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 17
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After returning from the meeting, the weary, but happy Crusader was delightfully serenaded by the brass band.
The next morning, upon going to the church, there were those dear, bright boys and girls waiting for me, and they cheered me roundly as I stepped upon the platform. They seemed, too, to understand, or guessed where the cheers ought to come in as I talked, for they were fre- quent and hearty. This was the first children's meeting ( excepting the Sunday mass-meeting in my city, already mentioned ) in the Crusade, and from it resulted a flourishing Band of Hope that was kept up for many years, -until the superintendent's health failed.
Sometime after this as I was passing up the road, upon reaching Kenton, I threw up the window to see if any of the friends I knew might be at the train, when a lot of the dear boys I had addressed that morning gathered around, and with great enthusiasm began to tell me what they were doing in the temperance work; the girls were also circulating pledges and getting signers.
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Last fall I was called to a town to speak, and after meeting closed, a young man came and introduced himself, saying he was one of the boys I addressed that morning at Kenton, and had been a member of "Mother Stewart's Band of Hope," as it was called. He was engaged in teaching; was an intelligent and interesting appearing young man, and I learned was highly esteemed for his moral and Christian character. And again, being at our National Convention in Minneapolis last year, I met another of those Band of Hope boys, who was there filling a place of usefulness in life. Who can ever know how far the streams of blessing shall reach that started in that Kenton Children's Meeting?
After the children's meeting I met the ladies in their morning meeting, then marched with them to the saloons. At one place, as I talked to the proprietor, the tears trickled down his face as he exclaimed, "Oh, I know so much better than you do the enormity of this traffic," and he turned away to hide his emotion. He was an American, while his partner was a Ger- man and did not seem to be in the least affected by our visit or appeal. This was quite generally the difference between our native-born saloon- keepers and the foreigners. Those of the old countries had always been accustomed to their beer in their homes, at their meals, everywhere, from childhood, and it was very hard to make them see that there was any harm in drinking or selling it. Many of the native-born had gone
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into the business without thinking much about it, only that it was an easy and quick way to make money. But when visited by ladies whose standing they knew,-many of whom they knew personally, and in whose sincerity and piety they had unbounded confidence, it troubled their consciences and made them ashamed of their business. Dry-goods merchants have said, "If the ladies should visit my place of business with such songs and prayers I should conclude it was a bad business, and get out of it as quick as possible." Again, when these men heard the plaintive voice of prayer and our songs, -some of them the same that mother had sung in the old home, in the days of their childhood, -it was not so surprising that repentance and forsaking their sin followed the awakening of conscience.
After we had made our calls, the band escorted me to the depot, and sang as we waited-
" Nearer my God to Thee, - Nearer to Thee."
And as the train sped away they sang-
" Shall we gather by the river, Where bright angel feet have trod ; With its crystal tide forever, Flowing by the throne of God ; Yes, we'll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river-
Gather with the saints at the river, That flows by the throne of God."
I stood on the platform catching the last dying cadences of the song, being held by that saintly man, Dr. Waddell, who has since gone over to
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"gather with the saints by the river." When we ran into the depot at Bellefontaine, Rev. Mr. Williams sprang on, exclaiming, "Oh, Mother Stewart, I want to tell you the good news first ! J -- J- - has surrendered !" As the train stopped for dinner, I hastened off with Brother Williams to see and congratulate my friend upon his brave, manly act. I found him at his place of business, looking cheerful and happy. I spoke a few words, and away to the train for Sidney. He had gone into the morning meeting and attempted to tell his story, but overcome by emotion, dropped on his knees by Jennie Smith's couch and finished, while the tears rolled down his cheeks and fell on her hands. And there on his knees he signed the dealer's pledge. He stood bravely for a time. I remember his send- ing me the message, "I am standing fast; am not making as much money, but I sleep sounder !" I fear the friends, as in some other places, for- got to redeem their pledge to support him in his new business. Upon returning to B. sometime afterwards, I was greatly pained to learn that he had gone back to his liquor-selling. I called on him and he invited me to dinner, and I went and had a deeply interesting visit with him and his wife. When we parted he repeated over and over, "I mean to get out of the business!" and called back after me as he left, "You'll see; I will get out of it !" I am glad to say that though I did not have the pleasure of seeing him and his family on my last visit to B .- they being
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out of town-I learned that he was out of the liquor business. May the Lord save him and his with an everlasting salvation.
