Chapter III: Crusade in Larger Towns (2)

In the evening the usual immense temperance mass-meeting was held. The saloonists also held a meeting for consultation. On the morning of the 26th, three large bands of women appeared on the streets, and during their exercises the disgraceful scenes of the day before were repeated. At noon a warrant was issued for Shaw’s arrest, and instructions were given that it should be executed in case he did not behave himself. Shaw, upon being notified that the mayor had issued the warrant with these instructions, decided that it was time for him to quit; and in the afternoon, when the ladies continued their exercises, the crowds who witnessed them were quiet and orderly. In the evening the town council held a special meeting, and passed a resolution which closed as follows: “We are impelled to instruct our executive officer, the mayor, to appoint such additional police force, as, in conjunction with the marshal, may be necessary, mildly but persistently, to prevent any person or persons being for any length of time around, about, in, or in front of any place of business or private house, within the limits of the incorporated village of Bucyrus, Ohio, without consent of the owner or occupant of the same, for the purpose of singing, praying, or making speeches, or in any way annoying the prosecution of any branch of business, or disturbing the quiet of any citizen, or impeding or interrupting the means of passage upon the sidewalks or streets.” The next day the resolution and a proclamation by the mayor to the same effect was published and circulated throughout the town. The women appeared on the streets as usual and issued the following:

WOMEN’S PROCLAMATION.

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, _saying_, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalms, chap, ii., v. 1 to 4.

“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” Acts, chap. iv., v. 18 and 19.

“We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts, chap. v., v. 29.

TO THE PUBLIC.

“In the Temperance movement we have undertaken, we have had no purpose to violate the laws of the State, or interfere with the rights of any citizen. We have malice in our hearts toward none, but charity for all. We believe we have the right to persuade men from strong drink, and to plead with the liquor-seller to cease from his traffic. Believing, too, that God has called us to the high duty of saving our fellow-men, we will not cease to pray and labor to this end. It is our solemn purpose, with love in our hearts to God and man, to go right forward in the work we have undertaken, and if the hand of violence be laid upon us, we make our humble and confident appeal to the God whom we serve, and the laws of the State, whose faithful citizens we are.

“EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

“In behalf of the ladies engaged in the Temperance movement, Bucyrus, Ohio, March 27th, 1874.”

* * * * *

The mayor, at first, experienced some difficulty in obtaining men to serve as a special police, and the ladies were pleased to learn of strong remarks made by those, who, when offered the position, declined to aid the mayor in his dirty work. When the mayor announced that the police were not wanted to molest the ladies but to protect them, he found no trouble in securing men.

Saturday, March 28th, the women were out in full force, and also on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the next week, although at times the weather was very cold and disagreeable, the authorities making no attempt to enforce their resolution. Wednesday evening a band of ladies surprised several saloons, and caused no little consternation by walking in and holding an evening service. At one saloon a number of young men and boys were found drinking and gambling. Thursday, April 2d, the ladies were encouraged by the surrender of J. R. Miller. In the afternoon he hung out the white flag, and the ladies marched up in full force and held a final meeting in front of his establishment. The church-bells were rung, and many steam-whistles united to create a jollification. That afternoon they were treated with great discourtesy at the saloon of Peters & Lauderbach’s, one of the proprietors laying his hands on one of the ladies, and, in the admirably chosen words of the council resolution, “mildly and persistently” trying to make her leave.

Monday, April 6th, was election day. The ladies remained at the church all day holding a prayer-meeting, and praying most earnestly for the success of the temperance ticket, and the defeat of the ticket supported by the saloon-keepers and their friends.

It is in order to remark here, that all the outrages hitherto committed by the saloonists were in defiance of the authorities. The disgraceful scenes of March 25th and 26th were permitted by the mayor, because he supposed he was powerless to stop them. But when Shaw was defeated at the Democratic primaries for the nomination of Street Commissioner, because he had acted in such an outrageous manner; and a strong citizens’ movement had been organized, and a citizens’ ticket nominated, the candidates for the council being men who would close the saloons under the law commonly called the “McConnelsville Ordinance” (now repealed) if they were elected, the authorities who were seeking a re-election became alarmed, and they would permit no further outrages because they “feared the people.” The election, however, resulted in the defeat of the temperance ticket, and the mayor and council, having been re-elected, had nothing to fear, and they permitted their friends, the saloonists, to conduct themselves as they pleased. When the result of the election was known, the whole of the north end of town, where most of the saloons are situated, became one blaze of excitement, and a perfect saturnalia of drunkenness appeared to prevail until midnight.

