CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
Early in March, 1874, it was announced that the city council had
determined to repeal the law requiring saloon-keepers to close their
doors on the Sabbath day. Petitions against the repeal of the law were
extensively circulated, and the moral sentiment of the city thoroughly
aroused.
A meeting was called for the next Monday afternoon, March 16th, at
Clark Street M. E. Church. The house was packed to its utmost capacity,
the front seats in the gallery being filled with saloon-keepers. Many
ministers were on the platform. Mrs. Wirts called the meeting to
order, and Mrs. Rev. Moses Smith was elected chairman. There was deep
interest. One present says: “The intensity of feeling was something to
be felt, but can never be described.” During the devotional exercises
every Christian heart realized that the Holy Spirit was present.
The first business of the meeting was the appointment of a committee of
fifty to present the petition to the common council. Mrs. Rev. Moses
Smith and fifty others were designated to visit the council chamber.
Mrs. Smith gives the following particulars of this visit:
“About seven o’clock, when the streets were comparatively quiet, we
formed in procession and marched silently to the council chamber. On
reaching the hall, the door was found locked, and guarded by a drunken
janitor, armed with a revolver and dirk. Rev. Arthur Mitchell, D. D.,
and Rev. Arthur Edwards, D. D., who had greatly aided in the afternoon
meeting, came to our aid, and succeeded in getting the door unlocked,
and with their own hands lighted the gas. As many of the ladies as
could be seated passed in to await the coming of the council, while the
others returned to the church.
“At eight o’clock the council came to order, and the clerk announced
the first business on the docket to be the final vote on the repeal
of the Sunday law. Then ensued a struggle: the more reckless were
determined to repeal the law before the ladies’ petitions could be
presented; others, even of the rum party, with an eye to future
elections, favored making the listening to the petition the first
business in order. After a long discussion, the motion prevailed to
listen to the petition.
“In the meantime a mob had gathered around the building, pressing
through the long corridors even into the council chamber. There was
hooting and yelling, and throwing of bricks, and threats from some of
the more desperate.”
After the presentation of the petition, Mrs. Moses Smith was permitted
to address the council. She said: “_Gentlemen of the Common Council_:
We came not here to address you. We desire not to take one moment
of your time. We come with a petition bearing the names of 16,000
women, and we feel that we represent the women of the city, and that
we represent the cause of righteousness and of God; and we feel,
too, that we are the power behind the throne, which may be felt at
another election, though it was not at the last. We only entreat you
in the name of our Father in heaven, and as you have the personal
responsibility before you, not to open the saloons to our young men and
to our children on God’s day.”
Mrs. Smith was escorted from the building by Dr. Mitchell, preceded by
an armed policeman.
She says: “The moment I stepped out of the room an infuriated yell went
up that fairly shook the building.” Saloon-keepers had offered free
rum to all who would join the mob. Although several thousand of the
most desperate men in the city were gathered in that surging, hissing
crowd, the ladies passed through and returned to the church without any
serious injury. Regardless of the petition, the law was repealed, but
the mob had done more for the cause of temperance than the granting of
the petition could have done.
We give the following detailed account from the _Chicago Times_, of
March 17th:
“It was well the ladies proceeded at an early hour to the council
chamber, though this precaution entailed upon them nearly three hours’
wait. As soon as they had been admitted, the rabble began to gather
on the outside, blocking up all the avenues of approach. Adams street
was crowded by, perhaps, the most ruffianly crowd ever gathered
in the city--a crowd in duty bound to insult everybody bearing the
semblance of a lady. It had been gathered from the saloons and slums
of the city to give the bummer aldermen a moral support. The leaders
had sent out the command: ‘Rally your forces; we must counteract the
influence of the women.’ Accordingly, every saloon had stood treat to
all the dead-beats who would ordinarily be ordered out of the place, on
condition that they would make ‘Rome howl!’ about the city hall. The
move was a complete success, and a more unmannerly and disgraceful mob
never outraged propriety and threatened the peace of the city. As soon
as the council chamber was filled, the corridors were crowded with a
filth-reeking crowd. The doors were slammed in their faces, and then
a howl of indignation arose, that made the old rookery shake from its
foundations to the skylights. As often as a vote resulted in favor of
the bummers, the news was conveyed to the mob, and the most unearthly
yells would be sent up, reverberating through the council chamber to
the stopping of all business.
“The air within was stifling, and frequently ladies would beg escorts
from Captain Buckley to seek the open air. Such requests were always
granted, but it was almost as much as their lives were worth for the
ladies to work their way through the mob. As soon as the doors opened
to pass them, the crowd in the corridors, getting sight of a bonnet,
would break out in cheers, yells, hoots, groans, and cat-calls. This
sort of thing was kept up until the lady reached the street, and there
the cries would be taken up by the rabble outside, and the lady would
generally be accompanied by a mob of several thousand, a block or two,
all yelling like demons possessed. A number of ladies fainted during
the ordeal. These diversions were of frequent occurrence, and the
shouting and yelling were interminable during the whole time that the
ladies were in the council chamber. But the closing scene was the most
disgraceful of all.
“It was the most outrageous proceeding ever witnessed in a civilized
community. It must now be counted among the other delusions dispelled
in this age, that men, no matter in what position in life, entertain
a natural regard for the fair sex. The mob on last evening completely
refuted this flattering unction. Savages would have shown more respect
to captive Amazons. When the vote on the whiskey ordinance was declared
carried, the ladies rose to depart. A posse of police then proceeded
to break a way through the crowd. Having succeeded in this difficult
task, the ladies filed out of the hall between two rows of officers. On
either side stood a glaring mob--a shouting, a groaning, a hooting, a
demoniac mob. The most obscene phrases were bandied about; the foulest
epithets were applied. Women passing along the corridors through this
lane of filth, hid their faces in their hands; dropped their veils;
shrank within themselves; hurried forward on the run; stopped sometimes
as if ready to sink, but gathering renewed strength, started forward
again, pressed by the ladies behind them, all eager to reach the open
air.
“But when the open air was gained, the situation in nowise improved.
Egress was had by the door in the rear leading to the alley next to
the Grand Pacific. Thousands were crammed into this space--a howling
menagerie. The police cleared the sidewalk, but the crowd lined the
verge, and poured a volley of blasphemy and obscenity at the procession
of ladies. When La Salle street was reached, other thousands were
awaiting their approach, and these howled even louder than those who
greeted them in the alley. The noise was positively hideous, and this
hooting, yelling, blasphemous mob, of five thousand roughs, the very
offscourings of the saloons, flanked and followed them clear to the
door of the church. Jostling them on the way; spitting tobacco juice on
their dresses; pulling at their chignons; in some cases tripping them
up; knocking off the hats of their escorts,--brothers, husbands, or
sons,--giving the latter kicks, cuffs, and digs in the ribs; and all
the while the hooting, yelling, howling continued, and not infrequently
members of the procession would sink to the ground, swooning from very
fright.
