USA > Ohio > Memories of the crusade a thrilling account of the great uprising of the women of Ohio in 1873, against the liquor crime > Part 12
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" It is not my intention to enter into any argument on this subject, but only relate how the ladies con- ducted the work in New Vienna.
" I was the last to be visited on the first day of their going out. After repeating their visits for many days they came to the great end for which they were working. I never believed they could work it as they did. It would take a hard-hearted man in- deed to withstand the pleadings of the mothers in their beautiful prayers. I began to feel, several days before my surrender, that I was wrong. I did not even consult my legal advisors, as they said I should, and I thank God I did not. I endeavored in various ways to convince the sisters they were wrong, and argued with them, to get the best of them. But when they came to me with tears in their eyes, and told of the little ones suffering for the dimes I was taking in, I could not resist, and I began to reflect upon the wrong I was doing. Upon all this came word from Cincinnati wholsale liquor men, 'Can you hold out a year, if we will furnish you all the liquor you can sell in a year.' As much as to say, if I would do the dirty work, they would stand back and laugh under cover. All the other dealers in the place had signed the pledge. I was the only one left, and I began to feel that I was almost the worst man in the universe, with my hand not only against my fellow men, but against God. For four weeks I withstood their pleadings. This day a week ago I told the sisters I would give them my answer at such a time. Before the time arrived I made up my mind to sur- render. Would I send my stock back to Cincinnati? No, that would be wrong. At one o'clock the bell rang for the people to come together. At 2 o'clock those ladies came down the street in funeral file, (most appropriate description of the Crusade March.) They marched up in front of my place and prayed God to help me. It seemed as if the prayer would never cease going up. I rushed to the door and said, ' Ladies, I have determined to quit, I want no more proof of your sincerity,' (loud app'ause.) I called on Brother Witter and Brother Hill, two ministers of the place, and told them I had something for them to do. I said I could go to prison, but it was the
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ladies to whom I would surrender. I then asked the ministers to please carry out the whisky. They were terribly willing, and out it went. I gathered up that same ax that I had threatened the women with, and drove it as near through those barrels as I could, and out ran the whisky. Such a shout as went up I never heard before, and never will again till I stand before God. The tears ran down their cheeks like a fountain stream, and so it ended."
Mr. Nichols then introduced Dr. Dio Lewis, who said he wanted to say something against wine drinking, against "nice drinking." The most eminent men in the legal profession on the other and this continent say that nine-tenths of the crime committed comes from moderate drink- ing. Clergymen have been heard to advocate the introduction of light wines in place of whisky, gin, ale, and other liquors. One who so held, visited Europe and wrote back that he took the back track and was sorry he had ever held his former opinions.
Dr. Lewis held that those who were engaged in adulterating liquors were doing a good work for the temperance cause, and should be en- couraged.
People say, if we only had pure liquors like our grandfathers had, we should last as long as they by using them. But there is a difference between the habits of our grandfathers and our- selves which prevents it. It would be an im- mense contribution to the temperance cause if wine and liquors killed in three days. If your mothers and grandmothers had drank as we drink, the nation would have gone to ruin long ago.
In Paris, every man, woman and child over fifteen drinks wine. Lord, save us from ever reaching such practices. "I mourn," said the speaker, "that wine is kept in so many houses, ' just in case of sickness,' and that doctors will prescribe the use of liquors for the lungs. It is all poisonous."
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There are three classes of drinkers: Ist, those who get drunk habitually; 2nd, those who drink sometimes and get drunk occasionally ; and 3rd, those who drink with kid gloves on their hands.
It isn't drunkards who make recruits for the drunkards' army from among the boys. It is the man of influence in a town, educated and wealthy, whose example is followed by the young, and who drink wine. That women themselves sometimes work evil in this direction, was shown by an instance coming under the speaker's per- sonal observation. Respectable people should strive to create such a sentiment in every com- munity as will make drinking disreputable. Dr. Lewis said he conceived the idea thirty-five years ago that women could work saloons and liquor-selling out of existence. In the place where he lived, a number of lads were made drunk in a saloon. Considerable excitement was created and the women held a prayer-meeting. Eighty-four women started down to the rum-hole with a beautiful banner. They were warned not to go in and passed on to the next. The keeper said he would stop if the rest would. Four out of five signed a pledge to stop.
