“Such a place as this our statute expressly declares to be a public

nuisance, and which being shown in a 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.”

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:

“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 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.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.

OXFORD, OHIO.

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.

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.

Wertz and Barraclough, after closing their saloon, sold out their

fixtures at auction.

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.

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.

During the Crusade, out of a population of 1,800, 1,200 signed the

pledge.

McARTHUR, OHIO.

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.

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:

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.

GEORGETOWN, OHIO.

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.

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.

The inhabitants suffered terribly from the drink ravages, and yet

drinking was deemed respectable.

The Crusade commenced late in January, and on February 28th the last

saloon closed.

We give the following incidents of the Crusade from a correspondent:

“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.

“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 closed, however, and allowed his liquors to be

emptied in the street.

“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.

“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.

“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 day, on learning that some

one had indicted all of these _law-abiding men_ before the grand jury,

their conscientious scruples vanished. At this place, too, temperance

triumphed and no blood was shed.”

WHO ARE THESE WOMEN?

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.

LOGAN, OHIO.

The following was reported by Mrs. John Walker:

“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.

“It is a remarkable fact that several towns took up the work

simultaneously, and, with but little knowledge of what the others

were doing, worked substantially in the same manner, as we found in

comparing notes afterwards.

“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.

“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).

“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, even to ourselves. ‘How our hearts burned

as we talked of Him by the way!’

“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.

“Our Lutheran minister also upheld his people who sold liquor. Now for

the results:

“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.

“But was the Crusade a failure, as some have said? By no means. We gave

the liquor business a blow in _this town_, from which _it never has and

never will recover_. Some of our Germans in that business I think had

no idea until then how disreputable it was in the eyes of Americans.

They _feel_ it _now_.

“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.

“Public opinion has taken an _immense_ 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, and

opened a furniture store. Several others are now shut for want of

custom.

“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 _these women_ that

they _will_ 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.”

We add the following from D. Little:

“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.

“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.

“Mr. Rohler’s surrender was the same as Mr. Barnhardt’s. Upon his

surrender, the ladies sang ‘Praise God,’ etc.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

McCONNELSVILLE, OHIO.

Mrs. Eva R. Sprague writes of the work at this point:

We organized February 14th, 1874, under the name of McConnelsville

Women’s Temperance League; officers: president, vice-president,

treasurer, and secretary.

The usual constitution, by-laws, and pledges were adopted, and one

hundred and thirty signatures obtained.

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.

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.

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.

MARYSVILLE, OHIO.

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.

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, 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.

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.

At one of the evening meetings in the hall, the cry of _fire_ 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.

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.

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.

The last week in February, 1874, was the memorable week in the history

of Marysville. It will be remembered as the week when every saloon in

the place was closed.

Photographs, cabinet-size, of the ladies’ prayer-meeting in front of

the “City Beer Saloon,” were taken, and became objects of historic

interest.

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.

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.

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.

Reported by order of the committee. E. J. MARCH.

FINDLEY, OHIO.

Sarah A. Strothers, writing of the work in this place, says:

“In the month of February (about the 27th) the great wave of the

temperance revival, now known as “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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

At eight o’clock in the morning the church was filled 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

At one place we were in the habit of singing “Come 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 _Rock of ages_, and den I hears _Come to Jesus, all

de time_; vat does it mean?”

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.”

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; _he was sentenced to fine and imprisonment_.

The Germans banded together, and took him out of the prison, and there

seemed no help but to submit to a lawless mob.”

What a confession! _A few German dealers defy public sentiment and

override the decrees of the court_. And American men, who outnumber

them _ten to one_, submit to this lawlessness and insult, and allow the

triumph of vice over virtue; mob over the law.

JAMESTOWN, OHIO.

Reported by Mattie B. Long.

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.

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.

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 this town. This drug store and two saloons were the only

places in the village where liquors were sold.

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.

The experience of all engaged in the work was that, while laboring for

the good of others, their own souls had been greatly blessed.

MOUNT VERNON, OHIO.

Mount Vernon, with a population of 6,000, had thirty-one saloons.

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.

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 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.

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 _such love dwells_, 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.

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.

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.”

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:

“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 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.”

WARREN, OHIO.

A Woman’s Temperance organization was effected in Warren, February

28th, 1874.

We are indebted to a writer in the _Morning_, for the following facts

connected with the work there:

At the beginning of the work, the following pledge was circulated:

“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.”

This pledge was afterwards circulated throughout the city, and signed

by 500 women.

