p>From this fact it will be seen that they did not go +out under improper excitement, or without calm and +deliberate consideration. The rain was pouring down +freely, but this did not deter them: in fact, they thought it +was a suitable time for cold water workers. Accordingly, +a speaker for the occasion was appointed, and the roll +called, and all fell into line to visit the individual referred +to. They met with good success. The man’s +heart was touched to tenderness. They were then assured +that God was in the work; and a proposition was +made to visit another place where liquor was sold in +great quantities. At once the proposition was acceded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span>to. And, if there be such a place as Pandemonium on +earth, that certainly was the place. More than a dozen +men were drinking at the bar, as we entered. Two or +three were past walking, and they lay on a table, +dead-drunk. With those more sober, religious conversation +was held, and we trust that the faithful words +spoken that morning produced good that eternity alone +will reveal.</p> + +<p>The ladies now resolved to visit every saloon in the +place, which was accordingly done. That night, we +believe, but few families offered prayer who did not remember +the ladies on their mission of love and mercy. +All Christians were in sympathy with this wonderful +work of God, and encouraged true Christian women +to labor for the suppression of the gigantic evil of intemperance. +Soon they had a host of co-workers—about +two hundred were added to the number. They +were encouraged by numbers of noble Christian men, +coming forward with their money and influence to assist +in the work of reformation. The ladies continued +earnestly laboring in the cause.</p> + +<p>The first saloon which surrendered was converted +into a union chapel, and about seventy-five ladies +marched, in line, from one of the churches to the new +place of worship.</p> + +<p>Language would fail if I should attempt to describe +the scene. Suffice it to say, a low, wretched, sin-cursed +saloon was turned into a temple of prayer and praise; +and a sweet little girl living there wished those ladies +would sing and pray all the time—it was so much +pleasanter than cursing and quarrelling.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span></p> + +<p>But I must refer to one earnest minister who spoke +on that occasion: I mean a lady minister. Crowds of +hard-drinking men were her audience in the room, +and on the sidewalk were other crowds witnessing the +scene, all listening to her eloquent appeals. This +sister said she had a talented brother, whom to know +was but to love, and yet, notwithstanding his noble +and generous nature, he fell a victim to the vice of +intemperance; and she was certain, if he could only +come out of his grave, he would most faithfully warn +every one, of the terrible evil, and most earnestly +beseech all to sign the pledge, never, never to touch +intoxicating drink. But this could not be permitted; +and she felt it her imperative duty to do all in her +power to promote the blessed work of temperance +amongst those around her as neighbors and friends. +She then poured forth a stream of eloquent Christian +words, such as few had ever heard before. Surely +the Spirit of God was in that wonderfully changed +place at that solemn hour. The work went on with +varied success for several months, and a number of +inebriates were reformed, who have stood firm to this +day, and the friends of the cause were strengthened in +the faith.</p> + +<p>We ought to add that the saloon which was closed +was used for prayer-meetings and a reading-room, +until it passed into other hands, when the temperance +society moved to one of the churches, where the meetings +have been held ever since. Several meetings +have been held in different parts of the county, at +which excellent addresses have been delivered and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span>powerful appeals made, and an amount of good done +which we have not space to relate. A great many +meetings have also been held in our city, which have +been addressed by Governor Cumback, Mr. Baxter, +and other distinguished speakers from abroad, as well +as several at home. Among the home speakers we +would refer to the late Judge Wright, a man who was +well skilled in argument, had a fluent speech, and, +moreover, was never ashamed to avow his sentiments. +If all lawyers and men of talent had the independence +and moral heroism that he had, in a very short time +the death-blow would be given to intemperance, and +our glorious country, nay, the whole world, would +be forever free from its terrible and demoralizing +influence.</p> + +<p>The society is now working under the Womens’ +Christian Temperance Union, of Indiana, praying for +the suppression of intemperance, visiting drunkards’ +families, circulating pledges, and canvassing for signatures +to petitions to send to legislative bodies. Over +one thousand names have been sent last winter and +this, praying that something may be done effectually +for the destruction of this great national evil. Many +persons that frowned and spoke unpleasantly a year +or two ago, when asked this year, would sign gladly, +and express the wish that the dreadful business was +stopped at once and forever. And now we hail with +joy the district convention in our midst, attended by +such talented Christian women to assist us. And we +fervently hope during the coming year that many +more Christian ladies will join our society, and unite +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span>their influence with ours for the entire removal of the +greatest evil that now curses our land. We are aware +that there are some persons who are opposed to this +work, especially as carried on by the women; but if +the Saviour, our great Exemplar, could approve of +women working, and even commend them for their +efforts to do good, we feel perfectly safe in going forward +in His name. He that is for us is more than all +that can be against us. To Him be all the glory.</p> + +<p>I gather from newspapers published at the time, the +following additional facts:</p> + +<p>Shelbyville contained one large distillery of “Corn +Whiskey,” a brewery of poor ale, five doggeries, +licensed under the Baxter law, five drug stores, three +unlicensed liquor shops, and three or four houses of +ill-fame, a total of public places of drunkenness of +nineteen or twenty. The principal liquor family in +town bears the name of Deprez. They came from +Cincinnati about twenty years ago, and have grown +rich selling liquor. Three of the principal licensed +doggeries are run by two brothers and a sister of this +family. The old stock were German Presbyterians in +faith. “Gus” (as he is familiarly called) keeps the +original establishment opposite the I. C. & L. Railroad +depot. George had a substantial brick concern +on the public square, and their sister, and her husband, +Silas Metzer, are located on a principal street, adjoining +the Baptist Church.</p> + +<p>Robertson & Nickum had a wholesale liquor house +and dram shop beside. Robertson was the county +treasurer lately, and belongs to a reputable family. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span>Gid. Keck is the remaining licensed keeper. Captain +Maze and O’Conner had the principal unlicensed rum +depots.</p> + +<p>The ladies made daily visits to these places. The +first of these visits was made by about a dozen elderly +and middle-aged ladies.</p> + +<p>At Metzer’s they were met with insulting language +and impertinence. George Deprez denied them admittance. +Robertson, of the firm of Robertson & +Nickum, treated them very rudely and contemptuously.</p> + +<p>No more visits were made for four days. During +that time, however, the ladies were getting organized, +and when they again went out they were led by Mrs. +Elliott, and were about fifty strong. They again +visited George Deprez; this time they were very +kindly received and were invited in, and held a prayer-meeting, +but could get no one to sign the pledge.</p> + +<p>The saloon of Maze was visited. They were admitted +and found about a dozen men in the saloon. +They were a motley crew. One or two bore lingering +traces of former intelligent manhood. Others were +the sad pitiable wrecks of alcoholic poison. Not one had +reached middle life. They held their prayer-meeting, +and before they left every man was in tears, and the +proprietor gave a conditional promise to surrender. +The second visit to this place Captain Maze signed the +pledge and gave up the business. He went into +another business, and his place became the head-quarters +for the Crusaders.</p> + +<p>They organized under the following pledge:</p> + +<p>“We, the undersigned ladies of Shelbyville and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span>vicinity, do hereby organize ourselves into a league, +to be called the Women’s Temperance Union, for the +purpose of suppressing the liquor traffic, and we +solemnly pledge ourselves to use all just and honorable +means in our power to accomplish this object.”</p> + +<p>Among the hundred names signed to this paper are +those of Mrs. Elliott, wife of the President of the First +National Bank, Mrs. Judge Wright, Mrs. Rev. G. P. +Jenkins, Mrs. Dr. Green, Mrs. Professor Harrison, +Mrs. Dr. Robins, Mrs. Dr. Parrish, Mrs. Dr. Clayton, +Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Hattie Robbins, Mrs. Sprague, +Mrs. Lide Shaw, Mrs. Cumback, Mrs. Geo. H. Dunn, +Mrs. Jeffras, and others.</p> + + +<h3 id="JEFFERSONVILLE_INDIANA"> + JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Dr. Seymour furnishes the following interesting +facts of the work in Jeffersonville:</p> + +<p>At ten o’clock <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span>, February 12th, 1874, about one +hundred of the ladies of Jeffersonville met in Wall +Street Sunday-school room, for the purpose of organizing +a Women’s Temperance Union. After a statement +of the object of the meeting, and a free discussion, +an organization was effected. The following +pledge was signed by a large number of the ladies +present:</p> + +<p>“We pledge ourselves to be at every meeting, if +possible, and assist in this work of mercy. We also +pledge ourselves to pray three times, <i>daily</i>, for this +special work.”</p> + +<p>At the afternoon session of the same day the following +resolutions were presented and adopted:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span></p> + +<p>“<i>Whereas</i>, We believe that a crisis has been reached, +in which true popular sentiment demands the cessation +of the liquor traffic; <i>and, whereas</i>, We have at heart +the real interest of the seller, as well as the buyer of +alcohol, therefore</p> + +<p>“<i>Resolved</i>, 1. That we, the women of Jeffersonville, +organize ourselves into a Women’s Temperance +Union.</p> + +<p>“2. That our object shall be, by moral suasion, to induce +liquor-dealers to abandon their business, for their +own welfare, and that of humanity; that, in our efforts, +we will maintain an humble dependence upon Divine +influence, knowing that without that we can do nothing.</p> + +<p>“3. That, uniting our prayers, we will never cease +pleading until our object is attained.</p> + +<p>“4. That we invite the active co-operation of every +true woman in the city, whether a Christian or not; +and that we ask the prayers and moral support of all +good men.”</p> + +<p>It was resolved that the officers of this Women’s +Temperance Union be constituted an Executive Committee, +who shall have the direction of the movements +in which we are engaged, seven of whom shall constitute +a quorum.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding a blinding storm of rain, which continued +all the afternoon, a large number of ladies assembled +in Johnson’s Hall the next day, February 13th, +to perfect further the work of the organization. A +greater part of the time was spent in fervent prayer, +for the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit in +the difficult work we had undertaken, and the comforting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span>assurance was given to many hearts that the Lord +of Hosts was with us.</p> + +<p>It was resolved to hold a secret session on the following +day at Wall Street Church, to which none but members +of the Union should be admitted. By this time, +one hundred and fourteen ladies had signified their intention +to engage in the active work of the Union, by +signing the pledge before referred to.</p> + +<p>As agreed, the Union met on the afternoon of February +14th. After a short season of solemn prayer, in +which every soul was stilled, as in the visible presence +of God, the officer presiding said: “During the silent +watches of the night, while engaged in prayer, the conviction +had come to her, that we ought to begin active +work at once.” Several others said they had been +similarly impressed. The president then read Matt. +x. 32, 33—“Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me +before men, him will I confess, also, before my Father +which is in heaven; but whosoever shall deny me +before men, him will I also deny before my Father +which is in heaven”—immediately following it with +the request that every lady who was willing to go to the +saloons to hold meetings, and go at once, would rise +to their feet. Over sixty responded. We were soon +formed in line, and silently and solemnly we went forth, +with trembling but trustful hearts.</p> + +<p>By the time we reached our first point of attack, +Stauss’ saloon, the alarm had spread, every door and +window was bolted and barred, and a rabble waiting +in front to receive us. In response to our knock, the +barkeeper appeared, trembling and as white as a ghost, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span>and said Mr. Stauss had gone over the Falls, and he +could admit no one in his absence. Here we held +our first street prayer-meeting, amid the angry taunts +of the crowd assembled to intimidate us.</p> + +<p>From here we passed on to Font’s, one of the largest +saloons, and the <i>only</i> one in the city kept by a native +American. Here we were received with a show of +politeness, and invited in; but, as the event proved, +only with the purpose of heaping upon us every indignity +they dared offer. The sale of liquors never +ceased for a moment; rude, half-drunken men crowded +about us, with oaths and songs, attempting to drown +the voice of prayer and praise.</p> + +<p>By the time we reached Klispie’s, the fashionable +drinking-place of the town, we were surrounded by an +angry mob. Here we were invited to enter, which we +did, and began our prayer-meeting. We could not +kneel, for the crowd pressed so closely upon us; our +voices were drowned in the terrible din; barrels of +beer were broken open, and their contents distributed; +glasses, when emptied, were thrown up in the air, and +came down upon the counter or floor with a deafening +crash; the barkeeper sprang upon the counter, and +led in a ribald song, in which his companions joined +him; men beat upon the doors and empty beer barrels, +and yelled with rage; they glared upon us with +eyes full of deadly hate, but they dared not touch a +hair of our heads, or a thread of our garments, for +God was around and about us as a wall of fire: we felt +as safe and secure as we ever did sitting about our +own quiet firesides—a new and wonderful sense of our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span>Father’s protecting care over us, came to us as we worshipped +amid that pandemonium; and as we passed +out, unharmed, feelings akin to those experienced by +the Hebrew children, as they emerged from the fiery +furnace, stirred our breasts.</p> + +<p>We returned to the church, to bow in humble gratitude +before Him who had been our Guide.</p> + +<p>Such was the history of the first day’s work among +the saloons. Days, and weeks, and even months passed, +in which these scenes were repeated, though rarely +were the powers of darkness so rampant as on this +first day.</p> + +<p>On Monday morning, February 16th, we visited a +number of the saloons again. We were not expected, +and held our meetings without any disturbance. In +the afternoon we held a praise and prayer-meeting, +while a mob of five thousand people, who had gathered +from our neighboring city, Louisville, raged with +disappointment without. The street about the church +was so crowded that our policemen were obliged to +clear a way for those who wished to enter or leave the +meeting. Hour after hour they waited for the Crusaders +to appear, until the darkness of coming night +drove them home.</p> + +<p>The heart experiences of those days can never be +told. <i>We walked with God.</i> His presence made it +light all about us; we <i>knew</i> the <i>blessedness</i> of being +reviled and persecuted for Christ’s sake; the most +timid among us grew strong and brave enough to +bear any cross, and we all felt it was sweet not only to +work, but to suffer for His sake.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span></p> + +<p>As the result of the first month’s work, all the +druggists of the city signed the druggists’ pledge; all +the physicians but <i>two</i> signed pledges to use liquor in +their practice in cases of emergency only.</p> + +<p>Total abstinence pledges had been generally signed. +There was such an awakening upon the subject +of temperance as was never known before. The +liquor traffic was reduced at least sixty per cent. +Ninety-one street and saloon meetings had been held. +Though no saloon had been closed, most cheering +moral results had been attained, and the workers felt +that their labor had not been in vain.</p> + +<p>Efforts were made by the saloon-keepers to bring +the law to bear upon us, to prevent our holding street +meetings. With this in view, Judge Bicknell, of the +Circuit Court, published a card, stating, among other +things, that “Mob law enforced by women is no better +than mob law enforced by men. Also, no crowd has +a right to assemble in a man’s place of lawful business +to interrupt that business by praying, or anything else. +Further, that violation of natural or social rights, if +encouraged, generally end in riot and bloodshed.”</p> + +<p>On Saturday, March 28th, the only American saloon-keeper +in the town signed the pledge and closed his +saloon.</p> + +<p>In September, we held a Martha Washington tea +party, which brought $325 into our treasury. A large +part of this was expended in securing temperance +speakers from abroad to assist us at our mass-meetings, +which were inaugurated at the beginning of our +work, and held semi-weekly for a year and a half.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span></p> + +<p>On June 9th, the Secretary of the Union made the +following record:</p> + +<p>Since February 12th, the Ladies’ Temperance +Union of Jeffersonville has held 152 street prayer-meetings, +beside a large amount of committee work +done, visiting saloons, offering pledges, conversing +with saloon-keepers, trying to persuade them to give +up their unholy business, and in many instances praying +with and for them.</p> + +<p>When the Union commenced its work, there were +forty-two places in the city where liquor was sold. +One saloon has closed, and several others been compelled +to cease selling. We have circulated pledges +in every ward in the city, and in most of the wards +have secured the names of a majority of the voters +against signing permits for license. We feel that for +three months, at least, we have tried earnestly to work +for the advancement of the cause of Christ, and to +hasten the coming of His kingdom. We feel that we +have received rich supplies of grace day by day, as we +have gone forth to work in this vineyard, and humbly +trust our works may prove a blessing to our city, and +to the cause for which we are laboring.</p> + +<p>A week or two later, one of the leading lawyers of +the city stated publicly that there were eight times as +many cases in the city court in the same length of +time in 1873 as in 1874. He attributed this fact to +the womans’ movement; it spoke for itself; he had +had but two fees in a month.</p> + +<p>We continued our saloon work at intervals during +the winter, generally visiting them in committees of +three or more.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span></p> + +<p>Temperance literature was secured and distributed +broadcast. Much was accomplished by individual +effort. Our last visit to the saloons was made March +5th, 1875, after which date our Union ceased to exist +as an active organization. A large part of our members +have since identified themselves with the Ribbon +Club, or other similar organizations, and are engaged +in temperance work in some way.</p> + +<p>Last Saturday there was a meeting called for the +purpose of reorganizing our Union.</p> + +<p class="center"> +A VOICE FROM THE PRISON HOUSE. +</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Jeffersonville, Indiana.</span> +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. Wittenmeyer</span>:—Your astonishment will doubtless +be great at receiving this letter, when I tell you +it is from a convict. Your excellent paper (<i>The +Christian Woman</i>) has reached me by the hands of +Mrs. B. F. Osborn, who sometimes visits this prison +as a missionary. Your paper has been a bright light +in a dark cell, by pointing me to the Lamb of God, that +taketh away the sins of the world. I have nothing +stirring to communicate—stern realities pertaining to +the welfare of the soul demand my utmost attention. To +take one glance at the 537 uniformed convicts, filing into +the dining-room in long, sad lines, and to know that this +mass of thieves, murderers, and adepts in all kinds of +villany, owe their condition remotely or immediately +to the thousand-toothed demon called the worm of the +still, is a temperance lecture more eloquent than ever +thrilled an audience of Gough, Malloy, or Benson. +<i>And I am one of them.</i> Oh, how it makes my heart +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span>ache to realize this awful fact. Never can I wrap +myself in the shroud of oblivion. As I look back upon +my past life, it seems to be a cesspool of iniquity; a +trackless desert, inhabited only by the spirits of past +opportunities; an ocean of the soul, wrapt in all the +horrors of Stygian darkness; and swept incessantly +with the dread simooms of remorse.</p> + +<p>I am but a youth, comparatively speaking; but my +life has been a life of dissipation. I have seen and +felt enough of intemperance to make me regard it +with detestation.</p> + +<p>This confinement has been a God’s blessing to me. +Liberty is sweet, friends are dear, but if I knew that I +had to live my past life over, I would rather remain +here the remainder of my days. Please remember me +kindly in your prayers. Now, may God bless you, +and your labor, above all I can ask or think, is the +humble and sincere prayer of</p> + +<p class="right"> + A. S. J. +</p> + + +<h3 id="CHESTERTOWN_INDIANA"> + CHESTERTOWN, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. C. S. Jones for the following +facts:</p> + +<p>About the first week in March, 1874, we organized +our first Crusade band. We met at the M. E. Church +several days, before we ventured out on the street. +We were few in number; only twenty-two at first, but +our number increased. There was a mighty work before +us, for our town was of whiskey-birth; as the first +erection was a whiskey-barrel, then a house, then a +saloon.</p> + +<p>When we organized, there were five places where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span>intoxicating drinks could be had in our little village, +and three up the railroad at the next station. Some +said, “You will never see the day when there will not +be a saloon in Chestertown,” but we all did. In connection +with the band, we held two meetings a week, +in which we obtained signers to the pledge.</p> + +<p>We conducted our meetings in the way that the M. +E. Church does its love-feasts. We did not send off +for help, but went at it ourselves, and by the aid of the +great Helper we succeeded in closing six saloons, two +drug stores, and one place where they sold in connection +with their groceries. This was completed in +six weeks. So Chestertown led the van in Porter +county.</p> + +<p>There were some amusing circumstances connected +with our work, which, perhaps, will be interesting to +some of our readers. When we first met, some said, +we had better wait until they get through at Valparaiso, +and get them to come and help us; but the Spirit +said work, and we could not wait, not knowing how +long we should have to wait. And as they appointed +me as their leader, I thought, perhaps, it would be best +to visit Valparaiso, and learn their method of work. +So I started, and leaving the depot, walked up-town, +and there were the faithful Christian temperance +women at the door of a saloon, praying and singing, +with hearts full of love for their fellow-creatures. A +hearty welcome was given, and for two days we +worked together.</p> + +<p>Returning home with still stronger convictions, we +went to work in earnest, but some said, “Remember, I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span>have no faith,” and others, “I will join if you will not +go out on the street;” consequently, we had to move +slowly at first, until their courage arose. As I told +them we were not going in the street until we got +ready, we did not, but after meeting a few times, they +were all ready, and we started, and, as in other cases, +the very dogs were ready to help, for as one of the +number owned a nice, white dog, it took the lead, +and as we walked the street, it advanced of its own +accord, and cleared the way. It was amusing to see +it, and as we desired solemnity, it required no little +effort to suppress laughter. Thus we passed down +Main street, and back to the church, everybody running +to see us.</p> + +<p>Each day we met, we tried to take the saloonists by +surprise, and often did. We had articles of agreement +drawn for the different dealers in the traffic, and +finally presented them, and they were duly signed, +although it took much persuading to get it done. In +one instance, the owner of the property that was +rented for a saloon, threatened to take hold of the +keeper for the rent, but the Lord softened his heart, +and he relented; he said he would put his beer in the +cellar, and drink it himself, and when that was gone +he would get more; if he could not get it in America, +he would send across the ocean.</p> + +<p>But this man’s family were all, except one, stricken +down by disease, and lay near death, himself dying, so +he did not live to drink the beer. I hope the Lord +had mercy on his soul, for his wife told me (as I visited +her in their affliction), that he thought he should not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span>live, and that he read his Bible constantly, as long as +he could, and he requested Mr. Jones to visit him, +which he did, reading the consoling promises to him, +and conversing with him; he stated that his trust was +in Jesus.</p> + +<p>After we had closed all the saloons, some proposed +to have this poison delivered at their cellars by means +of a beer-wagon driven by one of the distillers of +Valparaiso. This way of evading the law they thought +would match us. Luckily, we espied the first arrival. +We were at the church. Those who had made their +previous purchase were not at home, and as their wives +belonged to the temperance band, they were forbidden +to leave it, and they were defeated. At other places +they left the beer if they were enough in advance of +the band.</p> + +<p>However, we did not get discouraged. We resolved +that the first one that saw the beer-wagon was to ring +the church-bell, and no matter what we were doing, +or at what hour, we were to run to the rescue. One +morning ring, ring, ring; louder and louder pealed +forth the call from the old bell. True to our resolution, +we all ran. The old, gray-haired grandmother, +the maid, and the children (for we were drilling our +daughters). We met and followed the beer-wagon, +now up one street, then down an alley; lifting up our +banner in the name of the Lord, and He helped us to +triumph.</p> + +<p>The driver had started very early, even before +breakfast, and we gave him no peace; he had to retreat, +and go back to Valparaiso. A gentleman coming +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span>from Valparaiso said that he saw him, and tried to +get him to come back, and take a load of carpenters +with him: his reply was, “I would not go back to +Chestertown for a thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p>This is what became of the travelling saloon, but +the driver fell into the hands of the Lord; for death +followed close at his heels.</p> + +<p>A German kept liquor in the house where he kept +the post-office, and he said that he never would give +up to these “vimmens.” But we found the quickest +way to get a German to yield was to get at his money. +He had violated the law, the officials arrested him, and +they told him if he would sign the women’s paper, and +not sell any more, and give them his license, they +would pardon him; so rather than lose his money, he +said: “Send dem vimmens, and I will sign der +bapers.” They brought him to my house, and he was +glad to sign our papers, and give us his liquor license, +which we keep as a proof of the work we had done.</p> + +<p>It was common for saloon-keepers to make threats, +but we often found that they were the greatest cowards, +and they were the most easily overcome when +approached in the right way. One at Porter said that +he would shoot us, and his wife said she would scald +us, but two of us went to the saloon, and he gave us +his license and signed our papers without any trouble. +Thus we closed our work at home and vicinity. Then +the Macedonian cry came from Lake, Miller, Hobert, +and other stations, “Come over and help us.” As we +felt it to be our duty, we said we would come. As Lake +was first in order, we sent them an appointment, a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</span>band-meeting in the day, and mass-meeting at night. +The day arrived; four of us went up in the morning, +organized the band the best we could. In the evening +there were about twenty members of our society +left the train, and were met by the best of the citizens, +and escorted to tea, after which we repaired to the +school-house for mass-meeting. We opened our +meeting, as usual, with reading of the Scripture and +devotions, and singing by our temperance glee club. +During the speaking the opposite party made quite a +noise, and finally it was almost a mob. Some became +frightened, but we kept them quiet as possible. We +offered them a chance to defend their cause, but they +did not seem to be disposed to do so.</p> + +<p>When they found that they could not break up our +meeting, some left the house and joined the rabble +out-doors, firing guns, and groaning to make us think +some one was hurt, and thus cause us to leave. But +we had met to hold a temperance meeting, and we +did. When we were ready we circulated the pledge, +and obtained about thirty names, several of whom +were drunkards. Several signed because they saw +the effects of liquor, and were ashamed of their party, +and I am happy to say, that in returning to the cars none +were hurt, although the roughs escorted them to the +train with tin cans,—anything that would make a noise. +But one of their own company met them at the depot, +drew his coat, and ordered them to let the temperance +folks alone, throw down their clubs, and behave themselves +as they ought to. This ended our first day and +night’s work at Lake Station. However, our Crusade +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</span>band did not all go; several stayed until the next day, +to assist in getting into working order the newly organized +band.</p> + +<p>According to appointment we met, and started out +to visit the drinking-saloons. First, we obtained the +signature of the keeper of the hotel. While our +committee were in, the rest stood on the sidewalk +singing; a train arrived, and the train hands seeing +them there, left the train, secured clubs, and marched +toward the band, swinging and flourishing them, but, +as the women sang on and stood firm, they slackened +their pace, dropped their clubs, and returned to the +railroad again. One more victory achieved, with renewed +strength we proceeded to the next place, it +being a saloon. The wife met us at the door. We +told her we wished to see her husband. She said he +was sick. We mistrusted what ailed him, and said we +would come in. She opened the door, and we went +in. He seemed frightened; he finally said he would +re-ship his liquor and quit.</p> + +<p>He always got sick when the Crusade came around. +As this station had so hard a name, the temperance +people had sent for an officer from Crown Point to +guard us; and he, having arrived, went with us to the +next saloon. It being the hardest place in town, +some advised us not to go, as they considered it not +safe, but we went, our guard at our side. The saloon-keeper +was not at home; his wife was up-stairs, and +talked to us out of the window. In the adjoining lot +there was an old house filled with men, but no harm +was done us. We did not succeed at this place in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</span>closing all the saloons, as we could not stay, and the +band at this town met with things that they thought +they could not overcome; yet there was a good work +done, and many saved. We held other mass-meetings +at this place, but were not disturbed.</p> + +<p>Our next point was Hobart. We organized a band +in the Methodist Episcopal Church, held a mass-meeting +at night, had an interesting meeting, and obtained +about thirty more names to the pledge, and left the +work to them. There is one thing that should not +be overlooked, and that is: the first year not one +of our company died, but five of our opposers were +suddenly stricken down. Different ones sent me word, +on their dying beds, that they were wrong, and the temperance +folks were right. I felt to say, “The Lord +called, but ye would not hearken.” There were about +five hundred signed our temperance pledge.</p> + + +<h3 id="THORNTOWN_INDIANA"> + THORNTOWN, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>Caroline E. Haworth furnishes the following facts:</p> + +<p>The tidal wave which struck Thorntown, the 16th +of March, 1874, was preceded by the Holy Spirit, or +perhaps the Awakening Angel, who visited some three +or four of our number.</p> + +<p>Never shall I forget one night about midnight, when +I was aroused from my slumber, as if some one was +shaking my pillow, and I heard a voice, an audible +voice, saying: “What hast thou done for me? I have +died for thee,” and a mighty trembling seized my +whole being, for I knew it was the voice of the Lord. +The words were repeated; I became alarmed; upon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span>being asked what was the matter, I repeated what I +had heard, and said I did not know but the Lord was +going to send me away as a missionary or something, +I did not know what; I could not sleep, I was in such +terrible agony: I tried to say, “Lord, Thy will be done, +not mine,” but my rebellious heart would not surrender. +The next night the whole scene was re-enacted, +then I partially surrendered, telling the Lord, I would +do what I could, for I felt I could endure it no longer, +and he knew me altogether, and would not require +more of me than I was able to perform.</p> + +<p>The next night Mrs. Henderson, in a meeting, related +a similar experience, and said she had promised +the Lord she would go to a drug store, which was +selling intoxicating liquors, and offer up prayer, and +if there was a sister in the house who would go with +her, she would please rise: four arose to their feet. +Night came and six Christian mothers might have +been seen wending their way down the street to the +drug store. A hymn was first sung, then all knelt +down by the door. Mrs. Henderson led in prayer, +then Mrs. Hines. After singing another appropriate +verse, Mrs. Milhouse, of precious memory, with pale, +earnest, upturned face, in a solemn, truthful manner, +pleaded that God would hear and answer His +children.</p> + +<p>On leaving the place the proprietor said he wished +it distinctly understood, that we were “not to come +again on these steps; you profess to be sent here by +the Spirit of God, but I think your God is in h—l.” +At that the hissing crowd rushed around him, while +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</span>these timid women walked quietly away, nothing +daunted, believing it was better to obey God rather +than man. The next night the little band numbered +twenty, and repaired to the place and knelt just off +of the pavement down in the snow, and there supplicated +a throne of grace. The third night the praying +band had increased to about fifty, the crowd still increasing +in proportion.</p> + +<p>Not only the town people, but for miles around in +the country, the people came to see and hear.</p> + +<p>A daily prayer-meeting was held in one of the +churches, for over one year; then a prayer-meeting +was held every Thursday afternoon. Mass-meetings +were held, public speakers engaged, remonstrances +and pledges circulated, and the work kept on increasing +and steadily advancing.</p> + +<p>A Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was organized, +with Mrs. Milhouse as President.</p> + +<p>One of the leading spirits in this Crusade, a great +sufferer from intemperance, one on whom the Spirit +of God rested, was “Grandma Boyd.” She was instant +in season and out of season, and being a natural +orator, could fight the enemy hand-to-hand, and face +to face; then, as she often expressed herself, mounting +her light horse (which was her prayer charger), she +would go direct to the great white Throne, and there +with strong faith, take hold of the horns of the altar. +At such times she seemed almost to bring heaven +and earth together.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="CRAWFORDSVILLE_INDIANA"> + CRAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>Miss Mary D. Naylor furnishes the following brief +sketch of the temperance work done in Crawfordsville:</p> + +<p>In the winter of 1874, when the ‘Woman’s Crusade’ +began in Ohio, and spread over the State like a +wave of the sea, the women of Indiana watched and +waited for the results with intense interest. And, with +‘bated breath,’ said one to another, “What if this ‘tidal +wave’ rolls over into Indiana! Are we ready for it? +And have <i>we</i> not as much reason for this work as our +sisters of Ohio? Have we not saloons in our midst, +and is not the liquor traffic bringing ruin and desolation +to many homes? And is not this the ‘call of +God’ to the women of our land to put away this evil +from us?”</p> + +<p>A mass-meeting of the temperance people of the +city of Crawfordsville was called to meet in Centre +Presbyterian Church, at three o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, March 11th, +1874. This “call” was largely responded to, by the +ministers of the various churches, and the leading men +and women of the city.</p> + +<p>The meeting was called to order, and opened by +singing the hymn, “All hail the power of Jesus’ name,” +followed by a fervent prayer for God’s blessing upon +the work, by Rev. R. F. Caldwell—and then the beautiful +song, “Shining Shore,” was sung. Rev. John +Safford, pastor of the church, assured us of his hearty +co-operation in the work; and gave as a motto, “Push +things,” as one worthy to be accepted as our battle-cry +in this great and glorious work of exterminating the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</span>liquor traffic, never forgetting that in God is our +strength and help.</p> + +<p>A Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was +organized that day, with the following officers elect:</p> + +<p>Mrs. Joseph Milligan, President; Mrs. Maria L. Naylor, +Vice-President, 1st Ward; Mrs. Wm. Enoch, Vice-President, +2d Ward; Mrs. Dr. Purviance, Vice-President, +3d Ward; Mrs. J. P. Campbell, Treasurer; Miss +Mary D. Naylor, Secretary.</p> + +<p>This official force, with the many earnest Christian +men and women ready for work, met often in the +various churches (which were <i>freely</i> opened to them), +for prayer and counsel, as to the best methods for +furthering our cause. It was not deemed best to +“Crusade” on the streets; but to avail ourselves of the +Baxter law, (local option,) and prosecute the cases in +our courts. Whenever petitions were presented for +license, to file a remonstrance, and with proper witnesses +to testify as to the “moral character,” etc., of +the applicant; with our temperance men and women +present in the court-room, an unprecedented influence +was thus brought to bear, and one case after another +defeated. In fact not one of the many applicants +received license.</p> + +<p>Much good was done in this way—not only by shutting +up the saloons, and preventing the opening of +new ones, but also by the building up of a public +sentiment on the subject of temperance, and a stirring +up of the temperance element, and bringing to a <i>decided +opinion many</i> who heretofore were <i>conservative</i>, +and had felt no <i>individual responsibility</i> in the matter.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</span></p> + +<p>Good Templar Lodges have been revived and increased +by the labors of the Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union, both in our city and throughout the +county. Some saloon visiting was done; but not to +any great extent. We worked in any and <i>all</i> ways, to +overcome the enemy. We have been permitted to see +men taken from the gutter, become sober, Christian +men, “clothed and in their right mind,” who attribute +their conversion to the efforts of the Christian temperance +workers.</p> + +<p>Eternity alone can reveal <i>all</i> the results. The “Crusade” +is not dead, the work still goes on. That the +“little leaven” will finally “leaven the whole lump,” is +my unwavering faith.</p> + +<p>Truly, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders +to perform.”</p> + + +<h3 id="EVANSVILLE_INDIANA"> + EVANSVILLE, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>The officers of the Union furnish the following facts: +We have been called the Sevastopol of intemperance +in comparison with other places in the State. Whether +we deserved this name or not, it is a fact that intemperance +prevailed to an alarming extent; and while its +ravages were all around us, few seemed to realize the +danger.</p> + +<p>Some of our ladies had been reading of the Crusade +work in other places, and were awakened to the subject, +but were hesitating as to the expediency of inaugurating +the work here, where we had such a mixed +population, when the ministers, at their monthly +meeting, drew up resolutions, calling upon the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</span>Christian women to take active steps in the matter. +This decided them, even the doubting ones feeling +they could not hold back, without being allied to the +enemy.</p> + +<p>Our first meeting was held March 14th, 1874, twelve +churches being represented. After organizing, and +electing officers, our first aggressive work was to enlist +the various county officials, members of the bar, etc., +by presenting a petition for their signatures, asking +their sympathy and indorsement of the movement, +and their co-operation in the enforcement of the existing +temperance laws.</p> + +<p>This petition was largely signed by the members of +the bar, and it may also be a matter of surprise to +know that our county commissioners were the first to +put their names to the paper. But it is a fact, and +stands out in strange contrast to the course they afterwards +pursued. It clearly shows the wonderfully +potent effect that mere personal interest, and political +pressure, has upon our officials, to warp their better +judgment, and turn them from their honest convictions.</p> + +<p>As our work progressed, it seemed to shape itself +more into a determination for the enforcement of the +liquor law, and the toning up and educating of public +sentiment, rather than saloon visitation and street-praying, +as in many other places.</p> + +<p>In accord with this fact, morning prayer-meetings +were established, public mass-meetings were held, and +a total abstinence and a voters’ pledge were circulated +for signatures. In canvassing, our ladies had some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</span>racy as well as trying experiences. Some of our +German women seemed to understand just enough of +English to say, “No temperance! no temperance!” +and I am sorry to say they were not the only ones, for +some of our own people, yea, some of our church +members, said the same thing, “No temperance!”</p> + +<p>In the lower part of the city, as two of our ladies +were out with pledges, they came near being mobbed. +At first they were followed by one saloon-keeper only, +who insisted on their buying him out. Soon he was +joined by one and another of his companions, hooting +and yelling as they went along. The ladies, becoming +alarmed for their safety, rushed to the nearest friendly +house for shelter, and there remained until the crowd +dispersed.</p> + +<p>In many places in the State, temperance workers +found a vast amount of fraud practised, in the way the +liquor petitions were gotten up. Names of persons +long since dead, and of others living out of the ward, +as well as of those who had never authorized such use +of their signatures, were all found attached to these +petitions. Thinking these irregularities might also +exist here, our Union employed counsel to investigate +the matter. On the assembling of the county commissioners +on the first of June, a large number of ladies, +attended by their legal advisers, appeared before +them. One of our number offered a fervent prayer. +Our President, Mrs. A. L. Crosby, addressed them, +setting forth these irregularities, and asked that a +thorough investigation might be made before granting +any permits.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</span></p> + +<p>The following Friday was set for the hearing of the +case, and in the meantime quite an excitement was +stirred up. On Friday the commissioners found their +own room too small, and adjourned to the one usually +occupied by the Circuit Court, which was soon filled +to overflowing.</p> + +<p>After the morning session, as the ladies were leaving, +they were met by an excited mob; and here I +quote, as authority, from the <i>Evening Herald</i> of that +date, as perhaps the description is more graphic than +I can give:</p> + +<p>“After rendering this decision, the commissioners +adjourned till the afternoon. At half-past one, the +audience, which had by this time increased to a great +number, then left the court-room, and a great portion +of them, mostly saloon-keepers and their patrons, +stationed themselves along the aisles from the court-house +to the sidewalk, through which it was supposed +the ladies would have to pass.</p> + +<p>“Judge Robinson was the first one to run the gauntlet, +and his appearance was greeted with hisses and +scoffs, some of the participants going so far as to push +him rudely from one side to the other. Then the +ladies prepared to make their exit; the buzz and +clamor of the mob in the yard could be plainly heard. +As they descended the stairs led by Rev. Mr. Webb, +of Ingle Street Church, they saw the men, and desiring +to escape them, they turned to make their exit +through the side door opening to Main street.</p> + +<p>“It was here that August Brauns, a man who, by +some peculiar and unaccountable line of circumstances, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</span>has been awarded the responsible position of Deputy +County Auditor, showed himself. He saw the movement +the ladies were about to make, and hurriedly +running to the door, cried out: ‘Here they go around +this way.’ With a yell the mob started around in +front.</p> + +<p>“The ladies faltered, and dared not venture out into +that yelling, hissing, scoffing mob, when suddenly our +gallant sheriff, Add. Plafflin, sprang to the front, and +cried out that he would see that those ladies were not +hurt. Drawing his billy, he rushed into the street, +and cried out, ‘Stand back or somebody will get hurt.’ +The mob stopped, not a man moved. Held by the +power of one man’s bravery this select assembly of +transplanted American citizens, who a few moments +ago had, with unparalleled bravery, bristled about a +feeble gray-haired old man, and who an instant before +were prepared to assault the ladies, stood speechless.</p> + +<p>“In an instant the deputies had rallied to their chief; +and under the protection of the corps, the ladies +walked down Main street and dispersed to their +homes.”</p> + +<p>In the afternoon most of the ladies returned, and +during the rest of the trial, which lasted several days, +the number increased. At first we imagined we +should have a fair and impartial hearing; everything +was evidently in our favor. In one petition we found +names omitted, but still numbered; names repeated +several times. Thirteen swore positively, that they +never authorized such use of their signatures, and +when asked to do so had refused. Still, in the face +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</span>of all this, these very petitions were granted. In fact +it was a kind of a wholesale business, for as many as +seventy permits were granted in one day.</p> + +<p>It was remarked to the president of the board of +commissioners, that he would be met on this question +at the polls, and it is pleasant to know that he was met +there at the late fall elections and <i>defeated</i>.</p> + +<p>One of the inspired said, “When the wicked beareth +rule, the people mourn.” We find this as true to-day +as it has been in all ages past.</p> + +<p>Through the summer our weekly prayer-meetings +were kept up. The subject of youth’s temperance +societies was often under discussion, but deferred from +time to time. In December, 1874, we circulated two +petitions, one issued by the State Temperance Alliance; +the other by the Ladies’ Temperance Union, of Indiana. +Both of these petitions received a good number +of signatures, and were presented to our Legislature, +by Mrs. ex-Governor Wallace, of Indianapolis. +We also circulated a memorial to Congress, asking +for restrictive legislation in the District of Columbia, +and the Territories.</p> + +<p>This in brief is a summary of our first year’s work. +The question has often been asked, What does all this +effort and self-sacrifice amount to? That more prayer, +more faith, and more zeal could have produced greater +results, cannot be denied; still our efforts have not +been in vain. Of this we are certain, though we may +be unable to measure ultimate consequences. Some +tempted souls have been led to form better resolutions, +and our own children even, may have had their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</span>feet turned unto the right path by our efforts and +examples.</p> + +<p>The agitation and consequent discussion of this +subject has awakened the public mind to the enormity +of this evil, and many who were indifferent before, are +earnest workers now. I am told that on last New +Year’s day, most of our ladies, who were accustomed +previously to entertain with wines, banished it +entirely from their boards.</p> + +<p>After our defeat before the county commissioners, +as heretofore described, and the repeal of the Baxter +law by the Legislature the following winter, the enemy +felt that the temperance cause was entirely vanquished, +and that they had the field. Many of our own number +left us, and those who had never joined us seemed +to feel a pleasure that they had never been mixed up +with anything so unpopular. We saw there was no +redress in human laws, and so appealed our case +directly to the high court above, feeling assured the +great Judge would not turn a deaf ear to our pleadings, +but that in His own time, and His own way, +would surely grant our petition. And so a temperance +prayer-meeting was established, or rather continued; +and for over two years this little band of +sisters, often not more than enough to claim the promise, +have met together and pleaded their cause.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, several petitions and memorials +were circulated and sent to the Central Society, at +Indianapolis, to be presented to the Legislature, or to +be forwarded on to Washington. It is an old saying +that “the darkest hour is just before day,” and so it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</span>proved with us, for scarcely a glimmer of light shed its +ray out over the midnight darkness.</p> + +<p>In May of this year our President, Mrs. M. A. Ross, +attended the annual meeting of the W. C. T. U. of +Indiana, held in Richmond, and there met Mr. Bontacue, +one of the leaders of the red ribbon movement. +She came home enthused with the subject, and soon +after presented the cause in her own church prayer-meeting, +getting a response from <i>one</i> brother, that he +could stand by her in case Mr. Bontacue should come. +And so this faithful band of sisters came together, and +prayed over the matter; and with not a few misgivings +as to final results, directed the message to him to +come.</p> + +<p>He arrived the 19th of June, and at first the meetings +were small, and for nearly a week very few converts +were made to the cause. They felt discouraged, +and talked over ways and means for success, and +finally appointed a meeting for <i>men only</i>, in the Criminal +Court room. When the meeting began very +few were present, but soon the singing in such an +unusual place attracted attention, and one after another +dropped in, till there was a tolerably good +audience.</p> + +<p>That night a young man, well known in the city, belonging +to a family of wealth and culture, went forward, +signed the pledge, donned the <i>red ribbon</i>, and +made a little speech. It acted like an electric shock in +the community. People flocked thither to see what +was going on. Soon they were compelled to adjourn +to a larger hall. Other young men joined, making +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</span>initiatory speeches, and hundreds were unable to get +into the hall, and were compelled to go away.</p> + +<p>All this time the temperance women stood back, +directing affairs, but were not publicly known as being +more than other observers. Mr. Bontacue remained +some days longer, organizing the Red, White, and Blue +Ribbon Clubs, and then left for other fields of labor.</p> + +<p>Under the able leadership of the Presidents of the +different clubs, the work is still going on. In the city +and county, at this date, September 18th, 1877, there +are about <i>four thousand members</i>. And so our hearts +rejoice in the Lord, for He has done more for us than +we could ask, or even think.</p> + +<p>We can hardly believe our own eyes, as we see these +men “clothed and in their right mind,” standing before +large audiences, pleading with church members, as well +as with drinking men, to come and join them. We +hope the work is just begun, and that it will go on till +all shall be gathered, not only under the temperance +banner, but also into the fold of Christ.</p> + +<p>M. A. Ross gives the following interesting incident:</p> + +<p>“We had a large distillery here, running in full force, +when our work began, and one of our sisters made it +a special point in her prayer, to ask that its wheels +might be stopped, its doors closed, its grain given to +feed the poor, and its men find better employment. In +a few weeks it was closed, and has never made another +gallon of whiskey since. It went into the hands of the +government, and was several times offered for sale, +finding no purchaser. It was sold a few weeks ago to +a party who are fitting it up as a flour mill; and now, +verily, its grain will go to feed the poor.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="MADISON_INDIANA"> + MADISON, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mary E. Sullivan, Secretary of the +Union at this place, for the following facts:</p> + +<p>The untold anguish of years found utterance at last +on the morning of March 5th, 1874. Rev. W. W. +Snyder prepared the way for the Quakeress, Mrs. +Hunt and her husband, and others, for the Crusade in +Madison. And as if we were to meet with the direst +opposition from the very outset, the liquor-men, this +same evening, met and formed an organization to +resist the women.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hunt, after her husband’s address, rose calmly +and spoke to the masses crowded into the pews, aisles, +and gallery of Old Wesley Chapel. The enthusiasm +was intense. On the morning of March 7th, a business +meeting came together at Trinity Church. W. +M. Monroe gave a stirring address; proffered his aid +to do <i>anything</i>—work that was too menial for anybody +else, to enable him to make amends for wrongs +committed years ago, when he kept a hotel before he +was God’s servant. Local option prevailed in Indiana, +and J. W. Levick urged “action.” Accordingly, after +prayer by Mrs. Hunt, the ladies filed out, and moved +in a body to the court-house, to visit the commissioners +who were then in session. And now, for the +first time, the voice of a woman was heard in prayer +in that building, and amid the most intense interest +and profound attention, she prayed for the court-house +officials.</p> + +<p>We continued our visits to the commissioners, and +committees canvassed the city, urging those who had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</span>signed the petitions of saloonists to withdraw their +names. On March 9th, the room was crowded to its +utmost capacity, and we can do no better than copy +from the <i>Madison Courier</i>: “Gathered about the three +commissioners, and the opposing attorneys, who were +seated at the table, was an audience, which, for motley +and variegated appearance, challenges the experience +of the oldest inhabitant. Side by side, sat or stood, +the low, shambling debauchee, and the lady of aristocratic +mien and person. Brewers and saloon-keepers +with burly bodies and flushed faces, contrasted +strangely with the pale-faced, proper-looking parsons, +and their adherents. The ‘odor of sanctity,’ and the +fumes of tobacco, seemed strangely intermingled, and +there was incongruity in everything. Upon the opening +of the case, attention was riveted upon the opposing +attorneys, John W. Levick, for the temperance +cause; and Judge J. R. Cravens, for Donahue.”</p> + +<p>Judge Cravens was counsel representing Mr. +Charles A. Korbly, who, throughout the Crusade, +stood like an adamantine wall against the ladies. On +the morning of March 10th, after consulting the +county attorney, A. D. Vanosdol, the commissioners +refused the license to sell intoxicating liquor to Mr. +Donahue. McLaughlin and Gaumer withdrew their +applications.</p> + +<p>We continued our work quietly and steadily, and a +great number of signers to temperance and other +pledges were obtained during our canvass of the city. +And all the time, the spirit of earnest prayer and deep +devotion prevailed, and women tremblingly waited.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</span></p> + +<p>We knew that it was our duty to visit the saloons, and +at our daily meetings, morning and night, as we came +down the aisles of the various churches, each would +scan another’s face, and anxiously inquire, “Shall we +go?” and the answer would come, “We are not yet +prepared.” We agreed to spend one night in prayer. +Many wrestled all night with God, and light came in +the morning.</p> + +<p>On the morning of March 13th, Mrs. Indiana Stiver +rose in Christian Chapel and said: “Some of the +sisters feel moved to begin the work at the saloons. +For more than forty years I have tried to bear the cross, +and have never felt its weight more heavily than I do +this morning, but I also feel that I will be strengthened +by the Lord for the work before us. I feel like Queen +Esther—‘I will go in unto the king, and if I perish, I +perish, for we are sold, I and my people, to be slain +and to perish.’ As many of the sisters as feel moved +to go to the saloons, follow me. Let us go into the +vestibule and select the place where we will commence. +We need a few of those who can sing to go with us. +If any of the gentlemen have any advice to give, let +them give it now. Let others stay here and pray.” +Prayer was offered, and the hymn, “Guide me, O thou +great Jehovah,” sung, when the praying band assembled +in the vestibule.</p> + +<p>The reporter of the <i>Daily Courier</i>, M. E. Garber, +Jr., politely advised us to go to the saloon of Tom +Mullen, saying he knew Mullen would treat us well, +and walked on before us into the saloon. This band, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</span>at first small, but afterwards increased to a hundred +or more, consisted in part of</p> + +<ul style="list-style-type: none;"> + <li>Mrs. Sarah Thomas,</li> + <li> ” Indiana Stiver,</li> + <li> ” Sarah J. Hughes,</li> + <li> ” Malvina Quigley,</li> + <li> ” Kate V. Williams,</li> + <li> ” Jewel,</li> + <li> ” D. G. Stewart.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Arriving at Mullen’s, our band filed in, evidently to +the consternation of the proprietor. The evils of intemperance +were of course depicted, and permission +asked to pray; but Mullen said he preferred we +would not do so. And so, thanking him for his +courtesy to us, we withdrew; and in all our after visits +to him, he invariably treated us politely.</p> + +<p>We moved on to Johnson Conaway’s, at the door +of which stood the barkeeper, who refused admittance. +Our entreaties proving of no effect, we kneeled on the +pavement and prayed, the barkeeper in the meantime +having opened the door and locked himself in. We +then passed on to the saloon kept by Nadler, on Main +street, whose door we found locked. Nadler was +very rude, talking roughly, saying, “It’s no use to talk +to me. If you want to do me any good, give me some +money;” and walking off, locked the door behind. +During our prayer a window opened above, and an +old German woman cried out in mingled glee and +wonder, “Oh, see ’em pray! Oh, they are praying!” +The ladies now returned to Christian Chapel.</p> + +<p>The next morning our band left the German M. E. +Church, and called at Frook’s saloon, the proprietor +of which treated us well; but several men, with disgusting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</span>bravado, stepped to the bar and drank in +derision of the women. We next moved on to the +Western Hotel, kept by Henry Neisse, followed by an +immense crowd. His barkeeper informed us that the +proprietor was not yet up, but his instructions were to +admit no one, and we prayed on the pavement. +Drinks were here taken during prayer. Such was our +uniform treatment at Neisse’s. Indeed, so often were +we told that he was still in bed, that the house acquired +the name of “Sleepy Hollow.”</p> + +<p>Broadway Hotel, kept by George Smith, was our +next destination, and the scene was terrible. Our +band huddled together, and jeering faces closed +around us, and a group at the bar continued drinking +and clinking glasses, and the women of the house, in +an adjoining room, tittering and laughing—altogether +making a perfect Babel of confusion.</p> + +<p>The Crusaders were followed up street by several +hundred people, and they halted at George Glass’, at +which place we were greeted with a scene which we +are sure had been studied and practised for us. Glass +had been known to boast how he would treat us, and +the curiosity of the mob was intense, and was amply +satisfied in a scene which beggars description, and +disgraces the city.</p> + +<p>Our leader, Mrs. Stiver, having nearly swooned on +the way, had dropped into the house of a friend, and +we marched on, led by Mrs. J. F. Hutchinson. The +door was locked, and we had no escape from the +surging circle that hemmed us in. Again we copy +from the <i>Madison Courier</i>, adding name: “Those in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</span>the rear shoved and jostled to get forward, so the +circle narrowed and decreased till there was imminent +danger of the kneeling women being crushed under +foot. Rough words were bandied about; loud Amens +issued from the bar-room; then snatches of derisive +song; and amid and above all the din, the orchestra +pealed out, rattling and drumming like a steam brass +band. But a motherly old lady (Mrs. Susan Buchanan) +prayed on, with her hands outstretched, notwithstanding +the hideous noise within, as sweetly and calmly as +by the bedside of a little child. The praying woman’s +action and utterance alike expressed her faith: ‘The +Lord will hear us, though the crowd will not.’ +Presently Glass elbowed his way through to the doors +and threw them open. He spoke pleasantly to the +ladies, inviting them in, but the scene within was +enough to deter them. A house full of burly men, +drinking, and smoking, and acting as boisterously as +they well could. In the ladies went, and the rush after +them was so great that life was imperilled. They were +greeted by the proprietor himself in a kindly manner. +He expressed his regret that they had called Saturday, +as this was a busy day, and he could not give +them the attention they deserved.”</p> + +<p>Glass called out, “Come in, ladies, and take a drink, +and hear the music. I paid so much for that organ. +I keep a respectable house.” Mrs. Hutchinson replied, +“If you keep a respectable house, you will stop +that noise.” Upon which Mr. Glass, somewhat pacified, +ordered, “Bill, stop the organ,” which was done. +Beer all this time was flowing gratuitously. But we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</span>must add, to the praise of <i>One who protected each hair of +our heads</i>, that this man’s hand was stayed, and the mob +grew comparatively quiet, and Mr. Glass himself conducted +himself much more gentlemanly during the +rest of our visit, and invited us to call again. Before +we were out of the door, however, a boisterous song +was raised by those inside.</p> + +<p>The effect of this visit was varied. The monster +Alcohol grew so hideous in its deformity to one man, +that he renounced drink, and became a temperance +man.</p> + +<p>During our frequent visits to Mr. Glass we were +never able to make any impression for good on him. +At one time, in response to the entreaties of Mrs. Stiver, +he replied, “It’s no use. You can do me no good.” +She answered, “Well, Mr. Glass, if we cannot, we will +pray that God may.” To which he said, in response, +“I take no stock in God.” Mrs. Electa Wilson frequently +accompanied us in our visits here and elsewhere, +and was very efficient in praying and exhorting the +crowds. One morning Mrs. Joseph Todd for the first +time accompanied us. Mr. Glass asked, in a very +impudent manner, “What can I do? I can’t shovel +coal.” And she replied, in a beseeching tone, “You +had better shovel coal than ruin our sons.” She had +known the effects of this inhuman traffic. He immediately +proceeded to have her summoned before +Mayor John Marsh, upon charge of “provocation.” +Mr. Glass’s counsel refused to make any argument, +and after a few scathing remarks from Mr. A. D. +Vanosdol, the counsel of Mrs. Todd, the case was dismissed, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</span>when our band, who had accompanied her in +a body, broke out in a song of thanks.</p> + +<p>Mr. Glass afterwards made a cowardly “assault +with intent to kill,” upon Mr. Levick, who seemed destined +to bear the brunt of the war, and was slowly +recovering from an accident in which he narrowly +escaped losing his limb, and was then walking around +on crutches.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Horning locked the doors against us, as did +Mr. Effinger. Mr. John Kraut admitted us once, +but never afterwards. The house kept by Kraut +bears the reputation of being of the class called <i>fine</i>, +with marble counters and tall mirrors; and manufactured +drunkards by the hundreds. Mr. David +Humphreys always received us politely, and always +treated us well and gentlemanly, but we were never +able to make any change in him. C. Kraut refused us +admittance. Johnson Conaway did also, and we were +never able to see his face. Mrs. Kinne was a reluctant +host, but treated us well. At one time the liquor +element felt dissatisfied with the reports of the Crusade, +as published in the <i>Courier</i>, thinking it favored +us, and proffered to pay a reporter themselves, if his +productions would be published. On our part we felt +that we were ridiculed, and on the same day sent a +committee to request Mr. Garber, Jr., to discontinue +his visits with us. His reply was, “That is what we +get for carrying water on both shoulders.”</p> + +<p>Henry Pfeiffer’s doors closed, as also did Lohman’s. +Mrs. Patrick Devany treated us well. Fred Winnefield +always refused us admittance, and we kneeled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</span>on the pavement. On April 4th we called on Fred +Glass, Mrs. Stiver entering and inquiring for the proprietor. +Mr. Glass started up from the rear of the +saloon, exclaiming, “What’s here—more praying? I +want no praying.” Mrs. Stiver answered, “But see +here, Mr. Glass—” Mr. Glass, abruptly, “I want no +conversation at all.” So we grouped together on the +pavement, and Mrs. Stiver delivered an impassioned +address, but we are compelled to add that, as far as +we know, we were never able to produce any good +effect on Mr. Glass. Mrs. Scheible treated us rudely. +Leonard Klein tried how rudely he could talk to us. +We were sometimes led by Mrs. Hutchinson, and +sometimes by Mrs. Stiver. Great confusion was +created on one occasion by Mrs. Thomas, an old lady +eighty years of age, and loved by everybody, familiarly +spoken of as “Aunt Sally,” stepping into the doorway, +and kneeling down to pray. Klein hurriedly ran forward, +and rudely drove her up and off. Aunt Sally +was so much overcome she could not control her +voice, and said, “Oh, excuse me, Mr. Klein, I am old +and did not know I was doing any harm!” Mr. +Klein frequently told us we were doing more harm +than the saloons.</p> + +<p>And now we come to trying days indeed, but we +were upheld by the power of God. Mrs. Hunt, who +some time before this had left the city, was again with +us, and Mrs. Stiver avowed her own willingness to sit +at her feet and learn of her, and so under her leadership +we concluded to visit Walnut street, along which +almost every other house was a saloon. We had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</span>looked forward anxiously to this time; had heard +threats of harshness. Cheeks blanched with fear and +voices trembled with unshed tears. But into this +stronghold of the enemy we marched, and called first +at Mr. Schwab’s, who treated us well, and acknowledged +he was ashamed of his business. His wife was +glad to see us, and received us into her own sitting-room, +thanking us with genuine earnestness. Winters +refused to sell while the ladies were present, and a +young German, being twice refused, ran behind the +counter, drew the cork from the bottle, and was proceeding +to help himself, when Winters snatched the +bottle from him, and made him leave. Winters firmly +avowed his intention to sell, however. John Greiner’s +ale-wagon stopped here while we were inside, and +men began drinking, and one of them took a bottle +to the door, and drank from it ostentatiously. By +this time drays, buggies, and wagons stood at the +saloon doors, while swarms of human beings gazed +upon the solemn procession of sisters, who pushed +their way through the rough crowd, and commenced +singing at Kimmel’s, who refused to sell drinks in our +presence. A lady at the doorway passed through a +severe ordeal in barring out the crowd.</p> + +<p>Jacob Schuler’s saloon was found filled with men +drinking noisily, and there was a perfect jam before +and around the door as we approached, and we found +Schuler himself intrenched in an arm-chair, haranguing +the crowd, crying, “Clear off my pavement.”</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Hunt said: “Brother, we were calling on +the rest and would not slight thee,” Schuler, pacified, +replied, “I am obliged to you for coming.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</span></p> + +<p>Our visit here was amusing in the extreme. Schuler, +swearing unconsciously all the time, told of his bravery +and exploits in the army, said he came to this country +in “1885”—became very angry at any noise inside, +swearing, “I can stop that, by ——,” set down quietly, +while we prayed, but began again as soon as we arose.</p> + +<p>Amid yells and cries, and great confusion, we started +for Mat. Baus’, where quite a controversy occurred between +Baus and his wife. Baus’ wife interrupted his +words, and took up his argument, and Baus seemed +hugely amused.</p> + +<p>After singing and prayer, we discontinued our +visits for the day, but renewed the skirmish the next +morning, and called on S. Pfau, who was inclined to +shut us out because we passed him yesterday. He +talked kindly to us, and expressed a hope that we might +succeed.</p> + +<p>Not being admitted at Barar’s, Mrs. Hunt made a +stirring appeal, after which, and singing and prayer, +we closed the Crusade for the day.</p> + +<p>At another time, led by Mrs. Stiver, we again went +out Walnut street, and finding Solcher’s door closed, +we stepped off three paces, and held our usual exercises. +Soon a rude crowd gathered.</p> + +<p>At Mrs. Woodchopper’s a motley crowd of children +by the hundred, women by the score, and men innumerable, +all mixed in a confused mass, gathered. A +dray with empty beer barrels, the Walnut street hose, +country wagons, dogs, etc., completed the company. +Mrs. Dr. Little stepped forward, and, in her own kind +way, turning to a crowd of children, delivered them an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</span>appropriate address. Mrs. Newel also spoke very +effectively to some part of the crowd; and amid the +confusion and boisterousness Mr. J. W. Levick, that indefatigable +temperance worker, jumped into the spring-wagon +of Mr. Auger, while Mr. A. held the horse, +made an appropriate speech, tending to quiet the +people, referring to his own German origin. Several +men, in a rough, though not rude manner, interrupted +him, asking him questions, to each of which he politely +listened and replied. He then jumped to the ground +and came near the ladies. During his address he was +treated with more courtesy than we had any reason to +expect, and one German followed him down-town, desiring +to sign the pledge.</p> + +<p>And now, having given a brief account of some of +our visits to the saloons, which our readers must take +as an example of our work in that direction, we will +pass on to other matters.</p> + +<p>On April 30th, 1874, Hon. Wm. Baxter came to +Madison and spoke on the subject of Temperance, two +evenings in succession. The Crusaders held a mass-meeting +in Wesley Chapel, on the evening of May 6th. +The church was well filled, our President, Mrs. Stiver, +in the chair. After singing by the choir Mrs. Susan +Buchanan led in prayer, after which Miss Emma Vail +read a portion of God’s word. Mrs. M. E. Sullivan +made a thrilling address.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hutchinson read an essay, and Mrs. Johnson +and Miss Mary Page sang solos. Miss Jennie David +recited an original poem and when she demanded, +“Was it <i>all</i> the fault of the suicide?” the effect was indescribable. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</span>Miss David was an indefatigable worker, +and willingly did anything our band desired. Mrs. +Tibbetts concluded the exercises.</p> + +<p>Again, on the evening of June 10th, we held another +mass-meeting at the court-house, Mrs. Stiver in the +chair. Mrs. Sullivan made the opening address, followed +by an essay by Mrs. Anna Dougherty, who in turn was +followed by an address by Mrs. Electa Wilson, who +from the depths of an earnest soul poured forth thrilling +words, which coming from the heart went to the +heart. Mrs. Wilson was listened to with rapt attention. +Mrs. Gilpin concluded by reading an essay.</p> + +<p>In the meantime committees had circulated pledges +and procured 2,500 signers to the total abstinence +pledge. Our feet were blistered from the scorching +streets, while we worked faithfully on, defeating the +license of George Glass and others. In this place +we must make especial mention of Mrs. Thomas +Clark, Mrs. Elizabeth Crane Black, Mrs. Harry Colgate, +Mrs. Berryhill, Mrs. James Lewis, Miss Mary +McFetridge.</p> + +<p>We also held mass and street meetings in various +parts of the city and county. We gratefully remember +Mr. Nat Williams, who at one time when we held a +meeting on his wharf boat, kindly arranged seats and +lights, and exerted himself to make us as comfortable +as possible. On the arrival of the Louisville and Cincinnati +mail packet, the commander, Captain Chas. +David, cordially received us on board, followed by an +immense crowd. Miss Jennie, daughter of Captain +David, again recited an original poem to an attentive +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</span>audience; and when she feelingly referred to the claim +of the saloonists that theirs was a respectable business, +and demanded authoritatively,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent28">“If so,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Remove all bolts and bars, and let us see</div> + <div class="verse indent0">What gin-shops are, what drunkards do,”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">the effect was thrilling in the extreme.</p> + +<p>At another time we held service on board the Cincinnati +packet, commanded by Captain Sam. Hildreth, +who received us cordially. After singing and prayer +by Mrs. L. J. Hughes, Mrs. Stiver spoke for some +thirty minutes, when after some other devotions we +retired, escorted to the shore by Captain Hildreth. +Captain Hildreth afterwards attended one of our meetings, +was so much impressed that he resolved he would +“taste not the unclean thing,” and let us hope that he +adheres to his resolution.</p> + +<p>A stranger meeting one of our number afterwards +informed her that through our efforts, on board the +<i>Buel</i> that day, he had ceased the use of intoxicants; +and yet we must record the bitter with the sweet and +say that the whiskey fraternity gave the United States +Mail Company warning that if that performance was +repeated, they would ship no more produce with them.</p> + +<p>And now, after all these long weary months of suffering +and waiting, we have nothing to recall. Led by +Jehovah’s hand we did what we could, and we leave +the results to him. Though the good done seemed +comparatively slight, yet we worked on, and to-day +we recognize the recent reform movement in Madison, +as the <i>child of the Crusade</i>, and as God’s answer to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</span>our prayers. We believe that by some agency God +will answer our prayers and that <i>Mene, mene, tekel, +upharsin</i>, is written over every bar-room in the United +States as plainly as when the finger of God placed it +over Belshazzar’s feast.</p> + +<p>We desire to say that we have been warmly seconded +by most of the ministers in the city—W. W. Snyder, +J. F. Hutchinson, B. F. Cavin, I. H. Hardin, Henry +Keigwise and J. H. Barth. And we would especially +mention the Rev. Dr. Little and Rev. David Stiver, +who have firmly stood by us through all opposition and +given their wives their warmest approval. We look +forward to the coming day, when our victory shall be +complete.</p> + + +<h3 id="INDIANAPOLIS_INDIANA"> + INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Dr. R. T. Brown, President +of the Woman’s State Temperance Union, for the +following facts:</p> + +<p>When the Temperance Crusade was spreading over +the West like wildfire, in February, 1874, the Friends +held a temperance meeting in their church.</p> + +<p>The Rev. Mr. Bayliss preached a sermon on Temperance +at Roberts’ Park M. E. Church, and President +O. A. Burges, in a sermon at Bethlehem Christian +Church, made strong appeals to the women, spoke of +the many saloons in the city, and told them to go out +on the streets to work, and he would stand by them +and give his assistance at all times, which promise he +faithfully fulfilled. Soon after this, a call was made +for the women to come to Roberts’ Park Church, to +organize a temperance union. The attendance was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</span>large, and the meeting enthusiastic. A central union +was organized, and soon after each ward in the city +organized an auxiliary union. There was a general +awakening in the hearts of the women. Well do I +remember how large bodies of women met first in +church for prayer, then walked in a long procession +through the streets to the auditor’s office, and copied +the petitions filed for permits to sell liquor, then again +met in church for prayer, before going to the Commissioners’ +court to expose fraud. They asked leave +to open the sessions of the Commissioners’ court with +prayer, which was granted, and there they sat from +day to-day with dozens of beer-bloated, brazen-faced +men, gazing at them.</p> + +<p>One morning there were five temperance women in +the Commissioners’ court, and an old colored man +came in and gave the women five pamphlets, some in +prose, some in doggerel verse, containing low, vulgar +abuse of the Crusaders. The women hid them, and +said nothing. When the women first met from the +different churches, they were strangers, but they were +soon acquainted and became lasting friends. They +held many mass-meetings; they called the ministers +into each other’s pulpits to make temperance addresses; +in short, the Crusade work brought about a +Christian union that nothing else ever had done. Prof. +R. T. Brown said it looked like the Millennium had +come. The Crusade has been a great blessing to the +women of Indiana. It has developed latent powers +and faculties which have astonished none more than +themselves. They have circulated petitions extensively, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</span>and presented, in person, at two successive +Legislatures, the names of more than forty thousand +citizens, praying relief from the burden of liquor legislation. +Besides this, there has been a growth in the +social and Christian virtues that other means had +failed to produce.</p> + +<p>The women kept liquor from being sold on the +Exposition Grounds one year, and the next the managers +allowed it to come in, and fifty of the leading +temperance women pledged themselves not to attend +the fair, and published the following card:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><span class="allsmcap">TO THE LADY READERS OF THE INDIANA FARMER:</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sisters</span>:—Knowing our sex as we do, and its +womanly instincts, keenly alive to all moral questions +of conscience and duty, we appeal to you.</p> + +<p>Last year the State Board of Agriculture inserted a +clause in its leases prohibiting the sale of intoxicating +liquors at the Exposition, and thereby failed to rent +the usual number of stands, losing, as is claimed, +several thousand dollars, while there was probably no +compensating increase in attendance on that account.</p> + +<p>Consequently, the prohibiting clause is omitted this +year, and the sale of intoxicants will be allowed, unless +the applicants fail to procure a license from the Marion +County Board of Commissioners, which is altogether +improbable.</p> + +<p>Thus, as is usually the case, moral sentiment has +again been compelled to retire before appetite and +avarice, which give to the liquor traffic all its vitality.</p> + +<p>It is also reported that large sums of money +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</span>($50,000 in one case) have been paid to the Centennial +management at Philadelphia, for the privilege of selling +intoxicants next year, where our nation, by “an +exposition of its material, commercial, intellectual and +political prosperity, resultant from an hundred years +of self(?) government,” will celebrate the one hundredth +anniversary of that day when the “Old State House” +bell proclaimed “liberty throughout the land +and to all the inhabitants thereof.”</p> + +<p>It is a sad commentary, that wherever our brothers, +sons, fathers and husbands are expected to gather, +there the rum-seller invariably plants himself, plies +successfully his vocation and spreads his snares.</p> + +<p>He does not thus intrude upon gatherings of women +alone, for he finds no appetite to meet his avarice.</p> + +<p>Now where, and by whom, shall a standard be +raised against this burning disgrace?</p> + +<p>By whom, but the women and the churches? Where, +so appropriately as at our own Indiana Exposition and +State and County Fairs?</p> + +<p>Are the women of the State of no consideration to +its commercial interests?</p> + +<p>Who wear its dry goods and jewels? Who change +annually its fashions, replacing the old with the new, +while the old is still tasteful and comparatively unworn? +For whom do its young men dress well? By +whose tasteful housekeeping is the demand created +for beautiful carpets, handsome furniture and table +appointments, pictures and other home ornaments?</p> + +<p>To gratify whose taste are thousands of men employed +in building elegant homes?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</span></p> + +<p>Who demands sewing machines, improved coal +stoves and other conveniences?</p> + +<p>For whose eye is three-fourths of the display of our +markets, on business streets and at the Exposition?</p> + +<p>Verily, women have a power for weal or woe, commercially +as well as morally, and can by combination +make themselves felt.</p> + +<p>Will you not, therefore, Sisters and Christian people, +unite with us in setting our faces like flint against +the Indiana Exposition and State Fair, while the management +tolerates the sale of intoxicants?</p> + +<p>If these gatherings are for the vicious and immoral, +let us abandon the field to them; if for the virtuous +and moral, let such insist upon a recognition of their +moral sentiments; but if they are solely business +enterprises, which must pay at all hazards, let us +know it, and withhold our patronage as we would +from a beer garden or saloon.</p> + +<ul style="list-style-type: none;"> + <li>Mrs. Z. G. Wallace,</li> + <li> ” J. H. Bayliss,</li> + <li> ” J. A. Ross,</li> + <li> ” R. B. Duncan, Sr.,</li> + <li>Miss Auretta Hoyt,</li> + <li>Mrs. H. M. Brown,</li> + <li> ” Judge Test,</li> + <li> ” M. M. Finch,</li> + <li> ” T. H. Sharpe,</li> + <li> ” F. M. Farquhar,</li> + <li> Jane Trueblood,</li> + <li>Mrs. Dr. J. R Siddall,</li> + <li> ” John Gotschall,</li> + <li>Mrs. Lucia S. Holliday,</li> + <li> ” Ovid Butler, Sr.,</li> + <li> ” D. B. Harvey,</li> + <li> ” Ingraham Fletcher,</li> + <li> ” M. M. B. Goodwin,</li> + <li> ” Dr. F. G. Carey,</li> + <li> ” John S. Newman,</li> + <li> ” F. C. Holliday,</li> + <li> ” H. Parrott,</li> + <li> ” Elijah Fletcher,</li> + <li>Miss Annie Butler,</li> + <li>Mrs. Wm. H. Page,</li> + <li> ” R. T. Brown,</li> + <li>and many others.</li> +</ul> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</span></p> + +<p>The consequence was that the Exposition was a +failure, leaving the board largely in debt. Since then +liquors have been excluded by the board from the +fair grounds.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_403" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_403.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MRS. MARY T. BURT,</p> + <p>Corresponding Secretary Woman’s National Christian + Temperance Union.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h3 id="RICHMOND_INDIANA"> + RICHMOND, INDIANA. +</h3> + +<p>Richmond is a beautiful town, containing about +15,000 inhabitants. Of the thirty-one registered saloons, +only one was doing a legal business under the +Baxter law. The town was of Quaker proclivities, +and the Crusade was inaugurated by a few Quaker +ladies; but the women of other denominations rallied +around them, and the town was soon in a blaze of +temperance enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Among the places visited was the “Continental,” +kept by one McCoy, which was the finest saloon in +the city. McCoy could not stand the prayers and +appeals of the women, but unconditionally surrendered. +A thousand dollars was raised, and loaned to him to +begin another business; and the “Continental <i>Saloon</i>” +became the “Continental Market.”</p> + +<p>August Woeste unconditionally surrendered, and +his liquors were poured into the gutter; a public entertainment +was given for his benefit. Thomas Lichtenfels +treated the ladies with the greatest indignity; +he had a license under the Baxter law, and claimed +that he was doing a legitimate business. The ladies +continued their visits till one afternoon, six or eight +ladies who had entered were locked in, and were +prisoners from four till nine o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span> The very +worst men in the city were in the saloon at the time, +drinking and carousing, singing, and blaspheming in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</span>mockery. Beer flowed freely, and the tobacco-smoke +was stifling, and the attempts to frighten the ladies +were of the most threatening character. The noise +and the confusion was so great, that no religious exercises +were attempted, but the women sat in silent +prayer, while the drunken rowdies offered every insult +but actual violence.</p> + +<p>The Baxter law required that all saloons should close +at nine o’clock. When that hour arrived Lichtenfels +released the ladies, and, closing his saloon, said: “This +is the last time I will open my saloon—this is too much +for me.” For a week the saloon was closed, when, +notwithstanding his promise, he reopened again.</p> + +<p>The Police Board of the city had it in their power to +close all of the saloons of the city, but the one that +was licensed; but, instead of hunting up evidence to +stop the illegal business, they hunted up a city ordinance +preventing the obstruction of the sidewalk, hoping +in that way to stop the Crusade. But the ladies, +getting a hint of it, changed their tactics, and went out +in small companies.</p> + +<p>Enthusiastic mass-meetings were held—young men’s +meetings, young ladies’ meetings, and daily prayer-meetings—and +a public sentiment was aroused that +would have closed every rum-shop in the town if they +had not been sustained by official influence.</p> + +<p>Richmond is the home of Mr. Baxter, originator of +the Baxter law.</p> + +<p>The women continue their work, adopting various +methods, and are waiting and praying for the victory.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="MISCELLANEOUS"> + MISCELLANEOUS. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade was carried on in the following towns +of Indiana, with more or less success: Fort Wayne, +New Albany, Dunkirk, Portland, Muncy, Frankfort, +Columbus, Buffton, Kokoma, South Bend, Valparaiso, +Lawrenceburgh, Union City, Terre Haute, Greenfield, +Bedford, Lafayette, Logansport, Warsaw, Wabash, +Franklin.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + ILLINOIS. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V"> + CHAPTER V. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="CHICAGO_ILLINOIS"> + CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. +</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Early in March, 1874, it was announced that the +city council had determined to repeal the law requiring +saloon-keepers to close their doors on the Sabbath +day. Petitions against the repeal of the law were extensively +circulated, and the moral sentiment of the +city thoroughly aroused.</p> + +<p>A meeting was called for the next Monday afternoon, +March 16th, at Clark Street M. E. Church. The +house was packed to its utmost capacity, the front seats +in the gallery being filled with saloon-keepers. Many +ministers were on the platform. Mrs. Wirts called the +meeting to order, and Mrs. Rev. Moses Smith was +elected chairman. There was deep interest. One +present says: “The intensity of feeling was something +to be felt, but can never be described.” During the +devotional exercises every Christian heart realized +that the Holy Spirit was present.</p> + +<p>The first business of the meeting was the appointment +of a committee of fifty to present the petition to +the common council. Mrs. Rev. Moses Smith and +fifty others were designated to visit the council chamber.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith gives the following particulars of this +visit:</p> + +<p>“About seven o’clock, when the streets were comparatively +quiet, we formed in procession and marched +silently to the council chamber. On reaching the hall, +the door was found locked, and guarded by a drunken +janitor, armed with a revolver and dirk. Rev. Arthur +Mitchell, D. D., and Rev. Arthur Edwards, D. D., who +had greatly aided in the afternoon meeting, came to our +aid, and succeeded in getting the door unlocked, and +with their own hands lighted the gas. As many of the +ladies as could be seated passed in to await the coming +of the council, while the others returned to the +church.</p> + +<p>“At eight o’clock the council came to order, and the +clerk announced the first business on the docket to be +the final vote on the repeal of the Sunday law. Then +ensued a struggle: the more reckless were determined +to repeal the law before the ladies’ petitions could be +presented; others, even of the rum party, with an eye +to future elections, favored making the listening to the +petition the first business in order. After a long discussion, +the motion prevailed to listen to the petition.</p> + +<p>“In the meantime a mob had gathered around the +building, pressing through the long corridors even into +the council chamber. There was hooting and yelling, +and throwing of bricks, and threats from some of the +more desperate.”</p> + +<p>After the presentation of the petition, Mrs. Moses +Smith was permitted to address the council. She said: +“<i>Gentlemen of the Common Council</i>: We came not here +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</span>to address you. We desire not to take one moment +of your time. We come with a petition bearing the +names of 16,000 women, and we feel that we represent +the women of the city, and that we represent the cause +of righteousness and of God; and we feel, too, that we +are the power behind the throne, which may be felt at +another election, though it was not at the last. We +only entreat you in the name of our Father in heaven, +and as you have the personal responsibility before you, +not to open the saloons to our young men and to our +children on God’s day.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Smith was escorted from the building by Dr. +Mitchell, preceded by an armed policeman.