The women went back to the first place, prayed and sang. They went several days in succession and were met with indifference. The result was that one morning at 9 o'clock he poured his liquors into the gutter, and there has been none sold in that place since, a period of more than thirty years.
He referred to the success of the movement in several towns that had taken it up, and said Xenia would move out on to-morrow. They have a committee of four hundred, who will divide into four sub-committees and commence work. In four weeks from to-morrow, he predicted there will not be a place in Xenia where you can get a drink of liquor.
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He claimed that this was soil peculiarly adapted to the temperance plant. It has taken root and flourishes for the first time. He proposed to re- turn to Massachusetts and open the work in Worcester ; (but he did not find the New England soil adapted to this new method of warfare on the saloon. )
Mother Stewart was called upon and gave a re- sume of the work in the city for some four months previous. She had to-day invited that poor woman whose case she had taken into court four months ago, to come to the meeting to-night and see if her heart would not be cheered with hope, and she is here. Our work, however, while we have had much to encouarge, and the people are aroused as never before, has some peculiar features and many obstacles to en- counter. The number of women enlisted was not sufficiently large. More recruits were wanted for the women's army. On Monday a few ladies visited several saloons. Yesterday something like twenty and to-day seventy-five, moved out in band form. A great throng gathered in the streets, but they were perfectly respectful and orderly.
Dr. Lewis then moved that a committee of three ladies be elected to draft an address to the liquor-dealers. This was carried, and Mrs. Guy, Mrs. Foos and Mrs. Baines were made such committee, to report at a future meeting.
In a similar manner C. H. Schaffer, A. O. Huffman, T. J. Finch and Charles D. Hauk were appointed Secretaries, to prepare a list of names of ladies to be added to the committee of visitors.
While this was in progress, at the suggestion of Dr. Lewis, opportunity for two-minute speeches from persons in the audience was given, and John C. Miller ( Probate Judge ), Gen. J. W. Keifer, Rev. J. L. Bennett, Rev. J. W. Spring, Mr. L. H. Olds, Mr. A. R. Ludlow
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( since candidate on the temperance ticket for Governor, and always our staunch friend ), Rev. B. Seever, Rev. M. Dutton and Rev. Dr. Wise- man, responded to calls, causing considerable enthusiasm, and maintaining the interest to the close. A very large list of names was reported by the Secretaries, and thus closed a day in Springfield standing apart from all other days in its history as the "White Wednesday of the Great Temperance Uprising."
I copy as full a report of this memorable day from the Republic, of the 12th, as the limits of these pages will permit :
PEACEFUL REVOLUTION !
A WHITE WEDNESDAY IN SPRINGFIELD !
FEBRUARY II, 1874, A DAY LONG TO BE REMEM- BERED-THE ALL-DAY PRAYER-MEETING- MARCH OF THE WOMEN'S TEMPERANCE ARMY-EXCITING EXPERIENCES- DIO LEWIS AND VAN PELT AT THE OPERA HOUSE IN THE EVENING.
Wednesday, February 11th, will be remembered in the history of our city as the " White Wednesday."
It was the first occasion on which the people of Springfield ever spent the entire day in united prayer for the success of the temperance cause and the out- pouring of the Holy Spirit. An account of the All- Day prayer-meeting up to one o'clock, has already been printed in our columns.
At one o'clock Rev. Joseph Bennett took charge of the exercises, Mr. Peter Schindler leading the singing, assisted at the organ by Mrs. Black. The chairman read a portion of Scripture, selecting the story of the Prodigal Son, applications of which were made in various ways to the present use. Prayer was offered for the safety and recovery of the young man who came forward and expressed a desire to
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forsake a life of sin. Mr. Bennett related a remark- able instance of Divine power which transpired under his observation during his college days, in which a whole class of scoffers were overcome, one of their number becoming an able preacher of the word. At 2 o'clock Rev. Mr. Bennett was suc- ceeded by Rev. A. L. Wilkinson, the new pastor of the First Baptist Church, Mr. A. O. Huffman con- ducting the singing.