“It was a terrible ordeal these ladies were compelled to pass. It
is safe to say that never before, in this country, did an equally
respectable body of ladies receive such brutal treatment. The rage of
the mob following the cart of Marie Antoinette to the guillotine was
not more demoniac, and probably far more courteous. For much of this,
that low-bred demagogue--Hesing’s henchman--Jack Rehm, superintendent
of police, is responsible. The ladies called on him for protection,
and he refused it; the mob ruled in the very head-quarters of the
police. This bummer, with the star of the chief, was in league with the
rabble; he was a party to the plot to congregate all the scum of the
city hall; no pretence at order made on the outside; the police, as
they say in Paris, ‘fraternized’ with the mob; they knew which side the
powers that be were on.”
So far from intimidating the women of Chicago, it made them a thousand
times more determined. Perhaps many of them were not aware, up to that
time, of the hideousness of the rum power, and the degradation and
vileness of its votaries. Their eyes are opened. They see they have a
giant to fight, and yet it is not for them to fight; this wonderful
movement is _all of God, in answer to prayer_. Millions of prayers
are going up to God, and a wonderful spiritual influence in answer to
these prayers is being poured out upon the people of all lands. The
temperance question is on the crest of this wonderful tidal wave.
The _Chicago Tribune_ and _Northwestern Christian Advocate_ give
substantially the same account, and unite to deplore and condemn the
affair as a disgraceful outrage on decency and propriety.
ORIGIN OF CHICAGO DAILY TEMPERANCE PRAYER-MEETING.
After the visit to the mayor, rejection of petition, mob procession,
etc., the temperance women of Chicago did not lose heart. They
maintained a daily prayer-meeting in the lecture-room of Clark Street
M. E. Church, at which numbers of drinking men signed the pledge,
and sought “the Lord behind the pledge,” as one of them expressed it.
During the frightful heat of that summer, the attendance fell off
sometimes. Mrs. O. B. Wilson, the President, a plethoric lady, in
feeble health, and past the prime of life, would ride miles in the
street cars, from her home on one of the south side avenues, to the
place of meeting in the Y. M. C. A. building, meeting there but one
other lady, and she from a distance equally great on the north side of
the city. At last, for a few weeks, the meeting was relinquished. When
Miss Frances E. Willard, who had just entered the temperance work, and
been made President of the Chicago Union, returned from old Orchard
Beach, with the fresh enthusiasm and faith stimulated by that meeting,
she, with Mrs. Louise S. Rounds, her special friend and coadjutor,
proposed the re-establishment of the daily gospel meeting. They laid
their plans before the ladies at the regular meeting, and advocated
giving more publicity to the effort, and especially the effort to
secure attendance of the drinking, swearing, “elbow heathen” of the
streets. They proposed circulating a little hand-bill of invitation,
putting out a sign with “Everybody welcome! Come and sign the pledge!”
and also placing notices in the daily papers. The debate was long and
animated. Some of the ladies said, “You’ve seen how difficult, almost
impossible it is to sustain any sort of a meeting. A failure will
be disastrous, and we cannot hope to succeed.” Others said to Miss
Willard, who gave all her time to the office, “You’ll have to conduct
the meeting all alone; and though profitable to you, it will not
fulfil what you are aiming at, for if nobody comes, you surely cannot
reach the masses.” But at last, by a small majority, the proposition
carried.
Miss Willard, in the simplicity of her heart, went to Miss Cushing,
Librarian of the Y. M. C. A., and obtained her promise that if the
prediction came true, and she found herself absolutely without any one
to kneel beside her in prayer, Miss Cushing might be called upon to
help her “keep up the meeting.”
But this exigency never arose. The first day seven were present, the
majority of them drinking men. Rapidly the numbers increased, until
the office, which, by packing, would hold forty, was crowded, and the
doorway and hall. Then the Y. M. C. A. gave the use of lower Farwell
Hall (where their noon meeting is held) and the attendance grew until
two, three, and four hundred would convene at three P. M. daily.
Humanly speaking, the elements of success were: Dauntless
determination; thorough advertising of meeting and persistently keeping
it before the public--large placards of welcome, hand-bills circulated
on the streets, notices of the press; accounts of the occurrences at
the meeting, as well as mere announcement; having it _accessible_--in
heart of city, _down-stairs_, level of street, good lively music and
excellent instrumental accompaniment; regularly-appointed leaders (the
week beforehand, so they could prepare), going into reading-room of Y.
M. C. A., and daily inviting the loungers there, with utmost kindness,
to attend.
Mrs. L. S. Rounds, Corresponding Secretary, gives the following
account of the work during the last year:
“Since the 1st of October, 1876, I have had charge of the work. We have
a membership of about seventy-five. Our daily temperance prayer-meeting
is _the_ feature of our work. Held in the very centre of the city, we
have had, since the above date, an average daily attendance through the
winter of two hundred and fifty, and during these past summer weeks an
average attendance daily of eighty-five to one hundred.
“These meetings are held from three to four each day, Sundays
excepted--always led by some lady, excepting a few weeks during the
winter, when the meetings were led by Brother Sawyer, Mr. Moody’s
co-laborer.
“The influence going out from these meetings is felt in all the
surrounding States, and letters come to us nearly every day from
persons who have been helped by them. At the close of each meeting the
pledge is presented.
“Besides this daily meeting, we have weekly meetings under our
auspices, at the following points:
“_Bethel Home_, where a meeting has been sustained about three years.
There a _mighty_ work has been done: _thousands_ passing through the
Home have been in our meetings, possibly, only once--others several
times, and the seed thus sown has fallen upon many a poor, weary heart.
The Superintendent of the Home says that about twenty thousand persons
pass through the Home yearly. The larger portion of these come into our
meetings. They are poor wanderers, going up and down in the world,
seeking work, rest, and homes. The most of them are drinking men. It is
one of the most promising points of our work, and _thousands_ of these
poor outcasts have signed the pledge here and begun a better life.
“_Burr Mission_ is also a grand field for labor--a hard one, but all
the more blessed, because of the joy it gives of seeing the cross of
Christ win its way in the worst of places. Earnest Christian women have
stood firm at their post here, and God has blessed them wonderfully.
Hundreds have signed the pledge. Much house to house visiting is being
done here, with blessed results.
“_Twenty-fifth street and Portland avenue_ is another point where we
have planted our temperance work. Here we have much help from Christian
men and women living in the neighborhood.
