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 7
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Sunday morning a large audience assembled in the M. E. Church, and was addressed by Rev. A. C. Hurst, Rev. George Carpenter and Mr. Armstrong. In the evening the meeting was presided over by Mr. P. C. Morehouse, and addressed by Messrs. Gardner, Pine, Ustic and Rev. A. C. Hurst.
Monday, December 29th, 1873. - Promptly at 9 A. M., a still larger attendance at the Presbyterian Church announced that the enthusiasm was still on the increase. Singing and prayer and a total absti- nence pledge from beer, wine, cider and all intoxi- cants, were the order. This pledge was freely circu- lated through the day, and large numbers enrolled their names.
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The ladies were kindly invited to dine at the Fire- man's Hall, and after a substantial lunch, the line of march was taken up to the Presbyterian Church, where they were joined by the gentlemen, and a straight course taken for the establishment of Messrs. Anderson & Keller, all the bells in town pealing out a grand anthem of praise, a glad music for such an occasion. On arriving at the place of meeting, the following order of exercises was carried out.
I, Singing; 2, Prayer by Rev. A. C. Hurst ; 3. Singing; 4. Rolling out of whisky barrels ; 5. Pouring out of liquor.
An ax was placed in the hands of the women who had suffered most, and swinging through the air came down with ringing blows, bursting the heads and flooding the gutters of the street. One good woman putting her soul into every blow, struck but once for a barrel, splashing Holland gin and old Bourbon high into the air, amid the shouts of the immense multi- tudes. Four casks and one barrel were forced open, and the proprietors all the time giving a hearty con- sent. As the last cask was opened, Mr. Anderson made a ringing speech, followed by three cheers for King David Anderson. Then Mr. Keller mounted a cask and made a similar speech, followed by three cheers for Keller. After a prayer by Rev. George Carpenter, the multitude quietly dispersed.
The temperance meeting on Monday was fairly red- hot with enthusiasm. The report of the committee of visitation was read and the temperance pledge signed by a large number of men and boys. Such singing, hearty applause, cries of "good, good " were never before heard in Washington.
Mr. Anderson and Mr. Keller were present and addressed the audience with much earnestness and the best of feeling.
Following this thrilling report is an account of a poor lad, who, in a written appeal to the ladies, told that he was at work in a saloon ; he would be glad to get out and go to school, but had to work for his own support. At once a call was made for pledges of help, and resulted in
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promises to board and assist for twelve months. Again the report of work proceeds :
Tuesday morning, more than ever before met in the Presbyterian Church, and after an hour's prayer, singing and conference, they started on the fourth day's round. Prayer-meeting was held all morning, till a messenger announced victory number two. Anthony Abbot had signed the pledge and was will- ing to pour out his liquor. Again the bells pealed forth the "glad tidings of great joy," and again the services of song and prayer began :
I. Prayer by Rev. George Carpenter ; 2. Rolling out of barrels ; 3. Ax application to barrel heads ; 4. Fire application to old Bourbon; 5. Cheers by the multitude.
All this was done with the greatest magnanimity and enthusiasm. A stream of "mixed drinks," whisky, gin, port wine, brandy, etc., in one steady stream on its way to Paint Creek. After a speech by Anthony Abbot, who announced his intention to start a grocery, and hoped the people of Washington would patronize him a little, the doxology was sung, and the crowd quietly dispersed."
I have given this very extended report of the beginning of this wonderful prayer movement, because it presents very clearly not only the method adopted, but the spirit actuating those who entered into it, as also the feeling of very many who signed the dealer's pledge, and rolled out their liquors to be emptied into the gutter.