Tuesday, April 7th, the women appeared on the streets, and commenced their exercises. The saloon-keepers had hired a travelling brass band of Hessians, and when the ladies prayed, the band struck up, but the ladies continued their devotions until the melodious Hessians were well-nigh exhausted. They then followed the weakest band of women from saloon to saloon, constantly becoming more and more fagged out, while the ladies gained more and more strength. At Lindser’s, some miscreant was about to throw a hatchet at the ladies, but his arm was caught by Mr. Lindser, and he was dragged inside. In the afternoon the saloon-keepers rigged up a platform on a wagon, hitched four horses to it, and having put the Hessian band and representatives from all the saloons (except Fuhrman’s and Steinberg’s) upon the platform, they drove out to the brewery, and were treated by the proprietors to all the beer they could drink. In about two hours they appeared on the square, and announced they were having a jollification over their victory at the election. While they were at the brewery, the women left the church in three large bands, and commenced their exercises. A dense crowd gathered around the little band of heroines who were singing and praying in front of Rettig’s. On the doorstep of this saloon was a young man, his face flushed with liquor, the slobber oozing from his mouth, and a bottle of whiskey in his hand, from which he occasionally took a sup, and he all the time talking blackguard slang in German, which the ladies could not understand, and jabbering in broken English, to the astonishment and disgust of over five hundred people. Seated on the steps, in a maudlin, blear-eyed condition of drunkenness, was another young man, and every few minutes they would drink from the bottle. Here was a young man who stood brandishing a bottle of whiskey, blaspheming and drinking, the very picture of drunken daring, and offering stimulus to the other young man, who was too far gone to stand up, and not far enough to keel over in a drunken stupor. Near him pure and earnest women knelt and prayed, or gazed in horror on the hitherto unrevealed depths of depravity yawning before them; near by were men talking about this frenzied brute having as much right to curse, blackguard, and drink as the ladies had to cry and sing and pray; while on the outskirts stood a dense crowd, receiving the full force of the practical temperance lecture presented to them; while the young man stood brandishing his bottle, striking the thick end violently on the house, blowing a dog-whistle, blear-eyed, besotted, staggering and contending for the right of such as he to degrade himself. This young man followed the ladies around and repeated his disgraceful actions at several saloons. When the ladies were in front of Mader’s, the wagon-load of saloonists appeared, and stopped nearby; the Hessian band, by this time nearly exhausted, played as long as they could. Then Shaw, who was on the wagon, commenced a loud and violent harangue, and a disgraceful scene of confusion ensued that should be seen only to be realized. A wagon-load of men far the worse off for liquor, some too drunk to stand, others compelled to hold lest they should fall, helping to cause all this confusion, because a few weak women dared publicly to pray Heaven that the evils of the saloon business might be stopped. Witnessing these disgraceful scenes at a safe distance, stood prominent citizens, who, by their votes the day before, had helped create this infernal spectacle, and who, by their sullen silence, approved it--men, any one of whom could, by a word, have stopped it, and who let it continue. The ladies proceeded to Peters & Lauderbach’s, only to experience the same treatment, and in addition, some of them were drenched with foul water, and the disgraceful scenes were continued until they retired to the church, having finished the rounds as laid out by their committee.

Wednesday, April 8th, the Pilgrims appeared, and so did the Hessian band, but the latter were forbidden by the mayor from annoying the ladies, and the day passed quietly. Every saloon was visited, and the crowds who witnessed the exercises kept the best of order. Thus the tardy order of Wednesday demonstrated who was responsible for the disgraceful disorder of Tuesday--not the women, who continued their exercises as usual, but they who sought to interrupt them, and the guardians of our peace, who permitted peace and good order to be sacrificed at the expense of their oaths of office and the good name of the town. Thursday, the Hessian band, in some instances, was inside the saloons when the ladies approached, and they played lustily during their presence outside, but there was no excitement, no crowd, and no event of special note. In the afternoon the ladies entered the store of George Ritz, who endeavored violently to eject them, and in closing the door he injured one of them so that she could not move her arm. Several days afterwards the doctor discovered that her shoulder-blade had been broken. She was a very frail young lady, the youngest daughter of the Baptist minister, Rev. L. G. Leonard, D. D., and the accident was very much regretted by Ritz.

About this time the ladies adopted the picket system, which consisted in two or more ladies remaining in front of a saloon, and taking the names of all who entered. The pickets were on duty two hours at a time. This system was carried on for several days, during which time the bands of ladies continued to carry on the work with more or less activity. At several of the saloons these pickets were furnished with chairs. Some of the ladies on picket duty were insulted and subjected to mean remarks made to them by coarse and vulgar men.

