CHAPTER III.

CRUSADE IN LARGER TOWNS.

CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Mrs. Sarah K. Bolton gives the following graphic account of the

Temperance Crusade and its results in Cleveland, written for the

_Morning_:

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.

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.

Immediately pledge-books were obtained, with property-owners’,

citizens’, and dealers’ pledges.

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 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.

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.

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.

The next day, taking their lives in their hands, a large company of

women went out, and similar scenes were enacted.

In the meantime public meetings had been called in the churches, and

such throngs gathered that they could not find standing room.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 and earnestness

brought tears to eyes unused to weeping.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Liquor-Dealers’ and Brewers’ Association report, 1874, 5,969

prosecutions; and in the year 1875, 4,207 prosecutions.

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 _signed_ the pledge, and gave up his business. Among

those present in the saloon, drinking and playing cards, was 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 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 _sure_ 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.

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.

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.

River street is a changed locality. The saloons have less custom, and

the presence of the praying women is heartily welcomed.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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 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.

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 _is

union_ 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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

God keeps the record and a grand record it is.

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.

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.

A new generation trained in the belief that the use of intoxicants

is a _sin_, will change most effectually the 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.

MILLERSBURG, OHIO.

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.

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 _ten_ saloons, and three drug stores,

comprised the number of places demanding attention.

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 middle of April, by which

time all the saloons but four were closed.

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.

WORK IN ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

Mrs. J. T. Ohe, in the _Morning_, 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.

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.

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 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, _not one case

of_ drunkenness on the streets was noticed, nor any arrests. If only

the men of the place had stood firmly to _their work_, 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

_gallantly_.

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.

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

cause visibly triumphed, and the irate madam departed breathing

threatenings. The whole scene in the court was “one for a painting.”

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.”

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.”

PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

We have gathered the following facts from the Painesville papers

published at the time:

Pursuant to a call for a “Temperance Mass-Meeting,” the large

audience-room of the Congregational Church was filled to overflowing.

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.

Rev. T. R. Peters offered prayer, and was followed by able speakers.

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.

The ladies enlisted for the war, and are still engaged in active

service.

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.

The first, led by Mrs. Hitchcock, was received, and held a good meeting

among the crowd of billiard players.

The second, led by Mrs. Curtis, not gaining admission, held a meeting

on the sidewalk.

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.

But the songs and prayers were exultant, triumphant, and the appeals to

the bartender very feeling and earnest.

Their songs were heard a square away. Friends came and released them,

after having one of the best meetings they ever held.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 _never_ 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.

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.

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 _one barrel of beer_ was

worth more to him in his business than _ten barrels of flour_ 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.

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.

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.”

This reminds us of an incident that occurred in Columbus.

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 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.”

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.

ASHLAND, OHIO.

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.

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 _respectable_

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 visiting his saloon,) asking him to

discontinue the traffic. When he signed, all the rest were ready to

sign also.

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.

BELLEVUE, OHIO.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

After two calls he sent word that he had concluded to throw away his

liquors, which he did.

BUCYRUS, OHIO.

The account of the work at Bucyrus is, in its detail of events, almost

verbally copied from the weekly narrative in the _Bucyrus Journal_. 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.

Bucyrus, a town of four thousand inhabitants, is situated in the

northern part of Ohio, on the Pittsburgh, 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.

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

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:

“_Resolved_, 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.”

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.

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’ 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.

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 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.

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:

“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.”

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, 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:

“It seemed as if each of us sensibly realized that God was supporting

us, and sending His Holy Spirit to comfort and sustain us.”

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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 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 _how_, as well as understand

_why_, 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.

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.

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 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:

WOMEN’S PROCLAMATION.

“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, _saying_, 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.

“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.

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts, chap. v., v. 29.

TO THE PUBLIC.

“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 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.

“EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

“In behalf of the ladies engaged in the Temperance movement, Bucyrus,

Ohio, March 27th, 1874.”

* * * * *

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.

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. 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.

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.

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

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.

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 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 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.

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

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

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 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, sworn

to preserve order, was exceedingly abominable.

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

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.

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 _Journal_ 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 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.

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 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.

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, 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.

Shaw complained to the mayor, and the following indictment was

preferred against Mrs. Trimble, one of the ladies:

AFFIDAVIT.

THE STATE OF OHIO, Crawford County, _ss_.

Incorporated Village of Bucyrus.

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 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.

W. R. SHAW.

Sworn to before me, and subscribed in my presence by William R. Shaw,

this 1st day of June, 1874.

J. M. VAN VOORHIS. [Seal.]

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.)

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.

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 ladies so terribly, signed

the pledge during the Murphy movement, and has since that time been a

new man.

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.

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.

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.

ELYRIA, OHIO.

The following facts were furnished by the Society, through Mrs. S. C.

Ely:

The great temperance wave that swept over Ohio reached Elyria, on the

evening of March 5th, 1874. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

At the opening of the Crusade there were sixteen saloons, one brewery,

and four drug stores where 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.

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.”

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.

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 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.

The opposing forces were now fairly met, and their strength vaguely

measured.

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.

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.

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,” And often from fevered lips a murmured “God bless

you!” gave a fresh impulse to effort.

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.

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!”

Yet other victories were gained, until eight saloons had closed their

doors.

In the meantime, no stone was left unturned in the great struggle.

Campaigns, flank movements, military 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.

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.

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 _you_ are

all emperors, while _our_ part in this great government is simple

obedience. Now there is one right we women _must_ 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.”

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.

At this period our membership amounted to 209; 114 calls had been made,

and 519 signatures to the pledge had been secured.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The Elyria _Republican_, 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 their employés entering a

saloon, was the result of the temperance agitation of northern Ohio.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.”

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.

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.

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.

ATHENS, OHIO.

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 read,

speaking of the work there, and urging the women of Athens to attempt a

similar one here.

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?”

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.”

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.

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. Ah!

then there was sinking of heart, and shrinking and trembling.

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 _strange_ 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:

“A charge to keep I have,

A God to glorify.”

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.”

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.”

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 promise not to sell, and a fourth had closed his saloon.

These two names were afterwards placed upon the pledge.

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

_another_ dealer signed. No name was obtained from _this_ 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.