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 27
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Ist. Frequent temperance mass-meetings.
2nd. The careful circulation of temperance liter- ature in the people's homes and in saloons.
3rd. Teaching the children in Sabbath-schools and public schools the ethics, chemistry, physiology, and hygiene of total abstinence.
4th. Offering prizes in these schools for essays on different aspects of the subject
5th. Placing a copy of the engraving known as " The Railroad to Ruin," and similar pictures, on the walls of every school-room.
6th. Organizing temperance glee clubs of young
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people, to sing temperance doctrines into the people's hearts as well as heads
7th. Seeking permission to edit a column in the in- terests of temperance in every newspaper in the land, and in all possible ways enlisting the press in this re- form
8th. Endeavoring to secure from pastors, every- where, frequent temperance sermons and special services in connection with the weekly church prayer- meeting and the Sabbath-school, at stated intervals, if they be only quarterly.
9th. Preserving facts connected with the general subject and with our work, in temperance scrap- books, to be placed in the hands of special officers ap- pointed for this purpose.
III .- Of Juvenile Temperance Societies.
Catholicism's wisest words are these, " Give us the first ten years of the children's lives, and you may have the rest."
In our judgment one of the great hopes of the ultimate triumph of temperance reform lies in the thorough training of the youths of the land in such principles and practices of temperance as will show them the fatal dangers of drinking and criminal guilt of selling liquors, and to that end we earnestly entreat the friends of the cause, and especially the pastors of churches and superintendents of Sunday- schools throughout the land, to take immediate meas- ures, in their respective cities and towns, for the formation and perpetual continuance of temperance societies to be composed of the children and youth.
IV .- Of the Pledge.
If nobody would drink, then nobody could sell.
Ist. Urge the circulation of the total abstinence pledge as fast and as far as facilities permit, life sig- natures being sought, but names being taken for any length of time, however brief.
and. Have a special pledge for women, involving the instruction and pledging of themselves, their children, and so far as possible, their households ; banishing alcohol in all its forms from the side-board
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and the kitchen, enjoining quiet, persistent work for temperance in their own social circles.
3rd. Earnestly recommend ladies to get permission to place a pledge book in every Church and Sabbath- school room, where it shall be kept perpetually open in a convenient place, indicated by a motto placed above it. Also that each member of our union keep an autograph pledge book on her parlor table, and carry one in her pocket.
V .- Of Sacramental Wine.
We do not see that the passage " Woe unto him that putteth the bottle to his neighbor's lips," has in it any " saving clause" for the communion table. We know that many, who have thought their appetite en- tirely overcome by months of abstinence, have fallen by the odor and taste of the cup at the Lord's table.
We strongly recommend our unions everywhere to appoint a committee of ladies in each church, who shall seek to enlist the pastor and church officials in offering only unfermented wine at the communion table.
VI .- Of the Anti-treat League.
"Come, let's take something together," has been to thousands the key-note of destruction. Labor for the organization of a league which shall enroll as members those who, though not yet ready to sign the pledge, are willing to refrain from "putting the bottle to their neighbor's lips," by pledging their honor that they will neither be "treated " nor " treat."
VII .- Temperance Coffee Rooms.
If we would have men forsake saloons, we must invite them to a better place, where they can find shelter and food and company.
Let there be open small, neat coffee rooms, with reading rooms attached, which the ladies might sup- ply with books and papers from their own homes, and by solicited funds.
When practicable, there should also be Friendly Inns, connected with which might be provided, for those willing to compensate by their labor for their
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food and lodging, a manufacturing shop, comprising various trades.
VII .- Homes for Inebriate Women
Should be established in all the cities, our unions soliciting aid from the State and municipal govern- ments and from the general public for this purpose.
IX .- The Reformed Men's Clubs,
Recently projected in New England, will be power- ful auxiliaries in our work, and we urge the Women's Unions to help establish them in every community.
X .- Bureau of Information.
Already, by means of correspondence, our chain of unions has been a medium of communication be- tween parents and their absent sons, by means of which the former in their homes lent a helping hand to the latter amid their temptations.
We suggest careful attention to this important branch of our beneficent task.
XI .- Counter Attractions of Home.