When the Crusade was inaugurated in Bucyrus, petty politicians proclaimed that the ladies had been sent out by certain men in order to create an excitement by which the spring elections could be carried, and they sneeringly declared that as soon as the election was over the ladies would discontinue their work. But when the women continued their exercises before the saloons day after day, the saloon-keepers became alarmed, for their business had fallen off fully one-half, and they demanded of the authorities that the Crusade should be stopped. The town council and the mayor, having been elected by the saloon-keepers and their friends, were their willing tools, and on April 17th, an ordinance was passed by which the Crusade could be stopped. This ordinance was to take effect May 2d. The ladies did not appear disturbed at the prospect before them, but continued their work. Union meetings were held at the different churches, addresses being delivered by prominent workers from all parts of the State. Tuesday evening, April 28th, the Ladies’ Executive Committee met the town council, and explained to the members of that body that while they could not discontinue their street exercises, it was from no want of respect for the council, who represented the constituted authority of the town, but because they considered themselves conscientiously bound to continue, from a sense of duty to a higher authority than the town council. The council, through the mayor, gave the ladies to understand that the ordinance would be enforced and they would be arrested. One of the members of the council read to the ladies from Romans, 13th chapter, verses 1 and 2: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” One of the ladies turned immediately to the second chapter of Romans, and read the third verse: “And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” And also verse 21: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest not thou thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?” Meanwhile the Christian women were fervently in earnest, relying on their own conscientious sense of their duty to their God, while the council were shamefully determined to cast their whole power in favor of drunkenness, crime, systematic violations of law, full poor-houses, crowded jails, and overflowing penitentiaries, and to crush out temperance, virtue, happy homes, and the Christian women who adorn them. The women were informed by the Hon. Judge Scott, who was a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio for fifteen years, that the ordinance was unconstitutional, and they were advised to pay no attention to it. During the three weeks which intervened between April 9th and May 2d, the ladies were permitted to continue their exercises; very little attention was paid to them by the proprietors of the saloons, and but few or no spectators attended them. This profound calm continued until Friday night, May 1st, and the ordinance was to take effect the next day.

Saturday, May 2d, the town was filled with an unusually large crowd; the ladies, having previously determined, that, as they seldom appeared on the streets Saturdays, they would not go out on the 2d day of May. Sunday evening an unusually large temperance mass-meeting was held at the Lutheran Church. Monday morning the weather was inclement and very damp, and the ladies did not appear. In the afternoon four bands, of about twenty each, left the M. E. Church and proceeded to the saloons of Messrs. Ritz, Mollenkopf, Hesche, and the Alcorn House, at the western side of the public square. At the three latter places the exercises were held, and no attention was paid to the women. At Ritz’s saloon a large crowd collected, and the ladies were well-nigh surrounded, but there was no special force or disturbance used by the extra police, who were active in keeping order, in requesting the women to move on, and in taking the names of such as refused, and they succeeded in getting all their names. The appearance of these four bands on the square at the same time and the sound of their voices in singing was unusually fine. Passing from the square the four bands proceeded to Fulton’s drug store, to Mader’s, and to Peters & Lauderbach’s. At Fulton’s the clerk came out and commenced to speak roughly, and to push the women, when one of the special police immediately caused him to desist, and not create confusion. Some earnest urging and rather rough handling was experienced from some of the other specials, but nothing serious, and the exercises proceeded. At Peters & Lauderbach’s there was considerable confusion and some roughness, but after a short time the ladies held their ground and the exercises proceeded. At this place, while one of the ladies was kneeling with her companions, one of the specials, three several times, lifted her up and carried her to the railroad (several rods from her companions); each time she rebuked him in the most earnest terms, and each time returned immediately to the band. Finally, her censures and rebukes were so earnest that the fellow got ashamed of himself, and retired from his post, vowing he would make no further attempts to oppose the ladies. Thus the noble women went on with their good work, and in the evening returned to the church. It was a matter of general surprise that no arrests were made, but it finally “leaked out” that no provision had been made by the council for trying the ladies; and in case they demanded a trial by jury, to which they would be entitled, the authorities would be powerless, for no provision had been made for forming a jury. The mayor, therefore, instructed the special police, to keep the women “moving” but make no arrests.

The next morning, Tuesday, May 5th, commonly called “Black Tuesday,” by the Crusaders of Bucyrus, the pilgrims appeared. A band of them approached Ritz’s saloon. Immediately a scene took place that no power or words can adequately describe. A swarm of specials almost instantly appeared, and when the noble women prepared to stop, they were seized, and pushed, and pulled, and hustled, and driven, and dragged in a most outrageous and brutal manner, until they were finally gotten to the pavement in front of Morgan’s barber-shop. Here they stood bravely at bay, and told the specials that if they intended making any arrests they would offer no resistance, but they, the specials, had no right to interfere with them or touch them in any other manner--that Morgan had not ordered them away, and they had a right to remain. The unfortunate specials, each one, with a few exceptions, armed with a regular hickory bludgeon--a sign far more of his cowardice than of his authority--realized their want of power, and the brave ladies proceeded with their exercises. These being concluded, they passed on to the adjacent saloon of Mollenkopf’s. Here the same scenes of outrageous violence were re-enacted with increased brutality: the women were pushed, and pulled, and hustled, and dragged, and savagely assaulted, and openly abused, with vituperations and oaths by wretches who were not worthy to dust the shoes of these women. They experienced, literally, every indignity but a square blow. Such cowardly blows as could be secretly given, seizures and violent pushes, amounting in effect to blows, were given continually, but the brave band held its ground, by retiring from the pavement to the curb in front, and then stood at bay and defied the cowards, who, if they had any manhood whatever, would have suffered themselves blows and kicks without number rather than thus to have outraged their manhood by such treatment of women. One miserable wretch, who has not done an honest day’s work for years, approached two ladies, and standing opposite to them, after they had brought the specials to bay, and defied them, cursed and blasphemed in vindication of his manhood, and said to them; “You are a d--d pretty set of Christians, you are! you’re a d--d set of hypocrites; that is what you are!” Such detestable conduct from a miserable coward, sworn to preserve order, was exceedingly abominable.