</p> + +<p>She says: “The moment I stepped out of the room +an infuriated yell went up that fairly shook the building.” +Saloon-keepers had offered free rum to all who would +join the mob. Although several thousand of the most +desperate men in the city were gathered in that surging, +hissing crowd, the ladies passed through and +returned to the church without any serious injury. +Regardless of the petition, the law was repealed, but +the mob had done more for the cause of temperance +than the granting of the petition could have done.</p> + +<p>We give the following detailed account from the +<i>Chicago Times</i>, of March 17th:</p> + +<p>“It was well the ladies proceeded at an early hour to +the council chamber, though this precaution entailed +upon them nearly three hours’ wait. As soon as they +had been admitted, the rabble began to gather on the +outside, blocking up all the avenues of approach. +Adams street was crowded by, perhaps, the most ruffianly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</span>crowd ever gathered in the city—a crowd in +duty bound to insult everybody bearing the semblance +of a lady. It had been gathered from the saloons and +slums of the city to give the bummer aldermen a +moral support. The leaders had sent out the command: +‘Rally your forces; we must counteract the +influence of the women.’ Accordingly, every saloon +had stood treat to all the dead-beats who would ordinarily +be ordered out of the place, on condition that +they would make ‘Rome howl!’ about the city hall. +The move was a complete success, and a more unmannerly +and disgraceful mob never outraged propriety +and threatened the peace of the city. As soon +as the council chamber was filled, the corridors were +crowded with a filth-reeking crowd. The doors were +slammed in their faces, and then a howl of indignation +arose, that made the old rookery shake from its foundations +to the skylights. As often as a vote resulted +in favor of the bummers, the news was conveyed to +the mob, and the most unearthly yells would be sent +up, reverberating through the council chamber to the +stopping of all business.</p> + +<p>“The air within was stifling, and frequently ladies +would beg escorts from Captain Buckley to seek the +open air. Such requests were always granted, but it +was almost as much as their lives were worth for the +ladies to work their way through the mob. As soon +as the doors opened to pass them, the crowd in the +corridors, getting sight of a bonnet, would break out +in cheers, yells, hoots, groans, and cat-calls. This sort +of thing was kept up until the lady reached the street, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</span>and there the cries would be taken up by the rabble +outside, and the lady would generally be accompanied +by a mob of several thousand, a block or two, all yelling +like demons possessed. A number of ladies +fainted during the ordeal. These diversions were of +frequent occurrence, and the shouting and yelling +were interminable during the whole time that the +ladies were in the council chamber. But the closing +scene was the most disgraceful of all.</p> + +<p>“It was the most outrageous proceeding ever witnessed +in a civilized community. It must now be +counted among the other delusions dispelled in this +age, that men, no matter in what position in life, entertain +a natural regard for the fair sex. The mob on +last evening completely refuted this flattering unction. +Savages would have shown more respect to captive +Amazons. When the vote on the whiskey ordinance +was declared carried, the ladies rose to depart. A +posse of police then proceeded to break a way +through the crowd. Having succeeded in this difficult +task, the ladies filed out of the hall between two rows +of officers. On either side stood a glaring mob—a +shouting, a groaning, a hooting, a demoniac mob. +The most obscene phrases were bandied about; the +foulest epithets were applied. Women passing along +the corridors through this lane of filth, hid their faces +in their hands; dropped their veils; shrank within +themselves; hurried forward on the run; stopped +sometimes as if ready to sink, but gathering renewed +strength, started forward again, pressed by the ladies +behind them, all eager to reach the open air.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</span></p> + +<p>“But when the open air was gained, the situation in +nowise improved. Egress was had by the door in the +rear leading to the alley next to the Grand Pacific. +Thousands were crammed into this space—a howling +menagerie. The police cleared the sidewalk, but the +crowd lined the verge, and poured a volley of blasphemy +and obscenity at the procession of ladies. +When La Salle street was reached, other thousands +were awaiting their approach, and these howled even +louder than those who greeted them in the alley. +The noise was positively hideous, and this hooting, +yelling, blasphemous mob, of five thousand roughs, +the very offscourings of the saloons, flanked and followed +them clear to the door of the church. Jostling +them on the way; spitting tobacco juice on their +dresses; pulling at their chignons; in some cases +tripping them up; knocking off the hats of their escorts,—brothers, +husbands, or sons,—giving the latter +kicks, cuffs, and digs in the ribs; and all the while the +hooting, yelling, howling continued, and not infrequently +members of the procession would sink to the +ground, swooning from very fright.</p> + +<p>“It was a terrible ordeal these ladies were compelled +to pass. It is safe to say that never before, in this +country, did an equally respectable body of ladies receive +such brutal treatment. The rage of the mob +following the cart of Marie Antoinette to the guillotine +was not more demoniac, and probably far more courteous. +For much of this, that low-bred demagogue—Hesing’s +henchman—Jack Rehm, superintendent of +police, is responsible. The ladies called on him for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</span>protection, and he refused it; the mob ruled in the +very head-quarters of the police. This bummer, with +the star of the chief, was in league with the rabble; he +was a party to the plot to congregate all the scum of +the city hall; no pretence at order made on the outside; +the police, as they say in Paris, ‘fraternized’ +with the mob; they knew which side the powers that +be were on.”</p> + +<p>So far from intimidating the women of Chicago, it +made them a thousand times more determined. +Perhaps many of them were not aware, up to that +time, of the hideousness of the rum power, and the +degradation and vileness of its votaries. Their eyes +are opened. They see they have a giant to fight, and +yet it is not for them to fight; this wonderful movement +is <i>all of God, in answer to prayer</i>. Millions of +prayers are going up to God, and a wonderful spiritual +influence in answer to these prayers is being poured +out upon the people of all lands. The temperance +question is on the crest of this wonderful tidal wave.</p> + +<p>The <i>Chicago Tribune</i> and <i>Northwestern Christian +Advocate</i> give substantially the same account, and +unite to deplore and condemn the affair as a disgraceful +outrage on decency and propriety.</p> + + +<h3 id="ORIGIN_OF_CHICAGO_DAILY_TEMPERANCE_PRAYER-MEETING"> + ORIGIN OF CHICAGO DAILY TEMPERANCE PRAYER-MEETING. +</h3> + +<p>After the visit to the mayor, rejection of petition, +mob procession, etc., the temperance women of +Chicago did not lose heart. They maintained a daily +prayer-meeting in the lecture-room of Clark Street M. E. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</span>Church, at which numbers of drinking men signed the +pledge, and sought “the Lord behind the pledge,” as +one of them expressed it. During the frightful heat +of that summer, the attendance fell off sometimes. +Mrs. O. B. Wilson, the President, a plethoric lady, in +feeble health, and past the prime of life, would ride +miles in the street cars, from her home on one of the +south side avenues, to the place of meeting in the +Y. M. C. A. building, meeting there but one other lady, +and she from a distance equally great on the north +side of the city. At last, for a few weeks, the meeting +was relinquished. When Miss Frances E. Willard, +who had just entered the temperance work, and been +made President of the Chicago Union, returned from +old Orchard Beach, with the fresh enthusiasm and faith +stimulated by that meeting, she, with Mrs. Louise S. +Rounds, her special friend and coadjutor, proposed the +re-establishment of the daily gospel meeting. They +laid their plans before the ladies at the regular meeting, +and advocated giving more publicity to the effort, +and especially the effort to secure attendance of the +drinking, swearing, “elbow heathen” of the streets. +They proposed circulating a little hand-bill of invitation, +putting out a sign with “Everybody welcome! +Come and sign the pledge!” and also placing notices +in the daily papers. The debate was long and animated. +Some of the ladies said, “You’ve seen how +difficult, almost impossible it is to sustain any sort of a +meeting. A failure will be disastrous, and we cannot +hope to succeed.” Others said to Miss Willard, who +gave all her time to the office, “You’ll have to conduct +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</span>the meeting all alone; and though profitable to you, +it will not fulfil what you are aiming at, for if nobody +comes, you surely cannot reach the masses.” But +at last, by a small majority, the proposition carried.</p> + +<p>Miss Willard, in the simplicity of her heart, went to +Miss Cushing, Librarian of the Y. M. C. A., and +obtained her promise that if the prediction came true, +and she found herself absolutely without any one to +kneel beside her in prayer, Miss Cushing might be +called upon to help her “keep up the meeting.”</p> + +<p>But this exigency never arose. The first day seven +were present, the majority of them drinking men. +Rapidly the numbers increased, until the office, which, +by packing, would hold forty, was crowded, and the +doorway and hall. Then the Y. M. C. A. gave the +use of lower Farwell Hall (where their noon meeting +is held) and the attendance grew until two, three, and +four hundred would convene at three <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span> daily.</p> + +<p>Humanly speaking, the elements of success were: +Dauntless determination; thorough advertising of +meeting and persistently keeping it before the public—large +placards of welcome, hand-bills circulated on +the streets, notices of the press; accounts of the occurrences +at the meeting, as well as mere announcement; +having it <i>accessible</i>—in heart of city, <i>down-stairs</i>, level +of street, good lively music and excellent instrumental +accompaniment; regularly-appointed leaders (the week +beforehand, so they could prepare), going into reading-room +of Y. M. C. A., and daily inviting the loungers +there, with utmost kindness, to attend.</p> + +<p>Mrs. L. S. Rounds, Corresponding Secretary, gives +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</span>the following account of the work during the last +year:</p> + +<p>“Since the 1st of October, 1876, I have had charge of +the work. We have a membership of about seventy-five. +Our daily temperance prayer-meeting is <i>the</i> feature of +our work. Held in the very centre of the city, we have +had, since the above date, an average daily attendance +through the winter of two hundred and fifty, and during +these past summer weeks an average attendance +daily of eighty-five to one hundred.</p> + +<p>“These meetings are held from three to four each +day, Sundays excepted—always led by some lady, +excepting a few weeks during the winter, when the +meetings were led by Brother Sawyer, Mr. Moody’s +co-laborer.</p> + +<p>“The influence going out from these meetings is felt +in all the surrounding States, and letters come to us +nearly every day from persons who have been helped +by them. At the close of each meeting the pledge is +presented.</p> + +<p>“Besides this daily meeting, we have weekly meetings +under our auspices, at the following points:</p> + +<p>“<i>Bethel Home</i>, where a meeting has been sustained +about three years. There a <i>mighty</i> work has been +done: <i>thousands</i> passing through the Home have been +in our meetings, possibly, only once—others several +times, and the seed thus sown has fallen upon many a +poor, weary heart. The Superintendent of the Home +says that about twenty thousand persons pass through +the Home yearly. The larger portion of these come +into our meetings. They are poor wanderers, going +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</span>up and down in the world, seeking work, rest, and +homes. The most of them are drinking men. It is +one of the most promising points of our work, and +<i>thousands</i> of these poor outcasts have signed the +pledge here and begun a better life.</p> + +<p>“<i>Burr Mission</i> is also a grand field for labor—a hard +one, but all the more blessed, because of the joy it +gives of seeing the cross of Christ win its way in the +worst of places. Earnest Christian women have stood +firm at their post here, and God has blessed them wonderfully. +Hundreds have signed the pledge. Much +house to house visiting is being done here, with blessed +results.</p> + +<p>“<i>Twenty-fifth street and Portland avenue</i> is another +point where we have planted our temperance work. +Here we have much help from Christian men and +women living in the neighborhood.</p> + +<p>“<i>At 221 West Madison street</i> we have another point +of work. This meeting has only been in progress +a few months, and yet the interest is remarkable, and +much good is being done. Many Christians attend +this meeting, held every Monday night.</p> + +<p>“And last, but by no means least, we have a new +point of work in the extreme south part of the city, in +the midst of a drinking class of people, called—</p> + +<p>“<i>Our Forty-seventh Street Work.</i> A gospel temperance +meeting was started here about six weeks ago, a +hall secured, and meetings held <i>twice</i> every week. +The entire neighborhood seems aroused. Some opposition +was met with at first, but the whiskey men are +finding out that we have come to stay. A noble +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</span>Christian man, under the direction of our Union, has +charge of the work, and we send speakers and watch +its interests. At <i>every</i> meeting large numbers sign +the pledge. The work here promises grand things.</p> + +<p class="center"> +SUMMARY OF WORK. +</p> + +<p>“The Chicago Union holds, <i>every week, twelve</i> gospel +temperance meetings. At all of these, the pledge is +presented, and the Saviour offered as the Physician +for sin-sick souls. At all of these meetings an opportunity +is given for any one to present requests for +prayers either for himself or for friends, and also to +give testimony as to what the Lord is doing for him.</p> + +<p>“No reformed man is allowed to take part in our +meetings who ignores Christ’s power to save, or +scorns His help, no matter how good a <i>temperance</i> +man he may be. <i>We never run in debt.</i> It is an +understood rule that we shall <i>never</i> go beyond the +means in hand. Clinging to this, we found ourselves +one day with only forty-five cents in the treasury, but +all bills were paid, and before others came in the Lord +supplied our needs.</p> + +<p>“Not <i>one dime</i> from our treasury goes to relief work. +In a great city like this, constantly running the risk of +being imposed on by untruthful and indolent people, +we saw the wisdom of adopting this rule, and have +adhered to it strictly. We find that those we help the +least, <i>materially</i>, do the best for <i>themselves</i>, and this is +a fact worthy of consideration. Much of the so-called +<i>charity</i> of the world is but adding fuel to the fire +which is burning out our social life. Every man +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</span>ought to be taught that he must depend upon <i>God</i> +and <i>himself</i>.</p> + +<p>“Our temperance women cannot learn the lesson too +soon, that there is <i>no end</i> to the long procession who +care more for the bread that perisheth, than for that +of eternal life.</p> + +<p>“Our objective point is the uplifting of <i>public sentiment</i>. +Pulling drunkards out of the gutter is good +work, but to keep them from getting in is better. +Our hope is in the children. To this end the juvenile +work interests us much. In nearly all the evangelical +Sunday-schools of the city, we have introduced a +review lesson on Temperance, prepared by Miss Kimball, +the chairman of that department. It has proved +<i>very acceptable</i>; and Sunday-schools out in the towns +and villages in the State have sent to us for it.</p> + +<p>“God give us the children for Christ and temperance, +is our cry; and we hear Him say, ‘According to your +<i>faith</i> be it done unto you.’</p> + +<p>“To-day, at the close of this hot August month, with +the fall and winter work close upon us, our Chicago +Union stands bravely at the front, where, thank God, +she has <i>always</i> stood.</p> + +<p>“To recapitulate:</p> + +<p>“We hold <i>twelve gospel temperance meetings every</i> +week, counting in our six <i>daily</i> meetings, the attendance +of which yesterday was 120, averaging daily +from 80 to 100! Our regular <i>business</i> meeting every +week. During the past <i>eleven</i> months (first three of +which is in the last report), between 1,500 and 1,600 +have signed the pledge; and we feel safe in saying +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</span>that there have been from <i>three</i> to <i>five hundred conversions</i>. +May God continue to bless the temperance +cause, and to Him be all the glory.”</p> + + +<h3 id="JACKSONVILLE_ILLINOIS"> + JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS. +</h3> + +<p>After an all-day prayer-meeting, the women were +invited to meet and organize, which they did on March +16th, 1874, enrolling at the first meeting 200 names, +as workers. They caused to be placed on record, the +following solemn statement: “We now buckled on +the armor, and go forward; there is no retreat, no +failure; we do not expect to lay down our armor +until life’s work is done. Our motto is, Jehovah nisi: +the Lord my banner; and with this unfurled, floating +in the air—which is wafted from the heavens above us—we +go forth to conquer for Him who gave His life +for us.”</p> + +<p>A pledge was drawn up, and circulated among the +druggists, to which most of them signed their names. +Committees were appointed to visit the owners of the +buildings where saloons were kept, hoping, as nearly +all were church members, they would be convinced of +the wrong they were doing. Total abstinence pledges +were circulated throughout the city, and over two +thousand names were enrolled on the pledge-books.</p> + +<p>One day, a member of the Union, seeing a man +come out of a saloon, said, with a kind look, “My +friend, you do not frequent the saloon at such a time +as this?” He answered, “I have done so.” After +some conversation, they separated; he went home and +related the circumstance to his wife, and expressed a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</span>willingness to sign the pledge. The wife found out +the name of the lady, visited her and urged her to +present the pledge to her husband, which she did. +The man wrote his name to the pledge, declaring +solemnly that he would never break it; and has kept +it faithfully, and taken a stand on the Lord’s side, and +united with one of the churches.</p> + +<p>A man came into the meeting one day, who seemed +very much affected and interested. He said he lived +eight miles from the town, was in the habit of drinking, +and had been for thirty years; as he was coming into +town, his wife wished him to attend the meeting where +they prayed for those who wanted to be free from the +bondage of drink, so instead of going to the saloon, he +went to the prayer-meeting.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards, while the women were praying +before a saloon, a wagon stopped, and the occupants +desired to see some of the women; it was the man +just mentioned, with his family. They all wanted to sign +the pledge; the shadow had been lifted, they had now +a happy home, the man had reformed.</p> + +<p>Mrs. L. H. Washington, who was the President of +the Union at that time, says:</p> + +<p>“We met daily, asking our Father to lead us, and +use us against the evil, which threatened all that was +precious In life. We did this, however, in the beginning, +without any expectation of going into the saloons. +For myself, I had an abhorrence of drinking-places, +from which happily my father, brothers and husband, +had kept aloof.”</p> + +<p>After two weeks of dally meetings, we began to visit +the saloons.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</span></p> + +<p>Our band, which commenced with five, soon numbered +seventy-five. We were almost invariably treated +with respect, not that the saloonists were glad of our +company, but they knew that their only hope of maintaining +their position and business was in appearing +as much like gentlemen as they knew how.</p> + +<p>There were some exceptions to courteous treatment, +generally from those under the influence of liquor. +One saloon-keeper, who was much intoxicated, seized +a gun, and aimed it at the women, but it was wrested +from him, by his patrons. When sober he always +invited us in, (we did not enter without permission,) +and frequently followed to other saloons with apparent +interest. Another saloon-keeper, also intoxicated, said: +“What do you bring your Jesus here for? take Him +to the church, and crucify Him there. You are working +for money, any way.”</p> + +<p>We immediately acknowledged that we had received +nearly a thousand dollars to open a pleasant free reading-room, +where all were invited, and we wanted all +who worked for money to take good care of it, and +make their homes pleasant, and their wives and children +happy, and we urged all to come and partake of +the “water of life freely, without money, and without +price.”</p> + +<p>One of the most deeply solemn prayer-meetings I +ever attended, was held in a saloon, by appointment, +and with the consent of the proprietor. Intelligence +and wealth, ignorance and poverty, were represented +in the band. Anguished hearts were laid bare; wrongs +and solicitudes which had been carefully covered over +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</span>for years, awakened ready sympathy, and all clasped +hands against a common foe.</p> + +<p>Saloon patronage was greatly reduced; many unaccustomed +to attend church, on invitation came, and +some were gathered into the fold.</p> + +<p>It was almost the universal opinion, that with the +burning eye of public sentiment turned upon the liquor +traffic, it must go down. The saloonists were evidently +trembling, not so much at the power of God whom +they did not fear, as at the power of the earthly counsel, +from whom they bought silence and favor, by paying +$500 per annum. So insecure did they feel, and so low +had their patronage been reduced, that they did not +replenish their stock.</p> + +<p>One liquor agent, who, when he visited the city, +usually sold from $1,500 to $2,500 worth of liquors to +the drug stores and saloons, stated, that he could not +sell one dollar’s worth. We afterwards learned that +he came into our daily meeting to see what the women +were doing, to so interfere with his business.</p> + +<p>I was riding in the cars one night. We reached the +city of Peoria about midnight. This city is noted for its +whiskey making, and a man entered, and engaged in +conversation with a passenger, from which I learned, +they were both engaged in the liquor business.</p> + +<p>“Times are dull, dull,” was the salutation that passed +between them. A pocket flask was produced, and the +quality of its contents tested with evident relish.</p> + +<p>“Doesn’t it beat the devil? You can’t sell whiskey +in these days.” (I thought myself, that the devil was +badly beaten.)</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</span></p> + +<p>“Where have you been this round?”</p> + +<p>Several places were indicated.</p> + +<p>“Did you stop at Jacksonville?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, but they’ve got a Crusade and a revival, too, +and there’s no use to try to sell there.”</p> + +<p>“Things look rather dark.”</p> + +<p>“I think they do: Why, there are 30,000 barrels of +whiskey in the bonded warehouses of Peoria, to-day, +and no sale to speak of. B——’s distillery must shut +down, if times don’t brighten. Why if this thing keeps +on three months longer, every whiskey man in the +country will be busted.”</p> + +<p>Alas! that the adversary of souls should have so +many allies, and one so powerful in the love of money.</p> + +<p>In our city, many who commended crusading, and +were loud in their praises, and hoped the women would +not give up, when the time came for voting, failed to +back their praises with their votes. “Temperance +work,” they said, “was a Christian work, a work of +moral suasion, and since men would drink, it was best +and safest to make them pay for it.” And so they +bargained for the evil, which their wives prayed to +prevent, and hindered the good work.</p> + +<p>We were cast down, but not altogether discouraged. +We wept, it is true, but had not our Master +wept over Jerusalem? Jerusalem was destroyed, but +His blessed cause lives, and the light then overshadowed, +is brightening the uttermost parts of the +earth.</p> + +<p>I learn from the records that on April 9th the following +petition was prepared: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</span>“<i>To the Honorable, the Mayor and City Council of the +City of Jacksonville</i>:</p> + +<p>“The undersigned, residents of Jacksonville, respectfully +ask that no license to retail intoxicating +drinks shall be granted by the city of Jacksonville. +To you who have full power to grant or deny our +prayer we appeal as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, +to aid in preventing a traffic that causes evil, and only +evil, and by which our sex and young children are the +greatest sufferers.”</p> + +<p>This petition was circulated, and the names of 1,650 +women annexed, and presented to the council at their +first meeting by a committee appointed by the Union. +This petition was placed, by vote of said council, in +the hands of the chairman of the committee on +ordinances, where it slept, with naught to disturb its +repose, until its resurrection by the Union a year +afterwards. It is now nicely rolled up and occupies a +place with the records kept by the Secretary of the +temperance society.</p> + +<p>And yet, with all these discouragements, the Secretary, +Mrs. E. J. Bancroft, records the purpose of the +society in the following tender words:</p> + +<p>“Let us, members of the Union, keep heart to +heart, having charity among ourselves as to ways and +means of doing good. Work and wait, looking to Him +who gave the cause into our hands—the burden into +our hearts.”</p> + + +<h3 id="ROCKFORD_ILLINOIS"> + ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, Corresponding +Secretary, for the following facts:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</span></p> + +<p>The city of Rockford, Illinois, on the Rock river, has +had rather a remarkable history. About twenty years +ago its numerous Christian counsellors set themselves +to frame a municipal law for the liquor traffic, which, +while it licensed, should at the same time prohibit; and +the government was run on this double-faced principle +for a series of years, during which manufactories multiplied, +homes were built after the most luxurious style, +churches were erected until they stood one for every +thousand of her population, schools were perfected, +and her youth grew up and entered business, and +reared houses of their own; when it suddenly appeared +to the women that their proud and beautiful +city had a saloon for every church, and more than +matched the church in point of influence.</p> + +<p>Under the terrible pressure of facts, the women +came together, on the 27th of March, 1874, and organized +a Woman’s Temperance Union, having but the +one object, of saving the men of our city from the +curse of rum. The wife of the mayor, Mrs. Gilbert +Woodruff, was made the President of this organization, +with a Vice-President from every church in the +city. Mrs. S. M. I. Henry was elected Secretary, and +Mrs. H. W. Carpenter, Treasurer.</p> + +<p>Thoroughly organized, the Union began its work—holding +public meetings, canvassing the city with +pledges and petitions, studying the laws of the State +and city, looking up the city records for facts to be +used in public and private; and, greater than any of +these, imploring the God of heaven daily for relief +from the death-grip of this enemy. The pledges +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</span>were signed by a good proportion of the <i>temperance</i> +people, and a few drinkers.</p> + +<p>The petition to the council, not to grant licenses, was +signed by 2,325 women, 1,357 men, over age, and was +presented to the council by twenty-one ladies—and +was <i>not granted</i>. We worked on one year, without +any apparent result—passed the anniversary, and began +the second year with nothing but faith. By very +great efforts, we raised the means to secure the services +of Francis Murphy, who came to Rockford, about +the 10th of April, 1875. The people thronged to hear +him, and thus became interested in the idea and fact +of reformation for the drunkard. Some hard drinkers +signed the pledge at his meetings, who have stood true +until now.</p> + +<p>Just before Mr. Murphy came, the business men who +were in sympathy with our work organized an alliance, +which is still in good, substantial working order, and is +a power in our city.</p> + +<p>In July, 750 of our Union opened rooms for temperance +gospel work, and Mrs. Henry, the Corresponding +Secretary, was placed in charge, in which +position she still remains. These rooms have become +one of the institutions of the city, and have been +the scene of many thrilling incidents in the work of +individual reform. A pledge-book is kept on the +table, and about four hundred names have been enrolled, +of those who, in the midst of a downward +course, have resolved to reform, and sought the temperance +rooms and called for the pledge, unsolicited +by us. Of this number more than ninety per cent. +stand true.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</span></p> + +<p>On the 15th of October, 1875, a Reform Club was +organized in the rooms, beginning with seven members, +all men rescued, by the grace of God, through +the gospel temperance work, from the lowest depths. +This club now numbers over one hundred men of like +experience, many of whom have been converted, and +are humbly following Christ.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the second year of our Union, +Mrs. John Backus was elected President, Mrs. Woodruff +being first Vice-President; and Mrs. Starr, Recording +Secretary; Mrs. S. B. Wilkins, Treasurer; the +Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Henry, being retained. +These officers were re-elected at our last annual meeting. +At that meeting, the Corresponding Secretary in +making her report referred to the strange fact, that +not one of our members had been called away by +death, and that no one had ever seceded from us. +But to-day, six months after, we cannot say this: two +of our dearest fellow-workers have gone up to represent +us in the court of the King.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mary A. Phelps, and Mrs. Gilbert Woodruff, +our first Vice-President. No one reading these two +names, in this connection, can know what it means to +us. They were beloved and honored among us, and +we are left <i>stricken</i>, yet following on.</p> + +<p>Our work is peculiarly <i>gospel</i> work. During the +years, our weekly gospel meetings for the men, our +monthly meetings for the young people, weekly Thursday +afternoon meetings of the Union, and weekly club +meetings on Friday evening for men only, are all carried +on, nothing being allowed to interfere. During +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</span>the summer, afternoon meetings are held in the public +park, every Saturday, at three o’clock, conducted by +the women; and occasionally some good pastor of a +city church visits us of a Sabbath evening, with his +people, to hold a gospel temperance meeting.</p> + +<p>We have done a great deal of saloon visiting, not +crusading, and tract work, with good results. A great +deal of relief work comes to us every winter. Last +winter the charity of the churches was distributed +through our agency, and we had thirty-five families on +our list, whose comfort was the daily care of our +Union all winter. Cause of this want—<i>drink</i>. Result +of the gospel temperance relief work—reformation, +and conversion in several instances.</p> + +<p>Out of the W. T. Union of our city have grown +several organizations, all working in harmony with us, +and each other, viz.: the Rockford Temperance Alliance, +the Rockford Reform Club, Spafford Lodge, I. +O. G. T., and the Temple of Honor.</p> + +<p>We were sure, at first, that our call was of God, but +to-day, looking back over three and a half years of +constant work in this cause, we <i>know it</i>.</p> + +<p>We praise Him for the past, and trust Him for the +future.</p> + + +<h3 id="BLOOMINGTON_ILLINOIS"> + BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. A. E. Sanford, of Bloomington, gives the following +account of work there:</p> + +<p>The two months of prayer and conference preceding +the work of saloon visiting, was a season of earnest +praying and patient hard work. Saloons were visited +every day, their keepers and occupants conversed with, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</span>urged to sign the pledge, become Christians, and give +up the miserable business of selling and drinking +liquors. Several gave up the business, many signed +the pledge, and much good resulted from the loving +labors of God’s loyal women.</p> + +<p>April 20th, 1874, was a memorable day in the history +of Bloomington. The city council, in answer to the +importunate entreaties of the women to make prohibition +regulations, had promised to leave the decision to +the popular vote. At an early hour the ladies convened +at the First M. E. Church, and after spending +one hour in agonizing prayer, went out in companies +to the different wards, to influence, if possible, the +voters. Quiet, timid women, with calm, resolute courage, +in many of whose faces shone the peace and trust +born of abiding faith in God, took their places with +hearts full of prayer, and hands full of prohibition +tickets, and in the drizzling, cold rain, fought for the +cause they loved.</p> + +<p>Ministers, Christian men and women, and the Faculty +of Wesleyan University, all worked together tirelessly, +for they thought much depended on that day’s work. +Many a voter, who had little faith in the “no license +plan,” was induced to try the experiment; many a +poor inebriate, seeing in prohibition his only hope of +reform, and many a man, who cared little for the result, +was induced to vote the prohibition ticket.</p> + +<p>At the church the women gathered all day and +prayed; lunch was served also there; reliefs sent to +those who had worked at the polls till strength gave +way. Not a word of disrespect or roughness was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</span>given to the ladies, though they mingled with rough +men, accompanying them to the polls to see the +proper tickets deposited.</p> + +<p>When the polls closed, men and women, interested +in prohibition, gathered at the church to await “returns.” +As the news came in, shouts of praise, and +songs of rejoicing mingled together; and when the +victory was declared, the grand long-metre doxology +sung with quivering lips and streaming eyes, attested +how deep had been the interest, and how profound +was the thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>But alas! how short-lived was our triumph. The +council, disappointed in the result, “dilly-dallied” +about carrying the popular vote into execution, until +in June they passed the mockery of a prohibition +ordinance, making the sale of less than one gallon +illegal. But even this mockery accomplished good. +Young men and boys were less frequently found in +saloons; drunken men were seen less frequently upon +the streets; and a visible improvement was manifest +until fall, when even that ordinance was repealed, and +“license” became the rule. Those were dark days +for the friends of temperance.</p> + +<p>Since 1876, nearly half the saloons which had existence +here have been closed. The Washingtonian +Club has grown out of the prayers and efforts of the +Union. Every week a few sign the pledge; and +steadily, though slowly, the temperance sentiment is +gaining ground and winning sympathy.</p> + +<p>The ladies of the Union meet weekly, not in the +large numbers which characterized the Crusade days, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</span>but a few are always there, “stretching their hands to +God,” and believing that the right must triumph in +God’s good time; and so we are not discouraged, but +hoping.</p> + + +<h3 id="MOLINE_ILLINOIS"> + MOLINE, ILLINOIS. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. M. E. Stewart for the facts +connected with the heroic work of the women of this +town:</p> + +<p>Long before the great tidal wave of temperance had +rolled over Ohio, Indiana, and other States, there were +anxious hearts in Moline. There were sleepless nights, +and agonizing prayers, and many times was the question +repeated mentally, “What, oh, what can be done +to stay the terrible curse of intemperance?” But +when the glad news of what was being done in our +sister States flashed across the wires, we thanked God, +and took courage, hoping that a spark from the spreading +fire might alight in our own city. At length our +desires were realized, and on the 20th day of April, +1874, at three o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, about twenty women met +for prayer and discussion, and, before separating, +organized, and appointed committees for various +duties, drafting Constitution and By-laws, and drawing +up petitions.</p> + +<p>The meeting was earnest and spirited, and the great +burden of heart seemed to be that the city council, +manufacturers and business men, should take a decided +stand on the side of temperance, by not licensing the +sale of spirituous liquors, and by giving employment +to men of steady habits only, and by discountenancing +intemperance in every form.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</span></p> + +<p>Our next meeting was held on the 24th of April. +Forty ladies were present. The “Woman’s Total +Abstinence League,” as the Society was called, had for +its President Mrs. M. M. Hubbard, a woman of large +motherly heart, one on whose brow were lines of +thought and care, and whose hair was being silvered +with age, and one whose heart was imbued with the +work. Vice-Presidents, Mrs. M. A. Gordan and Mrs. +M. A. Stephens. Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. M. +E. Stewart.</p> + +<p>After that meeting, no time was lost, but active and +persistent labor was ours. The city was divided into +districts, and thoroughly canvassed with a petition to +the city council in favor of “no license, and prohibition.” +From house to house, from shop to shop, and from +manufactory to manufactory did the earnest, anxious +canvassers go, earnestly pleading with all to sign the +petition “for no license.” Day after day they walked +through drenching rain, snow, sleet, wind and storm, +so that it might be completed before the election of +new city officers.</p> + +<p>The roll contained 2,100 names and measured sixty-nine +feet; and after a meeting of solemn, earnest +prayers, a committee was appointed to carry it to the +council room. It was presented to the mayor, who +listened attentively, and responded by saying, that +“both he and the council were in sympathy with our +petition, and would do all they could to grant the +favor.”</p> + +<p>The hearts of the old council had been touched, and +to quiet conscience, they had repealed the license law, +and left a clean page for the new officials.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</span></p> + +<p>The first vote taken on the matter was a tie, requiring +the mayor’s signature or vote to decide, which he +refused to give, fearing he might offend either party, +and thus the question was left undecided, and for two +months there was no license. Meanwhile we did all +in our power to prevent action in favor of license. We +held meetings for prayer, sent articles on temperance +to the newspapers, plead with the manufacturers and +capitalists, to employ only men of strict temperance +principles; plead, too, before “our wise ones, that the +policy of no license was, and always would be, the +wisest political economy—a financial gain to the commonwealth.”</p> + +<p>Although there was no license, the liquor-selling and +drinking went on, and law was being violated, and +work—hard work—and prayer was our daily motto.</p> + +<p>The mayor and council were frequently visited, +always after earnest prayer. Saloon-keepers were +visited and appealed to in the kindest and most tender +terms to give up their occupation, and engage in some +business that might command the patronage of all. +The druggists were visited with the pledge, which was +signed by each of them, but alas! we only too well +knew, that some of them did so as a mere pretence, +never intending to keep their promise.</p> + +<p>The churches were also most thoroughly canvassed +with the pledge, and, although many responded eagerly, +yet our hearts were saddened to know that quite a +number of God’s professed followers did not fully +comprehend the spirit of the great apostle, when he +said, “If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no +flesh while the world stand.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</span></p> + +<p>Drunkards’ families were visited, and a kind and +helping hand extended to the poor inebriate.</p> + +<p>Many little incidents occurred during such visits, +which were worthy of note, but I shall only mention +two, giving them in the canvasser’s own words:</p> + +<p>“In the northern part of our city are a number of +poor, unfinished and unpainted houses, nothing of interest +surrounding them. One cold, dark, dreary day, +I called at the door of one of them: my rap was +answered by a gruff voice from within, that seemed to +come from some hollow cave. The door opened, and +I stood face to face, in the presence of a man upon +whose brow was stamped God’s bitter curse, ‘No +drunkard shall enter the kingdom of heaven.’ I followed +him, and found that I had entered a place of +wretchedness and suffering. No fire, no furniture, +except a broken table, one or two chairs, an old stove, +and a bed of rags on the floor. Three poor children +greeted me with kind and somewhat cheerful faces, a +welcome indeed, in such a place of want and destitution.</p> + +<p>“I told them I had come to get their father to sign +the pledge, and hoped to bring joy and comfort to +them. After hearing the pledge read, he wrote his +name, exclaiming as he did so, ‘No man has more +need to sign your paper, woman, than I,’ wishing, at +the same time, ‘that intemperance could be done +away with;’ then, sinking upon the floor, he exclaimed, +‘Father, have mercy, what has drink done for me! +taken my children, my wife, my property.’</p> + +<p>“The oldest child, a girl of fourteen, coming and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</span>throwing her arms around my neck, inquired if I had +‘come to save her father from a drunkard’s grave.’ +‘Would he come home once more sober?’ ‘Once more +bring joy and comfort to his home?’ Two interesting +children, a girl of eight and a boy of ten, came and +took me by the hand and with trembling voices, asked +if I had ‘come to save their father.’ I inquired for +their mother. ‘She was dead four years since. She +used to pray with us, for this good time coming, when +father would be kind and have a pleasant home.’ She +inquired if I ‘was the good angel, God had sent.’ The +father hearing the sad, tearful voices of his children, +came and took me by the hand, and asked me to pray +with him. In that dark and dreary room, believing +God would hear and answer prayer, I asked them +to repeat with me the Lord’s prayer, ‘Our Father, +which art in heaven.’</p> + +<p>“Visiting still further among the poor, I called upon +a family in more comfortable circumstances. Poverty +and wretchedness had not yet stamped their blight so +plainly upon their home. Still sorrow and sadness had +found their way, and were gnawing at the hearts of its +occupants. An aged mother, a young wife, a beautiful +babe; must the finger of scorn be pointed towards +them, a drunkard’s family? I told them my mission. +I had come to get their names to our petition. In +bitter anguish they told me of sorrow and suffering. +How they had waited his coming in trembling and in +fear: how they had gone out in the darkness of the +night, mother and daughter, wandering among the +haunts of vice to find no comfort.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</span></p> + +<p>“He, upon whom they once leaned for support, was +too intoxicated to know them. In bitter anguish they +had returned to their home, so cold and desolate, to +await his coming. The young wife asked if anything +could be done to save her husband from a drunkard’s +grave. Inquiring if they ever prayed for him, or those +who sold him drink, I received the answer, ‘Prayer! +What good would prayer do?’ I entreated her to +pray for him, and for her enemies; told her prayer +would prevail before God; to pray for the time when this +terrible monster intemperance would be done away; +for her son God had given her, that he might not +follow in the footsteps of his father. Assuring her all +our labors were backed by faith and prayer; that we +would continue our prayers with hers, the prayers of +the drunkards’ wives and children, until they reached +to heaven. She threw herself at my feet, exclaiming, +‘Let me come, then, Lord, and consecrate myself to +Thee.’”</p> + +<p>Our meetings were always characterized by a deep +devotional spirit, great zeal and earnestness in the +work. Social positions, if they differed, were for the +time levelled, and denominational differences forgotten.</p> + +<p>Our League grew, and soon numbered ninety-three, +but only a part were willing for active service, so that +the labor devolved upon the few.</p> + +<p>The ministers joined with us heart and hand, and +in sermons, hymns and prayers, held aloft the temperance +banner. By their enthusiasm they incited the +people to action, and temperance meetings became the +order of the day.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</span></p> + +<p>Mass-meetings were held alternately in each church. +A Union Temperance Prayer-meeting was organized, +and sustained for a year. A part of the League had +pledged themselves to be always there, if possible.</p> + +<p>And those who held on were amply repaid, for their +own hearts were warmed and cheered, and often the +blessed prayer-room seemed a very Bethel. After +much prayer the saloons were visited.</p> + +<p>On June 2d, after earnest prayers, discussion, and +great shrinking from so unpleasant a duty, the picket +work began; a few only volunteering to assist in the +labor. That great excitement was created by this +arrangement will be seen by the following, taken from +our city paper, the <i>Moline Review</i>:</p> + +<p>“A <span class="smcap">Street Riot</span>.—Every friend of good order in +Moline must feel disgusted with the riotous crowd +that assembled at the corner of Main and Atkinson +streets on Wednesday evening, and, in defiance of +law, blockaded the streets and disturbed the peace for +hours. There was no occasion for this public disturbance; +there is no excuse for it; and the good name +of the city requires that a repetition shall not be permitted +to occur.</p> + +<p>“But in this connection some explanation of what +drew the crowd together is required. It appears that +the Ladies’ Temperance League deputed two of their +number to obtain and record the names of all persons +who enter Shroeder’s saloon, which is located on the +corner of the streets already named. Early in the +morning the ladies began the duty assigned them, and +remained at their post until noon without any notable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</span>occurrence. In the afternoon kegs of beer were placed +in the middle of the street, and freely drank by a +small crowd of men. This continued until six o’clock +in the evening, the crowd constantly swelling in numbers. +By eight o’clock the crowd had grown from a +score to hundreds. A wagon was placed in the middle +of the street and beer flowed freely. The crowd +was ordered by the mayor in person to disperse, but +it refused to do so. By nine o’clock from 300 to 500 +men, women, and children had congregated. Shouts, +jeers, speeches, and profanity were indulged in. Challenges +were boldly shouted for the friends of temperance +to defend their views by arguments; common +decency was outraged, religion mocked, and the name +of the Deity loudly proclaimed as authority for drinking. +This state of affairs continued without hindrance +until eleven o’clock, when the crowd, out of sheer +exhaustion, dispersed.”</p> + +<p>It was on the evening of the general prayer-meeting +when the above scene occurred; and, during the hour +of prayer, could be heard, far from the place, the +shouts and yells of the enraged bacchanalians. Earnest +prayers went up to our Father for the poor, +wretched votaries of alcohol.</p> + +<p>After that evening the pickets never remained on +duty later than six o’clock in the evening, as we did +not deem it wise. Notwithstanding remarks and +severe criticisms, the pickets proved faithful, and with +pencil and paper took notes as the hours went by.</p> + +<p>Many little incidents, both ludicrous and amusing, +occurred whilst we were on picket duty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</span></p> + +<p>One very hot afternoon, when two were at their +post, a man came driving up like Jehu, and when +near, drove clear around us, staring all the while, as +if he had never before seen two women. He then +turned, crossed over to the saloon, went in, and no +doubt quenched his thirst. He then came out, jumped +in his buggy, and came back, stopping just in front of +us, when he took out a pencil and paper and began to +write, as we supposed at first, but we subsequently +learned that he was drawing our likenesses, and afterwards +they were hung up in the saloon on exhibition, +and when we passed by, we could hear remarks +about the correctness of the drawings. The man +himself, his manner, etc., during the whole scene, was +exceedingly ludicrous, and yet he never spoke a word; +we, meanwhile, retaining our dignity, and apparently +indifferent to it all, and yet really peeping out from +under our sun-hats, we could see the whole, and were +greatly amused.</p> + +<p>Out of the picket work grew many rumors, incorrect +ideas, and many unjust and unkind remarks. But +during the whole time we were too busily engaged +to notice, or give a second thought to anything of the +kind. Our hearts were in the work; we had counted +the cost; were willing to make great sacrifices, and +knew well before we began, that we should be misunderstood +and misrepresented; but we had also +learned from the words of the blessed Master, that +“The servant is not above his Lord.”</p> + +<p>There was one thing, however, for which we were +not prepared. We were not ready for the unjust remarks +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</span>and criticisms of those who professed not only +strong temperance principles, but also Christianity.</p> + +<p>However, the picket work proved effectual, and the +business of one particular saloon wasted away like the +dew before the summer sun.</p> + +<p>This saloon had been notorious for decoying our +American young men within its gilded net, and because +we were anxious to save our boys, we placed +our heaviest guns near by.</p> + +<p>Men not lost to shame, would turn away when they +saw the pickets, and young men would come to us, +and ask us for the pledge, saying, they were disgusted +with the drink habit, and weary of their thraldom, and +desired to lead better lives.</p> + +<p>It also proved a grand discipline to ourselves, for +some of us, who so greatly deplored the sin and misery +of strong drink, knew but little of its heinousness or +extent, until we learned it upon picket duty.</p> + +<p>The work was begun for two reasons: one, that we +might obtain evidence of violation of law; and the +other, that our presence might deter our American +youth from entering and forming the habit of strong +drink.</p> + +<p>But a deep and lasting impression was made upon +ourselves. Our souls were sickened and saddened, +and our determination deepened and strengthened, +never to abandon the cause, until our old and young +men should be saved from the soul and body destroying +influence of alcoholic stimulants.</p> + +<p>During the picket term, we also made arrangements +for a temperance convention and celebration, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</span>convened on the 4th of July, and with the help of +our Davenport and Rock Island sisters, proved quite +a success.</p> + +<p>There was also a petition presented to the county +guardians. Though able and earnest, and signed by +the leading ladies of Rock Island county, the petition +was refused, and license granted.</p> + +<p>The appeal was signed and presented by the +following ladies:</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. M. Hubbard, President; Mrs. M. E. +Stewart, Secretary; Mrs. J. W. Spencer, President; +Mrs. M. B. Hays, Mrs. M. R. McCalister, Mrs. T. J. +Robinson, Mrs. T. F. Abbot, Mrs. C. C. Starr, Mrs. +Margaret E. Ells, and Mrs. Helen Moffit.</p> + +<p>In the midst of our arduous labors we did not forget +that justice is justice, and that those men whose +“business was licensed by law, and protected by law, +should be of all men the most willing to be judged by +law;” and so, accordingly, in the month of May a +legal committee was appointed to “take notes of evidence +of all violations of law which came under their +notice, or to their knowledge.” An attorney was also +retained, and the work assumed a definite form.</p> + +<p>Of course such proceedings called forth a variety +of remarks, such as, “Oh! don’t use the law in your +work,” and “What do these women know?” “They +cannot prove anything.” “Of course, law is made for +the lawless, and law must be enforced if men steal +our money, or murder our citizens; but this is different; +and really it will agitate matters too much, if +you prosecute men for violations of the liquor law.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</span>But we believed our Father, a God of justice as well +as an answerer of prayer, and most wonderfully did +He open the way for us, as the sequel will show.</p> + +<p>Our testimony often came from sources both surprising +and unexpected; and through the dust and +heat we toiled on, “occasionally gaining a word of +cheer, but never failing to hear of our mistakes.”</p> + +<p>Early in July a modified and somewhat restricted +license law went into force. Under the old law there +was an unlimited flow of rum, brandy and whiskey; +but this ordinance permitted only the sale of wine +and beer. Under the old law the saloons were +nominally required to close at eleven o’clock at +night, but in fact ran on undisturbed by watch or +police—rolling balls and clinking glasses—until +twelve, one and two.</p> + +<p>By the new law they were required to close at ten +o’clock, and no games of any kind were permitted to +be played in the saloons. Under the old license there +was paint on the windows, and screens at the doors; +by the new ordinance, “he, the saloon-keeper, shall +keep the windows in his said bar, or place of business, +free of paint or any other matter, whereby free view +of the inside of his said bar, or place of business, +through said windows, would or might be obstructed +from the outside thereof; that persons of ordinary +stature, standing on such ground, can easily see the +interior of such bar or place of business, or anywhere +therein; whereby any obstruction would be made to +a clear view of the interior of said bar or place of +business, from the outside thereof.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</span></p> + +<p>If this was not all we could have desired, yet we +felt it was a step in the right direction.</p> + +<p>The mayor also told us that instead of twenty saloons, +there should be licensed but eight or ten. But after +the number was complete, one unfortunate evening, +when the mayor could not be there, the license faction +of the council increased the number to fifteen, which +so annoyed the opposing party that one left in disgust.</p> + +<p>The mayor’s ordinance, however, produced an effect, +one which the saloon-keepers did not greatly enjoy; +many being deterred from entering, for fear of being +seen from the outside by the passer-by; and billiard +playing being prohibited, much of the former charm +was broken.</p> + +<p>And thus we felt that God had answered prayer.</p> + +<p>About this time, Dr. William Ross (since then deceased), +an enthusiastic lecturer, came to our city, and +by his earnestness incited the people to financial +action and united effort to suppress all illegal traffic +in ardent spirits. The people responded nobly, the +result being the subscription of over $200,000, to be +assessed at the discretion of a board of managers. +The board was composed of some of our best men, +who, for a time, stood firmly by their pledges.</p> + +<p>If any one inquired what was to be gained by our +lawsuits, even if we did win, we answered, “Much, +every way:” but as one definite result, we knew that +minors and inebriates who were connected with our +cases could not now find so easy access to the intoxicating +bowl, and we also knew, that some unconscious +parents were suddenly brought to a knowledge of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">[Pg 437]</span>where their minor sons spent much of their leisure +and money.</p> + +<p>The picket work continued, and the days sped on. +Many weary, oh, so weary days were ours; but One +was ever with us, to comfort and sustain. The summer +months passed rapidly by, for our hearts and +hands were filled, and we scarce took note of time.</p> + +<p>September came, and we sent our witnesses of the +violation of the law to the grand jury of Rock Island +county.</p> + +<p>Having thoroughly proved, in the meantime, that +“the municipal courts would grant small, if any, justice +in cases brought to their notice by women,” we had +had overwhelming evidence of the violations of the +city law.</p> + +<p>Three cases were brought before the city court, but +each one lost. With sadness we recall the ungentlemanly +conduct of the opposing lawyer, in his questioning +one of the witnesses, a most excellent Christian +woman, who now rests from all her labors, where her +heart is not saddened, or her ear pained, by the coarse +ribaldry of bacchanalian revelry.</p> + +<p>During the trials of the cases, the same lawyer +would leave the court-room and still further excite his +stimulated brain. And our experience proved, that +when the city employed its police, they were not very +much troubled at violations of the new ordinance, and +our only hope must be under the State law.</p> + +<p>The pickets took evidence of the violation of the +State law; and a book, containing a list of names of +witnesses of the violation of said law, was sent to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">[Pg 438]</span>foreman of the grand jury, who refused to lay the +cases before the jury. The State’s attorney then sent +word to the President of the League that she or other +members of the society must present the cases +themselves. Accordingly, the President and legal +committee attended court, and presented our cases, +during which time, other members met for prayer and +supplication to the God of justice, that we all might +be constantly led by the Spirit.</p> + +<p>Some of the members of the grand jury were liquor-dealers +and drinkers, yet such was the character of the +testimony laid before them, that they were compelled +to bring in twenty-two indictments against the liquor-sellers +of Moline.</p> + +<p>The cases were not reached until near the close of +the term of the Circuit Court, when five cases were +tried. We were not allowed to retain a temperance +man on the jury, or one who believed the selling of +liquor to be a moral wrong.</p> + +<p>We watched the empanelling of the jury with great +anxiety. How our hearts sank within us as we saw +one after another, the friends of temperance, dismissed +from the jury! Yet we rejoiced to know that there +were staunch temperance men in the county.</p> + +<p>Three men were summoned, two of whom were +drunk, and one idiotic. The opposing counsel fought +for hours to retain such upon the jury; but through +the earnest appeals of the women, and honest efforts +of our attorneys, who were noble and staunch men, +they were dismissed, and their places filled by liquor-men +who were not so fully under its influence. And +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">[Pg 439]</span>before such a jury, men whose moral perceptions were +blunted, and whose hearts were calloused, were our +cases tried. But Jehovah remembered his people. +Three of the five rum-sellers were convicted, sentenced +to fine and imprisonment; one confessed, and +one was acquitted.</p> + +<p>Several members of the League attended the trials, +and were soundly berated by the opposing attorneys +for neglecting, so they said, homes and family. So, to +take that weapon out of their hands, some of the +ladies took their children, knitting, etc., with them, +thus losing no time, and yet seeing with their own +eyes, and hearing with their own ears, the injustice +and wickedness of men whose hearts seemed calloused +to all that was good, pure and noble. Many lessons +were also learned, not to be forgotten.</p> + +<p>Some of our witnesses were taken to saloons and +treated by opposing lawyers, being followed to the +doors by two of our ladies, who took cognizance of +the painful fact.</p> + +<p>The testimonies of some of the witnesses were very +touching, that of one heart-broken wife and mother +bringing tears to the eyes of many.</p> + +<p>One case was tried and gained at the next term of +court; sentence, fine and imprisonment. The next +on the docket was that of a saloon-keeper who had +just lost his wife, and, being left with a large family, +his case was postponed until the next court, but, +through the sympathies of our women in his behalf, +was ultimately dropped.</p> + +<p>The trying of our cases revealed many things relative +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">[Pg 440]</span>to the liquor traffic which before were unknown +to us, and thus our experience was enlarged, and lasting +impressions made upon our hearts, and we said, +“We will never give up the ship,” but will labor on to +raise the fallen.</p> + +<p>Time flew on apace, and as the picket and legal +work had frightened many of our members, the League +was greatly diminished in numbers, and the hard +labor was all performed by a few, who were most +wonderfully sustained by a loving Father, through +faith and prayer.</p> + +<p>Death entered our circle, and one whom we dearly +loved passed over to her rest. Sickness and removals +at last compelled us to suspend for a time, and ten +long months passed by before we resumed our meetings. +In the meantime, another mayor came into +authority, and the screens were again placed at the +doors, and paint upon the windows of the saloons; the +billiard tables were returned; all law, both city and +State, violated, and yet no one to interfere.</p> + +<p>But we, a little band of women, still meet to plead +with God in prayer for a better day. And we believe +it will come, for Jehovah, the God of Israel, is ever on +the side of right!</p> + +<p>Our little band has been made auxiliary to the State +and National Union, and our name changed to +“Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.”</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">We are watching, waiting, praying</div> + <div class="verse indent2">For a brighter day to dawn,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When our watchword shall be Freedom!</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Freedom, of Jehovah born.</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">[Pg 441]</span> </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">When our loved and proud republic—</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Land for which our fathers died—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Soil made sacred by the struggle</div> + <div class="verse indent2">They encountered side by side:</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">When this land, o’er which our banner,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Symbol of the free and brave,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Floats aloft in all its glory,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Shall no longer know a slave!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Oh, thou mighty God of nations,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">We would stretch our hands to thee;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Hear our prayer for deliverance;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Come, oh, come, and set us free!</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + + +<h3 id="MISCELLANEOUS_1"> + MISCELLANEOUS. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade work was carried on with more or less +success, in addition to the towns already named, in +Springfield, Galesburg, Dickson, Joliet, Pontiac, Matamora, +Oswego, Farmer City, Yorkville, and Sparta. The +good work has gone on in Illinois. There are now +fifty-four Woman’s Temperance Unions in the State, +nine temperance reading-rooms, two friendly inns, and +a large number of children gathered into juvenile +organizations.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">[Pg 442]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + WEST VIRGINIA. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI"> + CHAPTER VI. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="WHEELING_WEST_VIRGINIA"> + WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>During the Crusade in Ohio a deep interest was +felt among the Christian and temperance people of +West Virginia for the success of the work.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the sympathy and excitement was so great +that the liquor-dealers were alarmed lest the tidal wave +that was so rapidly overthrowing the traffic in Ohio +should overwhelm them.</p> + +<p>I visited the State at that time, and aided in the +work. Mass-meetings were being held, the women +were deeply stirred, and Temperance was the theme +of conversation in every circle.</p> + +<p>In Wheeling, especially, the enthusiasm of temperance +people was very great.</p> + +<p>A wealthy gentleman, Mr. Hornbrooke, rented the +Opera House, the largest public hall in the place, and +offered it, free of charge, to the ladies, as long as they +wished to use it. All classes attended these temperance +meetings, which were held twice a day. Dealers, +drinkers, and manufacturers were conspicuous in +almost every gathering, and those who spoke had the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">[Pg 443]</span>privilege of speaking face to face with the men they +desired to reach.</p> + +<p>“There are no less than eight of our heaviest liquor-dealers +in the audience,” whispered one of the prominent +ladies to me, just before the meeting commenced.</p> + +<p>“Notice that young man, standing by the pillar, +with his hat in his hand. He is the son of one of our +heaviest distillers; he is anxious that his father should +get out of the business; he says it is becoming so disreputable +that he is ashamed to be known as the son +of a distiller,” was the passing comment of another +lady.</p> + +<p>There was great freedom of speech in these gatherings.</p> + +<p>One evening I was speaking to an immense audience +in the Opera House, about the awful harvest of +crime and pauperism, the liquor traffic yielded annually, +when I was startled by a man in the audience calling +out:</p> + +<p>“If you don’t stop that kind of talk you will ruin my +business.”</p> + +<p>I promptly replied: “If you are in the liquor business, +I hope I will.”</p> + +<p>“No, I’m not in the liquor business; but I keep the +jail—and the success of the jail business depends +mainly on that.”</p> + +<p>The effect was electrical—the audience saw the +point in a moment, and cheered enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>During the Crusade in Wheeling, among the saloon-keepers +visited was one Laramie, who kept in connection +with his saloon, a variety theatre.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">[Pg 444]</span></p> + +<p>As soon as it was known that the women were going +to visit the saloons, Laramie invited them to begin +their work at his saloon, and assured them that they +should be treated with respect, and that he would see +that they were not harmed.</p> + +<p>They accepted his invitation, and a large company +of ladies marched from the church to his saloon. A +great crowd followed them. The saloon door was +closed against them, for the dance was still going on, +and they could not admit respectable women to <i>such +a dance</i>.</p> + +<p>While the ladies stood outside, and the wild, devilish +revelry went on, they could plainly hear the dancing +men and women, who were nude, at the pauses in +the mad whirl, slapping each other, and the rude, vulgar +crowd of men and boys cheering the indecent +performances.</p> + +<p>The ladies looked at each other in utter horror +and amazement, for a moment, and then all knelt on +the pavement, and one of the number led in earnest +prayer.</p> + +<p>After the prayer they sang, “Nearer, my God, to +Thee.” While they were singing, the dance closed, +the saloon door opened, and Mr. Laramie appeared +to conduct them into the theatre. The stifling +fumes of tobacco and whiskey that met them as they entered +made them feel that they were near the brink of hell.</p> + +<p>They were taken at once on to the stage, where the +wild, hurdy-gurdy dancers had so recently been, and +facing the same vile audience, began their meeting.</p> + +<p>There was a great deal of noise and disorder at first, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">[Pg 445]</span>but as the meeting progressed, the attention of the +most degraded was gained, and silence and respect +were secured.</p> + +<p>On the third day of the meetings in this theatre, Mr. +Laramie, who began to feel that they were interfering +with his business, said: “Now, ladies, I have heard +your side, and treated you with respect. I want you +to stay and hear my side.” As they could but choose +to hear, they lifted their hearts in prayer that the Holy +Spirit might take hold on his heart.</p> + +<p>He came forward with a document in his hand, +which he read. It was full of the most abusive and +insulting statements. He advised the ladies to go +home and attend to their own business. The vulgar +crowd cheered him lustily. But the women were unmoved, +for they felt that their business just then was +to close up that den of vice, and rescue the souls he +was dragging down to death.</p> + +<p>The power of God took hold of the man, and he +trembled so he could hardly finish reading the paper. +The moment his part of the performance was over, one +of the ladies went to him, and taking him by the hand, +said: “My brother, I have one request to make of +you—I want you before you sleep to-night to take that +paper and get down on your knees and ask God to +forgive you for that false, insulting statement. You’ve +got to meet that paper in the judgment, if you do not +meet it here. You know you are in a bad business, +and that you’re ruining souls. I beg you, my brother, +to give up this warfare against God and humanity.” +The man was so deeply moved that the tears streamed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">[Pg 446]</span>over his face, and he promised her that he would +seriously consider the matter.</p> + +<p>This theatre became a regular meeting-place, and +daily these pure, true women, some of them of high +social position and influence, preached the gospel of +the Son of God to the lost besotted men, who congregated +there, and won many of them as trophies of the +cross.</p> + +<p>When these meetings had been going on for some +time, Miss Boyd and Miss Humphryville called on Mr. +Laramie to have a quiet personal talk. He invited +them down into the dining-room, and talked very freely +with them. He confessed that he was in a mean business, +but he was in it because of the money he could +make.</p> + +<p>“The Lord can take the money out of it, my brother. +Besides, there are things of more value than gold. +Think of the value of an immortal soul; for the little +money you get, you are ruining scores and hundreds +of souls. Think of the young women you are degrading. +How would you like your daughters to be led +into such a life? Remember, these girls are daughters +of fathers and mothers who loved them in the days of +their purity as much as you do yours.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want my children to come to such a life—I +don’t allow them to come to this place at all.”</p> + +<p>He was deeply moved, and promised again to consider +the matter, and urged them to visit his wife.</p> + +<p>The ladies asked the privilege of talking with the +girls, and they were shown into their apartment.</p> + +<p>Only two of the girls were in, and the ladies sitting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">[Pg 447]</span>down beside them engaged in personal conversation +with each. They were beautiful, and behaved themselves +well in presence of these visitors.</p> + +<p>The ears of the Christian women tingled, as they +listened to the story of folly and sin that had shadowed +these two young lives.</p> + +<p>One of the girls had been induced to run away from +home when she was little more than a child.</p> + +<p>“Do your friends know where you are?”</p> + +<p>“No; and I wouldn’t have my Christian mother +know where I am, and what I am doing, for the +world.”</p> + +<p>She revealed some of the horrors of the life she +was living, the mock marriages at each theatre, the +mating of the men and women of the troupe, the +marrying and unmarrying at pleasure.</p> + +<p>The women were horrified and amazed that such +things could be done in a land of Bibles and churches. +Say not, gentle reader, that Wheeling was a Gomorrah, +and this place an exception. Every large city +almost in the land has its low dens where just such vile +men and women, amid the fumes of liquor and tobacco, +corrupt the youth of the land by their vile performances. +And in some of these dens the girls are as +much prisoners as though they were in a penitentiary. +Once in these dens they can never get away.</p> + +<p>A friend of mine went into one of the low dance-houses +of New York city. She managed to speak +with one of the young girls:</p> + +<p>“Why do you lead this awful life?”</p> + +<p>“I can’t help it, I can’t get away from it.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">[Pg 448]</span></p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, you can. There is the door. Can’t you +walk right out?”</p> + +<p>“No. Do you see that man beside the door? It’s +his business to see to it that none of the girls slip +away.”</p> + +<p>“But couldn’t you get out at some back door or +window?”</p> + +<p>“Every door and window is barred. There is no +hope for us but in death.”</p> + +<p>These prison dens, and the whole vile system of +amusements connected with them, find their chief +stimulant in alcoholic drinks, and could not exist without +them.</p> + +<p>But to return. The ladies went down to Laramie’s +one day, to find the house closed up. The burning eye +of the public had been turned upon the place, and +villains who moved in respectable society didn’t like +to be seen going there; the patronage fell off, and +Laramie was financially ruined. God had taken the +money out of it in answer to the women’s prayers.</p> + +<p>From Wheeling Laramie went to Cincinnati and +opened the same kind of a house, but the women’s +prayers followed him, and the Crusade was raging in +Cincinnati, and in a very short time he became a +bankrupt and closed.</p> + +<p>From Cincinnati he went to Cleveland, attended the +temperance meetings led by women, signed the pledge, +and resolved to lead a new life.</p> + +<p>In course of time, he returned to Wheeling, joined +the reformed club, and made a public confession of +his wrong-doing, and begged to be forgiven. He +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">[Pg 449]</span>said the prayers of the Christian women offered in his +theatre had followed him, and been constantly ringing +in his soul, and he desired to lead a better life. He +offered his large hall, over his temperance restaurant, +free of charge to the ladies, for their meetings, and he +has remained steadfast to his purpose to lead a better +life.</p> + +<p>A saloon-keeper of Wheeling, named Savegaut, invited +the ladies to hold a meeting in his saloon. The +band, in their rounds among the saloons, entered his +place. They were graciously received, and chairs were +brought for their accommodation. The crowd of +drinking men maintained quiet during the religious +services. The ladies sang, prayed, and talked kindly +to the men, telling them of the power of Christ to +save, and the joys of a Christian life. When they +were about to leave the saloon, Savegaut said:</p> + +<p>“Now, ladies, I’ve listened to you; you must listen +to me—you can’t leave here till I’m through.”</p> + +<p>The roughs, who had been previously instructed, immediately +crowded in between them and the door, so +that escape would have been impossible, if an attempt +had been made; but no attempt was made. They all sat +serene and self-possessed amid the disgraceful scenes +that followed. Savegaut mounted the counter, where +he was accustomed to deal out drink, and heaped upon +the ladies such a tirade of abuse as none but those who +have the poison of asps under their tongues could find +language to express:</p> + +<p>One lady who was present says:</p> + +<p>“He literally exploded, and it was as if a putrid +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">[Pg 450]</span>carrion had bursted and poured out a mass of corruption.”</p> + +<p>Immediately there was a row—fights, knock-downs, +wounds and bruises, and one broken nose, and one +broken finger. The police rushed in and cleared the +way with their clubs, and delivered the ladies. They +were unharmed and unterrified, and a peace that passeth +understanding filled their hearts.</p> + +<p>Such treatment of respectable women, by any other +man than a liquor-dealer, would have been visited by +an indignant public with sudden vengeance, and the +man would have been glad to have escaped with his +life. But liquor-dealers seem to have the privilege to +commit all kinds of enormities without reproof.</p> + +<p>That man was not even censured, but has gone on +from that day to this, by the authority of the city, in +his business of criminal-making.</p> + +<p>Oh, chivalry, where art thou?</p> + +<p>One of the wards of Wheeling was free from +saloons, and the women were determined to keep it +clean. In the midst of their fancied security, however, +they learned that application had been made for license, +and the applicant had received such positive assurance +from the city council that license would be granted, +that he had rented a building at heavy cost, and was +preparing to open a saloon.</p> + +<p>The council was to meet in two days. There was +no time to be lost. The women got out a remonstrance +at once, and, the men of the ward assisting +them, every family was visited, and the name of every +man and woman solicited. And out of a population +of 3,000 over 2,200 signed the remonstrance.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">[Pg 451]</span></p> + +<p>When the council met it was presented, and in the +presence of such strong, decided action the council +did not dare to grant the license they had promised. +So the saloon man was left with a heavy rent to pay, +without hope of returns.</p> + +<p>The battle goes on with varying success.</p> + +<p>The women were somewhat diverted from their own +legitimate work, however, by an attempt, on the part +of the temperance men, to organize. They wanted the +women to aid them in this. But, as it usually is in +such cases, the men assumed the management, and +took most of the offices, and nothing was done. So +the women were left to gather up their wasted energies, +and form their own plans and manage their own +work, if the work was to go on.</p> + + +<h3 id="CAPTAIN_JACK_AND_TEMPERANCE"> + CAPTAIN JACK AND TEMPERANCE. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. J. McK. Riley, for the following +incident, connected with the work in Wheeling, +West Virginia, in the spring of 1877:</p> + +<p>“There was a large meeting in the Opera House. +Francis Murphy had spoken and left for the train. +How could the crowd be held and the cause advanced?</p> + +<p>“A prayer was breathed to God for help. Just then +there was a stir—a parting of the crowd, and a stalwart +man in Indian costume came forward, and, with a +wild Indian war-whoop, that made the blood fairly curdle +in one’s veins, signed the pledge. Facing the audience, +and holding up the pen, he challenged ‘Buffalo +Bill’ to do the same.</p> + +<p>“‘Come on and sign, Bill: you know you ought to—you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">[Pg 452]</span>know you drink more whiskey than is good for +you—you and all your company ought to come forward +and sign this pledge.</p> + +<p>“‘I don’t sign it because I drink—I never drank a +drop in my life. My mother died when I was only a +little child, and she said to me just before she died, +‘Little Jack, I want you to promise me that you will +never drink a drop of intoxicating drinks,’ and I promised +her, and I have kept sacred the promise I made to +my mother.’”</p> + +<p>Then turning to the audience he made a thrilling +address, full of original thought. The audience was +electrified. Mrs. Riley talked with him, urged him at +once to abandon the stage, and give himself to Christ +and his work. He was almost persuaded, but he +pleaded previous engagements. He said that he was +to pilot a company through the wilds of the Rocky +Mountains this summer, and then he would throw +himself into the temperance cause.</p> + + +<h3 id="DISTRICT_OF_COLUMBIA"> + DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Anna L. Davidson, Secretary of +one of the local societies, for the following facts:</p> + +<p>January, 1874, two ladies, themselves sufferers by +reason of intemperance, requested the President of +the Woman’s Christian Association to hold meetings +in the interest of temperance. She deeming it advisable +to make it more general, called the women of the +various churches to meet for prayer in the chapel of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">[Pg 453]</span>the Y. M. C. A., on the first day of the week of prayer, +January, 1874. This room being too small, the meeting +was removed to Wesley Chapel, where, from day +to-day, for two weeks, large and intensely interesting +temperance meetings were held, under the auspices +of the Woman’s Christian Association. Many special +subjects of prayer were presented; a deep feeling pervaded +every meeting; the influence of the Holy Spirit +was manifest. On Sabbath afternoon a public meeting +was held in Lincoln Hall, Dio Lewis addressing a large +audience. As now, the Christian mind of Washington +seemed thoroughly roused on the temperance question, +a representative meeting of ministers and members +of the various churches was held in the parlors of the +Y. M. C. A. to organize for temperance work. A +resolution was adopted requesting the ministers of +Washington and Georgetown to appoint, each, three +active women to represent the different churches, forming +a general committee, to conduct meetings and +attend to the business of a temperance union. This +was carried out. A meeting was also called in the Congregational +Church to interest the masses and perfect +a general temperance organization. This was largely +attended, and after much discussion among the brethren +the following plan was proposed:</p> + +<p>That the field be divided into five districts (embracing +Georgetown), in each of which a daily morning +prayer-meeting should be conducted by the women. +A daily Union meeting in the afternoon, conducted in +Central district by various ministers in rotation. A +weekly meeting in Central district, representing the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">[Pg 454]</span>whole, at which reports from the different districts +should be presented and other business of the Union +attended to. This plan was afterward perfected, and +successfully carried out for many months. Great enthusiasm +prevailed. The Union meetings were largely +attended and very interesting. Many ministers entered +into the work and took part in the exercises. Numerous +requests for prayer were sent to the women’s meetings +held every morning in the five districts.</p> + +<p>Very successful mass-meetings, presided over and +conducted by women, were held in various churches, +which were crowded to their utmost capacity.</p> + +<p>Saloons were visited, in a quiet, unobtrusive manner, +with some success. I mention one marked case of +rescue from one of these dens of iniquity. Two of our +women entering a saloon were shown into a back room +by the keeper “to hold a meeting,” he said. They +were appalled by the sight of a young man stretched +upon a table dead-drunk; they fell upon their knees +and poured out heartfelt prayers for all under that +roof. Rising from their devotions they found the room +filled with men from the bar-room, the keeper standing +among them. They had entered so silently that the +ladies were not aware of their presence. All seemed +deeply impressed. Coming front they perceived an +old and very respectable gentleman under the influence +of liquor, a younger man trying in vain to persuade +him home. They joined their entreaties; he +finally consented to go if they would accompany him; +they hesitated but a moment, then each giving him an +arm conveyed him to a sorrowful wife, who met them +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">[Pg 455]</span>at the door. They retired, with the promise of calling +next day. They did so; found him sick. On a subsequent +visit he saw them, expressed his gratitude and +signed the pledge, which he kept. Two others went +into a saloon kept by a woman; she was extremely +abusive, ordered them out, would listen to nothing +they had to say. On leaving, one remarked: “<i>We</i> cannot +reach you, but <i>God can</i>.” “God cannot shut me +up,” was her reply. A few weeks afterwards, she was +thrown from her carriage near her own premises and +instantly killed. One of the ladies in passing that door +found it closed, with crape on; an unfinished building, +that she was rearing as the fruit of her gains and to +enlarge her means of doing mischief, was also hung +with mourning. A token of <i>God’s visitation</i>.</p> + +<p>Committees, also, waited upon grocers and druggists +to reason with and persuade them to desist from the +unholy traffic.</p> + +<p>In May a large public meeting was held in Lincoln +Hall, addressed very effectively by Thane Miller. As +summer approached, the meetings became smaller—“the +love of many waxed cold.” Some of the ministers, +who at first took active part, withdrew their influence. +The odium which always attaches to any extraordinary +effort for the salvation of men (especially +woman’s effort) operated upon many, even Christian +minds, and produced a great falling off in numbers. +The Union meeting was relinquished; finally the faithful +few reorganized, and gathered weekly for prayer, +with the deep conviction, that the race is not to the +swift nor the battle to the strong; the word expressly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">[Pg 456]</span>declaring that God hath chosen the weak things to +confound the things that are mighty, and things that +are not to bring to nought things that are. Prayer, +earnest, persevering prayer, ascended week after week +for special cases presented, and for the outpouring of +the Holy Spirit on this city, in the salvation of the intemperate +and in the overthrow of the rum traffic. We +were favored, in many instances, by hearing of marked +answers to prayer in special cases. Of the general +effect, I cite one or two remarkable instances:</p> + +<p>During the week of prayer, January, 1875, a minister, +who had been opposed to the woman’s movement, +spoke to a crowded audience in Lincoln Hall on the +effect of prayer, and said two young men of former +intemperate habits called upon him to converse on the +subject of their soul’s salvation. They had thrown away +the cup and were deeply impressed by hearing that a +few women met weekly to pray for the intemperate. +Also, during the progress of the daily meetings, a +liquor-dealer called on a friend, and said he intended +giving up the sale of liquor. “Why,” said the other, +“doesn’t it pay?” “Oh, yes, it pays well enough, but +how can I continue to sell when 300 women are on +their knees every day praying against the traffic!” +What a responsibility this one fact throws upon those +who weary in the work, as well as upon the whole +Church!</p> + +<p>During the sweeping revival in this city, commencing +in February, 1875, and continuing several months, +scores and hundreds of drinking men, many of the +most abandoned, were brought to the feet of Jesus, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">[Pg 457]</span>clothed and in their right mind. Some of these had +been special subjects of prayer. The almost universal +testimony of these was, that the appetite for strong +drink had been removed. In one of the large churches, +a minister stated, that he believed God was now +answering the prayers that had been ascending for +two years from the circle of godly women, and remarked, +alluding to the experience of reformed men, +as mentioned, that he had often attended their meetings, +and heard repeatedly the fervent petition that +the appetite might be removed.</p> + +<p>Though prayer has been the foundation and top-stone +of our work, we have not been otherwise idle. +The license law of the district makes it necessary that +the applicant for license to open a saloon shall have +the consent or signature of the majority of the property-holders +and residents on each side of the square in +which the saloon is located. By consent of authorities, +we obtained, in the summer of 1874, the applications +for license, with names of signers attached. These +were all copied. Circulars were printed, calling upon +these signers, in the name of God and humanity, not +to lend their names and influence to such a destructive +business. With directory in hand, four thousand of +these circulars found their way, by mail, to as many +citizens. Among the patrons of the saloon-keeper we +found the names of many church members, deacons, +elders, vestrymen, class-leaders, and one parson.</p> + +<p>A number of answers were received, some insolent, +but mostly denials of ever having perpetrated so foul +an act; many protesting that forgery had been committed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">[Pg 458]</span>The same course was pursued the next year. +Protests, or remonstrances were carried over the city +to obtain signatures, but few were found willing to put +their names in opposition to the liquor interest. Some +were afraid of having their premises fired; others feared +loss in business, etc.</p> + +<p>Repeated efforts have been made upon police commissioners, +calling their attention to the frauds practised, +and to the loose manner of proceeding in +granting licenses without the legal requirement +having been met. A committee was appointed to +meet similar committees of the various temperance +organizations, to investigate more closely the license +system. In the spring of 1876 a public meeting was +held, in which many facts we had brought to light were +presented; one very noted was this: Of thirteen +licenses examined, after thoroughly canvassing the +districts represented, only one was found to have been +legally obtained. Other facts equally strong were +brought to prove that rum influence in the district +dominates the law.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of General Grant’s term of office, +1877, our President, Mrs. Linville, and Vice-President, +Mrs. Dr. Noble, with Mrs. Dr. Newman, called on +President Grant, with reference to a bill which had +passed both houses of Congress, and which we considered +detrimental to the interests of temperance in +the District. They requested that he would interpose +the veto power, and thus prevent its becoming a +law. They were politely and cordially received. The +bill was vetoed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">[Pg 459]</span></p> + +<p>The same ladies, with Mrs. General Birney added, +called at the White House soon after the inauguration +of President Hayes, and, in an interview with Mrs. +Hayes, represented the views of the Woman’s Christian +Temperance Union on the subject of the use of +wine at State dinners, respectfully requesting her influence +in abolishing it. We all know how nobly and +successfully she accomplished it.</p> + +<p>A committee also waited upon Vice-President +Wheeler, with regard to the sale of liquors in the +Capitol. It is a notable fact that a Congressional +temperance society of forty years standing has not yet +succeeded in ridding the national legislative halls of +this accursed traffic.</p> + +<p>An effort was made upon churches and ministers, +with regard to the use of alcoholic wines in the administration +of the Lord’s Supper. But little has as +yet been accomplished in that direction.</p> + +<p>An interesting feature in our work has been, and +continues to be, the work-house and jail visitation. +This committee is composed of godly, self-sacrificing +women, whose one object is to seek and to save the +lost. Upon close inquiry, it has been found that nine-tenths +of those confined in the jail, found their way +there through the influence of strong drink.