Much has been said about our negligence in ren- dering our homes attractive, and our cuisine appetiz- ing ; and not always without reason. We therefore recommend that in our unions, essays on the science and art of making home outwardly wholesome and at- tractive, be read; books on that subject circulated, and all possible effort made to secure a more scien- tific attention to the products of the kitchen, and a higher aesthetic standard for the parlor.
XII .- Home Missionary Work.
We recommend the continuance of private visita- tion to those who drink and to those who sell, being careful to go in a spirit of prayerful and helpful kindness.
XIII .. - Gospel Temperance Meetings.
We recommend our Unions to hold such meetings in the streets, billiard halls and churches, protracting if the interest shall warrant it, offering the Gospel Cure for intemperance, going through the audience to get persons to come forward and sign it, to the
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tune of "Jesus lover of my soul," investing the act with all the solemnity and enthusiasm of a religious service.
XIV .- Fountains.
We urge our unions everywhere to signalize the coming hundredth birthday of America, by erecting in village and town and city, fountains of water in- scribed with such mottoes as shall show what sort of drink the women of America believe in, and as shall be a sermon in their persuasiveness to our fathers, brothers and sons.
XV .- Of Money.
Our cause cannot forego the sinews of all war, be it peaceful or profane. We must have money. Our financial plan asks each member to give a cent a week toward the temperance cause, and we urge this feature as one of great importance.
Let us say that all needed information under any or all of the preceding heads will be gladly furnished on application, with stamp, to our Corresponding Secretary, Miss Frances E. Willard, Chicago, Ill.
XVI .- Trysting Time With God.
Our work came forth to us from God. The mir- acle of the Crusade was wrought by prayer. Let us, women of America, and of all lands, dedicate the evening twilight hour to prayerful thoughts about this greatest of reforms.
Wherever we are, let us lift up our hearts, whether alone or in company, in the closet or on the street, and ask God's blessing on the temperance work and on those whom it would help. Let us form the habit of keeping sacredly at heart some moments of this hour, as our trysting time with God.
CONCLUSION.
Dear sisters, we have laid before you the plan of the long campaign. Will you work with us? We wage our peaceful war in loving expectation of that day " when all men's weal shall be each man's care," when " nothing shall hurt or destroy in all my holy
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mountain, saith the Lord," and in our day we may live to see America, beloved mother of thrice grate- ful daughters, set at liberty full and complete forever, from our deadliest foe.
This report of our Committee must be con- sidered, for that stage of our work, as a very good and suggestive production. It will serve, too, to indicate the phenomenal growth of this greatest branch of the world's work carried for- ward by women, by comparing it with the last annual address of one of this same committee, now and for the last eight years President of the National Union. This address, almost a poem in faultlessness and beauty, as well as so full of report of past and suggestions for future work as to nearly take one's breath away-not to men- tion the forty reports of as many superintendents of departments in this great field of portioned out labor-conveys a good idea of the work done by the W. C. T. U. in the past year of 1887. Yet I must maintain that this comely, young giantess, only now fairly entering into her teens, made, as the human infant, her most rapid growth and development in the first year of her existence. We are to consider the pecu- liar call and nature of the work with the fact that few women had ever had any previous training or knowledge of benevolent enterprise.
There was a good deal of disappointment among many of our women, as well as others, and a disposition to "give it all up," because it had not turned out as they expected. They had entered into the work with the confident expec-
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tation that through prayer alone the liquor busi- ness would be destroyed, and not a few "went back and walked no more with us." And the repeated questions that came to us from such as were not able to see the effect in the awakening of the people, nor to take in the broad meaning of the great uprising, were, " What has been the result?" "Has it done any good?" and when they saw the saloons opening up again, it was not surprising that such should ask, " After all, has it not been a failure?" To these, the Rev. H. H. Wells, Secretary of the Y. M. C. A. of our State, having had opportunity for obser- vation, gave the following answers : " These, " as he adds, "being only a few of the more impor- tant things gained by the wonderful Crusade. Eternity alone can unfold the entire fruit of the work."
BENEFITS OF THE CRUSADE.