While these scenes were being enacted, another band of ladies was being treated in the same outrageous manner in front of Donnenwrith’s saloon. Citizens who expostulated with the ruffians were seized and hurried from the crowd. A stranger by the name of Furguson, a gentleman from Delaware, Ohio, who committed the heinous enormity of saving a lady from falling down a cellar, into which she was being pushed by one of the mayor’s pets, was taken before that illustrious magistrate and fined five dollars. Another brave policeman captured a youth of sixteen, and the only reason was, the bully wished to arrest some one, and young Howenstein was delicate, quiet, and easy to take. Still another arrest was made by a special, and when he appeared with his prisoner before the mayor, the only charge he brought against his man was, “that it was Bill Trimble, who was a good temperance man.” A young man was struck down with a billy, and the blows six times repeated on the nape of the neck, as each time he attempted to rise. This act was wanton, without any provocation whatever. During that morning, at every saloon they visited, these atrocious outrages were perpetrated by this band of ruffians, acting as a special police, who were, with a few exceptions, the “scum” and the “off-scouring” of the community. Women were thrown down, were dragged and wrenched by brute force from posts and rails to which they clung; were seized by ruffians who were intoxicated, and carried several rods from their companions. The police would join hands, and the brutal crowd behind them would push, and the power exerted by this solid force of men was sufficient to fairly sweep everything before them, and they thus succeeded in making the women “move on.” All the time these helpless ladies were demanding to be arrested if they had done wrong, but protesting against such violent treatment, but of no avail: at every saloon the same odious acts and detestable proceedings were enacted, until the whole town trembled on the verge of a bloody riot. A more atrocious, abominable, iniquitous series of outrages were never offered to ladies; and these the wives, daughters, and mothers of the best men of the community! suffering such infamous treatment because they dared to publicly sing and pray against the evils of the liquor traffic.

At noon, citizens appeared before S. S. Caldwell, justice of the peace, and entered complaints against several of the specials, and warrants were issued for their arrest, on charges of assault and battery. In the afternoon a test trial was held before the same officer, and one of the specials was bound over to appear before the grand jury. The editor of the _Journal_ earnestly and indignantly remonstrated with the mayor, against the acts committed by his specials, and finally obtained from that officer the following declaration, which he immediately printed and circulated: “My instructions to the special police are, to use no violence either to the women, or to the men; and, if any such violence has been used, I shall instruct the police immediately to desist from it.” In consequence of these instructions and the effect produced by the arrest of several specials, the ardor of the willing police was cooled, and the afternoon passed without any further disturbance, except in front of Shaw’s. This man, who is a sensible, orderly citizen, when sober, was inflamed with liquor; he had just opened a new saloon, and was most indecent in his treatment of the ladies. He told them in plain terms, in a violent harangue, that they were no better that the vilest women of the street, whereupon, Mr. Furney, a livery-stable-keeper, of Mansfield, who had a wife and daughter among the Crusaders of that place, caused him immediately to “take it back,” which Shaw did. Excepting this indecent insult, the afternoon passed without any serious disturbance.

Wednesday, May 6th, large crowds followed the women, but the best of order prevailed, and they were permitted to continue their exercises free from insult or injury, save at the saloon of Peters & Lauderbach. The wives of these men had prepared for the ladies, and in some cases literally drenched them with water. Some of the citizens, indignant at such treatment, could hardly be restrained from sacking the house; but prominent men interfered, better counsels prevailed, and the excitement subsided. Thursday, Van Amburgh’s show exhibited in Bucyrus, and the ladies did not appear on the streets. In the evening the council passed two ordinances to amend and correct the deficiencies of the former ordinance, which two were to take effect on the 18th day of May, and until that day the ladies continued their work, no further obstacles being placed in their way by the authorities. The women desired to test the ordinance by a trial, and having retained Judge Scott to defend them, they discontinued their work in front of the saloons for a few days, because the judge could not devote his time to their case until court, which was then in session, adjourned. During the next ten days they held religious exercises in front of business establishments, in different quarters of the town, permission having been obtained of the owners. The ladies presented a very fine Bible to Mr. Harvey E. Morgan, a colored barber, for kindly permitting them to remain in front of his shop, and continue their exercises on Tuesday, May 5th, after they had been swept from the pavement in front of Ritz’s, by the overpowering force of the brutal police. Having granted them permission to hold a prayer-meeting on his pavement, he was seriously injured in his business by twenty-five of his customers removing their shaving-mugs from his shop.

The street work was all but discontinued, and many of the ladies had virtually abandoned the work as hopeless; but they desired to place the responsibility where it belonged--with the town council; and on Monday, June 1st, they renewed their exercises in front of the saloons, having, since May 18th, held exercises at the most public places of the town, and all around the saloons, without creating any disturbance whatever, and, therefore, demonstrated that street-praying and singing, in and of itself, did not cause any disturbance. In the evening they visited Lindser’s, who was evidently completely taken by surprise, and exclaimed, somewhat roughly, in effect, if not in words, “See here! Get out of this! I thought this thing was played out. I won’t have you here.” The ladies moved to the edge of the sidewalk, and finished their exercises, and proceeded to Jahn’s, Rettig’s, and then to Shaw’s, who commenced with his usual ruffian indecency, and a large and disorderly crowd commenced to assemble. A scene of intense excitement and confusion immediately took place. The ladies were violently interrupted. The indecent crowd, whose faces had become familiar to them, began to jostle and jam and swear and riot in the old style. Shaw ordered the ladies away, and, as they did not go, he proceeded to take their names. The ladies continued their exercises, subject to these interruptions, and retired to the church.