It is a pleasure to record here that to a kind word spoken in this man's saloon for me, by a gentleman from my city, inspiring him with confidence in my sincerity, was largely due his surrender. I am sorry I never knew the gentle- man's name, but glad to record the deed with its result, and leave the moral with the reader.
I reached Sidney too late to join the ladies on the street, but met several at tea, then addressed a crowded mass-meeting and assisted in a busi- ness meeting after the public meeting. Then a company escorted me to my stopping place and remained with me till time to take the midnight train.
I neglected to say that a committee of two ladies and a gentleman had been sent over from Marion to Bellefontaine to engage me to stop at M. as I passed through to Ashland, for Friday evening. I could not see how it could be done, but the gentleman had the faculty of talking me into his view of things. He figured the matter out, and they returned to announce and arrange for the meeting on Friday ; and I was working up to his schedule. I reached Marion about four o'clock in the morning, -a rainy, dismal morning. My friend met and drove me to his elegant and comfortable home, where I caught a little sleep ;- but up again, too ill to eat any breakfast, -and out to the nine o'clock business
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meeting, then a public meeting; organized the ladies and led them out to visit the saloons, the rain still falling. It was court week, and the town was full of people, and as we stood or knelt before the saloon crying to Heaven for deliver- ance, or sent out on the damp, murky air the wail-
' Jesus lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly,"
men stood with uncovered heads in the rain, while the tears coursed down their cheeks. One, I was told, was so overcome by the scene that he had to support himself by the lamp-post, and at length had to be led away. We disbanded at twelve, but met again at half-past one, and I stood and talked to a crowded house of men and women till time to take the train for Ash- land, -the people said two hours,-I don't know.
Again the band escorted me to the train, and at Ashland we had another large audience. The next morning early I took the train for home. I remember I was very weary, as I fancy I had a right to be by this time, and had curled up as best I could in my seat to get a little sleep, if possible, and was just opening the gates of dreamland when the sound of sweet music fell on my ear. I started up, saying, "Oh, there is a band somewhere," when I discovered it was a mother in the coach singing a lullaby to her baby, -a case of Crusade on the brain, perhaps.
The foregoing may give a glimpse of the
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excitement everywhere, and of the work that had come so strangely into my hands. I was now almost fifty-eight years old, but it seemed that my youth was renewed like the eagle's, and there was a glad buoyancy of spirit and a song in my heart, as I traveled night and day rallying the armies of the Lord and urging on the battle.
Letters of sympathy and encouragement came to me from many sources. Here is one from the sick-room :
DEAR SISTERS : How I long to be with you in this glorious war against the iniquitous liquor traffic and intemperance, but I am denied the privilege, having been confined to the house by sickness for the last fifteen years; and though I cannot give you my bodily presence, I am with you in spirit, and hope and pray that you may be successful in your good work. MRS. THOS. EDMONDSON.
The following intensely interesting letter will show that even within prison walls, and behind bolts and bars, we were watched and prayed for with deep interest.
OHIO PENITENTIARY, COLUMBUS, February 24, 1874.
Mrs. E. D. Stewart :
MADAM: God speed the movement inaugurated by the brave women of Springfield for the suppres- sion of the liquor traffic. May the tidal wave rise higher and higher and spread wider till the last drop of the intoxicating beverage is swept from our land. At the commencement of our chapel service on Sun- day morning, our dear, good Chaplain prayed most fervently for the great work, and audible responses came from earnest and sincere hearts of the hundreds of prisoners who were brought to their present con- dition by acts committed when under the influence of ardent spirits. At the prayer and experience meeting, held on Sabbath afternoon, one man said :
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" I was many years a sailor ; have been on board all kinds of vessels, from a canal-boat to an ocean steamer ; have never had command of but one vessel, and that came from the hands of its builder in perfect order, but when I came ashore I under- took to run the vessel, of which I was commander, with whisky, and that is why I am here to-day, and I thank God for it, for he has converted my soul, and through his grace I mean to be a free man for- ever."