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 _now_ 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 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.

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 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 _Western Reserve Chronicle_ 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.

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?”

STEUBENVILLE, OHIO.

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. An ordinance, which became effective April, 1874,

growing out of the Crusade, closed forty more.

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.

The reader will find this subject fully discussed in another chapter of

this book.

YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

We are indebted to Mary G. Moore for the following statement of work:

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.

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 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.

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.

A Woman’s League was at once organized, with a membership of over four

hundred, and by its influence, 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 amusement

and temptation, which have cursed our town pre-eminently, in the last

dozen years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Reformed Men’s movement was inaugurated here last winter by the

Woman’s League, and was directed largely by their labor and zeal.

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 _advancing_.

ALLIANCE, OHIO.

We heard reports of warfare waged by women against their common foe.

The weapons of their warfare were _not_ 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.

The sounds that came to us as we passed through towns, where the

enemy’s forts were being stormed, were those of sweet _voices_ singing

sacred songs, and breathing fervent prayers.

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.

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.

The Crusaders of the nineteenth century, equally loyal to the cross,

labored not to find the place of the sepulchre; but realized that

_Christ had risen_, and labored to lift up fallen ones for cleansing in

the precious blood that was shed for all our sins.

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, with thirty-two places where liquor was sold in our borders.

Many of us had never engaged in any public work. Some had never even

breathed a vocal prayer at their own family altars.

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 _obeyed_, _silently_ marching _two and two_,

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.

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.

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.

We held mass-meetings nearly every evening for 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.

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.

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, _we mention

not a name_.

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 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.

“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.

“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

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.

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 _en masse_. Again several different bands were formed, and

various saloons visited simultaneously.

Sometimes committees of ladies, in pairs or trios, visited saloons for

personal conversation with dealers.

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 _Sin_.

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, who spent days in visiting

families and shops, and a very large number of signatures were

obtained, covering _two-thirds of the voters_ of our city, besides

women and minors.

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 _below_ the reach of _moral

suasion_, and must have some _legal suasion_.

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.

An “officer of the day” would be stationed at head-quarters--keeping

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 P. M., 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.

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.

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

_unprofitable_, 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.

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 right.

The temperance people called conventions, sent an organizer into the

field, and the entire State was organized against license: not, of

course, including _all the people_, but some citizens of each county.

In _our_ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

_increasing power_, 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 _free_

people, enfranchised from King Alcohol.

A number of conversions occurred at our meetings, and the _workers_

learned to _trust in God_, 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 _we_ stood

interceding for the fallen, and, at times, the glory of God shown to

_us_ 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 hung his head and ran away. A dealer’s wife stood close by a

kneeling Crusader, and held a _hatchet over her head_, 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 _forever_.”

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. _We_ 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.

We append some incidents of our work, that we trust will be of interest

to all our readers.

INCIDENTS.

The Lord truly makes the “_wrath_ of man to praise him.” This was

manifested to us on many occasions, one of which was the following:

One cold wintry day we were assembled for prayer and conference, when

word came to us that a saloonist had prepared a “_Crusader in effigy_,”

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 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 _crucified, for us_, 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.

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.

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 _against_ him, they went and plead for _his release_.

Giving him good for evil, so deepened his convictions, that he came to

our evening meeting and surrendered his business.

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 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.

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 _riot_ was expected if our band was

on the street.

We took not “council with flesh and blood,” but 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.

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 PEACE 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.

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 _intemperance_! Two of these we

quote:

“_Resolved_, That we _condemn drunkenness_, _despise drunkards_,

and _pity_ those who, for want of more moral power, try to fortify

themselves against the violation of the laws of Temperance ordained by

nature.

“_Resolved_, That we are willing to support the laws for the diminution

and _prevention_ of _intemperance_ as far as in our power; to advocate

a more appropriate _punishment_, and the _correction of inebriates_,

and to use our influence to _regulate_ the sale of liquors by an

effective license law.”

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 _inebriety_, 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 _will_ be _dispensed_ to us all in the eternal ages!

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 _him_, and dared not molest _his_ 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 _surrounded_ 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 _there_, but felt an immediate call

to visit a neighboring saloon: _so did we_.

He evidently hoped to enter alone and lock us out, but when the door

opened wide enough to admit his _corpulent_ 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 _astonishing_

to him that his fair followers were _also_ there; he turned a woful

face towards the back door, but lo! _they_ were coming! the Crusade

band! The _front_ door was thrown open and in came _another_ 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 _Crusading_ 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.”