Shaw complained to the mayor, and the following indictment was preferred against Mrs. Trimble, one of the ladies:

AFFIDAVIT.

THE STATE OF OHIO, Crawford County, _ss_.
Incorporated Village of Bucyrus.

Before me, James M. Van Voorhis, Mayor of said incorporated village
of Bucyrus aforesaid, personally appeared William R. Shaw, who being
duly sworn, according to law, deposeth and says, that on the first
day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four, at and within the incorporated village of Bucyrus,
aforesaid, one Kate Trimble, then and there being, upon one of the
streets of said incorporated village, did then and there, unlawfully
and wilfully disturb the peace and quiet of said village, and
the citizens thereof, by then and there unlawfully and wilfully
hallooing, vociferating and singing upon the said street of said
village, in violation of section three of an ordinance of said
incorporated village, entitled: an ordinance to preserve good order
within the limits of Bucyrus, and prevent annoyance to business,
disorderly conduct, noise and disturbance within said village, passed
April 17th, 1874.

W. R. SHAW.

Sworn to before me, and subscribed in my presence by William R. Shaw,
this 1st day of June, 1874.

J. M. VAN VOORHIS. [Seal.]

Mrs. Trimble appeared before the mayor, and by her counsel demanded a trial by jury. The case was adjourned until Wednesday afternoon, in order that the necessary arrangements might be made, and then readjourned until Thursday morning. The mayor, after considerable hesitation and parleying, consented to hold the trial in the court-room, in order that all who desired might attend. Thursday morning the jury was formed, and the trial began. It extended through three days, and was a perfect farce, committed in the name of justice. Throughout the trial the corrupt mayor, by his partial decisions and the most unjust rulings, aided his friends, the saloon-keepers, to the full extent of his power. The jury was packed, and everything else had been arranged for the conviction of Mrs. Trimble. Friday afternoon Judge Scott delivered a very long and able speech in behalf of the ladies. Saturday afternoon the jury rendered a verdict of guilty, and Mrs. Trimble was fined $15 and costs, amounting to $100 more; (this was paid by the Men’s League.)

The counsel for the ladies filed a bill of exceptions to several of the rulings of the mayor, and upon being carried to the Supreme Court, the decisions were reversed, and a new trial granted. Owing to the crowded condition of the docket of the Supreme Court of Ohio, this case was not reached until several months afterwards, and a new trial was not pressed, but the case was dropped. After the verdict was rendered, Mrs. Trimble refused to pay the fine, and refused to take security, which was offered by several, preferring to go to jail. She was advised to do this by a number of the ladies, but their counsel protested against such a course, and the security was accepted by her, and she was discharged. A number of the ladies were in favor of continuing the work, and suffering the penalty, but they were advised by prominent temperance men that it would be useless, and the street work was discontinued. The ladies still continue their union temperance prayer-meetings, and are waiting and praying for the time when every knee shall bow to, and every tongue proclaim the glory of their great Leader--Emanuel.

Although but three years have passed since the ladies of Bucyrus were so shamefully treated for praying that the saloons might be closed, three of those saloon-keepers have passed to another world. One died from old age; another was thrown from his wagon and sustained injuries which caused his death a few days afterwards; the third, while under the influence of liquor, committed suicide by shooting himself through the brain and heart. Shaw, who abused the ladies so terribly, signed the pledge during the Murphy movement, and has since that time been a new man.

Our ladies have discontinued their “street” work, but their prayers have never ceased to ascend to the God who preserved his chosen people for forty years in the wilderness, until he finally permitted them to enter the land of promise. The liquor-dealers are more powerful, more corrupt, and more defiant than ever before; but the “soul” of the Crusade is “marching on,” and it will continue to march on, until every saloon and brewery and distillery in the nation has been closed, and America is free from the terrible curse of intoxicating liquors.

In connection with the disgraceful scenes which the impartial historian has been forced to record in the history of the work at Bucyrus, I desire to call attention to the subject of European emigration and the liquor traffic, discussed in another chapter.

The liquor traffic is mainly in the hands of a degraded criminal class of foreigners--a class who, although clothed with the rights and privileges of citizenship, are enemies, open and defiant, to American institutions and usages, and noted for lawlessness. As a class, they are criminals and criminal-makers.

ELYRIA, OHIO.

The following facts were furnished by the Society, through Mrs. S. C. Ely:

The great temperance wave that swept over Ohio reached Elyria, on the evening of March 5th, 1874. An enthusiastic mass-meeting was held, and an appointment for a meeting of the women of the place was made for the next morning at the Presbyterian Church. The large edifice was well filled, and an attentive audience was addressed by a lady from Cleveland, and other speakers.