I have found that it has been almost impossible for people at a distance from the scene of this marvelous uprising to understand it. And it indeed seems that one not in the atmosphere, a looker-on, can hardly comprehend it. It was entirely unlike any other Christian effort of which the world has ever known. Persons at a distance,
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judging from their knowledge of the liquor busi- ness, the men engaged in it, and the method of conducting it, can not comprehend what influ- ence, unless it were mob violence or terrorizing, could induce them to yield up their property to be destroyed before their eyes, without resistance. And in many quarters, even to-day, the impres- sion still prevails that the "Women's Whisky War," was a sort of spontaneous outburst of the class of lowly and poor women, who by their sufferings and abuse from drunken husbands had been wrought up to a pitch of frenzy and fury that swept them headlong into the wildest excesses. In many quarters I have been told that "We here have a prejudice against the Crusade ; " or, " Our women could not do that kind of work ; " " We are different here from you Western women;" "Oh, we here are very conservative." Very often have I had to vindicate my Crusade sisters from these false impressions. In the East it was supposed that because of our Western life-as the dear good friends imagined on the borders of civilization-we were not under the decorous restraints of more cultured and refined society farther east.
In the South, as it had always been presumed that Southern ladies were much more soft and gentle, as well as retiring in their manners, it was not so very surprising to them to hear that our women were "out thronging the streets and crowding into the liquor groceries and arguing with the men over their business; " though of
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course it was very shocking, and they could only give their unqualified censure and disapproval to such unlady-like conduct.
I was careful not to refer to the Crusade work in my lectures in the South, as I did not desire to antagonize the women against such work as I hoped to induce them to take up. But at length ladies would become anxious to hear about that strange work. And as I have told them of the wonderful baptism that came down upon the women and carried them out of themselves up into a holier atmosphere than they had ever known or dreamed of before, enabling them to overcome their shrinking and timidity and go out joyfully to offer the gospel of pardon and peace to the lowest class of men in the land, on condition of repentance and giving up their murderous busi- ness, how the tears would rain down their cheeks, and how they would beg, " Oh, tell us more, tell us more."
In England, also, the impression had been received through some of our American papers, especially New York papers, that were either the organs of the liquor trade, or for political or money considerations, sympathizers, that it was the lower class of women, armed with whatever weapons they could get hold of, were making a war of extermination upon the "public houses" and "licensed victualers'" establishments. Such a scene as they had pictured of our holy war, and conducted by the class they supposed - a class that we do not see, as a class, in our smaller
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towns in this country, or scarcely in our cities away form the seaboard, certainly not in such numbers as to move by concerted action on the streets-would be a terror indeed.
Even many of the temperance friends were only undeceived by my explanation of the work and the women engaged in it. It was worth everything for my vindication that I could say that the leader of the first band of Crusaders that moved out in Ohio was the daughter of one of our Governors ; that ladies or the highest station, as also of deep piety and respectability, were leaders and constant, earnest workers; that I had led out a Governor's wife, wives of Judges, Congressmen, State Legislators and of noted Divines.
CHAPTER VI.
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Fermented Wine-Springfield Organization.
UR third mass-meeting in Springfield was held on December 24th, and in this meet- ing came from one of the speakers, a minister, the first inkling of politics. The gen- tleman took occasion to refer in severe terms to the Prohibitionists and Democrats, and sought to prove that the Republican party was a prohibition party. His remarks, however, were met at once, on the part of several gentlemen, by a strong disclaimer of any partisan intent, but asking the aid and co-operation of all parties.
The fourth public meeting was held on the 30th of December, with no abatement of numbers or interest, Mrs. M. W. Baines being the main speaker. And here was made the first attack upon fermented wine at the Lord's table. Mrs. Baines had seen the disastrous results of present- ing this "cup of devils" to the man struggling with his appetite for strong drink.
She spoke her sentiments fearlessly and with feeling. But while she was admitted to be a lady of ability, she was not at that time a pro- fessor of religion. And the blind, not able to dis- cern the truth, at once took great alarm. Here
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was a woman, not a professor of religion, attack- ing the sacred ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Not a little agitation was caused.
Some time after this, she was called to Zanes- ville to lecture, and here again declared her views on the subject. The city papers took up the matter and rated her in no measured terms for presuming to attack the holy ordinance. It was sacrilegious. People did not at that time seem to be able to distinguish between a condem- nation of a great wrong in the ordinance and con- demnation of the ordinance itself. The agitation of this subject of sacramental wine originated in Springfield, and was brought up in our State Convention some months later by our Brother Spring, a report of which will be found in its proper place.