Another said : "Brethren, you have all seen a steam engine,-how exact and regular in all its movements when built by an experienced workman, properly lubricated, and the steam power is employed. So with the human body, it comes from the plastic hand of the Great Master Builder, perfect and com- plete, and when the motive power-the heart-is lubricated with the grace of our Divine Master, it accomplishes the object for which it was made. I did not follow the teachings of my sainted mother, but in the devious ways of sin, with my machinery lubricated with vile whisky, I ran the downward road until I landed in the Ohio Penitentiary."
Of the new prisoners who come almost daily to the Chaplain's office, from the beardless youth to the hoary-headed men of advanced years, a very large proportion who answer the question, " How came you to get into trouble ?" answer, " I was under the influence of whisky when I committed the act that brought me here."
A few days ago an old man, sixty-three years of age, who had been a school teacher for forty years, under a sentence of three years for stealing a horse when drunk, came to the office under the influence of liquor given him by the sheriff who brought him here.
What we want, Mother Stewart, is more and still more of the prayer suasion, for prayer is the key, which, when turned by the hand of faith, unlocks God's richest treasures. By earnest prayer and loving faith the omnipotent arm of Jehovah will uphold you in your work of love, and in due time "ye shall reap if ye faint not."
Respectfully,
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It is plain from the above letter that it is not only the low and ignorant that are brought to pay the felon's penalty through drink. The talent there manifested would bless mankind if it were not for the drink,-the accursed drink. And who shall answer at the bar for this waste of Heaven's richest gifts to man ?
Akron, a business and manufacturing rival of Springfield, took hold of the Crusade in down- right business fashion ; and what earnestness and faith and power they developed !
A hundred women issued a call for a meeting to be held March 4th, but before they moved out, twelve days later, there were seven hundred and sixty-one enrolled. All-day prayer-meetings and evening mass-meetings were held for some ten days. Then on the 16th of March they formed into line and marched forth in the rain. I did not visit Akron during the Crusade, and so have recourse to the "History of the Great Temperance Reform," by Rev. James Shaw, for these items ; also for the statement that the spring election turned upon and was carried in favor of temperance. The McConnelsville ordi- nance was passed April 7th; the mayor, police and city solicitor united in enforcing the laws and bringing offenders to justice, and that the Beacon ( its editor being in full sympathy with the Crusade ) rendered valuable aid. Of this host of ladies I can now recall but few names-Sisters Mann, Monroe, and Uhler. I also recall-who could forget-that grand helper
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who has stood by us through all the following years, Hon. Ferdinand Schumacher, with Broth- ers Rhodes and Buchtel.
Alliance, with its University neighbor, Mount Union, early fell into line, led by Mattie McClel- lan Brown, who had for years before the women's uprising been doing a grand work as Worthy Chief Templar, and editor of the Alliance Mirror, and her gallant husband, Rev. E. K. Brown, D. D., now President of the Wesleyan Female College, Cincinnati; Dr. Hartshorn, President of Mt. Union College; Mrs. M. B. Reese, who has long since made herself a national reputation as a lecturer, and Mrs. M. E. Griffith, who has also taken her place as among the efficient and popular lecturers of the country.
In Cadiz the work was entered upon and prosecuted with the greatest of enthusiasm, and it was not long till a glorious victory was achieved and celebrated with glad shouting, ringing of bells and firing of cannon. No such demonstration ever witnessed in the town, except upon the news that Lee had surrendered at Appomatox.
To their beloved minister, Rev. W. M. Grimes, more than any other, they were indebted for the speedy overthrow of the liquor power. For earnestness and cheerful enthusiasm, I scarcely ever saw his equal, and I never met him but I felt inspired with a new impulse for our blessed cause. But he, too, has been called
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to join the great company before the Throne, leaving the world the poorer for the loss. Among the ladies were Mrs. W. C. Brown, President; Miss Lizzie T. McFadden, Mrs. Dr. Drummond, Mrs. Walter Craig, and Mrs. E. M. Slemmens.
At Jackson C. H. those eminent Christian ladies, Mrs. C. V. Long, Mrs. E. Mackley, Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. Sutherland, Mrs. Vaughn and Mrs. Carr, were sustained in their holy work by their ministers, the editor of the Jackson Standard, Mr. D. Mackley-who has also been discharged and gone home-and a goodly num- ber of the substantial business men; and a blessed work was done.