The women of our staid little town were moved as never before. They had hitherto obeyed most faithfully the apostolic injunction to “keep silence in the churches;” but the flood-gates were about to give way. Lips were unsealed on that occasion; voices were consecrated to the cause of truth that still ring out in its defence with no uncertain sound.

Among those present were many who had borne the heavy yoke imposed by intemperance, and touching were their appeals for help against their mighty foe.

All the strong woman-heart responded in the solemn affirmative to the question, “Shall we organize a Woman’s Temperance League in Elyria?” To many the answer contained the martyr’s heroic decision, so repugnant seemed the warfare; but the unwillingness to meet the solemn duty of the hour was still more awful.

An organization was effected, and seventy names secured. Encouraged by able and devoted Christian pastors, the movement was baptized in prayer, and has ever since held on by the same strong arm for its support.

At the opening of the Crusade there were sixteen saloons, one brewery, and four drug stores where liquor could be purchased, in Elyria. The first visit was made to the druggists, and after a few days the names of the four were enrolled on a stringent druggists’ temperance pledge.

On March 9th the first saloon was visited. A procession, consisting of seventy-five ladies, passed slowly along our principal streets, two by two, producing a solemn spectacle, watched by many with uncovered heads and tearful eyes. It was decided to visit first the largest and strongest fortress of the enemy, and as the long company filed into the bar-room the interest became intense. All was quiet at our approach, and even solemnly did the landlord and his wife receive us. After permission to hold religious services, which was always gained before proceeding in our exercises, the whole band broke forth into the hymn, “Nearer, my God, to Thee.”

The contrasting scenes served to give a fresh meaning to the words, throwing them into bold relief, and thus aptly expressing the old conflict between good and evil. Prayers, earnest and full of inspiration, followed; and argument and entreaty were used. Then began the pleas so constantly put forward afterwards: debt, the necessity of continuance in the business for the support of the family, overtures to sell out at fabulous prices--till it began to seem that the Crusade might be turned into a vast relief agency for the benefit of bankrupt saloonists.

That March afternoon witnessed the same long file wending its way down the principal street, filling another saloon with sacred influences, and raising the look of wonder and awe in faces unused to praise. At last the bolted doors of two saloons in close proximity demanded the necessity for services upon the steps. A crowd gathered eagerly around the band, hymns were sung, and in that bleak March air, prayers went up for the inmates of those saloons. Pledges were afterwards circulated among the crowd, and many names secured. Earnest appeals were made to all, and a solemn influence was felt, as if Heaven were very near. One more saloon visited, and the first day of the Crusade was over.

The opposing forces were now fairly met, and their strength vaguely measured.

From this time on, for six weeks, two daily prayer-meetings were held, from which committees went forth to plead, with prayer, song, and argument, with the men who dealt out these destructive drinks.

Evening visitations were often conducted. Quietly but suddenly a band of women would stand in the midst of drunken revelry; the coarse, brutal jeer only stimulated the women to greater effort, and made them feel the full force of the giant evil they were combating; and deeper grew the power and solemnity of their appeal to God, that He would exorcise this fearful demon, and restore order and beauty to His creation.

Many touching remarks were made among the bystanders at the saloons. Said one man: “Men have worked forty years to accomplish what women, aided by the Spirit of God, have done in one month.” Another: “Oh! that they had begun this movement ten years ago--before I was bankrupt in body and soul,” And often from fevered lips a murmured “God bless you!” gave a fresh impulse to effort.

After three weeks of constant labor, the first surrender was effected. Solemnly was the name written to the dealers’ pledge, followed by prayers within and ringing of bells without, while “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” broke forth spontaneously as the beer was poured into the gutter. Another dealer, at the same time, signed the pledge for three months, but soon after sent word he would sign it for life. The full force of the Crusade, one hundred and twenty-five ladies, met him and received his final pledge. In the general enthusiasm, amid a great throng, the barrels were rolled into the gutter, while “Glory, Hallelujah!” filled the air. Following this, an aged lady, whose life has been an intellectual, and a spiritual benediction to this people from their earliest days, offered prayer.

Being small of stature, a pulpit was quickly improvised from a beer barrel, and never did priestly altar serve a grander purpose. Her spiritual face and form lifted above the crowd, with outstretched arms, as if accepting the opportunity as the crowning gift of a long and useful life, she gave utterance to one of those inspired petitions that have their birth in a moment of spiritual exaltation. The troubled sea before her seemed to feel a divine influence, and to hear the voice saying: “Peace! be still!”

Yet other victories were gained, until eight saloons had closed their doors.

In the meantime, no stone was left unturned in the great struggle. Campaigns, flank movements, military stratagems and surprises, worthy of the brain of a Von Moltke, were planned and executed. The Catholic priest and the two German pastors were visited and appealed to for their influence in their different churches. They were all interested in the success of the cause, but were not quite sure of the means used, nor of the propriety of removing a temptation, which, in the mind of one of them, had a divine origin.