I. It called attention to the evils of intemperance.
2. It aroused public sentiment against it.
3. It made saloons odious in the eyes of young men.
4. It has resulted in organized effort against the evil.
5. It has produced a large amount of temperance literature.
6. It developed thousands of workers among women.
7. It was a great spiritual blessing to those engaged in it.
8. It has drawn Christian churches nearer to each other.
9. It has enlisted the church in the war against rum.
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10. It has led ministers to preach on the subject faithfully.
II. It has closed large numbers of saloons in the country.
12. It has reformed vast numbers of drunkards.
13. It has resulted in the opening of rooms for young men.
14. It has awakened political action.
15. It defeated license in Ohio, August 18, 1874.
I have at hand a full report by our efficient Secretary, Mrs. Guy, by which I am aided in giving the following brief summary of the first six months' labor in Springfield :
The special duty of the Executive Board from its organization had been to appoint and take charge of all mass-meetings, arranging programs, engaging speakers, raising funds for current ex- penses, publishing and circulating literature, con- ducting children's meetings and appointing com- mittees for special work.
This left the bands free to prosecute their sa- loon visiting. Pledges were circulated from the beginning, and hundreds, yes thousands, signed them; and many a saved man will forever bless the day the Crusaders found and persuaded him to begin a new life.
Upon request of the Board, one of our pas- tors, Dr. McKnight, of the First Presbyterian Church, wrote a very valuable tract on the liquor problem in Springfield. 5,000 of these, 3,000 in English and 2,000 in German, were put in the hands of voters. Home talent, almost entirely, was utilized, a good proportion being ladies, in conducting and addressing our mass-meetings.
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The Secretary reports thirty mass-meetings, at which seventy-five different speakers made ad- dresses. One day was devoted to the County meeting, two to the State Convention. Four all-day prayer-meetings were held. Regular prayer-meetings were held once per week for twenty weeks, twenty-two Sunday afternoon meetings, and six children's meetings were held. These, besides the prayer season by the Crusad- ers every morning and afternoon before moving out. Many meetings were also held in the vil- lages and school-houses through the county. It was in going to one of these that our Secretary came near losing her life by the horse running away. She was so seriously hurt as to be dis- abled for two years, and, indeed, never entirely recovered from her injuries; and so became our first martyr for the Crusade. The Committee also had printed 1,000 copies of hymns and Psalms and Scripture texts for the use of the bands in their street work, with 500 hymns for use in the mass-meetings. Besides all this, the bands, assisted by gentlemen, kept up meetings nightly for a number of weeks at headquarters, to engage the young men in the shops and draw them from the saloons that were using every device to draw them back into their meshes. The saloon-keepers of our city being mostly foreigners, not many were induced to give up their business, though their trade was almost ruined. The city officials were stimulated and encouraged for quite a season to see that the laws were more rigidly enforced ;
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and a larger number of offenders than ever before were brought to justice.
The time-six months-having expired for which the first officers were elected, a meeting was held July 15, 1874, for the election of new officers. Mrs. Jas. Kinney was elected Presi- dent ; Mrs. Wm. Grant, Mrs. H. H. Morrell and Mrs. E. C. Middleton, Vice Presidents; Mrs. R. L. King, Secretary ; and Mrs. I. Cob- lentz, Treasurer.
Of the officers for the following years, I recall Mrs. Kinney as being re-elected for a number of years, and serving with great acceptability, suc- ceeded by Mrs. J. B. Wirtz, Mrs. Jas. Anderson, Mrs. J. A. Dinwiddie and Mrs. Wm. Burns, each in her turn, by untiring energy and zeal, manifesting her devotion to the cause. Secre- taries : Mrs. J. R. Squires, Mrs. L. Hamma, Miss E. W. Bushnell, Miss Sallie Cavileer, the last named serving with faithfulness and efficiency for a number of years. Miss M. Hamilton is serving at the present time.
These, with the co-operation and prayers of a large number of women, called into the work in the beginning, and with the addition of recruits from time to time, have kept the Crusade fires- more sacred than those of " Vesta "-aflame, spite of all discouragements and through the long years, until to-day their hearts, with those of our sisters everywhere, are made glad by the glimpse of the day-star of hope arising over the eastern hill-tops, which will ere long dispel for- ever this long night of sorrow.