These items, which may seem rather trivial to the reader, do serve as indices of our growth, and as such I give them. And this reminds me that at our first National Convention, held at Cleveland, a member of our committee on "Ap- peal and Plan of Work," presented a resolution in committee, praying physicians not to use alcoholic liquors in treating our sick, saying we had rather they should die sober than live drunkards. This was suggested to her mind by discovering that her family physician-a home- opathist-had been administering alcoholic stim- ulants to her only son, who was in ill health. While we were in warm sympathy with her, we were sure the sisters would not entertain such a
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resolution. We advised her instead of our incor- porating it in the report, to submit it as her own to the Convention ; and she did, but it was at once tabled as too extremely "radical." I did not know, however, that the accustomed bearer of dispatches to the wilderness was credited with this additional sin till I saw in the next day's paper an item from dear Miss Willard saying, "Mother Stewart was not the author of the ob- jectionable resolution."
The Springfield Republic of January 7, 1874, gives the following report :
WOMEN'S TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATION-ORGANIZA- TION OF A NEW SOCIETY-PLAN OF OPERA- TION-OFFICERS, ETC.
This meeting was held in the First Presbyterian Church, immediately after the union prayer meeting was closed, Wednesday morning. The meeting was called to order by electing Rev. J. W. Spring to the Chair. The Chair then stated the object of the meet- ing; that the ladies of Springfield organize them- selves into an association, and work upon some defi- nite plan that they may deem best. Mrs. E. D. Stewart then stepped to the front and made a neat, pointed speech, in which she enlightened her sisters on their duties to God and humanity. No, she rather urged upon them what they already saw was so very necessary ; then presented the report of the committee to which this matter had been re- ferred.
COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Your committee would recommend the following plan: That the ladies call a meeting to organize a temperance association and elect a President, Treas- urer, Secretary and one Vice President from each ward, and that these officers constitute an executive committee, whose duty it shall be to provide work
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for sub-committees whom they shall appoint for each ward, each ward to be divided into districts, and a committee for each district appointed, whose duty it shall be to circulate books provided with the head- ings herewith submitted, one for the raising of money and the other a pledge for co-operation.
These committees shall raise all the money they can, and get all to sign the pledge of co-operation ; and also, electioneer for the temperance cause, see all the men they can, and when they cannot see the men, get their wives and daughters to join them in the work of inducing their husbands, sons and broth- ers to join in the work of electing officers who will pass a prohibitory law, and carry out the law to the letter. Also let this executive committee of women call in such of our business men as they choose to select as an advisory committee, to meet them from time to time in their meetings.
Let the great work now be to elect at our spring election men who will pass a prohibitory law, and if we fail in this measure, fall back on any other plan thought to be most advisable, and prosecute the work till the next election. We deem it important to keep this work in the hands of the women of our city. Let them continue, as they have begun the work, to be the prominent characters in the movement. Also let a committee of men be appointed whose duty it shall be to visit the pastors of the African Churches, the German and the Catholic, and get them en- listed to use their efforts toward the suppression of the evil.
WM. A. BARNETT, CHAS. RABBITTS, Committee.
E. C. MIDDLETON,
Your committee recommend the following as the headings for the subscription and pledge :
" We, the undersigned, agree to pay the sum an- nexed to our names monthly for one year from Jan- uary ist, 1874, to the 'Treasurer of the Ladies' Tem- perance Association of Springfield. to be applied for meeting the expenses attending their action in the suppression of the liquor traffic in the city of Spring- field.
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"We the undersigned, without respect to creed or party, agree to unite for the suppression of the liquor traffic in Springfield, O.
" And for this end, in connection with all other justifiable and practical means, hereby pledge our- selves to vote for such men only to fill all municipal offices at our coming Spring election whose position is unmistakable in favor of Temperance Laws and their faithful and impartial execution, and who will do all in their power, if elected, to bring about this much- desired reform."