“_At 221 West Madison street_ we have another point of work. This
meeting has only been in progress a few months, and yet the interest is
remarkable, and much good is being done. Many Christians attend this
meeting, held every Monday night.
“And last, but by no means least, we have a new point of work in the
extreme south part of the city, in the midst of a drinking class of
people, called--
“_Our Forty-seventh Street Work._ A gospel temperance meeting was
started here about six weeks ago, a hall secured, and meetings held
_twice_ every week. The entire neighborhood seems aroused. Some
opposition was met with at first, but the whiskey men are finding out
that we have come to stay. A noble Christian man, under the direction
of our Union, has charge of the work, and we send speakers and watch
its interests. At _every_ meeting large numbers sign the pledge. The
work here promises grand things.
SUMMARY OF WORK.
“The Chicago Union holds, _every week, twelve_ gospel temperance
meetings. At all of these, the pledge is presented, and the Saviour
offered as the Physician for sin-sick souls. At all of these meetings
an opportunity is given for any one to present requests for prayers
either for himself or for friends, and also to give testimony as to
what the Lord is doing for him.
“No reformed man is allowed to take part in our meetings who ignores
Christ’s power to save, or scorns His help, no matter how good a
_temperance_ man he may be. _We never run in debt._ It is an understood
rule that we shall _never_ go beyond the means in hand. Clinging to
this, we found ourselves one day with only forty-five cents in the
treasury, but all bills were paid, and before others came in the Lord
supplied our needs.
“Not _one dime_ from our treasury goes to relief work. In a great
city like this, constantly running the risk of being imposed on by
untruthful and indolent people, we saw the wisdom of adopting this
rule, and have adhered to it strictly. We find that those we help
the least, _materially_, do the best for _themselves_, and this is a
fact worthy of consideration. Much of the so-called _charity_ of the
world is but adding fuel to the fire which is burning out our social
life. Every man ought to be taught that he must depend upon _God_ and
_himself_.
“Our temperance women cannot learn the lesson too soon, that there
is _no end_ to the long procession who care more for the bread that
perisheth, than for that of eternal life.
“Our objective point is the uplifting of _public sentiment_. Pulling
drunkards out of the gutter is good work, but to keep them from getting
in is better. Our hope is in the children. To this end the juvenile
work interests us much. In nearly all the evangelical Sunday-schools of
the city, we have introduced a review lesson on Temperance, prepared
by Miss Kimball, the chairman of that department. It has proved _very
acceptable_; and Sunday-schools out in the towns and villages in the
State have sent to us for it.
“God give us the children for Christ and temperance, is our cry; and we
hear Him say, ‘According to your _faith_ be it done unto you.’
“To-day, at the close of this hot August month, with the fall and
winter work close upon us, our Chicago Union stands bravely at the
front, where, thank God, she has _always_ stood.
“To recapitulate:
“We hold _twelve gospel temperance meetings every_ week, counting in
our six _daily_ meetings, the attendance of which yesterday was 120,
averaging daily from 80 to 100! Our regular _business_ meeting every
week. During the past _eleven_ months (first three of which is in the
last report), between 1,500 and 1,600 have signed the pledge; and we
feel safe in saying that there have been from _three_ to _five hundred
conversions_. May God continue to bless the temperance cause, and to
Him be all the glory.”
JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.
After an all-day prayer-meeting, the women were invited to meet and
organize, which they did on March 16th, 1874, enrolling at the first
meeting 200 names, as workers. They caused to be placed on record,
the following solemn statement: “We now buckled on the armor, and go
forward; there is no retreat, no failure; we do not expect to lay down
our armor until life’s work is done. Our motto is, Jehovah nisi: the
Lord my banner; and with this unfurled, floating in the air--which is
wafted from the heavens above us--we go forth to conquer for Him who
gave His life for us.”
A pledge was drawn up, and circulated among the druggists, to which
most of them signed their names. Committees were appointed to visit the
owners of the buildings where saloons were kept, hoping, as nearly all
were church members, they would be convinced of the wrong they were
doing. Total abstinence pledges were circulated throughout the city,
and over two thousand names were enrolled on the pledge-books.
One day, a member of the Union, seeing a man come out of a saloon,
said, with a kind look, “My friend, you do not frequent the saloon
at such a time as this?” He answered, “I have done so.” After some
conversation, they separated; he went home and related the circumstance
to his wife, and expressed a willingness to sign the pledge. The wife
found out the name of the lady, visited her and urged her to present
the pledge to her husband, which she did. The man wrote his name to the
pledge, declaring solemnly that he would never break it; and has kept
it faithfully, and taken a stand on the Lord’s side, and united with
one of the churches.
A man came into the meeting one day, who seemed very much affected and
interested. He said he lived eight miles from the town, was in the
habit of drinking, and had been for thirty years; as he was coming into
town, his wife wished him to attend the meeting where they prayed for
those who wanted to be free from the bondage of drink, so instead of
going to the saloon, he went to the prayer-meeting.
Not long afterwards, while the women were praying before a saloon, a
wagon stopped, and the occupants desired to see some of the women; it
was the man just mentioned, with his family. They all wanted to sign
the pledge; the shadow had been lifted, they had now a happy home, the
man had reformed.
Mrs. L. H. Washington, who was the President of the Union at that time,
says:
“We met daily, asking our Father to lead us, and use us against the
evil, which threatened all that was precious In life. We did this,
however, in the beginning, without any expectation of going into the
saloons. For myself, I had an abhorrence of drinking-places, from which
happily my father, brothers and husband, had kept aloof.”
After two weeks of dally meetings, we began to visit the saloons.
Our band, which commenced with five, soon numbered seventy-five. We
were almost invariably treated with respect, not that the saloonists
were glad of our company, but they knew that their only hope of
maintaining their position and business was in appearing as much like
gentlemen as they knew how.
There were some exceptions to courteous treatment, generally from
those under the influence of liquor. One saloon-keeper, who was much
intoxicated, seized a gun, and aimed it at the women, but it was
wrested from him, by his patrons. When sober he always invited us
in, (we did not enter without permission,) and frequently followed
to other saloons with apparent interest. Another saloon-keeper, also
intoxicated, said: “What do you bring your Jesus here for? take Him to
the church, and crucify Him there. You are working for money, any way.”
We immediately acknowledged that we had received nearly a thousand
dollars to open a pleasant free reading-room, where all were invited,
and we wanted all who worked for money to take good care of it, and
make their homes pleasant, and their wives and children happy, and we
urged all to come and partake of the “water of life freely, without
money, and without price.”
One of the most deeply solemn prayer-meetings I ever attended, was held
in a saloon, by appointment, and with the consent of the proprietor.