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I regret that I am not now able to give all the names of the ladies who were brought out by our Committee in the organization of our mass-meetings ; the arrangement being that on each programme there should be one or more ladies. Among the number, besides those I have already had occasion to mention, I do recall the names of Mrs. Thos. Bean, Mrs. Edw. Book- walter, Mrs. J. Philips, Miss E. Ogden, Mrs. R. P. Thomas, Mrs. C. H. Dutton, Miss Lizzie Wright.
The treatment of the subject, in its various phases, seemed almost to have been worn thread- bare by the male orators of the past, but women, from the woman's point of view and the woman's heart, gave it a freshness and an interest hither- to unknown. The talents these ladies displayed and the enthusiasm they brought into the work was both a surprise and an inspiration to their audiences, and it was very soon observed that the audiences elected in favor of lady speakers; and this preference was noticeable everywhere.
In other towns and cities where the work prevailed, in Ohio and neighboring States, the results were more or less wonderful. As a gen- eral footing up of the first year, I quote a few paragraphs from Rev. W. C. Steel's "Women's Temperance Movement;" though even this is a very meagre showing of the blessed results. No pen or tongue has ever been able to tell it all.
I. There is a great reduction of moral evil ; 2,000
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liquor-saloons closed, and a half a hundred (many more,indeed) cities and towns entirely freed from the rum-traffic, must result in lessening the amount of human evil to an extent that can not be estimated. The mayor of one of the redeemed cities declares that already crime has been lessened there fully nine- tenths!
2. There is a great improvement in the social con- dition of the people. Men have found their lost manhood; families heretofore dependent on charity have become self-sustaining; pauperism has decreased ; schools are filling up. In one town, twenty-five children of former drunkards who never went before, are reported as regularly attending school.
3. The religious advancement of each community in the region of the Crusade is marked and glorious. The churches are filled; in Southern Ohio, it is said a hundred per cent. more people attend church than ever before. Those who filled the saloons on the Sabbath are now in the churches. Vast numbers have been soundly converted to God ; for this has been a thorough work. Hundreds of weak-willed drunk- ards have bowed at the cross and become strong in God. Very many liquor-sellers have bowed at the same altar with their former victims, and are enrolled as members of Christ's church. Christian unity has been promoted, and those who fought together, and were companions in arms, rejoice in the fellowship of their common victory. One of the difficult problems of our Christianity-how to unite together the churches in small towns-has been solved. Increased spiritual power has been acquired ; men, and especially Christian women, have been quickened in newness of life.
4. A sound moral sentiment has been formed, so that stringent temperance laws can now not only be passed, but will be sustained.
5. The sale of intoxicating liquors has been materi- ally lessened. The report of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue shows a decrease of $360,000 in the tax on liquors in the States of Ohio and Indiana for the month of February.
Brandt & Co., distillers, of Hamilton, Ohio, assert that their sales have fallen off $150 a day. The de-
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crease in the sale of beer and ale in Cincinnati for the month of February amounted to $130,000, as com- pared to January. W.L. Herr, a large wholesale dealer in liquors in Cincinnati, says his business is nearly ruined. These are stubborn facts, and point their own moral.
6. Rum-selling and rum-drinking have both be- come disreputable, and are under social ban. * *
Taxation has been lessened .- Clearest demonstration has been given of the fact that intemperance fills our jails, alms-houses, and lunatic asylums; so that sixty cents out of every dollar we pay in taxation is taken from our pockets by the liquor-traffic. When the saloons are closed, expenses for the weaklings and criminals of society are immediately reduced ; so that already news greets us from the regions of the Crusade that the jails in some places are empty, and the heretofore dissipated drone has become industri- ous.
Let political economists take heed.