After reading the above, which was unanimously adopted, the meeting went into an election of officers, which resulted in the following election :
President, Mrs. E. D. Stewart ; Vice Presidents, Ist ward, Mrs. Wm. A. Barnett ; 2nd ward, Mrs. Dr. Teegarden; 3d ward, Mrs. Thos. Finch; 4th ward, Mrs. John Foos; 5th ward, Mrs. Jas. Kinney ; Sec- retary, Mrs. J. A. S. Guy; Treasurer, Mrs. S. W. Cathcart. It was thought best by the meeting to have an Advisory Committee of gentlemen, and the fol- lowing persons were elected: Wm. A. Barnett, E. C. Middleton, Chas. Rabbitts, Rev. J. W. Spring, P. P. Mast.
There were said many good things during the talk, but this is about as good as any. A speaker said that gentlemen kept saying to her, "The women are doing a noble work, and doing just what they ought to do," and they said this without blushing too. But is it the women's work ? No, it is the men's, and they know it, and they could crush intemperance out without our aid if they would ; but we women intend to set them an example, and by God's help and united effort we will succeed.
I am happy to record that the ladies who were on that morning elected as my co-workers and counselors were in truth " elect ladies, " certainly no one in all the campaign was more highly favored. Always ready both to give advice and to second any suggestion for the advancement of our work.
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I trust it may not seem a discrimination when I mention the names especially of our Secretary, Mrs. Guy, our Treasurer, Mrs. Cathcart, and Mrs. Foos, as I was brought into closest asso- ciation with them, and I am glad to say in all these following years they have maintained their places as my discreet advisors and warm friends. This was the second regularly organized society in Ohio, the first as already mentioned being formed at Osborn. We adopted a constitution similar to that of the ladies of Osborn.
The Cincinnati Gazette of the next day, in a report of this organization says, " All the ladies who belong to this organization have great influ- ence in the city."
Our Temperance agitation had begun to at- tract visitors from abroad. Among these was a Mr. S. M. Douglass, then of Columbus, now of Rochester, N. Y., a zealous temperance man. He was so stirred up by attending some of our meetings and witnessing our work, that upon re- turning home he induced his Lodge of Good Templars to send for me. I went over on the 8th of January. That morning and ride are a memory apart. A heavy sleet had fallen and covered every tree and shrub and plant and spear of dead grass with an incrustation of fretted silver, and from everything hung myriads of glittering gems that reflected the sun as it struck them in all the rays of the rainbow or of all precious stones. But, like all earthly riches and beauty, so evanescent, even while you looked
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and admired they melted and faded away. And I also remember that the pleasure of the ride was greatly enhanced by the company of Capt. and Mrs. Hall, of Connecticut, who were returning after a visit to friends in our city.
The Captain told me he had followed the sea for thirty years, sailing around the world and into almost every port in it, without touching a glass of anything that would intoxicate. But what use of his telling it? His very presence proclaimed him a gentleman of correct habits and pure life, a true gentleman. An active, vigorous man, though well advanced in years, with the complexion of a young girl. The life, whether good or ill, makes its record and leaves its indelible marks on the man whether he will or no.
From the Columbus State Journal, January 9, 1874, I copy the following report:
MOTHER STEWART IN COLUMBUS.
Mrs. E. D. Stewart addressed an audience in Ses- sions' Hall, on Thursday evening, 8th inst., which was one of the largest and most enthusiastic temperance meetings ever held in the city, and the relation of her experience as a spy in a saloon on Sunday was really exciting. At the close of her lecture she called on the ladies of the audience who were willing to take an active part in pushing forward the work of temper- ance to stand up, which was responded to by all. The gentlemen were then invited in the same manner, and a general rise was the result. Mrs. Stewart seemed surprised at this, and remarked that if they had the women of Springfield with the men of Colum- bus, "noble work could be accomplished." This was the first note sounded in Columbus of the glorious work that was soon to occupy all minds and hearts
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of the women here, as everywhere else over the State. Only a few weeks later, at Columbus, was held the grandest and most enthusiastic meeting ever held in the State up to that time, but only to be followed by others like to it, in other places, as the work ad- vanced.
A foul murder, committed on the 12th of January, in one of the murder-mills of our city, by the keeper and his wife, on one of their victims, served to greatly swell the temperance tide, which was steadily on the rise.