At this hour the battalion of outside workers re- formed for another advance and started out, going at once to Mr. Charles Bradley's place, on the East side of Market street. They were made the subject of prayer by the meeting, Rev. Mr. Dutton leading. Mr. Spring asked those who desired prayers to rise. Prayers were then offered by Messrs. E. C. Middle- ton, J. C. Christie and P. P. Mast. Remarks were made by Rev. Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr. Middleton reported that Beck, the last of the liquor-sellers at Washington C. H., had surrendered. At 3 o'clock Rev. Mr. Hamma took charge of the exercises. Of all the meetings he had ever attended, this, he thought, was one of the greatest. He then proposed that another of the same kind be held on Wednesday, February 18th, and the suggestion was adopted by a rising vote; and the meeting was announced to be held in the First Presbyterian Church, from 9 o'clock in the morning until 5 in the evening. At this stage of the proceedings it was apparent that the room was uncomfortably crowded, many ladies being obliged to stand in the aisles and door-ways, and it was stated that hundreds were standing outside desiring to obtain admittance. This being the fact, it was decided by a vote to repair to the audience- room above.
Within ten minutes from the time of this announce- ment, the large upper room was absolutely packed, and the same was true of the gallery.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Hamma, and Rev. Dr. Clokey addressed the audience, expressing his thanks to God for what He had already accomplished. Meanwhile, Dr. Dio Lewis, of Boston, and Mr. J. C. VanPelt, the reformed liquor-seller, of New Vienna, Ohio, had arrived and had been welcomed on the
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platform; and when Mrs. Stewart had closed an account of the work of the women during the day, Dr. Lewis was then introduced. He made a few very interesting remarks, then introduced J. C. Van Pelt, who gave an account of his experience, similar to those already reported as being given at the evening meeting.
At 4 o'clock Rev. J. W. Spring took charge of the meeting ; Mrs. Stewart called for volunteers for the saloon visitation. Perhaps a hundred women arose while the audience joined in singing, led by Mr. Huffman. Mr. McGookin thanked God that He had put it into the hearts of these women to prose- cute this work.
Mr. Spring asked those who desired prayers to rise, and Mr. VanPelt arose. Prayer was offered. We may say here that the appearance of this man on the platform affected the audience to tears, and his remarks throughout were very heartily approved and applauded. After a few more remarks by Dr. Lewis, the meeting closed.
CHAPTER X.
Second Visit to Osborn-Spread of the Work.
AYS our city reporter :
Nothing shows the importance of the great movement now in progress in the Buckeye State, or the universal interest taken in it by the people of the whole community and country, more than the efforts made by the leading journals to give full details of operations at every point.
There were present at all our meetings here yester- day, to write up matters for their respective journals, Mr. M. P. Handy, of the N. Y. Tribune ( who accompanies Dr. Lewis on his journeyings ), Mr. Chamberlain, of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mr. Brown, of the Gazette, that wicked Beadle, of the Commercial, and Mr. Stevens, of the Sandusky Register.
MEETING THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 12TH.
At 9 o'clock the auditorium of the Central M. E. Church was filled with an audience of men and women. At this meeting a committee on street-work was named, with Mrs. James Kinney as leader or Chairman of Band work, and Mrs. J. C. Miller as Secretary. There were also more gentlemen added to the Advisory Com- mittee. A very large list of ladies' names was presented to this meeting, comprising the most prominent ladies of the city. And while all did not feel called, or at least respond to the call,
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to fall into line with those who visited the saloons, yet many did, and most of those who did not find the grace or could not muster the courage to join the band work, did do very helpful work in other departments.