Of Ravenna, I have no record at hand, and did not happen to be called there during our campaign. But Ravenna gave us our second State President and National Recording Secre- tary, Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge, of whom we are justly proud, of whom all the world has heard and will hear more.
How I wish there might be a biographical account given to the world of the long list of Ohio women whose hearts were fired, whose lips were touched as with a live coal from off the altar, and their intellects illuminated by grace from on high, and who have since gone forth into an hundred fields, helping to garner the harvest for the Master.
Yellow Springs, our nice, little, literary neigh- bor, seat of Antioch College, early entered upon
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the work and prosecuted it with enthusiasm, and much good was accomplished. But they have found, as we have everywhere since, that the' blow dealt with such nerve and muscle and unerring aim, did not finish, only stunned the brute for a season.
At Hamden, on the Marietta and Cincinnati road, the people, men and women combined, - husbands giving up nearly all business interests and standing by their wives, -and of course a blessed result followed. Some came in from the country to help. One devoted Methodist sister, who was so wonderfully gifted in prayer, Mrs. Foster, came some miles to help. She has gone to join the company who have no need of prayer, but are continually before the Throne, giving praise and thanksgiving to God and the Lamb. Of this band of determined men and women, the names come to me of Mr. and Mrs. Ray, Dill, my kinsman Campbell, Burtenshaw, McKinnis, Hon. H. S. Bundy, parents of our present Governor's wife, Mrs. Foraker, with their daugh- ter, Miss "Dide"-my namesake; also my esteemed friend Ohmer, who was once a noted proprietor of a beer-garden in Cincinnati, but had come to see that money earned in honorable business had not only a much greater staying quality, but brought much more respectability and happiness.
Oh, I wish I could tell it all, all the wonder- ful story of this greatest, most glorious war of all the ages. But again I am admonished that these pages are multiplying beyond limit, and I must sorrowfully desist.
CHAPTER XIV.
Chillicothe, Emmet House, McArthur, Marietta and Gallipolis.
FIND in a copy of the Scioto Gazette of March 18, 1874, the announcement that " Mother Stewart arrived in Chillicothe on Thursday, the 12th, and attended the after- noon meeting."
From the meeting we marched to Dennison's saloon, he having promised the ladies that he would surrender his liquors to be poured out, if they would buy his furniture and fixtures. When we reached his place, the liquor was carried out and poured into the gutter in the presence of a great crowd of people. The Com- mercial reporter who reported the scene said : " As the liquor ran down the gutter towards the Scioto, one poor, little bit of humanity clapped her hands and shouted, 'Oh, now my papa will never get drunk any more!'" I suppose the poor child thought that was the last of the whisky business.
From a beer-cask I addressed the people while the work of spilling went on. In studying the obliging saloon-keeper, who was quite a
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young man, I was led to question his entire honesty in the matter ; but it was not in our line to test the strength or quality of the liquors submitted to be poured out. I heard afterwards that he opened up again with quite improved appearances, the presumption being that he had not made a bad thing of it.
The Gazette reports the immense mass-meet- ing on the same evening at the First Presbyterian Church, addressed by Mother Stewart and Beadle, as probably the largest that ever assem- bled in that edifice before. The excitement was so great that an hour before the time stated for meeting the house was crowded to overflow- ing.
On Friday we visited some of the saloons. The ladies had said a good deal about Captain Bowers, of the Emmett House, and expressed a strong desire that I should go with them to call on him. I had not, from their remarks, been able to gather any very definite idea of the gen- tleman, or why they were so anxious for me to see him, except that he kept a bar in connection with his hotel. But as soon as I met him I saw that we had made a mistake, that no possible good could come of anything we could say to him; but I conducted the interview with him, since we were into it, with what discretion I could, as I saw he was disposed to be anything but courteous, and to anger me if possible.