Churches have been purified, not by church trials, but through the moral force of a sound Christian senti- ment on the temperance question. Everywhere this evil had penetrated into the churches. A prom- inent minister in Cincinnati asserted that if every brick put into the churches in Cincinnati by the liquor interest were removed, half the churches would tumble down. This may sound like an exaggeration, but it is a well-known fact that in some shape or form the liquor traffic has intrenched itself behind our church altars. Prominent officers in the churches, professed Christians, men of wealth, rented their build- ings for the sale of wine, ale or beer, and drank it occasionally ; and the canker was in the very heart of the church. But this temperance revival, religious in its character, has made thorough work in the churches where it has prevailed. Men who had been compromising with sin have confessed their folly with tearful penitence, and to-day hundreds of churches are purer and stronger than they ever were before.
CHAPTER XXI.
TALES OF THE WAR. Quaker Humor-Incidents and Anecdotes, Amus- ing and Pathetic
OR sly humor and quiet shrewdness, commend me to a Friend ; and especially a Crusade Friend. In taking in the points of a situation, and in turning all to advantage for the cause which seemed a part of their lives, they could not be excelled.
Their quaint, tasteful garb, and especially that sober bonnet, with the always clean, white rib- bons tied under the chin, the clean, clear com- plexion and placid countenance, that must be the fruit of a temperate life and a meek spirit, wholly disarm the unwary sinner; and what wonder that they have everything their own way, and enjoy it too.
I have often wished I could have been a Quaker, but the insurmountable barrier-if all things else had been propitious-is, that dirt has a perverse disposition to stick to me, and I have an unshaken faith that Quakers are born exempt from this calamity. I do remember me that Van Pelt's beer fell indiscriminately upon Friend and Methodist .. But I am fain to believe, after
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the evaporation around the fire in the meeting- house, the stains were less legible on Friend than Methodist. Certainly no one has ever discovered any lingering stains on our dainty Treasurer, Anna R. Hussey.
From one who was there, I have this account from Clarkesville, a small town in Clinton county, and in near vicinity to Wilmington. The women organized for Crusade work on January IIth. Shortly after this, word came that a couple of lawyers were coming down from Wilmington to defend an old woman who had been brought to trial for illegal selling.
The question with the women was, what was to be done about it. Generally, the saloon- keepers and their customers filled the court- room and had everything in their own interest. Friend Hadley, President of the Crusaders, hastened out and gathered what forces she could and had them on hand, pretty well filling the court-room when the attorneys arrived.
The lawyers looked aghast when they found themselves face to face with those peaceful-look- ing Crusaders. Just before adjournment, a slip of paper was passed up to the mayor, asking permission for the women to be heard a few minutes. The request was granted and Abigail Hadley proceeded to address the court, or more strictly the attorneys. One slipped out, but not beyond the range of her voice, which she made a little distinct for his benefit. She spoke of the poverty and crime they were making
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themselves responsible for, and the orphans they were helping to make in defending the liquor- seller. She expressed the hope that as they lay on their pillows at night their pale, pinched faces might haunt their sleepless vigils. The ladies obtained permission of the mayor to sing and pray at each adjournment, and at the close they proposed to escort the lawyers to the train. 'Squire - --- threw up both hands and begged the ladies not to show them such marked atten- tion, promising that he would never be seen again in Clarkesville on such business. At last reports the promise had not been broken.
But it was soon announced that another case was to be tried on a certain day, and a couple of lawyers were coming down on the train to defend the saloon-keeper. The Crusaders, led by their Quaker President, marched in procession to the train, met the gentlemen when they arrived, and escorted them up ( the depot is nearly a half-mile from town ), singing hymns as they marched. One lawyer found it necessary to go into the hotel; the ladies quietly followed. He came out and went into a confectionery ; the ladies stood by the door and sang hymns till he was ready to move on. The energy with which he masticated the Indian weed, as they went march- ing along, was interesting to behold. These experiences with the Crusaders of Clarkesville have left an indelible impression on the minds of those gallant expounders of the law.
This visiting saloons was not entirely new
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work for Friend Hadley. Some eight years before she had felt impressed with the duty of visiting and laboring with the liquor-sellers, and taking her Bible and other religious literature, would go in and read to them and those who were found with them. She thus continued visiting and reading in one place till the man gave up selling, removed his liquor counter, and supplied himself with a better business, the tract reading being continued. Others were visited with more or less good results, she telling them when they came up between her and God when she went to pray, she felt that she had to come to them, as she wanted no one but Jesus in that place.
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