</p> + +<p>The Washington correspondent of the <i>Hartford +Times</i> has furnished that paper with some interesting +facts, in regard to these paupers, which we give:</p> + +<p>“One of the first men he met there had been at one +time Attorney-General of Virginia. In his office a +number of now distinguished lawyers were students, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">[Pg 460]</span>and they owe much to his advice. His father had +been Attorney-General of the United States and left +his son wealth. But he drank, and sacrificed distinction, +fortune, and everything to his love for drink. +Another distinguished pauper was an ex-Judge of the +Supreme Court of California, and had been esteemed +one of the most eloquent men of his time. He came +to Washington expecting to get an office, was disappointed, +took to drink, and drank himself out of +pocket, mind, and friends, and into the poor-house. +In his company the correspondent found a once +wealthy newspaper editor and proprietor of New +York—a man of great ability and political influence. +This man also sunk all he possessed in whiskey, and +has been for three years in the almshouse. Sometimes +his friends take him out, but, says the correspondent, +‘he drinks so much that he lies about the streets +and is returned by the police.’ A fourth pauper had +been only a few years ago a political power, special +agent of the Post Office Department, and owner of +much property in Washington and Arkansas. At one +time he was a United States detective, but while +drunk he ‘gave away’ the details of a case that would +have resulted in the capture of two or three hundred +thousand dollars in counterfeit money, presses, plates, +etc. For this he was retired. When sober he was +capable of doing remarkable work. In fact, fortune +and fame were his if he had not allowed the taste for +liquor to grow on him. In another branch of the +institution the correspondent found an ex-Attorney-General +of North Carolina. He made many friends, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">[Pg 461]</span>drank much whiskey, neglected his business and +everything else, and drifted to the poor-house. Says +the correspondent: ‘The principal reason for his being +put where he now is, is that he stole a friend’s vest +and sold it for whiskey.’ To such depths of degradation +will whiskey bring the strongest and ablest of us. +A man who was Stephen A. Douglas’ intimate friend, +and who used to speak from the same platforms with +him, is also a Washington pauper. When fortune +smiled on him he used liquor as a relish, and when +her smiles turned to frowns, he took it as an antidote +for sorrow. It brought him temporary relief and permanent +ruin. Coming into the almshouse in the +‘Black Maria,’ as the correspondent left it, was an old, +white-haired man, ‘who was at one time one of the +leading men of the Michigan bar. He is the man +who backed Zach Chandler, and made him, politically +speaking, what he is to-day.’ And this man of great +legal ability, political influence sufficient to make and un-make +men, and much wealth, is now a pauper. Why? +Because he allowed whiskey to obtain the mastery +over him, as did all the others herein referred to.”</p> + +<p>In the work-house, a still larger proportion, if not all, +are addicted to this vice. The latter place has been +removed to the county; but a marked change was +visible in their appearance and deportment. The jail +is now the object of special attention, and the women +visiting are truly welcome, not only to the prisoners, +but the keepers express their approbation and afford +every facility for the instruction of inmates. The success +attendant upon the faithful labors of our women +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">[Pg 462]</span>is truly wonderful. Many cases of undoubted conversion +and reformation have taken place; some that +had fallen into a snare through strong drink and were +unjustly incarcerated, have been restored to liberty, +to society, and to the church; here we would observe +that in the Young Men’s Christian Association we find +ready helpers in restoring the lost. These same +women do not let go the restored ones, but follow +them up, and strive to find employment for them. +Many from that prison will bless God to all eternity +for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.</p> + +<p>Another branch of our work which has occupied +considerable time and attention has been the establishment +and operation of the temperance lunch-rooms. +The Holly Tree, at the time of its opening, +was the only place of the kind in Washington, +and was exactly fitted to meet a great want in this +community. Life in Washington is more superficial +than elsewhere. Men and women, separated from +home and friends, a floating population, found here a +rest and quiet not to be met elsewhere. No smell of +rum, or fumes of tobacco, pervaded the air; no unsightly +spittoon offended the eye; cleanliness, comfort, +woman’s influence, gave refinement and elevation to +the character of the place. Nor is this all. We could +give you instances of entire reformation in the life of +those brought under its kindly, genial influence.</p> + +<p>The popularity of this lunch-room (its patrons +numbering hundreds) has led to the establishment +of others, free from the temptation of the cup. Temperance +dining-rooms at cheap rates, and dairy-rooms +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">[Pg 463]</span>where cheap, wholesome lunch can be procured at all +hours, are springing up in every part of the city, so +that we almost feel as if our work in that direction +was accomplished, and that we shall soon be at liberty +to give our whole attention elsewhere.</p> + +<p>We have been striving this past year to enlarge our +borders by forming auxiliaries, and have clearly seen +the hand of the Lord in directing our way, have +acknowledged His agency in removing obstructions +and overcoming opposition. Churches that were +closed upon us have been opened, ministers in opposition +have not only yielded, but rendered assistance, +and in those places where the greatest obstacles +obtained, great favor is shown. We have gone out +of the city into neighboring villages, held successful +and interesting mass-meetings. Ministers have yielded +their churches for Sabbath evening service, as we +could reach a larger portion of the people on that +evening. We go through the audiences to privately +warn, and entreat to sign the pledge; some who publicly +asked for prayers have since been converted. +We can say of our work, as Mr. Wesley did of his, +“The best of all is, God is with us.”</p> + +<p>I add the following from the report of the Secretary +of one of the societies, Miss R. E. Hartwell:</p> + +<p>“We have been granted interviews by various +officials of the United States and municipal government, +in regard to framing new laws, and the more +vigorous execution of those already existing. In every +instance our petitions and statements have been courteously +received, and we believe that in the new plans +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">[Pg 464]</span>which are being developed at police head-quarters God +is honoring the many prayers we have offered in this +direction.</p> + +<p>“And who shall determine how much the recent revival +of religion in this, as well as in other cities, is +owing to the prayers of earnest, faithful, loving women, +who are so continually besieging the Throne of Grace +for the descent of the Spirit of God and the overthrow +and subjection of that monster—appetite for +strong drink.</p> + +<p>“More than two hundred letters have been written +to various persons on the temperance question; and +in almost every instance where information has been +solicited the replies have been satisfactory. I would +refer to those addressed to committees of Congress, +the Police Board, Board of Health, and others, and +thank them for their uniform kindness and courtesy.</p> + +<p>“The use of fermented wine at the Lord’s Supper +has deeply engaged our attention; and last autumn +we addressed an appeal to Christian ministers, urging +them to discard it, as several cases have come to our +knowledge, where the recently reformed have been +tempted at the very altar to which they had gone for +strength to battle against the foe, and have fallen, +in some instances never again to regain their lost +manhood.”</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">[Pg 465]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + PENNSYLVANIA +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII"> + CHAPTER VII. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="PITTSBURGH_PENNSYLVANIA"> + PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>I gather the facts of work in this city from statements +by Mrs. J. S. Collins and Mrs. W. M. Gormly.</p> + +<p>After meeting in Alliance Hall several times, for +consultation and prayer, a mass-meeting was held in +the Third Presbyterian Church, February 26th, 1874.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of March an organization was effected, +and Mrs. J. S. Collins elected President, and other +officers chosen.</p> + +<p>The next meeting was held in the United Presbyterian +Church. The large edifice was densely packed. +The principal address was made by John B. Gough. +In closing, he wished the women of Pittsburgh God speed +in their efforts to overthrow the liquor traffic.</p> + +<p>Soon after, one hundred women, headed by the officers, +marched, two and two, to the office of the Mayor +of Pittsburgh, to ask him to enforce the Sunday closing +law. After a brief interview, and prayer, the mayor +promised, in the most solemn manner, to see to it that +all saloons should be closed on the Sabbath.</p> + +<p>They then waited on the Mayor of Allegheny, to make +the same request, which was acceded to. For two or +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">[Pg 466]</span>three Sabbaths there was a marked improvement, no +places being visibly open for the sale of liquors. But +very soon it was apparent that the mayor did not care +to enforce the law, even when cases were reported to +him.</p> + +<p>During all this time much discussion had taken place +as to methods of work, and, on the 8th of April, 1874, +the street work began. Mrs. Gormly says:</p> + +<p>All along the route the crowd increased, until we +reached the Scotch Hill House, corner Fourth avenue +and Ross street, kept by John McFadden. Permission +was asked to hold services inside, which was +gruffly refused. The Crusade was opened on the +pavement by singing ‘All hail the power of Jesus’ +name,’ the band kneeling. Mrs. Youngson offered a +fervent appeal to the throne of grace. Amid all these +exercises a howling mob, with oaths and blasphemous +curses, were calling for beer and whiskey. The proprietor +and a boy were taxed to their utmost capacity +to supply the demand. It now became necessary to +send for aid. The acting mayor sent a detail of police. +The scene here beggared description. Beer wagons +drove up and were soon filled by the rabble, as were +all the trees and tree-boxes adjacent, and high carnival +was held in the devil’s cause.</p> + +<p>The next place visited was the wholesale house of +Dillinger & Stevenson, on First avenue. Here the +ladies were admitted, and knelt and prayed between +rows of l liquor barrels. The proprietors were urged +to sign the pledge, which they refused. We then +withdrew.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">[Pg 467]</span></p> + +<p>On Wood street, on passing a liquor house, the +crowd had attained large proportions. We were +treated with taunts and jeers until we arrived at our +rooms. After lunch and devotional exercises, the line +of march was again resumed. The first place visited +was the Monongahela House. Mr. Crossan courteously +received us, and tendered us the use of one +of his parlors, in which we held our exercises—a large +and orderly gathering being present, many signing +the pledge. The acting mayor gave a detail of police, +which accompanied us.</p> + +<p>We next visited the La Belle House, directly opposite +the Monongahela House. Here the crowd was +immense. Mr. Bailey, the proprietor, had sent an +invitation to us to visit his house, and had made ample +preparation, so far as his room permitted. Mr. +Bailey and the police did everything in their power, +under the circumstances, to keep order. Although +demonstrative, the crowd was not insulting. “We’ll +wait till Jesus calls” was sung, the proprietor joining +heartily with us.</p> + +<p>Our next visit was at the Alden House, on Wood +street, where we were cordially welcomed by the proprietor. +The crowd was most respectful, evidently +being of a better class. They all joined us in singing +“We praise Thee, O God.” While we knelt in +prayer, being led by Mrs. Youngson, a canary bird, +hanging in a cage near a window, commenced to sing, +and at every pathetic appeal, he sent forth his beautiful +notes, making the event particularly impressive.</p> + +<p>April the 9th we visited the Lion Hotel, where we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">[Pg 468]</span>were admitted, and courtesy extended, the proprietor +closing up the bar, suffering no liquor to be sold during +our stay. As we were leaving this place Chief-of-Police +Irwin presented an appearance, and announced +that we were no longer to continue in our Crusade, as +it was the orders from the police committee. We +returned to our rooms for consultation.</p> + +<p>It soon became known that no order had been +issued by the mayor. We obtained legal advice from +the United States District Attorney, David Reed. He +informed us we could not be arrested unless a proclamation +was issued by the mayor. The sick-chamber +of the mayor was invaded by prominent wholesale +liquor men, and the coveted proclamation was obtained, +forbidding us, under penalty of arrest, to hold +services on the streets in the future. Wishing to test +which was in power in the city of Pittsburgh—God or +the devil—we continued our Crusade in the afternoon, +visiting the wholesale houses of Anderson & Gamble, +Mr. Hamberger, and Littell & Mechling. The members +of the last-named firm became greatly enraged at +our appearance, Mr. Mechling skipping over rows of +barrels, calling lustily for the police to save them, in +their legalized traffic, from the women, while Mr. Littell, +in an outrageous manner, stood heaping vile epithets +on us, and as one of our number was engaged +in prayer on his behalf, his hands were over her face +as if ready to tear her to pieces. His excited and +angry talk had attracted a very large crowd, and his +insulting words had aroused the indignation of the +bystanders, and a riot was imminent.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">[Pg 469]</span></p> + +<p>The Crusade was continued for several weeks, +without any interference from the authorities, the +ladies enduring every indignity; dogs were set on us, +but, to the credit of the noble animals, they refused to +attack us; barrels of liquor were rolled toward us; +beer wagons were driven against us; and we were +drenched by the hose of hydrants, turned upon us.</p> + +<p>May 21st, while holding services at a wholesale +liquor house, Lieutenant Hager, with two officers, +appeared on the scene, requesting an onward move. +The request was not heeded. A loud command rang +out: “Policemen, keep the pavement clear.” At this +time some high words took place between Lieutenant +Hager and Mr. Andrew Brice, who said, “Before I +would do such dirty work, I would tramp my uniform +in the gutter.” The lieutenant replied: “If you don’t +keep quiet I will arrest you and every person on the +pavement.” Approaching us he said: “I shall have +to obey my orders and arrest you all.” The president +replied: “We will not go until we see the proper +warrant.”</p> + +<p>After asking the ladies if they refused to consider +themselves under arrest, Hager helped himself to a +pledge, and on the back of it proceeded to write the +names as far as he could succeed in getting them. +Armed with this list he proceeded to the mayor’s +office, and warrants were filled out for our arrest, +which were immediately executed. The procession +then proceeded to the mayor’s office. In the meantime +the acting mayor and clerk were actively engaged +in filling up information against the band for disorderly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">[Pg 470]</span>conduct, the members thereof freely giving their +names.</p> + +<p>During the interim, religious exercises were held, +and tracts and pledges were distributed to the spectators, +reporters, acting mayor and his clerk. Upon the +arrival of the complainants and our counsel—for whom +we had a tedious wait—the case was opened, the burthen +of the liquor men’s complaint being interruption +of business. The evidence being of a sickly nature, +we were discharged with a reprimand.</p> + +<p>The mayor said that he was a friend of the ladies as +long as they obeyed the law, but if they did wrong, he +would be compelled to enforce the law to the letter. +Accordingly, he dismissed the case, bidding us “go and +sin no more.” The magistrate had scarcely concluded, +when we commenced singing, “Praise God, from whom +all blessings flow,” and continued to sing until the +spectators were cleared from outside the bar. Thus +ended the first arrest.</p> + +<p>On the following day the Crusade was resumed. +While holding services at Hostetter & Smith’s Stomach +Bitter house, one of the mayor’s police, Lieutenant +Gordon, stepped up and asked for the names of the +members of the band. They declined to accommodate +him, but by some means he obtained the name of Mr. +Watt Black, who always accompanied his mother, and +proceeded at once to the mayor’s office to obtain a +warrant for the arrest of Mr. Black and the Crusading +Band.</p> + +<p>While holding services at the La Belle House, on +Smithfield street, Detective Wilmot presented a warrant. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">[Pg 471]</span>After the arrest, the band, headed by the detective +and other officers, marched up Smithfield street, +singing as they proceeded, and, to our surprise, as +well as the hundreds of spectators who were following +us, we were led to the lock-up in Diamond alley. As +soon as those under arrest filed in, the doors were +closed and a strong guard placed to keep them from +being forced open. To make it as uncomfortable as +possible, the windows were tightly closed, and remained +so until one of the band, being overcome, fainted, when +they were compelled to open them.</p> + +<p>As the deputy mayor was somewhat tardy in presenting +himself, religious services were conducted for +some time. On being notified, our counsel, W. K. +Jennings, Esq., promptly appeared. Immediately after, +the acting mayor took his seat and commenced the +hearing. The information only contained the names +of three of our number, viz.: Watt Black, Esq., his +mother and Mrs. Vanhorn. The officer, in testifying, +stated that those three obstructed the sidewalk, by +singing and praying. On cross-examination he stated +there were whiskey-barrels obstructing the sidewalk, +which he neither ordered to move on, nor arrested. +After arguments by counsel, the mayor’s decision was +a fine of one hundred dollars on Mr. Black; Mrs. +Black and Mrs. Vanhorn, twenty-five dollars each—which +was greeted with hisses. Mrs. Black arose and +indignantly protested against paying one cent of the +fines, saying they would go to the work-house or jail. +The mayor here stated that the ladies must be treated +as other prisoners, and if they wished to take an appeal, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">[Pg 472]</span>the fines must be paid. At this juncture, W. D. +Moore, Esq., believed to be in the employ of the liquor +league, stepped forward and gave his check for the +amount of the fines, which was strongly protested +against by the defendants. The mayor having received +the money, we were discharged, and withdrew from +the lock-up singing, “Am I a Soldier of the Cross.”</p> + +<p>Saturday, May 23d, we met in our room at 2 <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, +engaged in devotional exercises, invoking the aid of +the Master. We then took up the line of march, visiting +the establishment of Dillinger & Stevenson, on +First avenue. We were interrupted by the police—they +leaving to procure warrants for our arrest. We +proceeded to the store of Weiler & Brother, on the +same avenue, near Smithfield street. On commencing +our exercises a scene most disgraceful ensued. As +soon as the voice of prayer was heard, a German copper +shop immediately opposite brought their stills and +kettles to the front, and all hands commenced pounding +and making a deafening noise. The friends of +alcohol everywhere seemed to be about us, yelling at +the top of their voices; and to complete the effort of +the hour, ten policemen, who were detailed to arrest +us, made their appearance, and informed us we were +under arrest. The warrant being presented, we surrendered +and accompanied the officers to the lock-up, +an immense crowd accompanying us. As we entered, +the iron gate was thrown open that the culprits might +pass into their cells. Paul and Silas like, we prayed, +and sang praises to God. No doubt, like the keepers +of old, they trembled, but did not spring in to ask what +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_473">[Pg 473]</span>they must do to be saved. This created a great stir +among the people. Had they known that we were +locked behind the bars with the vagrants, the building +would have been torn to pieces in a very short time.</p> + +<p>The case being opened, the usual questioning and +cross-questioning was gone through with, and was concluded +by the mayor imposing a fine of thirty dollars +upon each; but subsequently finding he was not likely +to get rid of us, he reduced it to ten dollars. A gentleman +stepped forward and filled a check for three +hundred and thirty dollars, and we were immediately +discharged.</p> + +<p>Acting Mayor McMasters said: “T am very happy to +announce to the ladies and the public here assembled, +that I received this morning a writ of <i>certiorari</i> directing +that the record in the case disposed of Thursday +last should be transmitted to the Court of Common +Pleas. The questions of law involved will thus be explicitly +laid down by a tribunal whose purity and integrity +has never been called in question. The citizens, +and the ladies in particular, and I will, I am confident, +abide the decision of that tribunal. In view of an early +hearing, I have decided to defer further action in the +cases now under consideration, until the court shall +have rendered a decision in the case pending before +it. I have instructed the clerk to hand back the +money deposited for the appearance of the ladies.”</p> + +<p>No sooner had we emerged from the lock-up than +a tremendous burst of applause arose from the vast +multitude. The mayor, police, and our accusers were +greeted with groans and hisses. As we moved away +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_474">[Pg 474]</span>to the Alliance rooms, the crowd increased at every +step, the men who were standing along the curbstones +respectfully raising their hats. Before we reached our +head-quarters they were densely packed by an excited +crowd, expecting to hear addresses of approbation. +The halls and stairways were crowded, as were the +streets also, so as to make egress or ingress almost +impossible. As soon as order could be had, Hon. B. +C. Christy was called upon, who arose and made a few +congratulatory remarks, complimenting us on the +patience and fortitude with which we had undergone +our trials. He believed that we were actuated by +motives true and pure as heaven.</p> + +<p>We then adjourned to Duquesne Way, on the +Allegheny river, in front of Rhodes’ brewery, making +use of one of his wagons from which to denounce their +infamous traffic. Several enthusiastic addresses were +made. It being late on Saturday evening, we then +adjourned.</p> + +<p>On Sabbath, several sermons were preached, denouncing +the evil, and encouraging us in the work.</p> + +<p>Thursday, May 27th, we met at our rooms, which +were densely crowded. After devotional exercises, +we formed in line and proceeded to the court-house; +and because of the publicity the papers had given the +case, the streets were filled with an immense throng. +When we arrived at the court-house, the yard and +building were so packed that the officers had great +difficulty in opening up a passage for us to enter. +Promptly at ten <span class="allsmcap">A. M.</span>, Judges Sterritt, Stowe, and +Collier entered and took their seats on the bench. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">[Pg 475]</span>After proclamation by the crier, the case was opened. +The attorneys stated their pleas to the judges, who, +upon consultation, delivered their opinions as follows: +Judge Stowe stated, “Singing and praying upon the +public streets is not disorderly conduct.” Further, the +learned judge informed Mr. Coyle, the acting mayor’s +counsel, that his argument partook of shallowness of +pretext more than anything else. Concurred in by +the other judges. Judge Stowe gave the following decision: +“The decision of the acting mayor should be +set aside; restitution awarded; fines and costs returned; +the city pay the costs;” and we were discharged from +custody much to the chagrin of the acting mayor, who +was present, his countenance indicating great discomfiture. +As we emerged from the court-house, it +was plain to be seen on which side the sympathy was. +Cheer after cheer greeted us. We took up our line +of march for the Smithfield Street M. E. Church. On +our entering, the large auditorium was immediately +packed. Order being restored, we engaged in singing, +prayer, and thanksgiving to Almighty God for deliverance.</p> + +<p>The following are the names of the thirty-three +arrested and imprisoned: Mrs. J. S. Collins, Mr. A. +Watt Black, Miss McClung, Mrs. Van Horn, Mrs. +Sarah Moffett, Mrs. S. C. Matchett, Mrs. W. W. +Morris, Mrs. Alice Gillchrist, Mrs. Macken, Miss E. B. +Carmichael, Mrs. Johnston, Mrs. M. Gray, Mrs. ——, +Mrs. J. I. Logan, Mrs. Grace Hopeful, Mrs. M. E. +Tutell, Mrs. A. W. Black, Mrs. A. Hill, Miss A. A. +Starr, Miss Pearl Starr, Miss Lee A. Starr, Mrs. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">[Pg 476]</span>Youngson, Mrs. M. B. Reese, of Alliance, O., Mrs. +John Foster, Mrs. Mary Caldwell, Mrs. Samuel Allinder, +Mrs. W. M. Gormly, Miss E. Beeson, Mrs. +D. N. Courtney, Mrs. Jane Nelson, Mrs. Martha +Woods, Miss E. J. Foster, Miss Bessie Black.</p> + +<p>The Crusade continued. “Many devices were resorted +to by the liquor-dealers to drive us away. For +instance, the scattering of cayenne pepper, burning +brimstone in the vault under the pavement. This ruse +they soon abandoned, as we caused it to recoil on +them by covering the grating, thereby turning the +fumes into their houses.”</p> + +<p>I have recently learned that Blackmore was Mayor +of Pittsburgh during the Crusade, and Samuel McMasters +acting mayor, Blackmore being an invalid. +McMasters did as he pleased, and it is generally +believed that the liquor-sellers paid him (McMasters) +to prosecute the ladies, and bring them into disgrace, +if possible, and thus stop the Crusade.</p> + +<p>The true character of McMasters, the acting mayor, +who caused their arrest, and by whom they were tried +and convicted, has recently been brought to light, <i>he +being convicted and sentenced to seven years in the penitentiary, +for the double crime of adultery and abortion</i>, +which resulted in the death of mother and child. The +victim, a young girl, accompanied McMasters to the +Centennial, and he effected her ruin; and to conceal +the black crime, he committed another, even +blacker.</p> + +<p>So this official ruffian stands out before the public +in his true light. Others who were active in opposing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">[Pg 477]</span>the Crusade have fallen into disgrace, or have been +forced to fly to escape justice.</p> + +<p>The howling mob that struck terror to the hearts of +the people of Pittsburgh during the riot of July, 1877, +and made its streets red with human blood, was composed +largely of <i>the very same class</i> of drunkards, +tramps, and hoodlums that gathered at the call of the +saloon-keepers to insult and howl down respectable +Christian women, who dared publicly to protest against +the liquor traffic by song and prayer.</p> + +<p>If the whole moral influence of the city had been +brought to bear at that time on the liquor traffic, and +the saloons had been closed and the business overthrown, +the riot of 1877 would not have been possible.</p> + +<p>But the people sustained the rum power rather than +the Crusade. And adown the very same streets, where +the bands of women had marched, in the spirit of love, +and with the songs of Zion on their lips, to win men +from sin by prayers and tears, an angry, howling +mob, with oaths and torches, with knives and pistols, +surged and yelled, and rioted, with hellish hate and +murderous intent. The city had “sown to the wind,” +and she “reaped the whirlwind.”</p> + +<p>We all know now, as we never could have known +without the bitter, costly lesson of the riot of 1877, +how much the women of this land risked in the Crusade, +and how wondrously <i>God shielded every one of +them</i>, as, going forth in His name, they walked through +these very same mobs, <i>unharmed</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">[Pg 478]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="ALLEGHENY_PENNSYLVANIA"> + ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>The Allegheny City Temperance Society, known as +“Mrs. Swift’s Band,” was organized as a branch of the +Women’s Christian Temperance Union, of Allegheny +county, Pennsylvania, March 25th, 1874. The preparation +for the great work differed in nowise from +that of similar organizations in other places. Daily +prayer-meetings were held, and faint hearts grew +courageous, and weak hands strong to undertake +what so appalled sensitive natures. On the morning +of April 4th, 1874, after an unusually solemn prayer-meeting, +the band started from Rev. Dr. Swift’s +church, to make the first visit to saloons. The succeeding +three months this method of working was +faithfully adhered to, and one hundred and sixteen +saloons were visited; forty of this number received +two visits each, and a few even three. In addition to +the saloons, some of the mills and work-shops, as well +as a large number of families, were visited. In the +case of families, the ladies went in committees of two +or three. Many persons signed the pledge, and while +some have not had strength to keep it, we rejoice that +others, whose first serious impressions were received +from the saloon and curbstone exercises of the “praying +women,” are now leading sober and useful lives. +The churches opened their doors for our prayer-meetings, +and two each day were sustained. A general +meeting in the morning, and in the afternoon for +ladies only. We were greatly encouraged by the interest +manifested by the clergymen of the city. Their +prayers, their words of counsel and of sympathy, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_479">[Pg 479]</span>nerved the shrinking women to go on with a work +so fraught with disheartening and revolting details. +Carrying the meetings from church to church was attended +with many disadvantages, and several of our +earnest supporters conceived the idea of providing us +with a “local habitation and a name.” A very elegant +building had been erected in a fashionable quarter for +the purpose of establishing a “drinking palace.” Before +its completion, the owner became involved, and it +was offered for sale. It was purchased by the Reformed +Presbyterians for a Theological Seminary. +They did not require the whole building, and rented +for our use a large, handsome room. This very +building, which was designed to destroy men, body +and soul, was occupied by those whose every effort +was to “establish, strengthen, and save them.” Our +friends furnished the room with great comfort and +taste, and on Monday evening, July 6th, 1874, Crusade +Hall was formally dedicated to the service of God and +the temperance cause.</p> + +<p>Many friends now suggested to us the propriety of +becoming an independent organization, as Allegheny +City and Pittsburgh are distinct municipalities. Considering +the matter from every point of view, we decided +that our best interests would be subserved by +severing our connection with the Central Union of +Pittsburgh, which was done, July 25th, 1874. As the +summer advanced, our numbers rapidly diminished, +leaving us too weak to pursue the work as heretofore. +Our prayer-meetings were reduced to one afternoon +and one evening meeting weekly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_480">[Pg 480]</span></p> + +<p>But the disastrous flood by which our city was +visited, in July, 1874, loudly called for help from willing +hands. Immediately, our temperance band offered +its services to the relief committee, and the quiet +room, where the gentle voices of women had ascended +in prayer and praise, grew vocal with the hum of sewing machines, +and Crusade Hall became one of the +most important relief head-quarters. Immense quantities +of material were converted into substantial +clothing, and distributed with the utmost system and +despatch. Numbers of families were visited, receiving +not only material aid, but the priceless boon of a sympathy +which thought it no toil to brave the horrors of +the desolated district and see the victims of the disaster +in the ruins of their once peaceful homes. The +grand object we had in view was not lost sight of in +these trying days. We had access to many homes +where intemperance was no stranger, and where hearts +were softened by great suffering seed was sown which +we can hope has borne fruit.</p> + +<p>After the necessity of this work had passed but little +was done, beyond the sustaining of the two prayer-meetings.</p> + +<p>As our members returned in the autumn, we again +began to consider what we should do. It was thought +that no further good could be accomplished by crusading +in bands, yet we did not wish the enemy to congratulate +itself that we were discouraged or wearied. +So it was decided to visit the saloons in committees of +twos and threes. The ladies were courteously received, +and their arguments listened to with civility, +but apparently little impression was made.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">[Pg 481]</span></p> + +<p>Again we seemed to pause, and a second time our +work was sent to us. For some time our Friday evening +meetings had been disturbed by a number of boys +of the lowest class. Whence they came no one could +tell. Whether curiosity, or a deliberate design to disturb +the Crusaders, brought them, we could not conjecture. +The disagreeable fact of their presence was +all we knew about them. No one felt like assuming +the responsibility of dismissing them, and a few earnest +hearts resolved to make a special effort in their behalf. +One evening each week during the winter and +spring was devoted to their instruction. No encouraging +results were apparent, but the pleasing reflection +is ours, that a great desire to do them good actuated +the ladies, who endured their rudeness with unwavering +faith and courage. The endeavor to improve the +boys suggested similar work for the girls of the same +class. A most flourishing industrial school was established, +and sustained throughout two winters. Cottage +prayer-meetings formed an important feature of our +work. It was the desire to hold the meetings, if possible, +in homes which had felt the horrors of intemperance. +This was not always practicable, but localities +were chosen where the degraded of both sexes +congregated, and where religious instruction was not +given. Very soon an interest was manifested in +the simple services, and many have anxiously inquired +the “way of life.”</p> + +<p>We still have unabated interest in the work, and +would gladly be more actively engaged. Our Tuesday +afternoon meeting has never been interrupted, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">[Pg 482]</span>but we now feel ourselves “a feeble folk,” and can do +little else than pray. The most perfect harmony has +characterized our band, and the only change of officers +we have made has been occasioned by the removal +from the city of one lady, and the enforced absence, +by serious illness, of another.</p> + + +<h3 id="WILLIAMSPORT_PENNSYLVANIA"> + WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Mussina for the following +facts: “Before our Crusade commenced, there +were thirty liquor-saloons within a stone’s throw of +the court-house.</p> + +<p>“One of our first meetings was held in a large hotel. +The house was full, and the street was full—there was +a multitude all around us. We bowed before the +Lord and offered up a petition in behalf of the proprietor.</p> + +<p>“The people said: ‘We thought those women were +going to find fault with us, but they have come to do +us good.’ From that time we felt an earnest desire +to visit all the liquor-dealers.</p> + +<p>“The father of the landlord of one of the largest +hotels sent us word to go and hold meetings in that +house, and his son would be saved. Our street meetings +were owned and blessed of God in the salvation +of many. We have often been thanked by +strangers, for holding these meetings.</p> + +<p>“We had a number of mass-meetings; and the +liquor-dealers had <i>one</i>. Many of the temperance +people thought we ought to have attended it in a +body; but we only sent a delegation and the rest of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">[Pg 483]</span>us remained in the church, and prayed to a covenant-keeping +God to confound our enemies.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dr. Kemble, who was appointed to visit Harrisburg +to help save the Local Option law, furnishes +the following incident of her escape the night before +she started:</p> + +<p>“Wishing to arise early, I told the young lady (who +was staying with me) that we would leave the blinds +up, that we might see the daylight at an early hour. +About midnight we heard a crash which awoke us +both, and upon looking up, we discovered that the +window had been broken in; and upon further search +we found that a brickbat had been thrown through +the window, and lay between us on the bed; but by +the blessing of God neither of us were hurt. This did +not deter us in the least. We prayed and worked +with more determination than ever.”</p> + +<p>The most signal manifestation of God’s hand in the +work, is the swift judgment that has overtaken almost +every one who opposed them, as will be shown from +the following facts sent me by E. L. Nice, who writes:</p> + +<p>“The first meeting was called February, 1874. +The ladies organized twenty-five strong, and commenced +the saloon visiting and picket work soon after. +A coffee-house also was opened, in a concert saloon +room, situated in the midst of the liquor-selling business. +This room had been previously occupied as a +saloon; but the keeper had skipped away without +paying his rent, and thus we got it; but kept it only a +short time, because the man of whom we rented (then +the mayor of the city) grew afraid of the liquor men, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">[Pg 484]</span>when he saw our coffee-house hurt their ‘lunch-rooms,’ +and would let us have it no longer. This man has +since gone into disgrace as a <i>dishonest</i> bankrupt, even +losing his friends among the liquor men, who suffered +from his failure.</p> + +<p>“The man who was the most insulting to us has +since shot himself while in jail, during a fit of delirium +tremens, and died a miserable death. Two others +have found a home in the insane asylum.</p> + +<p>“Many have been sold out by the sheriff, and reduced +to poverty. One who did all he could slyly, to +discourage and injure us, now goes about a cripple, +almost helpless with paralysis, and his family is reduced +to abject poverty.</p> + +<p>“Our District Attorney, G. C. Hinman, who boldly +advocated the repeal of the Local Option law, and +denounced the work of the Crusade, left here last +year in disgrace; ran away just in time to escape the +penitentiary.</p> + +<p>“The man who was counsel for the liquor men has +been twice at death’s door, and in fearful agony in the +belief that he was lost. The first time, he turned to +the Lord, and commenced a new life, but was brought +back to his habit of sin, by his physician insisting upon +strengthening him by alcoholic stimulants. So Satan +still holds him, and he is still the drunkard-maker’s +friend.</p> + +<p>“On the other hand, those who aided us in the +work have been generally prospered.”</p> + +<p>We are furnished the following facts and incidents +by Mrs. Olmstead:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">[Pg 485]</span></p> + +<p>March 2d, 1874, about two hundred of us went to +the Herdic House; we held our meeting in the long +hall, and were followed by a large crowd who pressed +in at the door to hear.</p> + +<p>The next day we visited the Hepburn House. An +<i>immense</i> crowd was around. We feared a riot, but +God was there, and it became to them a solemn place.</p> + +<p>The proprietor, who had threatened many things if +we came, wept like a child.</p> + +<p>We next went to the Crawford House, and then to +the Henry House.</p> + +<p>We afterwards divided into four bands, and visited +Fricker’s, Gerlach’s, United States, and the American.</p> + +<p>On March 7th, 1874, five saloons were visited, and +the proprietors were much affected.</p> + +<p>About a week after, seven of us were at Fricker’s +saloon, from half-past two until half-past six. This +place seemed to me like the very door of hell.</p> + +<p>The sights and sounds there have laid the burden +of this war upon me more heavily than ever.</p> + +<p>One poor, half-drunken man was very insulting to +us—a plan of others to drive us away.</p> + +<p>We were relieved by others, who stayed until late in +the evening.</p> + +<p>One saloon-keeper we visited was as furious as an +angry caged lion. We had a pleasant talk with him +and his wife, and left feeling that God’s will had been +done.</p> + +<p>One of the saloons, where a most powerful meeting +was held, was kept by a Frenchman, an unbeliever. +He was very polite to us, and he soon gave up his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">[Pg 486]</span>business and went away, saying he should never sell +liquor again.</p> + +<p>Some of the ladies visited George Koch’s saloon, +March 7th.</p> + +<p>There Mrs. C. prayed that her husband, who was +old and a drunkard, might not be allowed to take +another drink at that place. It was a powerful meeting, +though small, and that prayer was one to be remembered; +that husband <i>never drank</i> <span class="allsmcap">AGAIN</span>, <i>anywhere</i>, +and soon became a Christian.</p> + +<p>We had some remarkable instances of bad men +being reclaimed and converted at that time, who are +now in the church, and working in the temperance +cause.</p> + +<p>One blessed feature of our Crusade was, that we +never stopped to ask or think to what denomination +we belonged.</p> + +<p>The court-house pavement became a Bethel to us, +where Christ seems a little nearer than in His temple +made with hands.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of our Crusade, one good +Presbyterian pastor, who was with us heart and hand, +expressed his sorrow that the women of his church +were wholly unprepared for such public work, and +said the Baptist and Methodist sisters would have it +all to do. In about three weeks from that time he +might have heard ladies of his own flock praying on +the street, and exhorting the crowds on the pavement +in front of the court-house. So wondrously had God +poured out His Spirit upon them, and prepared them +for His work.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">[Pg 487]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="BLOSSBURG_PENNSYLVANIA"> + BLOSSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>The society reports the following:</p> + +<p>When the thrilling news came to us, that Christian +women were carrying the gospel into the haunts of +intemperance, and thus meeting the enemy face to face, +our hearts were stirred in sympathy with the effort.</p> + +<p>Those unacquainted with mining regions may not +know that in such communities intemperance gains a +strong foothold, because of the influences brought to +bear in early childhood as well as in mature life upon +those who comprise the majority of its population. To +contend with life-long prejudices requires courage. +Having within the limits of our village some thirty +places where liquor could be obtained, it seemed a +grave question whether we should begin the warfare. +The conviction deepened in some hearts that “now” was +the time to work; and in the month of June, 1874, the +first meeting was called by Rev. C. G. Lowell, and a +ladies’ prayer-meeting appointed.</p> + +<p>At the first of these meetings a Ladies’ Temperance +Union was organized. General meeting was held +alternately in the several churches. We did not visit +the saloons, but all our dealers were invited to sign the +pledge. In every instance we were refused, they giving +us frankly their reasons, viz.: that their money was +in the business, and they preferred to run the risks of +prosecutions for breaking the law, rather than leave +off selling. After counting the cost of their displeasure, +and the weight of public opinion, we decided to complain +to the authorities in the name of the Commonwealth, +of all who were guilty of violating the Local +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">[Pg 488]</span>Option law. This step brought us much unpleasant +work, such as we would gladly have avoided, those +engaged in the traffic giving us the full benefit of all +the influence afforded them in points of law, to retard +our progress. Those who frequented these places for +drink were in danger of being used as witnesses, therefore +we gained their displeasure. We continued to +complain for nearly two years at each term of court, +sometimes successfully, and sometimes failing to secure +truthful witnesses. Some complaints were made after +the repeal of the Local Option law. At the second +application of our dealers for license, we remonstrated, +being opposed in this by Christian men, who were +certain we should be defeated. The number of applicants +were ten, three of which were refused. At this +point we did not see fit to make further resistance. +Many of the dealers, during the time spent by us in +opposing the traffic, abandoned its pursuit, leaving at +present less than one-third as many places for drink +as we had three years ago.</p> + + +<h3 id="WARREN_PENNSYLVANIA"> + WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Annie C. Wetmore, Treasurer +of the State Union, for the following facts:</p> + +<p>“The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union at this +place was organized in December, 1874, this being several +months before the State organization was effected. +The membership was large. The temperance women +were impressed with the feeling that the time had +come for action, but as none were ready to visit the +saloons, as the women of Ohio and other States were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">[Pg 489]</span>doing, they hardly knew what to do, but concluded to +do all in their power to build up a better public sentiment.</p> + +<p>“They applied to the editors of the two weekly +papers, and obtained a part of a column in each paper, +and appointed editors to fill this space with original +notes, or selections on temperance. They held their +Union meetings weekly, and mass-meetings as often as +possible. Temperance papers were subscribed for and +placed in the reading-room. Remonstrances were +circulated against the repeal of local option, and February, +1874, the first prosecution under the Local Option +law was made by the women. The liquor men were +aroused, but the women carried the suit and convicted +one man, and the community received its first temperance +lesson; and as success always commands respect, +those who had ridiculed the idea of woman’s work in +this way, began to respect them, and tremble before +the power that was in their hands.</p> + +<p>“It was decided in April to appoint committees to go +to the different towns in the county and organize +unions, and as a result five towns were visited, and +unions formed, and in May a county convention was +called, and a county organization formed, which has +continued to this day.</p> + +<p>“In May, 1875, after the repeal of the Local Option +law, the women circulated resolutions against the giving +of license to such persons as had violated the +Local Option law.</p> + +<p>“The Union purchased and circulated a great number +of temperance tracts in the county; and an effort was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">[Pg 490]</span>made, by the appointment of a committee for each +Sunday-school, to introduce temperance work among +the children, which was attended with some degree of +success.</p> + +<p>“In March, 1876, a juvenile temperance society was +organized, which was called the Centennial Temperance +Society. Each member was provided with a +badge of red, white, and blue ribbon; each ribbon +representing a pledge. The meetings have been kept +up regularly.</p> + +<p>“There being no town pump where a thirsty man, +free of expense, could relieve his thirst, the W. C. T. +U. had a well dug, and a pump set up at the corner +of the principal street, so that thirst can now be slaked +‘without money and without price.’</p> + +<p>“On New Year’s days, 1876 and 1877, the Union +opened a Holly Tree Inn, where they received visitors, +inviting all to come and partake freely. In the evening +speeches were made and many signed the pledge.</p> + +<p>“During the years 1876 and 1877 a number of +prosecutions were made by the Union with various +degrees of success.</p> + +<p>“The liquor party have been made to feel that law is +not to be trampled under foot with impunity, and that +the license law should be enforced as other laws.</p> + +<p>“September, 1876, a committee of two were appointed +to visit the county superintendent of public schools +during the annual teachers’ institute, and obtain a few +minutes during one of the sessions to talk on temperance. +The time was cheerfully granted, and the +teachers were generally enlisted. We asked them to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_491">[Pg 491]</span>make the subject a specialty at least once a month, and +supplied them with tracts and catechisms on alcohol. +Most of them have been faithful to their duty in this +respect.”</p> + +<p>An incident <i>not reported</i> by Mrs. Wetmore, which +occurred during the prosecutions of dealers in court, +will show the animus of the liquor-dealers in Warren.</p> + +<p>One of the ladies very active in the work wore a +velvet cloak. A lady from a neighboring town being +there on a visit, went to the court-house to attend the +trial. She, too, had on a very costly velvet cloak; the +velvet had cost $25 a yard. Both these ladies, while +in the court-room, or when they were leaving, had +<i>vitriol</i> thrown on their cloaks which utterly ruined them. +The purpose, of course, was to ruin the cloak of the +active temperance woman, but when the agent of the +liquor-dealers’ revenge saw two cloaks so near alike +he made sure work by destroying both.</p> + + +<h3 id="PHILADELPHIA_PENNSYLVANIA"> + PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>The first meeting in this city was called through +the public press on February 27th, 1874. The place +of meeting was the Fiftieth Baptist Church, a small +frame mission chapel in the northern part of the city. +The little chapel was well filled with grave, earnest +women, and every heart was stirred during the first +prayer. “What wilt thou have me do?” was pressed +upon every conscience. The object of the meeting +was explained, and stirring appeals were made.</p> + +<p>One lady said on a corner near this chapel was a +drinking-saloon of the worst character, and asked if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">[Pg 492]</span>anything could be done. Another lady, who lived next +door to the saloon, said she would throw open her +house at once for a prayer-meeting, that this place +might be closed. The leader then proposed that those +who felt willing should follow her to the lady’s house, +and hold a prayer-meeting. About half of the women +followed her, while the others remained in the church +to pray. As the band marched down the street they +were followed by a great crowd. As the house would +not hold half the people that gathered, the leader +stood on the doorstep, and addressed the multitude. +There was not the least disturbance, but all listened +with breathless attention to her earnest and touching +appeals.</p> + +<p>When they started from the chapel, the cry was +raised by the crowd outside: “The Crusaders are +coming!” The rum-seller on the corner hastened to +close his windows and bar his door.</p> + +<p>March 1st, 1874 (Sunday), mass-meetings were held +afternoon and evening in Wood’s Museum, which was +crowded to its utmost capacity, and hundreds went +away unable to gain admittance. The proprietor had +received several notices that there would be a mob, +and that the museum would be burned down if he +attempted to hold such a meeting. But he was a +staunch temperance man, and determined that the +meeting should come off at any hazard. There was +no mob and no disturbance.</p> + +<p>March 2d, a business meeting was held, and a +Woman’s Union Temperance Praying Band organized, +and the usual officers elected.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">[Pg 493]</span></p> + +<p>Meetings were held in various churches, the pledge +circulated, and hundreds came forward to sign their +names to the pledge.</p> + +<p>On Monday, March 9th, the liquor-dealers becoming +alarmed, held a secret meeting to consider what +they could do to check the temperance work. What +they decided on was never known.</p> + +<p>On the 9th of April a general meeting was called, +and held in one of the rooms in the Horticultural Hall. +There was a large attendance. The officers reported +that 112 meetings had been held; 24,870 names enrolled +on the pledge-books, of whom 1,613 had been +drunkards, 61 barkeepers, and a number saloon-keepers. +Also, that 38 church members, who owned +property which was rented for saloons, had been +visited, and pledged not to rent their houses for such +a purpose in the future.</p> + +<p>During the month of April ninety-four meetings +were held. Several being held on the same night, it +was necessary for the president and other members +of the band to drive from church to church, and speak +several times each evening. At these meetings many +requests for prayer were sent in: some of them were +from drunkards’ wives and brought tears to many +eyes.</p> + +<p>A temporary home was established for reformed +men who were homeless and without work. It was +soon filled, and a larger building was secured, which +was afterward turned over to the ladies in Frankford, +it being in that part of the city, and another started at +the corner of Seventeenth and Francis streets; also an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">[Pg 494]</span>Old Woman’s Home in West Philadelphia was opened +by one of the managers.</p> + +<p>During the summer, meetings were held in a tent. +At one of these meetings a report came that a man +was dying on a vacant lot adjoining. He was taken +charge of, nourishment given him, and he soon revived. +He said he was a castaway, his friends had disowned him, +and drunkenness had brought him to destitution, and +almost to death. He was induced to sign the pledge, +was converted, and afterwards became a worker in the +cause, and, in course of time, he was restored to his +friends, clothed and in his right mind.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Eleanor Crew, the Secretary of the band, who +was earnest and capable, and most abundant in good +works, giving her life freely for the salvation of others, +fell at her post, September 4th, 1875, it is believed +from mental strain and overwork, but the beautiful +example of a life devoted to Christianity and temperance +is still an inspiration to many.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, another organization had been +formed, and efficient work was done for God and humanity +by other earnest workers. This society held mass-meetings, +and did other important work. But the President +of the National Union induced the two bodies to +unite, and a meeting was held for that purpose, January +26th, 1875, in Dr. McCook’s church. The meeting +was enthusiastic, and the reorganization effected. +Many of the members feeling unprepared for the +work, a meeting was appointed for prayer and consecration. +At the very first meeting a poor man presented +himself and desired to sign the pledge. They +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">[Pg 495]</span>were quite unprepared for this, had no pledges ready, +but they soon learned that the most effectual way to +consecrate one’s self is to go to work. The man and +his family were in a wretched condition, and temporary +relief was necessary. He was soon afterwards converted, +and became a church member. His former +employer, hearing of his reformation, sent for him and +gave him employment, and a year afterwards he was +known to be faithful and doing well.</p> + +<p>Cottage prayer-meetings were held, which resulted +in great good. The ladies would secure the use of a +house for meetings, and throw the doors and windows +open, and commence singing. A large crowd was soon +attracted, who would stand for an hour to listen to the +gospel as it was proclaimed from the doorstep by one +or more of the ladies. On such occasions an invitation +was always extended to all who wished, to come +inside to a prayer-meeting, which was accepted by +many. The doors and windows were then closed, and +the crowd, with tracts in their hands, which had been +freely distributed, slowly dispersed, but usually the +room was filled with those who remained for prayer, +and many were saved.</p> + +<p>Public meetings were held, some saloons visited, +much temperance literature distributed, and a home +opened for inebriate women, especially for those who +felt themselves to be slaves of the drink habit, but +because of their social position and the stigma attending, +would not enter public reformatory institutions. +Many have found shelter there, and some have given +evidence that these labors have not been in vain. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">[Pg 496]</span>This has since been detached from the work, and is +under separate management.</p> + +<p>Two of the members fitted up in good style a comfortable +lodging-house, where men, reformed through +the efforts of the society, and others, at a low price, +could have a tidy, cheerful home. This house accommodates +about fifty, and has a reading-room, and is +cheerful, well-lighted, and warm, the price ranging from +twenty to thirty cents per night, or one dollar, or one +dollar and a half per week. Not a profane or obscene +word is allowed, and those who have never made a +profession of Christianity feel the influence that is +quietly and steadily exerted. This work is also under +outside management, but contributes to the success of +the society.</p> + +<p>March, 1877, daily meetings were established, which +have been largely attended. These meetings, though +led by ladies, are open to all, and are attended by men +of all classes, often more than three-fourths of the +audience being men.</p> + +<p>Quietly and reverently they wait before God, and +the influence of the Spirit is so manifestly present that +all hearts are solemnized.</p> + +<p>The hall is well filled daily, and over six hundred +have been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ in +the forgiveness of their sins. Some of these were +gentlemen who came out of curiosity; others were +prodigal sons, far away from home and God. Gamblers, +barkeepers, infidels, drunkards, criminals fresh from +the jail, and homeless tramps, have here found salvation. +Some even of the most degraded, are educated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">[Pg 497]</span>men, who have had the advantages of a college course; +others are business or professional men, who have +come down from the highest circles of society to +poverty and rags, through drink.</p> + +<p>It is touching to see these men, scarred and marred +by sin, sitting with reverent faces, listening, for the first +time in years, to the sweet story of Jesus and his love, +or rising to ask prayers for themselves, with streaming +eyes. Oh, the sad stories the searching spirit wrings +out of these penitent hearts! “For with the heart +man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth +confession is made unto salvation.”</p> + +<p>Some of these men were in utter despair, and were +arrested when about to commit suicide; others had +not prayed since they left their mother’s knee, and had +not been in a church for ten, fifteen, or twenty years.</p> + +<p>But Jesus is mighty to save, and all his salvation +may know, and he has revealed himself as the Saviour +of sinners; and such mighty saving power I have never +seen before. Gamblers have thrown away their cards, +and pressing the Bible to their hearts, have said, with +tears, “I take this book, instead of my pack of cards, +for a companion and guide.”</p> + +<p>Families, broken up and scattered, have been reunited, +and gathered about an altar of prayer; the +ragged have been clothed, the hungry fed, the unbelieving +convinced, and the broken-hearted comforted. +Letters bearing the glad tidings across seas and continents, +of prodigals saved, have winged their way to +distant friends, and hundreds of homes have been +made glad because of these afternoon meetings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_498">[Pg 498]</span></p> + +<p>One young man who arose to ask prayers, said, “I +am the son of praying parents. I had every advantage +that wealth and social position could give me. I was +educated at Yale College, but was expelled before I +graduated. I shall never forget the humiliation of +that morning when I was dismissed and sent home on +account of drunkenness. I tried for a time to do +better, and was sent away to medical college, where in +due time I graduated in medicine—and drunkenness. +While attending college, I would write home for money +to buy books, and then spend it for rum. After I got +my diploma I went home, but it was not long till I +was brought, at a late hour of the night, from the +saloon to my father’s door, helplessly drunk. When +my condition became known to the members of the +family, there was sorrow and weeping all over the +house. The next day my father talked very seriously +to me as to the consequences of the drink habit, if I +continued in such a course. I promised to amend, but +in a short time was brought home again dead-drunk.</p> + +<p>“My father turned me out of doors, for I had broken +my mother’s heart. But one of my brothers came +after me very soon, to say:</p> + +<p>“‘Come home, Harry, you have broken our mother’s +heart; come home and see her die.’</p> + +<p>“I followed him, going like a criminal. My dying +mother was surrounded by her family and friends, but +she reached out her hands to me and said, ‘Oh, Harry, +you have broken my heart, but if you will promise me +that you will never drink another drop as long as you +live, I will die happy.’</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_499">[Pg 499]</span></p> + +<p>“I dropped on my knees at her bedside, and promised +her that I would never touch the accursed stuff +again. I thought then that I never would, and as I +followed her to the grave and heard the earth fall +upon her coffin, I swore in my heart that I would keep +my vow. I went to a distant western town and entered +upon the practice of medicine. I was prospered +in every way. I soon had a large and lucrative practice +and moved in the best of society. I bought a +house and was fitting up a home for a lovely woman +who had promised to become my wife. During a +New Year’s holiday-time I visited my old home, and +on New Year’s day started out to call upon my friends. +The third house I entered the lady offered me wine. +I refused, but she insisted, and once the glass in my +hand I drank it off and rushed from the house to the +nearest saloon. That night I was carried to a hotel +dead-drunk. My descent was rapid. I soon lost all +my money and friends, and was wandering over the +country a miserable, drunken tramp. I begged a +ticket to cross the Delaware river to reach this city, +and have begged my bread here from door to door. I +have been called a <i>tramp</i> to my face since I have been +in your city. But if God can save a <i>tramp</i>, I want +Him to <span class="allsmcap">SAVE</span> me.” When he sat down there was not +a dry eye in the house.</p> + +<p>Immediately another young man arose, and said, “I +was a class-mate of that young man’s in Yale. I well +remember the day he was expelled. I had not met +him in all these years till at these meetings. I, too, +since leaving college, have become a drunkard; but I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">[Pg 500]</span>have been saved by God’s mighty power in these meetings, +and the appetite for rum has been taken away, and +what God has done for me, He can do for you, Harry.”</p> + +<p>There was united prayer for that young man, and +he was saved that very day. Or, as he puts it, “The +ladies held on to me till I found Christ, and had the +appetite for rum and tobacco taken away.”</p> + +<p>There are scores of cases equally interesting.</p> + + +<h3 id="A_MARVELLOUS_ANSWER_TO_PRAYER"> + A MARVELLOUS ANSWER TO PRAYER. +</h3> + +<p>One day two young men came into the meeting, +and took seats near the door. They were very +irreverent, and inclined to be disorderly. The lesson +that day was on the forgiveness of sin and the witness +of the Spirit; and those testifying spoke with great +clearness of the cleansing power of the blood, and the +witness of the Spirit to their acceptance. The meeting +was very solemn, many were moved to tears; all sat +in awe before the Lord, but these two young men. I +led the meeting that day, and, as I was about to close, +I spoke of the two young men who had been indifferent +and irreverent, as eternity-bound, walking, may be, on +the brink of destruction, and yet unsaved and unconcerned. +We knelt to pray, and while I prayed, those +two young men came up before me, and with earnest +pleadings I asked God to <i>save</i> their souls—in some +way or other to reach them—if He could not win them +by His love, to reach and save them by His judgments—any +way, only save their souls alive. The +next day I was sent for by a young man in the inquiry +room, after the meeting. The tears were running +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_501">[Pg 501]</span>over his face. Grasping my hand, he said, “Oh, do +pray for me that no judgments may come upon me. I +am one of the young men who behaved badly in the +meeting yesterday.” “Where is the other man?” +“When you prayed I felt awful bad; it was just like a +knife going to my heart. As soon as the meeting +closed we left. My friend said, ‘Let’s get out of here.’ +When we reached the street I told him I was afraid +some judgment would come upon us. He laughed, +and said he wasn’t afraid of the judgments of God. +We walked on together up to Broad street, where he +fell with a stroke of paralysis, and was carried off to +St. Mary’s hospital. We are both Catholics. I did +not think God was with you. But when I saw that +man fall so soon after your prayer, I knew it was a +judgment. I did not sleep any last night, and to-day +as I walked the streets I could not help crying. A +lady met me on the street, and seeing me weeping, +she said, ‘Young man, you seem to be in great trouble; +what is the matter?’ I undertook to tell her, +but I broke down utterly. She invited me to her +house; there I met her husband, and when I told my +story he seemed much moved. He told me he was a +saloon-keeper; that he kept a saloon in Camden, N. +J., but he was going to give up the business and open +a feed store, and that he would give me work and +allow me to go to these meetings.”</p> + +<p>I bowed with the young man, and prayed earnestly +that God would be merciful and save him. The next +day he was gloriously saved. He immediately went +to the hospital, to look after his friend. He found that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">[Pg 502]</span>he had recovered consciousness soon after reaching +the hospital. The lessons of the day pressed upon +his heart and conscience; especially those awful words, +“I’m not afraid of the judgment of God.” He felt +sure he would die, and he set himself to gain what he +had heard spoken of in the meeting—a knowledge of +sins forgiven, the witness of the Spirit. And the Lord +revealed Himself to that man right there in the +Catholic hospital, so that when the friend came to him +he found him rejoicing in a knowledge of his sins forgiven +and his acceptance with God. They took sweet +counsel together, and the dying man sent this message +back to the meeting:</p> + +<p>“Tell that lady who prayed for me that her prayers +are answered, and I am saved. She will find me in +heaven when she comes, for I am <i>saved by the judgment +of God</i>.” A few hours after this he died. Only +a few weeks passed till the other young man was sent +to the Blockley Alms House Hospital, with dropsy. +But he was joyously happy—ready for anything.</p> + +<p>Ten doctors one day gathered about his bed for consultation: +the decision was that they could do nothing +for him. With a triumphant smile he looked up at +them and said:</p> + +<p>“It’s all right, doctors; I am ready to die.”</p> + +<p>The doctor who attended his case afterwards came +and knelt by his cot, and wept and prayed.</p> + +<p>A young man lying in the next cot to his was very +irreverent. Charles wanted to read the Bible to him, +for he preaches the gospel to all, but he said: “No, I +don’t want to hear it; I’ve got a novel—I like that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">[Pg 503]</span>better.” But after a while Charles induced him to +read, as an act of kindness. The truth took hold of +his heart, and one night he got up out of his bed and +knelt beside the cot of Charles, and was saved. The +novel-reading young man has since died in the full +triumphs of faith. Charles D. still lingers to preach +Christ in the ward, and his influence is blessed. A +priest visited him one day.</p> + +<p>“Have you confessed?” he inquired. “Yes.” “Who +to?” “The Lord Jesus Christ; and I have been forgiven, +and I am ready to depart and be with my Lord.”</p> + +<p>The priest insisted on leaving a rosary, which the +sick young man, having no need of such helps in +prayer, gave to one of the ladies of the meeting who +visited him very often.</p> + +<p>Who can doubt that God in <i>answer to prayer</i> took the +best, and perhaps the only way, to save these two souls!</p> + +<p>It is better that a man should be dealt with in judgment +than that he should lose his soul.</p> + +<p>The meetings still go on with power, and the general +work with increasing interest.</p> + +<p>In 1875 a State Union was formed, the convention +meeting in Philadelphia. One hundred ladies went +from that meeting to Harrisburg, to protest against +the repeal of the Local Option law, which was threatened. +A mass-meeting was held in the State House +in the evening, the legislative hall being well filled, and +most of the members of the Senate and House being +present. The meeting, which was addressed by prominent +ladies and gentlemen of the State, was enthusiastic. +The next day about two hundred marched in a +body to the Capitol, and held a meeting, and had an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">[Pg 504]</span>interview with the committee having the matter in +charge, and then called upon the Governor to urge +him, if the law was repealed, to veto it.</p> + +<p>It fell to the lot of the writer of these pages to head +that procession and make the speech to the Governor.</p> + +<p>If the question pending had not been so grave, the +scene would have been ludicrous. Governor Hartranft, +although he had won honor as an officer in the +recent civil war, was as pale as a ghost, and stood bracing +himself against the mantel-piece, with his lips firmly +set, as though he was afraid to open his mouth lest he +should betray his party.</p> + +<p>The appeal was made in the presence of a hundred +or more people, and despite his efforts at self-command +he was deeply moved.</p> + +<p>He responded very respectfully, but his guarded +words foreshadowed his future action, and we knew +he would follow the dictates of his party, whatever that +might be. But it was a privilege to be able, fearlessly +and plainly, to tell him a few facts, and let him know in +just so many words, “that no matter what party went +up, or went down, the women of the commonwealth +intended that the rum power should go down, and +would bend all their energies to that end.”</p> + + +<h3 id="MONTROSE_PENNSYLVANIA"> + MONTROSE, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>A praying band was organized in this town at the +beginning of the Crusade. Petitions and pledges have +been circulated, and prayer and mass-meetings held.</p> + +<p>The saloon-keepers have been visited and urged to +sign the pledge. The children have been gathered +together and taught, and a society organized. The +jails have been regularly visited.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">[Pg 505]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Post and Mrs. Sayer are among the active +workers who have pushed the cause in this town and +in the county.</p> + + +<h3 id="SUSQUEHANNA_PENNSYLVANIA"> + SUSQUEHANNA, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>The ladies of this town organized early in 1874; +mass-meetings were held, saloons visited, and pledges +circulated.</p> + +<p>Under the Local Option law, which had carried in +this place, it was unlawful to sell liquors. And as the +saloon-keepers did not yield to tears and prayers, the +ladies brought the law to bear upon them with good +success.</p> + +<p>The devotion of the women was shown in their self-denial +in matters of dress, that they might have money +to carry on the temperance work.</p> + + +<h3 id="TROY_PENNSYLVANIA"> + TROY, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>The women of Troy organized for work in May, +1874. I had the privilege of visiting the drinking-houses +with some of these earnest workers. We went +to the hotel. The bar-room was filled with a crowd +of rough men. The fumes of tobacco and whiskey +were stifling. The landlord turned pale when he saw +us, but withstood all our entreaties, although he had +been trained in a Christian home and had a praying +mother.</p> + +<p>We appealed to him to stop the business for the +sake of his own boy. He had a beautiful little boy. +Though deeply moved, he would not allow us to pray +in his house. As we were leaving, I said: “My brother, +the Lord will answer the prayers of your mother. He +is now trying to win you by love; if you reject Him, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">[Pg 506]</span>He may bring you to the truth by His judgments. He +may take the boy you love so much. Don’t wait for +the judgments of God.” The words seemed to be +prophetic: in a month from that time the boy was dead, +and he was brought to see so clearly that God was +dealing with him that he closed out the bar. One of +the drug stores was really an open saloon, the worst +in the town. The work went on for a while with +enthusiasm. But some of these methods, especially +the prosecution of saloon-keepers, displeased the ministers, +and they drew up a paper asking them to desist, +and confine themselves to prayer-meetings, etc. The +result was an entire abandonment of the work, at a +time when it promised the largest success.</p> + + +<h3 id="ASHLEY_PENNSYLVANIA"> + ASHLEY, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> + +<p>The women organized in this town in the spring +of 1874. Prayer and mass-meetings were held; a +Juvenile Union formed; the saloons visited again and +again, and a friendly inn and lunch-room founded, +mainly through the efforts of Miss N. M. Wells. +Good results have followed.</p> + +<p>The work there and throughout the State is increasing +in interest and enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Nearly all the towns of Pennsylvania have carried +on the temperance work with more or less success.</p> + +<p>A good work has also been done in Great Bend, +the home of Mrs. F. D. B. Chase, President of the +State Union; also in Sharon, Chester, New Milford, +Towanda, Canton, Tunkahannock, Carbondale, Kingston, +Wellsburg, Norristown, Rochester, Meadville, New +Castle, Honesdale, and Milton.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">[Pg 507]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + NEW YORK. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII"> + CHAPTER VIII. +</h2> +</div> + +<p>The work in New York, which began in the beautiful +village of Fredonia, has extended to every part of +that great State. Every city, and almost every hamlet, +has been reached by this Temperance Gospel.</p> + +<p>Women’s Temperance Unions have been organized +in almost every town, and the best and truest women +of the State have banded together in God’s name, to +overthrow the liquor traffic.</p> + +<p>It will be noticed, by reference to the date, that the +work at Fredonia commenced several days before it +began at Hillsboro’.</p> + +<p>I do not know why that town was not made conspicuous +as the place where the Crusade commenced, +unless it was because no saloons were closed, and the +ladies fell back, after a short campaign, upon other +plans.</p> + + +<h3 id="FREDONIA_NEW_YORK"> + FREDONIA, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. L. B. Greene gives the following interesting +account of the work:</p> + +<p>Dr. Dio Lewis lectured in our village, Saturday +evening, December 13th, 1873, in the regular lyceum +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">[Pg 508]</span>course, and remaining in the place over the Sabbath, +was invited to speak in the Baptist Church, Sunday +evening. A union service was held, and the large +building packed to overflowing. He chose as his subject—“The +duty and responsibility of Christian women +in the cause of Temperance.” In illustrating his views +upon the subject, he related the proceedings of the +women in the village of Clarksville, in this State, forty +years ago, when he was a boy—how, aroused by some +specially grievous result of the liquor traffic, eighty-four +women banded themselves together, and, after conference +and prayer, marched to the saloons, where, with +more prayers and singing, they appealed to the liquor-dealers +to pledge themselves to give up the sale of +intoxicating beverages. The object sought was attained, +and for thirty-nine years no liquor has been +sold there as a beverage.</p> + +<p>This plan, he stated, had been partially or wholly +successful in other places.</p> + +<p>A remarkable interest was manifested throughout +the audience, and at the close of the lecture an organization, +to consider a similar work in our place, was +effected by the election of Dr. Lewis, Chairman; John +Hamilton and L. A. Barmore, Secretaries. The Secretaries, +together with Dr. E. M. Pettit and Prof. H. R. +Sanford, were appointed by the meeting to name fifty +or more ladies as a visiting committee for work similar +to that performed by the women of Clarksville.</p> + +<p>This committee was enlarged to more than two hundred, +who met on the following morning, December +15th, 1873, and entered upon their work of visiting all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">[Pg 509]</span>the hotels, drug stores, and saloons. As the result of the +first day’s work one druggist gave his assent to the +pledge. The other dealers listened respectfully, and we +were encouraged to think would yield to our petitions.</p> + +<p>Each succeeding day brought intelligence of a like +movement—first in Jamestown, near us; then in Hillsboro’, +Ohio, followed by place after place. So we +were encouraged and strengthened to believe that the +Spirit of the Lord was moving in the land, stirring up +women who had hitherto rested quietly, or unquietly, +in their homes, <i>submitting</i> to what seemed an ineradicable +evil, to <i>rouse</i> themselves and take up the +cross of the “Temperance Crusade.”</p> + +<p>I need not detail the events of the first weeks of our +effort, with their alternations of hope and doubtings; +suffice it to say, the saloons were not closed <i>when</i>, +and <i>as</i> we prayed they might be. There was another +lesson in store for us, as to our Heavenly Father’s +ways of answering prayer.</p> + +<p>We ceased our saloon visiting, but had formed a +permanent “Woman’s Christian Temperance Union” +for continued work in the cause, as circumstances and +opportunities should permit.</p> + +<p>Our principal efforts have been as follows: An aid +society was formed to help the needy of our village, +nearly all of whom are the victims of intemperance.</p> + +<p>A reading-room in the interests of temperance and +morality was established; a large amount of temperance +tracts and papers were circulated.</p> + +<p>Many petitions to Congress and the State Legislature, +in the interests of the cause, have been circulated. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">[Pg 510]</span>Young people and children’s unions, auxiliary to our +own, have been formed. Days of fasting and prayer +have been observed.</p> + +<p>In the spring election of 1874 there was a gain for +temperance (a stirring little appeal to the voters had +been scattered through the streets).</p> + +<p>Before the election of 1875 a committee of ladies +was appointed to see each voter, urging principle in +the matter, and we were rewarded by a large no +license majority. During the years 1875-76 there +were no licensed places in the town for the sale of +liquor as a beverage, but several club-rooms, in evasion +of the law, were formed, where almost any one +could obtain drink. These we entered legal prosecution +against to no purpose.</p> + +<p>During all these years our Union has held its weekly +prayer-meetings, and has tried to keep the public alive +to the subject, by bringing before them frequently the +best talent in the lecture field.</p> + +<p>Though there have been occasional instances of +conversion and reformation all along, it has seemed as +though results had not been commensurate with our +efforts. In our last excise election, 1877, the village +again voted for license, and when many of us were +feeling almost discouraged, groping in the dark, God +made his face to shine in the darkness, and we felt +that the prayers of so many years were answered.</p> + +<p>Following the series of meetings, after the week of +prayer in the Baptist Church, came a gospel temperance +worker, the Rev. Mr. Bocock. He found the +field ripe for the harvest. Hundreds signed the abstinence +pledge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">[Pg 511]</span></p> + +<p>Meetings continued for weeks, in our largest public +hall, under other workers, until over 1,500 names were +enrolled on the Murphy pledge. Among these were +not only intemperate men, but many of our leading +citizens, who before had opposed or stood aloof from +all work for the cause. We hope to see these faithfully +heading the ranks in the temperance reform. +Our Union still lives, and, we trust, may continue an +influence for good in our midst.</p> + + +<h3 id="AUBURN_NEW_YORK"> + AUBURN, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>A little company of sisters, after consulting their +pastors, called a prayer-meeting, Monday, March 9th. +On account of a severe storm only six persons were +present at the appointed hour, yet out of that small +prayer-meeting grew the “Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union of Auburn.” At its organization we +were so fortunate as to secure for our President, Mrs. +Mary T. Burt, then a resident of Auburn—now the +publisher of <i>Our Union</i>, in Brooklyn.</p> + +<p>March 13th, we gave a call for a meeting, asking +“all women, friendly to the cause of temperance, to +be present on that occasion, with a view of devising +some method of securing, through our city authorities, +the rigid enforcement of existing laws, restricting the +sale of intoxicating liquors in this city.” To the +above appeal were appended 500 names of the +women of Auburn. This meeting was followed by +other crowded mass-meetings.</p> + +<p>Committees waited upon the mayor and board of +excise, begging them to grant fewer licenses.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">[Pg 512]</span></p> + +<p>In June of the same year, one of the board of excise +said that the Woman’s Temperance Union of +Auburn had been the means of closing, during the +year, from forty to fifty saloons. Also, if the organization +had not made their petition to the board, they +would, undoubtedly, have gone on and licensed all +applicants, as former excise boards had done.</p> + +<p>Soon after our annual meeting, March 18th, 1875, +our Union decided to furnish hot coffee to firemen on +duty. A committee was appointed to confer with the +Chief Engineer of the Fire Department in reference +to the work. A courteous reply was received from +that officer, in which he stated it to be his opinion “that +the proposed effort would not only advance the cause +of temperance, but elevate the standing of the fire +department.” The firemen have proved true friends +of our organization; and though there have been +many obstacles to overcome, we have great reason +to feel that much good has been done in this direction. +Besides our regular Monday afternoon prayer-meetings, +and gospel temperance meetings, we have meetings +for the children, and a Band of Hope connected +with the Union numbers 230.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Mrs. Cyrenus Wheeler</span>, Pres’t. +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Charlotte T. L. Smith</span>, Rec. Sec’y.</p> + + +<h3 id="PLATTSBURG_NEW_YORK"> + PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>Fanny D. Hall reports:</p> + +<p>The Plattsburg Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union was established March 14th, 1874. The attendance +was large at first. At present our numbers are +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">[Pg 513]</span>small, but the few have been constant workers. The +influence emanating from the Union has had, and is +having a decided effect upon public opinion, changing +the aspects of the temperance cause.</p> + +<p>We feel that time <i>only</i> is needed for the community +to show the power of prayerful, earnest Christian +work. A union prayer-meeting, under the auspices +of this society, was formed, in which the churches +joined.</p> + +<p>Sabbath and Wednesday afternoon prayer-meetings +have been regularly maintained by the ladies. In the +autumn of 1875 a converted saloon-keeper offered +his bar-room one evening in the week, for a prayer-meeting, +under the care of the Union, which has been +continued to the present time.</p> + +<p>Our juvenile association, “The Plattsburg Temperance +Guards,” was organized in October, 1874. It +has enrolled some 800 boys as members. A meeting +of the guards is held every three months in the court-house, +in which the exercises are varied by music and +speeches, followed by refreshments.</p> + +<p>It has been the custom of ladies to attend all +the meetings of the excise board. To this we attribute +influences most favorable to the work. The +saloons have been quietly visited by members of the +Union, for individual appeals.</p> + +<p>Before the election of excise commissioners, the +ladies, with the aid of the ladies of the Good Templars, +canvassed the entire town, giving opportunity +for earnest Christian temperance work.</p> + +<p>A legal committee of the Union has also been able +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">[Pg 514]</span>to bring cases of violation of law before our juries, +and although much that we could wish has not been +accomplished, still good has been done in this field. +Our stronghold of hope is <i>prayer</i>, but we feel and +know the Lord has been with us in all these departments +of temperance work.</p> + +<p>We have sustained, since 1874, a temperance +column in the <i>Plattsburg Republican</i>, which has been +freely accorded to us.</p> + + +<h3 id="ALBANY_NEW_YORK"> + ALBANY, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Nye for the following facts:</p> + +<p>Our first temperance prayer-meeting was held +weekly, in 1873, in a private parlor, three present. +We soon adjourned to a church prayer-room, but our +numbers were small. In August, 1873, a society was +organized, known as the “Woman’s Temperance +Union of Albany.” Our prayer-meetings were held +twice every week.</p> + +<p>In January, 1874, we were invited to hold meetings +in the City Mission rooms, No. 40 State street, at +which time two of our number became responsible for +a daily meeting. The faithful few were greatly encouraged +by the goodly number that gathered daily, and +from among those we most desired to reach. During +three months, about two hundred names were enrolled +on our pledge. Among these were a large number +of conversions, including some from the very lowest +depths of intemperance, who to-day are first and foremost +in the cause of temperance.</p> + +<p>Five or six ladies prayed earnestly that the work +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">[Pg 515]</span>might be enlarged, and we be fitted for the work. A +door of entrance came, and a place formerly occupied +as a machine shop, located in the rear of the theatre, +on William street, was secured. There was not one +cent in the treasury. The day came when money +must be paid; and that morning, after asking at the +family altar that God would supply our need, when +about to leave the house of a dear sister, a note was +placed in our hands, written that morning by one of +His chosen ones, a Swedish lady, who had been spending +a few days in the city, enclosing the desired amount, +saying, “Please accept of my mite, with prayers for +your success.” From that time, with the want has +also come the supply, even to the furnishing of our +rooms with everything to make them both comfortable +and attractive.</p> + +<p>The first of May we rented the entire building for +lodging and eating purposes; and though we had +nothing with which to furnish, in one month it had the +appearance of a pleasant, comfortable home; and here +a large number have been cared for when they most +needed help and Christian sympathy. Since the first +of May, one hundred have received food and lodging, +and have thus been brought under the power of the +gospel.</p> + +<p>A midday meeting has been opened recently, and is +increasing in interest and numbers. This is sustained +mostly by reformed men. Many young men who were +this time last year spending their time and money +in drinking-saloons and drunken brawls, are now +“clothed and in their right minds,” and spend nearly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">[Pg 516]</span>every night in our meetings, saying it is the best place +they ever knew.</p> + +<p>Testimonies like the following are often heard: “I +bless God for this mission. I have been tempted +beyond what I was able to bear, and had I not come +in and stayed all day in this room, I do not know where +I should have been to-day. I thank God for putting +it into the hearts of these Christian women to open +these rooms for a refuge for such as I. And these +meetings have been a great blessing to me.”</p> + +<p>Another says: “I have been one of the most wicked +young men in Albany, and my friends thought I could +not be saved. And I thought so too. But through +the efforts of this mission, I am a saved man.”</p> + +<p>Saloons have not been left unvisited; and those who +were once dealing out the accursed draught, thank +God, to-day have found a better way. Our room for +meetings has been enlarged three times. Recently a +glorious temperance revival has prevailed, reaching all +classes, which has stirred the community, and encouraged +all Christian hearts.</p> + + +<h3 id="SYRACUSE_NEW_YORK"> + SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Allen Butler, President of the State Union, +furnishes the following facts:</p> + +<p>When reports of the wonderful work for temperance +being done at the West reached our city, the inquiry +began to be made. If there was not something of the +kind needed here. After due deliberation a Woman’s +Temperance Union was formed in March, 1874. The +city was districted, and canvassed with petitions and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">[Pg 517]</span>pledges. The city authorities, board of excise, ministers, +physicians, druggists, grocers, and landlords were visited, +petitioned, and entreated, and as many as possible +pledged, not to participate in, or countenance the +traffic in intoxicating liquors in any way. An immense +amount of work was done in a few months, with but +little apparent success. The prayer-meetings were +continued during the summer, and in the early autumn. +Prayer-meetings were established in desolate parts of +the city, and food distributed. A suitable building was +secured, and a Friendly Inn opened in sight of thirty +saloons, to counteract influences. It was opened on +the 8th of July, 1875, with pleasant company, attractive +music, and sacred song; things so in contrast with the +neighborhood, that every passer-by was attracted, and +led to inquire what was going on. The opening was +auspicious, and for three months the place was thronged +to its utmost capacity every evening, to join in the +gospel temperance meetings, and hear the wonderful +experiences there related. From the first day, new +trophies were won.</p> + +<p>More recently the reformed men’s movement has +swept over our city, and 2,500 have signed the pledge; +and 1,300 have united with the Reform Club, and 200 +have been added to the Young Men’s Temperance +Union, which was already strong.</p> + +<p>A cold water army was organized in 1875, and the +work is still well sustained.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_518">[Pg 518]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="ROCHESTER_NEW_YORK"> + ROCHESTER, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. S. J. Vosburgh gives the following account of +the work in Rochester:</p> + +<p>The Women’s Temperance Crusade in Rochester +began about the middle of March, 1874, by the appointment +of a committee of four ladies, who were to +confer with the pastors of all the city churches and +secure their co-operation in the work. This committee +did their work so well, and the public mind was so +fully prepared for the movement, that in a few days a +Woman’s Temperance Union was formed, which soon +increased to 500 members, representing nearly every +church in the city.