Intelligence and wealth, ignorance and poverty, were represented in the
band. Anguished hearts were laid bare; wrongs and solicitudes which had
been carefully covered over for years, awakened ready sympathy, and
all clasped hands against a common foe.
Saloon patronage was greatly reduced; many unaccustomed to attend
church, on invitation came, and some were gathered into the fold.
It was almost the universal opinion, that with the burning eye of
public sentiment turned upon the liquor traffic, it must go down.
The saloonists were evidently trembling, not so much at the power of
God whom they did not fear, as at the power of the earthly counsel,
from whom they bought silence and favor, by paying $500 per annum. So
insecure did they feel, and so low had their patronage been reduced,
that they did not replenish their stock.
One liquor agent, who, when he visited the city, usually sold from
$1,500 to $2,500 worth of liquors to the drug stores and saloons,
stated, that he could not sell one dollar’s worth. We afterwards
learned that he came into our daily meeting to see what the women were
doing, to so interfere with his business.
I was riding in the cars one night. We reached the city of Peoria about
midnight. This city is noted for its whiskey making, and a man entered,
and engaged in conversation with a passenger, from which I learned,
they were both engaged in the liquor business.
“Times are dull, dull,” was the salutation that passed between them. A
pocket flask was produced, and the quality of its contents tested with
evident relish.
“Doesn’t it beat the devil? You can’t sell whiskey in these days.” (I
thought myself, that the devil was badly beaten.)
“Where have you been this round?”
Several places were indicated.
“Did you stop at Jacksonville?”
“Yes, but they’ve got a Crusade and a revival, too, and there’s no use
to try to sell there.”
“Things look rather dark.”
“I think they do: Why, there are 30,000 barrels of whiskey in the
bonded warehouses of Peoria, to-day, and no sale to speak of. B----’s
distillery must shut down, if times don’t brighten. Why if this thing
keeps on three months longer, every whiskey man in the country will be
busted.”
Alas! that the adversary of souls should have so many allies, and one
so powerful in the love of money.
In our city, many who commended crusading, and were loud in their
praises, and hoped the women would not give up, when the time came for
voting, failed to back their praises with their votes. “Temperance
work,” they said, “was a Christian work, a work of moral suasion, and
since men would drink, it was best and safest to make them pay for
it.” And so they bargained for the evil, which their wives prayed to
prevent, and hindered the good work.
We were cast down, but not altogether discouraged. We wept, it is true,
but had not our Master wept over Jerusalem? Jerusalem was destroyed,
but His blessed cause lives, and the light then overshadowed, is
brightening the uttermost parts of the earth.
I learn from the records that on April 9th the following petition was
prepared: “_To the Honorable, the Mayor and City Council of the City
of Jacksonville_:
“The undersigned, residents of Jacksonville, respectfully ask that no
license to retail intoxicating drinks shall be granted by the city of
Jacksonville. To you who have full power to grant or deny our prayer we
appeal as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, to aid in preventing a
traffic that causes evil, and only evil, and by which our sex and young
children are the greatest sufferers.”
This petition was circulated, and the names of 1,650 women annexed,
and presented to the council at their first meeting by a committee
appointed by the Union. This petition was placed, by vote of said
council, in the hands of the chairman of the committee on ordinances,
where it slept, with naught to disturb its repose, until its
resurrection by the Union a year afterwards. It is now nicely rolled
up and occupies a place with the records kept by the Secretary of the
temperance society.
And yet, with all these discouragements, the Secretary, Mrs. E. J.
Bancroft, records the purpose of the society in the following tender
words:
“Let us, members of the Union, keep heart to heart, having charity
among ourselves as to ways and means of doing good. Work and wait,
looking to Him who gave the cause into our hands--the burden into our
hearts.”
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.
I am indebted to Mrs. S. M. I. Henry, Corresponding Secretary, for the
following facts:
The city of Rockford, Illinois, on the Rock river, has had rather a
remarkable history. About twenty years ago its numerous Christian
counsellors set themselves to frame a municipal law for the liquor
traffic, which, while it licensed, should at the same time prohibit;
and the government was run on this double-faced principle for a series
of years, during which manufactories multiplied, homes were built after
the most luxurious style, churches were erected until they stood one
for every thousand of her population, schools were perfected, and her
youth grew up and entered business, and reared houses of their own;
when it suddenly appeared to the women that their proud and beautiful
city had a saloon for every church, and more than matched the church in
point of influence.
Under the terrible pressure of facts, the women came together, on the
27th of March, 1874, and organized a Woman’s Temperance Union, having
but the one object, of saving the men of our city from the curse
of rum. The wife of the mayor, Mrs. Gilbert Woodruff, was made the
President of this organization, with a Vice-President from every church
in the city. Mrs. S. M. I. Henry was elected Secretary, and Mrs. H. W.
Carpenter, Treasurer.
Thoroughly organized, the Union began its work--holding public
meetings, canvassing the city with pledges and petitions, studying the
laws of the State and city, looking up the city records for facts to be
used in public and private; and, greater than any of these, imploring
the God of heaven daily for relief from the death-grip of this enemy.
The pledges were signed by a good proportion of the _temperance_
people, and a few drinkers.
The petition to the council, not to grant licenses, was signed by
2,325 women, 1,357 men, over age, and was presented to the council
by twenty-one ladies--and was _not granted_. We worked on one year,
without any apparent result--passed the anniversary, and began the
second year with nothing but faith. By very great efforts, we raised
the means to secure the services of Francis Murphy, who came to
Rockford, about the 10th of April, 1875. The people thronged to hear
him, and thus became interested in the idea and fact of reformation for
the drunkard. Some hard drinkers signed the pledge at his meetings, who
have stood true until now.
Just before Mr. Murphy came, the business men who were in sympathy with
our work organized an alliance, which is still in good, substantial
working order, and is a power in our city.
In July, 750 of our Union opened rooms for temperance gospel work,
and Mrs. Henry, the Corresponding Secretary, was placed in charge, in
which position she still remains. These rooms have become one of the
institutions of the city, and have been the scene of many thrilling
incidents in the work of individual reform. A pledge-book is kept on
the table, and about four hundred names have been enrolled, of those
who, in the midst of a downward course, have resolved to reform, and
sought the temperance rooms and called for the pledge, unsolicited by
us. Of this number more than ninety per cent. stand true.
On the 15th of October, 1875, a Reform Club was organized in the rooms,
beginning with seven members, all men rescued, by the grace of God,
through the gospel temperance work, from the lowest depths. This club
now numbers over one hundred men of like experience, many of whom have
been converted, and are humbly following Christ.