We had by this time established our morning tem- perance prayer-meeting, -the meetings of the " week of prayer " merging into our temperance prayer-meet- ings, an account of one of which I clip from the Re- public of January 12th inst. As these reports give the status of the week and the sentiment of the workers quite as well as I could, I prefer to copy from them.
"The prayer-meeting this morning (Monday) at the First Presbyterian church was fully attended. Rev. Mr. Spring, in opening the meeting, suggested that if the men engaged in the soul-destroying business of dram-selling would abandon it, every encourage- ment would be given them by the community in any legitimate calling.
Rev. Dr. Clokey followed by prayer and remarks, in which he compared the mission of the praying people of Springfield to that on which Christ sent his apostles, when their peace should abide on those who received them, but the dust should be shaken from their feet as a testimonial against those who rejected them.
Mr. Middleton followed with specific objects of prayer, especially for the keeper of the saloon where the murder was committed, and for the keeper of the saloon in our most respectable hotel, that the hearts of these men who were dragging to destruction so many of our young men might be converted from the error of their ways. He also prayed fervently for the newly-elected directors of the Lagonda House, that they might be led to do the right. (In regard to the saloon in the building.)
Mr. T. J. Finch said he thought a proper object of
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Mrs. Catheart.
Mother Stewart. Mrs. Phillij s.
Mis. C.ny
Mrs. Foos.
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prayer was the young men who were on the down- ward road. He knew there were fathers and mothers at that meeting whose sons were reeling in the streets, and yet they were unconscious that they drank.
J. W. Jarrett said he started this morning to invite a saloon-keeper to this prayer-meeting. He met him on the way and found him very willing to talk with him on the subject, and although he declined to come to the meeting, he asked that the meeting would pray for him. That saloon-keeper was Mr. Wm. Stubbee.
The hymn commencing"Show pity, Lord," etc., was sung, followed by prayer by Dr. McKnight, who earn- estly prayed the Lord to give Christians the necessary faith that even this man might be converted and re- claimed.
Rev. Mr. Hamma was glad to hear this turn of the movement. While he was in favor of the law, he was also in favor of the Gospel,-the Gospel of love. What we were, more than the liquor-sellers of Spring- field, was by the grace of God.
Rev. Mr. Bennet, in his prayer, referred to Christ. mingling with wine-bibbers until he was called one, and that it was our mission to labor for their reforma- tion.
Mother Stewart made a speech in a voice trem- bling with emotion. She said she thanked God that one saloon-keeper had been touched, and hoped that he would forever renounce his nefarious busi- ness. Good news for the temperance cause was coming to us from different parts of the State. At Washington, Wilmington and Hillsboro the people were awaking to the necessity of crushing out the evil. In Washington forty heroic women marched out of a prayer-meeting, while prayers were ascending up to the throne of God, asking Him to aid them in their noble work, and the bells kept tolling, encour- aging them and telling them they were being prayed for. These noble women visited every saloon-keeper in the place, asking each and every one to quit his evil business, and telling them they were being prayed for. Now, here in this city, before many prayers had been.offered up for this class, one had come vol-
(8)
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untarily forward and asked for prayers-he had run,as it were, to meet us. This was encouraging; and she hoped ere long to hear the bells ringing, prayers as- cending, and the women of our city marching on to victory in this glorious cause. God could and would help if we earnestly asked His aid. One young man had said he was willing to give $10 to help stop this accursed business in our midst. He was a mechanic in one of our manufactories. Another said he was willing to forego drinking and give the money thus saved to suppress intemperance. This was also en- couraging. She spoke of mothers coming to her and asking if something could not be done to save their boys; and a father whose hair was whitened with age and who was seemingly bending over the grave, had said to her, "My heart is broken. Crush out in- temperance and save others from the agony I have endured." She hoped the interest would keep on increasing until success would be the reward. In after remarks, when some one had suggested prayer for distillers as well as saloon-keepers, Mrs. Stewart said she would like the lawyers prayed for also, that they might have power and courage to prosecute the liquor cases that may come before the courts.
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