</p> + +<p>Two very large mass-meetings were held, and many +smaller meetings in various places. Temperance sermons +were preached in nearly all the churches, and +the entire city, with all the region round about, became +aroused upon the subject. The liquor-sellers were +very uneasy, and a few at this time gave up the business +voluntarily. On the first Monday in May there +was an enthusiastic morning meeting held at the Central +Presbyterian Church, and about 200 ladies went +in procession from that place to the court-house, where +the excise board were to meet for the granting of +licenses.</p> + +<p>These morning meetings continued for two weeks +or more, the time being given mostly to prayer. The +numbers increased, so that the commissioners adjourned +to the city hall, as the council chamber, in which they +first assembled, was quite too small. At these meetings +remonstrances against the granting of licenses were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_519">[Pg 519]</span>read every morning, and the same were published by +the <i>Daily Press</i>; causing many to see the evils of the +traffic who had hitherto thought but little about it.</p> + +<p>The liquor-sellers and manufacturers, with some of +their sympathizers, had also formed a Union entitled +“The Society for the Protection of Personal and Religious +Liberty.” The word religious was, however, +soon dropped, as being inappropriate. This society +was very active, held frequent meetings, and, it was +said, had raised $10,000 to carry on their work.</p> + +<p>During the second week of the month of May, after +the ladies had marched in procession, as usual, to the +court-house, preceded by a few of the pastors and other +temperance men, a large number of the liquor-sellers, +led by some of the officers of their society, appeared +before the Excise Commissioners, with a petition, signed, +as they claimed, by 6,000 citizens and voters, asking +that licenses for the sale of liquors be granted as +usual. It was ascertained, upon examination, that this +immense petition was made up largely of forged signatures, +among which were not only the names of some +of our best temperance men, but some dignitaries from +abroad were added to swell the list; among these we +remember was the wife of the Mormon prophet, +Brigham Young, and some who for many years had +been in the spirit world.</p> + +<p>When this unlooked-for examination revealed the +fraud, the better class of their number seemed a little +ashamed, as might have been expected.</p> + +<p>Political influence was mightiest on their side, +however, and licenses were soon granted just as +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_520">[Pg 520]</span>freely as before, though action had been stayed for +weeks.</p> + +<p>There is at present a growing public sentiment +against the liquor traffic, and the better class of our +citizens, especially the Christian men and women, are +arraying themselves on the side of temperance. The +women, too, are thinking and acting more intelligently +and effectively for this cause than in the past.</p> + +<p>There are now in our city two large and well-conducted +lunch houses, each under the direction of a +board of managers, composed of temperance ladies, +besides a number of smaller establishments of the same +class owned and controlled by individuals.</p> + +<p>A Reform Club was organized about a year since, +and more recently a Temperance Aid Society of ladies, +whose work is especially to further the interest of the +Reform Club, and to visit the families of intemperate +men.</p> + +<p>A Christian Temperance Union, composed of +Christian men and women, has also been organized +recently, and these are already doing a good work.</p> + +<p>These are all the outgrowth of the Crusade.</p> + + +<h3 id="OSWEGO_NEW_YORK"> + OSWEGO, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>I have received the following facts from officers of +the society:</p> + +<p>We organized March, 1874, with about thirty members. +Held our meetings in the different churches, +one month in each, wishing them to be thorough union, +feeling that we must have a united sisterhood to face +the dark shadow which seemed to be coming nearer +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_521">[Pg 521]</span>and nearer, throwing its shade either directly or indirectly +into almost every home.</p> + +<p>About this time we canvassed the city with the +pledge, with good results.</p> + +<p>Our work was persistent and earnest with the +saloon-keepers, city authorities, and wherever God +seemed to show an open door.</p> + +<p>Committees were appointed to inspect the applications +made for license, and it was found that a majority +of them were granted illegally, and having found who +the men were who signed these applications, and were +willing thus to encourage the traffic, our work was +then with them, to try, if it were possible, to persuade +them never to sign another application. And great +was the surprise and shame of many who found that +what they had done in secret had been brought to the +light, and many promises were given that the like +should not be repeated.</p> + +<p>We organized a Woman’s Temperance Prayer-Meeting +on Water street, led by women, yet calling +in the aid of Christian men.</p> + +<p>The fact that a few Christian women were meeting +twice a week for prayer, had its effect upon the +community.</p> + +<p>We endeavored to look after the poor suffering +ones all around, keeping our eye on the one object—Christ +and His work; feeling that it was just that +which brought Him down to us, to raise the fallen. +Some of the crosses were very heavy, the greatest, +perhaps, of all our life-work, February 1st, 1875.</p> + +<p>“Four, ladies only, were present at our meeting; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_522">[Pg 522]</span>very earnest prayers were offered for direction and +help, and especially that some influence might be +brought to bear upon the hearts of Christian people, +to awaken them to duty, with regard to temperance +work. We were not wholly discouraged, for we felt +that with <i>God</i> on our side, <i>one</i> was a majority.”</p> + +<p>Before our next meeting, two reformed men, Frost +and McKelvey, had come to our city ready to work; +they hardly knew why they came, for no one had +asked them, and they had been told not to come, as +they could do nothing here. But some of us felt that +we knew how it came about, and as the work seemed +to take shape, Christian men said, this is the result of +the prayers of the faithful few.</p> + +<p>On and on went the work, until over two thousand +signed the pledge, while our own numbers were +greatly increased. A Reform Club was organized, +with a reformed lawyer as president.</p> + +<p>One of the saloon-keepers put up a long sign, black +letters on white cloth, that could be read two blocks +off: 20,000 <i>men wanted to drink</i> 20,000 <i>glasses of lager +beer</i>! It was too much for us to endure, and a committee +of two ladies was appointed to visit him; we +prepared a paper for him to read, and went in the +strength of the Master, gave him the paper, and while +he read we prayed, silently, yet earnestly. At first, he +seemed quite indignant, closed the paper and passed +it back; I did not take it (wished him to keep it). God +seemed to <i>shut</i> our mouths. While he talked, the +perspiration covered his face and neck, he wiping until +his handkerchief was thoroughly drenched. When he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_523">[Pg 523]</span>had said all he had to say, he dropped into a chair behind +him; then our lips were unsealed; he was melted, +promised to take down his sign, and leave the business +as soon as his lease was out. He is now a member +of the Reform Club.</p> + +<p>We came from that saloon, saying to ourselves and +each other, “O ye of little faith.”</p> + +<p>You can imagine the feelings of the heart of his +faithful wife, as she rose in the weekly prayer-meeting +of her own church, after the happy event in which all +rejoiced: said she, “My husband has signed the pledge, +and I want you all to pray for him; nay,” said she, “I +<i>demand</i> it.” Do you wonder at her earnestness?</p> + +<p>May 20th, a committee of our ladies, in connection +with a committee of gentlemen, began to cast about +for rooms to accommodate this wonderful work. It +was soon done. On Washington’s birthday, February +22d, we met in our new reading-room.</p> + +<p>We dedicated those rooms not only to temperance, +but to Christ and His work, for it is all one.</p> + +<p>Our Woman’s Christian Temperance Union now +numbers about one hundred and fifty; and our motto +is, “More earnest work for the Master.”</p> + +<p>One of the first fruits of the reform movement was +the conversion of a young man, son of a prominent +clergyman of the State, and former pastor of one of +the churches of this city. This young man, the child +of many prayers and much solicitude, had, in spite of +all, led a very intemperate and wayward life, setting +at nought his father’s counsels, and treating with scorn +his mother’s prayers. His own confession is, that +during the temperance work he attended one of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_524">[Pg 524]</span>Sunday services, and, for the first time in his life, went +with the settled determination to be benefited, the +Spirit of God met him, and for days he struggled with +the adversary. Finally, at a public meeting, where +hundreds were gathered, and among them many of his +boon companions, he, in response to a call for short +speeches, said, “My friends, the devil has beaten me +long enough, and now I am determined to beat him, +not only on the whiskey question, but, God helping me, +I mean to beat him on sin of all kinds, and from this +time forth to live not only a temperate but a Christian +life.” This was a great surprise to his many friends, +and for the avowal, light soon broke into his soul, and +he became a joyful believer. The wires carried the +happy news to his parents, the mails carried the particulars; +but the old father and mother wanted to see +their son, in whom the Lord had wrought this mighty +work. He visited them, carrying the temperance +spark with him.</p> + +<p>At his suggestion a temperance meeting was called. +Speakers failed him, but he was not discouraged. +With the local help he had, he went on with the work, +speaking himself with the eloquence the love of God +and the perishing inspired him; and in less than two +months from the time he became a converted temperance +man, he had organized a reform club of over six +hundred members. When he returned home, he left, +as its president, a man who had been a confirmed +drunkard for over thirty years. Among the members +was nearly every drunkard in the town.</p> + +<p>Behold how great things the Lord hath done!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_525">[Pg 525]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="HORNELLSVILLE_NEW_YORK"> + HORNELLSVILLE, NEW YORK +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Ransom Sheldon gives the following account +of the work in this town:</p> + +<p>Hornellsville, a railroad town on the Erie Railway, +with a population of between eight and nine thousand, +with its five churches, none of them blessed with a +large membership, with but few pronounced and outspoken +Christian people, was cursed with eighty-six +saloons and places where they sold liquor. Prominent +wealthy business men were none of them temperance +men. Young men starting in life had few correct +examples of living placed before them. Society was +gay, and the wine cup flowed freely, when the Woman’s +Crusade movement found its way to Hornellsville. +By obtaining a few names, a meeting was called. Our +business men were so afraid to be identified, that we +failed in our first selection of chairman, which was the +President of our village. Our clergy, to their honor +be it spoken, stood out pronounced temperance men. +The women were organized for work, the town canvassed +for pledges, and all-day meeting was held, in +which the reports were brought in with rejoicing and +cheering. Three thousand women, fifteen hundred +voters, and four hundred minors signed the pledge as +the result of this effort.</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Temperance Prayer-Meeting was organized +and well sustained; public opinion in favor of +temperance was created; and much good was accomplished. +Different lecturers were employed, and +various means adopted to sustain the interest.</p> + +<p>When our efforts seemed not to avail, we had recourse +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_526">[Pg 526]</span>to law, and six hundred dollars in fines was +saved to the county by prosecuting violations of law. +This plan was followed for one year, a man being hired +whose business it was to work up cases, present them +at court, and follow them through.</p> + +<p>Last winter we were blessed with a special outpouring +of the Holy Spirit, and our woman’s meeting felt its +influence, and we were moved to pray especially that a +man adapted to temperance work might be sent to us. +Our railroad men, who went to Salamanca, returned +with accounts of the wonderful good John R. Clark +was accomplishing In Salamanca, Bradford, and other +places. Mr. Clark came to Hornellsville for a four +days’ meeting. The ladies secured the Opera House. +The weather was most unfavorable. A large audience, +however, gathered. When the opportunity was +given to sign the pledge, a great rush was immediately +made.</p> + +<p>The morning prayer-meetings were continued, and +many who signed the pledge at night came into the +meeting in the morning, and were converted. It was +a glorious time. The whole community were never +before so stirred. Young men, old men, all classes +and conditions felt its influence. Temperance principles +were advocated by men who had always advocated +and practised intemperance. Some saloons +were closed, and the liquor business was much crippled. +Temperance lecturers came to the front from +among our lawyers and editors, and outside towns +were visited and canvassed for pledges. The greatest +evidence of good accomplished was manifest in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_527">[Pg 527]</span>late strike on the Erie Railroad, when for nearly a +week our town was under martial law, and a drunken +man was not to be seen, and law and good order +prevailed to a degree not before realized.</p> + +<p>The temperance work in Hornellsville has accomplished +great results in saving our community from +many evils, and has blessed many homes. There still +remaineth, however, much land to be possessed. One +blessed result of this effort has been the saving of +Hon. Horace Bemis, an eminent lawyer, who has given +his fine talents as a lecturer to the cause, and western +New York and northern Pennsylvania have felt his +influence as an inspiration.</p> + + +<h3 id="UTICA_NEW_YORK"> + UTICA, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. D. E. Stevens furnishes the following facts:</p> + +<p>The Crusade work in the city of Utica, unobtrusively +as it has been done, was the origin of our present +organization and success in the temperance cause. +Mrs. M. M. Northrop, upon whom this fell most +heavily, was probably the first to do real Crusade +work, a woman known for her good deeds among the +poor. She says when the news first reached her of +the Ohio Crusade, a strange feeling came over her, +that caused her to betake herself to prayer—to very +earnest prayer. The subject was so constantly before +her mind that she was compelled to speak to all whom +she met on the subject of temperance. Finding no +sympathy, she felt alone in the work, and could only +cry mightily to God for help, who seemed to hold her +responsible for this great service in her own city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_528">[Pg 528]</span></p> + +<p>After a little, she found a good Christian sister, in +whose heart there was a response for this work (Mrs. +T—— by name). Together, she and Mrs. T—— +visited saloon after saloon, urging the saloon-keepers +to leave off the terrible traffic; singing in each place +as they went.</p> + +<p>In one instance they met, as keeper of a saloon, a +woman of ill-fame, upon whom the singing had a powerful +effect. She wept and kept hold of Mrs. Northrop’s +hands, as though she could not let her go, following +her to the door with streaming eyes.</p> + +<p>In another, God had preceded them, and the saloon-keeper +owned his dislike for the business; and told +them of the daughters of church members who came +there to drink (it being a little out of the city), and +then went near by to a house of ill-fame. They +sought them there, but could not find them. This +saloon-keeper promised and did give up his business, +and became, not long after, a member of a Christian +church.</p> + +<p>The spirit of indifference that pervaded the hearts +of Christians on this subject seemed terrible to Mrs. +Northrop; as she walked the streets, the burden +grew so heavy upon her she groaned aloud. Meeting +a Christian sister one day, a lady of wide influence, +the lady accosted her with, “Well, Mrs. Northrop, +how does the temperance work go on?” “Poorly, +Mrs. B——, very poorly. Were all who profess an +interest in temperance <i>consecrated</i> workers, the work +would go on, and if some one does not take up this +cause and help to carry it forward, I believe this burden +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_529">[Pg 529]</span>will crush me.” Mrs. B—— looked up in her face, +apparently astonished. Said she, “Well, perhaps the +burden has got to come over on to me.” And it did. +Through this woman the door was opened to a grand +temperance rally in this city. Ready hearts were +found, who met weekly at the cross, until the Spirit +of the Lord fell upon them likewise. To us the work +seems but just begun, although we have some 2,000 +signers to the pledge, and over 500 members to the +club who wear the blue ribbon.</p> + +<p>We look to God, believing that his power <i>alone</i> can +accomplish this work. We are but the willing instruments +in his hands, to serve or to sit still at his bidding.</p> + +<p>One of our most faithful workers in the Crusade, +Mrs. M. A. Patterson, whose age is sixty-two years, is +a woman who has suffered greatly from the terrible +curse of intemperance. Her husband, once in the +habit of drinking, is now a reformed and Christian +man. Her two sons, drunkards, one supposed to be +hopelessly lost, are both of them now members of our +Reform Club, and thus far faithful to their vows.</p> + +<p>Suffering so greatly herself, Mrs. Patterson was +exercised in an unusual manner, not only for her own +sons and husband, but for the sons and husbands of +other mothers and wives. “O,” said she, “how I +have prayed, and wrestled with God in prayer; night +after night I have walked the floor, weeping and praying, +watching for the unsteady footsteps of my boys. +Yes, and sometimes I have spent whole nights on my +knees, till the morning shone in upon me, praying that +God would send some one, or raise up some person +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_530">[Pg 530]</span>or persons who would help to do away with this terrible +curse. How I have prayed and wrestled for our +city! I have gone from saloon to saloon, trying to +persuade them to stop selling this accursed stuff. And +then again I have shrunk back and thought, I am like +Jonah fleeing away from the work God had called me +to do, so I went on again, trying to do my best.</p> + +<p>“At one time I went to a saloon, where they had +drawn in my boys, where they were dealing out death +to them, and I found the saloon-keeper’s wife standing +behind the bar dealing out liquor, and I said to +her: ‘Can you, a mother, deal out death and hell to +my boys, and the sons of other mothers? Would you +like it to have me deal out poison to <i>your</i> sons? +What would you think of <i>me</i>, or any <i>other</i> mother, to +do that to <i>yours</i>? and yet you are doing it to mine.’</p> + +<p>“Said the saloon-woman: ‘Do not talk thus to me. +Do not talk to me.’</p> + +<p>“‘Shall not I, a mother, whose heart is wrung with +anguish, speak to you? I tell you <i>God</i> will yet speak +to you, in <i>thunder</i> tones, if you do not desist. I have +not come to blame, nor to reproach, but to <i>pray</i> you +to give up selling this accursed rum.’”</p> + +<p>And then, with hands clasped to heaven, she +prayed: “How long, O God, how long, shall we +mothers pray and weep and lament for our sons? +How long shall our hearts be wrung with bitter +anguish? How long shall this terrible curse be <i>forced</i> +upon us, and we lie powerless before this foe?”</p> + +<p>And thus she poured forth her woe in prayer. She +was driven from the saloon by the woman behind the +bar.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_531">[Pg 531]</span></p> + +<p>She has been so worn with her griefs, that I had +supposed her to be nearly eighty years of age. Her +voice sounds like a song of prayer. She would gladly +go from saloon to saloon, to-day, on her knees, she +says, if in this wise she could do away with this abominable +evil that is cursing our city. Her zeal is in nowise +slackened by the salvation of her husband and +sons, and her “Glory to God in the highest” is like a +Te Deum.</p> + + +<h3 id="ROME_NEW_YORK"> + ROME, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. R. M. Bingham for the following +report:</p> + +<p>The reports of the wonderful revival of the temperance +work in the West, a little more than three years +ago, inspired the friends of the cause in this place to +hope that something might be done in our city.</p> + +<p>About forty ladies responded to the first call for +workers.</p> + +<p>A daily meeting for prayer and counsel was inaugurated. +These meetings have been characterized by +earnest and prayerful enthusiasm, prompted by a genuine +dependence on God, and faith in His promises. +The efforts made to stay the tide of intemperance, or +to interpose any obstacle to its progress, revealed the +great power of the foe with which we had to cope, and +the strength of its intrenchments. It could count +among its allies Christian men not a few, and its supporters +were to be found in the temples of law and justice. +So potent was its influence that all branches of +trade and business were more or less bound by its fetters. +In our helplessness we cried to God, and our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_532">[Pg 532]</span>hearts went out in greater love for the guilty as well +as the suffering ones.</p> + +<p>Frequent mass-meetings were held in the churches +and other public places.</p> + +<p>The city was canvassed, and over a thousand women +gave their names, pledging themselves to do what they +could to promote the cause of temperance, and we +think the moral power cannot be estimated, of this +large number of women, each acting conscientiously in +her own family and sphere of influence. A committee +of ladies was appointed to ask the gentlemen of the +Board of Excise to grant no licenses; and if we did +fail to see our hearts’ desire accomplished, we are glad +those prayers and tearful appeals stand as our protest +against the monster evil.</p> + +<p>Much faithful labor has been done in circulating the +pledge, and many have been induced to sign it, and +have been rescued from a drunkard’s disgrace and a +drunkard’s grave.</p> + +<p>One only we will mention—Joseph Higgins, the +blacksmith: a most wonderful example of the power +of God, in removing all appetite for intoxicants, after +their use for many years. He is doing much for the +salvation of others. We can but exclaim, “What hath +God wrought!”</p> + +<p>In 1876, the temperance ladies made a centennial +offering to the city, of four drinking-fountains, valued +at $450.</p> + +<p>Children’s meetings have been held, and a large +number have signed the pledge.</p> + +<p>We see indications of the improvement, and strengthening +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_533">[Pg 533]</span>of the temperance sentiment of the city. We +believe the so-called “<i>respectability</i>” of liquor-selling +has diminished—that fewer persons offer wine on New +Year’s day, and other special occasions, than formerly. +A number of suffering wives of drunkards have recovered +damages from the liquor-seller under the civil +damage act. And not the least of the good results of +our work is the increase of Christian fellowship in the +different churches of our city.</p> + +<p>The hearts of the workers have been united, and we +have not thought of denominational differences in our +work of love. And, although but a small part of what +we had hoped has been accomplished, we do not feel +discouraged or inclined to cease our efforts in this +great work. “In God we trust,” and with Him <i>for</i> us, +<i>who</i> can be against us?</p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_YORK_CITY"> + NEW YORK CITY. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Helen E. Brown, for the +following able report of the work in this city:</p> + +<p>From the first blast of the trumpet borne to our +ears across the Alleghenies, calling the daughters of +Zion to the holy war, there were found hearts in New +York city thrilling with sympathy, and eager to enter +the work. How it was to be done, what shape it +would take in the metropolis, could not at first be seen; +but devoted Christian women gave themselves to the +Lord with a solemn consecration, promising to do +whatever he should direct. He would surely make the +way plain, and though they could see but one step at +a time, that one step they decided to take just as soon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_534">[Pg 534]</span>as it was made visible. The first thing naturally was +to assemble for prayer.</p> + +<p>In the month of March, 1874, one of our sisters was +on her way to a prayer-meeting, and waited at the +corner of the street for a car. The corner store was +a liquor-saloon, and as she stood there, she thought +of the many, many similar places in the city where the +deadly poison was dealt out to her fellow-creatures, +and her heart went up in prayer that God would seal +up these fountains of iniquity. Just then the proprietor +of the store appeared, and seeing the woman’s +thoughtful attitude, he said to her, “Are you one of +the temperance crusaders?” He had evidently been +reading the exciting reports with which the daily papers +were filled. The question seemed to her of the Lord, +and she instantly replied, “I am.” “Won’t you come +in, then? you’re welcome,” said he. The sister, feeling +that it was not wise to make the visit alone, replied, +“I am on an errand now to another part of the city; +when I return, I will call.” She went to the meeting, +which was one of a series of holiness meetings then in +progress in the Seventeenth Street M. E. Church, +Rev. Mr. Boole’s, and there related the circumstance, +and begged that some one would give herself to the +Lord for this service, and accompany her on this visit. +Two ladies volunteered, and they went out, followed +by the earnest prayers of the assembly. The Lord +went with them. They were greatly blessed in their +visit, and there is reason to believe that great good in +several ways followed. Thus the work was inaugurated +in the city.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_535">[Pg 535]</span></p> + +<p>A praying band was at once formed in that church, +and, simultaneously, in different sections of the city, +and saloon work was undertaken in earnest. This was +done quietly, the sisters going in twos and threes, +always presenting the gospel message, praying and +singing whenever permission could be obtained, and +leaving tracts, papers and printed invitations to prayer-meetings. +Many hundreds of saloons were thus visited, +and incidents of the most interesting character occurred. +Saloons were shut up, and rum-sellers converted, who +stand now in the church of Christ, monuments of his +saving power.</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was +organized in April. It was brought about by the +clerical committee formed by the National Temperance +Society to consider the general subject, and was +intended to bring together the working element of +all the churches. There was not, however, a very +prompt response to this call. One and another began +to make excuse, and the result was that we had at no +time more than thirty active members, and as we began +operations at the very close of the working season, +our numbers were soon greatly reduced. A daily +prayer-meeting was sustained, however, through the +entire season, and was always as a well in the valley +of Baca. The Lord never failed to refresh our souls, +and our love for one another, our faith in God, and our +devotion to the cause steadily increased.</p> + +<p>At the first a committee was appointed to visit the +clergymen of the city, and ascertain to what extent we +might expect their co-operation. Here unexpected +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_536">[Pg 536]</span>disappointment met us. We found every denomination +more or less apathetic, the ministry indifferent or faithless, +and in the membership a deplorable lack of principle. +It was a sad revelation, but it taught us this lesson, +that temperance work was needed in the church as +well as out of it. How should it be done? To the +Lord we went in our trouble.</p> + +<p>A series of Sunday evening meetings was commenced +in the churches, wherever admission could be +obtained. There were some noble champions of the +cause, who were always ready to open their doors, and +to aid us to their utmost ability. They encouraged +and counselled. It was thought best from the first +that the women should plead their own cause, and +with the Lord’s help they were enabled to do it. +Though unaccustomed to service of this kind, it was +undertaken in obedience to the Divine call, and the +effort was greatly blessed.</p> + +<p>Another committee was appointed to visit the Excise +Board. This interview gave us a still clearer +insight into the vastness of the work upon which we +had entered. We were advised to a double course +of duty: on the one side to exert ourselves to create +a public opinion in favor of temperance; and on the +other, to take immediate measures to prosecute the +liquor-dealers for violation of the license and Sabbath +laws. But, after prayerful consideration, we decided +to waive the legal work and go forward on the gospel +principles of “love, persuasion and prayer.” We +hoped much from our public meetings, believing that +our Christian brothers would be aroused to participate +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_537">[Pg 537]</span>in the work, and to do that which was beyond +our reach. But our surest hope was in the power of +prayer. “Ask, believe, receive,” was our motto. +Like the stripling David of old, we went forth in the +name of the Lord of hosts to meet the giant.</p> + +<p>When the city churches were closed for the summer, +and the congregations were dispersed, we asked the +Lord what he would have us do; and the way was +opened in a remarkable manner, for work among +inebriates. This was prosecuted with untiring ardor, +by the few workers left behind in the city. The +prisons, hospitals, and charitable institutions of the +city, which were mainly filled with the victims of the +cup, were visited, and the gospel of God’s free grace +presented. Industrial and mission schools too were +instructed often, and thoroughly in the truths of temperance +and salvation. Much faithful effort was put +forth, and with good results. Souls were saved; but, +perhaps, better than all the workers were themselves +enriched with an experience which proved invaluable +in their after labors.</p> + +<p>During the summer of 1874, our first gospel temperance +meeting was established, in one of the most +desperately wicked localities of the city; and from its +beginning, we had the most wonderful manifestations +of God’s power to save. We were surrounded by +dance-houses of the worst description, and wedged +in between two of the vilest dens of the city. We +followed prayer with work; and public meetings were +held, statedly, on Sunday evening, with weekly visitations +in this godless section of the city. It was with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_538">[Pg 538]</span>fear and trembling, but with earnest prayer and simple +trust, we entered these wretched bucket-shops, where +men and women were crowded together in every stage +of beastly intoxication.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, three of us went together to a +corner shop of the most notorious character. About +twenty women were huddled together in one corner; +vile, disfigured, clad in filthy rags, and presenting an +appearance to melt the hardest heart. To think that +woman could fall so low—so low! Could such as +these be saved? But they were silent and respectful, +with the exception of one brawler, who was soon +shamed by the bar-tender’s reproachful thrust: “If the +like of these ladies come to see yez, ye can, at least, +hear what they have to say to yez.” “There’s worse +than we here,” they said; after a few words had been +spoken to one and another, and opening a door they +pointed the way into a small, dark, inner room, the +air stifling and fetid with liquor. One poor drunken +wretch stood in the centre of this apartment, and on +the floor and settees around it were twelve others, +sleeping the heavy sleep of a drunkard. We were +almost overcome by the appalling sight; but in a +moment, as if it were the rally of our faith, we raised +the beautiful hymn</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“God loved the world of sinners lost</div> + <div class="verse indent2">And ruined by the fall;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Salvation full at highest cost,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">He offers free to all.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Oh, ’twas love, ’twas wondrous love,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The love of God to me;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">It brought my Saviour from above,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To die on Calvary.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_539">[Pg 539]</span></p> + +<p>We had not sung two lines before every head, one +after another, had come up with a wondering expression; +then the big tears began to fall, and by the time +we had finished the strain, the sobs and groans were +pitiful to hear. Then we prayed for that uttermost +salvation of Jesus, that His mighty love might rescue +some of these poor fallen ones from the jaws of hell. +As we went outside they followed us with staggering +steps, and one poor marred, wretched woman drew +near, and asked, with trembling lips, “Won’t you sing +‘Whiter than snow?’” Those words, seemingly so +incongruous in that dark place, never seemed so +precious, as we sang them with our hearts resting on +the promise, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they +shall be white as snow.”</p> + +<p>Several girls followed us that day to homes of safety, +which we were able to provide for them in institutions +and refuges in the city. One of them, at least, was +saved. We heard her afterwards give her simple, triumphant +testimony to the power of Jesus, to which +she added: “Oh, how I wish I had a voice to reach from +here to Water street, that I might tell every poor girl +there that Jesus can save her, too, and wash her whiter +than snow in His precious blood.”</p> + +<p>In the fall the campaign opened vigorously. Gospel +meetings in the churches and in the slums, in the +city and the towns outside, were diligently held. Interest +seemed rising, and efforts were put forth in +various parts of the city to put down the traffic and +lift up the drunkard by the power of the gospel. The +daily prayer-meeting was still sustained, and at our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_540">[Pg 540]</span>first annual meeting we had only to recount the +mercies of the Lord.</p> + +<p>The second summer was a marked one in the history +of our work in Water street. The vile rum-shop +on one side of the Mission House had been closed in +answer to prayer, and so effectually that the owner of +the property could never re-let it. He determined to +pull down the old building, and replace it with a substantial +warehouse. In the meantime, the chapel was +rendered untenantable, but the meetings must not be +relinquished. They sought and obtained permission +to hold them, for the time being, in the dance-house on +the other side; and there for four months held the fort +in Jesus’ name, and by His grace, with courage and +success.</p> + +<p>In one of the meetings a young woman of modest +appearance, and neatly attired, rose and said: “I have +come here to-night to ask the privilege of signing your +temperance pledge, and to tell you how much good +you have done me. I was living not far from here, in +one of the worst houses, and the first night you opened +I was passing by, and came in, as I had many a time +before, for a drink. I found the bar closed, and this +dance-hall lighted for a meeting. The singing sounded +so sweet I slipped in and sat down on a back seat. +The words you spoke made me cry. When you asked +those who wanted to be saved to stand up for prayer, +I longed to get up, but I couldn’t. But I made up my +mind then that I would lead a better life, and that I +never, never would go back to that wicked home again. +But I had no place to go to, and what could I do? I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_541">[Pg 541]</span>walked the streets for hours, and at last asked a policeman +to send me to the station-house, and he did. +There, in my cell, I kneeled down and cried to the +Lord, and gave Him my heart. The next day I went +out to find a place for honest labor, and the Lord sent +me to a good Christian woman, and I am living with +her now. I mean, with God’s help, to serve Him all +the rest of my days.”</p> + +<p>On that same memorable first evening a young man +staggered into the rum-shop for a drink, was persuaded +to enter the meeting, where he took a draught +of the water of life and was saved. His father and +brother, both addicted to intemperance, subsequently +came to the meetings, and were converted. All three +are now standing on the rock Christ, and are laboring +earnestly in a temperance revival in another city. Incidents +like these, showing the wonders of God’s +mighty love, could be greatly multiplied.</p> + +<p>The next year’s labor of the Union presented some +new features. It was during this year that the hippodrome +was opened for the evangelistic work of Moody +and Sankey in New York. Prior to their coming we +had sent forward a request that one day in each week +might be devoted to temperance. The request was +favorably considered, and Friday was set apart as +temperance day. The members of the Union were +diligent in their co-operation in this gospel work, some +of them devoting their entire time to it. They worked +in the inquiry rooms, visited from house to house, and +did their part to sustain the woman’s meetings, which +were thronged and of thrilling power.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_542">[Pg 542]</span></p> + +<p>During this year also very successful outside labor +was accomplished, members of the Union going out to +other towns, and holding a series of private and public +meetings, through one or two days; organizing the +work and stimulating their sisters. These occasions +were attended with a rich blessing from on high.</p> + +<p>The juvenile work also occupied the attention of +some of our most earnest workers. This has been well +begun, especially among the class of children gathered +into the industrial and mission schools of the city. +Our hope is in the children, and, as far as we have +gone, we find there is no more effectual method of +reaching the homes of the drinking classes than +through the little ones.</p> + +<p>In the fall of 1875 a coffee-house was projected, +and engrossed the Union during the following year. +It did not, however, prove a success as a business +enterprise. It drained our financial resources, failed +to reach the class for whom it was designed, consumed +in secular interests the time and energies of the +workers, and thus unavoidably diverted them, in a +great measure, from the spiritual work to which they +had been devoted. The struggle was continued +through a period of fifteen months, and then was +given up.</p> + +<p>The gospel meetings held at the coffee-house, however, +accomplished much good. Many souls were +hopefully reclaimed from the depths of intemperance, +by the grace of God, some of whom have labored +publicly and diligently in the service of God.</p> + +<p>As we look around from our present standpoint, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_543">[Pg 543]</span>we are assured that the Lord has set his seal of approval +upon the labors and influence of the Woman’s +Christian Temperance Union. We see the increased +attention given to this subject, the rising of public sentiment, +the efforts, though spasmodic and almost farcical, +to put down the traffic, the more positive espousal of the +cause by ministers and churches, the establishment of +gospel temperance meetings on every hand, in the +openness of the people to the truth, and the increased +demand for Christian temperance laborers. All this +we recognize as answer to prayer, and a pleasant foretaste +of what the Lord is ready to do for us.</p> + +<p>“It is useless for the women to do anything here: +New York is a walled city,” said a liquor-dealer to +one of our visitors, in the early days of the Crusade. +And, indeed, we have proved it so; its walls are thick +and high, and to all human force impregnable. First in +the intrenchments are the drunkards, men and women, +standing shoulder to shoulder, not very erect and firm, +it is true, but, supported and filled in by the moderate +drinkers next behind them, every one is a brick well +laid. Then come the domestic and social users and +offerers of beer and wine, next the traffickers, then the +property-holders with their wealth and greed, and +last, but not least, since they afford strength, finish, +and adornment to the defences, stands the Church in +its cold indifference. What a strong wall is this! No +wonder our opponents feel secure behind it; no wonder +human sight discerns no way to overthrow it.</p> + +<p>But the Lord of hosts is with us; the Lord strong +and mighty, and, even in New York, we are not disheartened. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_544">[Pg 544]</span>The multitude on the side of wrong is +immense, but chased by the army of God’s resurrected +ones, must and will flee. The weapons of our warfare +are not carnal but spiritual, and, for that very reason, +will be invincible.</p> + + +<h3 id="BROOKLYN_NEW_YORK"> + BROOKLYN, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, President +of the Brooklyn Union, for the following facts:</p> + +<p>In the month of January, 1874, Mrs. Caroline E. +Ladd, who was chosen to lead a Union Bible Class, +which met weekly in the Friends’ Church, was so +strongly convinced that the time had now come for the +inauguration of a woman’s temperance prayer movement +in this city, that she said she could not consent +again to conduct the exercises of the class unless a +half-hour should be spent in prayer to God for the +success of the temperance cause, now given by Divine +commission to Christian women. Her wishes were +acceded to, and as far as is known, this was the beginning +of the Prayer movement in this city.</p> + +<p>About this time an invitation was given in the Bible +class, by Mrs. Mary A. Wilder, to an afternoon prayer-meeting. +Most of the members accepted. There +came a bestowal of power in answer to prayer in +larger measure than they had ever realized. At times +the Spirit’s manifestations seemed almost to break +their hearts, and found vent in tears; again they were +exultant with the glad tidings of deliverance.</p> + +<p>Miss Hamilton was deeply impressed with this passage +of Scripture; “Ye shall not need to fight.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_545">[Pg 545]</span></p> + +<p>On the 30th of January, an all-day prayer-meeting +was held in the “church on the heights,” by the ladies’ +union prayer-meeting, which was brought into existence +by a mother in Israel, Mrs. S. A. Merrill, who +became one of the most faithful supporters of the +work, and who was beloved by all who knew her. +The meeting was one of spiritual power. The chrism +of the Spirit fell upon many, who afterwards became +workers. The voice said: “Cry,” and souls replied: +“What shall I cry?” It was like children stretching +out their hands for a blessing, not knowing what they +wanted.</p> + +<p>During the month of February, 1874, renewed activities +began in an old temperance society, of which +a number of the ladies were members. In one of +these meetings, held March 13th, as time was being +consumed in passing resolutions, etc., Mrs. Ladd arose +and expressed the wish of most of the ladies present, +to organize a union for the purpose of prayer. Nearly +all the ladies retired to an upper room. A glorious +prayer-meeting followed. The presence of the Spirit +was manifested. The two hours spent together proved +to be a pentecostal season, and faith claimed the +promise, when Miss Hamilton voluntarily read from 2 +Chron. xx. 15, 16, 17: “Be not afraid, or dismayed by +reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not +yours, but God’s.... Ye need not to fight in +this battle; set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the +salvation of the Lord with you. Fear not, nor be +dismayed; to-morrow go ye out against them, for the +Lord will be with you.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_546">[Pg 546]</span></p> + +<p>The next day Mrs. Mary C. Johnson and Mrs. Conkling +called upon the officers of the Y. M. C. A., who +placed their handsome rooms at the disposal of the +ladies, and they have held their daily meetings there, +through all these months and years. On Monday, March +16th, 1874, the first meeting of the Christian Temperance +Union was held; hundreds of earnest men and women +attended, and Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, who was chosen +the leader, presented the seven “Fear Nots” of Isaiah, +41, 43, 44, which became the watchword of the society.</p> + +<p>From this little beginning, smaller, indeed, than a +mustard seed, has sprung a goodly tree, under whose +shadow many weary and tempted ones have found +rest. At the daily meetings requests for prayer were +presented; some of them coming by letter long distances; +and as the work has gone on, this prayer-circle +has extended to the uttermost parts of the +world. Requests coming even from Australia, where +the influence of this meeting has been felt, and led to +the formation of two temperance prayer-meetings.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the most touching request for prayer received +was from a mother, beseeching prayer for nine +sons, all intemperate.</p> + +<p>During the first week of the meeting, the following +remarkable message, telegraphed to the New York +Chamber of Commerce, was read by a gentleman +present:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">Cincinnati, 12.25 P. M.</span> +</p> + +<p>“Provisions stronger—unchanged. The women +Crusaders are singing and praying so loudly and +earnestly in the saloon next to the Chamber of Commerce, +that business is quite demoralized at this hour.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_547">[Pg 547]</span></p> + +<p>This despatch created great enthusiasm. In response +to a call for workers, large numbers volunteered +to go forth to the druggists, licensed grocers, +and saloon-keepers. A prominent saloon-keeper sent +an invitation for the ladies to visit him, and hold a +Sabbath evening prayer-meeting at his saloon. The +invitation was accepted, and twelve ladies were appointed +to attend the meeting. Promptly at seven +o’clock the ladies were at Mr. Myers’ saloon. Fully +three thousand men gathered into the saloon, and +about the doors, and in the street, to see and hear the +ladies, whose zeal and courage had prompted them to +such singular service in the cause of temperance. The +gathering was composed almost exclusively of young +men. Mrs. Chace, who had a singularly rich and +attractive voice, sung,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“There is a gate that stands ajar.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">Prayers and hymns followed, and the Word was read +to an attentive audience; and yet there were those in +that motley throng who came to jest. A spirit of +solemnity pervaded the meeting; numbers signed the +pledge; and God graciously set his seal of approval +upon the effort. Thirteen conversions resulted, and +the liquor-dealer in a few days voluntarily placed the +keys of his saloon in the hands of the ladies, and it was +afterwards opened as a temperance restaurant.</p> + +<p>Sabbath evening saloon meetings followed, and from +this time the call of God to the Union to visit the +saloons, was gladly acknowledged; and it has indeed +been the one secret of the deeply spiritual character +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_548">[Pg 548]</span>of the work, and of the harvest of souls which has +resulted.</p> + +<p>During the first month, the number of young men +attending the three o’clock meeting became so large +that Mrs. F. E. Thomas and Miss Annie J. Ludlow +were led to invite them to a meeting for personal +conversation and prayer. This led to a second daily +prayer-meeting, from five to six o’clock, which is still +continued. The room was filled nightly with the +same changing class, from the jails and saloons, the +gutter and the homes of wealth, all bitten by this +serpent of sin, intemperance; and not a few have been +led to look at the crucified One and live.</p> + +<p>During the year 1875, 1,325 arose for prayers. +Among the number of thrilling histories, but one can +be given: A man under the influence of liquor found +his way into the room, and slept until evening on one +of the settees. At the opening of the meeting, he left +the room, but reappeared at the close, and in a voice +husky with emotion, said, “I have not gone; something +has held me. I have been behind the door, and +have heard all that has been said. Oh, if there is any +hope, pray for me.” A few gathered around him in +prayer. His sad story was this: The son and grandson +of a clergyman, a graduate of a theological seminary, +he had given up his studies because of failing +health, entered business, taken the first social glass, +which in time resulted in his becoming a helpless +victim, and a living sorrow to his wife and four little +ones. The pledge was offered, and with trembling +hand he signed it for three months only, and left us. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_549">[Pg 549]</span>At the expiration of that time the pledge was returned, +and on it these words, “By God’s help I have kept this +pledge, and now renew it for all eternity. I have also +found Christ as my Saviour.”</p> + +<p>The jails were visited; meetings held on shipboard, +in private houses, Naval Chapel, Naval Hospital, +the Inebriate Asylum, the Penitentiary, and Sabbath +meetings at Fort Hamilton. Miss Beatty also held +a meeting at her residence, and Mrs. Chace, for young +men; and the wife of a city alderman was led by a +remarkable providence into a blessed work among a +reckless class of young men.</p> + +<p>The President of the Union, accompanied by a lady +of each of the denominations, visited and addressed the +New York East Conference, Ministerial Union, and +the Baptist Union of Ministers. She also, accompanied +by Mrs. Alderman Richardson, visited the Roman +Catholic Bishop Laughlin, who gave them respectful +hearing, and made special inquiries as to the number +of children they found in the saloons. They were +cordially received by all, and earnest, favorable responses +given.</p> + +<p>When the Brooklyn Union was organized, only a +few churches could be found, whose doors were open +to Christian women who came in the interests of gospel +temperance, but now the majority of Protestant +churches are open to them. The temperance sentiment +among church-going people has been greatly +increased, and as an outgrowth of the Union, a Temperance +Brotherhood has been formed, which has done +a glorious work on the legal line. A flourishing juvenile +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_550">[Pg 550]</span>society has been organized, and well sustained. +A restaurant and friendly inn was opened in the first +saloon that surrendered, and has formed an important +part of the work.</p> + +<p>For the means to carry forward their great work, +they have looked to Him in whose hands is the silver +and the gold, and during these years they have received +and expended $7,739.24.</p> + +<p>The receipts and disbursements of the temperance +restaurants one year was $13,021.69, and 5,000 free +meals and lodgings given.</p> + +<p>A Reform Club has been organized, and those who +remained in Brooklyn gathered into churches, but many +of the men, especially the sailors and officers of vessels, +have gone to other lands. Most encouraging letters +have been received from the Pacific coast, from Yokohama, +Japan, and other distant points.</p> + +<p>The untiring and successful labors in the legal work +of Captain Oliver Cotter, a converted saloon-keeper, +who gave up his business, and has been laboring for +the Master, has resulted in great good. He was one +of their first trophies, and has greatly helped on the +work. When the Union was organized, March, 1874, +there were 3,110 saloons in this city, and their doors +were open on the Sabbath day, bidding defiance to the +Sunday closing law as well as to the sacred day. An +official statement, published after three months of prayer +and labor, showed that 180 of these had been closed—twenty-one +being closed through their direct influence +in three weeks. At the expiration of three +years, <i>one-half of the saloons were closed</i>, and there +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_551">[Pg 551]</span>was no open selling on the Sabbath day. The arrests +for drunkenness in 1875 were 6,810 less than during +the year 1874.</p> + +<p>It is a matter of special thanksgiving to God that +every saloon, without exception, in which the ladies +held saloon prayer-meetings, is closed, and the buildings +devoted to other purposes. Many property-holders now +refuse to rent their buildings for such uses. A liquor-dealer +recently said: “The trade will never revive until +these crazy women cease their persecutions.”</p> + +<p>The work cannot be put into numerical figures. An +army of voices has joined in the great song of redemption; +broken homes have been restored; the morning +of joy has come to many a night-weeping mother; +women have had their dead raised; and the laborers +themselves have seen higher and deeper into the +wonders of a wonder-working God. Friends are +numerous; pastors and churches are now allies; public +sentiment gaining; saloons and institutions open for +work; the enemy trembling; and above all, the hand +of God is visible in the battle.</p> + +<p>The death-angel has come to one of our most gifted +and earnest workers, Mrs. Hannah E. Chace. One who +sat beside her in her last hours writes, “she hoped till +the very last that she might be allowed to work again +for the Master. Her soul was filled with love: ‘I +love you all—<i>everybody</i>;’ she said. After a season of +prayer, in which we had earnestly plead with God to +prolong her life, she looked earnestly into my face, +saying: ‘What does He say?’ I answered, ‘Forever +with the Lord.’ With a sweet smile she responded: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_552">[Pg 552]</span>‘Thy will be done.’ In giving directions for her funeral, +she asked that ‘Forever with the Lord’ might be sung.”</p> + +<p>The officers and earnest workers of this Union were: +Mrs. Mary C. Johnson; Mrs. Caroline E. Ladd; Mrs. +Mary E. Hartt; Miss Albina Hamilton; Mrs. J. Bowman; +Mrs. S. A. Merrill; Mrs. L. D. Oakley; Mrs. +R. L. Wycoff; Mrs. E. Squires; Mrs. H. B. Spellman; +Mrs. K. E. Cleveland; Mrs. Bayless; Mrs. E. L. Conklin; +Mrs. Wilder; Mrs. Watson; Mrs. Field; Mrs. +Thomas; Miss Ludlow; Mrs. Duncklee; Mrs. Allen; +Mrs. Blakely; Mrs. Annie S. Hawkes (author of “I +need Thee every hour”); Miss Lizzie Green; Mrs. +Marinor; Mrs. Harmon; Mrs. Stout; Mrs. Philip Phillips; +Mrs. Holman; Mrs. Crocker; Mrs. Tremaine; +Mrs. Reynolds; Mrs. Goodrich; Mrs. Richardson; Mrs. +Thorn; Mrs. Acker; Mrs. Dr. Bond; Mrs. Swanson; +Mrs. Bartlett; Mrs. Alford; Mrs. Griffing; Mrs. Higley; +Mrs. Tate; Mrs. Hemmenway; Mrs. Hutchins; +Mrs. Ressique; Mrs. Dickinson; Mrs. Trask; Mrs. +Langford Palmer; Mrs. Tilney; Miss M. E. Winslow; +Miss Meacham; Miss Meserole; Miss Greenwood; +Miss Slack; Mrs. Eyer; Mrs. C. F. Ketchum; Mrs. +H. B. Jackson; Mrs. T. W. Ladd.</p> + +<p>In the year 1876, Mrs. Mary C. Johnson, the efficient +and talented President of the Brooklyn Union, visited +Great Britain and Ireland, and spent six months in successful +work in drawing-room and public meetings. +Her efforts to help forward the cause of gospel temperance +were richly blest. She addressed during her +absence 121 audiences, and conducted forty-one prayer-meetings. +Her work was chiefly among the upper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_553">[Pg 553]</span>classes, and her drawing-room and lawn meetings were +attended largely by the nobility. Mrs. Johnson, who +is a cultured Christian lady, was received everywhere +with great attention, and the American women have +reason to be proud of her record abroad, and the +National Union that one of her officers so ably represented +her in the higher circles of Great Britain.</p> + +<p>By special request of the writer of these pages, Captain +Oliver Cotter has written out the following history +of his conversion, and his legal work:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="center"> +CAPTAIN OLIVER COTTER’S CONVERSION AND WORK. +</p> + +<p>On Thursday afternoon, April 12th, 1874, Mrs. A. +Wilder and Mrs. Richardson, of the Ladies’ Union, +first called on me, and found me in my saloon, behind +the bar. The barkeeper and several gentlemen were +present. I was in the act of drinking liquor with the +gentlemen present. These two agents of Christ inquired +for the proprietor. I responded. They said: +“My <i>brother</i>, we have called on you to inquire and to +talk to you about your soul’s salvation, and about this +business <i>you are in</i>.”</p> + +<p>I immediately quit my company, and invited them +into the reading-room attached to the saloon, and entered +into conversation relative to my business. It +was then a <i>novel</i> and rare thing to hear and see two +such fine, respectable, highly-cultured ladies, strangers +then to me, take such a deep interest in me, and particularly +in my soul’s salvation, that word my <i>brother</i> +still coming from their lips every time they addressed +me. For over an hour they remained in that reading-room, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_554">[Pg 554]</span>and before leaving both of them knelt in prayer. +I felt then, for the first time, that I was a sinner, and +needed God’s forgiveness, and that I was in a bad business, +and that for seven years I had been making drunkards +by law, and was blind to the sin and iniquity I was +every day heaping on my soul: for I was running +<i>five different saloons</i>, four in Brooklyn, and one in New +York; was the Secretary of King’s County (Brooklyn) +Liquor-Dealers’ Society—2,500 strong, with $10,000 +in our treasury, to work for the devil. Was +chairman of the executive committee, and stood high +among my friends in the trade. For six years I worked +faithfully for Satan, as the secretary. On Friday, the +13th, two other ladies called on me, same saloon, 358 +Fulton street, Brooklyn, and again pleaded with me by +exhortation and in prayer. Same, on 14th, Saturday. +It was then I broke down, and gave my consent for a +saloon prayer-meeting, next evening, Sunday, April +15th, 1874, which commenced in the reading-room +of the saloon, seven and a half <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, and ended at +eleven o’clock, nine of my customers and myself being +present. Ten Christian women marched in, two by +two, as the disciples of old went out, and commenced +the services with the hymn, “Nearer, my God, to Thee.” +We all signed the pledge, relying on God to help us +keep it. The whole of us were soundly converted, +and all of us are to-day living evidence of God’s +goodness. Not one of us has fallen, but have grown +in grace. So you see that each Christian woman had +a trophy: ten came, and ten were converted, the liquor-dealer +and his customers. All are working for the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_555">[Pg 555]</span>Master. It was a powerful meeting; the Holy Spirit +was there in great power. The saloon was closed, +never again to be opened. Not sold out; no, no. +That would be compromising with God. I never could +do that. I destroyed all the liquors I had, and counted +my redemption good pay for the loss of the filthy stuff. +And I now thank God for a Union of Christian women +in Brooklyn, through whose instrumentality I was +saved and cleansed in the blood of the Lamb—clothed, +and in my right mind.</p> + +<p>Persecutions then awaited me from all sides—friends +and foes. The devil commenced; the society, of which +I was an honored officer for six years, commenced; +the wholesale and retail liquor-dealers commenced; +my house, that cost me $9,000, I lost; large amounts +were offered, my house to be given me back, if I would +resume the business again, but I would not give in; +my brother turned against me, and said I ought to go +to the poor-house. My time won’t here permit me to +go into detail of what I suffered. God’s grace was +sufficient to keep me through it all. I put my hand to +the plough—He kept me from looking back. Glory +be to His holy name!</p> + +<p>Being left almost penniless, and not willing to take +anything from any one, only what I could earn by the +sweat of my brow, I set out for New York city, relying +on God and trusting Him. I found an humble +situation in a mercantile house. When asked for my +reference I told the merchant (who I found afterwards +was a Christian man) that he must take me just as I +was, gave my history, etc.; he took me by the hand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_556">[Pg 556]</span>and engaged me. I was six months in his employ, +when I was called through him and others who are +now with me, all members of the same church (Dr. +Budington’s), into the legal work, the history of which +would fill several volumes. At this time I cannot go +into a full detail of the work which God has done +through me, in Brooklyn and elsewhere. Suffice it +for me to say, when I commenced the work here, in +1874, we had 3,110 saloons, now we have less than +1,500, still getting less; the Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union has helped also.</p> + +<p>I have been in the States of Connecticut, New +York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, District +of Columbia; also in over 150 cities, and villages, and +towns in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey; +and have inaugurated the legal work and addressed +meetings, besides a large amount of correspondence—all +this in the past three years.</p> + +<p>I was President of a Reform Club for two years; +have organized Reform Clubs on the gospel plan in +other places, all of which has been for the honor and +glory of God. I never had a day’s sickness; never +was better in my life, spiritually and temporally. The +Lord provides and gives me more than I ask for. My +faith is in my Redeemer; His grace has kept me. I +rely not on man, but on God’s precious promises. I +believe them all; I trust God for everything. The +legal work and the gospel work go together. God has +blessed me abundantly in the work; and I know he +has called me into this kind of work. I would have +been murdered long since if the work had been of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_557">[Pg 557]</span>myself; therefore, I know it is His work. How sweet the +knowledge I have derived from the many hair-breadth +escapes I have had from the cursed liquor traffic, +and the enemy of Christ and His work, who oftentimes +assailed me. Divine Providence protected me; therefore, +I always go out in His name, and for Him, and +Him only, so that He should get all the honor and +glory.</p> +</blockquote> + + +<h3 id="BINGHAMPTON_NEW_YORK"> + BINGHAMPTON, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>I gather the following facts from the report of Mrs. +H. Morris, Secretary:</p> + +<p>Our Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was +organized in the spring of 1874. The first meetings +for prayer and consultation were fully attended, and +with it praise went up to God for His blessing on the +Temperance Crusade. We felt that God was present +by His Spirit, inditing our prayers and efforts. Our +inquiry was, “Lord, what wilt Thou have us to do?”</p> + +<p>A special day of fasting and prayer was observed. +Our sisters met together in one place; and every hour +had its separate leader through the day. A large +number present pledged themselves before God to a +life-work in the temperance cause. This spirit has +animated our Union ever since.</p> + +<p>The first year of our work the drug stores, saloons, +and other places were visited, and urgent appeals +were made, to induce the occupants to desist from +selling intoxicating liquors as a beverage. The druggists +uniformly denied that they sold the article except +for mechanical and medicinal purposes, and were +all ready to sign the pledge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_558">[Pg 558]</span></p> + +<p>A committee from our Union have visited the Board +of Excise several times, and presented a petition from +1,300 of our citizens to grant no licenses. All the +inducements that could be presented to them in the +most solemn manner, drawn from three worlds, seemed +to have but little weight upon them.</p> + +<p>Our Union has met for prayer many times, feeling +that no earthly arm could save us, and that God’s +strength must be extended. He alone could save. And +in answer to our prayers, Mr. Robinson came, held +meetings, and labored personally, with great success. +Some five thousand pledges were taken, and the good +work has been going on ever since. Mass-meetings +have been held two and three times a week.</p> + +<p>At the request of some of the reformed men, a +religious evening meeting has been kept up by our +Union. They feel and know that Jesus can alone save +them from everlasting ruin, and they are trying to lead +Christian lives, and are doing all they can to bring +their associates to temperance and to Christ. So that +this work is a religious one—a gospel revival. Souls, +that were fast sinking into the drunkard’s grave, are +now redeemed, and a new song put into their mouths, +even praise to their Redeemer. Towns all around us +are participating In this great movement, and are sending +to Binghampton for speakers.</p> + +<p>A juvenile temperance society, a young men’s temperance +union, and a young ladies’ blue ribbon society +are among the outgrowths of the Woman’s Christian +Temperance Union. The blessed Lord has indeed +heard our prayers. We need more faith, more earnest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_559">[Pg 559]</span>workers, and more of the blessing of God, for the warfare +against intemperance in this place. But we rejoice +and bless God that He has so wonderfully visited us in +mercy and love, and that He has shown to those who +profess not His name that this is His work, and He is +mighty to save.</p> + + +<h3 id="POUGHKEEPSIE_NEW_YORK"> + POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>We glean the following facts from a report sent by +Maria A. Wiley;</p> + +<p>In response to the invitation given through the daily +papers, a large audience assembled at Temperance +Hall on Tuesday evening, April 7th, 1874. Mrs. +Deyo, of Dutchess county, addressed the meeting, +stating the object of the movement, which was to help +the rum-seller out of his evil business. There were +ministers and representatives from all the denominations +present, and favorable to the movement, and the Lord +was evidently with us in this beginning of our action.</p> + +<p>A letter was read from Messrs. Brown & Doty, +druggists, stating they were willing to pledge themselves +to sell no liquor except on physicians’ prescriptions, +and for medicinal purposes.</p> + +<p>An invitation was given to the women present, who +were willing to begin this movement, to signify it by +rising. Seventy-five arose; and notice was given +that a woman’s prayer-meeting would be held in the +chapel of the Congregational Church at three o’clock, +on the following day. Sixty-five women were present at +the meeting next day. The meeting was one of deep +solemnity and heart-searching. We consecrated ourselves +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_560">[Pg 560]</span>to the work in response to a question proposed +by our leader, “Are we <i>ready</i> for anything?”</p> + +<p>Another large meeting was held in the evening. +The Lord poured out his Spirit. Large mass-meetings +continued to be held in the churches each evening. +Encouraging reports were made. Committees were +appointed to visit property-holders, drug stores, +groceries, and hotels, asking them not to rent their +property as saloons, or sell intoxicating drinks. A +petition to the Board of Excise was also circulated, +that the license be hereafter withheld from the one +hundred saloons, that were such a curse to the city. +Notice was sent us of the voluntary surrender of some +of the liquor-dealers. The first from George M. +Frazier, 61 Main street, wherein he states, in a letter +which was read at one of our public meetings, that in +five years he had been ruined by selling rum, and +intended to discontinue the business. He also inserted +the following notice in the daily papers:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“<i>Anticipating the Ladies’ Crusade</i>, the undersigned +surrenders without a call. Hereafter the Mansion +House, 61 Main street, will be conducted on the +temperance plan. We offer first-class accommodations +to both custom and transient boarders. Meals +furnished at any time.</p> + +<p class="right"> + “<span class="smcap">G. M. Frazier.</span>” +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>An impressive incident occurred about this time. +William St. John, proprietor of the Exchange Hotel, +sent in a letter, which was read at our fifth mass-meeting, +April 11th, wherein he announced he had +given up selling liquor, and would never, <i>never</i> enter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_561">[Pg 561]</span>the business again; that he believed it to be wrong, +and was doing much evil. He was taken sick soon +after, and died the 17th of April.</p> + +<p>The Catholic priest sent us a letter of encouragement, +saying his heart and prayers were with the +movement; he was willing to be present at a meeting, +on neutral grounds.</p> + +<p>The committee of fifty ladies, who had been canvassing +the city with petitions to be presented to the +Board of Excise, completed their work by April 29th. +The total number of signatures of citizens and real +estate owners was 3,966; of property-holders alone, +867. A large number of signers to the total abstinence +pledge was obtained at the same time; 149 signed it +in the White House shoe factory.</p> + +<p>Some who had rented their buildings for liquor-selling +agreed not to rent them for that purpose again. +Appeals to mayor and common council were presented +by a committee of ladies, asking for the enforcement +of the laws prohibiting the sale of liquors on +Sunday, and to minors. But this was discouraging +work, for we found the Excise Board had no regard +for our petitions, for they granted 130 licenses in June, +that year. Some had delayed applying for license +until they knew the result of the appeals to the Excise +Board, and the limits of the power of that body. Statements +had been made to the Excise Board and common +council of the violation of the excise law; but they +were in some instances evaded, and in others treated +with an indifference which left the impression that the +laws would not be enforced; but we had pledged ourselves +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_562">[Pg 562]</span>for life to the work, and no one felt inclined to +give it up.</p> + +<p>We visited the poor drunkards’ families, and from +there we went to the saloons that had the legal right +to make them such.</p> + +<p>In most places the ladies were treated respectfully. +They went in companies of two or three, and generally +called on the family first, or on the proprietor at +his home,—in some cases, only one called,—and by +gentle, friendly remonstrances, many promises were +made of reformation. Some promised to leave the +business if other occupation could be furnished them. +We were rewarded for a time by seeing some saloons +closed on Sundays. A few voluntarily abandoned +the business, and others were persuaded, and now, +after three years, have not broken their promise. But +very few had the moral principle to abandon a business +which was sanctioned and encouraged by the +law, and our only alternative was to work on diligently +in the line of moral suasion, trusting in the Lord.</p> + +<p>Forty-three saloons were visited during the summer +and fall, but all in a quiet way. The temperance +pledge was circulated in Sunday-schools, factories, and +on Bible and tract districts, and hundreds of names +obtained.</p> + +<p>Several ministers, one of them the Roman Catholic +priest, and other gentlemen of influence, met with the +executive board again on May 9th, to give counsel as +to the most effective measures to carry out our purpose.</p> + +<p>The petitions had been presented by a committee +of twelve ladies, on May 4th, 5th, and 6th. They were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_563">[Pg 563]</span>politely received, but no encouragement given of their +aid in the temperance work.</p> + +<p>Two Friendly Inns were established. Some of the +most forlorn and ragged boys who were cared for, and +for whom we found employment, walk our streets to-day +well clothed, and industrious members of society.</p> + +<p>Seven Sunday-school temperance societies were +organized in the spring and summer of 1875, auxiliary +to the Woman’s Temperance Society. A juvenile +temperance union was organized, November, 1876; +number of children on roll-book, 160, though we have +had as many as 200 at one meeting. On the 30th of +August we treated the children to a picnic. We went +to a beautiful grove, just south of the city, and spent +the day very pleasantly, many of the parents of the +little ones accompanying them.</p> + + +<h3 id="GENEVA_NEW_YORK"> + GENEVA, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>The Society reports the following:</p> + +<p>The Geneva Woman’s Christian Temperance Union +was organized April 22d, 1874, with twenty-six members. +Of the original number twenty remain; present number, +fifty-two. Became auxiliary to the State Union, +September 30th, 1875.</p> + +<p>Our work for the three years has not been Western +Crusade work, but trying to create public opinion in +favor of temperance; using our influence against +license and for prohibition, distributing temperance +tracts and papers, holding mass-meetings, and inviting +temperance lecturers, as our means allowed; sustaining +without fail one weekly prayer-meeting, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_564">[Pg 564]</span>for a time two—both still continue; occasionally distributing +temperance literature in saloons and hotels; +laboring with individuals and families of drunkards. +All this time working and praying with no apparent +success, “hoping against hope,” but with never failing +faith in our faithful God, believing firmly that He would +yet answer our prayers, and make our work apparent. +At last the answer came. The reform movement with +us was the culmination of all these years of work and +prayers.</p> + +<p>As God caused the “Western Crusade” to be the +great lever to “open the door which no man can +shut,” and thereby inaugurating the great temperance +movement not only all over our own land, but throughout +Christendom, so I believe this reform work is +but another door opened to still greater work, setting +forever at rest the question, Can drunkards be reformed? +and also, Will temperance principles finally +triumph? involving in it, as it does, the same glorious +principles of the gospel and temperance combined.</p> + +<p>About six months since a Reform Club was organized, +numbering now about 200, many of whom have +come from the lowest depths. A few have been converted, +but we are looking and laboring for the salvation +of them all. Over 2,000 have signed the pledge +during that time, many of them youths and children.</p> + +<p>We have two beautiful club-rooms, furnished nicely; +have quite a library already, and papers and innocent +games. These are a continued resort for many who +would otherwise visit saloons. Already the damage +to saloons is estimated to be a hundred dollars per +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_565">[Pg 565]</span>night. One saloon-keeper remarked, “he did not +know whether it was the blue ribbon or hard times, +but something affected his business.”</p> + +<p>Our work is now almost exclusively through this +channel, assisting families, and contributing in many +ways to their welfare. We gave them and their families +a dinner on the 4th of July, a scene which had +never been witnessed in this place before. Truly it +was a dinner on the gospel plan: over six hundred +men, women and children were fed, and many more +than twelve baskets full sent out the next day.</p> + +<p>So we are working and praying, and hoping to see +the day when there will be no liquor sold in our beautiful +village.</p> + + +<h3 id="PEEKSKILL_NEW_YORK"> + PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK. +</h3> + +<p>A. M. Stewart furnishes the following facts:</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of +Peekskill was organized on the 19th of January, 1875, +with about fifteen members.</p> + +<p>Although the attendance has never been large, the +prayer-meetings have been characterized by great +earnestness and fervor of spirit.</p> + +<p>It has been utterly impossible to arouse the villagers +to a sense of their danger, though we had three +wholesale liquor establishments in the place, and forty +or fifty saloons where the young men congregated, +and spent night after night in drinking, gambling, etc.</p> + +<p>There has been considerable quiet saloon visiting +by wives and mothers, who have had the sting of the +serpent in their own families, but no organized systematic +crusading in that direction.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_566">[Pg 566]</span></p> + +<p>Public sentiment is becoming more awake to the +importance of saving the boys and young men of the +community from the grasp of the destroyer.</p> + +<p>We have made complaints against several saloons, +by watching the persons who visited them, and sending +their names to the district attorney of the county, +who was, of course, obliged to subpœna them as witnesses +against the places, and bring them “before a +jury for trial.” Some would swear falsely, of course, +but there is honor even among thieves and drunkards, +and some would testify to the truth. In that way we +have brought the village into a great commotion, and +have succeeded, we hope, in arousing fathers and +mothers to watch their boys. Great consternation +was manifested by parents when they found that their +sons were in the habit of frequenting the low places, +and joining the drunken revelries, so we feel that good +has been done by this effort. Quite recently, by the +help of a noble woman, who is driven to severe measures +by home sorrow, another of these dark dens has +been complained of, and the proprietor brought to +justice; she appearing to testify in the court-room, +after he had sworn falsely. This place is closed. +Others are being watched, and the dealers will be +brought to justice before long.</p> + +<p>We have now about fifty or sixty members of our +organization, but only few that have time or inclination +for outside work; but when we remember how feeble +we were in the beginning, and how coldly Christians, +generally, have looked upon our efforts, we feel like +thanking God and taking courage.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_567">[Pg 567]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Allen Butler, President of the State Union, +gives the following summary of work accomplished in +these three years:</p> + +<p>Nearly all the cities and large towns, and very +many of the smaller ones, have active Woman’s Temperance +Unions. Three counties, Herkimer, Ontario, +and Onondaga, are thoroughly organized, having a +Woman’s Temperance Union in nearly, if not all, the +villages and hamlets. Many of the towns are being +swept thoroughly by the tidal wave that is rolling over +the land. Some of the villages are driving the entire +traffic, with its attendant evils—licentiousness and +crime—from their midst. Some of the dealers are +taking the pledge, and giving their stock of liquors to +be consumed by the midnight fire kindled for the +purpose; while the ringing of bells, and shouts of +praise to God, attest the joy of the people.</p> + +<p>Petitions have been circulated, and thousands of +signatures obtained and sent to Congress and the +State Legislature, imploring their interposition in behalf +of our suffering people.</p> + +<p>New Unions are being formed, Friendly Inns established, +and Juvenile Societies organized. Reform Clubs +and Bands of Christian Brotherhood have been formed +in some places, and are doing a good work in securing +the enforcement of the laws against selling intoxicating +liquors without license, and at such times, and to such +persons, as are forbidden. Many places have been +closed entirely, especially in the cities of New York +and Brooklyn, where both men and women have +labored untiringly since the commencement of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_568">[Pg 568]</span>Crusade, with wonderful results; more regular saloon +visiting having been done there than in any other part +of the State; yet some of this has been done in most +of the cities, and in many of the villages. There are +towns in our State that have had “no license” for +years. One has had none for thirty years, another for +seventeen years.</p> + +<p>Different bodies have been visited with very encouraging +results, especially medical societies, some of +which have pledged themselves as a whole not to use +alcoholic liquors in their practice at all, having found +substitutes that are safe and entirely sufficient.</p> + +<p>The press and the pulpit are giving their aid as +never before. The children of the Sabbath and public +schools are being reached; and, altogether, the work +is most successful and promising.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_569">[Pg 569]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND RHODE ISLAND. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX"> + CHAPTER IX. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="VERMONT"> + VERMONT. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>As this State had a strong prohibitory law, there was +not the demand for temperance work as there was in +most of the other States.</p> + +<p>There were no open saloons to visit, and the jails +were comparatively empty, and the moral atmosphere +healthy.</p> + +<p>I have travelled extensively over Vermont, but have +never seen an open saloon, or a drunken man, or a +squalid home.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1875 I visited Montpelier, the capital +of the State. At that time the jail was empty, +there was no almshouse, and I could hear of but one +poor family who needed aid.</p> + +<p>A few years ago, the county of which St. Johnsbury +is the county-seat had twenty-three distilleries. Now +there is not a distillery or a saloon in the county.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hepworth Dixon, an English gentleman of +repute, who travelled and lectured extensively in this +country in 1874, and who was not an abstainer, paid a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_570">[Pg 570]</span>beautiful tribute to the Vermont prohibitory law, after +visiting St. Johnsbury and other parts of the State:</p> + +<p>“Not a public house exists in all St. Johnsbury, nor +can a mug of beer or a glass of wine be purchased +openly by a guest to whom wine and beer are portions +of his daily food. No citizen is allowed to vend intoxicating +drinks on any pretext, or to any person. In +the village we have two guest houses for the entertainment +of such as come and go our way. We avoid +such words as tavern and hotel, as too much savoring +of the past old times, when every man might drink +himself into a mad-house, and his children into a jail.</p> + +<p>“Our tavern is a house. No bar, no dram shop, no +saloon defiles the place, nor is there, I am told, a single +gambling-hell or house of ill-repute.</p> + +<p>“Intoxicating drinks are classed with poisons, such +as laudanum and arsenic; but as poisons may be +needed in a civilized country, under a scientific system +of medicine, laudanum and arsenic are permitted to +be sold in every civilized State. Such is here the case +with brandy, beer and wine. A public officer is +appointed by public vote. The town lays in its stock +of brandy, beer and wine, which is carefully registered +in books, and kept under lock and key. These poisons +are doled out at the discretion of this officer in small +quantities, very much as deadly night-shade and nux +vomica are doled out by a London druggist.</p> + +<p>“In going through Fairbanks’ Scale Manufactory, I +noticed the several classes of artisans. Five hundred +men are toiling in the various rooms.</p> + +<p>“The work is mostly hard; in some departments, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_571">[Pg 571]</span>very hard. The heat is very great. From seven +o’clock till twelve, from one o’clock till six—ten hours +each day—these men are at their posts. Yet the men +engaged in these manufactories are said to drink no +beer, or whiskey, or gin. Drinking and smoking are +not allowed on the premises. I am told that these five +hundred workmen really never taste a drop of either +beer or gin. Their drink is water, their delight is tea. +Yet every one assures me they work well, enjoy good +health, and live as long as persons of their class +employed on farms. As year and year goes by, more +persons come to see the benefits of our rule. Said +Colonel Fairbanks: ‘The men who formerly drank +most are now the staunchest friends of reform. The +men who used to dress in rags are now growing rich. +Many of them live in their own houses. They attend +their churches, and their children go to school.’”</p> + +<p>Mrs. J. M. Haven, President of the W. C. T. Union +of Vermont, gives the following facts in connection +with their work:</p> + +<p>When the mighty wave of the Women’s Temperance +Crusade came sweeping over our land, our band +of six hundred organized temperance women heard +more emphatically than ever before the Master’s call +to the women of America—yea, his trumpet call so +loud and shrill that many who had been comparatively +deaf to His earlier calls were aroused.</p> + +<p>When the Women’s Convention was called in +Cleveland, in November, 1874, which resulted in the +formation of a National Union, Vermont responded, +and a full delegation from that State was present.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_572">[Pg 572]</span></p> + +<p>A State organization was effected February 17th, +1875.</p> + +<p>We are working slowly, but I believe surely. We +are a wonder unto many, it being so unusual here for +women to get up anything that looks like thinking and +acting for themselves. We met the greatest opposition +from our own sex.</p> + +<p>Several juvenile societies have been organized.</p> + +<p>The Reform Club movement, which is accredited to +the women, is doing a great work for inebriates and +their families.</p> + +<p>We were aroused to feel the importance of throwing +our influence more positively on the side of temperance, +because of the violation and disregard of the +prohibitory law, which a wise Legislature had given our +State.</p> + +<p>Though there is still a disposition to evade the law, +there is not one-eighth of the amount of liquor used +there was twelve months ago; indeed, some say, the +reduction covers twice that time.</p> + +<p>There is a hue and cry that “prohibition does not +prohibit.” But I am sure it does in a good degree: +the sale is not openly and freely made.</p> + +<p>I know some who have been obliged to abandon the +traffic. One man in Rutland, who had quite a capital +in liquors, has gone out of the business entirely, and +goes to church every Sabbath. His partner has also +given up selling lager beer. I have heard that he +says the women killed him.</p> + +<p>Numberless dodges have been resorted to by those +who are determined to sell.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_573">[Pg 573]</span></p> + +<p>One man had a tin can fitted to his body, in which +he could carry a quantity of liquor, supplying his customers +(by a tube carried in his pocket, connecting +with the can) as he chanced to meet them.</p> + +<p>Great secrecy is practised and brains are racked to +the utmost, to devise ingenious methods of concealment. +A sink is an indispensable piece of furniture in +every saleroom, where the bottle, jug, or pitcher can +be emptied at a wink from some interested devotee, +from without or within; maybe by the prosecuting +officer himself. Mind you, the vile stuff is not lost +after all—a pipe conveys it into an underground cistern +or tank, and it is dug out again in due time, just as +pure and palatable as ever.</p> + +<p>At the last session of our Legislature a nuisance law +was granted in addition, but our people are unable to +determine whether dens foul with everything that +would be perfectly revolting to any clean heart or +hand, can truthfully be pronounced a nuisance. It +would be decided in a moment by any sane man if +money were not involved.</p> + +<p>But I think Vermont will come out all right, on the +Lord’s side, which of course will be on the side of +prohibition and total abstinence.</p> + + +<h3 id="ST_ALBANS_VERMONT"> + ST. ALBANS, VERMONT. +</h3> + +<p>In the year 1873 the ladies of St. Albans, Vermont, +formed an association called “The St. Albans Woman’s +Association for the Promotion of Temperance.”</p> + +<p>They appointed a committee to ascertain the number, +locality, and ownership of all places where intoxicating +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_574">[Pg 574]</span>liquors were sold—to converse with the +owners, and urge them not to let their premises for +such purposes; also to ascertain the number of families +suffering from the use of intoxicants.</p> + +<p>There were one hundred and sixty signed, as being +in sympathy with the movement.</p> + +<p>Three hundred ladies signed a pledge, neither to use, +buy, nor sell intoxicating liquor, and that they would +do all in their power to banish its use from their land.</p> + +<p>A company of fifty ladies called upon the proprietor +of the “Welden House,” a first-class and beautiful +hotel. They spent some time in the house, conversing +with him. They then proceeded to one of the worst +saloons, and stayed until the keeper promised to shut +up his saloon, which he did immediately, and went into +another business, which he followed about a year; but +it proved more laborious and less lucrative than rum-selling.</p> + +<p>His wife complained that she could not now keep a +piano, or indulge in other luxuries. So he opened +another saloon, which brought him once more into +prosperity.</p> + +<p>But at the present writing his prosperity is past. +The man has deserted his family, and his debts and +dishonesty have made him worthy of the prison.</p> + +<p>After this the ladies divided into small parties, and +visited various other places, conversing earnestly with +rum-sellers, and with drinkers.</p> + +<p>A better moral sentiment prevails, the law is being +enforced, and the friends of temperance hold the fort.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_575">[Pg 575]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_HAMPSHIRE"> + NEW HAMPSHIRE. +</h3> + +<p>The laws of this State are favorable to temperance, +but many whose duty it is to enforce the law are in +sympathy with the law-breakers, as in other States, and +in defiance of public sentiment intoxicating liquors are +secretly and sometimes publicly sold.</p> + +<p>There has, however, recently been a great change +in public sentiment, and thousands of drinking men +have been gathered into Reformed Clubs.</p> + + +<h3 id="CONCORD_NEW_HAMPSHIRE"> + CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE. +</h3> + +<p>The following interesting report of the long continued +work of the women of Concord, New Hampshire, +is from the Corresponding Secretary, Alma Jane Herbert:</p> + +<p>The Concord, New Hampshire, Temperance Society +for many years held its annual meeting, presenting +some popular speakers on the afternoon of Fast Day, +in the old North Church.</p> + +<p>On one occasion not far from 1840, if not prior to +that date, the ladies were invited to repair, at the close +of the service, to the “Brick school-house” near by. +The room was closely packed, and then and there they +organized a Woman’s Temperance Society. I have +consulted the lady then chosen secretary, who perfectly +remembers the fact, but nothing of the phase of the +work that came before them, nor how long the organization +was maintained.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of July, 1837, all the Sunday-schools +united in a celebration and collation. For thirty years +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_576">[Pg 576]</span>the use of wines and liquors at parties, calls and on +the dinner table was almost unknown, so thoroughly +was the early work done. There were always a few +exceptions, and the number is not largely increased +at the present time.</p> + +<p>Our Women’s Temperance Union was organized +February 24th, 1873. So far as I personally know, +very little of what the Western women call Crusade +work was done in New Hampshire. But I can report +only from Concord.</p> + +<p>The great tidal wave awoke new interest in the +cause, at a time when all seemed dark and discouraging. +Owing to the differing circumstances our most +earnest women felt such methods to be less hopeful +here, and also less hopeful in the larger towns, where +liquor-dealers are unknown and trouble is more likely +to gather than in the smaller villages.