Our headquarters were at this time in the First Presbyterian Church. Here the Crusaders each morning met for a season of prayer and song, and then forming into one band after another, moved out, making the round of visits. It was no doubt a trying ordeal for Mr. Saloon- keeper to receive bands in measured succession, often as many as six or seven marching in. As the head of the column would step in, a song would be started ; at the close of the song the leader, or some one she would call upon, would offer a prayer, then an appropriate portion of Scripture would be read by one to whom this duty had been assigned ; the dealers' pledge would then be presented, with a few gentle words of persuasion or appeal ; another song, another prayer, and a friendly "good-bye," with a promise to call again. A deep-drawn sigh of relief, and may be some not-repeatable words would escape from Mr. Saloon-keeper's perturbed bosom, and "Now!" he would ex- claim, "for my customers; I'll have the more for this call !" But lo ! here is another band at his door, with the same salutation of song, the same ceremony of prayer, reading the Scripture, pleading, presentation of pledge, and "good- bye." "Now !- No !- here comes a third,
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a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, a seventh ! Has the whole Christian world risen up against my business? I wonder they did not long ago ! But will it never come to an end ?"
If the doors were closed, all the same, the song and the prayer, and the reading of the Word went on. While the sisters would gen- erally look upon a "lock-out" as a sort of defeat, or at least a thwarting of their purpose, I saw that instead of being a disaster, it was often an advantage, as we had so many more auditors on the street than we could have in the saloon. It excited the sympathy of the throng for the women, and their indignation against the saloon-keeper, and we obtained many more signers to the pledge; and I was often struck with the respect and reverence manifested for the Scriptures. Even after the novelty of the Crusade visitation had in a degree passed off, the reading of God's Word would fasten the attention of men who had rarely read or heard it since the old family Bible was read by father at the altar in the old home, or the thrilling stories were taught by mother as they stood by her knee. I am here reminded of an incident that occurred in our city. Sister Wirtz, being able to read German, carried her German Bible with her into a saloon one day and read a selection from it. When she had finished, a man came to her and asked where that portion of Scripture was, saying : " Certainly that message was meant for me."
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On Thursday, February 12th, after our morn- ing meeting, having been called to Osborn,- where, on the first of December I had formed the first " Women's Temperance League," as we then called our organizations, in company with Mrs. Teegarden, Mrs. Cathcart and Mrs. Baines, -I went down again to help these pioneer ladies to organize for the new method.
Our meeting at night was large, and the people were full of enthusiasm over this new way of combating the liquor fiend, and eager to see the ladies try it on the saloons of their town, thinking, as they did nearly everywhere, "we have the worst liquor-cursed community here in the whole country." The next morning, after the usual season of waiting before the Lord, we formed into line and moved out. We first visited the saloon across the square, held the usual devotions and made our appeal to the keeper, who, while he treated us civilly, mani- fested unmistakable indications of standing a siege.
Having a little matter of business of my own to attend to, I left the ladies here, telling them I would come up with them at the next place. As I came near the place where the ladies were praying, a boy met me, seeming quite alarmed, and told me that "That man where the ladies were praying was going to blow the ladies up ! he had scattered powder on his porch for the purpose." "O," I said, "I reckon not." "Oh, yes," he said, "he is drunk, and is very mad !-
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and he has a couple of dogs that he says he is going to set on the ladies." So I concluded I would do the watching while the sisters prayed. I found them kneeling on the porch in prayer, - the saloon door was locked-and I saw that powder was strewn all over the porch. The miscreant undoubtedly expected the ladies in stepping on the powder would ignite it, and thus set fire to their clothing; there had been rain, however, and the porch was sufficiently damp to prevent its igniting. I gathered up some of the powder and have it here in my cabinet-a trophy of the women's "whisky war," by the side of some minnie-balls that I dug out of a tree on Chickamauga battle-field, - trophies of that other war in the interest of human- ity. But the man did not make his appearance. The gentlemen of the town were very indignant when they heard of his cowardly attempt to set fire to the ladies. "But the dogs !" Oh, yes, they were there !- two beautiful, white "spitz," their ears put forward and wagging their tails, manifesting a great deal of good-natured interest in the pro- ceedings.
Among the incidents of the Crusade on Friday, February 13th, I notice that two bands moved out in the morning from the First Pres- byterian Church. That led by Mrs. Kinney and Mrs. Cosler made their first call at the " Bank," kept by Mrs. Johnson, who gave her promise before the ladies left that she would attend meeting that evening at the Central M.
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E. Church, which she did, and arose among those requesting prayers.
By request of the prisoners in the station- house, that place was visited. It was a solemn occasion. Several of the prisoners shed tears and expressed contrition for their wrong-doing, saying all their trouble was brought upon them through drink.