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 door

of the car, puffing with exhaustion; and just as our _hero_ drew a

breath of relief, thinking how _shrewdly_ 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---- _What_ greeted his bewildered vision? An immense crowd of

men and women--Whiskey Ring, saloonists, and temperance workers--_all

had come_ to the _prayer-meeting_. 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.

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 _wept much_, and cried aloud, “_God bless the

women!_” 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.

The whole transaction here was conducted with the _utmost_ solemnity,

and the prayers were full of spiritual power. The ludicrous aspect of

the proceeding never _occurred_ to _us until it was all over_.

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.

We visited the proprietor in a band and he was very courteous, though

unyielding. One _night_ two women “on picket duty” stood by his door.

He grew very angry and roughly _pushed_ 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.

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 _died_, 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 _for

your sakes_, and the sake of the fathers and sons you are poisoning

with alcohol!” She then gave a brief exhortation to the _unsaved_ to

come to Jesus. Thrilling prayers were offered and hymns sung, and it

seemed to the worshippers that the Shekinah itself hovered over them.

The proprietor was much affected. Several men who had ceased playing

billiards at our entrance, gave eager attention, and many eyes were

_red_ with weeping, when the little band departed.

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--_then_ and

_there I was converted. I will never doubt_ my _conversion_,” etc., and

he has ever since continued a faithful member of a Christian church.

Reported by M. E. G.

Rev. William Hunter, at that time Editor of the _Pittsburgh Christian

Advocate_, 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.

“BATTLE-HYMN OF THE WOMEN CRUSADERS.”

The light of truth is breaking,

On the mountain top it gleams,

Let it flash along the valleys,

Let it glitter on our streams,

Till all our land awakens

In its flush of golden beams,

Our God is marching on.

_Chorus_--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

Our God is marching on.

With purpose strong and steady,

In the great Jehovah’s name,

We rise to save our kindred

From a life of woe and shame,

And the jubilee of freedom

To the slaves of sin proclaim.

Our God is marching on.

_Chorus_--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.

From morning’s early watches

Till the setting of the sun,

We will never flag nor falter

In the work we have begun,

Till the forts have all surrendered,

And the victory is won.

Our God is marching on.

_Chorus_--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.

We wield no carnal weapon,

And we hurl no fiery dart,

But with words of love and reason

We are sure to win the heart,

And persuade the poor transgressor

To prefer the better part.

Our God is marching on.

_Chorus_--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.

When dawns the day of terror,

And the awful trumpet’s sound

Shall waken up the sleepers

From beneath the quaking ground,

May no blood of fallen brothers

On our startled souls be found.

Our God is marching on.

_Chorus_--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.

Our strength is in Jehovah,

And our cause is in His care,

With Almighty arms to help us

We have strength to do and dare.

While confiding in the promise

That the Lord will answer prayer.

Our God is marching on.

_Chorus_--Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! etc.

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:”

“THE COLLEGE-BELL.”

A lowly consecrated band,

Who loved the Master’s name,

With patience waited on the Lord,

Until the answer came.

_Chorus_--Many a form has bent ’neath the _storm_,

The burden of souls to tell;

Many are the hearts gladdened to-day

The burden of souls to tell;

Listening alway, for chimes that say,

Your brothers pray as well.[1]

Go forth, ye trusting ones, He said,

In faith to sing and pray,

No evil shall your steps befall,

I have prepared the way.

_Chorus_--Many a form, etc.

Dark shadows swept the wintry sky,

The tempest echoed loud;

But, oh! we know our Father’s face

Smiled on us from the cloud.

_Chorus_--Many a form, etc.

No threats disturbed, no fears oppressed,

Nor care, least man should mock;

We only heard the Shepherd’s call,

“Fear not, ye little flock.”

_Chorus_--Many a form, etc.

His love hath kept, His hand hath led,

Our footsteps day by day;

And victory soon will crown our cause

If we but watch and pray.

_Chorus_--Many a form, etc.

INCIDENTS.

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 the

streets and teach men the gospel? Tell me, woman, _I demand it_; 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, “_Where?_” 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,

_dare_ 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 approved. Committees were speedily at

work to effect its consummation.

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.

NEW PHILADELPHIA, OHIO.

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:

“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.

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.

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.

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.

The demonstrations on this occasion were similar to the one mentioned

before.

Mr. John Furney asked that no public demonstration 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.

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.

The worst cases generally yielded first.