</p> + +<p>We organized in February, 1873; and in March a +committee of five or six ladies were sent to visit the +apothecaries from whose soda fountain respectable +young men too often take a step beyond and downward. +All declined to sign a temperance pledge, or +a pledge to cease selling, though one did for a little +time. All were courteous, as were the liquor-dealers, +to whom at the next meeting of the committee was sent +with the same result, though they did not visit some +low “bush dens.”</p> + +<p>They left with proprietors a printed order the mayor +had granted them directing all illegal places of sale to +be closed.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the city government had been petitioned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_577">[Pg 577]</span>to enforce the law, and consult and advise with us +upon the subject; and, in course of time, one of the +members found leisure to attend and speak. As the +signatures of very many citizens, who favored such +enforcement, were secured, various conferences with +the citizens were held.</p> + +<p>Several complaints were entered and warrants +taken out, and the committee of ladies patiently endured +the martyrdom of the police court, surrounded +by a crowd of vile men, set on by liquor-dealers to +create disorder and make rude comments. In September +two dealers were reported as under $200 +bonds for the next term of court, when a court ruling +and the difficulty of procuring proper witnesses closed +this avenue. However, much prayer and varied +efforts had charged the whole atmosphere with germs +of life-thought. And as the most thrifty plants sometimes +grow outside the cultured garden bed, we accept +our noble Reformed Club, numbering between two +and three thousand, as the wave sheaf-offering of the +coming harvest, since J. O. Osgood, of Maine, first +came to Concord, accredited to our Woman’s League. +We have a Juvenile Temple of Honor, numbering +several hundred.</p> + +<p>Between two and three hundred names are attached +to our pledge; honorary members, lifted above giving +and doing it is to be supposed, since the earnest-working +members scarcely count thirty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_578">[Pg 578]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="PORTSMOUTH_NEW_HAMPSHIRE"> + PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. +</h3> + +<p>The Woman’s Temperance League, of Portsmouth, +N. H., was organized February 3d, 1875. During +the early winter of that year, Mr. B. F. Thorndike +conceived a plan for arousing an interest among the +citizens in behalf of temperance. His idea was to +hold a protracted temperance meeting, to continue +eight successive evenings, and employ the best +speakers that could be obtained. He submitted his +plan to several well known friends of the cause, who +all admitted that if such a series of meetings could be +held, much good might result therefrom; but one and +all declared it an impossibility to raise sufficient funds +to sustain such an unheard-of scheme.</p> + +<p>But Mr. Thorndike determined that the meetings +should be held, and <i>unaided and alone</i>, he has the +honor of being the first to inaugurate such gatherings. +In addition to employing the best temperance orators +that could be obtained, he secured the services of Mr. +S. B. Spinning, the celebrated Rhode Island vocalist, +to sing. Mr. Thorndike also arranged for two afternoon +meetings: one to be a children’s meeting, the +other a meeting for the ladies of the city, with a view +to organize a society for practical temperance work. +All the meetings were largely attended, and such an +interest awakened in behalf of temperance, that its +influence will be felt for many years to come.</p> + +<p>Thursday afternoon, January 28th, 1875, was the +time set apart for the meeting of the ladies. Mrs. B. +F. Thorndike entered heartily into the work; and, on +that Thursday afternoon, the Temple was well filled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_579">[Pg 579]</span>with ladies and gentlemen, including several clergymen. +The meeting was addressed by Rev. Messrs. +Goss and Hebbard, and Mrs. White, of Concord.</p> + +<p>February 3d, a society was formed, called the +Woman’s Temperance League of Portsmouth.</p> + +<p>From that humble beginning, the League has +grown to be a very efficient and influential body of +workers. They have been foremost in every effort +that has been made to ameliorate the condition of +suffering humanity.</p> + +<p>The League had the wise forethought to see that, +if they would successfully carry forward any good +work, the society must be placed on a correct financial +basis; and, to this end, their laws stipulate that each +member shall pay a certain sum weekly.</p> + +<p>One of the first acts of the League was to divide the +city into districts, and send committees to visit every +house, for signatures to the total abstinence pledge. +In this mission they were very successful. They also +united with the Seaman’s Aid Society in establishing +a Seaman’s Home, which includes reading-room, +restaurant, and lodging-room. The Home has been +of great practical benefit to seamen, and to many +others, by furnishing meals at a low rate; and many +laborers on the wharves and in the vicinity have taken +coffee, when heretofore they had indulged in intoxicating +drinks.</p> + +<p>The League soon became interested in the reform +movement, which was accomplishing such wonders in +other places.</p> + +<p>With a view to interesting the citizens of Portsmouth +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_580">[Pg 580]</span>in this great undertaking, the League invited +the Dover (N. H.) Reform Club to visit this city and +hold a meeting. About three hundred, mostly reformed +men, came. They were met at the depot by +a band of music, escorted around the city, furnished +with a collation, and proceeded to the largest hall in +the city, where an enthusiastic meeting was held, the +reformed men of Dover relating their thrilling experiences +with the drink demon. At that meeting +many names were added to the pledge. The League +paid all the bills, even the chartering of the train.</p> + +<p>So persistent and earnest in their work were the +ladies of the League, that ere long they were instrumental +in forming a Temperance Reform Club in +Portsmouth, which soon gathered in a large number +of the intemperate of both sexes, and at the expiration +of a year the roll of the club numbered over +2,500 names, about one-fourth of the whole population.</p> + +<p>Portsmouth being a seaport city, quite a number +of men are engaged in deep sea-fishing; and to +awaken an interest among this class of persons, and +to create a generous rivalry, the League advertised to +present a large temperance flag to the fishing crew +of not less than eight men, who first came forward in +a body and signed the pledge. At a large and enthusiastic +public meeting of the club, two crews presented +themselves at the same time, and amid cheers +and rejoicings, signed their names to the total abstinence +pledge. One flag was presented the same +evening, the other at a meeting one week after. Mrs. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_581">[Pg 581]</span>B. F. Thorndike, President of the League, presented +them with well-timed and earnest remarks, with the +request that at every port visited, the temperance flag +should wave at mast-head. So highly did the fishermen +prize the gifts, that each crew, at a subsequent +meeting, presented the League with choice tokens of +their esteem.</p> + +<p>Very great service was rendered by the League in +fitting up and decorating a hall for the Reform Club +head-quarters; and in presenting the club with a +library of more than 200 volumes of the choicest +temperance literature; also, aid has been given to the +families of destitute reformed men; clothing, provisions, +and fuel having been judiciously distributed; +and in this benevolent work they find much to claim +their attention.</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Temperance League is composed of +ladies belonging to all religious denominations, and +although their name is not “Union,” yet they live in +union and harmony together, letting their <i>works</i> bear +evidence of their Christian unity.</p> + + +<h3 id="RHODE_ISLAND"> + RHODE ISLAND. +</h3> + +<p>Early in March, 1874, a few Christian women of +Providence, whose hearts had been deeply moved by +reading the accounts of the great uprising of their +sisters in the West against the rum traffic, called a +meeting, inviting all ladies interested in the cause of +temperance to come together and prayerfully consider +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_582">[Pg 582]</span>their duty in regard to the work to which God had so +clearly called the women of this land. A large number +of ladies from the various churches in the city +were present. A most profound solemnity prevailed +throughout the meeting. Many fervent prayers were +offered. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit +was manifest, and all felt that God was calling to action. +A meeting was appointed for the following day, and +from this the interest increased, and large meetings +were held daily for several weeks. Requests for +prayer were sent in by wives, mothers, and children +for their intemperate husbands, sons, and brothers. +Never before had we so keenly felt that our help must +come from the Almighty arm.</p> + +<p>The traffic was legalized in our State to a fearful +extent. Its emissaries were plying their vocation on +every corner of our streets. In no way could we +turn to avoid the sickening spectacle of misery and +woe that followed in their train. The community +were indifferent, or hardened to it. Ministers, discouraged, +had left it to politicians, and a general apathy +prevailed. Intemperance was fearfully increasing, dragging +down to certain destruction many of our noble +men. What were we to do? In the language of +Jehoshaphat, we cried, “O, our God, wilt <i>Thou</i> not +judge them? for we have no might against this great +company that cometh against us. Neither know we +what to do, but our eyes are upon Thee.” Prostrate +before the throne, we besought Him, with strong crying +and tears, to interpose in our behalf. Intemperate +men came to our meetings, asked for our prayers, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_583">[Pg 583]</span>signed the pledge. Rum-sellers were made especial +subjects for prayer. This was known to them, and +they looked for our appearance on the streets. But +the Crusade, as conducted by our sisters in the West, +was not deemed advisable in so large a city as ours. +A few ladies, however, went forth in a quiet, unobtrusive +way, without attracting attention on the streets, +and visited a large number of saloons, distributing +tracts, exhorting and remonstrating with rum-sellers, +and their customers, sometimes praying with them.</p> + +<p>We were generally respectfully received, and attentively +listened to. One lady, nearly eighty years of +age, went alone into every saloon in Pawtucket, a +town of twelve thousand inhabitants, that licensed a +very large number of places for the sale of liquors. +A man recently arrested for selling liquor without a +license was visited by one of our ladies while he was +awaiting his trial in prison, when he told her he was +one of the rum-sellers visited by the ladies in his +saloon, and the face of that aged lady, and the words +she uttered, had come up before him ever since, and +that he often had resolved to give up the business, but +he knew not what else to do; he repeated her exhortation, +and said he should never take up the business +again. One of our ladies who said she would do anything +for the cause but visit saloons, hesitated no longer +when appealed to by an almost broken-hearted mother +(the widow of a Congregationalist clergyman), who +had just learned that her son, her sole dependence, +was drinking in saloons. “Go,” she said, “I beg +of you, and ask them not to sell liquor to my <i>boy</i>. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_584">[Pg 584]</span>Something must be done: I cannot bear it.” God gave +the message, and her appeals in behalf of suffering +wives and mothers brought tears to eyes unused to +weeping and some promised that they would not sell +liquor to young men without first remonstrating with +them. One rum-seller said that on no account would +he let his boys drink what he was selling to other +men’s boys. Prayer-meetings were also held in the +police court-room, and the poor victims of rum awaiting +their trial in the station, and the roughs who were +loitering about, were invited in and brought under +gospel influence. The pledge was circulated among +them, and some signatures obtained; but the good +done by these and the saloon visiting, eternity alone +shall reveal. Though we are not without evidence +that some from that time have walked in newness of +life. Near the commencement of our work, we districted +the city, appointing committees in each district +to carry the pledge to every house, asking that intoxicating +beverages be discarded for culinary and +social purposes, A good many signatures were obtained. +A property-holders’, physicians’, and druggists’ +pledge were also circulated.</p> + +<p>It was suggested by our friends that it would be well +for us to memorialize our Legislature, which was then in +session, asking for a restriction to be put upon the sale +of intoxicating liquors in our State, as a means of promoting +the cause for which we prayed. We learned +that they were to adjourn the next day. There was +but little time for action. We went out from our +meeting, and during the evening secured the names +of five hundred women to our petition.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_585">[Pg 585]</span></p> + +<p>After a short service of prayer, in the morning, +about fifty ladies slowly and silently marched, two by +two, to the State House. The importance of our mission, +and the uncertainty of success, overwhelmed us +with sadness. The burden of that hour we shall never +forget. It seemed like a funeral march to the graves +of thousands of rum’s victims, while the wailing cry of +suffering wives and more than orphaned children were +ringing in our ears. We were a band of retiring +women, unaccustomed to publicity, and we timidly +shrunk from the seeming boldness of the step we were +taking; but believing that we were in the path of duty +we went on, sustained by a power not our own, and +presented our request. We were kindly received by +the honorable gentlemen, and a hearing granted us.</p> + +<p>A mass-meeting of women was held, the 13th of +April, and a City Women’s Temperance Union was +organized. Expecting that our petition for prohibitory +law would be considered at the May session of the +Legislature, we secured the names of ten thousand +women of the State, and, at a day appointed for a hearing, +twenty-three ladies of Providence went to Newport, +carrying the names, and listened with prayerful +attention to the discussion. It was long and fierce. +The rum power had rallied all their forces to defeat +the bill. They had left no stone unturned to win their +cause. It was kept along, day after day, and, as a last +resort, they moved to carry it over to the January session, +which would effectually kill it. The vote was +taken on the movement, and announced a tie. Immediately +all eyes were anxiously fixed upon the President +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_586">[Pg 586]</span>of the Senate, whose vote should decide the question. +Rum’s advocates looked triumphant, for they felt quite +sure the vote would be in their favor. We committed +our cause to Him “who doeth all things well,” and +calmly watched and waited. ’Twas but a moment. Of +that moment, and God’s purposes in it, you will better +understand, as we have, by the following quotation from +a speech recently delivered by the <i>then</i> President of the +Senate, <i>now</i> his Excellency, Governor Vanzant, of +Rhode Island, before a temperance convention held +in this State. He says—I quote his words:</p> + +<p>“I sat in your Senate chamber, as its temporary presiding +officer, when the so-called prohibitory law was +before it for its action. The question was upon the +postponement of the law until the January session. +The clerk of the Senate handed the roll to me, for +which I was utterly unprepared, and announced a tie +vote. The whole thing then rested marvellously, +magically, and wondrously on me. By education and +association, I was conservative—I doubted the influence +of the so-called sumptuary legislation, because I +had been brought up in that school. But, my friends, +in one <i>moment</i>—for it came upon me in a moment—it +came upon me just as the face of nature is revealed to +the gazing eyes of a looker-on, in the darkness of the +night, when the sky is black, and there is a flash of +lightning exceedingly luminous, and he sees new dangers +that he was before unaware of. My mind moved +with inconceivable rapidity, and a train of thoughts, +something like this, passed before me, like a weird +panorama: I looked back to the days of my youth, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_587">[Pg 587]</span>and I saw those who started out with life full of bloom +and happiness fallen at my side, the victims of this +great Moloch. I saw society disorganized, deranged. +I saw men who honestly and with Christian faithfulness +lifted their hearts and aspirations to God, and they +were dragged down into the mud, and slime, and filth +of corruption and degradation by this same power. I +saw the fairest happiness of woman soiled and ruined. +I saw little children degraded and ignorant. And I +read in the faces of the little band of <i>earnest women</i>, +who so intently watched and waited my action, the +hope of a triumph of right over wrong. I made up +my mind to cast my vote against the postponement of +that law. I did so, and have never regretted it. By +that vote, ladies and gentlemen, I stand or fall. This,” +he said, “is the first opportunity I have had to stand +before an audience of temperance men and women, +and thank them for what they have done for me.”</p> + +<p>In January, 1875, the Women’s State Temperance +Union was organized and made auxiliary to the National +Union.</p> + +<p>In the spring the rum power was again dominant. +And the prohibitory law was repealed, and a license +law enacted in its stead. This was discouraging to us, +and some were ready to abandon the field to the +enemy. But a <i>few</i>, who believed that God had called +them to the work, kept the ball moving. Quietly and +silently they went about visiting the intemperate in +their homes and in prisons, circulating temperance literature, +and in many ways endeavoring to cultivate +temperance sentiment among the people. The number +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_588">[Pg 588]</span>who rallied to the work in the fall, after the summer +vacation, was very small. Many felt that they +had spent their strength for nought, and surely had no +might against so great an enemy. Scarcely enough +came together at the weekly prayer-meeting to claim +the promise, that “where two or three are gathered +in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”</p> + +<p>The propriety of disbanding was discussed. A +meeting was called to consider it. Only three or four +felt interest enough to come. A great burden was +laid upon us; and, although the enemy had the field, +we resolved not to retreat.</p> + +<p>We kept on praying, until God appeared for us. +After about three months persistent effort, Dr. Reynolds +consented to give us two days from his time in +Massachusetts. The day previous to his coming was +observed as a day of prayer for God’s blessing on his +work. Meetings were held all day. A large hall was +filled with the earnest workers of the city, and the +meeting was one of great power and interest.</p> + +<p>The right chord had been struck. Men who had +been reformed took hold of the work in earnest, and +carried it on with wonderful success. The largest hall +in the city was soon too small to hold the crowd that +came to the meetings. Large numbers signed the +pledge, including many talented and influential men, +some of whom had long been slaves to intemperance. +The old Providence club was resuscitated, and rallied to +the work, going over the State telling the story of their +redemption.</p> + +<p>There are now twenty-seven Reform Clubs in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_589">[Pg 589]</span>State, with an aggregate membership of 8,500. More +than 23,000 adults have signed the pledge, besides a +large number of children. The work has overflowed +into adjoining States, and nearly 6,000 pledges have +been taken in border towns by our workers.</p> + +<p>The whole State seems to be aroused, and the prospect +is encouraging beyond precedent. The fear that +some of our ladies entertained, that we made a mistake +in appealing to law, is entirely dispelled, since it +is so clear that, though our prohibitory law was repealed, +God was fitting a noble man to honor Him and +His cause in the highest office of the State.</p> + +<p>Our Union is efficiently organized, and the women +of the State seem to be waking up to more earnest +work. Though we can write thus encouragingly, still +there are hard battles to be fought before the right +shall triumph. The harvest is great, and the laborers +few; yet when we look back to the commencement of +the so-called woman’s movement, we can but exclaim: +“Behold what great things our God hath wrought!”</p> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. S. Clough, Corresponding +Secretary of the State Union, for the above facts.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_590">[Pg 590]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + MASSACHUSETTS. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X"> + CHAPTER X. +</h2> +</div> + + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. L. B. Barrett, Corresponding +Secretary of the State Union, for the following report +of the work in Massachusetts:</p> + +<p>The temperance reform of the present decade, undertaken +by the women of the West, quickly awakened a +kindred spirit in the minds of the women in the East; +manifesting itself in the winter of 1873 and 1874, in +frequent meetings for consultation and prayer. As the +result of which, twelve organizations were effected in +March and April of the latter year, Worcester taking the +lead, followed immediately by South and East Boston. +In the month of May, Mrs. M. A. Livermore, of Massachusetts, +just returned from her lecturing tour in the +West, on the invitation of Rev. J. T. Beckley, of the First +Baptist Church in Boston, addressed the ladies of the +city. Her thrilling description of the wonderful scenes +of which she had been an eye-witness resulted in the appointment +of a temperance prayer-meeting in Warren +Avenue Baptist Church, followed by daily prayer-meetings +for weeks, and continued by weekly meetings during +the summer months. In the early fall so much interest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_591">[Pg 591]</span>was manifested that it was deemed advisable to call a +meeting for concerted action. Such a meeting was +called at Worcester in October, being the first Woman’s +Temperance Convention held in Massachusetts. Mrs. +Susan A. Gifford presided. The unanimous opinion +of the ladies convened was that a State Union should +be formed. Accordingly a call was issued urging the +women of Massachusetts, who were known to be foremost +in all great moral reforms, to be mindful of the +wonderful temperance movement already begun in the +land, and to help lift up the standard against the enemy. +Three hundred delegates responded, representing fifty-four +towns. Thus was formed, out of the twelve existing +organizations of the State, the Woman’s Christian +Temperance Union of Massachusetts, with Mrs. S. A. +Gifford as President.</p> + +<p>The first year of work will be remembered as a year +of preparation. The women of Massachusetts were +anxious for the safety of their homes and their loved +ones, yet so strong was the force of habit and education +that they shrunk from the publicity this work involved. +It was a time of prayer and consecration. The ruling +desire was to know the Divine will. The question was +ever in thought as to the methods which should be employed +to make the State organization successful and +permanent. In looking back over achieved results, we +can see that these seasons of prayer and conference +were not in vain.</p> + +<p>The State Union has followed the general plan submitted +by the committee at its first annual meeting. +An agent was put into the field for the purpose of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_592">[Pg 592]</span>organizing Unions in every town and village where +Christian women could be gathered for that purpose. +Vice-Presidents were appointed in every county to +have the charge of the work of their counties, to interest +the community by means of public lectures, +mass-meetings and conventions, and to report at the +quarterly meetings of the board. This board of officers, +consisting of our present President, Mrs. M. A. Livermore, +together with the Secretary, Treasurer and an +executive committee of seven ladies, form a working +force for active service whenever requested.</p> + +<p>Through this systematic effort the report of the year +ending October, 1876, was as follows: Eighty Local +Unions, with a membership of more than eight thousand; +thirty-one Juvenile Unions, with eight thousand +members; seventy Reform Clubs, composed entirely +of men who were previously moderate or immoderate +drinkers, having an aggregate membership of more +than thirty thousand. Eleven county conventions were +held during the year, and over $19,000 were raised +and expended.</p> + +<p>Most of the Unions held weekly prayer-meetings of +their own, and many sustained three and four gospel +meetings weekly.</p> + +<p>We have had an increase of forty-three Unions this +year, making our present number <i>one hundred and +twenty-three</i>. We have held twenty-three county conventions, +opened several friendly inns and coffee rooms, +the largest one in Boston having forty lodgers. Gospel +temperance meetings have been successfully maintained +in connection with Reform Clubs in two-thirds of our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_593">[Pg 593]</span>Unions, and very many conversions have been reported. +The Local Union of Boston makes a specialty of these +gospel prayer-meetings, holding nine a week.</p> + +<p>In this report of our work a few points are worthy +of special mention. Before the Centennial celebration +of the battle of Bunker Hill, a committee of ladies visited +the Mayor of Boston and requested that the liquor-saloons +should be closed, which request was granted, +and the day was noticeably free from the disgrace of +drunkenness. A hearing was granted the W. C. T. +U. of Boston before the Legislature during the session +of 1877. The visit of President Hayes to Boston and +the “interview with Mayor Prince,” requesting him not +to provide wine at the city banquet, is known throughout +the nation. We deem it one of our most successful +attacks upon the enemy. It would take too much +space to enter into the details of our work, abundant +as they are in interest. Perhaps a recital of the manner +in which the work was carried on in one town will +serve to illustrate the spirit of zeal in our State. One +woman, after attending a county convention and becoming +deeply interested, returned to her home, gathered +Christian women about her, organized a Union, +drew the inebriates into a Reform Club, and the young +lads into a Boys’ Union. She also formed a Juvenile +Union. All these different Unions held weekly prayer-meetings. +Finding the Reform Club subjected to +strong temptations through the saloons, she, with others, +circulated a petition for the appointment of a special +policeman to enforce the law. Nearly one thousand +signatures were obtained. It was presented to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_594">[Pg 594]</span>town authorities, and by persistent effort the request +was granted, and in the space of six months all liquor-saloons +were closed in the town.</p> + +<p>The most noticeable feature of our work, however, +and the most promising for the future, is its deep religious +character. If, as in the past, we rest upon Divine +support, the future will be rewarded with success.</p> + + +<h3 id="WORCESTER_MASSACHUSETTS"> + WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. S. A. Gifford, Vice-President of the National +Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Massachusetts, +adds the following items of the work in +Worcester:</p> + +<p>“I called a woman’s meeting at Friends’ Meeting-house, +February 27th, 1874. It was attended by about +three hundred women. This was the first meeting +called in Massachusetts after the news of the great +work in the West had reached us. It was a most +blessed meeting. The hearts of the women were +touched as never before. Another meeting was held +on the 2d of March, which resulted in the organization +of a society of which Mrs. Gifford was elected President. +Since that time a Young Woman’s Union has +been formed, which numbers about one hundred members, +and a Reform Club, numbering fourteen hundred; +also a large Juvenile Union.” Mrs. Gifford is still +the President, and is pushing the work.</p> + + +<p>PROTEST AGAINST WINE-DRINKING AT PUBLIC +DINNERS.</p> + +<p>The visit of President Hayes to Boston offered an +opportunity to the city of Boston to honor him by a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_595">[Pg 595]</span>public banquet, arranged by Mayor Prince as the chief +executive of the city. Knowing the prevailing custom +of furnishing intoxicating liquors on such occasions, a +committee of the Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union, consisting of Mrs. Livermore, Mrs. Barrett, +Mrs. McCoy, and Mrs. Richards, waited upon the +mayor on Friday, June 22d, to ask him that no liquor +be furnished at the public expense. The following +extract, from the Boston <i>Journal</i>, contains the memorial +presented, and the conversation which followed +between Mayor Prince and Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, +President of the Union. It will be noticed that the +memorial made no reference to prohibition, and that +the digression which led to a discussion of that question +was made by the mayor, who seemed unwilling +to discuss the custom of social drinking, but finally +avowed himself a moderate drinker, and defended the +habit.</p> + + +<h3 id="THE_INTERVIEW"> + THE INTERVIEW. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore began the interview by saying:</p> + +<p>We come, Mr. Prince, as the delegation from the +Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of this State, +an organization composed of 12,000 women of the +State, largely representing the religious sentiment of +the community; and at a meeting of the executive committee +of this Temperance Union, which has been held +this week, we were chosen a committee charged to +present to you the following memorial, which I was +instructed to read as it has been printed.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince—Thank you. I shall be happy to +hear you.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_596">[Pg 596]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="THE_MEMORIAL"> + THE MEMORIAL. +</h3> + +<blockquote> +<p><i>To his Honor the Mayor of Boston</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Sir</span>—At a meeting of the executive committee of the +Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Massachusetts, we, the +undersigned, were chosen a committee to wait upon you with the +following petition:</p> + +<p>In behalf of the Christian women of the city and of the State, +we ask you, respectfully but earnestly, to direct that no intoxicating +liquors shall be furnished at the expense of the city when +the banquet is given by the city of Boston in honor of the President +of the United States.</p> + +<p>The painful assumption that there is need of this petition is +based upon the fact that upon similar occasions in the past, liquors +have been thus furnished. We believe the time has come for a +change in this custom. All over the land there has been, during +the past few years, a great revival and increased growth of sentiment +in favor of total abstinence. The work of reclaiming the +drunkard has been entered upon by men and women in whom a +holy ambition for the uplifting of humanity has been the inspiring +incentive, and the blessing of Him “who came to seek and save +that which was lost” has crowned their efforts with grand success.</p> + +<p>But the satisfaction which has attended these efforts to rescue +the perishing has been marred by the consciousness that others +were steadily drifting down into the same degradation. Much as +we may desire it, it is impossible to stop the intemperate use of +liquor by the masses while moderate drinking is fashionable in the +best society. There will be whiskey-drinking in the slums of the +city so long as there is wine-drinking in its palatial residences. +The pernicious social drinking customs of the day, which are +ruinous to so many of the sons of the Commonwealth, are not +wholly the outcome of the appetites and habits of their victims—the +fashions of the best society are largely responsible for them.</p> + +<p>An occasion of this kind affords an opportunity for exerting an +influence for good or evil, such as is rarely offered. This banquet +is to be given by the city of Boston in honor of the chief magistrate +of the nation. <i>Can</i> he be <i>honored</i> by the observance of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_597">[Pg 597]</span>custom which is closely linked with debauchery and disgrace, and +which has led so many of our best citizens into shame and dishonor? +How can we urge total abstinence upon the masses, to whom it is +the only safeguard, if the city of Boston gives respectability to +social drinking customs by sanctioning them on this august occasion?</p> + +<p>Allow us, clear sir, respectfully to remind you that the authority +given you to provide for the entertainment of distinguished visitors +to our city, carries with it great responsibility. The drinking +customs of society will be strengthened or weakened, as you refuse +or grant them your official sanction on this occasion, and the virtue +of our homes—the greatest interest of any city—will be helped or +hindered by your decision in this matter.</p> + +<p>In presenting this memorial, we are certain that we utter the +Christian sentiment of the city—the wishes of those who have +labored most heartily to rid society of the curse of intemperance. +We give voice to the desire of tens of thousands of the women of +Massachusetts—wives and mothers—who launch their sons with +trembling anxiety upon the temptations of the great city, and who +faint with fear as they trust their daughters to the young husbands +they have chosen, knowing how drinking habits can blight the +most promising future.</p> + +<p>And because the usual custom of furnishing liquors on great +public occasions shocks the moral sense, not only of a majority of +the women of the Commonwealth, but of a large proportion of its +men, we pray you to take such action that this banquet may be +undefiled by a social custom which is the relic of an age of sensuality, +when the civilization was ruder and less noble in its moral +tone than that of our time.</p> + +<p>So shall the city of Boston establish a distinguished precedent +for all similar occasions everywhere, and the chief magistrate of +our nation be truly honored, by an observance of that righteousness +which exalteth a people.</p> + +<ul style="list-style-type: none;"> + <li><span class="smcap">Mrs. Mary A. Livermore</span>,</li> + <li> ” <span class="smcap">Ellen M. Richards</span>,</li> + <li><span class="smcap">Mrs. L. B. Barrett</span>,</li> + <li> ” <span class="smcap">E. McCoy</span>.</li> +</ul> + +<p>Committee of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of +Massachusetts.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Boston</span>, <i>June 22d, 1877</i>.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_598">[Pg 598]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="RESPONSE_OF_THE_MAYOR"> + RESPONSE OF THE MAYOR. +</h3> + +<p>I merely would say at this moment in response, that +whilst I agree with you ladies and those you represent +in respect to the horrors of intemperance, and I do +not believe there are any words in the English language +sufficiently adequate to describe those horrors, I +differ entirely with you and those you represent with +reference to what you say in respect to total abstinence. +In the first place it is the part of wisdom to +regulate what you cannot eradicate. We have tried +two prohibitory laws and found they have not succeeded +in accomplishing their objects, and I may say +in this connection that I myself thirty years ago, or +nearly thirty years ago, was in the Legislature when the +Maine liquor law first came up, and voted for it for +the purpose of trying it, and it proved an utter failure. +I can understand how enthusiasts expect to make +angels of men and women, when we are told we are +somewhat lower than the angels, in their earnestness +to effect good objects, and want very much indeed to +prevent the people from drinking any intoxicating +beverage. The motive is honorable to them, but in +my humble judgment, and I say it respectfully, it shows +utter ignorance of human nature and the laws that +rule human conduct. We shall never have an era of +total abstinence, in my judgment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We admit what you say in reference +to the prohibitory liquor law.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—It is not true that the great people +of this Commonwealth, as urged here, are in favor of +prohibitory legislation, as shown by the issue at the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_599">[Pg 599]</span>polls; and these prohibitory people seem to be +“growing smaller by degrees and beautifully less.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We are not advocating a prohibitory +liquor law in this memorial.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—But you say total abstinence.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—The inability to enforce the prohibitory +liquor law arose from the absence of public +sentiment behind it to compel its enforcement.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—I differ from you there.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—Is not a law always enforced +when there is a public sentiment behind it?</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—Yes.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—Then the reason this was not enforced +is because there was not the necessary public +sentiment behind it.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—You cannot create that public sentiment.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—That is what we are trying to do.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—And your motives are honorable +and trustworthy. I have been thinking for thirty years +how to manage this question.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We have been thinking of it also +for thirty years, as we are not young women.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—I understand that. If you can satisfy +me that the great desideratum can be accomplished +you will find me on your side, as I think there is no +language adequate to express the horrors of intemperance. +You cannot accomplish your object because +it is not right it should be accomplished. I believe in +temperance in all things. I believe wine was made to +be enjoyed by man, and the fact that he abuses this +thing is no argument against its use.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_600">[Pg 600]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Richards.—Is it not moderation you mean?</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—Yes. Most of our people do use, +and moderately use, wine. Take all the wealthier +classes of Boston, they use wine; are they drunkards?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—No, sir. But I think they are +responsible for any actual drunkenness.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—Hasn’t there been a great change +come over the community in regard to drinking? +Formerly, a party could be seen tipsy and not lose the +esteem of his acquaintances, but now if a man is seen +drunk his character is ruined.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—The fact that there has been this +change is an argument for a greater change. While +we are working among the lower classes throughout +the State in our reform clubs, we are perpetually met +by the objection from both men and women, “Why +should we give up our whiskey any more than those +persons of the higher society should give up their +wine?”</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—That is no argument.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—But they are on a lower plane, +and we are accustomed to copy the manners and customs +of those above us. I believe the time will come +when it is possible for those who wish to drink wine +to say, “We take our stand on the basis of Christianity, +which demands of us that for the sake of others +we should forego the pleasures and delights which are +innocent to us in themselves, but which are so injurious +to others.”</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—In my judgment, the Prohibitionists +have set back the temperance movement by their +action.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_601">[Pg 601]</span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We are in favor of total abstinence, +and are not discussing prohibition.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—That is bringing metaphysics into +this, which I did not expect. To go back to the point +from which we diverged, in respect to the President’s +entertainment: the city of Boston desires that every +honor should be paid to the President because he is +our President.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We share that feeling.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—And I am determined that nothing +shall be left undone which can contribute to that result. +Now, to give the President a dinner without giving +him what is usual—</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—He never drinks wine; he has +never taken a drop of it in his life.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—That may or may not be.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—That is the statement of his wife.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—He is to be permitted to do just as +he pleases, but there are other gentlemen who will be +with him, members of his cabinet and others, and they +ought to receive what they have a right to expect to +receive, and it is customary on such occasions to give +wine, and I propose to give it, and I think it my duty +to give it. I represent the citizens, and my personal +character is sunk in my official position, and whatever +my constituents expect me to do on that occasion I +shall do—whatever is fit and proper to be done. I +may say in this connection, that if I were to give a +dinner in my own house I should give wine.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—That is a different affair, and we +could not interfere; but it is because you are acting +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_602">[Pg 602]</span>in an official capacity, and because the city has made +you responsible.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—Don’t you agree with me in this +proposition, that I ought to do what the citizens +expect?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—Whom do you mean by citizens—men +and women?</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—I mean the people who live in the +city of Boston; that is my notion.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—If you should do what the people +in Boston, the men and women, require you to do, +you would not give wine.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—You make that assertion. What is +the evidence that the people of Boston don’t wish me +to give wine? Satisfy me upon that point and then I +may take a different view of it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—That is our opinion.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—What is it based on?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We have attended the meetings +that have been held during the winter.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—The fact is, that wine is generally +used in the city of Boston.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—By a small proportion of the +citizens.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—I beg your pardon. I think I am +conversant with the habits of the people of Boston; I +have lived here nearly sixty years of my life.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—But the majority have not the +means to purchase wine.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—You ladies are enthusiasts. I am +glad to say it, because all orders are benefited by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_603">[Pg 603]</span>the enthusiasts. You would not accomplish anything +if you did not go into it with zeal and spirit, and if you +don’t get all you propose to get, such enthusiasm will +enable you to get half a loaf if you cannot get a whole +loaf. You have done a great deal of good, and will +do more, but you will never accomplish total abstinence, +never in the world; I don’t think you ought to. +I give you my opinion. I have five children, and have +wine on my table every day of my life.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—I hope you will never rue it.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—But none of my children will drink +it. I think, however, if I told them they could not +drink it they would try to drink it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—When six hundred of the market +people last year sat down to dinner, to the surprise of +everybody they abjured all intoxicating liquor, wine +and everything else, and it was strictly a total abstinence +festival.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—I am invited to a great many entertainments +and dinners, and am almost tired out by +attending them, yet I have never seen one without +wine.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—When the boot and shoe men +were here three weeks ago they went down the harbor, +and wine was furnished freely all through the +entertainment, and there are little stories circulating +in reference to excessive drinking on that occasion.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince (emphatically).—I take this occasion +to brand that statement as wholly untrue. I was +present, I caused the entertainment to be given, and +when the bills were sent in for the wine I was perfectly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_604">[Pg 604]</span>astonished to see what a small amount of wine was +drunk; and I take the occasion to say, that there was +not a man on board that boat that was in any way +affected by the wine he had taken; and if any citizen +or any voter doubts it he can call at the auditor’s +office and see the bills for the wine. People say these +sort of things in the excitement of partisan feeling I +suppose. Whilst, as I said before, I have great regard +and respect for these parties who are endeavoring to +reform the world, although I have very little faith they +will accomplish all they expect to accomplish, yet until +I am satisfied that the citizens of Boston do not want +me to give wine I shall give it. Satisfy me of that and +I shall be very glad not to give it, as I want to save +all the money I can. Thanking you, ladies, for calling, +and trusting I have not said anything in the excitement +of the moment which can be construed as +discourteous, I wish you good-morning.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Livermore.—We have nothing to complain of +on the score of discourtesy, but are sorry you cannot +see the matter in the light in which we view it. We +stand on a moral platform.</p> + +<p>Mayor Prince.—That is the platform to stand on. +Good-morning, ladies.</p> + +<p>Ladies.—Good-morning.</p> + +<p>The facts connected with this appeal were extensively +published. The press and the people were +generally in sympathy with the committee of ladies, +and the course of the mayor, and some of his utterances, +were severely criticized. The city council, a +short time afterward, crystallized the aroused moral +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_605">[Pg 605]</span>sentiment of the city into law, forbidding the expenditure +of public revenue in wines and liquors for dinners +and entertainments. So a substantial victory was +won.</p> + + +<h3 id="MAINE"> + MAINE. +</h3> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="BANGOR_MAINE"> + BANGOR, MAINE. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. C. V. Crossman and Miss +Mary Crosby for the following facts:</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Temperance Crusade, of Bangor, +has seen the same heart-breaking needs, the same +appalling dangers, and the same impotence of human +strength alone for the deliverance of our people, that +have moved our sisters in other cities of the land. +We have known no strength but the love of God, but +we have faith to believe that He will at length deliver +from the curse of alcoholic drink.</p> + +<p>The early messages that came of the wonderful +work that was being done in the West, thrilled deeply +the hearts that had suffered.</p> + +<p>In March, 1874, a little band of women and several +clergymen of the city, and other sympathizing friends, +met in a public prayer-meeting for strength and consecration. +Successive meetings followed, the citizens +joined in observing a day of public fasting and prayer; +and in three weeks after the first call, an organization +was effected, and a definite work was undertaken.</p> + +<p>The ladies divided into small companies; each band +had their streets to visit, and thus the city was thoroughly +canvassed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_606">[Pg 606]</span></p> + +<p>March 26th, a committee waited on the city council +with the petition asking that the prohibitory law might +be enforced.</p> + +<p>This law, which has stood upon our statute books +for a score of years, has at no period been absolutely +successful in preventing the sale of alcoholic drinks as +a beverage in <i>all</i> the communities over which its +authority extends, but is, like the laws which prohibit +swindling, burglary, and assault, broken.</p> + +<p>They were received by the council with every token +of respect, and listened to with attention and deference. +Mrs. Benj. Plummer made the opening address, +which was responded to by the mayor, who assured +them that the matter should receive the most careful +attention of that body. He then invited the ladies to +speak freely. Several responded in eloquent words +that will long be remembered.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding their kindly reception by the city +council, however, their answer was delayed until April +14th, and when received, the expectations of the petitioners +were greatly disappointed.</p> + +<p>Having petitioned the council, and canvassed the city, +saloon visiting was commenced April 25th. Earnest +and persuasive words were used, but not one of all the +number visited was induced to give up his dreadful +and unlawful traffic. Almost any body of women +would have shrank from prosecuting further this Crusade +against intemperance. But not so with these +women; failing with the vender, and with the city government, +to accomplish what they had undertaken, +they commenced their work with the victims—those +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_607">[Pg 607]</span>whose strength of mind had been destroyed by the too +free use of ardent spirits, and who were in their own +strength unable to cast off the shackles that bound +them.</p> + +<p>And what more fitting place to begin than the police +station and jail? With words of encouragement and +sympathy, they carried hot coffee and food. No man +was found inside the prison walls so low or degraded, +but that he received a friendly shake of the hand, a +“God help you.”</p> + +<p>This work was carried on at intervals for several +years.</p> + +<p>Often through the heat of summer, and the cold of +winter, one or more of these women might be seen +going on their mission of mercy to the jail.</p> + +<p>So great were the temptations around them to lead +them from their good resolutions, that the ladies determined +to open a room for their accommodation and +safety. And the “Bangor Reform Club Reading-Room,” +the first of its kind established in the world, +was opened. Its first motto was, “Malice toward none, +charity for all.” And this is still the motto of many +of the Reform Clubs of the State of Maine.</p> + +<p>The fitting up and the running expenses of this +room for the first year were paid by the Crusaders. +This reading-room is an honor and a blessing to the +city.</p> + +<p>One of the ladies says: “Here, during the winter +afternoons, the Crusaders meet to make and repair garments +to protect the unfortunates from the bitter cold. +Every Sunday evening we hold a prayer and promise +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_608">[Pg 608]</span>meeting in these rooms; men come that you could +not induce to enter a church, but it is not long before +they are ready to join the church.” Thus the meeting +becomes a stepping-stone to the church.</p> + +<p>“We find that men who have been rescued from +intemperance and its kindred vices are not satisfied +with their own redemption, but from the gratitude of +their hearts become laborers in the vineyards, cast +their nets, and become fishers of men.”</p> + +<p>This is the secret of the success of the Reform +Clubs in Maine.</p> + +<p>Dr. Henry A. Reynolds was induced to sign the +pledge at one of our public Crusade meetings. “Dare +to do right,” was his motto. And the first work he +did after signing the pledge was to persuade others +to do the same.</p> + +<p>Men who have signed the pledge, when the old +appetite for liquor is aroused, flee to this room and +divert their minds from the desire for drink by reading +and receiving good advice and encouragement from +men and women who are always to be found there +ready to help those who would, in all probability, fall +in with bad associates, and eventually break their +pledge.</p> + +<p>The Reform Club numbers four hundred and fifty, +two hundred of whom are members of the Catholic +society. Many of the members are away in different +States, but are true to their pledge.</p> + +<p>Our members have gone out to other towns—Hampden, +Newport, Oldtown, Ellsworth, and elsewhere—in +some cases organizing societies, and giving +aid and encouragement to societies already formed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_609">[Pg 609]</span></p> + +<p>It is not out of place here to mention the encouragement +and support which we now have, in the greatly +increased vigor and efficiency in the enforcement of +the prohibitory law. This is done under the administration +of the “Sheriff enforcement” act, so-called—an +amendment to the law of a few years’ standing, which +makes it the duty of the sheriff to seize liquors, upon +complaint.</p> + +<p>The vigorous enforcement of the prohibitory law +we may justly claim as one of the results of our movement, +though brought about by no direct efforts of our +own. The towns in the upper Penobscot valley have +greatly felt the benefit of the legal as well as the +moral movement.</p> + +<p>We have met with difficulties and failures, but in the +retrospect they are as nothing to the successes, and +we can but thank God and take courage.</p> + +<p>From a small spark a large fire has been kindled, +and may it burn until there is not one drop of intoxicating +liquor to be bought in our State; and not until +then shall we give up the battle.</p> + + +<h3 id="AUGUSTA_MAINE"> + AUGUSTA, MAINE. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. C. C. Hunt, Corresponding +Secretary of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union +for the State, for the following report:</p> + +<p>Our organization was quietly effected, and every +duty has been by its members as quietly discharged; +and, after the lapse of one year and three-quarters in +this conflict with rum, we feel that the work has but +just commenced.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_610">[Pg 610]</span></p> + +<p>We organized, through the appeal of Mrs. Sergeant, +President of the State Union, January 25th, 1876.</p> + +<p>About this time a Reformed Club was organized. A +soliciting committee, of ladies of different denominations, +was appointed, to secure funds to meet the +necessities of the work. A sufficient amount for furnishing +a club-room, with an excellent library, a large +number of magazines, and files of the latest papers, +was secured.</p> + +<p>Out of this fund we also expended a considerable +amount in relieving the sick of families made destitute +by the great curse.</p> + +<p>A committee was appointed to call upon the saloon-keepers, +and urge them to abandon their traffic.</p> + +<p>In this respect no success was achieved, and knowing +that the open doors were in direct violation of the +laws of the State, and desiring that the arm of the law +might be stretched forth, the ladies were not slow to +sign warrants against liquor-dealers.</p> + +<p>And, much to our satisfaction, in the month of +August, 1876, <i>seven</i> of them were sent to the county +jail. And still more was our rejoicing, when last winter +the Legislature rendered the penalty for liquor-selling +so severe that at the present time it is almost +entirely abandoned.</p> + +<p>Our city marshal has rendered us great service, in +searching out and bringing to justice these offenders. +We look forward to the coming winter, when the petition +of Neal Dow will, if received by the Legislature, +declare the liquor traffic to be a <i>felony</i>, and to be +subject to the same laws.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_611">[Pg 611]</span></p> + +<p>We recognize the power of prayer, to which we +attribute the real success which has come to us; we +stand on the solid rock, with our sisters throughout the +United States.</p> + +<p>Committees, consisting of four or five ladies, hold +religious exercises, distribute temperance and religious +tracts.</p> + +<p>At the beginning we did not fancy that the paths +were all <i>flowery</i>, and that the strongholds would crumble +at our approach; or that every woman in the city +would consider it her highest glory to join us in this +labor. Yet a goodly number have come up in the +spirit of the Master, and rendered much service in the +cause, so much needed at their hands.</p> + +<p>Our determination is firm to adhere with perseverance +to the work we have undertaken; and, above all, +to look to Him who has promised to direct the steps +of those who put their trust in Him.</p> + + +<h3 id="STROUDWATER_MAINE"> + STROUDWATER, MAINE. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. L. M. N. Stevens furnishes the following facts:</p> + +<p>In regard to crusading in Maine, we being protected +by a law, which, if we demanded its enforcement, +would be sufficient, hardly felt the need of appealing +to the rum-seller in the same way as though he was +licensed or upheld by public favor or opinion. In our +State the man who sells liquor is, and has been for +years, considered a criminal.</p> + +<p>He does not do it thoughtlessly or ignorantly, hence +the hope of converting him was very much less than in +other places.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_612">[Pg 612]</span></p> + +<p>Still there are a few instances in our State, where +sellers have been made to see themselves, as good +people see them, and have left the miserable business; +but these cases are few, compared with those who have +persisted in their evil course against prosecutions, fines, +and imprisonments, until finally they have been <i>driven</i> +to yield to the law.</p> + +<p>It may not be uninteresting to tell what I have done +in this line. In our quiet village, two and a half miles +from Portland, there has been a rum hotel for thirty +years—for the last fifteen years kept by the same man.</p> + +<p>Three years ago, when we women began to have +our first public meetings here, I saw with pain that those +people who had never been much troubled with this +hotel, did not regard it as a nuisance.</p> + +<p>The proprietor was a good-natured fellow, <i>called</i> +kind by some.</p> + +<p>How should they be brought to look upon this man +as I did? I said in a public meeting, referring to the +place and the man, perhaps he is a good man, perhaps +he is thoughtlessly doing this terrible thing. Suppose +we visit him, and talk with him? Who will volunteer? +One of our first ladies agreed to go with me. We went. +He listened to us, promised to very soon give it up, +came to our meetings occasionally, once arose and +asked for the prayers of Christian people to help him, +etc. We left nothing undone. He was daily visited +by influential men and women, who talked and prayed +with him, and if he sold at all at that time (and he +probably did) it was done very slyly.</p> + +<p>Soon his wife, a woman of his own kind, sickened, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_613">[Pg 613]</span>and died after a week’s delirious sickness, during which +she constantly begged for mercy, saying the officers +were coming to search, begging of her husband to sell +no more rum, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>Then we thought the work was done, but were still +vigilant, day after day, not bringing him where we +wanted to see him.</p> + +<p>We soon saw signs indicative of his base hypocrisy, +and although he sells more slyly than ever, still the +place is here and he is in it.</p> + +<p>You may ask why has not the law closed it before +this?</p> + +<p>During the last two years, he has paid about $2,500 +in fines, been once imprisoned and is now in bankruptcy, +and no doubt will be indicted before the grand +jury, which will effectually wind him up. Now here is +the point: I do not feel that one visit or one prayer was +lost that was made at that place.</p> + +<p>We carried the public along with us; those who +never believed we could prevail on him to do better, +were more indignant than ever; those who did believe +in him at all were interested and at last disgusted and +as indignant as their radical neighbors. The officers +of the law felt that they were supported as never +before, and worked better and more effectually.</p> + +<p>Our Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of this +place was the first in the State, and has done a wonderful +work. We hold weekly public temperance meetings +throughout the year, save the month of August.</p> + +<p>The influence that goes out from us I know is powerful. +Ministers, lawyers, and physicians do not refuse +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_614">[Pg 614]</span>to come and help us from Portland, whenever invited, +and we have been favored with many friends from +abroad. Much has been done in our State, but much +remains to be done. Many are indifferent, enjoying +the dear blessings which prohibition brings, without +realizing it. It is our mission we feel, to make them +<i>realize</i> it, as well as to lift up the fallen, of which we +have many even in our State.</p> + +<p>On the road which goes through this place from +Buxton to Portland, a distance of nineteen miles, there +were, thirty years ago, sixteen tippling shops; now there +is but one, and this the one I have written about.</p> + +<p>No stranger can get a drop there, or any one, unless +known to be true to the rum cause, and then it is +secreted sometimes in deep holes in the cellar, sometimes +near the hog-pen, etc., etc.</p> + +<p>It is curious how they evade the law so long.</p> + +<p>No change has brought this about, save the “<i>Maine +law</i>.”</p> + +<p>It is impossible to buy a glass of liquor. And in our +cities they have to sell so secretly, and under such +trying circumstances, that their very faces speak, “The +way of the transgressor is hard.” I thank God, that +this is so. My courage was never better than to-day, +and I intend always to go on in this work for the +Master.</p> + + +<h3 id="PORTLAND_MAINE"> + PORTLAND, MAINE. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. George E. Taylor for the +following statement of work:</p> + +<p>What with the conventional restraint of the women +of New England, and the work so zealously accomplished +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_615">[Pg 615]</span>in the interest of prohibition here, time had to +be taken to consider by what means we should be +marshalled into any line of appeal and action. Two +or three upon whom flashed the revelation of the +divine purpose, which supported the women of the +West in their novel protest and venture, waited upon +God, and proved, in quiet personal efforts, that in +answer to prayer the lowest and most unfortunate +might be redeemed; and they speedily dedicated +themselves to a more public declaration and service in +the line of mission work; and none of it, we believe, +has come to the ground. The most impregnable and +insolent haunt of vice was broken up, and the leader +and head of the house at last saved, and the whole +thing buried out of sight.</p> + +<p>Greater freedom of evangelistic effort was soon accorded +here, as elsewhere, to woman, in the sudden +revolution of public opinion, and these visited the jail, +and one came to lead a social Sunday service there +on alternate weeks for a year, and most interesting +were the results. At that time the prisoners had no +work, and this service was followed up by their weekly +visitations, and many were brought to the knowledge +of the truth as it is in Jesus. Some are living respectable +lives among us; others are meekly serving out +their term at the State prison; while one, whose mind +opened wonderfully to the truth, and was strangely +ennobled by it, not seeming to belong to his old self +and his kindred, has been translated to the kingdom, +the sceptre of which is a right sceptre, and its throne +forever and ever.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_616">[Pg 616]</span></p> + +<p>Waiting and watching our opportunity, the time +came for a call to the ladies of this city to what proves +to be an independent local work. With an organization +of five hundred members, and its various projects +supported by every church here, the “Woman’s +Temperance Society” of Portland, on the 4th of July +of the Centennial year, initiated its coffee-house +work, serving for the day the multitudes who flocked +from the country to the celebration, and realized its +first favor and encouragement to a permanent work.</p> + +<p>Though a very much lectured people on the subject +of temperance, it has not been from a woman’s standpoint; +and they believed that our fastidious, and of +course intelligent community, would bear a little more +of the right sort, and some very superior lectures +added to our fund and character as an organization. +On the 1st of January, 1877, we opened a coffee-house. +We have sought from the beginning to make +an impression upon refined as well as other circles +here, and prevent for another generation any revival +of the social drinking customs of polite life, to protect +our own young men, clerks, etc., from the temptation +of “tonic beer” and stronger drinks served slyly, or in +other fashion, at our eating-houses, as well as to recover +those who had fallen into this vice. The prosperity +of that coffee-house it would take time to record. +Its pecuniary exhibit is wonderful, for in these nine +months, what with favor of one sort and another, the +generous service of the ladies, and donations, we have +in the bank about fifteen hundred dollars, with which +to open, as we contemplate, a <i>Friendly Inn</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_617">[Pg 617]</span></p> + +<p>The work has been embellished with a <i>Flower +Mission</i>, under the care of young ladies, who make up, +with special interest, bouquets; now with the most +carefully selected fragrant flowers for the blind; and +then the brilliant and beautiful for the hospitals, +asylums, jail, etc., along with the street distribution of +loose flowers to children and others who rarely see or +handle any.</p> + +<p>We have also here a <i>Diet Mission</i>, with head-quarters +at the coffee-house, served by ladies devoted to it, who +prepare, at their own homes, nourishing food and +delicacies for the sick, answering the call of physicians, +clergymen, or other responsible parties in behalf of the +sick and unfortunate.</p> + +<p>This society also supports a mission at the city +station-house, employing a woman to look for those of +her own sex who are committed there through fault +of drunkenness, or vice of other sort, or accident.</p> + +<p>The story of this whole work of the Woman’s +Temperance Society of Portland would fill many +chapters of a book. There are most interesting incidents +connected with every branch of it; and to a good +many the coffee-house has been a place of decision and +reform; the poor and distressed, and the helpless +victim of his own weakness and folly, have been comforted +by it; and with its elegant appointments it +appeals to the patronage of everybody, and has carried +us leagues ahead in the controversy of this principle +of total abstinence, and laid the foundation, we believe, +of a good work for a generation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_618">[Pg 618]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="OLD_ORCHARD_BEACH"> + OLD ORCHARD BEACH. +</h3> + +<p>The first temperance camp-meeting, as far as is +known, ever held in the world, was on this beautiful +camp-ground. The workers of the Woman’s Temperance +Union have been there, and helped to make +that first meeting, and all subsequent ones, successful. +The Governor of the State, accompanied by other +State dignitaries, is always present to speak at the +opening meeting. Neal Dow, the sturdy temperance +champion, who has done more than perhaps any other +man to make the liquor traffic unlawful and disreputable, +attends these meetings, and his temperance +trumpet gives no uncertain sound. All classes are +represented, from the highest officials of the State to +the lowest drunkards of Portland, a seaport town, +where, even against law, liquors can be smuggled in +and sold secretly. The reformed men of the State +come to these gatherings in crowds, and take a prominent +part in the services.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_619">[Pg 619]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + MICHIGAN. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI"> + CHAPTER XI. +</h2> +</div> + +<p>The facts in regard to the work in Michigan are +gathered from their Centennial volume.</p> + +<p>The book is very voluminous, and contains a complete +record of the work, and is beautifully gotten +up on uniform paper, and embellished with pictures.</p> + +<p>This volume, which was prepared for the Centennial, +and is to go into the State Historical Society, has been +kindly sent that I may gather the most important facts +connected with the history of their work for this book.</p> + +<p>Michigan had a prohibitory law, but public sentiment +was not sufficiently aroused to enforce it, and the +liquor-dealers of the State pursued their traffic, in defiance +of the law, openly. The Woman’s Temperance +Crusade, and the more recent labors of Dr. Reynolds +and his coadjutors, have entirely changed the aspect +of affairs; the entire liquor business seems to have +been effectually broken down.</p> + + +<h3 id="ADRIAN_MICHIGAN"> + ADRIAN, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>After holding prayer-meetings for some time, and +canvassing the city for signatures to the pledge, a +mass-meeting was held in the Opera House, March +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_620">[Pg 620]</span>9th, 1874. This proved one of the largest and most +enthusiastic meetings ever held in the city. The immense +building was insufficient to contain the crowd, +and the Presbyterian Church, which was opened for an +overflow meeting, was filled in a few moments. These +meetings were addressed by the leading men and +women of the city. Work was at once entered upon; +after some discussion the ladies commenced their +visits to the saloons, under the leadership of Mrs. +Daniel Benedict, Mrs. William Benson, and Mrs. Norman +Geddes. Two hundred women in solemn procession +filed slowly out of the house of God into the +streets, and into the saloons. All business for the +time was suspended. Women crowded to the windows; +men gathered in masses in the street, all gazing +silently as the band proceeded on their mission. The +saloon-keepers, who did not expect them, looked on +with confusion and alarm; the hotels and some of the +saloons were visited, the proprietors receiving them +with respect and deference, and at all these places +religious services were held.</p> + +<p>Public sentiment in favor of temperance seemed to +be rapidly increasing, and words of encouragement +came to them from the surrounding country, and delegations +were sent out to the neighboring villages to +organize the work. Many women, who for years had +in silence borne the curse of strong drink in their +own homes, were led to hope for better days, and +came timidly forward to urge them on.</p> + +<p>On the 17th March, the band visited Towl’s saloon. +Mrs. L. R. Damon and T. P. Thompson, the leaders, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_621">[Pg 621]</span>were admitted, and the door immediately locked. The +band which remained on the street became alarmed +for their safety, thinking they were forcibly detained. +Great excitement prevailed throughout the city; business +was suspended, and an excited multitude gathered +about the saloon, filling all the adjacent streets. The +women inside, unaware of the excitement in the city, +continued their prayers and pleadings with the proprietor +until eleven o’clock at night. As the band still +remained at the saloon, the proprietor wanted to +know what he had done, and what the women wanted +of him: immediately the band sang, “Dare to do right, +dare to be true.” Again he came to the door, and +exclaimed, “I’m tired of this! yes, I’m tired of this!” +Immediately the ladies responded in song, “There is +rest for the weary.” At last he could endure it no +longer, and fled from the place. A few days afterwards +the saloon was closed.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Tuesday, March 18th, pickets +were stationed at every place where it was known +that intoxicating liquors were sold. This was very +destructive to the business of the saloon-keepers, as +under the public sentiment then existing, but few had +the hardihood to frequent these places. The success +of the work began to be most cheering. North Main +street, almost entirely abandoned to liquor shops, and +at night ablaze with the light of its saloons, was now +in darkness. Other parts of the city showed like +results. On the 20th March, the doors of nearly +every saloon in the city apparently were closed, and +the open sale of intoxicating liquors had nearly +ceased; some of the dealers had signed the pledge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_622">[Pg 622]</span></p> + +<p>The annual city election occurring the 6th of April, +an all-day prayer-meeting was held in the Presbyterian +Church, and a mass-meeting held in the evening +at the same place. Every saloon was picketed. +The result was a quiet, orderly election. Women, who +had learned to look on election days with dread and +terror, reported to us with gratitude, that their husbands +had returned to their homes sober, for the first +time in many years.</p> + +<p>The picket system was discontinued, and vigilance +committees appointed to gather up evidence with +a view of prosecuting the violators of law. The +State law was prohibitory, but a city ordinance provided +for license. A petition was presented to the +city council requesting them to make the sale of +intoxicating liquors in violation of law a forfeiture of +their license, but the council declined to act in the +matter, and all efforts were of no avail.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of June a band of ladies visiting a saloon +on north Main street had scarcely entered, when the +wife of the saloon-keeper angrily ordered them to +depart, and before they could leave the place, hastily +locked them in. Here the ladies were detained, thirteen +of them, from five o’clock in the afternoon until +eleven o’clock at night. At a signal from the woman +a motley and excited crowd of saloon and barkeepers, +and their associates and companions, besieged the +building, filling all the street, and keeping away all +who would approach to assist or even to communicate +with the imprisoned ladies, and there they remained, +surging about with oaths, and jeering and threatening +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_623">[Pg 623]</span>demonstrations lest the ladies should escape. Within +the rear room of the saloon, and separated from the +band only by a half partition, was another crowd of barkeepers, +a German Catholic priest, an alderman and +others, half-inebriated, singing, drinking, and shouting +with boisterous profanity, influencing and inciting the +proprietor and his infuriated wife against the band, +and filling all the room where the ladies were with +suffocating clouds of smoke. And so the band was +kept most of the time in darkness, all communication +with their friends cut off, no ventilation of the foul +atmosphere permitted, while resort was had to every +means, short of personal violence, to harass, annoy, +and intimidate these imprisoned women, until by the +interposition of the mayor they were released.</p> + +<p>This was the answer of the saloon-keepers to the +prayerful, tearful appeals of the best Christian women +of the city in behalf of temperance.</p> + +<p>Early in the progress of the movement it became +evident that many of the saloon-keepers could not +be reached by moral suasion, and that law must be +resorted to for the suppression of the traffic. A large +number of suits were commenced, the business men +of the city backing up the movement by a subscription +of $3,000. Delegations of ladies from the Union +attended nearly all these public trials. The anti-temperance +people became very bitter and vindictive, +and openly manifested their hostility. Several of the +ladies attending these trials had their dresses cut and +despoiled by persons in the crowd, and one gentleman, +a Mr. Brown, who assisted in the suits, was murderously +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_624">[Pg 624]</span>assaulted with a knife in the hands of a +woman.</p> + +<p>The ladies finding it impossible to secure the services +of officers who would perform their duty under +the law for the suppression of the traffic, finally abandoned +this branch of the work.</p> + +<p>There were three hundred and two members of the +band, and two hundred and thirteen meetings were +held during the first year, and $693.43 expended +in the work.</p> + +<p>The number of licensed saloons in the city when the +Union first sent out its praying bands was fifty-two; in +less than ten days from that time all these were virtually +closed, and remained so for more than six +weeks. The result was, that our jails soon became +empty for the first time in the history of our county, +with one exception only, which occurred in the early +settlement of the State. The average jail and criminal +expenses of the county previous to the temperance +movement was $1,000 per month, <i>but during the time +the saloons were closed these expenses were only $50 per +month</i>—a saving per month of $950.</p> + +<p>The women now saw the importance of organized +and persistent work, and prepared for a long conflict. +A reading-room was opened, a juvenile society was +organized, and by systematic work the business is +gradually being overthrown.</p> + +<p>More recently a reform movement, under the leadership +of Dr. Reynolds, has drawn tens of thousands +of drinking men away from the saloons. This has +crippled the saloon-keepers hopelessly. Many of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_625">[Pg 625]</span>leading men of the State and politicians have signed +the pledge, and now give their moral support to the +Woman’s Temperance Union and the Reform Club; +so victory is assured. One of the Vice-Presidents of +the National Union, Mrs. Jane M. Geddes, is one of +the prominent and efficient workers of the society.</p> + + +<h3 id="LANSING_MICHIGAN"> + LANSING, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>On the 24th March, 1874, the first public meeting +was called; about sixty women were present. On the +following Sunday, a union service was held in the +Opera Hall, which was tendered free of charge. The +hall was crowded, and the meeting enthusiastic. The +town was canvassed with a view of securing the co-operation +of business men for the immediate suppression +of the traffic. Seven hundred dollars were subscribed +to aid the women to carry out legal measures. +The saloons were visited, but the proprietors refused to +sign the dealers’ pledge. In reference to the opinion +which the dealers themselves held in regard to their +occupation, but one dealer was found in the length +and breadth of the city who said he considered his +calling honorable.</p> + +<p>The Rev. David Crosby, of the first Baptist Church, +by his own personal efforts, raised and placed in the +hands of the Union $1,200.</p> + +<p>The work was continued by mass-meetings, saloon +visiting, personal appeals, and tract distribution, until +May 5th, 1874, when the legal work was commenced. +The women attended the trials, which were held before +Justice Green. The stairway leading to the court +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_626">[Pg 626]</span>was dark, the room illy ventilated, and furnished with +wooden benches. Yet not one case out of the twenty-eight +was tried between May 5th, and September +24th, that the women were not present. Undismayed +and unflinchingly they sat in the court-room with its +repulsive surroundings, in the summer afternoons, +with the sun beating in at uncurtained windows, +though the thought of cool parlors at home tempted +them. The following summary will show the general +line of work and the results up to September 24th, +1874:</p> + +<p>Summons issued, forty-four; trials had, twenty-eight; +withdrawn, by pledge to quit, three; convictions, +twenty-three; acquittals, two; disagreement of the +jury, three; no trial on account of justice being sick, +four; suits on docket for trial, twenty-three. Results: +convictions of men, twenty; convictions of women, +three; saloons closed up to date, six; saloons remaining +in the city, twenty-eight; fines imposed, $750; +fines paid, $175; cost imposed, including attorneys’ +fees, $419.63; costs collected, $109.48.</p> + +<p>The legal work aroused a spirit of anger. It was +reported that one saloon-keeper said that there was +nothing to fear as long as the women remained in +the church to pray. Under the heavy blows of the +Woman’s Union the saloons in Lansing decreased in +six months from forty-one to twenty-eight, and the +traffic remained crippled, until the State Legislature +repealed a prohibitory law, and enacted a tax law; +under this fostering care of the State authorities, the +hope and business of liquor-dealers revived.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_627">[Pg 627]</span></p> + +<p>But the women are not discouraged or defeated. A +Reform Club and a Young People’s Society have been +organized, and a reading-room established; and by +systematic and persistent work, they are pushing the +battle and expect the victory.</p> + + +<h3 id="JACKSON_MICHIGAN"> + JACKSON, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>In the month of February, 1874, Rev. J. H. McCarty, +D. D., pastor of the first M. E. Church, issued +a call for a union temperance meeting, to be held in +the Methodist Church. Responsive to this call, the +pastors of nearly all of the orthodox churches came +together, with their working members.</p> + +<p>There was a very enthusiastic meeting, and for +several days such meetings were held. Finally, the +ladies were encouraged to organize and begin Crusade +work. The pastors promised their hearty support +and encouragement. The ladies organized a society +known as “The Ladies’ Temperance Union,” of Jackson.</p> + +<p>The ladies visited some saloons, but without any +perceptible results. The saloon-keepers knew that +they had the support of the majority of the business +men of the place, and so were coolly defiant.</p> + +<p>A large and enthusiastic meeting was held, March +12th, in the Opera House, and the clergy committed +themselves unreservedly to the work. The exercises +consisted of speeches and songs, and Mrs. L. E. Allen, +President of the Union, read the following original +poem, in which is embodied the experience of a lady +living in Jackson:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_628">[Pg 628]</span></p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Pale were the lips which uttered this story, not long ago,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the eyes were dim with a sorrow which cometh from human woe;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the words came low and broken from the torn and bleeding heart,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where years on years had rankled the pain of a poisoned dart.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“’Twas a fearful night in the winter, the winter of sixty-four,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When round my lowly dwelling the wild winds beat and tore;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The rain which in daylight had fallen had turned to a frozen sleet,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And lay like a sheet of silver adown the desolate street.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">’Twas long and long after midnight, I waited and waited alone—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">None, none but my God to be near me, and list to my desolate moan.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">My light shone out in the darkness, my fire was burning bright,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For my husband, my erring husband, was out in the fearful night.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“And colder I grew in my terror—I had waited so long, so long</div> + <div class="verse indent0">(For my heart to the wreck of my idol still hopefully, tenderly clung).</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Then I thought I heard his footsteps come staggering on through the gloom,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And they sent a chill to my heartstrings like the threat of a terrible doom.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And nearer they came, and nearer, and paused by the outer door,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And I heard a voice and footstep I had never heard before.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">I opened the door affrighted, and saw but a stranger face,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where the flush of the fatal wine cup had crimsoned and left its trace.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“‘Come, hasten!’ he said, ‘good woman, your husband is dead with drink,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the man who sold him the poison has a heart as black as ink,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And he swears he will turn him helpless out into the storm to lie,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">When he knows that out in the tempest alone he would perish and die.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Perhaps if you went to his rescue, and whispered a word in his ear,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">He might waken from out his stupor and hearken the message to hear.</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_629">[Pg 629]</span> <div class="verse indent0">You never need fear to trust me, for I am my own worst foe;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But I hated to see him lying all dead and cold in the snow.’</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“So I wrapped my garments about me, to shield me as best I might,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And went, with a drunken stranger, out into the pitiless night—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Down through the streets of the city, down to the haunts beneath,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Where the soul is chained to a monster that clingeth and clingeth till death.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Oh! the sight that darkened my vision, may you never witness, I pray,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For there lay the one I had promised to honor, and love, and obey.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">He opened his eyes in wonder as he heard the unwonted sound</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Of my voice in that den of terror, and dizzily looked around.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Then the little of manhood in him came out in a flush on his face;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And, upheld by myself and the stranger, he staggering left the place.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Fiercely the storm king assailed us, and pierced us through like a knife;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But we thought not of storm or tempest, for we fought for a human life.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Home where the lamplight waited, home to a living death</div> + <div class="verse indent0">(For life in the soul is not cherished by giving or taking of breath),</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And I sat in my helpless sorrow and pleaded and prayed to die,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">For death were a hundred-fold sweeter than the living agony.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“So many a night have I sought him, ’twixt midnight and break of day,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And out of that place of torment have led him reeling away.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Oh! those fearful walks in the darkness, I can never, no, never, forget;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the glimmer of starlight splendor sends a shudder over me yet.</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_630">[Pg 630]</span> </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Then he went to his country’s rescue, himself but a tyrant’s slave—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the wreck of his noble manhood now sleeps in a nameless grave.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">While my heart was crushed and bleeding, my cry was, day by day:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">‘How long shall the wicked triumph? how long shall Thy people pray?’</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“So the plaintive story ended, so the pale lips paused to say:</div> + <div class="verse indent0">‘Say to the women of Jackson there is need for them to pray.’</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Ah! need, for the cry is ringing from city, and hamlet, and plain,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">While we feel the silent pleadings of the millions that are slain.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Need! for the fight grows fiercer, and madly the red wine flows;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And the record is growing longer—the record of human woes.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“How long, O Lord, shall Thy children sit idle, and fearful, and dumb,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">While thousands are falling around us, all ruined and wrecked by rum.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Let the bondage of self be broken, and set all Thy people free,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Till the world shall be rid of this evil, and brought to a knowledge of Thee.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>The Hurd House saloon was among the first visited. +The clerk received them politely, but the crowd on the +street were disposed to be abusive. A saloon-keeper +made a mock prayer, which was so vulgar that he was +afterwards arrested for the offence. A total abstinence +pledge was circulated, but very few of the prominent +business men, or church members would sign it. So +low was the temperance sentiment that nearly all of the +drug stores sold liquor by the glass, to whoever wanted +it, regardless of law or order.</p> + +<p>The law which required the saloons to be closed on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_631">[Pg 631]</span>Sunday was openly defied and scoffed at. The ladies +sent a petition to the common council, requesting the +enforcement of the Sunday law; but it was laid upon +the table, no attention whatever being paid to it.</p> + +<p>A vigilance committee was appointed, and a number +of saloon-keepers were arrested for breaking the Sunday +law. They were tried before the courts, and, +although abundant and reliable proof was produced, +yet judge and jury conspired to render a verdict of +acquittal.</p> + +<p>Outdoor meetings were held during the spring and +summer, under the supervision of Mrs. Mary T. Lathrop +and Mrs. A. H. Brown, both of them indefatigable +workers in the temperance cause.</p> + +<p>The daily meetings were continued for about three +months, after which they were held weekly. These +continued for a while; but the churches were so indifferent, +and public sentiment so opposed, that after a +while the meetings were abandoned entirely.</p> + +<p>But of late there is a new interest being awakened +on the temperance question, and may God speed the +day when this nation shall put this great enemy of intemperance +under her feet, and shall stand before the +world purified and saved.</p> + + +<h3 id="GRAND_RAPIDS_MICHIGAN"> + GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>A Woman’s Prohibition Society was organized in +this town in 1872. The circumstance leading to this +action was the wrongs and sufferings of a woman of +intelligence and culture, whose husband was a victim +of the drink habit. The existence of this society was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_632">[Pg 632]</span>maintained up to the Crusade. The heroic little band, +with fresh hope and courage, renewed their work. One +public house turned out its bar, one wholesale grocery +gave up the liquor trade, a few small retail saloons +were shut up; sixteen out of eighteen signed the druggists’ +pledge.