German citizens were visited, and a commingling of nationalities took place never before known, and though much antagonism was created, each learned to view the situation from the other’s standpoint more clearly than ever before, and to make allowance for difference of opinion.

To the question of an intelligent German saloonist, “Why should the women of America feel more on this subject than the women of Germany?” the answer was made, “In your country men and women alike are under one central power--one emperor controls you both. Here _you_ are all emperors, while _our_ part in this great government is simple obedience. Now there is one right we women _must_ be allowed, and that is, to see to it as far as we can, that you carry a clear brain and a true heart along with this power.”

The McConnelsville ordinance prohibiting the sale of ale, beer and wine by the glass, was passed March 28th, creating much irritation, for though not directly the work of the Crusade, it was charged to it, and the saloonists intrenched themselves behind what legal rights they had left, more strongly than ever, and for a time, visiting saloons seemed powerless for good.

At this period our membership amounted to 209; 114 calls had been made, and 519 signatures to the pledge had been secured.

April 29th marks a golden day in our calendar, for that evening, Temperance Hall, an old saloon which had been fitted up attractively with pictures, papers, magazines and a musical instrument, was dedicated as a home for those we had rescued, and a rallying point for ourselves, the crystallization of our work. Here, for two months, a meeting for prayer and business was held every afternoon, and from them, bands were sent forth to visit. A committee for each week provided for the evening’s entertainment of music, readings, etc., and during the summer the hall was liberally patronized. A prayer-meeting was also sustained here during the entire year on Saturday eve. Saloon hours were observed, and many a young man was brought under religious influences, and signed the pledge and dates the new life from those days.

The McConnelsville ordinance being manifestly disregarded and disorder prevailing, these earnest workers felt they could not give up the ground they had so courageously fought for, and began the arduous and unpleasant duties of “picketing.” This proving very exasperating to many in our community, all objectionable features were removed, and a “visitation” was substituted by which bands would ask admittance to the saloons, and, if allowed, would remain many hours in conversation with the saloonist and his friends, urging the great duty of the hour. Many times, it is true, he would retaliate, and ladies found themselves prisoners, but always employed the time to the best advantage. Persecution also showed itself at Temperance Hall; stones were thrown into the room through the windows, and angry crowds collected at the doors.

On June 2d, the Lorain County Temperance Society was organized at a lively meeting held in Elyria of representatives of nearly all the towns in the county, and continues a vigorous organization. Reports showed that twenty-one out of the thirty-nine saloons in the county had been closed. At this time a county visitation was provided for, Elyria being assigned six towns to visit before the August election for the new State constitution, with a license clause to be added or rejected. Thirty meetings were held in the different towns and school districts, addressed mostly by women, though often carrying ballast in the form of minister or lawyer, (more often one who combined all the professions,) to satisfy the shrewd farmers, incredulous of the mental capacity of women to expound the weightier points of the law.

Visitation from house to house was kept up for many weeks previous to the election, and in the house and by the wayside, much temperance seed was sown. The result, so well known, strengthened the hearts of the laborers.

The Elyria _Republican_, one of the best weekly papers in northern Ohio, and a sterling advocate for the temperance cause, was started in October, 1874, and grew out of the Woman’s Crusade. The order from the Lake Shore Railroad Company prohibiting their employés entering a saloon, was the result of the temperance agitation of northern Ohio.

During the ensuing winter of 1874-75, the spirit of work being upon us, but laws unobserved, and public sentiment unfavorable to direct temperance effort, a Relief Committee for the poor of our place was added to our League. The town was districted and thoroughly visited. The sum of $358.11 was raised, besides numerous articles of comfort contributed and distributed among our poor, with the exception of $63.47 sent to the relief of Kansas sufferers.

A large and commodious room was secured in place of the old one, and occupied April 1st, 1875, and Temperance Hall still continues to be an important institution in our midst. A Tuesday afternoon prayer and business meeting is always held there, and so much of importance requires attention on these occasions, that three hours are often spent by the faithful ones, who never fail to attend.

The Temperance Lyceum, composed of sixty-seven young people, often attracting many more to their lively debates and entertainments, on Tuesday evening of each week, is the most hopeful feature of the winter of 1875-76. A jail visitation has also been added to our work during the past winter, from which reports have been of deep interest.

And now, as we cast our eyes over the years, we miss the beloved faces of many who started with us in this work. The patriarch whose constant presence and prayers at our meetings were a ceaseless benediction; the voice, sweetest of all in its pleading tones for the right, now caught up into the angel choir; the aged mothers in Israel who led in feeble strains our earthly petitions, now strong in the life above, and, with the door scarce closed between us, the man of God, who strengthened us by every good word and work--“All folded their pale hands so meekly,” “Spake with us on earth no more.”

And our work--what shall we say of that? To the superficial view the result is humiliatingly meagre. Broken promises lie scattered along the past, thick as dead leaves in autumn; friends grown cold and faithless, enemies defiant and triumphant.

But to the vision opened by faith a fairer view is revealed. In that unseen realm, where every true prayer here, sparkles with its own divine radiance, and every struggle for God and humanity is wrought into beauteous form and color; there may we see, undimmed by the mists of earth, the glorious fabric we have helped to weave.