At the beginning of the second year of our Union, Mrs. John Backus
was elected President, Mrs. Woodruff being first Vice-President; and
Mrs. Starr, Recording Secretary; Mrs. S. B. Wilkins, Treasurer; the
Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Henry, being retained. These officers
were re-elected at our last annual meeting. At that meeting, the
Corresponding Secretary in making her report referred to the strange
fact, that not one of our members had been called away by death, and
that no one had ever seceded from us. But to-day, six months after,
we cannot say this: two of our dearest fellow-workers have gone up to
represent us in the court of the King.
Mrs. Mary A. Phelps, and Mrs. Gilbert Woodruff, our first
Vice-President. No one reading these two names, in this connection, can
know what it means to us. They were beloved and honored among us, and
we are left _stricken_, yet following on.
Our work is peculiarly _gospel_ work. During the years, our weekly
gospel meetings for the men, our monthly meetings for the young people,
weekly Thursday afternoon meetings of the Union, and weekly club
meetings on Friday evening for men only, are all carried on, nothing
being allowed to interfere. During the summer, afternoon meetings are
held in the public park, every Saturday, at three o’clock, conducted by
the women; and occasionally some good pastor of a city church visits
us of a Sabbath evening, with his people, to hold a gospel temperance
meeting.
We have done a great deal of saloon visiting, not crusading, and
tract work, with good results. A great deal of relief work comes
to us every winter. Last winter the charity of the churches was
distributed through our agency, and we had thirty-five families on
our list, whose comfort was the daily care of our Union all winter.
Cause of this want--_drink_. Result of the gospel temperance relief
work--reformation, and conversion in several instances.
Out of the W. T. Union of our city have grown several organizations,
all working in harmony with us, and each other, viz.: the Rockford
Temperance Alliance, the Rockford Reform Club, Spafford Lodge, I. O. G.
T., and the Temple of Honor.
We were sure, at first, that our call was of God, but to-day, looking
back over three and a half years of constant work in this cause, we
_know it_.
We praise Him for the past, and trust Him for the future.
BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.
Mrs. A. E. Sanford, of Bloomington, gives the following account of work
there:
The two months of prayer and conference preceding the work of saloon
visiting, was a season of earnest praying and patient hard work.
Saloons were visited every day, their keepers and occupants conversed
with, urged to sign the pledge, become Christians, and give up the
miserable business of selling and drinking liquors. Several gave up
the business, many signed the pledge, and much good resulted from the
loving labors of God’s loyal women.
April 20th, 1874, was a memorable day in the history of Bloomington.
The city council, in answer to the importunate entreaties of the women
to make prohibition regulations, had promised to leave the decision to
the popular vote. At an early hour the ladies convened at the First
M. E. Church, and after spending one hour in agonizing prayer, went
out in companies to the different wards, to influence, if possible,
the voters. Quiet, timid women, with calm, resolute courage, in many
of whose faces shone the peace and trust born of abiding faith in
God, took their places with hearts full of prayer, and hands full of
prohibition tickets, and in the drizzling, cold rain, fought for the
cause they loved.
Ministers, Christian men and women, and the Faculty of Wesleyan
University, all worked together tirelessly, for they thought much
depended on that day’s work. Many a voter, who had little faith in
the “no license plan,” was induced to try the experiment; many a
poor inebriate, seeing in prohibition his only hope of reform, and
many a man, who cared little for the result, was induced to vote the
prohibition ticket.
At the church the women gathered all day and prayed; lunch was served
also there; reliefs sent to those who had worked at the polls till
strength gave way. Not a word of disrespect or roughness was given to
the ladies, though they mingled with rough men, accompanying them to
the polls to see the proper tickets deposited.
When the polls closed, men and women, interested in prohibition,
gathered at the church to await “returns.” As the news came in, shouts
of praise, and songs of rejoicing mingled together; and when the
victory was declared, the grand long-metre doxology sung with quivering
lips and streaming eyes, attested how deep had been the interest, and
how profound was the thanksgiving.
But alas! how short-lived was our triumph. The council, disappointed
in the result, “dilly-dallied” about carrying the popular vote into
execution, until in June they passed the mockery of a prohibition
ordinance, making the sale of less than one gallon illegal. But even
this mockery accomplished good. Young men and boys were less frequently
found in saloons; drunken men were seen less frequently upon the
streets; and a visible improvement was manifest until fall, when even
that ordinance was repealed, and “license” became the rule. Those were
dark days for the friends of temperance.
Since 1876, nearly half the saloons which had existence here have been
closed. The Washingtonian Club has grown out of the prayers and efforts
of the Union. Every week a few sign the pledge; and steadily, though
slowly, the temperance sentiment is gaining ground and winning sympathy.
The ladies of the Union meet weekly, not in the large numbers
which characterized the Crusade days, but a few are always there,
“stretching their hands to God,” and believing that the right must
triumph in God’s good time; and so we are not discouraged, but hoping.
MOLINE, ILLINOIS.
I am indebted to Mrs. M. E. Stewart for the facts connected with the
heroic work of the women of this town:
Long before the great tidal wave of temperance had rolled over Ohio,
Indiana, and other States, there were anxious hearts in Moline. There
were sleepless nights, and agonizing prayers, and many times was the
question repeated mentally, “What, oh, what can be done to stay the
terrible curse of intemperance?” But when the glad news of what was
being done in our sister States flashed across the wires, we thanked
God, and took courage, hoping that a spark from the spreading fire
might alight in our own city. At length our desires were realized, and
on the 20th day of April, 1874, at three o’clock P. M., about twenty
women met for prayer and discussion, and, before separating, organized,
and appointed committees for various duties, drafting Constitution and
By-laws, and drawing up petitions.
The meeting was earnest and spirited, and the great burden of heart
seemed to be that the city council, manufacturers and business men,
should take a decided stand on the side of temperance, by not licensing
the sale of spirituous liquors, and by giving employment to men of
steady habits only, and by discountenancing intemperance in every form.
Our next meeting was held on the 24th of April. Forty ladies were
present. The “Woman’s Total Abstinence League,” as the Society was
called, had for its President Mrs. M. M. Hubbard, a woman of large
motherly heart, one on whose brow were lines of thought and care,
and whose hair was being silvered with age, and one whose heart was
imbued with the work. Vice-Presidents, Mrs. M. A. Gordan and Mrs. M. A.
Stephens. Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. M. E. Stewart.
After that meeting, no time was lost, but active and persistent
labor was ours. The city was divided into districts, and thoroughly
canvassed with a petition to the city council in favor of “no license,
and prohibition.” From house to house, from shop to shop, and from
manufactory to manufactory did the earnest, anxious canvassers go,
earnestly pleading with all to sign the petition “for no license.” Day
after day they walked through drenching rain, snow, sleet, wind and
storm, so that it might be completed before the election of new city
officers.