</p> + +<p>Many who professed Christianity withheld their aid +and sympathy: none were quicker to see this than the +saloon-keepers, and taking advantage of this indecision, +the liquor ring sent out its messengers, with the threat +that business and political patronage would be withheld +from all who had anything to do with the temperance +cause. Covert threats were also sent out, warning +persons of danger to their property; and men of wealth +and influence, some of them pillars in the church and +society, sold their principles, allowed their convictions +to be silenced, and even went so far as to desire their +wives to discontinue their open connection with the +Woman’s Temperance Union. There were honorable +exceptions, however—men who stood by their principles.</p> + +<p>Noble and influential women of the city, who had +formerly been active in the Woman’s Prohibition +Society, stood aloof, having no faith in the present +movement.</p> + +<p>In all these discouragements, the earnest women +engaged in the work only saw the valley of humiliation +through which they must pass before they ascend to +the mount of victory.</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. L. Bois is the President, and Mrs. E. S. +Eggleston, Corresponding Secretary.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_633">[Pg 633]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="COLD_WATER_MICHIGAN"> + COLD WATER, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>After several preliminary meetings for prayer and +conference, a mass-meeting was held, April 16th, 1874, +at the M. E. Church. Twelve ladies passed through +the audience and secured 177 names as workers, which +was soon augmented to 200.</p> + +<p>The men said they were ashamed to have the women +do the work, and formed a committee for the purpose +of doing the work themselves. The women waited +patiently, then sent a committee to inquire as to their +success. They told the ladies to keep quiet, that they +were doing all they could, but it took time to accomplish +such a great work. What the men really did +was to give the liquor-dealers thirty days time to quit +the business, or in other words, to give them that much +time to perfect their arrangements to sell secretly. +Not a single saloon was closed, and now they tell the +women tauntingly, that they did not intend to close the +saloons, but took this means to prevent the women +from working. But amid all these discouragements, +the women are pushing their work, trusting in God for +the victory.</p> + +<p class="right"> + Mrs. Dr. <span class="smcap">Geo. Ferguson</span>, Secretary. +</p> + + +<h3 id="EATON_RAPIDS_MICHIGAN"> + EATON RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>The work began in this town in March, 1874; the +first visit to the saloons was by a committee of six ladies; +soon afterwards they went in a body. One of their visits +was to a first-class hotel, where they asked the privilege +of prayer; the landlord objected, said he would +have no noise or excitement in his house, as his wife +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_634">[Pg 634]</span>was very sick, but all the time he was making a great +noise himself. “Very well,” said the leader, “we will +have a season of silent prayer,” to which he replied, +“Pray away, that’s your privilege,” and turning, walked +to the other side of the room; at a wave from the +leader’s hand, they all knelt on the office floor; the +rustle of their dresses attracted his attention; he turned +and came to them like an enraged tiger. A lady (her +husband at that time was drinking terribly), whose +countenance was indicative of a broken heart, was +kneeling in front of the others. The enraged proprietor +caught this pale, trembling, heart-broken Christian +lady, and hurled her with violence against the rest, +saying: “Get out! I won’t have it: get out, get out.” +Rising as quietly as possible the ladies passed out, the +proprietor busying himself pushing and scolding those +in the rear. The ladies were sad, but not disappointed. +The next day double the number convened for action.</p> + +<p>Not many months passed till that beautiful house lay a +mass of charred ruins. The next day the leader of the +band, the marshal of the village by her side, visited the +Spring House; after singing and prayer, the mother-in-law +of the bartender, who stood beside the proprietor, +opened her mouth, and the Lord filled it with a stream of +eloquence most touching, most pathetic. Fifteen minutes +after they left the room the proprietor closed out his +bar, saying, while the tears ran down his face, “No one +need ever tell me again there is no power in prayer.” +The whole community seemed aroused, by seeing the +procession of ladies; others could not bear to look at +them; men who did not consider themselves temperance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_635">[Pg 635]</span>men declared they could think of nothing else night +or day; ministers who had lacked interest became +radical. At length it was thought wise to petition the +village board: accordingly a committee of eight ladies +presented a petition. Their prayer was granted, and +the marshal instructed to order the bars closed the next +morning. From that time until the change in the law, +liquor was not sold openly and defiantly. During the +first week of the license, or tax law, there were more +drunkards on the streets than in the six months previous.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 1.5em;">Mrs. <span class="smcap">Ira Turney</span>, President.</span><br> +<br> + Mrs. <span class="smcap">J. E. Sweezey</span>, Secretary. +</p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_BOSTON_MICHIGAN"> + NEW BOSTON, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>The following incident led to the commencement +of the work in this place. A lady died in Ohio, who +had formerly lived in New Boston, and whose son +was still living there, on the ancestral farm, but he +had learned to love the fatal cup, and his career had +given his mother much sorrow. She was in the Crusade +of Ohio, and it was her purpose to go to New +Boston and inaugurate a Crusade to save her son. +But God called her home, and her husband brought +her body to be buried there, and told the story. A +deep interest was aroused, and the Christian women +felt called to take up this work that the mother had +laid down.</p> + +<p>There were, at that time, two saloons and one tavern +in successful operation in the village. Two of them +did more business on the Sabbath than on any other +day of the week; gambling was constantly practised +in all; and the minister, as he passed to his church, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_636">[Pg 636]</span>could count more men and boys about the tavern +doors than he could in the church. The women commenced +by ascertaining how many in the village and +vicinity were willing to give their aid and influence. +All professed themselves more than willing. A committee +was appointed to visit the saloon-keepers, and +talk kindly with them, and urge them to give up a +business that was ruining themselves as well as their +unhappy victims. Two agreed to close their doors if +all would; the third, a German, who kept a den that +for vileness could hardly be surpassed, was determined +to sell in spite of them.</p> + +<p>It was ascertained that less than $75 would purchase +all the liquors in the place and close out the +saloons, but the temperance men objected to it, and +the women abandoned that project. Mass-meetings +and saloon visiting continued, and such enthusiasm +was aroused, that two of the saloonists moved away, +leaving only the defiant, law-breaking German in the +business. He was backed up by a man of considerable +influence, who received from the government a large +salary, as a sort of pseudo revenue officer. The ladies +went <i>en masse</i> to the saloon of this German. He received +them with considerable trepidation, and would have +run away, but for the loungers in the bar-room, who +detained him; but his wife, an ignorant and depraved +woman, soon appeared on the scene, and commenced +like Saul of Tarsus to breathe out threatenings and +slaughter. When this man’s courage would falter, +under the earnest appeals of wives and mothers, the +bar-room loungers would jeer and offer insult, to break +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_637">[Pg 637]</span>the force of their words. They found there not only +opposition, but an atmosphere of corruption and vice, +and real danger, but they did not falter. On visiting +the place again, they found two gray-headed old men, +both of whom had held the highest office in the gift +of their fellow-townsmen, one of them the pseudo +revenue officer before mentioned. They were just in +the act of drinking at the bar as they entered. No +words can do justice to the scene. They knew that +the women were on the alert for evidence to convict +the liquor-seller, and they might be used to convict +the man they were laboring so hard to sustain. They +tried to hide themselves behind each other, or behind +the stove, or anything that promised to protect them +from view, the little band of determined women being +between them and the door.</p> + +<p>Having secured sufficient evidence they determined +to prosecute the German dealer. They called upon the +temperance men to subscribe each a small amount, but +with one accord they all began to make excuse, except +two; the merchant pleaded that he had no shutters to +his store front; the doctor thought it would hurt his +practice; the politician feared loss of votes; the farmer +dreaded a girdled orchard, and it was only after long +marching and much pleading that $10 was secured to +fee an able lawyer, who undertook this case for that. +The day of trial arrived. They went in force to an +adjoining town, where the case was to be tried before +an honorable temperance justice of the peace.</p> + +<p>Their witnesses nearly all disappointed them; some, +they had reason to believe, perjured themselves. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_638">[Pg 638]</span>jury retired at nine <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span> One, two, three hours passed +away, and no verdict. But just as the hands of the +clock in the county school-house, where the trial took +place on this Saturday night, pointed five minutes to +twelve, the jury appeared and announced, amid the +most solemn stillness, the verdict, “Guilty.” The +justice, with an eye on the clock, pronounced the +sentence—a fine, or imprisonment till the fine was +paid. With happy hearts they started for their homes, +feeling that victory was about to crown their efforts. +But the authorities did not enforce the collection of +the fine, and the drinking, gambling, and Sunday +desecration continued. Again they arrested him for +keeping his saloon open on the Sabbath. He was +tried before a resident justice, a professing Christian. +The man pleaded guilty, and was fined only five dollars. +He was delighted, and exultingly paid his fine. Again +they arrested him for allowing minors to gamble in his +house. He was tried before another justice, a man +who had said he would sacrifice five hundred dollars, +and move away, if that very house was not closed. +The dealer pleaded guilty, and was fined three dollars. +The man laughingly declared he could well afford that, +as the previous Sunday he had made from his gaming +table thirty dollars.</p> + +<p>The women were now thoroughly convinced that +the men who had so loudly talked temperance could +not be depended upon. The town board had promised +to stand by the ladies in their efforts to suppress +the illegal traffic; but in the first case the fine was not +collected, and in the other two they were too small to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_639">[Pg 639]</span>be felt, although imposed for grave offences. The next +Sabbath the passers-by, on their way to church, were +pained, as usual, by the open doors, sounds of dice, +card-playing, and swearing, as though it were all perfectly +legitimate. As the traffic was sustained by the +officers of the law, the ladies deemed it unwise to continue +the legal work.</p> + +<p>During all this time the vile spirit of rum manifested +itself in lawlessness and deeds of violence. One of +the workers was the wife of a merchant, who was +moving his building from one lot to another. The +whiskey party gathered near the place; rum flowed as +free as water, and a fight occurred that beggars description. +Infuriated with the vile stuff, they seized +sticks and clubs, and struck friend and foe alike. +Women and children rushed to the rescue, and then +fled in terror from the scene. One mother, who recognized +her son among the combatants, was with difficulty +restrained from going to his rescue. His young +wife, regardless of the fast-falling blows, rushed to his +aid, and the poor, beaten wretch, unworthy of so much +womanly sympathy, was finally saved from what might +have been a fearful death. The merchant received +friendly warning that his building was in danger of +being fired. On the night of the 3d of July, the +whiskey party placed three anvils within eight feet of +the glass front of this man’s store, and loaded them +with gunpowder, and fired them, knowing at the time +that the husband was absent, and that the wife, with +her three little children, one an infant, was in the house +alone. The yell of disappointed rage that broke from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_640">[Pg 640]</span>them as the smoke cleared away, and they found that +not one of the large lights was broken, made night +hideous. About an hour later, one man, more noisy +than discreet, shouted, in drunken tones, “Let’s fire +the blind man’s store!” The object of their fiendish +malice was totally blind, and had been brought up +amongst them from childhood, and was every way +worthy of their respect, his only fault being earnest +devotion to the cause of temperance. Failing to otherwise +injure his building, they defaced it by writing, +during the night, offensive epithets in large letters. +On one occasion they bought a keg of beer, and built a +bonfire in front of his house, and with orgies that would +have graced pandemonium, drank it to the dregs.</p> + +<p>A large stone was thrown through the window of a +sleeping-room in the house of another member of the +Union with such force as to break the plastering on +the opposite side of the room, and greatly endanger +the sleepers. Two of these disturbers of the peace +reaped their reward within a short time. Leaving the +tavern intoxicated one dark night, one journeyed +north, the other south, on the railroad track. One fell +through the bridge into the dark river below, and his +body lay there a week before it was known what had +become of him. The other was found the next morning +in a culvert, a mangled corpse, by his own daughter, +who had been sent by the anxious wife and mother, +after a night of sleepless anxiety, to search for him.</p> + +<p>And still the wives and mothers weep, and watch, +and pray, for still the fearful work of ruin goes on. +The ladies attribute their failure to the cowardice and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_641">[Pg 641]</span>instability of the temperance men, who have made +their village a reproach and a by-word in the land.</p> + + +<h3 id="PORTLAND_MICHIGAN"> + PORTLAND, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>On March 30th, 1874, a citizens’ temperance convention +was held at Bower’s Hall, presided over by Dr. +M. B. Beers. At this meeting Rev. A. March, Presbyterian, +suggested that the ladies should assist in +forwarding the cause of temperance. They needed no +second invitation. A meeting was held the next +morning, and the town districted and canvassed for +names to the several pledges.</p> + +<p>April 2d, 1874, a lawsuit against a saloonist for +unlawful sale of liquors was instituted by the village +board. The ladies attended the trial. Defendant was +convicted and fined $25. When the decision was +announced, the ladies sang “Glory Hallelujah,” and +the criminal joined in the chorus. The saloons, hotels, +drug stores, and all places where liquors were sold, +were visited. The front doors of the saloons were +locked, dealers absent, business seemed to be closed. +The man, who was tried and fined $25, afterwards gave +up the business and signed the pledge.</p> + +<p>April 14th, 1874, out of a population of fifteen hundred, +eight hundred had enrolled their names on the +pledge. The five saloons in active operation at the +beginning of the Crusade were all closed; hard cider +banished from the restaurants, and the druggists +pledged to sell only for mechanical and medicinal purposes. +The women thanked God and took courage. +Liquors were reshipped or sold by the sheriff. Only +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_642">[Pg 642]</span>one of all the saloonists visited talked defiantly and +insultingly. He was promptly arrested and dragged +before Justice A. J. Southard, there to answer for his +misdemeanor. All his courage forsook him, and under +the pretence of seeking a witness in the hall, he left +the court-room, dashed down the steps, and away, +and was lost to the court and the town. The next +day two of the ladies, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Showman, +took the train in which he was making good +his escape. In great terror, he thought of jumping +from the cars, but was restrained by a friend. He is +now honestly laboring in an adjoining town for a +livelihood.</p> + +<p>The effect, however, of the tax law was to revive the +hopes of the liquor party, and make it more difficult to +resist the tide of evil. But these noble women are holding +the fort, and hopefully persevering in their labors +for universal sobriety.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 8.0em;"><span class="smcap">Hattie E. S. Cole</span>,</span><br> + Chairman of Committee on History of Woman’s<br> + <span style="margin-right: 12.0em;">Temperance Crusade.</span> +</p> + + +<h3 id="HOWELL_MICHIGAN"> + HOWELL, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>A society was organized at this place, April, 1874. +Saloon visitations followed. At first every door was +closed against the women, and meetings were held on +the sidewalks. No indignities were offered to the +ladies except at the hotel of Mr. Johnson, but he was +arrested and taken to prison. After this, the saloon +doors were opened, and we held meetings in the +saloons for ten days, when all the saloon-keepers +agreed to close. The ladies were bound to believe +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_643">[Pg 643]</span>these promises, but every art that wicked men could +devise was resorted to, to carry on the traffic secretly. +When interrogated in regard to the reports, they +would invariably deny that they were selling. A committee +was appointed to obtain evidence, and at the +session of the grand jury, June, 1874, over one hundred +witnesses were sworn, and testified to having drank at +the saloons after the promise was given to the ladies to +quit selling. Every saloon-keeper in the village was +indicted. They were required to give bail, and there +it ended. A number of suits for violation of the law +were held before a justice of the peace, E. B. Gregory. +All were lost by the disagreement of the jury, except +one. The board of supervisors withheld the fees of +Squire Gregory, because he was a temperance man.</p> + +<p>All hopes of accomplishing anything in this direction +were cut off. The ladies, though defeated in human +courts, were as determined as ever. Tracts were +written and printed, and distributed throughout the +town and county. Temperance prayer-meetings and +mass-meetings were held, a children’s organization +was formed, and petitions and pledges circulated, and +still they work on and pray on, and victory is crowning +their efforts.</p> + +<p class="right"> + Mrs. <span class="smcap">R. V. Huntington</span>,<br> + <span style="margin-right: 2.0em;">Mrs. <span class="smcap">H. G. W. Fry</span>,</span><br> + <span style="margin-right: 3.0em;">Mrs. <span class="smcap">S. T. Lyon</span>.</span> +</p> + + +<h3 id="ALLEGAN_MICHIGAN"> + ALLEGAN, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>The ladies began in this town, February 19th, 1874, +by sending a postal card to each of the saloon proprietors, +urging them in the name of law and order to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_644">[Pg 644]</span>cease their illegal traffic, assuring them that if they did +not do so, more decided measures would be taken. +The town was canvassed for workers, and on Wednesday +morning, March 4th, a consecration meeting was +held at the Presbyterian Church. From the church they +marched to Cook’s saloon, and finding the door closed, +they held their prayer-meeting in the street, singing +as their battle-song, “We’re listed in the holy war, +battling for the Lord;” and, “I’m glad I’m in this +army.” From thence the band proceeded to H. S. +Strong’s saloon. Above the door was a black placard +bearing the words, “Closed for Prayers.” The ladies +were admitted, and treated with deference. All the +saloons were visited. At the close of the week there +were two less saloons. Another man returned his +stock of liquors, and engaged in other business. The +proprietor of the City Hotel, being notified by the +owner of the building to cease the sale of liquors, +stated that he had decided to keep a temperance +house. A German saloon-keeper was visited: he was +very uncivil and abusive, and went on with the sale of +liquor in their presence. The ladies entered complaint +before Justice Babbit, and by his own admission +he was convicted as a common seller, and fined fifty +dollars and costs. Other suits followed, seven of +them damage suits for large amounts. In the meantime +the Crusade band continued to visit saloons, and +hold religious exercises, and by the fourth week the +saloons were virtually closed. A petition was presented +to the common council for a prohibitory law, +but the council dallied, deferring action from week to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_645">[Pg 645]</span>week; a committee of ladies waited upon them with a +petition, signed by two hundred of the best citizens, +urging prompt action, but when action was taken, it +was adverse. This gave great encouragement to the +liquor-dealers. Strong, who had temporarily abandoned +the business, rented a building, and flaunted +from an upper window the American flag dishonored +by the black token of defiance. The ladies visited +him, but as he expressed a determination to go on +with his business, they purchased some of his liquors, +and held him to trial before Judge Babbit, but being +defeated they carried it up to the Circuit Court. +Strong paid his fine without trial. In a short time +twelve other dealers reopened their saloons. They +were so cautious in the beginning, that it was difficult +to obtain evidence; but in a short time the ladies +commenced suit against all in the business; some were +gained, others lost, or the jury disagreed.</p> + +<p>Through all the discouraging circumstances they +still maintain their work, and pray and wait for +victory.</p> + +<p>M. T. McMartin, Secretary, prepared the report +from which I have gleaned this.</p> + + +<h3 id="IONIA_MICHIGAN"> + IONIA, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>A meeting was held in the Presbyterian Church, the +15th March. At this meeting it was affirmed that +there were one hundred men ready to sustain the +cause, but when their zeal was put to a test it was +found there was scarcely one who was true. The +ladies organized and visited the saloons; some of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_646">[Pg 646]</span>saloon-keepers were moved to tears, and expressed a +regret that they were in the business. One dealer, +when they asked the privilege of praying in his saloon, +said: “If there is any of you without sin, let her +pray.” The ladies, feeling that they were in the right, +did not hesitate to offer prayer. One prominent wholesale +dealer said, that if there were thirty business men +in the city who desired that he should close his saloon, +he would comply; others made the same promise; +<i>the thirty men, however, could not be found</i>. The ladies +then petitioned the common council: <i>their petition was +laid on the table</i>. Undismayed the ladies then went +out into the saloons, and forbade the sale of liquor +after the 1st of May, which so intimidated the dealers, +that no liquor was sold publicly for several weeks. +During the time, agents from liquor-houses visited the +city, but were unable to sell a single barrel for three +months. One of these agents offered a prominent +lawyer $1,000 if he would desert the cause of the +ladies, and come out in favor of the saloonists, which, +be it said to his honor, he steadily refused to do. +While liquors were not sold publicly, the ladies were +confident that it was sold with closed doors. They +decided to employ a detective; Mr. Willlngton C. +Page offered his home as head-quarters of this official, +and when suits were brought against the saloonists, +such an excitement was created, that Mr. Page was +obliged almost to risk his life in behalf of the detective. +The detective proved to be a failure, which +greatly discouraged the ladies in their active work; +yet their prayer-meetings and efforts are kept up, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_647">[Pg 647]</span>the subject is kept before the people. Three of the +saloon-keepers have gone to try the realities of +another world; two have sold out, and two have +abandoned the business.</p> + + +<h3 id="HUDSON_MICHIGAN"> + HUDSON, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>During the excitement caused by the Crusade in +Ohio, the women of Hudson became interested in the +temperance movement, and some time in February, +1874, formed a society known as “The Ladies’ Temperance +Union.”</p> + +<p>The object of this society was to develop a better +public sentiment, and by directing attention to the +great evils of intemperance to promote the cause of +temperance.</p> + +<p>About one hundred ladies joined the Union, and +worked ardently.</p> + +<p>The pastors of the different churches gave their +support, and did all in their power to help on the good +cause. It was soon discovered, however, that there +was an element of conservatism manifesting itself, and +many of the workers were influenced by it, and fell +away. But there was a faithful few, who, believing +that this work was not of <i>man</i>, but of God, worked +right on.</p> + +<p>The town was canvassed for signers to the pledge. +They met with much opposition; but about seven +hundred signers were secured.</p> + +<p>On election day the ladies visited the saloon-keepers, +and urged them to close their saloons. Some of +them did as the ladies requested; but when they refused, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_648">[Pg 648]</span>pickets were left on watch, so that if any did +drink they would have to do so in the presence of the +ladies. At one place they were ordered by the proprietor +to leave, who gave them just three minutes in +which to do so. But one little woman, with a good stock +of moral courage, refused to leave, maintaining that it +was a place of public resort, and that if her husband +and brothers could come and stay there, so could she, +and she would do so.</p> + +<p>Several saloons closed; but one place where they +promised to close, but did not, the ladies went on +picket duty. The proprietor sent out for a lot of +rowdies, and offered segars free to all who would +smoke. They smoked until the people outside thought +the place was on fire. The ladies were asked to leave, +but declined to do so unless the saloon was closed. +Finally, when the men could stand it no longer, the +saloon was closed.</p> + +<p>The ladies entered suit against a saloon-keeper for +selling to a young man contrary to the prohibition law, +and won the suit; the saloon-keeper having to pay +the fine and costs.</p> + +<p>The ladies did not do much saloon visiting, but have +quietly worked on in whatever way they felt that the +Lord called them.</p> + +<p>Nearly all owners of real estate signed a pledge +not to rent their property to be used for the purpose +of selling intoxicating liquors. One saloon-keeper, +on going to pay his rent, and renew his lease, to his +disgust, found that his landlord had signed the +woman’s pledge, and could not let him have it. A +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_649">[Pg 649]</span>lawsuit ensued, but the saloon-keeper was ejected, +and the room thoroughly cleaned and repainted, and +the first use made of it was for a strawberry festival +given by the ladies of the Union.</p> + +<p>There is a better temperance sentiment here than +when the Union was organized. The temperance +workers are watching and praying for a day when the +friends of temperance can praise the Lord who giveth +the victory to those who trust in His almighty power.</p> + + +<h3 id="MORENCI_MICHIGAN"> + MORENCI, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>March 18th, 1874, the ladies organized a Woman’s +Temperance Union, with their membership numbering +thirty-seven, which was subsequently increased to over +one hundred. After some preliminary work, they +began to visit the saloons, but the proprietors all refused +to sign the pledge. These visits to the saloons +continued till March 28th, when three of the principal +dealers signed the dealers’ pledge. There was great +joy and thanksgiving over this. The next day being +Sabbath, a praise meeting was held. In the midst of +the praise meeting, a gentleman arose and said that +he had been informed, that in violation of their +pledges, in less than ten minutes after they left, the +dealers were selling. One of them was present, and +was appealed to. He personally denied it, and said that +he would rather beg than sell intoxicating drink; but +afterwards they proved this man guilty of selling in +violation of his pledge.</p> + +<p>The dealers were prosecuted, but the work was +greatly hindered by unfaithful officers. The women +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_650">[Pg 650]</span>are looking to God, and with strong cries and tears +are pleading for the overthrow of this traffic.</p> + +<p class="right"> + Mrs. <span class="smcap">E. G. Day</span>. +</p> + + +<h3 id="FLINT_MICHIGAN"> + FLINT, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>A young lady in this city who had consecrated herself +to the Foreign Missionary work, and was very +much beloved for the purity of her life and her Christian +zeal, coming out of the church one night, just before +she left for heathen lands, a man addicted to +drink accosted her and gave her ten dollars. She with +others commenced praying for his conversion, and +shortly afterwards he went to the pastor of one of the +churches, and with deep emotion asked, “What shall I +do to be saved?” He was saved, and the church was +stirred with interest for others. Still no one thought +of organizing for the work, until the proprietor of the +City Hotel sent an invitation for a prayer-meeting to +be held in his sitting-room. This was regarded as a +very peculiar request coming from him; the house was +considered the lowest place in town—a whiskey den. +His wife was a Roman Catholic. A lady volunteered +to go and see if he was in earnest; she found that the +invitation was given in good faith, and that the wife +concurred; an appointment was made for the next +morning, but when the ladies went to hold the meeting, +none but ladies were there, and the proprietor +could not be persuaded to enter the room. Out of +this movement grew the Crusade.</p> + +<p>A meeting was called, a society organized, and the +ladies held a series of mass-meetings in the Presbyterian +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_651">[Pg 651]</span>Church for about a week; but on Saturday +night following these gospel mass-meetings, the church +was fired by the hand of an incendiary. The people +were astonished and indignant; they decided at once +to commence the Crusade. Their first visit was to the +saloon where they had held the prayer-meeting, but +they were not admitted. They went from saloon to +saloon day after day, until whiskey-selling and whiskey-drinking +were exceedingly unpopular in Flint. +Mrs. C. Morrison bought the stock of liquors of one +man who was willing to sell out, breaking the first +bottle herself. As the liquors were emptied into the +gutter, a poor, bloated wretch, scooping the dirty stuff +in his hands, drank it, utterly regardless of the filth it +had passed through. Some one told Mrs. Morrison +she had “paid too much for that liquor.” Looking +him earnestly in the face, she replied, with great composure, +“I know that, sir; I should have been cheated +if I had only paid twenty-five cents.”</p> + +<p>One dealer turned his saloon into a temperance +restaurant, but was still greatly influenced by the +liquor-dealers. Prosecutions were commenced, but +efforts in that direction were found to be useless. +The ladies are praying and waiting, hopefully, patiently, +for the coming victory.</p> + +<p class="right"> + Mrs. <span class="smcap">E. Clark</span>, Secretary. +</p> + + +<h3 id="LESLIE_MICHIGAN"> + LESLIE, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>The women of this town, aided and encouraged by +the pastors of the several churches, organized April +1st, 1874. A canvass of the town was made for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_652">[Pg 652]</span>pledges. A petition, largely signed by the citizens, +asking for a prohibitory ordinance, was presented to +the city council by a committee of eighteen ladies. It +was graciously received, but never acted upon.</p> + +<p>April 23d, the ladies commenced saloon visitations. +Their first visit was to Daniel Mitchell’s, who refused +admittance, but conducted them to his hotel; so their +first meeting was held in the Allen House. Other +saloons were visited during the day. On the 25th, +they went from the prayer-meeting with the purpose +to visit every saloon. At the Metropolitan saloon, +Mr. Mitchell himself rudely helped each lady out of his +saloon, but they continued in prayer on the pavement, +unconscious of the jeering, mocking crowd gathered +about them. To the eye of faith, to-day, as in Joshua’s +time, giants become as grasshoppers. At the second +saloon, they were reluctantly admitted, and allowed to +hold their services without violence.</p> + +<p>At one hotel, McDaniels, the proprietor, ordered +the ladies from his waiting-room into the parlor, and +did not hesitate to push them over some who were +already kneeling in prayer. At a drug store where +liquor was sold in all quantities, the ladies were refused +the privilege of prayer. Of course the devil was very +much insulted, and raged and foamed, because his +business was interfered with; but the grace of God +was sufficient for His workers. That evening Mr. +Brown, the proprietor of the best hotel in the town, +sent in a notice, to be read in the church, that he had +closed his bar. The large audience arose and sang, +with the Spirit,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“All hail the power of Jesus’ name.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">On Monday evening, April 27th, every bar was closed,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_653">[Pg 653]</span> +and with joyful hearts the workers gave to their God +all the glory; for the same power that stopped the +mouths of lions closed these gates of death. But in +the midst of victory and thanksgiving, one of our +leaders and counsellors suddenly became fearful, and +full of sympathy for the rum-sellers. He feared a mistake +had been made on the part of the women in not +waiting for the rum-sellers to become converted. So +he began to prophesy that the work would not last, +which comforted and encouraged the enemy, and +brought sorrow and trouble to the friends of temperance. +But only one saloon continues to sell, and they +are laboring and praying for its overthrow, and they +expect that saloon will be closed, if not through the +mercies, by the judgments, of God.</p> + +<p class="right"> + Mrs. <span class="smcap">Henrietta Taylor</span>, President.<br> + <span style="margin-right: 3.0em;">Mrs. <span class="smcap">Phebe Earl</span>, Secretary.</span> +</p> + + +<h3 id="DOWAGIAC_MICHIGAN"> + DOWAGIAC, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>The work began in this town in the spring of 1874. +An organization was effected April 24th of the same +year. Mass-meetings were held in several churches +alternately; liquor-dealers were visited, and urged to +abandon their disreputable business, but with no +results. Finally the prosecution of liquor-dealers +under the prohibitory law was determined upon. +Ninety-eight temperance men came forward and +pledged their influence in the movement. A committee +of gentlemen was appointed to assist the ladies +in securing information to convict the law-breakers. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_654">[Pg 654]</span>The prosecuting committee worked with great zeal, +but were constantly embarrassed, and often thwarted, +their persons and property being in danger from the +cowardly and malicious attacks from the rum-seller and +the band of ruffians and robbers who stood ready to +do his bidding. As vigilant and zealous as were these +prosecutors, they were more than matched by the +whiskey-sellers. A rumor was started that the taxes +of the county would be largely increased by these +trials, with a view of alarming tax-payers. The following +figures from the official records will show how +baseless this assertion was. The fines and collections +secured through the Crusade were $803.85; while the +costs to the county were only $148.02; leaving a balance, +$655.83. Thus it will be seen that the experiment +of enforcing the prohibitory law was not a failure. +No less than five of those who were selling, +when the work began, had been effectually closed up, +while the others were forced to transfer their business +to prevent action that would take them to the county +jail.</p> + +<p>The passage of the tax law, which was equivalent to +the repeal of the prohibitory law, again gave the rum-sellers +hope, and once more the front doors were +thrown open, and the work of death carried on publicly. +But the women are earnest and hopeful, and +are longing and waiting for the time when a great +people in their wrath shall decree the overthrow of +rum.</p> + +<p class="right"> + Mrs. <span class="smcap">Sarah M. Farr</span>, Secretary. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_655">[Pg 655]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="COLON_MICHIGAN"> + COLON, MICHIGAN. +</h3> + +<p>The ladies of this place went into the Crusade work +with heart and hope, being well backed up by the +men, who promised to furnish money for prosecutions, +and to protect them from insult.</p> + +<p>One instance is worthy of notice. It was town-meeting +day, and three ladies were sent to the hotel +to try to get signatures to the pledge, and to persuade +those who came in not to drink. Their presence very +much incensed the proprietor, who sent out for segars +and offered them free to all who would smoke with him. +A number of half-drunken, low fellows, complied with +his request, and soon the room was dense with smoke, +but the ladies paid no attention to it. Cayenne pepper +was then put upon the stove, and, finally, asafœtida. +The men coughed and sneezed, and had to +rush out in self-defence, but strange to say, not one +lady either coughed or sneezed the whole five hours +they were confined in the room.</p> + +<p>They have succeeded in elevating public sentiment, +and know that they have effected permanent good in +their town.</p> + + +<h3 id="MISCELLANEOUS_2"> + MISCELLANEOUS. +</h3> + +<p>The work of the Crusade was carried forward with +more or less success in the following towns: Tecumseh, +Rockford, Rollin, Clinton, Ann Arbor, Hillsdale, +Olivet, Mason, White Pigeon, Whitehall, Big Rapids, +and Hart.</p> + +<p>During the year 1877 Dr. Reynolds labored in +Michigan. The work began at Adrian, the home of +Mrs. Geddes, Vice-President of the National Union, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_656">[Pg 656]</span>who aided greatly in securing its success. Tens of +thousands of men of all classes signed the pledge and +donned the red ribbon. Reform Clubs were organized +in nearly every town, and such was the enthusiasm +that followed, and so thoroughly aroused were +the masses of the people, that the Legislature of the +State passed a concurrent resolution, by a unanimous +vote, thanking Dr. Reynolds for the services he had +rendered the State, in emptying the jails and almshouses, +and in lessening crime and disorder. Many +of the men who fought against the Crusade, and helped +to sustain the liquor-dealers, are now pledged temperance +men.</p> + +<p>Mrs. J. M. Geddes reports nearly two hundred Reform +Clubs, with a constituency of a hundred thousand; +public sentiment strongly on the side of temperance; +pulpit and press favorable; churches and ministers co-operating; +unfermented wine almost universally in +use; temperance societies in a flourishing condition; +and reading-rooms connected with most of the Reform +Clubs.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_657">[Pg 657]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, AND MISSOURI. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII"> + CHAPTER XII. +</h2> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="WISCONSIN"> + WISCONSIN. +</h3> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Mrs. S. J. Steele</span>, Vice-President of the National +Union, says:</p> + +<p>By the persistent aid of the women of our societies +in some localities, the voters have been able to elect +non-license boards, and there is a growing sentiment +throughout the State in favor of such legislation. The +cause has been presented before the State S. S. Convention, +Congregational Association and State Christian +Assembly at Geneva Lake. The tone of the press is +improving, and churches are more pronounced in their +advocacy of active temperance work. Five temperance +reading-rooms are connected with as many +Unions, and at Racine a self-supporting lunch-room is +added; and a boys’ reading-room, which is well patronized +by the class for whom it is designed.</p> + + +<h3 id="RIPON_WISCONSIN"> + RIPON, WISCONSIN. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. C. B. Woodward, and the +Ripon papers, for the following facts:</p> + +<p>Ripon is a bright little city of about four thousand +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_658">[Pg 658]</span>inhabitants. Being the seat of Ripon College, many +cultured families had settled here to avail themselves +of the unsurpassed educational facilities afforded by +this institution, which, in addition to the usual endowments, +has an observatory, a fine telescope, and an astronomical +clock. Like other Western cities, there is a +large German element. In common with other towns, +the blight of the liquor traffic is found here.</p> + +<p>Feeling the bitterness of this curse, Christian women +had watched the progress of the Ohio Crusade with +mingled emotions of fear and hope, and while it gathered +volume and strength, felt that they could never +engage in a work so unwomanly. Yet conscience +whispered, “If God makes that work your duty, you +will not refuse.”</p> + +<p>The ladies responded to a call for a meeting, and +preliminary steps were taken for the formation of a +society. Other meetings resulted in the organization +of the Ripon Woman’s Temperance League, Mrs. E. +H. Merrill, of Ripon College, being President. At one +of the first meetings an invitation from a saloonist was +received, for the ladies to hold a meeting in his saloon. +Volunteers were called for. All honor to those who +first stepped into the then untried waters, namely, +Mesdames Harris, Strong, Wirt, Sherman, Jones, Cunningham, +and Miss McAssey and Miss Chittenden. +They went out, as they go who offer sacrifice, and +those who remained knelt in solemn awe and implored +God to protect and bless these their sisters. The +meeting was successful, for surely the presence of the +Lord was with us.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_659">[Pg 659]</span></p> + +<p>Invitations from other saloons were responded to, +and the praying band increased in numbers, until it +counted forty, seventy-five, and one hundred. Mrs. +Wirt, Mrs. Merrill, and Mrs. Smith were appointed +leaders. A room on the street was provided, from +which, after an hour of prayer, the band would issue, +two and two, receiving the salutations of the brethren +who had assembled to pray during their absence, and +await their return, bringing with them a multitude that +always followed. Then an hour or more would be spent +in singing, prayer, and appeal, mostly by the women, +who soon found that upon them God had laid this work.</p> + +<p>Often, the very women who had declared that they +could not go to the saloons would be seen marching +with the band, and kneeling in a saloon. Women who +had never even tried to speak or pray outside of their +own homes were moving rough men to tears with +words of tender eloquence. Every afternoon the city +was thronged by eager, wondering crowds; and many +wept as the consecrated ones passed by, with calm +purpose and measured tread.</p> + +<p>A report for a Milwaukie paper says, March 30th:</p> + +<p>“Ripon seems likely to vindicate a claim to be the +leader in the temperance war in Wisconsin, being the +theatre of the first organized effort in this State to +quell intemperance by what is known as ‘the woman’s +movement.’ Besides the eagerness everywhere apparent +to read the latest published accounts, private +letters are received from all quarters, asking for information +on all points.</p> + +<p>“It is but justice to the ladies to say, that no woman +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_660">[Pg 660]</span>has violated any propriety, on account of which she +need, on mature reflection, to be ashamed. The +saloons, during the meetings, have been crowded with +rough and unfortunate men, but the ladies have uniformly +commanded their attention, the larger part of +the meetings being given to little temperance addresses. +During these appeals the attention has been +absolute, the stillness profound, and eyes that rarely +weep have been filled with tears.</p> + +<p>“A band of ladies kneeling on the street, praying +Heaven that the venders of liquor would quit their +business, while not more than a hundred feet from +them, on the other side of the street, a crowd of +excited men are ‘devising ways of baffling the traffic +at the polls,’ is a sight, the like of which few have +seen.</p> + +<p>“To see these same women enter an underground +room, filled with men of low desires and aspirations, +and with song, prayer, and pleading, in a few minutes +reduce them to the state of teachable children, standing +waiting for orders, with their hats under their +arms, is a lesson well worth the learning. These +things are seen here, and a hundred others, that no +one can tell with the force they carry to the eye. To +some, these things wear the aspect of sublimity; to +others, of fanaticism and bigotry. This gentleness +and persuasiveness of appeal has re-enacted a scene +memorable of old: ‘The poor have the gospel +preached to them.’ This one result has probably paid +for all the cost thus far. The most persuasive and +gentle preaching has reached the rudest ears, and if +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_661">[Pg 661]</span>some are not reformed, it is safe to say that others +will be better men for the rest of their lives.”</p> + +<p>But some have been reformed, and some converted.</p> + +<p>“Another patent result is the effect on public sentiment. +Men are taking sides in a way to suggest the +force of the old Washingtonian revival; and many +that were before half-and-half on the subject, now +chivalrously and openly declare for the cause of the +ladies. And this avowed sentiment is now focussed +on the saloons and their incorrigible supporters, in +such a way as to deal most stinging rebuke. It is +known that the sample gentlemen are deeply troubled, +some of them ashamed, and would doubtless quit the +business, if they did not hope this storm would soon +blow over.”</p> + +<p>Many young men, and old ones too, feared to enter +a saloon, lest two or three ladies might call and find +them there; and one evening a rumor that the ladies +were going to make the rounds, was sufficient to +empty every saloon in the city.</p> + +<p>“Mrs. Cook and Mrs. Graham expressed ‘a firm +determination to trust in God and go forward, even if +arrested,’ as was then threatened and expected. +Gentlemen were in full sympathy, ‘and in a few minutes +pledged $1,080, and any further amount that +might be needed to protect and defend the sisters.’</p> + +<p>“An enormous mass-meeting was held, which, perhaps, +was the most extraordinary ever held in this +section of the State. Addressed by Mrs. Tracy, Mrs. +Haire, Mrs. Woodward, and Mrs. Cook. President +Merriman, of Ripon College, dealt out facts and arguments, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_662">[Pg 662]</span>right and left, with a closing appeal to voters, +which will not soon be forgotten.”</p> + +<p>A petition to the liquor-dealers, signed by nearly +six hundred names, was presented to them, but in +vain. Pledges for business men were signed by many. +An intemperate man, “who must stop or die,” signed +this pledge and was saved. Personal pledges were +circulated, and young ladies fell into line with their +pledges. As the city election drew near, the excitement +increased. Being shut out of the saloons, on +the plea “that the ladies were ruining the business,” +the Crusaders knelt on the pavement, using great care +about obstructing the way.</p> + +<p>One day a German, with consternation depicted on +his pale face, and with drooping figure, muttered, while +a lady was praying before his saloon: “What sall I +do? If dese vomans keeps comin’ here I must go +away!” A druggist, who sold liquor covertly, was +literally prayed out of the city, and retreated in confusion, +selling his stock, for “those Amazons had +ruined his trade, by making him so conspicuous.” +The meetings increased in interest and solemnity every +day, while the streets were thronged with people and +teams. The liquor traffic decreased seventy-five per +cent. The mayor sympathized with the work, and +insured order by the presence of a strong police force, +while the band was out, although some of the saloonists +encouraged men to disturb the meetings, and gave +liquor to such as wished, without charge. One day, +finding that a saloonist was encouraging men to jostle +and incommode those who were kneeling, two ladies +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_663">[Pg 663]</span>stepped into the doorway, at his side. “Sir, will you +be kind enough to close your door?” He continued +to open it, to let men in and out, by thrusting his hand +behind the ladies. “Sir, shall we pass right in?” +“No! No! Mein house is mein castle. You go not +in. You go not too far!”</p> + +<p>“Then please keep your door shut.” He carefully +obeyed. At another time a respectable (?) man urged +his horse upon the band as they were marching.</p> + +<p>The animal broke the carriage in his frantic opposition +to the oaths and lash of his master. It was said, +“an angel” restrained the horse. And his owner +declared that “those women would not scare ——!” +Not a breath came quicker, not a foot faltered, or +missed step, but on swept the consecrated ones, with +placid brows, and gentle mien; and quietly the voice +of singing and prayer was heard before a saloon +underneath the hotel owned and occupied by this +man’s son.</p> + +<p>On election day, April 7th, the Crusaders spent the +hours of voting, in prayer at their room; and in quietly +visiting voters and circulating tickets. Two of them +called on an old man, sick, poor, and intemperate.</p> + +<p>They solicited his vote for temperance; a saloonist +and satellite enters; one lady retires, and the new +visitors speak in honeyed words to their victim; while +engaged in convincing “Josh” of the importance of +voting for his liberty and his cigar, a carriage appears +at the door, and the ladies invite “Josh” to ride. The +combat becomes warmer and warmer; soon another +vehicle appears; this has no lady-driver. “Josh” must +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_664">[Pg 664]</span>decide; “Josh” reflects; thinks of the life the saloon +men have led him, and agrees to vote the temperance +ticket. The lady and “Josh” ride; they arrive at the +polls; the poor man is too weak to ascend the stairs; +but the ballot-box can go down-stairs to “Josh,” which +it does, and he deposits a temperance ticket; his last +work. The Crusaders cared for his comfort a few +weeks, then followed him to his burial.</p> + +<p>A large importation of voters defeated the temperance +ticket, and whiskey was jubilant.</p> + +<p>The new council was visited, and addressed by +Mesdames Smith, Wirt, Jones, Harris, and Haire, petitioning +that body to use its power to lessen the liquor +traffic in the city. Their pleading was in vain; inasmuch +as the majority of the city fathers favored the use +and abuse of intoxicants. Neither could the Crusaders +hope for protection as heretofore.</p> + +<p>But undismayed the ladies continued the meetings +before the saloons, although greeted with bells, gongs, +etc., by the now exultant saloon men. Threats of +arrests and of riots were frequent. An alderman said +to one, “I don’t like to have you go where we can’t +protect you.” “Sir, I call upon you as a city officer +to protect me: I shall infringe no law.” He advocated +license.</p> + +<p>The point long mooted of placing a watch on saloons +was tested, three ladies volunteering to sit in one for +fifteen minutes, which they did. The proprietor led +them out one by one, taking the greatest care to do +so in the most gentle manner.</p> + +<p>Patrols, consisting of ten ladies in each, of seven +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_665">[Pg 665]</span>bands, were organized for street work. Many amusing +incidents enlivened the work, which was continued +as long as the heat of the summer permitted. Many +men lost their morning bitters through vigilance of the +early morning watch. Many baskets were carried, +ostensibly for shavings or groceries, long before shop +or grocery was open. Men who were out often apologized +for being on the street so early, and saloonists +were kept in a state of agony, at the loss of their +morning trade, and watched the lady patrol from +every corner. At one saloon a large dog was ordered +to guard a piece of meat that was laid on the walk. +When the two ladies walked close by him, he wagged +his tail in recognition of the hand that caressed him at +a saloon meeting; but he bit the next passer-by.</p> + +<p>Eggs were dropped from upper windows, but failed +to hit. Dirty water and sprinklers were got ready, but +failed in execution. Threats of pitfalls and broken +limbs were heard, but no one was injured.</p> + +<p>Early in the work pledges of $10 were solicited +from ladies, and about $700 was obtained, with which +a room was rented and furnished for a free reading-room. +Papers and good popular reading were provided, +and the library of the Young Men’s Christian +Association was loaned to the room.</p> + +<p>A gospel temperance meeting was instituted in the +reading-room, in the winter of 1875, and with few interruptions +has been continued with increased interest +until the present time. An open meeting is held under +the leadership of Mrs. Woodward, with Mrs. Sherman, +singer. Young Christians who like to “<i>sing for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_666">[Pg 666]</span>Jesus</i>,” kindly assist in vocal and instrumental music, +winning the attention and presence of many Sabbath +loungers.</p> + +<p>During the last year, a record of requests for +prayer, with their answers, has been kept. God has +honored this record by answering seventy-five per +cent. of the requests written there. On one occasion +three men requested the leader to record their conversion, +in answer to petitions placed there. Mention +might be made of men reclaimed and converted, of +saloons obliterated, and of noisy demonstrations +silenced; but it is enough to say, that earnest Christians +utter the prayer of faith, taking God’s promises +just as they are given: and they find them “yea and +amen.”</p> + +<p>A Band of Hope was organized in the spring of +1875, which soon numbered about 200 members, and +is a pleasant and profitable meeting for the children.</p> + +<p>The Crusade is still moving on, though constantly +changing in mode of work and action. The principle +is active, and, like the woman’s “leaven,” will permeate +the whole mass of human thought. The reading-rooms, +the social organizations, the gospel meetings, +and bands of hope, are all necessary branches +of <i>one noble work</i>.</p> + +<p>Men and women of to-day can never stand where +they did three years ago. Public sentiment has been +and still is fast deepening and widening—each day +receiving new additions of light and power. The +growing and alarming necessity of <i>cleansing</i> the fountain, +of legislating on the great sin and curse of the +times, is now freely acknowledged.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_667">[Pg 667]</span></p> + +<p>“The evidences of the Crusade cannot be obliterated.” +Its full results can never be estimated in +earthly numbers, or sketched with mortal pen, but +must be left to eternity to disclose.</p> + + +<h3 id="MINNESOTA"> + MINNESOTA. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. M. J. Hackett, Vice-President State Woman’s +Christian Temperance Union, reports:</p> + +<p>Local Option prevails in Minnesota. The tone of +public sentiment and of the press is favorable to temperance.</p> + +<p>The Sons of Temperance and Good Templars have +organizations in all towns of any considerable size. +Reform Clubs have been organized during the past +five months in all the large towns, and there are a few +Juvenile Temples.</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Christian Temperance Unions in the +State number 271; $1,009.35 have been raised by +the local Unions; two temperance reading-rooms have +been established, and three petitions circulated. In +the Sunday-school 17,000 children have been pledged.</p> + +<p>The main work of the year 1877 has been done +through Mr. Thomas N. Doutney, brought here by +the Women’s Unions. Never before has there been +such activity in the cause.</p> + +<p>In towns settled by Americans there is usually a +public sentiment in favor of temperance, and in larger +towns, since Mr. Doutney’s work began, the prevailing +feeling inclines toward Prohibition. The Sunday-School +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_668">[Pg 668]</span>Temperance League now numbers 17,000, +having obtained 7,000 pledges the past year.</p> + + +<h3 id="IOWA"> + IOWA. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. J. H. Stevens, Vice-President, reports:</p> + +<p>Seventy-five auxiliary Unions. The total membership +is 2,000.</p> + +<p>Seven thousand four hundred and seventy-one have +signed the pledge since 1876; thirty juvenile organizations +have been formed, with over 3,000 members.</p> + +<p>Over $2,000 have been raised by the Unions; $247 +paid to the State, $38 to the National Society. There +are twenty Temperance Reading-Rooms, one Friendly +Inn or Coffee-House.</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. J. Aldrich has been employed as State +Organizer. The Reform Clubs are multiplying. +These are doing a grand work—searching saloons +and emptying whiskey-barrels. They know just where +to find and how to deal with whiskey.</p> + +<p>Petitions have been prepared and circulated widely. +Frequent conventions and mass-meetings have been +held; public conventions by reformed men; temperance +sermons by the clergy; weekly temperance +prayer-meetings—all these efforts have been made +not without success.</p> + +<p>The Conferences of the M. E. Church have been +visited, also of the United Brethren, the Presbytery, +the Congregational State Association, the State S. S. +Assembly, the State Medical Society, and the State +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_669">[Pg 669]</span>Agricultural Society, all with success and encouragement, +save the last-named.</p> + +<p>As a rule, unfermented wine is used in the churches +for communion purposes. The Good Templars are +actively engaged in the work.</p> + +<p>Taken all in all, the cause of temperance in Iowa +has gained twenty-five per cent. since 1876.</p> + +<p>The Secretary reports:</p> + +<p>A correct record of the results of the Crusade in +Iowa must include its influence upon the legislation of +the State.</p> + +<p>The law is nominally prohibitory, but beer and wine +of home manufacture are exempted from this prohibition. +Municipal corporations are, however, allowed to +regulate or prohibit the sale of these liquors. In those +sections of the State where the women have been +most earnest and persistent, there the law has been the +most clearly prohibitory, and its execution the most +thorough. In some instances women in large numbers +have gone to the courts during the process of suits +brought under the liquor law. They have sat quiet +listeners, while men who were sworn to defend the +constitution and laws of the State of Iowa have, with +oily tongue and plausible speech, “justified the wicked +for a reward.” But judge and jury, by the presence +of Christian women, have been reminded that they +were responsible to the Higher Law, and that a day +of final reckoning wilt come, in that court from which +no appeals are taken.</p> + +<p>In one instance the women had been instrumental +in the prosecution of a druggist who was known to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_670">[Pg 670]</span>sell to minors. They attended the trial in large numbers. +In order to put them to inconvenience, and to +obtain a trial before a justice more favorable to the +liquor party, the druggist took a change of venue to a +justice of the peace who held his court in a little farm-house +some four miles from the county-seat.</p> + +<p>Thither, through rain and mud, the women went. +During the progress of the trial, one witness, hardly +more than a boy, denied ever having taken a drink at +the place in question. A comrade who had drank +with him, and was astounded at his wilful perjury, +sprang to his feet, and with livid face and trembling +lips exclaimed: “Oh, Charley, how can you lie so?”</p> + +<p>The scene in that little room, that was <i>supposed</i> to +be a court of justice, was mockery. Faces paled and +hearts stood still, as the terrible lengths to which this +iniquity will carry its allies appeared. But the scene +changed in a moment: conscience was silenced—appetite +and avarice regained the reins.</p> + +<p>“The wicked flee when no man pursueth.”</p> + +<p>In one little town, where a Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union had been organized, and in much fear +and trembling had held one meeting, the whiskey men +had nominated an unprincipled man for mayor. Hearing +of the women’s prayer-meeting, they withdrew the +nomination, saying, “We never can elect that man if +the women are going to work.”</p> + + +<h3 id="MANCHESTER_IOWA"> + MANCHESTER, IOWA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. J. H. Stevens for the following +report of work:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_671">[Pg 671]</span></p> + +<p>As we met for our monthly missionary meeting the +first week in January, 1874, a lady presented a paper +containing an account of a wonderful temperance +work just commenced by the women in Hillsboro’, +Ohio, remarking that she did not know as it would be +appropriate for the occasion; to which the president +replied, “It may aid us to do missionary work at home, +perhaps as much needed as in heathen lands;” and +her heart leaped for joy, as in memory she went back +thirty years to a little hamlet among the Green mountains +of Vermont, where she went out to solicit aid to +clothe some poor children for the Sunday-school. +Everywhere she met this response: “D., and G., and A. +ought to be made to clothe them, for they take all the +earnings of their fathers for <i>rum</i>.” In reply she said, +“Let us tell them to their faces what we say behind +their backs: it may do more good.”</p> + +<p>We wrote a petition, obtained the names of nearly +every woman in the place, then carried it to the +dealers, and with favorable results.</p> + +<p>Some twenty-five years later, she tried to do the +same work in Manchester, Iowa, her new home; here +her heart was pained at the havoc whiskey was making +in society, especially among the young. She wrote +petitions to the dealers entreating them to give up +their deadly work; she asked aid in circulating them, +but the ladies all said, “It will do <i>no good</i>,” and for want +of faith the petitions had lain by for five years; yet she +still trusted that God would, in his own time and way, +open the way for effectual work to save the poor +inebriates who were thronging our streets.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_672">[Pg 672]</span></p> + +<p>And, now, most welcome was the intelligence that +women in Ohio had dared to declare war with the +monster intemperance. We read it with deep interest, +and decided to present it next day at our Ladies’ +Aid Society; we did so, and after consultation we +agreed to meet in the parlors of the M. E. Church, to +prepare for action. After organizing, one of our first +resolutions was, that we would work as Providence +opened the way, seven days in the week, and fifty-two +weeks in the year, against this demon.</p> + +<p>We prepared a petition to the dealers, praying +them to desist from their terrible work. A committee +was appointed to canvass the town for signatures, but +just here we were met by this difficulty: can we ask +the dealers to give up their lucrative business, for +which they have paid their money into the public +treasury, when we are sharing the benefit of their ill-gotten +gains? We wrote a second petition to the city +council, imploring them to receive no more <i>license +money</i> into the public treasury, thereby making us +responsible for the crimes we had aided them to commit. +We obtained one hundred and thirty names to +this petition, and went <i>en masse</i>, about fifty, to the +council, then in session, and presented it. They were +surprised, but treated us courteously, referred our +petition to a committee, and there it rested.</p> + +<p>A committee of eight ladies was appointed about +the 1st February, 1874, to carry the first petition, containing +a long list of names, to the dealers, some ten +or twelve in number, some of whom gave us hope of +success and all treated us kindly.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_673">[Pg 673]</span></p> + +<p>From this time we held daily and weekly prayer-meetings, +and mass-meetings often, the clergy and +most of the Christian men co-operating with us, +which aroused an opposing element, and frequently the +battle waxed warm; for while we petitioned, prayed, +sung, and published in the press, we also prosecuted +many for violating the law.</p> + +<p>Toward the last of April, 1874, encouraged by the +success of others, we decided to go <i>en masse</i> to the +saloons, petition, sing and pray, which we did frequently, +until about the middle of May, when nearly +all of the dealers, who had not unconditionally surrendered, +said if the suits pending could be withdrawn, +or favorably settled, they would quit the business. +Amicable arrangements were made, and the +women sung the doxology over their conquests.</p> + +<p>But we soon learned that our foe was not to be conquered +so easily; avarice, appetite and law united to +give their power to this dragon. The liquor interests +outvoted us.</p> + +<p>The council agreed to resuscitate the beast with +deadly wound, and it was not long before it seemed +invigorated afresh to plot and execute more hellish +deeds than ever. This called for faith and patience on +the part of the workers; some faltered, but a faithful few +toiled on, believing that if we could not remove the difficulties, +perchance we might undermine their defences; +if we could not close the saloons or save the drunkard, +we might save the children and youth. Our hearts and +hands have often been strengthened and encouraged, as +we have welcomed trophies from the ranks of the enemy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_674">[Pg 674]</span></p> + +<p>We have now a flourishing Band of Hope, a lodge +of Good Templars, and last but not least, a Reform +Club, numbering more than one hundred and sixty; +for all these things we thank the Lord. But we have +learned by past experience that it is not safe to <i>stop</i> to +rejoice over victories, while the enemy is still in the +field, lest while <i>we wait, they work</i>, and by-and-by we +have no victories to rejoice over.</p> + +<p>May we each and all so fully share the Divine +anointing, that, through our instrumentality, many may +yet be saved, and the enemy be forced from his last +hiding-place, the protection of law.</p> + + +<h3 id="WILTON_JUNCTION_IOWA"> + WILTON JUNCTION, IOWA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. S. B. Rider for the following +facts:</p> + +<p>When the Crusade movement reached us, a mass-meeting +was called, and a committee of six ladies appointed +as leaders to canvass the town, which was +under whiskey rule. The town had about 1,600 inhabitants, +with five saloons in <i>good running order</i>.</p> + +<p>The question of a petition for an ordinance of prohibition +was warmly discussed. Public opinion was +for license, as far as could be discerned by human eye, +and having had some experience a year or two previous +in trying to get a petition before the council, we +thought to wait on the mayor and other members of +the council, asking them if they would support such a +measure. They finally assured us that if we could get +a majority of <i>legal voters within the city limits</i>, to sign +a petition, asking that the license ordinance be repealed, +a prohibition ordinance should be granted.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_675">[Pg 675]</span></p> + +<p>Resting on the honor (?) of the honorable board, +our committee thoroughly and carefully canvassed the +city, and much to our surprise, and greatly to our joy, +we found, on comparing the list of the number of +voters enrolled, that we had a large majority, and +these names, in nearly every case, had been cheerfully +given to the petition.</p> + +<p>We carried with us a pledge, which we also presented +with the petition, receiving many signatures. +We visited the saloon-keepers, presenting both petition +and pledges, which were refused. We asked them if +they could be induced to give up the business. Some +of them promised to consider the question, others told +us to go home and get dinner for our husbands.</p> + +<p>When the time arrived for presenting the petition +to the mayor and council, a party of forty ladies +marched double-file to the council chamber, followed +and supported by a number of our best citizens, as +well as by many others. We were courteously received +by this honorable body, and Mrs. I. K. Terry +addressed them, presenting the petition signed by the +voters. Much to their chagrin the council found, after +investigating every name, a large majority in favor of +prohibition. “<i>Sold</i>,” was plainly depicted on every +face, for they had pinned the committee down to the +small point of legal voters inside the city limits, not +thinking we would succeed. However, they promised +to grant the petitions, voting on it while we were +present, and then the ladies retired.</p> + +<p>A few months must yet pass before the licenses +already granted would expire. So we prayed, worked, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_676">[Pg 676]</span>and hoped on, only to be insulted by three of the +licenses being granted the 1st of August.</p> + +<p>When we inquired what it meant, the mayor said +he could never get a quorum when they wanted (?) to +discuss the subject. Albeit, the recorder, who was +the only one who stood by his word, wrote the ordinance, +signed it, but the mayor always had something +else on hand when it was presented. An indignation +meeting was held, and the board were loudly denounced, +even by members of their own party, for all +the voters knew of the promise given to the ladies.</p> + +<p>Our vigilance committee was on the alert during +the summer, and one of our druggists was indicted for +selling liquors to minors, but we failed to do anything +with him.</p> + +<p>Hoping to secure a temperance council in the spring +of 1875, our ladies met in caucus with the gentlemen, +nominating such men as we thought would work for +the welfare of the community.</p> + +<p>On election day five brave women held a prayer-meeting +in a room above the ballot-room, then adjourned +to the street to work for their ticket, which +they did faithfully all day, others joining them. But +at night the license party had a majority of <i>one</i>, and +that was afterwards confessed to be illegal. But our +temperance men did not take interest enough to contest +the election, so it went by default, and so until +last spring (1877) we were under whiskey rule.</p> + +<p>I must not forget to tell you of an amusing incident +that occurred on that election day. The leaders of the +license party were making every effort, buying votes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_677">[Pg 677]</span>in every imaginable way, while I must say, to the disgrace +of the temperance men, the women worked +<i>alone</i>. A wealthy, drinking, license man, not knowing +the ladies were at the polls, undertook to support by +his arm, a poor, bruised, and degraded Irishman to +the polls, walking slowly and confidingly by his side, +until within a few steps of the window where they cast +ballots, when, to his dismay, he discovered the ladies +in groups, with hands full of tickets, handing them out +to the voters. He stared in amazement, and all at +once comprehending the situation of affairs, he dropped +the poor man’s arm, and suddenly disappeared around +a corner, leaving the Irishman bewildered on the walk, +with not a friend to explain, and with a mind too much +muddled by drink to carry his ticket to the box. Suffice +it to say, neither were seen at the polls that day. +Quiet reigned about the polls all day, and we were +treated with the utmost respect.</p> + +<p>Last March the license party divided, and so we +have a temperance board now.</p> + + +<h3 id="VILLISCA_IOWA"> + VILLISCA, IOWA. +</h3> + +<p>Early in January, 1876, the ladies secured the services +of Brother Murphy. About five hundred signed +the pledge; a Reform Club was organized; and, on +January 5th, a Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, +with forty-four members.</p> + +<p>We secured a building that had formerly been a +saloon, adjoining another one; and what had once +been the house of midnight revelry was now a house +of prayer; and over the <i>same counter</i> coffee and lunch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_678">[Pg 678]</span>were given by temperance women, the ladies taking +turns in keeping the room open evenings.</p> + +<p>We remained there until the saloon-keeper’s license +had run out, and he could not renew, as we had a no license +board. Then we secured a more eligible place, +on the public square.</p> + +<p>There was a man led to sign the pledge through the +instrumentality of our Union, who would not go to +hear Mr. Murphy. A few of us went to his house, +held a little prayer-meeting, after which he and his +family signed the pledge, and he has kept it; and now +the home that was once so desolate has many comforts.</p> + +<p>We secured the passage of an ordinance removing +screens from saloon doors and windows; and when +that was done the billiard saloon left, that had been +selling sweet cider.</p> + +<p>Our Reform Club is a healthy one, the Woman’s +Christian Temperance Union and Juvenile Society acting +in concert. We have now one thousand names to +the pledge. Although this year we have a license +board (secured by illegal votes), yet we hold our +ground.</p> + +<p>We have one hundred and twelve volumes in the +library.</p> + +<p>We have raised in money, since organization, near +$250. We hope we have sown seed that in after years +may spring up and bear an hundred-fold. Reported +by the society.</p> + + +<h3 id="VINTON_IOWA"> + VINTON, IOWA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to M. E. Gaston for the following +report of work:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_679">[Pg 679]</span></p> + +<p>The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was +organized April 17th, 1874. The attendance was +good, and much interest was manifested for several +months.</p> + +<p>We did not crusade any, but called on persons to +desist from renting buildings for saloons, and persuaded +venders to quit the business.</p> + +<p>We canvassed the town with the pledge, and secured +many names. There were ten saloons in full blast. +The prayers offered by our Christian men and women +were fervent, but still the traffic was carried on in defiance +of the temperance sentiment.</p> + +<p>Our society thought prayers and works combined +might mitigate the evils surrounding us.</p> + +<p>By this time the enthusiasm of the majority had died +out, and a small number of praying women resolved +to enforce the liquor law of our State.</p> + +<p>At one drug store the liquor was emptied in the +street. Two others we prosecuted, but found it impossible +to find witnesses or lawyers to crown our efforts +with success.</p> + +<p>The temperance sentiment was gaining ground, and +the city council ordered a vote to be taken, and by a +small majority it was decided not to license saloons. +One saloon-keeper moved outside the city limits, and +the balance quit the business. But Satan always finds +workers: beer clubs were formed to evade the law. +We employed counsel to close the beer traffic.</p> + +<p>At the expiration of the first year, another vote was +taken, and a large majority again decided against +license. Our town of three thousand inhabitants had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_680">[Pg 680]</span>gained a reputation for sobriety and morality over any +other county-seat in eastern Iowa.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, a new city council, after three +months of power, ordered another vote to be taken, +and a majority decided to raise the city revenue by +licensing the soul-destroying evil to curse us again. +We all felt this to be unjust, but what could we do?</p> + +<p>Three saloons were opened.</p> + +<p>We have raised $800 for the prosecution of our +work. We have had a reading-room open for one +year, hoping to save the young men from the evil +associations of the saloon, and create a higher standard +of morals in our vicinity.</p> + +<p>Our organization still exists, with about twelve earnest, +praying women, who, with the eye of faith, still +look to God and hope for good results. God’s promises +are sure.</p> + + +<h3 id="CLINTON_IOWA"> + CLINTON, IOWA. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. M. B. Young for the following +facts:</p> + +<p>In the month of October, 1873, the women of +Clinton were moved in spirit to organize a temperance +society, with Mrs. J. E. Foster as President, and named +it the Woman’s Aid Society for the suppression of +intemperance.</p> + +<p>Our city was cursed by the illegitimate sale of intoxicating +drinks, and the women thought they could—better +than the men, who had their business interests—pursue +these saloon-keepers with the lash of the law. +We met weekly, and prayed much, as well as discussed +matters connected with the work we had taken in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_681">[Pg 681]</span>hand. During this year, and in 1874, we brought +charges against several saloon-keepers, and got judgment +against them. We also held mass-meetings to +stir the people, and create a temperance sentiment. +We attended court while poor, distressed wives were +trying to get damages out of saloon-keepers for selling +whiskey contrary to law to their drunken husbands, +and in nearly every case the saloon-keepers were +punished.</p> + +<p>About this time we had a committee wait upon the +judge, expressing desires that the full extent of the +law should be meted out to offenders. The same +committee waited upon the district attorney, urging +upon him the necessity of seeing that the papers were +promptly served upon these criminals. Of course +all this had the effect of enraging saloon-keepers and +their sympathizers, who threatened desperate things. +And indeed about this time our President, Mrs. J. E. +Foster, who is a lawyer, and was engaged in several +of the prosecutions, had her home burned down in the +night, and she, with her husband and children, escaped +only with their lives. It was supposed to have been +the work of an incendiary.</p> + +<p>We circulated a petition, which was largely signed +by our citizens, asking our city council to repeal the +license on beer and wines; and although our petition +was not answered, still it got a respectable hearing, +and they doubled the license. This was a questionable +improvement, but it showed that sentiment was +rising, and they must consider it.</p> + +<p>In 1875, our meetings were not so well attended, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_682">[Pg 682]</span>and our society relaxed effort, a good many of the +members getting discouraged at not making more +manifest progress; but a few held on, and in the fall +of that year they concluded to send for Mr. Murphy. +The ladies rallied, canvassed the city, carried bills to +every house, urging people to come out and hear this +temperance apostle. The result was, the largest hall +was filled to overflowing, and hundreds could not get +in. He gave three lectures, and a wonderful awakening +followed. After paying all expenses, we had a +fund left, with which we opened a reading-room, on +the 1st of January, 1876. We received donations of +books, pictures, and some furniture, as well as journals +and papers from citizens. During winter, we kept it +open all day and evening; in the summer, evenings only.</p> + +<p>In February of this year (1876) we adopted the constitution +of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, +and also its name, since which time we have been +auxiliary to the State Union.</p> + +<p>Our system of raising money was by districting the +city, and appointing collectors to solicit monthly subscriptions +for the support of the reading-room. This, +with an occasional public meeting for its benefit, has +been sufficient for all purposes.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster found it necessary, on account of having +to be much out of town, to resign her position, and +Mrs. Brindell took her place.</p> + +<p>We keep a pledge-book in the reading-room, in +which over 600 names have been signed. Some have +broken and renewed their pledge, but very many have +been reclaimed, who prove steadfast.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_683">[Pg 683]</span></p> + +<p>We have not done much saloon visiting, but we +have distributed tracts through the saloons, as well as +through the city. We also got our Iowa temperance +law printed, and distributed it, to enlighten the people +as to what power they already possessed to hold in +check the saloon-keeper in his heartless work of +selling drink to minors and drunkards.</p> + +<p>The ministers have greatly encouraged us, by frequently +preaching temperance from the pulpit, especially +before elections. Religious service is held every +Sabbath in the reading-room. Since we opened the +reading-room, January, 1876, until August, 1877, we +have received in money $658.91.</p> + +<p>We still meet once a week for prayer and consultation, +and once a month for business. With all our +labor, saloons still thrive, and men go down to drunkards’ +graves, while “moderate drinkers” hurry in to +fill the gaps. We intend to labor on, and as the years +roll by, the temperance public shall learn more and +more how to utilize this power, and every hand, as +well as every heart, shall help to turn the current of +sentiment in favor of total abstinence. But until then +we must watch and wait, labor and pray.</p> + + +<h3 id="MISSOURI"> + MISSOURI. +</h3> + +<p>Mrs. Mary M. Clardy, Vice-President, W. N. C. T., +reports:</p> + +<p>The law of the State is for license, and the press is +anti-temperance. The attitude of the political parties +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_684">[Pg 684]</span>is also opposed to prohibition and temperance legislation.</p> + +<p>The churches and clergy seem lukewarm, in their +advocacy of active work, though during the past few +weeks, owing to the presentation of the interests of +the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union before +several religious bodies, the outlook is more hopeful. +In Missouri, as in all Southern States, public sentiment +is strongly against the public work of women, and this +is an embarrassing feature in the effort to establish +Unions throughout the State. During a recent Sunday-School +Convention, one gentleman having a large +supervision of Sunday-school interests, laid down the +law of the land, that a woman might be allowed to +teach an infant class in the Sunday-school, but must +not speak or pray in public.</p> + +<p>Still, temperance women are not utterly cast down, +but promise hard work for God and temperance.</p> + +<p>Two friendly inns at St. Louis, not under the care +of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, are +well sustained, and prayer-meetings are kept up at +these places with good attendance and results. Thus +far, individual effort, alone, has thrown its tiny pebble +at the giant, Intemperance, but organization is sure to +be the outcome.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp45" id="i_695" style="max-width: 37.5em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_695.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + <p>MRS. MARY C. JOHNSON,</p> + <p>First Recording Secretary Woman’s National Christian + Temperance Union.</p> + </figcaption> +</figure> + + +<h3 id="CARTHAGE_MISSOURI"> + CARTHAGE, MISSOURI. +</h3> + +<p>The Crusade in Carthage was a success. The rage +of the saloon-keepers, and the results, moral and +political, all indicated it.</p> + +<p>For more than ten weeks the good women of that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_685">[Pg 685]</span>little city, led by Mrs. H. R. Miller, wife of the Methodist +pastor, carried the battle to the enemy’s gate. +Almost every evening they held meetings at the +saloons, singing, praying, reading the Scriptures, sometimes +addressing the crowds themselves and sometimes +securing the services of ministers to preach.</p> + +<p>They suffered nameless and almost innumerable +indignities. At their first appearance they were +assaulted with tin horns blown in their faces, <i>which +horns were bought and paid for by the mayor of the city +for that purpose</i>. A saloon-keeper caused fiddling and +dancing by roughs, while the women sang and prayed +before his saloon. Another with a force-pump and +hose threw water by the barrel on them, while they +sang and prayed in the street before his establishment. +The women protected each other as well as they +could, some standing over the praying woman, and +taking the water while she prayed. The storm was +braved heroically, and they, undismayed, retired. +They were also assaulted with stones, good and bad +eggs, but still they persevered, and success attended +their work. As they could not be suppressed with +violence, the mayor and council undertook the work +by law. They enacted an ordinance forbidding them to +pray on the sidewalks, and requiring them to go ten +feet from the sidewalk into the street. They obeyed; +sang and kneeled in the mud in the street. But the +indignation of the citizens at the action of the council +caused them to meet together the next morning and +repeal the ordinance.</p> + +<p>Three weeks more passed, and such was the success +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_686">[Pg 686]</span>of the work of the women that the council met +and passed an ordinance forbidding singing, praying +and preaching on the street, on any week-day or night, +without consent of the mayor, under penalty of from +twenty to one hundred dollars fine for each offence. +This the women regarded as an act striking down +their dearest liberties, and they raised the standard of +revolt. The same evening of the passage of the ordinance, +fourteen ladies, accompanied by Revs. Miller, +of the M. E. Church, and Pendleton, of the Baptist +Church, moved to a saloon and sang, after which Mrs. +Miller and Mrs. Dr. Wilson prayed. They were +then arrested and marched to the police judge’s office, +whither they went, singing:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“All hail the power of Jesus’ name.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Their names were taken, and all released to appear +next morning for trial. They proceeded to the street, +moved in front of a saloon, commenced singing again, +and were immediately arrested. The ladies were +then tried, but released on a technicality, which also +bore on the case of the ministers, but was overruled. +The indignation of the masses was aroused at the base +treatment of the women, and the authorities dared not +fine them in consequence, as they declared their intention +to go to jail rather than pay a fine. They continued +to sing and pray on the street. The council +repealed the ordinance, and the good work went on. +It was thought that the county, on a direct issue, could +be carried for temperance. A powerful temperance +sentiment was created by the work of these women.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_687">[Pg 687]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + CALIFORNIA +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII"> + CHAPTER XIII. +</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The friends of temperance in this State, after a long +and earnest conflict, secured the passage of a Local +Option law by a decided majority.</p> + +<p>This law provided that on the call of a certain number +of voters a special election should be held and a vote of +the town be taken, for, or against license. At several +points signal victories had been gained; the temperance +women of the State giving active aid and sympathy +to the cause. Sallie Hart, a young lady of San +Francisco, of unusual ability and irreproachable character, +was very active and efficient at the temperance +meetings and at the polls. Her life was threatened, +and she was warned to desist or suffer the consequences. +But she was too heroic to quail before the +enemies of her country and her race, and in the conflict +that followed she came near losing her life. The +very same class that has for years committed outrages +on the Chinese would have torn her to pieces if it had +not been for the courage and untiring efforts of the +police, and a brave band of temperance men and order-loving +citizens.</p> + +<p>The first great victory was at Oakland. This city +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_688">[Pg 688]</span>is one of the most beautiful places in California. It is +situated just across the bay from San Francisco, and is +embowered in flowers, and shaded with live oaks. +These beautiful trees are always fresh and green. It +had become a city of elegant residences, but the beer-trade +was ruining it, property was depreciating, and +the property-owners were almost unanimous in the +desire to banish the drinking-saloons.</p> + +<p>Oakland was the third city of the State. After +doing all they could do preparatory for the contest, +the women went to the polls and worked all day. +Their methods were novel and taking. They had a +large tent, where a free lunch was spread. Tea, +coffee, and everything that was elegant and inviting +were provided. Barrels of ice-water were at hand, so +that no man should have an excuse to go to the drinking-saloon +to quench his thirst.</p> + +<p>Bushels of bouquets were in readiness, and ballots +“<i>Against License</i>” in hand, and all who would accept +the ballot got a bouquet and a pleasant “Thank you.”</p> + +<p>The liquor men were confident that they would have +a <i>large</i> majority, but the ladies turned the tide, and a +victory for temperance was gained.</p> + +<p>A grand mass-meeting was held in their tent in the +evening, and the temperance people and the property-owners +of Oakland were jubilant. The Saturday following, +the ladies went in force to Brooklyn, a neighboring +town, and aided in gaining another victory. +The work went on gloriously throughout the State.</p> + +<p>Dr. Jewell, of Howard Street M. E. Church, San +Francisco, preached a stirring sermon from the text: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_689">[Pg 689]</span>“Rise up, ye women that are at ease, hear my voice, +ye careless daughters; give ear to my speech.” Isa. +xxxii. 9; with a view to arouse the women for work +in that city.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of July, 1874, an election, under the provisions +of the Local Option law, was held in the proverbially +quiet town of Alameda, California.</p> + +<p>I gather the following facts from well-authenticated +accounts:</p> + +<p>“During the day of the election, the place was invaded +by an army of men from San Francisco, organized +in the interests of liquor, who, by mob-violence, +took possession of the streets and avenues to the +polls, and committed the most outrageous insults to +American citizenship, both to men and women, that +have ever yet been known in all the history of the +State.</p> + +<p>“From the course pursued by the organized liquor +interest in San Francisco, under whose auspices the +outrages at Alameda seem to have been committed, it +is evident that the liquor interests of our whole country +have combined to resist <i>all</i> law, social, moral, and +civil, whenever and wherever such law interferes with +their degrading business.</p> + +<p>“The <i>facts</i> of the Alameda outrages ought to be +made known to every citizen of the State and the +country. They show, as nothing else has ever shown, +the animus and purpose of the ‘whiskey interest.’ +Sensible, sober people, want to know the truth.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Evening Post</i> dared to publish the facts. It has +exposed the falsehoods so widely circulated, and has +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_690">[Pg 690]</span>denounced the outrage and the perpetrators in leading +editorials of great force and merit.