Let us then be up and doing, and by all the experience of the past two years--richest of our lives--and by the memory of our cherished dead, renew our vows and clasp hands again for the work, as long as a brother man lies in the sepulchre of drunken degradation, and we have power from God to work.

ATHENS, OHIO.

I am indebted to Miss Helen Walker for the following facts: The temperance wave touched our place on the evening of February 4th, when in a little company of Christians, a letter from McArthur was read, speaking of the work there, and urging the women of Athens to attempt a similar one here.

A prayer-meeting was appointed for eight o’clock the following morning, to which came a number of earnest women, and a few men ready to encourage them. Women came who knew what it was to see loved ones cast away strength, and talents, and all fear of God, and lie down in a drunkard’s grave; and women came, who in secret, with tears, had been crying: “How long, O Lord?”

Since the commencement of this work, an aged mother in Israel has often remarked: “No one knows how the evil of intemperance has burdened my heart during the past winter. Though not suffering from it in my own family, yet to see so many young men yielding to its influence made one tremble for the future of our country. Oh! how many nights I have besought God to stay this evil. There were times when I could pray for nothing else.”

No doubt other Christians in our land had this subject pressed home to their hearts in the same way, and the foundations of this wide-spread temperance revival lies in such prayers.

Well, the women who met on that morning of February 5th, 1874, organized their meeting, chose President, Vice-President, and Secretary, drew up pledges, and talked of the work before them. But beyond all that they cried to the Lord their God, and set themselves to walk carefully before Him, and seek His guidance. Other prayer-meetings followed until the day fixed upon for going forth to the saloons. Ah! then there was sinking of heart, and shrinking and trembling.

On the morning of the 10th of February they signified, by rising to their feet, their willingness to go forth. How weak they felt, yet how courageous, and what a _strange_ courage is that which accompanied trembling limbs and tear-bedimmed eyes. Then was illustrated Paul’s paradox, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” But with some the shrinking so prevailed over faith, that they went not up to the battle in the beginning. With slow steps and prayerful hearts they left the church, after joining in the solemn hymn:

“A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify.”

They walked under a heavy burden that morning, but trusting in the Lord, they went forth feeling in their souls, that “He had sounded forth the trumpet which should never call retreat.”

Three saloons were visited, but no signatures obtained, but an unseen Leader strengthened their hearts. One of the number said, “When I first opened my lips to pray, my heart grew light, and never before did I experience such a sacred nearness to God.”

In the afternoon the band increased in numbers, and they visited five places, still no signatures. The following day, February 11th, five saloons in the edge of town were visited, and one signature obtained on the dealers’ pledge; at the end of the week three druggists and two dealers had signed the pledges presented to them; a third dealer had given his promise not to sell, and a fourth had closed his saloon. These two names were afterwards placed upon the pledge.

During the next week prayer-meetings were held in four different saloons, which also had been visited the previous week. Two saloons closed this week, one saloonist putting his name on the pledge. On Friday, February 27th, one dealer signed the dealers’ pledge, and the personal pledge for one year. The following Monday, March 2d, still _another_ dealer signed. No name was obtained from _this_ time until three weeks had elapsed, but on the afternoon of March 25th the last druggist signed the pledge, and our work seemed drawing to a close. But much yet remained to be done to give permanence to what had been already accomplished, and to crown the work with complete success.

But still they keep praying for those who had agreed not to sell or drink intoxicating liquors. They were often remembered in prayer by name, that God would keep them faithful to their pledges.

One day when the workers were gathered in a place which seemed strange and unfamiliar, one of our number spoke In these words: “Ever since I engaged in this work I have seemed to see before me my Saviour hanging on the cross. I see Him with His bowed head, suffering, dying for me, and I want you all, with me, to think of this when our work seems heavy to us, and the way grows weary. He has done so much for us, let us do somewhat for Him.” After that sweet appeal their hearts burned within them, and did they not draw nearer to the dear cross? At other times, when the flesh was weary, and faith drooped, how a few words from the Bible would cheer them! “I will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth even forever more.”

Time would fail to recall the many incidents and memories connected with this work. We have been more than repaid for all our weariness and anxiety, by our sweet Christian communion with each other, and with Jesus, and by seeing this cause, which is of the Lord, prospering, and we pray that he will still carry it on to a sure completion.

Laura Ballard adds the following:

The Crusade work in our town was characterized by great earnestness and spirituality; and those of us who were engaged in it will never cease to thank the Lord for the part we were permitted to take in it. The sin of intemperance is very far from being done away with in our town; but when some sneeringly tell us, “the woman’s work did no good, things are worse than before,” we can only say, we don’t understand just how, and why it is; but we _know_ that, that work was of the Lord, and we were called to it, and the Lord never makes mistakes.

A temperance prayer-meeting has been kept up ever since that time, and is now well attended. We meet during the warm weather at eight A. M., on Friday morning. It is cheering to see twelve or fourteen mothers and housekeepers lay aside their morning work for an hour of earnest pleading with the Lord for a blessing on those who never pray for themselves.

COLUMBUS, OHIO.