The roll contained 2,100 names and measured sixty-nine feet; and
after a meeting of solemn, earnest prayers, a committee was appointed
to carry it to the council room. It was presented to the mayor, who
listened attentively, and responded by saying, that “both he and the
council were in sympathy with our petition, and would do all they could
to grant the favor.”
The hearts of the old council had been touched, and to quiet
conscience, they had repealed the license law, and left a clean page
for the new officials.
The first vote taken on the matter was a tie, requiring the mayor’s
signature or vote to decide, which he refused to give, fearing he might
offend either party, and thus the question was left undecided, and for
two months there was no license. Meanwhile we did all in our power to
prevent action in favor of license. We held meetings for prayer, sent
articles on temperance to the newspapers, plead with the manufacturers
and capitalists, to employ only men of strict temperance principles;
plead, too, before “our wise ones, that the policy of no license was,
and always would be, the wisest political economy--a financial gain to
the commonwealth.”
Although there was no license, the liquor-selling and drinking went on,
and law was being violated, and work--hard work--and prayer was our
daily motto.
The mayor and council were frequently visited, always after earnest
prayer. Saloon-keepers were visited and appealed to in the kindest
and most tender terms to give up their occupation, and engage in some
business that might command the patronage of all. The druggists were
visited with the pledge, which was signed by each of them, but alas! we
only too well knew, that some of them did so as a mere pretence, never
intending to keep their promise.
The churches were also most thoroughly canvassed with the pledge,
and, although many responded eagerly, yet our hearts were saddened to
know that quite a number of God’s professed followers did not fully
comprehend the spirit of the great apostle, when he said, “If meat make
my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stand.”
Drunkards’ families were visited, and a kind and helping hand extended
to the poor inebriate.
Many little incidents occurred during such visits, which were worthy of
note, but I shall only mention two, giving them in the canvasser’s own
words:
“In the northern part of our city are a number of poor, unfinished and
unpainted houses, nothing of interest surrounding them. One cold, dark,
dreary day, I called at the door of one of them: my rap was answered
by a gruff voice from within, that seemed to come from some hollow
cave. The door opened, and I stood face to face, in the presence of a
man upon whose brow was stamped God’s bitter curse, ‘No drunkard shall
enter the kingdom of heaven.’ I followed him, and found that I had
entered a place of wretchedness and suffering. No fire, no furniture,
except a broken table, one or two chairs, an old stove, and a bed
of rags on the floor. Three poor children greeted me with kind and
somewhat cheerful faces, a welcome indeed, in such a place of want and
destitution.
“I told them I had come to get their father to sign the pledge, and
hoped to bring joy and comfort to them. After hearing the pledge read,
he wrote his name, exclaiming as he did so, ‘No man has more need to
sign your paper, woman, than I,’ wishing, at the same time, ‘that
intemperance could be done away with;’ then, sinking upon the floor, he
exclaimed, ‘Father, have mercy, what has drink done for me! taken my
children, my wife, my property.’
“The oldest child, a girl of fourteen, coming and throwing her arms
around my neck, inquired if I had ‘come to save her father from a
drunkard’s grave.’ ‘Would he come home once more sober?’ ‘Once more
bring joy and comfort to his home?’ Two interesting children, a girl of
eight and a boy of ten, came and took me by the hand and with trembling
voices, asked if I had ‘come to save their father.’ I inquired for
their mother. ‘She was dead four years since. She used to pray with
us, for this good time coming, when father would be kind and have a
pleasant home.’ She inquired if I ‘was the good angel, God had sent.’
The father hearing the sad, tearful voices of his children, came and
took me by the hand, and asked me to pray with him. In that dark and
dreary room, believing God would hear and answer prayer, I asked them
to repeat with me the Lord’s prayer, ‘Our Father, which art in heaven.’
“Visiting still further among the poor, I called upon a family in more
comfortable circumstances. Poverty and wretchedness had not yet stamped
their blight so plainly upon their home. Still sorrow and sadness had
found their way, and were gnawing at the hearts of its occupants. An
aged mother, a young wife, a beautiful babe; must the finger of scorn
be pointed towards them, a drunkard’s family? I told them my mission.
I had come to get their names to our petition. In bitter anguish they
told me of sorrow and suffering. How they had waited his coming in
trembling and in fear: how they had gone out in the darkness of the
night, mother and daughter, wandering among the haunts of vice to find
no comfort.
“He, upon whom they once leaned for support, was too intoxicated to
know them. In bitter anguish they had returned to their home, so cold
and desolate, to await his coming. The young wife asked if anything
could be done to save her husband from a drunkard’s grave. Inquiring if
they ever prayed for him, or those who sold him drink, I received the
answer, ‘Prayer! What good would prayer do?’ I entreated her to pray
for him, and for her enemies; told her prayer would prevail before God;
to pray for the time when this terrible monster intemperance would be
done away; for her son God had given her, that he might not follow in
the footsteps of his father. Assuring her all our labors were backed
by faith and prayer; that we would continue our prayers with hers, the
prayers of the drunkards’ wives and children, until they reached to
heaven. She threw herself at my feet, exclaiming, ‘Let me come, then,
Lord, and consecrate myself to Thee.’”
Our meetings were always characterized by a deep devotional spirit,
great zeal and earnestness in the work. Social positions, if they
differed, were for the time levelled, and denominational differences
forgotten.
Our League grew, and soon numbered ninety-three, but only a part were
willing for active service, so that the labor devolved upon the few.
The ministers joined with us heart and hand, and in sermons, hymns and
prayers, held aloft the temperance banner. By their enthusiasm they
incited the people to action, and temperance meetings became the order
of the day.
Mass-meetings were held alternately in each church. A Union Temperance
Prayer-meeting was organized, and sustained for a year. A part of the
League had pledged themselves to be always there, if possible.
And those who held on were amply repaid, for their own hearts were
warmed and cheered, and often the blessed prayer-room seemed a very
Bethel. After much prayer the saloons were visited.
On June 2d, after earnest prayers, discussion, and great shrinking from
so unpleasant a duty, the picket work began; a few only volunteering
to assist in the labor. That great excitement was created by this
arrangement will be seen by the following, taken from our city paper,
the _Moline Review_:
“A STREET RIOT.--Every friend of good order in Moline must feel
disgusted with the riotous crowd that assembled at the corner of Main
and Atkinson streets on Wednesday evening, and, in defiance of law,
blockaded the streets and disturbed the peace for hours. There was
no occasion for this public disturbance; there is no excuse for it;
and the good name of the city requires that a repetition shall not be
permitted to occur.
