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.