</p> + + +<h3 id="THE_REIGN_OF_TERROR_INAUGURATED"> + THE REIGN OF TERROR INAUGURATED. +</h3> + +<blockquote> +<p><i>The scene as described in the Chronicle and Post next day.</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“Not far from the middle of the day, the train from +San Francisco arrived and deposited upon the street +one hundred and fifty members of the San Francisco +German Saloon-Keepers’ Society, headed by the United +States Fourth Artillery Band. Instantly it was seen +that there was trouble ahead. The delegation was +composed mostly of young and irresponsible men.</p> + +<p>“They at once formed in line, and being joined by +as many more already in the street, they started for +the polling-place to the music of the band. When the +procession dispersed, a large throng at once crowded +on the corner near the polling-place. ‘Down with Sallie +Hart!’ they shouted, and at the same time pressed in +around her. Fortunately several powerful gentlemen +happened to be near her, or she would inevitably have +been crushed in the excited mass.</p> + +<p>“‘Go home, you little red-head!’ ‘Get out of this, +and go home!’ was the cry. The crowd pressed, and +swore, and hooted, and yelled, and shrieked. ‘Down +with her!’ ‘Drive her off the street!’ ‘Give her a +kiss; that’s what she wants!’ ‘Don’t let her speak!’ +In vain did the poor girl cry, ‘For shame, gentlemen!’ +In vain did her few friends surge, and squeeze, and try +to force an opening for retreat. In vain did the police +shout and brandish their clubs. The crowd only +hooted and howled their insults all the more. Finally, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_691">[Pg 691]</span>a narrow passage was made, and through it the girl +was half-dragged into an adjoining store.”</p> + +<p>Thence, after a few moments, she was escorted by +a strong cordon of police and temperance men to the +ladies’ tent. The crowd caught sight of her as she +left the store, and at once surged and pressed around, +their yells and gestures increasing each moment in +violence. Slowly the young lady and her escorts +made their way to the tent, unable to resent or stop +the torrent of vile epithets which assailed them. Once +inside, Sallie sat down almost exhausted, but the +crowd were not satisfied. They yelled fiercely, “Take +Sallie Hart home or we’ll tear down the tent!” “She +shan’t stay here!” “Say, you old Gibson; take her +home, do you mind, or we’ll kill her.” With these +remarks, the vast throng shook their fists and swore +they wouldn’t quit the spot until Sallie Hart and every +other woman had promised that they would not again +show their faces. The temperance men, headed by +Dr. W. R. Gibbons, Dr. Densmore, Mr. Gibson, Mr. +Hurlburt, and others, at once took measures to protect +the tent and the ladies in it from violence. A +strong force of police was instantly summoned, who +drew a rope around the entrance and endeavored to +keep the excited crowd outside.</p> + +<p>One old lady of at least sixty years, with silver-gray +hair, splendid black eyes, and a commanding figure, +ventured out in the belief that her age and appearance +would command an outward show of respect. She +took a bundle of No License tickets and a small +bouquet, and got as far as the street, near the polling-place. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_692">[Pg 692]</span>The hooting crowd made for her and she was +surrounded in a twinkling. “Go home, old woman,” +they shouted; “go home and mend your husband’s +breeches!” Then followed a series of yells and +groans and cat-calls, interspersed with cries of “Sour +kraut,” “Limberger,” and “Go it, old granny!”</p> + +<p>Whenever the old lady would open her lips to +speak, she would be instantly set upon, and her voice +completely drowned. But she held out bravely. +Mounting a piazza, her great black eyes flashing with +the rage of a pythoness, she hurled defiance at the +jeering crowd and tried to shame it into decency. +One man filled his cheeks with tobacco-smoke and +blew it into her face. Another spat on her dress; a +third trod on her feet, and all pushed and jostled her +in a most unmanly way. Finally, when some one in +the crowd hurled an atrociously obscene epithet at +her, the old lady burst into tears and shrank away in +disgust.</p> + +<p>About half-past two o’clock a litter was rigged +behind a building, a five-gallon demijohn placed on it, +and alongside the demijohn was laid an effigy of +Sallie Hart, dressed in black. In the mouth of the +demijohn was stuck a stick, from which flew a black +flag. The litter was lifted to the shoulders of a crowd +of men with evergreens in their hats. An immense +procession was formed, and preceded by the band +playing the “Dead March in Saul,” it marched back +and forth in front of the temperance tent, amid the +hooting and jeering of the multitude. An effort was +made at this time to drown the din by singing the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_693">[Pg 693]</span>Hallelujah chorus, but the effort was a lamentable +failure. The funeral procession marched to a pile of +sand near the tent, where, amid the waving of hats +and hoarse cheers of the throng, the “body” of Miss +Hart was prepared for interment. The litter was +lowered to the ground, a hole dug, and then, strict +silence being enjoined, Louis Kehlmeyer intoned <i>a +burlesque of the Catholic burial “service.”</i></p> + +<p>The <i>Evening Post</i>, on the day after election, contained +the following:</p> + +<p>The brutal outrages perpetrated by German whiskey +men, who went over to Alameda yesterday, and +insulted, mobbed, and drove off ladies who had as +much right there as themselves, will arouse a feeling +of indignation in the heart of every right-thinking +American citizen. California has always been noted +for her chivalry to women, and every Californian’s face +must burn that such an outrage has been perpetrated +in a California town. Things have come to a pretty +pass when a lot of vile brutes who have no respect +for womanhood themselves, can publicly insult ladies +in the grossest manner; compel them, under threats +of violence, to get out of their way, and openly burlesque +the most solemn ceremony of a Christian +church.</p> + +<p>Our laws, and the American sentiment, which is +deeper than all laws, guarantee to every woman who +conducts herself in an orderly and decent manner, immunity +from insult and outrage. To the American +mind there is in womanhood a sacred right and essential +privilege, recognized even by the lowest and most +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_694">[Pg 694]</span>brutal, which gives to every woman exemption from +insult and outrage. This sentiment the brutal wretches +who insulted and drove off the ladies at Alameda, +yesterday, appeared to have defied with deliberate intention. +How far the general association of liquor-dealers +may have been responsible for it we do not +know; but the German Liquor-Dealers’ Association, +which went to Alameda in a body, and their fellows +on the ground seem to have deliberately made up +their minds to drive off the ladies by whatever stretch +of brutality was necessary. One of the Germans had +a double-barrelled gun, with which he marched in the +procession, and several of them had pistols. One lady +said that a man in the crowd spit upon her, and another +that she had liquor thrown in her face. Another +lady was seated in a buggy when the whiskey men +marched past her with the black flag, which they placed +over the grave that held Sallie Hart’s effigy; and one +of them shook the flag in her face and said, “Death to +temperance!”</p> + +<p>Judge J. Russell said he had been in California, and +had travelled a good deal in it, having roamed over the +coast in early days, from this city to the mouth of the +Columbia river, and visited many of the mining camps. +He had never seen so rough a crowd as was present +at Alameda. Mr. N. A. Hillyer said the obscenity +was frightful.</p> + +<p>“I took an old lady by force from the crowd, and put +her into the barber’s shop for protection. I saw men +poke sticks under the old lady’s dress and raise her +clothes as she stood on a tea-box before the mob. I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_695">[Pg 695]</span>also saw the mob bury Sallie Hart in effigy, and the +black flag rising above the grave. I heard profanity +and obscenity from the mob. I have been in all kinds +of society, in Catholic and Protestant lands, but I never +heard anything like the profanity used on that occasion. +A pistol was drawn on me for remonstrating +against license.”</p> + + +<h3 id="STATEMENT_OF_REV_O_GIBSON_OF_SAN_FRANCISCO"> + STATEMENT OF REV. O. GIBSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO. +</h3> + +<p>At the Alameda election, from morning till night, the +air was filled with profanity, obscenity, and the most +outrageous insults to pure American womanhood—not +by citizens of Alameda, but by the representatives +of the “German Liquor-Dealers’ Association,” of San +Francisco.</p> + +<p>From twelve o’clock to three <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span> I remained in +front of the temperance tent, aiding the friends in +efforts to defend the women in the tent from being +overrun and outraged by the howling mob which surrounded +and threatened them. At three o’clock I +passed, quietly and alone, to the office to send a telegram. +On coming out of the office, I was at once surrounded +by a large crowd, who seemed to be waiting +to take the cars. My presence was the signal for +howls, curses, and threats, such as: “Gibson, the old +rooster, send him home.” “Go home, d—n you.” +“You don’t vote right.” “We don’t want you here.” +“We Germans be the most intelligence peoples.” +“You Yankees be d—d fanatics,” and so on. I did +not undertake to discuss the question with such a +crowd. But they pressed upon me—one man from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_696">[Pg 696]</span>behind kicked me, another struck me, and then an +effort was made to push me down. At last, the police +succeeded in opening the crowd, and I passed out.</p> + +<p>The crowd followed, howling, for the distance of one +whole block; then the police succeeded in getting me +into a store, and I passed through and escaped out of +their hands.</p> + +<p>On returning to San Francisco, per four o’clock boat +from Oakland, attended by five other persons, some of +whom had only been to Oakland on business, a party +of the Alameda rioters followed us in the streets of +this city, up as far as the post-office, with jeers and +cat-calls, making such a demonstration as to call many +people to the shop doors to see what was going on.</p> + +<p>Mr. J. N. Webster, in the <i>Post</i>, of July 9th, says:</p> + +<p>Mr. John Gunn, one of our best and most respected +citizens, had his coat torn off his back because he +dared to advocate the right.</p> + +<p>Sallie Hart remained on the field, doing all the good +she could, until there were <i>certain signs</i> that they intended +to kill her, when she was taken away.</p> + +<p>William F. Kellett, in the <i>Post</i>, of July 12th, tells us:</p> + +<p>At Alameda, on last Thursday, scenes were enacted +which are absolutely unparalleled in the history of our +elections, and with which the opinions of the parties +therein had nothing whatever to do. Yet in some of +the papers not a single word of censure has been +uttered, while some have actually justified them. That +murder was not committed was because the threatened +did not dare to lift a hand, while other things were +done which would almost have justified the death of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_697">[Pg 697]</span>the offender on the spot, and which I cannot name, +however remotely.</p> + + +<h3 id="AFFIDAVIT_OF_OFFICER_KRAUTH"> + AFFIDAVIT OF OFFICER KRAUTH. +</h3> + +<p>I told the reporter about the crowd hooting and +yelling, and trying to get into the ladies’ tent, and +endeavoring to create a disturbance all the time, and +trying to pick quarrels with the people and police. I +told him that the rope around the tent was cut seven +times, and gave him other information of a similar +character. From the time the San Francisco crowd +arrived, there was one continuous scene of disgraceful +riot, until they left, late in the afternoon. I believe +there were two trains of cars, with eight cars each, all +filled with people, who came from San Francisco and +Oakland; and we had but fifteen officers to try and +preserve order. It was impossible to arrest anybody, +owing to the crowd, and all that we could do was to +prevent fighting. I have read the report of the occurrences +at Alameda on the day of the local option +election, as published in the <i>Post</i>, and it is substantially +correct.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">F. K. Krauth, Jr.</span> +</p> + +<p>Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 13th day +of July, 1874.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Samuel S. Murfey</span>, Notary Public. +</p> + +<p>These outrages passed unpunished, and the whole +liquor force rallied against the Local Option law. They +were not willing that majorities should rule, but determined +to force drink, against the express will of the +people, upon them, and compel the protesting legal +voters and tax-payers to submit to a depreciation of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_698">[Pg 698]</span>the value of their property, and support the paupers +and criminals, the result of their traffic.</p> + +<p>They therefore carried a case to the courts, and +obtained a decision, that <i>the Local Option law was unconstitutional</i>. +A wide-spread opinion prevailed at the +time that the court was corrupted; but there was no +redress. Nothing was left but to work, and pray, and +wait, till the public sentiment was strong enough to +master the rowdyism of society, and hurl from power +the officials that truckle to the base demands of the +liquor oligarchy.</p> + + +<h3 id="OREGON"> + OREGON. +</h3> + +<p>I gather the following thrilling facts from a published +account by Mrs. F. F. Victor:</p> + +<p>A meeting was called at the Baptist Church, Tuesday, +March 10th, to consider the methods used in the +Crusade movement. From this time on, meetings +were held daily, morning, noon, and night. The subject +of temperance was discussed from every possible +standpoint, and, after much thoughtfulness and prayer, +the ladies decided to visit the saloons. The gentlemen +organized a society to assist the ladies.</p> + +<p>On the 17th of March, a printed appeal was sent to +the liquor-dealers, copies of which, in large type, were +posted around the city. The ministers of the town, +Revs. Medbury, Baptist, Atkinson and Izer, Methodist, +and Eaton, Congregationalist, by frequent and stirring +addresses, and in every possible way, assisted the +ladies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_699">[Pg 699]</span></p> + +<p>The first visit to saloons was made in small companies, +two and two, going quietly. In most of the +places they were politely treated, Mr. Moffett being +the exception. Two elderly ladies, mothers in Israel, +called at his door to leave the dealers’ pledge, when +the brutalizing influence of the liquor business upon +those who sell was conspicuously exhibited. When +they entered, Mr. Moffett, on the alert, without giving +them time to announce their errand, seized them each +rudely by an arm, and thrust them into the street, +exclaiming, “Get out of this. I keep a respectable +house, and don’t want any d—d wh—s here.”</p> + +<p>Long and earnest prayers had given these women +a preparation which Mr. Moffett had not calculated on. +Mrs. Reed, one of the two thus insulted, turned and +looked up over the door to ascertain what sort of a +place, kept by what sort of a man, this might be, and +the name struck her with horror.</p> + +<p>“Walter Moffett!” she exclaimed. “Can this be +Walter Moffett? Why, Walter Moffett, I used to +know you; and I prayed with your wife for your +safety, when you were at sea years ago!”</p> + +<p>“I don’t want any of your d—d prayers; I want +you to get out of this, and stay out. That’s all I want +of you. I don’t keep a wh—e house.”</p> + +<p>If any suppose it does not require an utter consecration +to prepare pure-minded ladies to encounter +such base and ruffianly assaults as these, they are in +error; for the most patient and persistent laborers in +this field are meek and quiet Christian women, who have +seldom or never spoken aloud in their own churches; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_700">[Pg 700]</span>humble women who have never essayed to lead in +anything, not even the fashions.</p> + +<p>After this quiet canvass, the ladies visited the +saloons in force. Often the saloons were closed +against them, and they were compelled to hold their +services on the street. This only brought them the +larger audiences. Often, too, they were assailed by +abusive language, and even roughly handled. This, +too, opened the eyes of many to the brutalizing effects +of drink, and led them to declare, that if that was what +whiskey brought men to, they would never drink +another drop.</p> + +<p>At the Oregon Exchange very often, when a visit +from the ladies was anticipated, some ridiculous or +scandalous performance was gotten up, to divert them +from their purpose; such as a man fantastically +dressed, <i>a la</i> negro minstrels, dancing, drinking from a +bottle, etc. One of the worst places visited was kept +by two women. With these the ladies felt they must +succeed. On their second visit, as the ladies approached, +one of the women flew in a rage to close +the door; the other woman objected, and they were +admitted. One of them was penitent, and listened +tearfully to their words, and promised to lead a different +life.</p> + +<p>At one German saloon the proprietor rushed out +when he saw the ladies coming, and swinging his arms +and shaking his fists in the most excited manner, exclaimed: +“Vot you vant here? You shust go vay! +Get off mine sidevalk! Vat you come here so mooch, +braying and singing, and making my license so pig? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_701">[Pg 701]</span>You shust go vay! I vill not haf it! Vat you vant? +You make a church of mine house! Ruin mine pizness! +No, no, you can do dat; you moost come here +no more. You shust come here vonce more, you vill +see vat I vill do mit you! My Piple says you moost +not bray on de street corners, but you moost bray at +home. You go home to bray.”</p> + +<p>The band commenced singing a hymn, and the irate +German retreated into his saloon. As they were +passing on, he gazed after them as if horror-stricken:</p> + +<p>“Vell if dere is not a burty young girl mit dose +vimmen! Vot a shame!” Probably, he thought, a +hurdy-gurdy house a better place for a “burty young +girl” than “mit dose vimmen.”</p> + +<p>At the more respectable houses they were treated +with civility, and were allowed to hold services in the +saloons and the billiard rooms, and no drinks were +sold during their stay. But from the beginning of +the Crusade, the opposition of the liquor-dealers, both +wholesale and retail, was steady and united. Secret +meetings were held from time to time to consider the +most effectual means of combating the growing temperance +sentiment. The loss of money and the loss +of reputation was the burden of their complaint. +What transpired in these secret sessions can only be +judged by the plans they adopted publicly. It seemed +to fall to Mr. Moffett’s share to try the effect of fire, +water, and noise, in “abating the nuisance of prayer +and singing.” On one occasion, when the ladies +visited the Web Foot saloon, Mr. Moffett made such +demonstrations as drew about them a great crowd of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_702">[Pg 702]</span>people and obstructed travel. This was just what he +desired, as it gave him an excuse for calling in the +police, who were ordered to disperse the crowd, +meaning the women. One of the officers, acting on +the instructions given him, began not only to order +away the women, but laid violent hands on them, and, +without respect to the gray hairs of some, pushed them +rudely about, bruising the shoulder of one lady against +the post of the awning.</p> + +<p>As they were compelled to yield to force, without a +word of remonstrance they started back toward the +church. But one lady put her arm through the +officer’s arm, and told him with much firmness, that +if <i>she</i> went, <i>he</i> should go too! to which he was constrained +to submit. The occasion was improved to +the edification of that officer, who was met at the +church and confronted, not with Crusaders only, but +a goodly number of indignant friends.</p> + +<p>The next day they were out as usual, and were +arrested before the Web Foot saloon, and taken to +the city jail, where they spent a couple of hours in +prayer and song, to their own refreshment, and the +delight of the other prisoners. Counsel was not lacking +who volunteered to defend them. A special session +of the court was called, Messrs. C. W. Parish +and H. Y. Thompson appearing for the accused. +After a hearing of the complaint, Judge Denny decided +that there was no ordinance under which they +could be held, saying, in substance, that had there +been such an ordinance it would have been illegal, as +the Constitution of the State of Oregon and of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_703">[Pg 703]</span>United States permitted every person to worship God +according to the dictates of his own conscience.</p> + +<p>The arrest of the ladies created, of course, a strong +feeling of indignation in the community among their +friends, and rejoicing among their enemies.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the 16th of April, 1874, the +Crusaders, sixteen in number, paid another visit to +the Web Foot saloon. But no sooner had they appeared +in front of his place, and asked permission +to pray and sing there, than Mr. Moffett blew his +policeman’s whistle, and by means of gongs, drums, +hand-organs, etc., collected a large crowd which soon +entirely surrounded them; in this situation they maintained +their calmness and endeavored to carry on +their devotional exercises. The noise of gongs and +drums, tin cans and hand-organs, together with the +murmurings and shoutings of the mob, was so great +that they were not heard even by themselves. But +still they sang and knelt in prayer, keeping a serene +and joyous trust in God.</p> + +<p>The scene which was then and there enacted rivalled +pandemonium. Many of the friends of the ladies +anxious for their safety hurried to the place, augmenting +the crowd already collected, thereby increasing +the apparent danger. A large proportion of those +present were street idlers, some of them roughs and +blackguards; but even the roughest, if not intoxicated, +felt the course Mr. Moffett was taking to be uncalled-for +and outrageous, and were disposed to fight in behalf +of the women.</p> + +<p>The ladies, on their part, could not be heard, even +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_704">[Pg 704]</span>in remonstrance. To escape from the crowd would +have been nearly impossible, if they had made the +effort. But they did not make the effort. Their faith +in the protection of God, and His very presence with +them, never wavered. Although they could not communicate +with each other, because of the roar and +clamor of the mob, each one of them felt so firmly +impressed with the sense of security in Divine assistance, +that not one of them betrayed or felt any fear. +Pistols and knives were drawn, furniture thrown +about, and windows broken. One lady was struck by +a tumbler thrown out of the saloon, and another had +a pistol held at her head by Mr. Moffett himself.</p> + +<p>This strange scene was prolonged from half-past +two o’clock in the afternoon until six in the evening—until +the gong-beaters, drummers, and organ-grinders +had become exhausted, and the mob was weary of its +own riotousness. When the way was cleared, the +ladies took their leave, having endured for three and +a half hours such things as would commonly have +driven them mad with fright, or caused them to faint +or go into convulsions. If there are those who do not +believe in Divine interposition in certain cases, here is +a problem for them to solve.</p> + +<p>More than one man that day was convinced of his +sins; and quite a number of drinking men declared +themselves converted to temperance, simply by witnessing +the depths of degradation to which the habit +of selling liquor could bring a man.</p> + +<p>The wife of an Irish drayman said to a friend of the +Crusaders, “My husband is a drinking man, and many +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_705">[Pg 705]</span>is the dollar he has spent at Moffett’s, but he says he +will never buy another glass at that place.”</p> + +<p>Among the children whom Mr. Moffett was trying +to press into his service was a little son of one of the +Crusaders. Being told to beat a drum, he took the +sticks and threw them among the crowd. On being +threatened with punishment if he did not recover +them, he ran in among the crowd as if to look for the +lost sticks, but instead made his way to his mother, +who was kneeling in prayer, and remained by her side +until she left the place.</p> + +<p>It may be asked, what were the police doing all this +time?</p> + +<p>On the previous occasion Judge Denny had dismissed +the complaint, so it seemed of little use to +arrest the ladies, and they allowed Mr. Moffett to conduct +his riot in his own fashion.</p> + +<p>On the following morning they visited the saloons, +and in due time appeared before Mr. Moffett’s; immediately +a crowd was attracted to the spot in expectation +that the scenes of the day before would be +repeated. But they were disappointed. Mrs. Moffett +was there with one of her children, and no disturbance +was raised. She appealed to the ladies to leave her +husband to his own ways; but was met by an eloquent +counter-appeal by one of the band, whose father had +perished by drink, and whose son, though carefully +reared, was on the road to ruin from the same cause.</p> + +<p>At half-past eleven, Chief-of-Police Lappens appeared, +bearing a warrant, which, upon being shown +to the ladies, they obeyed by accompanying him to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_706">[Pg 706]</span>jail. An immense crowd followed to the very entrance +of the building, to which the Crusaders gave +no heed, but entered, singing,</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“All hail the power of Jesus’ name.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>At one o’clock <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span>, the court convened. The +usual dock was filled with ladies as well as half the +usual audience-room outside the bar. The charges +against them were made by Mr. Moffett, for “wilfully +and unlawfully conducting themselves in a disorderly +and violent manner, by making a loud noise, and +creating a disturbance whereby the peace and quiet +of the said city was disturbed.” <i>Mr. Cronin</i> was +Mr. Moffett’s counsel, and Messrs. Parish, Northrop, +and Shoup defended the ladies. This, as will be +seen, was a charge made by Mr. Moffett himself, who +had prepared for and conducted the riot himself, while +the ladies stood as silent witnesses of the scene. Mr. +Cronin opened the case. Mr. Gibbs responded. He +said processions had marched through the town, blockading +the streets; the gospel had been preached to +listening crowds at the street corners; Chinamen had +come out on the public thoroughfares, beating gongs, +exploding fire-crackers, and making hideous noises; +and for all this there never had been an arrest. It +would be shown that if the peace and quiet of the city +were disturbed, that they did not do it; that they +broke nobody’s window, harmed no man, woman, or +child, and that they were not responsible for the beating +of gongs, or the sounding of trumpets, and the +hooting and howling of disorderly men.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_707">[Pg 707]</span></p> + +<p>Moffett was the first witness. I can only give a +part of his testimony. Being cross-examined, he said:</p> + +<p>“There was a great crowd, probably a thousand +persons, two or three fights took place, and a man was +stabbed. At the time the disturbance was going on, +the women sung very loud.”</p> + +<p>“But did you see the defendants do anything?”</p> + +<p>“They would not move when I asked them.”</p> + +<p>“What were you doing?”</p> + +<p>“Trying to keep the peace.” (Laughter.)</p> + +<p>“Did you have a pistol to keep the peace with?”</p> + +<p>“No, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Now I ask you if you did not have a pistol in your +hand at the time this occurrence took place?”</p> + +<p>“Yes.”</p> + +<p>“Then when you stated a while ago that you did +not have a pistol, you did not state what was true?”</p> + +<p>“I did not have it to keep the peace with, but for +protection; they were stealing my property.”</p> + +<p>This is a sample of Moffett’s testimony.</p> + +<p>Allen Griffith testified for the defence, to having seen +Moffett’s barkeeper, Good, throw water, by means of a +hose, on the sidewalk, at the saloon, while the ladies +were present; also saw Good in a row—saw him close +to the ladies.</p> + +<p>Mr. Shoup.—What was he doing at that time?</p> + +<p>Witness.—One of the times when he was particularly +near to them he was holding a gong within a +few inches of a lady’s ear, and beating it very loudly. +I saw him lift her veil at one time.</p> + +<p>C. H. Williams spoke of having been attracted to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_708">[Pg 708]</span>Moffett’s saloon, April 16th, by the noise of gongs and +drum-beating.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cronin (Moffett’s attorney).—Was your wife +among the ladies that day?</p> + +<p>Witness.—She was not; I only wish she had been.</p> + +<p>Mr. Cronin asked Thomas A. Royal, of the Portland +Academy, another witness, if he had counselled the +women not to go to Moffett’s saloon.</p> + +<p>He answered: “I have not, but I have asked my wife +to go.”</p> + +<p>This, though a small part of the testimony, will show +the drift of the trial, which lasted four days. The testimony +was clear as to the pure moral character and +good behavior of the women; the speeches for the defence +of the women were able. The case was one of +the clearest that ever went before an American jury.</p> + +<p>Judge Denny briefly charged the jury, reminding +them that all they were called upon to decide, from the +evidence, was, whether the defendants were guilty, as +charged in the complaint, of wilfully and unlawfully +making a loud noise, whereby the peace and quiet of +the city was disturbed. They were also advised that +it would be their duty to give the prisoners the benefit +of any reasonable doubt. The jury was out several +hours, but returned with a verdict of “guilty,” but recommended +to the merciful consideration of the court. +Upon the request of Mr. Parrish, the judge consented +to stay sentence till the next morning, to give defendants +time to file a motion to arrest judgment. The +motion to arrest judgment being overruled, the ladies +presented the following protest:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_709">[Pg 709]</span></p> + +<p>“<i>Your Honor</i>: We do protest against any sentence +being passed upon us, for the following reasons:</p> + +<p>“1. That the verdict was contrary to the testimony, +and to the charge of your honor, in that the testimony +clearly shows, by numerous witnesses, that we +were quiet and orderly in the midst of disorder and +confusion. To such an extent did some of us preserve +quiet, that we did not so much as open our mouths, +either in song or in prayer, as your honor will observe +by referring to the testimony.</p> + +<p>“2. We, as temperance women, do earnestly protest +against being sentenced on the finding of a jury composed +in part of liquor-dealers, who, according to the +words of their oath, had already prejudged us.</p> + +<p>“If we may be allowed to mention the work in +which we are engaged, we should like to do so. The +crime being supposed to be in the intent, we would remind +your honor that the husbands and fathers of the +land are being stricken down on every side by this vile +traffic against which we wage war, and that the sons +of the land are so beset by temptation that very many +of them fall early into a drunkard’s grave, and many +more who live on, but live to disappoint the fond hopes +which are centred in them, and which, but for this fell +destroyer, they might fulfil. These evils, your honor, +are not in far-off lands, but at our own doors, as that +wife can testify, who a few months since went to a +prominent saloon in this city and plead with the proprietor +to sell her husband no more liquor, as her life +was in danger whenever that husband came home +under its influence, and she was coldly told: ‘O, well, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_710">[Pg 710]</span>if I do not sell him liquor some one else will.’ Of +that other wife whose twenty years’ experience has deprived +her of everything the heart holds dear, ‘but +her trust in God,’ whose husband can go and keep the +books at this same saloon, and Saturday night take his +pay in this cursed fire-water, and go to his home to +make it such a hell upon earth that the children must +be sent from the house and the wife remain in terror +of her life. Such instances are not rare; and it is in +behalf of these suffering sisters that we act. We have +not power to amend the laws; but since the day when +woman was first at the sepulchre, it has been her conceded +right to pray, and this right we claim as inalienably +ours.</p> + +<p>“The jury have kindly recommended us to mercy; +we ask no mercy—we demand <span class="allsmcap">JUSTICE</span>.”</p> + + +<h3 id="THE_LOGICAL_CONCLUSION"> + THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION. +</h3> + +<p>The judge, with evident embarrassment, replied that +the jury had been fairly and “impartially selected in +accordance with law.” He also took occasion to advise +the ladies not to attempt to overcome the evil +they were warring against by such means as they had +been using, but to go to the “fountain head.”</p> + +<p>The penalty was five dollars fine each, or one day’s +imprisonment. The ladies refused to pay the fine or +allow the gentlemen present to pay it for them, electing +to go to prison. They were shown to their common +apartment in the jail, and gave up their only weapon, +their Bibles. There was an indignation meeting in +one of the churches that night, and between eight and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_711">[Pg 711]</span>nine o’clock, fearing the people, an officer came to the +jail and rudely ordered them to leave. The ladies +hesitated about going out into the darkness alone, +expressing a preference to remain, to which he replied, +“I’m boss here; you leave.” Thus thrust out, they +made their way to the church. The first intimation +the audience had of the release of the ladies was their +presence in the church. Such enthusiastic cheering +took place as had never been heard within those walls. +When the tumult had subsided, some of the ladies +made short addresses, in which they recounted the +circumstances of their dismissal and their hesitating +flight.</p> + +<p>The Crusade work continued without any abatement +of zeal. The liquor-dealers held meetings to devise +means to protect their rights. Their doors were +closed, and the women met with universal coldness +and hardness. Mr. Moffett persisted in his open +insults, treating the ladies with great personal indignity. +At last forbearance gave way, and Mr. Moffett was +arraigned for insulting conduct toward Mrs. H. B. +Stitzel. The case was tried before Justice Ryan, with +a jury of liquor-men. Mr. Moffett was discharged. +Another complaint was entered by Mrs. Alice Fain, +for assault, by making her ill by burning some +poisonous substance in her face. In both these cases +Mr. Moffett was defended by E. A. Cronin, who +seemed to be inspired by the spirit of his employer, +and grossly insulted the ladies by telling them, in his +speech, that he believed they were as base and corrupt +in heart “<i>as any woman in this town, no matter what her +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_712">[Pg 712]</span>calling or character</i>.” The jury in this case, which was +tried before Justice Crich, consisted of four liquor-men +and two Germans. Moffett was again discharged.</p> + +<p>An enthusiastic meeting of ladies was held, and able +speeches were made, and published. The better class +of citizens, and the Congregational Church, in council, +gave the Crusaders their formal indorsement. In +the meantime the usual work of visiting the saloons +went on; petitions were circulated; and public sentiment +thoroughly aroused.</p> + +<p>On the 18th June, the mayor approved an ordinance, +which had been secured mainly through their influence, +raising the license from $50 to $100 per quarter, and +requiring $1,000 bonds to keep orderly houses, with +some other restrictions. This aroused the liquor-men +to still greater opposition. One gentleman, whose +wife was connected with the Crusade, was notified to +take his wife off the street or suffer the loss of his +business, through the enmity of the liquor association. +“Very well,” he replied, “it took a higher power than +I to place her on the street, and it will require a higher +power to remove her. If you want to ruin my business, +you can try it. I will certainly fight yours as long +as I live.”</p> + +<p>But they had many kind words, and much to +encourage them in their difficult work. Mrs. A. C. +Gibbs arose in a ladies’ meeting one day, and told the +Crusaders, for their encouragement, that during a visit +to Puget Sound, from which she had just returned, she +had learned, to her surprise, that the temperance +movement had produced the best effects over there. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_713">[Pg 713]</span>In a conversation between the captain of a Sound +steamer, and other gentlemen, it was asserted that the +liquor traffic had fallen off one-third; that he knew it +by the less amount he carried on his boat. Also, that +whereas all the men on his vessel used to take their +grog, none of them did so now; and that a drinking-stand, +kept on one of the wharves for the express convenience +of this class of men, which used to make a +profit of twenty-seven dollars a day, dwindled in its +receipts to three dollars, and finally closed. Such a +fact was certainly encouraging, as a result of four +months of labor, no matter how arduous.</p> + + +<h3 id="MURDER_IN_A_SALOON"> + MURDER IN A SALOON. +</h3> + +<p>On the Saturday evening immediately preceding the +city election, at nine o’clock, a certain lady was reciting +to the audience at the church an incident that came +under her notice four years previous, of a woman’s +shooting a man in a Portland saloon because he failed +to vote as he was instructed, after having been furnished +free drinks for a month at her place.</p> + +<p>Almost at that very moment, a murder was being +perpetrated in a place of similar character, but under +somewhat different circumstances. In this case the +woman had only given the murderer drugged liquor +enough to make him either stupid or crazy. Unfortunately +it had the latter effect, and to save herself from +his pistol she had called on the police, and officer +Schoppe entering at the moment when the deadly instrument +was raised, was instantly shot fatally, and +fell.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_714">[Pg 714]</span></p> + +<p>Here was a pointed example, if such were wanting, +of the criminality of the saloon business. It <i>might</i> be +made use of to influence the election on Monday. But +it was not; because it happened late Saturday evening, +and on Sunday, at one o’clock, the man was buried +out of sight!</p> + + +<h3 id="THE_ORDINANCE_AGAIN"> + THE ORDINANCE AGAIN. +</h3> + +<p>When the new councilmen came in they found the +ordinance increasing liquor licenses signed by the +mayor, and ready to go into effect with the commencement +of the quarter beginning July 1st. An effort +was immediately made to get an ordinance passed +reducing licenses to their former rates; but this was +prevented by the mayor, two of the old councilmen and +one of the new.</p> + +<p>Then followed a petition from fifty-six liquor-sellers +and eighty-seven others, to have licenses reduced to +fifty dollars per quarter, and such pressure brought to +bear upon the council that the mayor notified the +temperance people that unless they sent in a counter-petition, +the council might not be able to withstand +it.</p> + +<p>Accordingly a counter-petition was circulated, and one +hundred and thirty names obtained, of the heaviest tax-payers +in the city, who were <i>not</i> liquor-dealers. Both +petitions went before the council. That same evening +an ordinance was passed and approved by the mayor, +reducing licenses to fifty dollars! It contained, it is +true, some provision for bonds being given; but how +soon may we look to see even that repealed?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_715">[Pg 715]</span></p> + +<p>What is this power of whiskey that makes men disregard +everything else?</p> + +<p>An attempt was made to pass a law against singing +and praying in the street, but it was not successful. The +council did, however, ordain that no drinking-houses +should be kept by women. I add the names of the +noble women of Portland, who consecrated themselves +to this work, and pursued it so successfully, notwithstanding +the apathy of the masses, the corruption of +the courts, and the ruffianism of the saloon-keepers:</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. A. Mitchell; Mrs. Helen Sparrow; Mrs. J. +H. Reid; Mrs. Jane Pierpont; Mrs. J. S. Briggs; Mrs. +Josephine Ritter; Mrs. A. R. Medbury; Mrs. Catherine +Sparks; Mrs. Mary C. Holman; Mrs. M. Quackenbush; +Mrs. G. Shindler; Mrs. Maggie Wilson; Mrs. +Charlotte Jean; Mrs. S. D. Francis; Mrs. H. V. +Stitzel; Mrs. Rachel Clark; Mrs. L. F. Turner; Mrs. +M. E. Sutherland; Mrs. E. C. Hall; Mrs. E. Watkins; +Mrs. W. B. Fain; Mrs. E. O. Corson; Mrs. N. S. +Swafford; Mrs. Dr. Atkinson; Mrs. G. W. Izer; Mrs. +J. Smith; Mrs. T. F. Royal; Mrs. Lucy Patton; Mrs. +J. F. Jones; Mrs. W. P. Jones; Mrs. E. Richards; Mrs. +Kimberline; Mrs. Lillie; Mrs. J. R. Robb; Mrs. M. M. +Smith; Mrs. Emma Morgan; Mrs. Murray; Mrs. Connell; +Mrs. J. A. Robb; Mrs. L. L. Bond; Mrs. Lizzie +Fletcher; Mrs. J. F. DeVore; Mrs. O. B. Gibson; +Mrs. Dr. Sawtelle; Mrs. Wm. Roberts; Mrs. Benj. +Thomas; Mrs. L. Blackstone; Mrs. A. Allen; Mrs. F. +Pierce; Mrs. J. Stitzel; Mrs. A. Hurgren; Mrs. G. +W. Traver; Mrs. Morris; Miss J. Pumphrey; Miss L. +A. Mitchell; Miss Mary DeVore; Miss Orra Sparks; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_716">[Pg 716]</span>Miss Sarah Sparks; Miss Olive Padget; Miss Mary +Harrington; Miss Mell Cranston; Miss Marion Francis; +Miss Ida Francis; Miss Helena Holman; Miss Mary +Test; Miss Eliza Richards; Miss Edith Sutherland.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h3 id="NEW_JERSEY"> + NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>The work in this State began in the city of Newark, +April 16th, 1874.</p> + +<p>Newark was the largest town in the State, and a +stronghold of the liquor traffic. But the fire kindled +there has spread from town to town, till the whole +State rings with the watchword of the Woman’s Temperance +Union—“<i>New Jersey for Christ and Temperance</i>.”</p> + + +<h3 id="NEWARK_NEW_JERSEY"> + NEWARK, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>The call that brought the ladies together was anonymous; +but though thus unexpectedly called to face +the responsibility of the temperance work in a great, +wicked city, they were too loyal to God and the cause +to hesitate.</p> + +<p>They prepared themselves for the work by a special +and entire consecration, and waited before God for an +open door, and the voice of command.</p> + +<p>The work came to them in a most unexpected manner. +At the close of one of their meetings, a forlorn, +miserable-looking sort of a man came dragging his +feet along just within the door, and tumbled into the +chair that was near, being then somewhat under the +influence of liquor. After sitting a few moments, he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_717">[Pg 717]</span>arose with some difficulty to his feet, and commenced +speaking quite indistinctly, as if rather talking to +himself. The first words that could be understood +were, “I am a poor, miserable, lost, wretched and +drunken engineer, and I am drunk now; do you +think that I can be saved?” He then went on to tell +of his dreadful life, how for over twenty years he had +been drinking, ruining himself and family till he had +become a worthless vagabond, and was lost and +ruined both soul and body forever. While standing in +a half-bent attitude describing himself and his wretched +condition, in most piteous tones, the heart of every +individual who had remained there was melted in +sympathy. He said he did not know why he came +into that room, or how he came there, but that a +conviction of his guilt and ruin came over him the +moment that he entered it, and while thus speaking, +he commenced to sob and weep aloud, saying: “Will +you pray for me?” Trembling and excited he got on +his knees, and in the agony of despair he prayed that +God would save him. Those who were there to pray +were bowed low in the dust, as never before, conscious +of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, +all remaining on their knees in prayer, till he yielded +his heart to Jesus in penitence and tears, when he, a +saved and sober man, testified to the riches of Divine +grace which could reach and rescue even a great +sinner like himself. And on that morning of the +8th of May, 1874, he left the hall, which he entered in +such darkness and misery, with the light and peace in +his soul which Jesus only can give. To His dear +name be all the glory!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_718">[Pg 718]</span></p> + +<p>This small band, who continued to wait on the +Lord, were enabled on that May morning to erect a +signal of praise over this first marked and wonderful +display of the marvellous power of God to save, and +His readiness to hear and to grant an immediate +answer to prayer.</p> + +<p>Some of the very worst-looking men would most +strangely find their way into that meeting without +knowing how or why they came. Almost as soon as +they entered and heard the voice of prayer, they +would rise and ask to be prayed for as poor lost sinners, +and continue in prayer till they found the +Saviour. Others were invited or led in, even when +intoxicated, and were eventually saved.</p> + +<p>As the work progressed, evening meetings, cottage-meetings, +and Tuesday afternoon services were established +in different places at the houses of inebriates +and reformed men, which were well attended, and +were successful and blessed in their results.</p> + +<p>The number of workers was small, and the difficulties +great, but God was with them.</p> + +<p>I take the following from a report of the work:</p> + +<p>On the second Sunday in January, 1875, Mr. John +Garrabrant (who had been an instrument in God’s +hand of great assistance to us) invited Mr. William +Souter (who was called the drunken tailor) to come +to our meeting. He came, forlorn and helpless as if +about giving up; he thought and felt himself, that +there was no use in trying. He was induced to get +on his knees with us, and was told to sign himself to +Jesus. The Holy Spirit then and there commenced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_719">[Pg 719]</span>the work in his heart, and from that moment he began +a new life, and broke off entirely from his evil habits, +and became a changed man, giving his heart to the +Saviour. Oh, what a glorious day for him! Our +rejoicing for a good while over him was with trembling; +but oh, how we have blessed God for such a +triumph of grace, ever since! A new beacon of hope +and light was erected, and what an encouragement it +was for perseverance in earnest and united prayer for +that class of men! New ones found their way into +these meetings, which awakened a greater degree of +interest and earnestness in the work.</p> + +<p>Among the first of these special cases was the +coming in of a man, rather small, but with such a +black and wicked sort of expression of countenance +as one would instinctively shrink from. He seemed +in every way strangely repulsive, but my eyes were +riveted to him as he took a low seat just back of the +door, holding his head down as if to hide himself in +his soiled and shabby garments. He came invited by +the Bible reader, who met him in the morning. He +was cold, and as he said thought he could get warm +in there, but thought of nothing more.</p> + +<p>Very soon, as I watched him, he became very uneasy, +moved about until he arose to his feet and began +talking of his miserable life, and of the terribly wicked +and abandoned condition that he was in. He said +that he had been drinking, and was drunk when he +came in there; but said he, I will never drink again, +no, never; while I live I’ll never touch another drop. +Is there any mercy for such a vile wretch as I am? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_720">[Pg 720]</span>And then dropping to his knees he began to pray for +himself, and cry to God for mercy. He was truly and +deeply convicted of his guilt as a sinner, and sought +earnestly to know the way to a better course of life, +and to give his heart to Jesus. Prayer was offered for +him, and the meeting closed; but as he still remained +I was unusually impressed to speak to him. But as I +approached him, he was so forlorn and disagreeable +from being steeped with rum and tobacco, that the +first thing I asked him was, if he would give up his +tobacco as well as strong drink. Laying my hand on +his shoulder, I said, “Will you, my poor brother, give +up everything and make a full surrender of yourself +to Jesus, and become pure and clean, and not offensive +and repugnant as you are now?”</p> + +<p>“I will give up the drink, but can’t say I will tobacco, +for I don’t think I could.”</p> + +<p>I urged the point; he demurred, but finally said he +would try.</p> + +<p>“No use in trying: you <i>must</i> do it; say you <i>will</i>,” I +still urged.</p> + +<p>“But it would not do for me to give up all at once +when I have been chewing two papers every day, and +often a good deal more, besides smoking: it would +make me sick to break right off.”</p> + +<p>“Not if Jesus helps you,” I said, “and He <i>will</i>. In +your own strength you can never do it; in either case +in His strength you can. Now promise me you will.”</p> + +<p>“If I promise you,” he said, “I <i>shall</i> do it, for bad +as I am I never tell a lie.”</p> + +<p>“Then promise me, quickly,” I still urged; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_721">[Pg 721]</span>never shall I forget the look he gave me, as for a +moment he bowed his head, and then, as he raised it +in trembling earnestness,</p> + +<p>“Give me your hand,” said he, seizing it as with a +grasp of desperation. “Now I promise you, God +helping me, that never from this time will I touch +tobacco or drink again. Now I have promised, I shall +keep it.”</p> + +<p>Earnest prayer was offered, and from that moment +our brother, William N. Clark, became a sober, renewed, +and changed man.</p> + +<p>What human power could have annihilated in an +instant the appetite and all desire for strong drink or +tobacco in any form, where it had been almost a life-long +habit, indulged in without restraint day and night, +obtained at any and every sacrifice? Who can doubt +that a will like his was at that time brought into and +held in subjection by the will and strength of Omnipotence? +He was enabled to surrender himself, soul and +body, into the hands of Jesus, and he left the hall, +never more to touch, taste, or handle those two +accursed things. His former appetite and love for +both from that moment was so turned into hatred of +the sin and its evil results, that his voice was raised in +denunciation wherever he went. His whole life, since +that hour, has been given in efforts to bring others +from the degradation and wretchedness of sin, and to +win them to Jesus.</p> + +<p>So many young men were now interested that it +was deemed advisable to organize a reform club, to +bind them more strongly together. Such an organization, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_722">[Pg 722]</span>in connection with the Woman’s Temperance +Union, was completed on the 4th of March, 1875. +This club has now over 600 members.</p> + +<p>A Sunday-school was commenced, and is still in +progress.</p> + +<p>The 4th of July occurring on Sunday, in 1875, +there were rumors of preparations already in progress +to celebrate it as on any secular day, in parades, processions, +martial music, and other public demonstrations. +Some of the ladies of the Union resolved, after +taking it to God in prayer with great earnestness and +humility, to take a bold stand, and go as a committee +to the City Hall, and petition the mayor to interpose in +behalf of a God-fearing people, and sustain the honor +of His law, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it +holy.” It was said by many, “It will do no good at +all; matters have gone too far.” But it did do good. +The suggestion was very kindly received, and Mr. +Perry’s decided and prompt action not only entirely +suppressed the threatened fearful desecration, but gave +us one of the most peaceful and quiet Sabbaths that +we have had in this city for many years.</p> + +<p>On the 8th of September, 1875, at the regular meetings +of our Union, we set apart a little season, just at +the hour of twelve, for united prayer to God. And +this noon-day concert of private prayer has been +observed by our Union since that day, when, by the +uplifting of the right-hand, as requested, to signalize +the sacred compact, it was thus ratified by every +member present.</p> + +<p>Surely God, the Almighty God himself, has allied +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_723">[Pg 723]</span>Himself to this cause, not only in the treasure of His +grace, but in the treasury of His means also, to carry +it on with; for it is a marvel how we have been supplied +and carried through such heavy expenses as +came upon us from time to time, and are able to-day +to say joyfully, that we owe no man anything. Not +unto us be any of the glory.</p> + +<p>An humble service, if the calling to it is of God, is a +high, a holy calling. In the death of Judge Stanboro, +December 5th, 1875, we lost one of our firmest +friends. He was enabled, at the age of seventy-two, +to give up entirely the use of tobacco in every form, +although it had been a habit freely indulged in for +sixty years. He kept quiet on the subject till he could +say, after the experience of months, that he was a +happier and better man without it.</p> + +<p>One of the reformed brothers who had received his +special care and attention, and who had never seen a +Christian die, watched with him till the hour of his +departure, and caught these his last words, as they +fell from his lips: “Oh, those blessed women—God +bless them!” “Oh, precious Jesus!” and immediately +expired.</p> + +<p>In the winter of 1876, a Juvenile Society and Bands +of Hope were started, and have been well sustained. +Several branches also have been formed auxiliary to +the Union.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Bundage adds the following incidents:</p> + +<p>G—— A——, a young man having all the advantages +necessary to place him in an honorable position, +his friends giving him a liberal education, was a student +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_724">[Pg 724]</span>of law. But rum, that great curse, laid him low many +times, and finally he became a confirmed drunkard.</p> + +<p>One day a minister of this city brought him into our +temperance meeting, suffering with delirium tremens. +His blood-shot eye, bloated, purple face, trembling +limbs, quivering body, and look of despair, showed that +rum had almost finished its work. The hardest heart +was moved to pity.</p> + +<p>One of the sisters of the Union seated herself by his +side and talked with him. At last he said, “My God, +cannot you do something for me?” The sweat stood +in great drops on his brow. She told him just there +to ask Jesus to help him, and He would; how He +could cure his disease, and cleanse from all sin. As +he became more quiet, he told of his wicked life; how +his mother could not keep him any longer, as she kept +boarders, and he would do anything to get a drink. +Whenever she gave him a new suit of clothes, he +would go to New York, exchange them for an old +suit, and go home intoxicated. A young lady gave +him a glass at a party, and urged him to drink. Till +then he had never drank.</p> + +<p>Christian friends surrounded him, and pointed him +to the Lamb of God. In pity, love, and faith, they +bore him to the mercy-seat. They prayed for him as +one prays for his own soul. The Mighty to Save +heard, and cast out the demon rum, and he was saved +from that hour.</p> + +<p>Kind friends watched with him that night, and he +was restored to his widowed mother, whom he had +often found at the midnight hour kneeling at his bedside, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_725">[Pg 725]</span>pleading with a covenant-keeping God for her +only son. He has since shown, by his walk and conversation, +that the work is genuine.</p> + +<p>Mr. H. had a wife and six children. Like many +drunkards, he was often very abusive, and would take +the little pittance his wife earned and spend it for rum, +leaving the children crying for bread and shivering +with cold.</p> + +<p>At one time he sent a man to tell his wife he was +arrested, and she must get some money some way so +he would not have to go to prison. She did so, and +he spent it for rum with his accomplice. At times he +was very wretched and in despair, and made attempts +to hang himself, and was prevented only by the untiring +care and watchfulness of his devoted wife. One +night, coming home, he made up his mind, as they +would not let him hang himself, he would cut his wife’s +throat first, then the children’s, and lastly his own. +Before going to bed he slipped a razor in his coat-sleeve. +His wife saw him do it, and stealthily left the +house with her young infant, walking half a mile in +the cold wintry night, through the snow and sleet, with +only a thin shawl wrapped round herself and babe, to +the house of her father-in-law, where she stayed all +night. The father-in-law asked her why she did not +leave him; if she would do so he would take care of +her and the children, and send her husband to an asylum. +She answered: “I cannot leave him; he is my +husband, and your son, the father of my children.”</p> + +<p>He said to her: “I fear you will all be murdered +some day by his hand.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_726">[Pg 726]</span></p> + +<p>When the husband found all was still, he arose to +accomplish the murderous task he had contemplated. +He saw the children sleeping quietly together, and +searched for the mother. Not finding her he concluded +it was not best to kill the children, as she was +gone. He says it makes him shudder now when he +thinks what might have happened if the enemy had put +it into his mind to kill the children first. When his +wife came home in the morning he asked her why she +did not stay home. She looked up, with tears streaming +down her cheeks, and replied: “Father, I have no +home any more.” This touched his heart.</p> + +<p>When one of his children lay a corpse he borrowed +money to bury it, and stopped at a rum-shop to get a +drink, and stayed until the money was all gone; and +his child was buried by charity.</p> + +<p>The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union heard +of this man, and one of their number visited his house +every week for eighteen months, leaving tracts with the +family. After a while he looked for the tracts and the +visits. Suitable clothes were promised him if he would +go to church. He was deeply convicted of sin, and +sought the Saviour, whom he found able to save, even +to the uttermost. He has since stood firm and unwavering. +For six months he was chaplain of the first +Reform Club of Newark, which office he filled very +acceptably. He has been called to several places in +this State and in New York, to tell of his wonderful +deliverance from the appetite and curse of rum.</p> + +<p>September 8th, 1877, he buried another child; but +what a contrast in the man’s family and home!—the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_727">[Pg 727]</span>home now pleasant and neatly furnished, the family +happy even in their sorrow, and the body of the little +one lying in a neat coffin with a wreath of flowers +marked “baby;” the man loved and respected—a kind +Christian husband and father.</p> + +<p>Surely gospel temperance pays well, even in this life.</p> + +<p>We might speak of our gospel temperance work in +the jail: how the prisoners sought and found the Saviour, +the Lord giving us a trophy the first meeting; +of our bands of hope and young ladies’ league; cottage +prayer-meetings, saloon visiting, etc. But time +will not permit, and the half we do not know here. A +true record of it is kept on high. It is a blessed work. +Unto Him be all the praise and glory forever.</p> + + +<h3 id="ROSEVILLE_NEW_JERSEY"> + ROSEVILLE, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>The society in Roseville is an outgrowth of the +Woman’s Crusade work. As the news came to us of +the Temperance Crusade in the West, a woman of +the Roseville Church heard God calling her to join this +army. Then the cry went up to Him, “Lord, what +wilt Thou have me to do?” The Lord answered, +“What thy hands find to do, do with all thy might.” +The next Sunday, by the direction of the Holy Spirit, +temperance tracts were distributed among my Mission +Sunday-school class, with a prayer to heaven that +they might send conviction to some hearts in those +seven families which this class represented. The next +week these homes were visited. Upon entering one +house, the mother remarked, “I am so glad you have +come, for my husband wants to see you; he read the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_728">[Pg 728]</span>tract you sent on Sunday, and has been very thoughtful +since then; says he would like to be a better man.” +“Why,” said she, “he used to own two nice houses, and +we all had plenty; but now we are living in these +rented rooms. He has no work, and I do not know +what is to become of us, for we are using up the last +of our hard earnings. He will go with holes in his +shoes, and just <i>any way</i>, and spend his last cent for +rum; but he is such a good man when he is sober.”</p> + +<p>Just then the husband, Mr. Jones, entered the room. +He was a fine-looking man, but the mark of the beast +was on his brow.</p> + +<p>The conversation then commenced about his pretty +children, and my desire to know more of them and +their parents; he smiled sadly as he remarked, “They +have a good mother, but I am not the father I ought +to be.” Then we talked of the follies of a drunkard’s +life, all of which he knew only too well; but how to +break away from the habit that had chained him down +with a death-like grip was the problem he could not +solve.</p> + +<p>He listened with joy to the “good news” of redemption +through Jesus’ blood. How Jesus came to +seek and save the lost; then he told me of a dear +minister brother in heaven: how his last prayer on +earth was for him (his wayward brother); then of a +praying mother who had gone home to glory; then +of an aged praying father and a gentle loving sister +whose constant prayers were for him. “Yes,” he said, +“I seem to be wading through prayer, knee-deep, to +hell.” God was working upon his heart. There was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_729">[Pg 729]</span>a hushed feeling in all that room. We felt God’s +presence there, and when the invitation was given to +kneel in prayer, there seemed to be a responsive echo +in each heart; even the little two-year-old girl, knelt +in a frightened sort of way, by her father’s side, and as +the petition went up before the Throne, one could +imagine the angels tuning their harps a little higher. +Yes, there was rejoicing among the white-robed +throng over one poor sinner, who had turned from his +evil ways, and was learning the new song, “To Him +who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own +blood.”</p> + +<p>We then walked together to our pastor’s study, and +there he promised, with God’s help, never to touch intoxicating +drinks, but to serve the Lord all the remainder +of his life. Two years have rolled away since +that memorable 3d day of September, and he is one +of our most consistent Christian men, a good citizen, +and an earnest temperance worker. Many poor, rum-blinded +souls have been brought to the feet of Jesus +through his faithful efforts, and in his home you will +find peace and plenty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Jones’ conversion was soon noised about. +Women told their neighbors of the wonderful change +that had come over him, and many a sad-hearted wife +wished that somebody would talk to her husband; +and somebody did carry the wonderful news, “That +Jesus is mighty to save,” until ten men had become +converted.</p> + +<p>They and their wives were banded together into +what is now called the “Gospel Total Abstinence +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_730">[Pg 730]</span>Society.” Socials were held at their homes once a week, +until they became so large we were forced to hold the +meetings in the Mission Chapel. Two years have +elapsed since this society was organized and in God’s +hands. It is founded on “The Rock of Ages,” and +has been greatly prospered. We now number about +three hundred and fifty members. Fifty-four have +been converted to Christ.</p> + +<p>Among our prominent workers are three ex-beer-saloon-keepers; +also one who was confined at the prison +for drunkenness, while we were holding our usual +prayer-meeting at that place. He was a miserable, +bloated German, who came, after his release, to the +meetings, as he lived in close proximity to our work.</p> + +<p>The kind, tender words of the women, and a tract +called the “Bird-Charmer,” set him to thinking. How +he entreated us, in our little Friday evening meeting, +to pray for him; and we surrounded him after the +meeting and never gave him up until we saw him +standing with us on the “Rock of Ages.”</p> + +<p>One year has elapsed since his conversion, and instead +of the once wretched home, he is living in quite +a large house, all neatly furnished, and his family of +eight children are all walking in the narrow way. +Through his effort two men, who had been very hard +drinkers, were converted. They were won by his consistent +life at the work-bench. Now they all sing together +all day long, in that Catholic hat shop, the +Moody and Sankey hymns. These three men are consistent +members of our Roseville church.</p> + +<p>Our organization is situated in the upper part of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_731">[Pg 731]</span>Newark. It is supported entirely by the Roseville +Presbyterian Church, and is one of the revolving +wheels in the church machinery for saving souls. It +has filled a great many otherwise empty pews.</p> + +<p>The above facts are reported by Mrs. F. T. Wiggins.</p> + + +<h3 id="LAMBERTVILLE_NEW_JERSEY"> + LAMBERTVILLE, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>The women arose <i>en masse</i> in this town, and with a +petition, signed by a large majority of the citizens of +the place, went to the council chamber and urged +that the saloons be at once closed. The demand +was so well backed up by influential names on +the petition, and the presence of prominent citizens, +that it was acceded to at once, and rum was banished.</p> + +<p>Many of the young men reformed, and some of +them were saved and brought into the church.</p> + +<p>But the dealers who had been driven out established +themselves on the Pennsylvania side of the river, and +as there was a connecting bridge, the point was accessible +and convenient, and they went on with their +deadly work. The people of the little village protested, +and held mass indignation meetings; but the +intruders, lost to shame, defied public sentiment.</p> + +<p>At the next election for city officers there was a hard +contest, but the temperance people held their own, and +kept rum out. They still watch and pray, and hold +the fort.</p> + + +<h3 id="RAHWAY_NEW_JERSEY"> + RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>A good work was accomplished in Rahway. Sixty-five +women signed the “iron-clad pledge,” which solemnly +bound them not to use alcohol in any way, not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_732">[Pg 732]</span>even as a medicine, and not to patronize any hotel or +grocery where it was sold.</p> + +<p>The result of this action was that some of the grocers +disposed of their liquor at once, and invited the +patronage of temperance people.</p> + +<p>Six meetings are held weekly, the ministers attending +in a body the Thursday evening meetings, to which +they have been specially invited.</p> + +<p>In the outskirts of the city, at Bloodgood Mills, a +branch Union was started, and a reading-room established, +with good results. There is also a temperance +work among the colored people.</p> + +<p>Many have, through the labors of the faithful workers, +thus been brought to Christ.</p> + +<p>The Reform Club numbers seventy-seven, most of +whom are “steadfast, immovable, abounding in the +work of the Lord.”</p> + +<p>I glean the following facts from the annual report:</p> + + +<h3 id="JERSEY_CITY_NEW_JERSEY"> + JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>Meetings are held in Jersey City, Bergen, Hudson +City, and Greenville, all within the city limits.</p> + +<p>The grocers have all been visited, and urged to give +up the sale of liquors. One man, who is a member +of church, was found, who sold liquor by the bottle, in +his grocery. When remonstrated with he insisted that +he was doing right, and refused to give up that part +of his business. One grocer gave up the sale of +liquors, and the ladies now have a temperance grocery, +which they feel in honor bound to sustain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_733">[Pg 733]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="MOUNT_HOLLY_NEW_JERSEY"> + MOUNT HOLLY, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>Mass-meetings are held every Sabbath afternoon, +beside evening meetings during the week.</p> + +<p>Appeals have been made, both personally and in +writing, to the judges of the court, by whom licenses +are issued. By this means one man who applied for +license to open a beer saloon was prevented.</p> + +<p>There is a growing interest, and an improved public +sentiment in this place.</p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_BRUNSWICK_NEW_JERSEY"> + NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>The work, which began in this town through the influence +of one woman, lacks neither earnestness nor +perseverance.</p> + +<p>Meetings are held regularly, and from the converts +a Reform Club has been started.</p> + + +<h3 id="HACKETTSTOWN_NEW_JERSEY"> + HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY. +</h3> + +<p>The saloons are all closed, but the ladies continue +their meetings, and are vigilant lest the enemy should +obtain entrance.</p> + +<p>At the seminary in that town, ninety young ladies +and gentlemen were induced to sign the pledge.</p> + +<p>Trenton, Elizabeth, Burlington, Beverly, Washington, +Millstone, Madison, Cedarville, Long Branch and +a score of other towns are holding the fort against +fearful odds, and some of them are gaining substantial +victories.</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. C. Noble, who has travelled much over the +State, and has with Mrs. M. R. Denman, the President +of the State Union, been abundant in labors, adds the +following:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_734">[Pg 734]</span></p> + +<p>Early in the fall of 1876, there was a vigorous +campaign opened against intemperance in the lower +part of the State of New Jersey, and prosecuted +through the counties of Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland +and Monmouth, with great success, arousing +Christian people of all denominations to active labor. +God blessed the labor of His servants most wonderfully, +and we feel confident that in answer to fervent +prayers and persistent effort to rescue the perishing +and lift up the fallen this great awakening over our +State has come. To God be all the glory.</p> + +<p>To show the spirit of this work let me give one or +two instances. It was wonderful to see the hearts of +Christians so stirred up to work in all ways, and by all +means, “so that some might be saved.” One afternoon +there came into Temperance Hall at Trenton, +during the great revival there early in the winter of +1877, a poor out-cast, a woman, who in consequence +of evil ways had been imprisoned, but who now was +drawn to the hall by some unknown influence. She +came again and again, and finally signed the pledge +and said she kept it. I can never forget a scene which +occurred at the close of one of our meetings. A pure-spirited +girl, one of Trenton’s fairest daughters, whose +heart was full of the constraining love of Christ, approached +this woman and in low tones began to talk +with her in regard to her soul’s salvation. After a +few moments we saw the two, one pure as the blood +of Christ alone can make, and the other covered with +sin and shame, move to a remote corner of the room, +and bowing together so their faces nearly touched, we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_735">[Pg 735]</span>saw the one earnestly pleading with God for His +pardon for this poor erring sister. Oh, what a sight! +Angels must have stopped in their flight to witness a +scene like this. We passed noiselessly away and left +them alone with God and the angels.</p> + +<p>Another: There was a man who had been a hard +drinker most of his life, and was bringing his aged +mother to her grave in sorrow. All efforts to save +him had failed, and it seemed to all who knew him that +he must fill a drunkard’s grave. A Christian lady +anxious to work for the blessed Master, and to save +this man if possible, thought of this plan. She would +write him a letter praying that God would touch his +heart. She did so, addressing him as “brother,” and +signing herself his friend. She invited him to the +Temperance Hall that night. The word “<i>brother</i>” +arrested his attention. He said, “Is it possible that +there is one who cares enough for me to call me +‘brother,’ and that one, a lady? I will go to the hall.” +He did so, signed the pledge and became an earnest +worker in the cause of temperance.</p> + +<p>Others of similar character were brought into our +meetings and were saved; broken down family altars +were rebuilt, and many new ones set up, we trust +never to be abandoned.</p> + +<p>It was blessed to bow with these saved men at their +altars of prayer, where in many cases children had fled +from their drunken fathers in terror. Now they would +sit upon their knee while God’s word was read, and all +bow together in humble prayer.</p> + +<p>Through the influence of these gospel temperance +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_736">[Pg 736]</span>meetings many saloons have been closed; cider mills +abandoned; and thousands of precious souls have +been saved, thereby turning aside the streams of +death which bear down to ruin so many of our fellow-beings.</p> + +<p>God very signally owned and blessed the work at +Elizabeth City, N. J., and though not so many signed +the pledge as in other places, yet the work was carried +into the churches, and pastors and people united in the +great work of saving souls, and all felt when the meeting +closed that some had been brought to the saving +knowledge of Christ.</p> + + +<h3 id="MARYLAND"> + MARYLAND. +</h3> + +<p>Years ago, when a war-cry rang out in the land, +thousands of womanly hearts thrilled responsive to +the call for sympathy, for aid, and prayer. And when, +not long after, another battle-cry pealed out in thunder-tones, +when the voice of the Crusade, as the voice of +many waters, came surging from the West, our hearts +answered to the call, and everywhere throughout “our +Maryland,” woman’s lips caught up the battle-cry, +“For God, and home, and native land!”</p> + +<p>Fired by the enthusiasm of the noble women of +Ohio, touched by the spirit of sacrifice which nerved +them to deeds of heroism unsurpassed by any on historic +page, we, of Maryland, saw, as never before, our +responsibility as Christians, realized that “we were +our brothers’ keepers,” and, listening to the Spirit’s +call, resolved to do whatever (God blessing our efforts) +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_737">[Pg 737]</span>we might towards helping “the bound-in chains” to +be free!</p> + +<p>Never before had we seemed to hear as in our very +midst, all round about us, the wail from breaking +hearts, women weeping over the degradation of their +first-born, their poor misguided Absaloms. We saw +our own darlings in our sheltered homes, shielded, +loved, and blest, and, as never before, felt that it was +required of us to seek out in their wretchedness the +drunkard’s children—little children who scarcely knew +what childhood was, looking out upon life with scared +and wondering faces, crouching to earth, or hiding +away at footsteps on a stair—uncertain, stumbling +footsteps, heralds of night hours of vigil, of abuse +and desolation.</p> + +<p>Women suffering a living death, in degradation, +poverty and woe, struggling, toiling far into the night, +to earn their children bread; these seemed to look to +us with pitiful, tear-stained faces, for help, for sympathy, +for prayer.</p> + +<p>Thus moved by the example of our sisters of the +West, awakened by the voice of the Holy Spirit, we +began to ask, “What is <i>our</i> duty? What can <i>we</i> do? +Shall we stand idly looking on, while souls die that we +might help to save? Shall we dream away our lives, +fold our arms in peace, and give thanks that none of +our beloved ones are in that army marching down to +death?” The answer came back, “No! a thousand +times no, no!”</p> + +<p>“What, then, should we do?” Wait for protection +from our lawgivers, help that might never come!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_738">[Pg 738]</span></p> + +<p>Nay, to the mighty Lawgiver, the Judge of all the +earth, we resolved to carry our cause; to the mighty +in battle we would fly for deliverance; taking courage +when we remembered that “Greater is He who is for +us, than all they who are against us.”</p> + +<p>Day after day we met for solemn consecration, for +prayer, seeking wisdom from on high, that, led by the +Holy Spirit, we might put into active form our yearning +pity for the victims of intemperance, their sorrowing +families, and desolated homes.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1874, a band of Christian women +under the direction of Mrs. Francis A. Crook, and +Mrs. Dr. J. Carey Thomas, of Baltimore, associated +themselves together under the name of “The Woman’s +Christian Temperance Union.”</p> + +<p>During the spring and winter, prayer-meetings were +held two and three days in the week in the different +churches of the city; for in this work Christian women +of all denominations met and worked, wept, and +prayed together “one in Christ.”</p> + +<p>Cottage meetings were held in the suburbs of the +city, in private houses, and even in houses of shame; +dens of infamy where our pure women went, as the disciples +of old, two and two, in little companies, quietly, +lovingly, earnestly bearing the Master’s message of +salvation, binding the “whosoevers and the whatsoevers” +into a staff to bear up and on the poor sinning, +sad, despairing souls, that heard them with new +hope. God wonderfully blessed these efforts. Souls +were reclaimed, and more than one lifted up by +Christian women’s loving hands. These, their fallen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_739">[Pg 739]</span>sisters, were led to Him who saveth to the uttermost +whosoever will come.</p> + +<p>Responding to a call issued by the President of the +Baltimore Union, the women of the city and State +met in convention, November 9th and 10th, 1875, in +this city, to plan for the future extension of the work.</p> + +<p>The result of this gathering was the organization +of “The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union,” of +Maryland, auxiliary to “The Woman’s National Christian +Temperance Union.”</p> + +<p>The following officers were elected, and at each +succeeding annual convention, unanimously re-elected:</p> + +<p>President, Mrs. Frances A. Crook, Baltimore; Vice-Presidents, +Mrs. Simon Parkhurst, Baltimore county; +Mrs. Dr. James Carey Thomas, Baltimore, Congressional +District; Mrs. L. H. Cochren, Frederick county; +Recording Secretary, Mrs. E. B. Murdock, Baltimore; +Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Georgia Hulse McLeod, +Baltimore; Treasurer, Mrs. Alice Brooks, Baltimore.</p> + +<p>Through the years of 1875-76, the Union has +pressed forward, overcoming many obstacles, but +quietly and persistently commanding attention and +respect, creating a still increasing sentiment in favor +of temperance.</p> + +<p>We can chronicle no grand victory, rejoice over no +signal success, but we are glad to know that from +meetings held week after week, month after month, +often through great discouragement, good has resulted. +In public halls, in churches, in private houses, in cities, +towns, and villages, seed has been sown which God +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_740">[Pg 740]</span>has blessed. Some souls have been saved, some +fallen ones reclaimed, a few bars and rum shops +closed. Into every open door of opportunity our +sisters have gone with their sweet message of love. +Among the seamen—the old weather-beaten tars, the +young just starting out on first voyages—on the deck +of a man-of-war they have sung, and talked, and prayed. +The memory of a meeting thus held, one Sabbath +afternoon, will, by some, be long remembered. The +first to sign the pledge, and place his name upon the +prayer-roll, was an English boy, whose heart some +spoken word of mother-love had touched.</p> + +<p>That was his last Sabbath upon earth. A fall from +the yard-arm resulted in almost instant death. Held +high in esteem by officers and mates, he was buried +with naval honors. Tributes of respect, fragrant +flowers, were heaped upon his coffin. A record of +these tokens of friendship the boy had won, and a lock +of soft brown hair were sent to his mother far away, +and are all that is left now to comfort her.</p> + +<p>His life voyage was early ended, and we believe his +ship is safe in port, where the storms never come.</p> + +<p>Temperance literature, papers, tracts, books, and +leaflets were frequently distributed. Articles bearing +on the interests of the cause were, from time to time, +inserted in local journals. Letters were written to +those who could be reached in no other way.</p> + +<p>From our city pulpits each year were read appeals +from the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, +urging their sisters to banish from Christmas and +New Year’s festivals, and social gatherings, wines and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_741">[Pg 741]</span>other intoxicating drinks. These appeals were not +altogether vain. Every Christmas tide the song of +the Angel of Peace sounds louder and clearer. +Christmas is a joy to some homes, where its gladness +had been long unknown, and fewer hearts are saddened +by long, weary watches, at that joyous time, for +reeling forms, tottering steps, blaspheming tones.</p> + +<p>Auxiliary Unions have been formed in Baltimore +and Howard counties. In a village in the last-named +county, by the earnest, persevering efforts of one true +Christian woman, the sale of liquor has been abandoned +by the shopkeepers, to whom it had always +been a profitable investment.</p> + +<p>In Glencoe, Baltimore county, a juvenile auxiliary +has been formed, which promises to be a valuable +acquisition.</p> + +<p>Pledges have been taken to some extent, but in this +form of our work we meet with much opposition.</p> + +<p>Several hundred signatures have been obtained to +petitions ready for the approaching session of our +State Legislature.</p> + +<p>Delegates were appointed to the National and +International Conventions. The latter was attended +by the President, Vice-President, and Corresponding +Secretary of the State, and by the Treasurer of the +Baltimore Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.</p> + +<p>A public meeting, with appropriate farewell services, +was held in honor of Mrs. Margaret Parker, +President of the Woman’s International Temperance +Union, and addressed by her on the eve of her departure +for Scotland.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_742">[Pg 742]</span></p> + +<p>In April and May daily meetings for reformed men +were presided over by members of the Baltimore +Union during the Temperance Revival Meetings, +under the direction of Colonel Hoy, and some of the +men then rescued from ruin have been encouraged +and assisted in their every effort towards a maintenance +for themselves and families, to whom they had +been almost lost.</p> + +<p>This is Maryland’s brief record, far more brief than +we could wish, but “We have done what we could.” +Still hoping, praying, working, watching for the +brighter day we know must come, when four thousand +liquor-saloons shall no longer be a blot on the beauty +of our city, when not one shall be found in our State +from its eastern to its western shores, and when we +shall rejoice in the fulfilment of the promise: “The +way of the wicked He turneth upside down.”</p> + +<p>We have still much to regret, much which grieves +and saddens us, but we have much for which to give +thanks.</p> + +<p>We are still an undivided band. The Angel of +Death has spared our ranks; the Angel of the Covenant +has led, blessed, and strengthened us. We reconsecrate +ourselves to the work, looking forward, +not backward; up, not down.</p> + +<p>Only the smallest of the polished stones have we to +bring, far outshone by sister States, yet may we find in +the glad by-and-by, that in the hand of the great +Master-Builder, we have found a place, and aided in +the completion of the whole, the perfect mosaic formed +of millions of gems, trophies won for the Master by +those who love His name, and watch for His salvation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_743">[Pg 743]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="THE_TRYST_OF_MARYLAND"> + THE TRYST OF MARYLAND. +</h3> + +<blockquote> +<p>IN THE TWILIGHT.</p> +</blockquote> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">At the hour when God’s Beloved</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Sought the lonely mountain side,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Breathing out His supplications</div> + <div class="verse indent2">In the calm, still eventide,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Let us bow in every home,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Praying, in faith, “Thy kingdom come!”</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Thus spake one who loved the Saviour,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Weeping over sin and woe;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Hearts and lips a hundred answered,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">“Thou say’st well, it shall be so.”</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To Him who hears, we’ll always say</div> + <div class="verse indent0">That prayer at dying of the day.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">So, each twilight, they are praying,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Matron, maiden, wife, and child;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Father, in great mercy, hear us,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Stay this torrent fierce and wild;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Like a flood ’twill overwhelm,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">If Thou dost not take the helm.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Stay the torrent in Thine clasping</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Hands, that seek the cup to drain;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Show them Death is in it lurking,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Bring them to the light again—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Bring the wanderers home once more,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">The Lord our Shepherd, we implore!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Stay the torrent, whisper now</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To each ruler in the land,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Man, where is thy brother?—where?</div> + <div class="verse indent2">God will ask him at thy hand!</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Rouse each conscience! oh, awake</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Souls that sleep, their peace to make!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Send a voice unto the dreamers,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Sleeping upon beds of down,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Bought with tears of wives and mothers—</div> + <div class="verse indent2">With the price of many a home;</div> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_744">[Pg 744]</span> <div class="verse indent0">Loud be it as a trumpet’s tone,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Prepare to meet thy Judge—alone!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Let Thy kingdom come, our Father;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Save the souls so far from Thee;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Cleanse the earth from this pollution;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Set the bound-in spirit free.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Thy kingdom come! Thy kingdom come!</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Hear our prayer in heaven Thy home.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Courage! ye wives, who toil and keep</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Watch with night, so sad and lone,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Courage! ’tis very dark and drear;</div> + <div class="verse indent2">But with morning, light shall come.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Kind hearts grieve with you to-day,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And for you God’s children pray.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Mothers, they who were your pride</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Almost break your hearts to-night.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">They have wandered far from home,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Far from you, from God, from right.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">But comfort you; God sees and hears;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">His hand shall wipe away your tears.</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Little children, sad and weary,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Knowing less of joy than tears,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Do you think, amid the shadows,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">No one heeds your griefs and fears?</div> + <div class="verse indent0">God your Father, little ones,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Loves you, and His kingdom comes!</div> + </div> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">Christians, pray for rescue, pleading</div> + <div class="verse indent2">As if hours were moments left—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Pray as you would pray in dying,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">That from earth this curse be swept.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Pray in the twilight—yea, alway—</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Lips, heart, and soul, oh, Christians, pray!</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p>Reported by Mrs. Georgia Hulse McLeod, Corresponding +Secretary.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_745">[Pg 745]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="CONNECTICUT"> + CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + + +<h3 id="NEW_MILFORD_CONNECTICUT"> + NEW MILFORD, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>I gather the following facts from reports and letters +sent me by Mrs. M. A. Stone, the efficient President +of this local organization, and of the State organization, +and Vice-President of the Woman’s National +Christian Temperance Union:</p> + +<p>The ladies of this place, hearing rumors of the +strange work in the West, began to question in their +minds whether something ought not to be done here.</p> + +<p>We had men here who were selling without license, +keeping their houses open on the Sabbath, and selling +to minors, contrary to the law regulating liquor traffic. +Finally, two of the ladies, after consulting the leading +men of the place, decided to call a meeting.</p> + +<p>The meeting was held in the Congregational chapel, +March 17th, 1874. Other meetings followed, and a +petition was prepared and circulated for signatures, +requesting the liquor-dealers to give up their business. +Over a thousand signatures were obtained. A committee +of ladies presented the petition to every saloon-keeper, +urging them to give up their vile traffic; but +in vain. The petition and signatures were published, +and the ministers of the town invited to preach sermons +on the subject, the following Sabbath, which some +of them did.</p> + +<p>The subject was agitated so thoroughly that the +liquor-dealers, knowing they were defying the law, +called a town-meeting, and asked the town to give +them license. The ladies held a prayer-meeting, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_746">[Pg 746]</span>a chapel close by the place where they were voting, +and with prayers and tears besought God not to permit +them to have license. None who were there can +ever forget that meeting. While they were still praying +and crying to God, a kind brother came, and, opening +the door gently, said, “We have a majority of sixty-nine +votes against license,” and closing the door left +us to ourselves. A thrill of joy ran through every +heart. It would be quite impossible to describe the +scene—some cried for joy, some thanked God for answered +prayer, and all realized, as never before, that +God was on their side. The ladies continued their +meeting with great enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The liquor-dealers stopped selling for a time, and +then called another town-meeting; and the ladies called +another special meeting at the same time and place as +before. Their meeting resulted in <i>no license</i> again—the +ladies meeting in joy and thanksgiving to God, +who had again given them the victory.