“But in this connection some explanation of what drew the crowd
together is required. It appears that the Ladies’ Temperance League
deputed two of their number to obtain and record the names of all
persons who enter Shroeder’s saloon, which is located on the corner
of the streets already named. Early in the morning the ladies began
the duty assigned them, and remained at their post until noon without
any notable occurrence. In the afternoon kegs of beer were placed in
the middle of the street, and freely drank by a small crowd of men.
This continued until six o’clock in the evening, the crowd constantly
swelling in numbers. By eight o’clock the crowd had grown from a
score to hundreds. A wagon was placed in the middle of the street and
beer flowed freely. The crowd was ordered by the mayor in person to
disperse, but it refused to do so. By nine o’clock from 300 to 500
men, women, and children had congregated. Shouts, jeers, speeches,
and profanity were indulged in. Challenges were boldly shouted for
the friends of temperance to defend their views by arguments; common
decency was outraged, religion mocked, and the name of the Deity loudly
proclaimed as authority for drinking. This state of affairs continued
without hindrance until eleven o’clock, when the crowd, out of sheer
exhaustion, dispersed.”
It was on the evening of the general prayer-meeting when the above
scene occurred; and, during the hour of prayer, could be heard, far
from the place, the shouts and yells of the enraged bacchanalians.
Earnest prayers went up to our Father for the poor, wretched votaries
of alcohol.
After that evening the pickets never remained on duty later than six
o’clock in the evening, as we did not deem it wise. Notwithstanding
remarks and severe criticisms, the pickets proved faithful, and with
pencil and paper took notes as the hours went by.
Many little incidents, both ludicrous and amusing, occurred whilst we
were on picket duty.
One very hot afternoon, when two were at their post, a man came driving
up like Jehu, and when near, drove clear around us, staring all the
while, as if he had never before seen two women. He then turned,
crossed over to the saloon, went in, and no doubt quenched his thirst.
He then came out, jumped in his buggy, and came back, stopping just in
front of us, when he took out a pencil and paper and began to write,
as we supposed at first, but we subsequently learned that he was
drawing our likenesses, and afterwards they were hung up in the saloon
on exhibition, and when we passed by, we could hear remarks about the
correctness of the drawings. The man himself, his manner, etc., during
the whole scene, was exceedingly ludicrous, and yet he never spoke a
word; we, meanwhile, retaining our dignity, and apparently indifferent
to it all, and yet really peeping out from under our sun-hats, we could
see the whole, and were greatly amused.
Out of the picket work grew many rumors, incorrect ideas, and many
unjust and unkind remarks. But during the whole time we were too busily
engaged to notice, or give a second thought to anything of the kind.
Our hearts were in the work; we had counted the cost; were willing to
make great sacrifices, and knew well before we began, that we should
be misunderstood and misrepresented; but we had also learned from the
words of the blessed Master, that “The servant is not above his Lord.”
There was one thing, however, for which we were not prepared. We were
not ready for the unjust remarks and criticisms of those who professed
not only strong temperance principles, but also Christianity.
However, the picket work proved effectual, and the business of one
particular saloon wasted away like the dew before the summer sun.
This saloon had been notorious for decoying our American young men
within its gilded net, and because we were anxious to save our boys, we
placed our heaviest guns near by.
Men not lost to shame, would turn away when they saw the pickets, and
young men would come to us, and ask us for the pledge, saying, they
were disgusted with the drink habit, and weary of their thraldom, and
desired to lead better lives.
It also proved a grand discipline to ourselves, for some of us, who so
greatly deplored the sin and misery of strong drink, knew but little of
its heinousness or extent, until we learned it upon picket duty.
The work was begun for two reasons: one, that we might obtain evidence
of violation of law; and the other, that our presence might deter our
American youth from entering and forming the habit of strong drink.
But a deep and lasting impression was made upon ourselves. Our souls
were sickened and saddened, and our determination deepened and
strengthened, never to abandon the cause, until our old and young
men should be saved from the soul and body destroying influence of
alcoholic stimulants.
During the picket term, we also made arrangements for a temperance
convention and celebration, which convened on the 4th of July, and
with the help of our Davenport and Rock Island sisters, proved quite a
success.
There was also a petition presented to the county guardians. Though
able and earnest, and signed by the leading ladies of Rock Island
county, the petition was refused, and license granted.
The appeal was signed and presented by the following ladies:
Mrs. M. M. Hubbard, President; Mrs. M. E. Stewart, Secretary; Mrs. J.
W. Spencer, President; Mrs. M. B. Hays, Mrs. M. R. McCalister, Mrs. T.
J. Robinson, Mrs. T. F. Abbot, Mrs. C. C. Starr, Mrs. Margaret E. Ells,
and Mrs. Helen Moffit.
In the midst of our arduous labors we did not forget that justice is
justice, and that those men whose “business was licensed by law, and
protected by law, should be of all men the most willing to be judged by
law;” and so, accordingly, in the month of May a legal committee was
appointed to “take notes of evidence of all violations of law which
came under their notice, or to their knowledge.” An attorney was also
retained, and the work assumed a definite form.
Of course such proceedings called forth a variety of remarks, such
as, “Oh! don’t use the law in your work,” and “What do these women
know?” “They cannot prove anything.” “Of course, law is made for the
lawless, and law must be enforced if men steal our money, or murder our
citizens; but this is different; and really it will agitate matters too
much, if you prosecute men for violations of the liquor law.” But we
believed our Father, a God of justice as well as an answerer of prayer,
and most wonderfully did He open the way for us, as the sequel will
show.
Our testimony often came from sources both surprising and unexpected;
and through the dust and heat we toiled on, “occasionally gaining a
word of cheer, but never failing to hear of our mistakes.”
Early in July a modified and somewhat restricted license law went into
force. Under the old law there was an unlimited flow of rum, brandy
and whiskey; but this ordinance permitted only the sale of wine and
beer. Under the old law the saloons were nominally required to close
at eleven o’clock at night, but in fact ran on undisturbed by watch or
police--rolling balls and clinking glasses--until twelve, one and two.
By the new law they were required to close at ten o’clock, and no games
of any kind were permitted to be played in the saloons. Under the old
license there was paint on the windows, and screens at the doors; by
the new ordinance, “he, the saloon-keeper, shall keep the windows in
his said bar, or place of business, free of paint or any other matter,
whereby free view of the inside of his said bar, or place of business,
through said windows, would or might be obstructed from the outside
thereof; that persons of ordinary stature, standing on such ground, can
easily see the interior of such bar or place of business, or anywhere
therein; whereby any obstruction would be made to a clear view of the
interior of said bar or place of business, from the outside thereof.”
If this was not all we could have desired, yet we felt it was a step in
the right direction.