In the course of the conversation he declared that he would not close his bar. I answered
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that perhaps he would, notwithstanding his declaration now. "Oh !" said he, "you threaten, do you ?" "No," I told him, "the good sisters would pray for him, and peradventure the Lord would touch his heart." The sisters were just then about to sing, when he strode to the door, making his heels ring on the marble floor, and throwing the door open invited us out. The ladies were greatly distressed at the unexpected turn the affair had taken, because of the insult to me. But I assured them that I did not regard it in the least, and that I knew good would come of it to our cause. They were about to move away, but I requested them to sing that precious old hymn,
"A charge to keep I have A God to glorify,"
saying we must at least have one prayer before we left.
After the singing we knelt and offered prayer for our friend, then departed. But the end was not yet. The trouble with the affable Captain was that he would sell liquor to whomsoever would pay for it; and he did a great deal of harm by it. But he prided himself on keeping a first-class house, and to be visited by the Crusaders, as any other common sinner, was, from his point of view, a very grave insult ; besides, his rival, the Warner House, was just across the way, and of course the proprietors were exulting over his discomfiture. It was almost like being stricken with leprosy to be visited by the
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BRANDIES, WINE S, WHISKIES &C.]
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"OH, NOW MY PAPA WILL NEVER GET DRUNK ANY MORE. - SEE PAGE 270.
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Crusaders, and thus have their sins published to the world.
When the Captain found that the sympathies of the people were with the ladies, he concluded he had made a mistake, and caused it to be circulated that he did not "invite " (? ) the ladies out, but into the parlor. Accordingly the ladies inserted the following card in the Scioto Gazette :
We, the ladies of Chillicothe, engaged in the sup- pression of the liquor sale in this city, desire to refute over our own signatures, the rumor generally circu- Iated, that Captain Bowers, of the Emmett House, tendered us the use of his parlors on the occasion of our recent visit, in which to hold religious services. Captain Bowers did not mention the fact that we could use the parlors of the Emmett House, either directly or indirectly, except in reply to a question asked by Mother Stewart, as to what course he would pursue if some of the mothers or wives of the men to whom he daily dispensed this liquid destruction were to come and seat themselves in his bar-room. He replied that he would tell them it was no place for them, but that the parlor was the place for ladies.
We take this method of refuting the rumor, because it has placed us, even in the eyes of some of our friends, in a false light.
MOTHER STEWART, Springfield, MRS. COL. BOND, MRS. NELSON CARLISLE, MRS. F. E. ARMSTRONG, MRS. HAMILL, MRS. ABERNATHY,
MRS. W. W. GRAHAM, MISS KATE GRAHAM.
These names were of the best families of Chil- licothe. Mrs. Col. Bond was the mother of the editor of the Scioto Gazette, whose wife, by the way, formerly Miss Frank Currier, of Athens, was a niece of ours.
(18)
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The news of Captain Bowers' discourtesy to the ladies spread far and wide over the country, and as the traveling world, as well as the rest of mankind, was largely in sympathy with the Crusaders, when strangers arrived at the depot their first inquiry of the hackmen would be, " At which hotel was it that the Crusaders were insulted ?" and upon being told, would say, "I can't go there; drive me to another." I under- stood the Captain declared that Mother Stewart had injured him to the amount of five hundred dollars. As the children say, I didn't go to, and it is with me an open question whether it was I or he that did it.
Upon leaving the Emmett House we visited the Warner House. The proprietor met us at the door, welcomed us in, led the way to the parlor, sat down and talked with us, bade us hold our meeting there, and when we were through escorted us to the door, politely invited the ladies to call again, and bade us good-bye,- no more sincere, very probably, than the Cap- tain, but certainly more politic. A few weeks later I was passing up by stage-coach from Ports- mouth and some other points down the river, and as the coach line, as well as the Emmett House, belonged to Mr. Emmett, the Waverly distiller, the passengers were taken to this house if they did not otherwise direct. As the coach rolled up to the door the clerk sprang out to receive the passengers, but upon his offering to help me out I told him I could not stop at the
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Emmett House. "Why?" he demanded. I answered that I had been turned out of that house. He "did not believe it !" he gallantly responded. I called to the driver to set me down at the Warner House, which he did, and as I bade him good-bye I requested him to give my compliments to Captain B., and tell him I was Mother Stewart. ( May be this was another spasm of Topsy's wickedness, to which I am subject upon occasion.)
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