</p> + +<p>Some time elapsed before the liquor-dealers rallied +for another conflict. This time they applied to the +County Commissioners for license. The ladies sent a +committee to the County Commissioners, to protest +against it, on the ground that they were not fit persons +to be intrusted with license, as they had, for more than +a year, been selling contrary to law. Petitions from +citizens were also sent in, and the liquor-dealers were +again defeated.</p> + +<p>For some time they kept quiet; but as they continued +to sell, the men decided to prosecute them, and +in due time they were all convicted but one, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_747">[Pg 747]</span>claimed that he had not violated his promise to the +ladies, and had only sold for medicine (he kept a drug +store). The suit against him was withdrawn, the rest +paid their fines. Finding themselves thwarted on +every side, they appealed to the Legislature, and by +the cunning devices of scheming politicians secured +the Local Option law, which was made so strong in their +favor that the County Commissioners had no longer +power to use their own discretion in granting license +to those who might apply, when the petitioner had +complied with the terms provided by law. At the next +election the town voted license. But the women continued +to work, and in 1876 the town again voted <i>no +license</i>.</p> + +<p>A young people’s meeting was organized: D. W. +Ives, President; A. S. Beecher, Secretary. The society +increased in numbers rapidly, and there are now more +than two hundred members. A Colored People’s +Temperance Union was formed, which soon numbered +over eighty members; and, last and best, a Temperance +Band of Hope, with sixty-two members, twenty-four +of whom have signed the triple pledge, to use +no tobacco, no intoxicating drinks, and no profane +language. A citizens’ club sprung up spontaneously, +as it were, without any action on the part of the ladies, +and many who were considered almost past reformation +joined it. They were assisted by the citizens in +procuring a reading-room. Books, papers and pictures +were furnished, and $150, to aid in the work.</p> + +<p>In 1877, the town voted license again; but public +sentiment is improving. All the societies are in active +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_748">[Pg 748]</span>operation, and they are looking forward to the time +when God shall give the victory.</p> + + +<h3 id="EASTFORD_CONNECTICUT"> + EASTFORD, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>In the autumn of 1873, a mother was walking with +her four children along one of the pleasant roads of +Eastford. Much engaged and interested in their conversation, +she failed to notice an object by the roadside, +of which she would have gladly spared them the +sight. Suddenly the boy clutched her dress with one +hand, and pointing with the other to the prostrate +figure, exclaimed, “Oh, mother, is he dead?” Looking +in the direction he pointed, she saw a man, well +dressed, about thirty years of age, lying flat upon the +ground in the uneasy sleep of intoxication. His hat +had fallen from his head, and the hot sun beat mercilessly +upon his dusty face. “The man is not dead, +but drunk,” she said, in answer to his question. The +boy drew nearer to his mother, and in a low voice +said, “But he will die, won’t he?” “Yes, some time; +and after death is the judgment,” she added.</p> + +<p>They wended their way homeward. The beauty of +the scene was destroyed by the sight they had witnessed. +A new feeling of responsibility was awakened +by that afternoon walk. What could be done to protect +the young, and rescue the old, from the ravages +of intemperance? was the question constantly recurring +to her mind.</p> + +<p>During the following winter, the idea of a Woman’s +Temperance Union came to her mind; and feeling +sure of the beneficial results of such an organization, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_749">[Pg 749]</span>she did not rest until one was formed, in May, 1874. +The first meeting was held in a private parlor. About +forty ladies were present; and after a season of earnest +prayer, they banded themselves together, under the +name of the “Woman’s Temperance Union of Eastford.”</p> + +<p>The usual officers were chosen, and a committee +appointed to canvass the town, and particularly to +visit every woman, and get her co-operation and her +name signed to the pledge. This committee performed +their work faithfully; and at a meeting held in the +vestry, June 17th, made their report, that none were +left unvisited; they had met a cordial welcome at +nearly every house, and had obtained <i>one hundred and +eighty-two</i> names. It was voted to continue to circulate +this pledge; also to organize a Band of Hope. +This was done July 17th.</p> + +<p>A public meeting was held in the Congregational +Church, August 3d, which was crowded. The exercises +were conducted entirely by women and children, +and consisted of original addresses by the ladies, and +singing and recitations by the “Band of Hope.” After +the exercises were concluded, a pledge was presented +to the gentlemen for their signatures, and received a +majority of the names of those present.</p> + +<p>Temperance tracts and almanacs were bought and +distributed in the families; subscriptions were made +to various temperance papers, both for children and +adults; every means was taken to interest the public +in temperance.</p> + +<p>It was thought best to make an appeal to the men +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_750">[Pg 750]</span>upon the importance of voting no license. This was +done at a public meeting, held October 4th. At +this meeting it was manifest that there had been a +great change in public feeling upon the temperance +question. The landlord of the village hotel had been +visited, but he was protected by both town and government +license, and for a time he remained unmoved. +But temperance sentiment increased, and he was +forced out, and the hotel became a temperance house.</p> + +<p>At the next election, the town again voted license, +and the hotel passed into the possession of a rum-seller. +But it is no longer respectable in Eastford to sell rum, +and, after the lapse of three years, there has been but +two or three violations of the pledge.</p> + +<p>The same officers still continue in the Union. The +prayer-meeting is held monthly, and we are waiting +God’s time, feeling sure that the day will come when +right shall be might in the strength of the Lord.</p> + + +<h3 id="PLAINVILLE_CONNECTICUT"> + PLAINVILLE, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. G. A. Moody for the following +facts:</p> + +<p>During the summer and fall of 1874, after the ever-memorable +Crusade of our Western sisters, the Master +seemed to be calling upon the Christian women of our +State, saying, “Go, work in my vineyard.”</p> + +<p>Meetings for prayer sprang up in various sections, +almost simultaneously.</p> + +<p>In Plainville, a small town of only fifteen hundred +inhabitants, the minds of some of the sisters were +thoroughly exercised in this matter. Some eighteen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_751">[Pg 751]</span>or twenty earnest Christian women held a meeting, +and much interest was manifested.</p> + +<p>Meetings were continued for several weeks, without +any organization or much new effort. Earnest prayer +was constantly offered: “Lord, what wilt Thou have us +to do?”</p> + +<p>Immediately after the formation of our State Union, +in March of 1875, we organized at Plainville as a +Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, auxiliary to +the State and National Unions.</p> + +<p>About this time our first work was given us.</p> + +<p>The husband of one of our dear sisters owned a +hotel, and rented it. This house seemed given to us +to pray and labor for, that it might be redeemed from +the curse of liquor-selling, and made pure.</p> + +<p>It was built for a liquor-saloon or hotel, and for +thirty years or more a constant stream of death and +destruction had issued therefrom.</p> + +<p>It seemed much to expect, but we knew that with +our God all things were possible, and only being instruments +in His hand victory was sure.</p> + +<p>We had felt at first that we could never visit saloons, +as our dear sisters in New York and the West had +done, but we were led into this saloon almost unconsciously. +We conversed earnestly with the proprietor +and his wife; with the young men we found there; +labored with the owner, and looked to our great Captain +for success. It was but a little while that we were +called to wait: gloriously did the way open.</p> + +<p>One of our Christian men, in a good business, +bought out the hotel, and having completely renovated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_752">[Pg 752]</span>it from cellar to attic, opened a temperance hotel and +boarding-house, which is constantly a source of comfort +and pride to our town.</p> + +<p>The first Sabbath after the house was thus opened a +meeting for praise and thanksgiving was held in it, by +the Women’s Christian Temperance Union; and when +we saw the place which had been occupied by the bar +used as a platform—saw some three or four young men +who had drank at that bar enroll their names, and heard +the songs of praise, the prayers and testimonies for +Christ in those rooms where the bacchanalian song had +so long resounded, we could only say, “Behold what +God hath wrought.”</p> + +<p>In giving in his testimony at that time, the new proprietor +said he felt something almost like a hand upon +his shoulder, touching him, and a voice telling him to +buy the building.</p> + +<p>We had none of us said anything to him about it, +and did not know that he had any thought of such a +thing, until we heard that he was bargaining for the +property.</p> + +<p>Since that we have many times visited saloons, sometimes +to converse with the proprietors, sometimes to +help a wife to rescue her dear husband.</p> + +<p>God has also given us souls rescued from the power +of rum—washed and made clean in Jesus’ blood. And +just as I write, our hearts are rejoicing over a new +work: the formation of a Temperance Corps (or Reform +Club), by Mr. Warren.</p> + +<p>It was one of the most earnest temperance meetings +ever held in our town. Many who were never before +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_753">[Pg 753]</span>pledged came forward—some, hard-drinking men. +Seven such Unions have been formed in Hartford +county.</p> + +<p>In Bristol the dear sisters visited the saloons and +conversed with the keepers. One of them was soon +taken sick. He spoke of their visit, on his sick-bed, +and said he should never keep a saloon again; but he +was not spared to test his good resolution. They continue +to visit saloons, as they feel they are led.</p> + +<p>In Southington the women have held two prayer-meetings +in one of their saloons.</p> + +<p>I was privileged to be present at one of these meetings. +Soon after it commenced the men came in from +other saloons, until fifty or sixty men and boys were +standing listening with earnest attention to the words of +Scripture, songs, and prayers. Exhortations and personal +appeals followed. The tears trickled from many +eyes, and we expect results from that meeting.</p> + +<p>And so the work goes on. It has been said by some +that the Crusade was over, but in “the land of steady +habits” we feel it has but just begun.</p> + +<p>We, perhaps, move rather slowly, but now that we +are started we intend to hold on in this work till every +rum-shop is closed, every drunkard saved, and all our +children are safe in the fold. In Plainville we have a +Children’s Temperance Union, numbering seventy +members. We have also presented a neat little +pledge to each teacher in our Sabbath-school; these +are triple pledges, including tobacco and profanity, as +well as intoxicating drinks. For we feel, that while we +labor to reform men, it is very necessary that we keep +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_754">[Pg 754]</span>our children from forming these dreadful habits. And +so we labor on as the dear Lord leads, one hand lifted +to the throne, the other linked in with the thousands +of Christian sisters, forming a band that encircles the +world.</p> + +<p>And we shall never cease, while life shall last, to +labor for Christ and humanity.</p> + + +<h3 id="NEW_HAVEN_CONNECTICUT"> + NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>A meeting was called, July, 1874, by Mrs. Rebecca +A. Morrill. Only four ladies responded to that call. +Other meetings were held in the Centre Congregational +Church, and in the First M. E. Church. Of one of +these meetings a lady says: “As I stepped into the +church, eight were bowed in prayer in a room where a +thousand people could have been seated. Only eight +souls responded to the call for prayer for the success +of the temperance cause, and I said, ‘Here am I, Lord: +send me.’” But the meetings continued, and the work +went on, and these women baptized by the Holy +Spirit went out into the lanes and alleys of the city, +into the homes of the drunken and the sinful, to tell +the old, old story of Jesus and his love.</p> + +<p>After some months spent in labor, a society was +organized, and saloon visiting undertaken. While +some of the women remained in the rooms to pray, +others would go out into the saloons to invite men to +the prayer-room. Each Saturday evening especially, +this work was pressed with zeal. They were generally +treated with respect, but sometimes forbidden to sing, +and asked not to remain long. In other places singing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_755">[Pg 755]</span>and prayer were allowed, and men stood with uncovered +heads, and a profound stillness was observed +during the religious exercise.</p> + +<p>Most of the dealers admitted that they were doing +wrong, and the drinkers that they were on the downward +course, especially if they have become confirmed +drunkards. There is, however, a large class of young +men who see no danger. Sometimes they found fifty +or sixty men in the saloons under thirty years of age. +Many followed these women from the saloon to the +prayer-room, and were saved by the power of grace, +and are now in the church of Christ.</p> + +<p>At Fair Haven, a beautiful suburban village, a wonderful +work of grace was wrought. Very many too +poor to ride in the street cars would walk two or three +miles in the cold December and January evenings to +be present at the place of prayer. Scores of these +were converted, and a Union was formed at Fair +Haven.</p> + +<p>A glorious work was commenced among the children, +and hundreds of children and youth were enrolled +on their pledge-books. Neighborhood meetings were +held, hundreds of families visited, and the interest of +the people kept up by frequent mass-meetings. The +membership now numbers about ninety.</p> + + +<h3 id="STAFFORD_CONNECTICUT"> + STAFFORD, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>An earnest, persistent temperance work has been +carried on in this town; Revs. J. H. James and N. D. +Parsons taking the lead in the outdoor work. Prior +to the election of 1875, women circulated the following +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_756">[Pg 756]</span>appeal to voters: “We, your sisters, wives and mothers, +earnestly pray you, our brothers, husbands and sons, +and legal protectors, to defend our hearts and homes +from the desolation of rum, by voting <i>no license</i>.” This +petition was widely circulated in the village, and only +three women out of 333 refused to sign it. The +majority for license the year before had been 100, but +the effect of this petition and their influence was to +secure a no license majority of 124.</p> + +<p>During the month of August, 1875, while an outdoor +public mass-meeting was being held, a party of +roughs and drunkards, who had been attending a horse-race +near a bush tavern, came to the meeting-place +and stoned the speakers, Revs. J. H. James and N. D. +Parsons. But they went forward with the work, for the +people of Stafford were aroused that such an indignity +and outrage should be perpetrated in their midst.</p> + +<p>One dealer in Stafford was a man of a great deal of +influence. He persisted in following the business, notwithstanding +the vote, and he had such influence over +his customers, and used his money so freely, that it was +difficult to get evidence; but the women prayed, and +the men labored, and in due time he was in the clutches +of the law, and the State fine was $300, and the United +States fine $700, which ruined him financially and +socially.</p> + + +<h3 id="BRIDGEPORT_CONNECTICUT"> + BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>A Woman’s Temperance Union was organized February +26th, 1875, only a few taking an interest; the +society beginning with fifteen members; but the few +continued in prayer and work till the fall of 1876, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_757">[Pg 757]</span>when they secured the services of Dr. Reynolds. +During his stay a Reform Club of forty members was +organized. A room was opened for the Reform Club, +in which the ladies also held their meetings. In connection +with this a reading-room was opened, and a Sabbath-school +organized for the reformed men and their children. +Saturday evening prayer-meetings and Sabbath +afternoon meetings have been held regularly and +largely attended. Many of the men have been brought +to feel their need of a higher power to help them resist +temptations. The ladies have visited the saloons to +some extent; some are visited every week. One man +so visited gave up the business, and sent in a request +for prayer. Men are brought from the saloons to the +meeting; one man who had in this way been induced +to attend the prayer-meetings afterwards got drunk, +and was sent to jail, where he had time to think on the +kind words of instruction given, and to give his heart to +Christ. When released from jail, he went to the rooms, +signed the pledge, and gave testimony of the power +of God to save to the uttermost. He says that before +his conversion, he had taken an oath on the Bible to +stop drinking, and yet such was the power of appetite +over him, that he would be drunk before night, but +now the appetite has been taken away from him, and +he hates the smell of drink. One man, sixty years old, +who had been a saloon-keeper, and for many years a +drunkard, was strangely drawn to their rooms, and was +led to give up drink and tobacco in every form, and to +consecrate himself to Christ. And still the good work +goes on, and the interest is increasing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_758">[Pg 758]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="HARTFORD_CONNECTICUT"> + HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. +</h3> + +<p>During the winter of 1875-76, a few of the Christian +women of Hartford, Connecticut, feeling distressed +in regard to the extent of the use of intoxicating +liquors in their city, felt it their imperative duty as +followers of Him who came to rescue man from +degradation and sin, to do all in their power to arrest +the progress of this terrible evil.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, an association was formed in January, +1876.</p> + +<p>In the summer two places were opened by the +Union for the free gift of cold water to the passer-by. +So that the old excuse of men for drinking beer, or +something stronger, because they could not find a +place where they could get a good drink of ice-water +in the city, might be removed.</p> + +<p>In one of these rooms a young woman was employed, +for a small compensation, to dispense the +water, and temperance papers and tracts were also +given to all who would receive them.</p> + +<p>As the summer passed away and the colder days +came, coffee was substituted for ice-water, and the +small sum of five cents was charged for a cup of +coffee with a roll; the ladies feeling that even the +poor would have more self-respect if they paid for +what they received. This little room was so well +patronized, that the ladies were urged to add to their +bill of fare, so that a cheap dinner might be furnished +to people of small means. Soup and baked beans +were added, and many poor laboring men were thus +aided. A pledge-book was kept in the room, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_759">[Pg 759]</span>temperance papers were placed upon the tables. On +Monday evening of each week a temperance praise +and prayer-meeting was held in the coffee-room, +which, during the past winter, was very fully attended; +sometimes there being sixty or seventy present.</p> + +<p>A small melodeon was hired, and the music drew in +many from the street. A large number signed the +pledge after these meetings, and some cases of +wonderful reformation have occurred. Most of those +who promise to give up the use of liquors do it with +the determination to lead a life of prayer and trust +in God.</p> + +<p>A small library of temperance books and stories is +in one corner of the room, and young men and boys +are invited in, evenings, to read; but as they have no +room except the eating-room, they have not been able +to carry out this part of the work as successfully as +they hope to do at some future time.</p> + +<p>Early in the work of the Union a committee was +appointed to visit the jail, and the startling fact was +ascertained that <i>more</i> than three-fourths of the prisoners, +including male and female, were brought there through +the influence of alcoholic drinks. The ladies were +allowed to converse with the female prisoners, and +good books and papers were left with them to read.</p> + +<p>Another coffee-room, with lodgings connected, was +opened in February, 1877, under the care of an earnest +Christian man, who was to watch over and guard +such reformed men as were permitted to board there. +Owing to the <i>low</i> state of the treasury, only a small +building could be hired, which accommodated but six +or eight lodgers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_760">[Pg 760]</span></p> + +<p>But want of means obliged the Temperance Union +to give up this “Friendly Inn” in July last, much to +their regret, for they felt it to be a centre of great +good. The part of the city where it was located was +filled with drinking-saloons. A temperance prayer-meeting +was held in the room every Friday eve, and +the crowds who gathered in the room and about the +door showed their interest in it. These meetings +have been continued since the coffee-room was closed. +Many have signed the pledge, and some hope they +have commenced a Christian life through the influence +of the meetings. Wall-pockets, with tracts and papers, +have been placed by the Temperance Union in many +of the fire-engine houses in the city, and also in the +State hospital.</p> + +<p>Slowly, but it is hoped surely, the little work goes +on; clouds often gather over the pathway of those +who are leading as well as those who are being led, but +the humble work done in the name of the Master is +laid with earnest prayer at His feet.</p> + +<p>The ladies of the following towns have engaged in +the work with more or less success, often battling +against fearful discouragements:</p> + +<p>East Hampton, Essex, Bethany, Deep River, Willimantic, +Jewett City, West Haven, Danbury, and South +Norwalk.</p> + + +<h3 id="DELAWARE"> + DELAWARE. +</h3> + +<p>A good work has been done in Delaware during +the last three years. Immense mass-meetings have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_761">[Pg 761]</span>been held in Wilmington from time to time, and petitions +to the Legislature been extensively circulated. +On Tuesday, February 16th, 1875, the Woman’s Temperance +Union of Wilmington, joined by temperance +women from other parts of the State, paid a visit to the +State Legislature. It was my privilege to accompany +the delegation and aid in the services. A special +train was chartered, and two or three hundred went +down from Wilmington, and the number was augmented +at every station on the route. The excitement +in Dover was intense; as notice of this visit had +been given, people from towns and neighborhoods +within a circle of twenty miles crowded into Dover. +The citizens of the town met and welcomed the +Woman’s Temperance Union, and provided entertainment.</p> + +<p>At three o’clock, by previous arrangement, they +proceeded in a body to the State House. The building +was already filled to its utmost capacity, but the +sergeant-at-arms cleared the way for the visitors. The +members of both houses were in waiting, and received +their lady visitors in a cordial and gentlemanly manner. +As soon as the speaker called the house to order, Mrs. +Stevens stepped in front and knelt in prayer. It was +a solemn moment. Every head was bowed, and every +heart throbbed under the searching power of the +Divine Spirit, and many eyes were wet with tears, while +she prayed to Almighty God for the deliverance of her +State from the thraldom of the liquor traffic. The +prayer was followed by the singing of two verses of</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Nearer, my God, to Thee.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_762">[Pg 762]</span></p> + +<p style="text-indent: 0;">Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Israel, of Wilmington, and the +writer of these pages, were privileged to address the +Legislature.</p> + +<p>A mass-meeting was held in the evening, which was +attended by nearly every member of both houses. +One senator said, grasping my hand, “The effect of +this will not be lost. There were some of us who could +join your Crusade song in the beginning, but there +are others who have been won to-day.”</p> + + +<p class="center"> + “I MADE HIM WHAT HE WAS.” +</p> + +<p>About this time a saloon-keeper in Dover, Delaware, +who patronized his own bar very liberally, stepped +into a back room where men were at work about a +pump in a well. The covering had been removed, +and he approached to look down, but being very +drunk, pitched in, head foremost. He had become so +much of a bloat by the use of strong drink, that it was +impossible to extricate him in time to save his life.</p> + +<p>There was great excitement in the town. Men and +women who had never been inside of his saloon before, +were the first to rush to the rescue, and to offer +sympathy to the bereaved family. As he was being +dragged from the well, and stretched out dead upon +the saloon floor, a wholesale liquor-dealer from Philadelphia +stepped in. After the first shock at thus finding +one of his good customers dead, he turned to a +prominent lady, a Crusader, and said, pointing to the +wrecked victim, “I made that man what he was. I +lent him his first dollar, and set him up with his first +stock of liquors, and he’s now worth $10,000 or +$15,000.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_763">[Pg 763]</span></p> + +<p>Looking him full in the face, she responded:</p> + +<p>“You made that man what he was—a drunkard, a +bloat, a stench in the nostrils of society, and sent him +headlong into eternity, and to a drunkard’s hell. +What is $15,000 weighed against a lost soul, a wasted +life, a wife a widow, and children orphans?”</p> + +<p>He turned deadly pale, and without a word left the +house.</p> + +<p>What is all the business and all the revenue to the +millions whose homes are despoiled, whose children +are beggared, and whose loved ones are sent headlong +to a drunkard’s grave and a drunkard’s hell? +Let us put ourselves in the place of that mother, whose +son is pursued day and night by this demon, till the +hairs of his head become serpents, and live coals burn +into his flesh to the very bone, and, fighting devils, he +leaps out into eternity, and then ask, Are my hands +clean? Do I love my neighbor as myself? Am I +doing <i>all</i> I can to stay the tide that is bearing so many +down, and may yet bear me down?</p> + +<p>During the spring and summer of 1877, immense +daily mass-meetings were held in Wilmington, in the +Opera House, and in a large tent. The meetings +were crowded, and 15,000 signed the pledge. Taken +as a whole, there has been a great advance in Delaware +within the last few years.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_764">[Pg 764]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + THE OUTLOOK AFTER THE CRUSADE. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV"> + CHAPTER XIV. +</h2> +</div> + + +<p>The Crusade was an assault on the liquor traffic all +along the lines, by heroic, determined women, whose +motto was, “Victory or death!”</p> + +<p>Victory after victory was achieved, until the liquor +oligarchy was driven from the open field into its strong +defences. And then the women organized under the +name of the Woman’s National Christian Temperance +Union, and began a siege—a well-planned, determined +siege, that has gone on with untiring zeal and energy +for the last three years, and will go on till the last +redoubt of the enemy is captured.</p> + +<p>One by one the strongholds of the foe have been +weakened; one by one the towers of strength are +being taken down, till only one unbroken line of defence +is left—<i>governmental protection</i>. The press, that +mighty engine of power, that with its thousands of +bands and wheels moves the millions to thought and +action, has been mainly won to this cause. More than +800 newspapers have already agreed to give a column +weekly to the temperance cause, at the request +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_765">[Pg 765]</span>of the besieging party. And the press may yet reach +John Bowring’s high ideal:</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“But mightiest of the mighty means</div> + <div class="verse indent0">On which the arm of progress leans,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Man’s noblest mission to advance,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">His woes assuage, his weal enhance,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">His rights enforce, his wrongs redress,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Mightiest of mighty is the press.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p><i>The Pulpit</i> has turned its heavy guns against the +enemy. Thousands of ministers, who before the +Crusade were silent and indifferent, are now champions +of the cause.</p> + +<p><i>The Church</i> has been greatly purified, and Christian +unity has been promoted, and the moral forces consolidated.</p> + +<p><i>Fermented wine</i> has been banished from thousands +of churches, because the women in the temperance +work, many of them polished pillars in the church of +Christ, could not conscientiously partake of the alcoholic +cup, or invite the men redeemed through their +efforts to do so.</p> + +<p><i>The Sunday-Schools</i> are being reached. Temperance +lessons have been secured in many of them, and +through this means and regularly organized societies, +tens of thousands of children are being trained to +temperance principles.</p> + +<p><i>The Public Schools</i> have been visited, and many of +the colleges of learning, and the work has been +greatly advanced. This will be felt at the polls, and +in our legislative hall a few years hence.</p> + +<p><i>Medical Bodies</i> have been visited, and their co-operation +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_766">[Pg 766]</span>secured. The International Medical Congress, +which met in Philadelphia in 1876, the most influential +body of medical men ever convened, numbering four +hundred and eighty delegates, many of them the ablest +writers and scientists in the profession, was visited by +a delegation of ladies, and an official letter presented.</p> + +<p>Other communications had been received, and had +been laid on the table. But the letter from the +Woman’s Christian Temperance Union was not only +graciously received and referred to a committee, but +carried all the other communications with it for a +respectful hearing and response.</p> + +<p>The reading of the letter before the committee was +followed by a round of applause, and the whole subject +was carefully and scientifically considered. And +I have heard nothing stronger on the temperance +platform in opposition to the use of alcohol, than in +that discussion. And the verdict against its use was +unanimous, with the exception of <i>one</i> vote given by a +man who receives special honors from the beer congress +because of his advocacy of the use of beer. +And this action was afterwards approved by the congress +unanimously.</p> + +<p>The following is the letter and reply:</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><i>To the Chairman and Members of the +International Medical Congress</i>:</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Honored Sirs</span>:—I take the liberty, as a representative +of the Woman’s National Christian Temperance +Union of the United States, to call your attention to +the relation of the medical use of alcohol to the prevalence +of that fearful scourge, <i>intemperance</i>.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_767">[Pg 767]</span></p> + +<p>The distinguished Dr. Mussey said, many years +ago: “So long as alcohol retains a place among sick +patients, so long there will be drunkards.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Rush wrote strongly against its use as early as +1790. And at one time the College of Physicians at +Philadelphia memorialized Congress in favor of restraining +the use of distilled liquors, because, as they +claimed, they were “destructive of life, health, and the +faculties of the mind.”</p> + +<p>“A Medical Declaration,” published in London, December, +1872, asserts that “It is believed that the inconsiderate +prescription of alcoholic liquids by medical +men for their patients has given rise in many instances +to the formation of intemperate habits.” This manifesto +was signed by over two hundred and fifty of the +leading medical men of the United Kingdom. When +the nature and effects of alcohol were little known, it +was thought to be invaluable as a medicine. But in +the light of recent scientific investigations, its claims +have been challenged and its value denied.</p> + +<p>We are aware that the question of the medical use +of alcohol has not been fully decided, and that there is +a difference of opinion among the ablest medical +writers. But we notice that as the discussion and +investigation goes on, and new facts are brought out, +its value as a remedial agent is depreciated.</p> + +<p>A great many claims have been brought forward in +its favor, but one by one they have gone down under +the severe scrutiny of scientific research, until only a +few points are left in doubt. In view of this, and the +<i>startling fact</i> that tens of thousands die annually from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_768">[Pg 768]</span>its baneful effects, we earnestly urge you to give the +subject a careful examination.</p> + +<p>You have made the study of the physical nature of +man your life-work, and you are the trusted advisers of +the people in all matters pertaining to the treatment +of diseases, and the preservation of life and health.</p> + +<p>You are therefore in a position to instruct and warn +the masses in regard to its indiscriminate use, either +as a medicine or a beverage.</p> + +<p>We feel sure that, true to your professional honor, +and the grave responsibilities of your distinguished +position, you will search out and give us the facts, +whatever they may be.</p> + +<p>If you should appoint a standing committee from +your own number, of practical scientific men, who +would give time and thought to this question, it would +be very gratifying to the <i>one hundred thousand</i> women +I represent, and most acceptable to the general public.</p> + +<p>I am, with high considerations of respect,</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 12.5em;">Your obedient servant,</span><br> + <span style="margin-right: 10.5em;"><span class="smcap">Annie Wittenmyer</span>,</span><br> +<br> + President Woman’s National Christian Temperance<br> + <span style="margin-right: 4.5em;">Union, 1020 Arch street, Philadelphia.</span> +</p> + +<blockquote> +<p><i>September 6th 1876.</i></p> +</blockquote> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 5.5em;"><span class="smcap">International Medical Congress,</span></span><br> + <span class="smcap">Philadelphia</span>, <i>September 9th, 1876</i>. +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Madam</span>:—I am instructed by the Section on +Medicine, International Medical Congress of 1876, to +transmit to you, as the action of the Section, the following +conclusions adopted by it with regard to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_769">[Pg 769]</span>use of alcohol in medicine, the same being in reply to +the communication sent by the Woman’s National +Christian Temperance Union:</p> + +<p>1. Alcohol is not shown to have a definite food +value by any of the usual methods of chemical or +physiological investigation.</p> + +<p>2. Its use as a medicine is chiefly that of a cardiac +stimulant, and often admits of substitution.</p> + +<p>3. As a medicine, it is not well fitted for self-prescription +by the laity, and the medical profession is +not accountable for such administration, or for the +enormous evils resulting therefrom.</p> + +<p>4. The purity of alcoholic liquids is in general not +so well assured as that of articles used for medicine +should be. The various mixtures, when used as a +medicine, should have definite and known composition, +and should not be interchanged promiscuously.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span style="margin-right: 9.5em;">Very respectfully,</span><br> +<br> + <span style="margin-right: 7.5em;">Your obedient servant,</span><br> +<br> + <span style="margin-right: 3.0em;"><span class="smcap">J. Ewing Mears</span>, M. D.,</span><br> + Secretary of the Section of Medicine. +</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Annie Wittenmyer</span>, President of the Woman’s +National Christian Temperance Union.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>The medicine-chest has been a stronghold of the +liquor traffic, but this action rules it out of its long-cherished +place.</p> + +<p>The medical associations in very many of the States +have been visited, and urged to discontinue the use of +alcoholic stimulants, and have pledged themselves to +do so.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_770">[Pg 770]</span></p> + +<p>The respectability of the drink traffic has been destroyed. +No man who has any regard for his personal +reputation would go into the business, or care to be +seen coming out of a saloon.</p> + +<p>And to stigmatize a business is to ruin it.</p> + +<p>The State and National Legislatures have been appealed +to, without any apparent result, further than to +keep the enemy at bay, and secure a sharper rendering +of the laws already on the statute books.</p> + +<p>Where prohibitory laws existed, they have been +strengthened. The granting of licenses in some of +the States has been prevented, and in most of the +States the laws are better enforced.</p> + +<p>Liquors have been banished from the Presidential +Mansion, and from the National Capitol building, and +all over the land are less common at receptions and +state dinners.</p> + +<p>Ladies have had a gracious hearing before many of +the State Legislatures, and before the United States +Senate Finance Committee.</p> + +<p>Hope has revived in the heart of many a weary +wife and night-weeping mother.</p> + +<p>The great Reform movement among drinking men, +under the able leadership of Murphy and Reynolds, +was made possible and successful, under the enthusiasm +of this new dispensation of Gospel Temperance. +And God has honored faith and prayer, as a remedial +agent for the salvation of men from sin and appetite, +throughout the land, as never before. But the richest +blessings have come to the women themselves. In +the complete consecration, the utter abnegation of self, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_771">[Pg 771]</span>needed for the work, they have reached a higher plane +of religious experience. They have gained “a faith +that will not shrink when pressed by every foe”—a +moral heroism that can stand serene in the presence +of ridicule, and contumely, and mocking.</p> + +<p>Church doors have opened before them; the pulpit +has welcomed them; the dumb have spoken with new +tongues; and woman, rising to her grand possibility +in the church, stands, to-day, centuries in advance of +the position she occupied before the Crusade.</p> + +<p>And say what men will about the Crusade, it was +the tidal wave that lifted the temperance question to a +gospel plane; it was the Pentecostal baptism that sent +the women of all denominations out to plead the cause +of God and humanity, with tongues of fire; it was +woman’s answer to the “prayer-test” of mocking +scientists; it was the staggering blow that sent the +rum power reeling towards its fall. And, under another +name, it is honeycombing the entire drink system; undermining +its heaviest fortifications; planting its magazines +of power in every city and village; and the time +will come when some hand of faith will touch the battery +of heaven, and this iniquitous business will go +down, socially, politically, and legally, to trouble the +nation no more.</p> + +<p>But there will be many a hard-fought battle before +the victory is won.</p> + +<p>I cannot close this volume without calling attention +to the relation of the foreign emigration to the liquor +traffic, and to crime and pauperism.</p> + +<p>Some of the best people in our land are foreigners, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_772">[Pg 772]</span>honored and trusted by all. So I want it clearly understood +that no reference is made to that class of law-abiding +Americanized citizens who came from across +the seas to find a home with us, and who respect our +institutions and obey our laws.</p> + +<p>But we may not conceal the fact that <i>more than two-thirds</i> +of the entire liquor business is in the hands of +a low class of foreigners, although the entire foreign +population of the country constitutes <i>less than one-sixth</i>.</p> + +<p>A band of men connected with one of the Reform +Clubs of Philadelphia, investigating this matter, made +a thorough canvass of this city in the beginning of 1876, +our Centennial year.</p> + +<p>Many curious facts were brought to light by this +private, quiet canvass, bearing on the criminality of +the business and the persons engaged in it.</p> + +<p>They ascertained that there were, licensed and unlicensed, +8,034 places where intoxicating liquors were +sold.</p> + +<p>The nationality of those engaged in the business in +this city at that time was as follows:</p> + +<p>Chinamen, 2; Jews, 2; Italians, 18; Spaniards, 140; +Welsh, 160; Americans, 205; Africans, 265; French, +285; Scotch, 497; English, 568; German, 2,179; +Irish, 3,041; unknown, 672; total, 8,034.</p> + +<p>Of this number there were 3,782 which were +directly or indirectly connected with houses of ill-fame. +Of the 8,034 liquor-sellers, as nearly as could +be ascertained, more than two-thirds had been inmates +of prisons and station-houses.</p> + +<p>Of the 4,805 inmates received into the House of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_773">[Pg 773]</span>Correction, Philadelphia, during the year 1875, according +to official report, 2,234, nearly one-half, were foreign +born, and 75 out of every 100 were drunkards.</p> + +<p>Of the 12,462 adults received into the almshouses +of Pennsylvania, in 1875, more than one-half, 6,847, +were foreign born, and 5,422 were Irish and German; +77 unknown. We are slowly learning the fact that +we are building jails and almshouses that ought to have +been built in Germany and Ireland, and that America +is rapidly becoming a sewer for the moral filth of +Europe.</p> + +<p>The liquor traffic of New York city is mainly in the +hands of foreigners, and an undue proportion of arrests +are recorded.</p> + +<p>There were, as I learn by an official statement from +the warden, 38,036 imprisoned in the Tombs, New +York, during the year ending 1876; of this number +nearly two-thirds, 23,842, were foreign born, 14,194, +native born.</p> + +<p>The work-house at Blackwell’s Island, New York, +received, during 1876, 22,845 prisoners, of whom +11,250 were men and 11,595 were women. Of these +prisoners the commissioners say: “<i>Drunkenness was +the immediate cause of the incarceration of three-quarters +of the former and seven-eighths of the latter—the predisposing +cause in the cases of all the rest.</i>” This is +official, emphatic testimony as to the effects of strong +drink as a cause of crime.</p> + +<p>All the mobs that insulted the women engaged in +the Crusade were made up largely of a criminal class +of foreigners who were dealers or drinkers.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_774">[Pg 774]</span></p> + +<p>The Alameda, California, outrage, which has no +parallel in the history of civilized nations, was perpetrated +by members of the “San Francisco German +Saloon-Keepers’ Society.” One gentleman said, “It +was simply hell let loose. It was a constant series of +howlings, cursing and threats. I never witnessed such +a scene of riot and confusion. The mob actually took +possession of the town, and kept it all day, howling, +yelling, and cursing, and evidently bent on inaugurating +a reign of terrorism to keep temperance people away +from the polls.”</p> + +<p>The sight of a lady was the signal for an outburst +of obscenity and insult, and one lady, Sallie Hart, came +near losing her life, because she had asserted her temperance +principles. The mob were like a pack of +hyenas; if they had succeeded in getting her into +their clutches, they would have torn her limb from +limb.</p> + +<p>The <i>San Francisco Post</i> says: “What makes this +outrage the more unendurable is, that all or nearly all +of these women insulters and women mobbers seem +to have been foreigners, who, welcomed here to equal +privileges and the right to vote, presume to insult and +mob American women, who choose in a peaceable and +orderly manner to exert their influence in the settlement +of a public question.”</p> + +<p>It makes every drop of patriotic blood in my veins +boil to know that such things as are recorded in this +book can be done under the flag, for which my great-grandfather +fought in the Revolutionary war, and for +which my grandfather fought in the war of 1812, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_775">[Pg 775]</span>for which three of my brothers fought in the recent +civil war, and for which I have risked life many times.</p> + +<p>I am for peace, but not when it means submission +to the wrong—not when it means insult to the flag and +the principles it symbolizes—not when it means the +triumph of the mob element of society over honest +worth, and the insult of virtuous American women. +Then I am for war—war to the knife, and the knife to +the hilt. Let the sword of justice come down like a +surgeon’s knife, and cut away all this putrid mass that +is eating like a canker into the heart of the nation.</p> + + +<h3 id="POLITICAL_CORRUPTION"> + POLITICAL CORRUPTION. +</h3> + +<p>I pass to notice briefly the corrupting influence of +this class on our political life.</p> + +<p>They have come to be a marketable commodity in +politics.</p> + +<p>They make terms with party leaders, and always in +the direction of their own interests, without regard to +the welfare of the country. And as so large a number +of them are engaged in the liquor business, and control +the votes of their customers, they have become the +most dangerous merchandise in which we deal—a very +powder-magazine under the bulwarks of the nation.</p> + +<p><i>The Liquor Men’s Advocate</i>, exhorting its whiskey +cohorts to act unitedly under the leadership of the +bartenders, says:</p> + +<p>“The good old German way of spending the Sabbath +don’t suit their (the temperance men’s) sublime taste. +Five hundred million dollars passed through the hands +of dealers in liquors during the past year (1873). +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_776">[Pg 776]</span>This shows a powerful element, which, if united, might +bid good-bye to the fanatical prohibition laws. Every +saloon averages eighty regular customers, and these +eighty customers have eighty votes, and, if properly +managed, every bartender might influence these eighty +votes to a given point, decided by bartenders <i>en +masse</i>.”</p> + +<p>The bartenders, then, are to decide the great moral +and political questions of this country by marching up +an army of habitual drunkards to the polls.</p> + +<p>This is not only the <i>plan</i>, but the <i>practice</i>. For +proof of the truth of this, go to the polls on any general +election day and see a hundred and fifty thousand men +reel up to the polls and deposit their bleared, muddled +ballots as the rum power dictates. Notice that the +polling places are in or near saloons, and the moral +atmosphere about them impregnated with tobacco, +beer and whiskey.</p> + +<p>To rescue this mighty power, the ballot, from the +hands of men who have given up their manhood, and +have lost self-control, and are degraded and crazed by +drink, is the first duty of the government.</p> + +<p>Let the privileges of the ballot be at once taken +from all who can be shown on evidence to be habitual +drunkards, until there is proof of thorough reformation. +This will strip the liquor-dealers of their mightiest +weapon in politics, and take out of our party contests +the most combustible and dangerous element.</p> + +<p>And what reasonable person can object to this? No +man whose brain is muddled by drink, who has brought +himself down to the brute level, ought to be clothed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_777">[Pg 777]</span>with the power to decide the destiny of a great nation. +If he is not capable of governing himself, he should +not be intrusted with the duty of governing a great +Republic like ours, where every man is a ruler.</p> + +<p>And just here is the hiding of the liquor-dealers’ +power. Unmask this battery, and concentrate a mighty +force that will capture it, and you take the enemy’s +heaviest guns, and its main political and social stronghold.</p> + + +<h3 id="SABBATH_DESECRATION"> + SABBATH DESECRATION. +</h3> + +<p>The proper observance of the Sabbath day is our +“dead-line” as a nation. And yet this very class of +dealers and drinkers are aiming their heaviest blows +at the American Sabbath.</p> + +<p>In 1874, when this class came into power in Chicago, +their first act was to repeal the Sunday law closing the +saloons and beer-gardens on the Sabbath day, just as +they have done in the other large cities where they +have obtained power.</p> + +<p>But this case was the more conspicuous because of +the gross indignities offered to Christian women by +the filth-reeking, villanous mob gathered from the +saloons to insult them. It is this element that is +laying violent hands upon the Bible, to hurl it from +the place accorded it by the pilgrim fathers:</p> + +<p>The Bible that came over in the Mayflower; the +Bible whose teachings form the ground-work of English +common law; the Bible which was read in our +first Congress, and before which every officer of the +government from that day to this has stood in awe, +and sworn fidelity to the Constitution and to duty.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_778">[Pg 778]</span></p> + +<p>George Washington, Daniel Webster, Judge Storrer, +and other distinguished statesmen pronounce the +public school, without the Bible, an absurdity and an +outrage.</p> + +<p>President Hayes, on one occasion, made use of +the following strong language in regard to the +Bible:</p> + +<p>“To drive the Bible out of the school-house is a +stigma and an insult. What is the witness-stand, the +jury-room, or the judicial bench worth without the +sanction of the Bible operating on the public? Degrade +the book as unfit for our children to read in +school, and its authority over the conscience is gone. +This destroys the very foundations so carefully laid—the +organic law. A single generation thus trained +will be enough to accomplish that result.”</p> + +<p>These are brave, strong words in the presence of +an aggressive foe. And we will do well to remember +that the Bible is our magna charta of Liberty; our +Public Schools the chief corner-stone of the Republic; +and the sanctity of the Sabbath our strongest social +bulwark. And that taking the Bible out of our public +schools this generation, means bonfires of Bibles next +generation; and the overthrow of our Public School +system, the overthrow of the Republic a few years +later, and the desecration of the Sabbath, the subversion +of social virtue and good order, and the <i>degradation +of woman</i>. In the presence of these facts is it not +time for us to arouse ourselves, and take a firm stand for +our American Institutions, while we are strong enough +to cope with the power that threatens them? If those +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_779">[Pg 779]</span>who come here to share the blessings of a republic +founded on Christian principles, do not like our institutions, +they are not obliged to stay. We can better +afford to part with them than we can with our Sabbaths, +our Bibles, and our Public Schools.</p> + + +<h3 id="PERSONAL_LIBERTY"> + PERSONAL LIBERTY. +</h3> + +<p>As a defence, this class has raised the cry of <i>personal +liberty</i>.</p> + +<p>There is no such thing as personal liberty except +among savages. In all civilized countries the dress, +food, habits of life, and the business of the people are +more or less the subjects of legislation.</p> + +<p>People are restrained by law from appearing on the +public streets, at watering-places, and in public assemblies +without suitable clothing to cover themselves +with.</p> + +<p>Men may not wear women’s clothing, and women +may not appear in men’s apparel. Some regard to +common decency must be observed in public at least.</p> + +<p>In times of pestilence many things are ruled out of +the market. Men may not sell diseased or decayed +food. Even the fish and the birds are protected +against the ravages of men at certain seasons.</p> + +<p>When a well or fountain is deemed unfit for use, +the people are forbidden to drink of it, and a guard +placed to secure obedience.</p> + +<p>A druggist may not sell poisonous drugs, such as +laudanum or opium, at his discretion.</p> + +<p>In most of the States gambling is forbidden, and +although a man may own the house in which the business +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_780">[Pg 780]</span>is carried on, and the parties visiting the house +may make no complaint, yet the officers of the law +may step in, and the presence of the men and the appliances +are sufficient proof of guilt, and they are +taken to jail. The lottery business is forbidden in +some States. Obscene books, and pictures, and +papers may not be exhibited or sold. Places of low +resort may not outrage common decency, unless it is +done secretly and unlawfully, as is often the case. +Prize-fighters may not beat and bruise each other. A +man may not burn his own house, or barn, or beat +his horse. He cannot have the small-pox just when +and where he pleases; he may be taken from his own +house forcibly and put in a pest-house, or he may be +detained in quarantine against his will. A grocer +was tried and fined in Philadelphia, not long ago, for +keeping Limburger cheese, because the people who +lived next door were annoyed thereby; he was therefore +forced by law to discontinue that business. A +man owning a lot in a city may prefer to build a +frame-house, but the town authorities step in and stop +the work, and he is forced to build of brick or stone. +He may not open a slaughter-house, or establish a +powder-magazine where he pleases. He may not +mint his own money, although he may have any +quantity of silver or gold. He may not charge excessive +interest. He is taxed; is subject to military +duty, and hedged about from the cradle to the grave +by-laws. The common good demands it, and there +is no safety for life or property without restrictive +legislation.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_781">[Pg 781]</span></p> + +<p>With equal justice and propriety, the government +(State and national) has the same right to interfere +with the liquor traffic. Every principle involved in +all these restrictive laws underlies the demand for +the abatement of liquor-saloons, and breweries, and +distilleries.</p> + +<p>The Brewers’ Congress, in their effort to go down to +the bed-rock—the basal principles of our Constitution—and +rivet beer upon us, raised this cry of personal +liberty.</p> + +<p>The people should not be deceived by it. There is +no such thing as personal liberty outside of savagism, +and the demand is not for personal liberty, but for a +state of lawlessness.</p> + +<p>And now, in conclusion, giving God the glory for +our past successes, and for the wonderful preservation +of those who walked with the Master in the furnace +of the Crusade, let us work, and pray, and wait with +faith for the victory that will surely come.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“For though women’s hands are weak to fight,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Their voices are strong to pray;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And with fingers of faith they open the gates</div> + <div class="verse indent2">To a brighter, better day.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_782"></a><a id="Page_783"></a>[Pg 783]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + SUPPLEMENT. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h3 class="nobreak" id="NEW_CASTLE_PENNSYLVANIA"> + NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA. +</h3> +</div> + +<p>The Women’s Temperance League of New Castle, +Pa., was formed April 8th, 1874. As our county was +favored with the Local Option Law, our work differed +from that in many other places. Instead of visiting +saloons kept open by license, our only street work +consisted in visiting the distilleries and stores of such +of our druggists as would not sign our “Druggist’s +Pledge.” Here we held prayer-meetings upon only +four different occasions. This work was not begun, +however, until the last of June, after having made a +thorough canvass with our pledges.</p> + +<p>In May, “Mother Stewart” visited us, and insisted +upon the formation of a “Band of Hope.” Feeling +that if we could get the boys right, the men would be +right, we undertook the work. This society has proved +a marked success, comprising at present 900 members, +while our league numbers 800. The meetings of the +band and of the league have been continued with little +interruption and with great profit, until the present +time, 1877.</p> + +<p>In the winter of 1877-1878, we earnestly co-operated +with the reformed men in their work, though +separate meetings are still held by the ladies and +children.</p> + +<p class="right"> + <span class="smcap">Margaret L. Aiken</span>, ex-Sec. +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_784">[Pg 784]</span></p> + + +<h3 id="BUFFALO_N_Y"> + BUFFALO, N. Y. +</h3> + +<p>I am indebted to Mrs. L. M. Kenyon for the following +facts:</p> + +<p>When the tidal wave of the Crusade reached Buffalo +the people said, “What are we to do with this strange +movement?” But God’s call was heard by his own +children, and at His command who said, “Let there be +light, and there was light,” the women went out into +the highways and the hedges, bearing the glad tidings +of salvation.</p> + +<p>The women of Fredonia had preceded us in the +work, and their fire kindled our enthusiasm. A meeting +was held at the First Presbyterian Church to consider +the question, as to whether we should unite in +the work of the Crusade and try to save our city.</p> + +<p>There had been formerly a ladies’ temperance +society, but it had lain dormant for years. It was +thought this might again be revived, and form a starting +point for a new movement, but the president of +that society did not feel that she could unite in the +Crusade, and so an independent meeting was the +result. God was with the women who engaged in the +work, in a wonderful manner, from the very beginning. +They went out into every part of the city two by two. +In some sections churches were opened for their meetings. +The saloons were visited, and the women sang +and prayed, and read the Scriptures, and the power +of God fell upon the people, and law-breakers and +men hardened in transgression were seen to weep.</p> + +<p>No regular plan of attack was made in the beginning, +but the women went as the Holy Spirit directed. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_785">[Pg 785]</span>In course of time a Woman’s Temperance Union was +organized, auxiliary to the State Union, which has +brought about a great change in public sentiment, +although the opposition at times was very violent and +often discouraging. But, sustained by an Almighty +hand, they continued to push the work.</p> + +<p>A committee of three ladies was appointed to visit +the Board of Excise, and ask them to withhold license. +That body answered they had done all they could, so +the argument did not prevail. The mayor of the city +fixed a time when the ladies should meet the Excise +Commission, but when the hour arrived he was absent. +The interview was unsatisfactory, as there was a division +of sentiment and a lack of courage. A long +petition was then presented to the city council, signed +by over three hundred of our prominent business men, +several hundred prominent women, and men of various +occupations to the number of three thousand. But all +their efforts were of no avail. Though disappointed +and discouraged, they were not utterly cast down, but +felt that God was with them, and still prayed and +worked on. There were not wanting those who +opposed the Crusade movement, and advised the +women to stay at their homes, and hinted that those +who visited saloons were crazy or fanatical. Yet the +work of saloon visiting went on.</p> + +<p>One incident in connection with this work was very +touching: A saloon-keeper had a lovely daughter. +She had heard of their visits to her father’s saloon, +and upon the day she died, most eloquently did she +plead with him to sell no more intoxicating liquor; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_786">[Pg 786]</span>never again to open his doors to sell, after they had +carried her out to Forest Lawn. The father’s heart +was touched, and he could not resist the pleadings of +his dying child. He promised he would close, and he +did not again open his saloon, but soon found respectable +business.</p> + +<p>In one saloon there were about thirty men drinking +and playing cards, and women were there in a state +of intoxication. Permission to pray was asked, and +granted; and the proprietor said, “Boys, take off +your hats, while these ladies conduct their service!” +And the audience was very attentive; sorrow seemed +depicted upon their bloated faces, and their thoughts +were no doubt lifted up for a time, at least.</p> + +<p>In one saloon a woman was very angry, and used insulting +and indecent language. Said we were spoiling +her man’s business, and we had better stay at home, and +just mind our own business; while the husband treated +us kindly, and seemed ashamed of his wife’s conduct, +and asked us to come again. Since then the man has +failed in his saloon business.</p> + +<p>The ladies held Gospel Temperance Meetings in +the Friendly Inn of the Y. M. C. A. weekly, and one +in Canterbury Varieties Theatre weekly. These meetings +were productive of good. We had encouragement +in our work from a man who was the owner +of several saloons, and the proprietor of the Varieties +Theatre. He gave us the use of the theatre, fire, light, +and attention of the men attending to these things, +and the thanks of the women are to-day given Mr. +Humphreys for this favor. He opened his doors for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_787">[Pg 787]</span>the temperance women to hold meetings, and good +impressions were made upon the minds of hundreds. +Several public meetings were held, but the work has +not been a decided success.</p> + +<p>No large contributions of money have ever been +received. The little given has been distributed with +care in aiding the families of drunkards.</p> + +<p>Election days have been days of prayer and fasting +with them. “At one election, we believe,” says the +writer, “one candidate was defeated because of our +prayers.” He was a saloon-keeper. In the morning +one of the women of our city said to him, “You will +not be elected.” “Why not?” said the man. “Because +the women of the praying band are in their +rooms praying for your defeat.” “I’ll take the risk +upon it, and you’ll see.” All day long we prayed and +fasted; our room was full. In the afternoon a gentleman +came in and said, “Keep on praying: there is confusion +at the <i>polls</i>. Men are carrying their votes in +their hands—have not yet voted: they are confused.” +“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow” was then +sung. Our meeting did not close till six o’clock. The +saloon-keeper was not elected. During the day a +<i>third</i> man had been put in and was elected. The +saloon-keeper “cursed those women and their +prayers.”</p> + +<p>We have had assistance from the Good Templars of +our city. They have extended courtesy toward us, especially +making it pleasant for the gathering of our State +Union. They have always encouraged us in our +work. A committee of ladies visited the Roman +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_788">[Pg 788]</span>Catholic bishop for the purpose of getting the ladies +of that church to co-operate in the putting down of the +traffic in Buffalo. He advised us to call upon them +ourselves, as he did not control the ladies of his +churches—in fact they did not take part in such +organizations; but he most cordially received the committee, +and said he would do all in his power to aid +the people here to put down this curse of the church +and State.</p> + +<p>Voices cried unto us, saying: “When will deliverance +come?” The reply was, “Wait patiently upon +the Lord.”</p> + +<p>Ministers were visited, and requested to use unfermented +wine at the Lord’s Supper. To this several +responded favorably; others said: If a person is not +so changed as to take his desire for strong drink away, +he would fall just as quickly out of the church as in it.</p> + +<p>Sunday-schools were visited, and the children in +these and day schools pledged.</p> + +<p>A Gospel Temperance meeting found many ready +to listen. Said one man, “I have drank liquor for +forty years: forty years of hell have I had. Why ask +me to reform? I can’t!” Mothers said, “Pray for +my son! Oh, save him, Lord! by the help of these +women.”</p> + +<p>A man who was a noted gambler, jig-dancer, negro +minstrel and drunkard, gave himself up to the service +of the Master, and went about imploring men to +reform. His own old mother, a depraved woman, he +was instrumental in saving.</p> + +<p>The villages near us contributed their share of true +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_789">[Pg 789]</span>Crusade fire, and in some cases the liquor-dealers were +prosecuted, and injunctions put upon this accursed +traffic. Angola, Eden, North Collins, Tonawanda, +Buffalo, amid every discouragement, struck for a +release from the license law, and, in a few cases, hotel +and saloon-keepers did not renew their licenses.</p> + +<p>No effort was made to establish Friendly Inns, but +in the ward meetings men signed the pledge, especially +at the Friendly Inn of the Y. M. C. A.</p> + +<p>The wealthy women of the city were not generally +enlisted, yet by the power of God many a young man +was saved and many homes made happy. The Crusade +fire is still burning, and only needs to be fanned +to kindle a blaze of temperance enthusiasm.</p> + + +<h3 id="XENIA"> + XENIA. +</h3> + +<p>During the second week of the Crusade, Friday +was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, services +being held at the Presbyterian Church during the +entire day. While this meeting was going forward, +the ladies were on duty, and at nine o’clock the “Hole +in the Wall,” in the rear of the Ewing House, kept by +Manus O’Donnell, capitulated unconditionally, and in a +few minutes, more than sixty gallons of bad whiskey +went to wash the sin-defiled alley of Whiteman; +O’Donnell himself, amid the cheers of a thousand +spectators, and the band of praying women, knocking +out the bungs to give it flow.</p> + +<p>It was a complete and unconditional surrender of a +man of all his earthly possessions, acknowledging his +wrong and throwing himself upon the public for support +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_790">[Pg 790]</span>in some other calling. Still in the rear of this +saloon was the “Den of Iniquity,” from out of which, +while yet the rejoicing proceeded, Warwick, the colored +proprietor, was seen emerging with a little dirty white +rag on a broomstick, bearing it aloft as a token of his +surrender. Cheer after cheer went up; the ladies +filed into his den, and brought forth his bottles and +kegs of whiskey, and emptied their contents into the +gutter. The proprietor of another saloon consented +to close. His wife was temporarily absent; she +was a woman who had a very vile tongue, and when +she returned she was very indignant that the saloon +should be closed, and immediately reopened it. The +ladies renewed their visits, and while they were praying +before the saloon, and she was indulging in a +blasphemous tirade, one of the women was led to pray +<i>that the Lord would still her tongue</i>. The prayer was +answered. She was afterward struck dumb, and +remained so for two years, when she died.</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. C. Bristow adds the following: Mass-meetings +were held every evening; union meetings in +which all our ministers took part; also a morning +meeting which was largely attended not only by our +temperance women and ministers, but by many of our +principal business men. A mass-meeting was held +Sabbath afternoon by the women. All these meetings +were well attended until the month of April, at which +time our city election took place. We had looked forward +to this event with much interest: the parties, +instead of being as heretofore Republicans and Democrats, +were Temperance and Anti-Temperance. For +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_791">[Pg 791]</span>mayor, the most important office to be filled, the friends +of temperance nominated one of the best men in the +city—Captain McDowell; not only an earnest Christian +temperance man, but a man whom everybody respected. +The other candidate was not only opposed +to the new temperance movement, but one who habitually +used intoxicating liquors. To our sorrow and disappointment +Captain McDowell was defeated, and we +were obliged to accept for our highest city officer one +whom we had every reason to believe would do all in +his power to oppose the progress of the temperance +movement.</p> + +<p>The women were out upon the streets that day +in full force, and at one of our saloons a most +shameful affair occurred. A middle-aged, highly +respectable woman, a member of one of our bands, +having become weary from long standing and frequent +kneeling, seated herself upon the steps of the saloon +of John Glassinger, a German, to rest for a few moments. +She was immediately ordered by the proprietor +to leave the premises, and failing to obey as +quickly as he thought she ought to, he kicked her off +the steps by main force, and afterwards gave her +blows, which confined her to her bed and house for +several weeks.</p> + +<p>The saloon-keeper was arrested, but being a man +of means, gave bail, and when his case finally came up +before the grand jury, they being entirely in sympathy +with him, failed to find an indictment. And so for four +years he has been permitted to pursue his unholy +traffic, without let or hindrance. Times without number +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_792">[Pg 792]</span>he has been arrested for selling to minors, and +otherwise violating the letter of his license, but the +judgment of our court has <i>always</i> been lenient in his +case.</p> + +<p>We read in the word “that, though joined hand in +hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished.” And just +now it really seems in the case of this man, who has so +long openly defied the laws of God and man, the words +of Holy Writ are about to be verified. A few weeks +since, in opening a beer barrel, the bung flew out and +hit him in the eye, entirely destroying the sight of +that eye. The other out of sympathy is also seriously +affected, and there is every reason to believe he will +eventually lose the sight of both eyes. His first exclamation +after the accident was: “Now dem vimins +will say, ‘dis is a judgment from God for my selling +liquor.’”</p> + +<p>The day after the election it was a serious question +with our earnest Christian women whether they +should go out upon the streets or not, but after +due deliberation they decided to do so. We met as +usual at eight o’clock in the morning for prayer, formed +ourselves into bands, and separated, each going to our +appointed field of duty. We were very sorrowful on +that ever to be remembered morning: a deep solemnity +and unwonted fervor was apparent in every prayer +that was offered. In the language of the Psalmist, +we were led to exclaim in our extremity, “Vain is the +help of man; unto Thee, O Lord! we lift our waiting +eyes.”</p> + +<p>Shortly after our city election an opposing band was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_793">[Pg 793]</span>organized, composed entirely of Germans. Of all the +saloon-keepers in the town, only five were Americans—two +white, and three black.</p> + +<p>This German “<i>Mocking band</i>” was organized for +the purpose of disturbing and, if possible, breaking up +the temperance bands. When we came upon the +street and commenced our labors, they came also and +commenced theirs; in derision they sang and prayed, +and once in our presence took communion, in their +mocking, profane way, using beer for wine. But these +proceedings were kept up for only a brief period. Seeing +that we were undaunted, and could not be driven +from the field by this kind of persecution, they desisted, +leaving us to go on with our services undisturbed.</p> + +<p>The full bands were out daily for nine weeks, including +picket work; but it was not in the nature of things +that our labors on the street should continue. Some +had already been obliged to abandon the work on +account of failing health, others had young families +requiring their time and attention, and thus from +various causes one and another dropped out of our +ranks.</p> + +<p>During the month of July, the heat became so intense +that it was deemed unsafe to go out in the day +time, and meetings were held in the early part of the +morning and evening.</p> + +<p>Mrs. M. A. Wilson adds: “About this time a committee +of liquor men visited our business firms to +ascertain who were in sympathy with this Crusade +movement, as they fully intended to withdraw their +patronage from all who were.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_794">[Pg 794]</span></p> + +<p>“The number of workers at this time was reduced +to about twenty-five. We held Gospel Temperance +Meetings in various places on Saturday evenings, also +on Sabbath afternoons. During the active work a +Woman’s Temperance League was organized, with +three hundred and twelve members, which has since +been merged into the Woman’s Christian Temperance +Union.</p> + +<p>“The Sabbath four o’clock prayer-meetings have +been held regularly since the Crusade. A meeting is +also held Sabbath at three <span class="allsmcap">P. M.</span> in the jail, where we +have reason to believe very much good has been +accomplished.”</p> + +<p>Among those who took part in the prayer-meetings +and the work were Mrs. Lowe; Mrs. Allen; Mrs. +Monroe; Mrs. Moore; Mrs. Barr; Mrs. Hartwell; +Mrs. Bedell; Mrs. Turnbull; Mrs. Marley; Mrs. +Wilson; Mrs. Drees; Mrs. Bristol; Mrs. Wilson; +Mrs. Luce; Mrs. Farber; Mrs. Finley; Mrs. Meredith; +Mrs. Shearer; Mrs. Watt; Mrs. Day; Mrs. +Good; Mrs. Williams; Mrs. Merrick; Mrs. Connable; +Mrs. Ralston; Mrs. Shipley; Mrs. Conwell; Mrs. +Hutchinson; Mrs. Ormsby; Mrs. Barlow; Mrs. Trotter; +Mrs. McMillan; Mrs. Jacoby; Mrs. McPherson; +Miss Williams; Miss Keaggy; Miss Allen; Miss +Lauman; Miss Allison.</p> + +<p>There were scores of others, whose names we were +not able to secure.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_795">[Pg 795]</span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-weight: bold;font-size: large;"> + A GENERAL REVIEW. +</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV"> + CHAPTER XV. +</h2> +</div> + + +<p>Organized Temperance Work is of recent date, +and may justly be claimed, as one of the fruits of the +Christian civilization of the Nineteenth century.</p> + +<p>The first society was formed in Moroe, Saratoga +county, N. Y., in the beginning of the nineteenth +century, by two earnest men—a Christian minister and +a Christian physician.</p> + +<p>From this little beginning, a blessed tidal wave of +influence has swept around the world, and Temperance +organizations may now be found in every civilized and +semi-civilized country on the globe.</p> + +<p>One of the most singular facts in the history of this +reform is, that more than fifty years of earnest effort was +put forth by men, before women began to take very much +actual interest in the work. The Good Templars were +the first to open their doors, and invite, and secure +their co-operation. But it was not till that mighty +Spiritual cyclone that we call “the Crusade” swept +over the land, that any large number of women came +aggressively into the work.</p> + +<p>With the power of this Pentecostal baptism upon +them, and the heroism of a divine faith to sustain +them, they were almost irresistible.</p> + +<p>Timid women, unused to missionary work, went out +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_796">[Pg 796]</span>as flaming heralds of the Cross, carrying the gospel +of the Son of God into the saloons, and down into the +slums of vice. And these ministrations were attended +with wonderful power and success. Whole towns +were cleared of the liquor traffic in a few days; hundreds +of men who had been in the trade for years, +closed their saloons, and renounced the business forever; +thousands signed the pledge; many who were +going down rapidly to ruin, reformed, and became +champions of the cause; women unschooled in oratory, +spoke with tongues of fire, moving the masses by their +burning words of eloquence, and stirring society to its +very depths.</p> + +<p>As to what the result might have been, had the +women continued on these lines of work, we dare +not speculate. But this we do know, that just in proportion +as they have had power with God, they have +had power with men; and just to the extent that +they have wandered away from the Divine source of +strength, and “put their trust in princes and in the +son of man, in whom there is no help,” to just that +extent they have failed to secure unity and success.</p> + +<p>The brilliant dash of the Crusade, that so discomfited +the enemy all along the lines, was followed by +organization.</p> + +<p>The new society, which was called the Woman’s +National Christian Temperance Union, was organized +in Cleveland, Ohio, in November, 1874, by representatives +from most of the Northern and some of the +Southern States.</p> + +<p>The growth of the society was unprecedentedly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_797">[Pg 797]</span>large. Branch unions were formed in all the large +towns and cities, and in many of the villages of the +land.</p> + +<p>Soon the work extended beyond our own lines, +and a Canadian Woman’s Temperance Union, and a +British Woman’s Temperance Association were effected, +which have extended the work to India, Africa +and the Islands of the sea, so that wherever the English +language is spoken, the names of these societies +are a household word.</p> + +<p>In the early years of the work, there was entire +unity in the plans of these societies, which was one of +the marks of its Divine origin. They all worked after +the pattern shown them on the mount of faith.</p> + +<p>Another evidence that the pattern was of Heavenly +origin, is the fact that it was complete in outline, and +that they were enabled to take such a wide view of +the field, and grasp with such masterly hands, the +instrumentalities to be used.</p> + + +<h3 id="WORK_AMONG_THE_CHILDREN"> + WORK AMONG THE CHILDREN. +</h3> + +<p>In the very beginning, the importance of pledging +and training the young was emphasized. This work +has been pushed with great zeal and energy, till it has +extended far beyond their own lines.</p> + +<p>The society has, perhaps, fewer children directly +under its training, but they are more carefully taught.</p> + +<p>Regular training schools with every facility for +scientific teaching, have taken the place of oral lessons +and pledge signing, so common in the beginning +when the children gathered by hundreds. And they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_798">[Pg 798]</span>have pushed the work beyond their own lines, out into +the Sabbath schools, and into the Public schools and +colleges.</p> + +<p>A wonderful impulse was given to this thorough, +systematic training, by the publication of Dr. Richardson’s +Lesson Book, and Julia Colman’s Alcohol and +Hygiene, by the National Temperance Publishing Society +of New York. So that in reviewing the past, +it is safe to say that the general work has been greatly +advanced.</p> + + +<h3 id="TEMPERANCE_LITERATURE"> + TEMPERANCE LITERATURE. +</h3> + +<p>As an important auxiliary in efforts to reach all +classes, especially those who do not attend religious +and Temperance meetings, the distribution of Temperance +literature has been most helpful. The work +from the very first has been pushed with zeal and +persistence, and has gone steadily on, till the volume +of literature produced and circulated gratuitously, is +enormous. Instructive tracts and Temperance hand-bills +are being distributed by <i>millions</i>.</p> + +<p>Many of them are of high order, and contain the +most reliable scientific information. These tracts may +be found at railroad stations, post-offices, and work-shops, +and at other points where men congregate; +and, like the leaven the woman hid in the meal, is +rapidly leavening the whole lump.</p> + + +<h3 id="FRIENDLY_INNS"> + FRIENDLY INNS. +</h3> + +<p>The need of a safe place of resort for the thousands, +who during the Crusade were led by Divine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_799">[Pg 799]</span>power to abandon their cups, was deeply felt, and +many of the Unions undertook to meet the demand.</p> + +<p>They were well patronized by the classes for whom +they were intended, and by others who felt an interest +in such generous enterprises. But owing to the labor +involved, and the responsibility incurred, many societies, +after a few years, turned the work over to private +parties, who assumed all risk, and gradually these +Friendly Inns became Temperance Restaurants, and +Hotels for the accommodation of the general public, +and a more respectable class of customers. There +are but few of these institutions now, directly under +the control of the society which inaugurated the work +in this country so grandly.</p> + + +<h3 id="THE_PRESS"> + THE PRESS. +</h3> + +<p>The change in the attitude of the Press has been +most favorable.</p> + +<p>Before the Crusade, it was difficult to secure entrance +for Temperance literature, into the secular newspapers +of the country, and little was found in the +religious journals. But the Crusade movement was +so unusual and exciting, and the people were so +anxious to secure the latest information, that correspondents +were kept in the field, that the latest news +might be furnished.</p> + +<p>That the Press has maintained a more independent +attitude towards the liquor traffic since the Crusade +than ever before, cannot be denied. The friends of +Temperance have a fair field; the newspapers of +the country are as accessible to them as to the friends +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_800">[Pg 800]</span>of the trade, and their contributions more often appear. +Large numbers of papers have conceded a column +weekly to the local unions, and they are edited by +members of the society, while the regular Temperance +papers have been much better sustained.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, liquor-dealers have established +their own organs, and the pen-fight, all along the lines, +waxes fiercer and hotter as the years go by.</p> + +<p>The religious press is outspoken, and may be relied +on in the coming contest, as a mighty power. The +secular press, though divided, will grandly reinforce +the work, as the question of the total prohibition of +the liquor traffic comes more and more to the front.</p> + + +<h3 id="YOUNG_WOMENS_WORK"> + YOUNG WOMEN’S WORK. +</h3> + +<p>The organization of Young Women’s Unions has +not been general. But large numbers have come +into the work as co-laborers with their older sisters, +and a more decided temperance sentiment has obtained +among them.</p> + + +<h3 id="PRISON_VISITATION"> + PRISON VISITATION. +</h3> + +<p>The sick, and those in prison, have been visited; +and many in jails, for crimes committed under the influence +of drink, have signed the pledge, and been +redeemed inside prison walls.</p> + + +<h3 id="GOSPEL_TEMPERANCE_MEETINGS"> + GOSPEL TEMPERANCE MEETINGS. +</h3> + +<p>During the early days of the Crusade, while the +breath of a Divine inspiration was upon them, the +women inaugurated Gospel Temperance Meetings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_801">[Pg 801]</span></p> + +<p>Their watch-fires, kindled in almost every village, +glinted with light the darkest caverns of sin and +degradation; and thousands, lost in the mazes of +drunkenness, guided by their beacon fires, found their +way to the cross of Christ, and to a new and redeemed +life.</p> + +<p>In no work has God’s power been more clearly +displayed than in these meetings held by the women +in the early years of their work.</p> + +<p>These meetings had so much of Christ’s gospel in +them, and were so effectual in saving the ungospeled +masses, that the name of Gospel Temperance Meetings +was given them—a name that has become a household +word among all Temperance workers in all lands.</p> + +<p>The rude halls and mission chapels, where the +workers held their meetings, seemed favored places +of Heaven, where God let down His ladder, for the +swift feet of the angels of mercy and forgiveness. +Thousands were redeemed, not only from drunkenness, +but from all their vile and sinful habits.</p> + +<p>If we could turn over the pages of the Book of Life, +we would find opposite many a name unknown to +fame, the words of Jesus, in letters of living light, “Inasmuch +as ye have done it unto one of the least of +these, ye have done it unto Me.”</p> + +<p>During the first three or four years of the work, +these meetings for the reformation and salvation of +the drinking classes, were most earnest and successful. +During one year special reports showed that +over <i>fifteen thousand</i> had been saved through these +Gospel Temperance Meetings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_802">[Pg 802]</span></p> + +<p>The Woman’s Temperance Union was born of +prayer, and must be sustained by prayer. When we +substitute any other agency for prayer we will be +shorn of our strength, and fall apart. Nothing but +the Divine grace that comes in answer to much prayer +can cement, in strong, enduring bonds, human hearts +for such work as this.</p> + +<p>As they gather about the cross to pray, they are +drawn nearer to the Master, and nearer to each other. +The reflex influence upon the workers themselves, has +been a most blessed result.</p> + +<p>But as the years have gone by, the character of the +work has somewhat changed. Gospel Temperance +Meetings are still held, and drinking men brought in +and saved; but the meetings are not so frequent, and +are not so largely attended by crowds from the slums.</p> + +<p>Bible Readings, and Consecration meetings, have +become more frequent, and the workers themselves +are seeking teaching. At the seventh annual meeting +of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, +held at Washington, D. C., October, 1881, there were +present 216 delegates, representing twenty-seven +States, besides the District of Columbia and the Territory +of Dakota.</p> + +<p>The Treasurer’s exhibit showed $2,557.69 received +and disbursed; and the Corresponding Secretary’s +report showed a vast amount of work accomplished.</p> + +<p>But, as large as the work may appear, we may not +conceal from ourselves the fact that we have only +touched the rim of the womanhood of this country, as +yet. Millions of women are idle and indifferent, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_803">[Pg 803]</span>thousands are under the power of the habit, or in the +liquor business.</p> + +<p>Unity of plans by which these masses could be +reached, would greatly advance the Temperance cause.</p> + +<p>One of the great needs of the country, and of this +cause, is good, sober, intelligent mothers, who, with +strong hands, would mould society in its beginnings.</p> + +<p>If we would have good government in the country, +we must have good government in the homes where +government begins.</p> + +<p>Women are the governors of the race for the first +and best half of human life. They are the character +builders for the future generations, and we shall have +won a great victory for the cause when we may count +the mothers of the land on the side of the Temperance +host, and their home teaching backs up legal enactments.</p> + + +<h3 id="PROHIBITORY_LEGISLATION"> + PROHIBITORY LEGISLATION. +</h3> + +<p>We can no longer admit of compromise measures +in dealing with the liquor traffic. The whole iniquitous +business is wrong; a sin against God, a cruel +crime against society, that no amount of revenue can +condone. To admit that crime legalized is no longer +crime, is absurd. The moral code is written not only +in the Book of God, but on human hearts. Every +fibre of soul and body is under laws that, violated, +must meet the penalty, no matter how men legislate. +And there is not one sentence in the whole moral +code that does not fall upon the liquor traffic and +traffickers in heavy condemnation. We must adjudge +this crime as we would other crimes.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_804">[Pg 804]</span></p> + +<p>There is no ground to justify compromises. As +well might we advocate a law making it <i>optional</i> with +the people whether crime such as theft, or murder, or +arson, should be committed under protection of law.</p> + +<p>There is not a principle involved in English common +law that is not violated by the emissaries of the +liquor traffic. Human comfort and happiness, the +safety of life and property, and the perpetuity of government, +are involved.</p> + +<p>As Temperance sentiment has increased, the demand +for Prohibitory legislation has become more and +more imperative, and the most radical measures are +brought forward.</p> + +<p>Prohibition by constitutional amendment has become +the rallying cry in nearly every State. The +people propose to take the matter into their own +hands, and divest it of all political complications, and +settle it on its own merits, by an exercise of their constitutional +rights.</p> + +<p>This seems the easiest, quickest, and most permanent +plan that has ever been brought forward, and is +in perfect harmony with our American institutions.</p> + +<p>A decision by a majority of the legal voters of the +State, in favor of putting Prohibition down in the bed-rock +of State law, would carry the necessary public +sentiment for the enforcement of the law.</p> + +<p>The example of President and Mrs. Hayes in banishing +liquor from the White House during one Presidential +term, was most praiseworthy. And the beautiful +tribute of the Woman’s Temperance Union, was +a suitable recognition of the heroic stand for Truth and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_805">[Pg 805]</span>Temperance, made by Mrs. Lucy W. Hayes. And the +fact that during President Hayes’ term of office the +unused wine glasses gathered dust in the cellar, while +the Bible was in constant use in the parlor, will stand +out as a gem in history, long after the liquor traffic of +the Republic is overthrown, and <i>Prohibition written on +the door-post of the White House, and over the portals +of the Capitol buildings</i>.</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> + <div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“The crisis presses on us,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Face to face, with us it stands,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">With lips of solemn question,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Like the Sphynx of Egypt’s sands;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To-day we fashion destiny—</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The web of fate we spin,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">To-day forever choose we,</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Or holiness or sin.</div> + <div class="verse indent0">By the future that’s before us—</div> + <div class="verse indent2">By all the lights that cast</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Their dim and flickering beams across</div> + <div class="verse indent2">The darkness of the past,</div> + <div class="verse indent0">And by the blessed thoughts of Him</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Who for our ransom died;</div> + <div class="verse indent0">Oh, my country! oh, my brothers!</div> + <div class="verse indent2">Choose ye the righteous side.”</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<hr class="full"> + +<h3 id="FOOTNOTES"> + FOOTNOTES +</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> When the praying band went out for saloon visitation, the <i>brothers</i> remained +in the College building in prayer-meeting, and at the close of every prayer, the +College-bell was tolled.</p></div> + + +<hr class="full"> + +<div class="transnote"> + Transcriber note<br> <br> + Spelling and punctuation errors have been corrected. +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77878 ***</div> +</body> +</html>
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