The mayor also told us that instead of twenty saloons, there should
be licensed but eight or ten. But after the number was complete, one
unfortunate evening, when the mayor could not be there, the license
faction of the council increased the number to fifteen, which so
annoyed the opposing party that one left in disgust.
The mayor’s ordinance, however, produced an effect, one which the
saloon-keepers did not greatly enjoy; many being deterred from
entering, for fear of being seen from the outside by the passer-by; and
billiard playing being prohibited, much of the former charm was broken.
And thus we felt that God had answered prayer.
About this time, Dr. William Ross (since then deceased), an
enthusiastic lecturer, came to our city, and by his earnestness incited
the people to financial action and united effort to suppress all
illegal traffic in ardent spirits. The people responded nobly, the
result being the subscription of over $200,000, to be assessed at the
discretion of a board of managers. The board was composed of some of
our best men, who, for a time, stood firmly by their pledges.
If any one inquired what was to be gained by our lawsuits, even if we
did win, we answered, “Much, every way:” but as one definite result, we
knew that minors and inebriates who were connected with our cases could
not now find so easy access to the intoxicating bowl, and we also knew,
that some unconscious parents were suddenly brought to a knowledge of
where their minor sons spent much of their leisure and money.
The picket work continued, and the days sped on. Many weary, oh, so
weary days were ours; but One was ever with us, to comfort and sustain.
The summer months passed rapidly by, for our hearts and hands were
filled, and we scarce took note of time.
September came, and we sent our witnesses of the violation of the law
to the grand jury of Rock Island county.
Having thoroughly proved, in the meantime, that “the municipal courts
would grant small, if any, justice in cases brought to their notice by
women,” we had had overwhelming evidence of the violations of the city
law.
Three cases were brought before the city court, but each one lost. With
sadness we recall the ungentlemanly conduct of the opposing lawyer, in
his questioning one of the witnesses, a most excellent Christian woman,
who now rests from all her labors, where her heart is not saddened, or
her ear pained, by the coarse ribaldry of bacchanalian revelry.
During the trials of the cases, the same lawyer would leave the
court-room and still further excite his stimulated brain. And our
experience proved, that when the city employed its police, they were
not very much troubled at violations of the new ordinance, and our only
hope must be under the State law.
The pickets took evidence of the violation of the State law; and a
book, containing a list of names of witnesses of the violation of said
law, was sent to the foreman of the grand jury, who refused to lay
the cases before the jury. The State’s attorney then sent word to the
President of the League that she or other members of the society must
present the cases themselves. Accordingly, the President and legal
committee attended court, and presented our cases, during which time,
other members met for prayer and supplication to the God of justice,
that we all might be constantly led by the Spirit.
Some of the members of the grand jury were liquor-dealers and drinkers,
yet such was the character of the testimony laid before them, that
they were compelled to bring in twenty-two indictments against the
liquor-sellers of Moline.
The cases were not reached until near the close of the term of the
Circuit Court, when five cases were tried. We were not allowed to
retain a temperance man on the jury, or one who believed the selling of
liquor to be a moral wrong.
We watched the empanelling of the jury with great anxiety. How our
hearts sank within us as we saw one after another, the friends of
temperance, dismissed from the jury! Yet we rejoiced to know that there
were staunch temperance men in the county.
Three men were summoned, two of whom were drunk, and one idiotic. The
opposing counsel fought for hours to retain such upon the jury; but
through the earnest appeals of the women, and honest efforts of our
attorneys, who were noble and staunch men, they were dismissed, and
their places filled by liquor-men who were not so fully under its
influence. And before such a jury, men whose moral perceptions were
blunted, and whose hearts were calloused, were our cases tried. But
Jehovah remembered his people. Three of the five rum-sellers were
convicted, sentenced to fine and imprisonment; one confessed, and one
was acquitted.
Several members of the League attended the trials, and were soundly
berated by the opposing attorneys for neglecting, so they said, homes
and family. So, to take that weapon out of their hands, some of the
ladies took their children, knitting, etc., with them, thus losing no
time, and yet seeing with their own eyes, and hearing with their own
ears, the injustice and wickedness of men whose hearts seemed calloused
to all that was good, pure and noble. Many lessons were also learned,
not to be forgotten.
Some of our witnesses were taken to saloons and treated by opposing
lawyers, being followed to the doors by two of our ladies, who took
cognizance of the painful fact.
The testimonies of some of the witnesses were very touching, that of
one heart-broken wife and mother bringing tears to the eyes of many.
One case was tried and gained at the next term of court; sentence, fine
and imprisonment. The next on the docket was that of a saloon-keeper
who had just lost his wife, and, being left with a large family, his
case was postponed until the next court, but, through the sympathies of
our women in his behalf, was ultimately dropped.
The trying of our cases revealed many things relative to the liquor
traffic which before were unknown to us, and thus our experience was
enlarged, and lasting impressions made upon our hearts, and we said,
“We will never give up the ship,” but will labor on to raise the fallen.
Time flew on apace, and as the picket and legal work had frightened
many of our members, the League was greatly diminished in numbers, and
the hard labor was all performed by a few, who were most wonderfully
sustained by a loving Father, through faith and prayer.
Death entered our circle, and one whom we dearly loved passed over to
her rest. Sickness and removals at last compelled us to suspend for a
time, and ten long months passed by before we resumed our meetings. In
the meantime, another mayor came into authority, and the screens were
again placed at the doors, and paint upon the windows of the saloons;
the billiard tables were returned; all law, both city and State,
violated, and yet no one to interfere.
But we, a little band of women, still meet to plead with God in prayer
for a better day. And we believe it will come, for Jehovah, the God of
Israel, is ever on the side of right!
Our little band has been made auxiliary to the State and National
Union, and our name changed to “Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.”
We are watching, waiting, praying
For a brighter day to dawn,
When our watchword shall be Freedom!
Freedom, of Jehovah born.
When our loved and proud republic--
Land for which our fathers died--
Soil made sacred by the struggle
They encountered side by side:
When this land, o’er which our banner,
Symbol of the free and brave,
Floats aloft in all its glory,
Shall no longer know a slave!
Oh, thou mighty God of nations,
We would stretch our hands to thee;
Hear our prayer for deliverance;
Come, oh, come, and set us free!
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Crusade work was carried on with more or less success, in addition
to the towns already named, in Springfield, Galesburg, Dickson, Joliet,
Pontiac, Matamora, Oswego, Farmer City, Yorkville, and Sparta. The
good work has gone on in Illinois. There are now fifty-four Woman’s
Temperance Unions in the State, nine temperance reading-rooms, two
friendly inns, and a large number of children gathered into juvenile
organizations.
WEST VIRGINIA.