The ladies next stopped at Karl Niehaus's den, but found the door closed. "This," says the evening paper, "may be regarded as the starting point of the movement in Springfield. It was against this man Niehaus that Mrs. Saurbier four months ago obtained judgment of $300 for selling her husband liquor. Through the interest taken by the ladies in that case at the time, arose the sentiment which has resulted as we see daily." ( This poor, wretched man appealed his case to the Court of Common Pleas, but long before the case reached a decision he had been summoned to appear before a higher tribunal, and one from which there is no appeal, to answer for the deeds done in the body. ) While the women were on the outside praying in the rain and mud, those inside were making discordant music on some instrument, and finally came to the door with their beer-mugs and drank, intending to insult the ladies. "Spang" was also visited again, and found to be in a very amiable mood.
On Saturday morning, February 14th, I joined the sisters again, and found them full of enthu-
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siasm and hope. It was announced on this morning in the prayer-meeting that not a drop of whisky, as such, could be bought in Spring- field. And how we rejoiced when the news of our first surrender, by a young man in the West End, was brought in. Sister McClintoc and I sprang to the bell-rope, and with desperate effort swayed that ponderous bell up in the steeple, and with clang and reverberation sent the glad news over the city.
The good effect of our work was telling on the city. Hundreds were signing the pledge ; scores were encouraged to make the fight for their lost manhood, and once more walked among their fellows, redeemed from the curse of a debasing appetite. The business was becom- ing badly crippled and the keepers alarmed.
The men having liquor in connection with groceries found that public sentiment was getting to be so strong against the liquor that they were losing their best customers.
Undoubtedly many saloon-keepers would have surrendered if it had not been for the support they received from the manufacturers and whole- sale dealers of Cincinnati and Dayton, as well as those of our own city. A gentleman visited the city about this time and made the round of the saloons to ascertain the effect of the Crusade upon the business. The universal complaint was that their business was "nearly ruined ;" " Trade cut down one half;" "Trade cut down three-fourths;" "If this keeps on much longer
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we will have to go under." He visited the clothing and dry-goods merchants and inquired how it affected them. "Oh!" the cheerful answer came, "grandly! I am making nearly one-half more sales than before it begun !"
The baker was visited : "Oh, yes ; it makes my business better; poor fellows that used to come in and ask for a loaf of stale bread now buy the best, and more of it." The butcher : "Yes, yes ; my business is improved ; men who scarcely ever bought meat, or occasionally an inferior piece, now come in and order a roast, or a steak, as the fancy strikes them, -and pay for it, too !" Homes where only wretchedness and poverty and want had reigned were now filled with joy and gladness. How the wives and mothers wept tears of joy and praised God and blessed the Crusaders, and how the little children spatted their little hands in glee, that their father was now a sober man. The children began to wear shoes and better clothes, and to attend the day- and Sunday-Schools ; the wife, whose gar- ments had been so shabby that she was ashamed to be seen on the street, now had a decent suit in which she could go to the sanctuary. I find an item in the daily paper that is additional testimony in this line, though the date is some weeks later. In his rounds on Monday morn- ing, the reporter called at one of our largest manufacturing establishments, and looked into the foundry. The foreman remarked with pride that every "floor" was full, and pointed to
(13)
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some thirty molders, sober and hard at work, with the remark that "such a thing had never occurred before in his experience," the fact being notorious that the Monday after pay-day a number of hands are expected to be disabled from their Sunday's excesses.
Our Tuesday evening meetings were kept up still with unabated interest, always thronged with eager listeners. At these meetings every phase of the temperance question was discussed by the prominent business and professional men of the city, as well as the ministers and the ladies, often developing rare, latent, talent, especially among the ladies. The conduct and tone were strictly of a religious character, and our music con- ducted by the best musicians of the city.
There was a solemnity about the work that seemed to awe and touch all hearts. Our songs, as I had hoped, were taken up on the lips of the men and boys on the street. Men who had been accustomed in the past to sing their bacchanalian songs as they staggered home from their nightly revels, were now heard on their way from our temperance meetings singing our Crusade songs.
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