Chapter IV: Shelbyville, Indiana (2)

In May of this year our President, Mrs. M. A. Ross, attended the annual meeting of the W. C. T. U. of Indiana, held in Richmond, and there met Mr. Bontacue, one of the leaders of the red ribbon movement. She came home enthused with the subject, and soon after presented the cause in her own church prayer-meeting, getting a response from _one_ brother, that he could stand by her in case Mr. Bontacue should come. And so this faithful band of sisters came together, and prayed over the matter; and with not a few misgivings as to final results, directed the message to him to come.

He arrived the 19th of June, and at first the meetings were small, and for nearly a week very few converts were made to the cause. They felt discouraged, and talked over ways and means for success, and finally appointed a meeting for _men only_, in the Criminal Court room. When the meeting began very few were present, but soon the singing in such an unusual place attracted attention, and one after another dropped in, till there was a tolerably good audience.

That night a young man, well known in the city, belonging to a family of wealth and culture, went forward, signed the pledge, donned the _red ribbon_, and made a little speech. It acted like an electric shock in the community. People flocked thither to see what was going on. Soon they were compelled to adjourn to a larger hall. Other young men joined, making initiatory speeches, and hundreds were unable to get into the hall, and were compelled to go away.

All this time the temperance women stood back, directing affairs, but were not publicly known as being more than other observers. Mr. Bontacue remained some days longer, organizing the Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Clubs, and then left for other fields of labor.

Under the able leadership of the Presidents of the different clubs, the work is still going on. In the city and county, at this date, September 18th, 1877, there are about _four thousand members_. And so our hearts rejoice in the Lord, for He has done more for us than we could ask, or even think.

We can hardly believe our own eyes, as we see these men “clothed and in their right mind,” standing before large audiences, pleading with church members, as well as with drinking men, to come and join them. We hope the work is just begun, and that it will go on till all shall be gathered, not only under the temperance banner, but also into the fold of Christ.

M. A. Ross gives the following interesting incident:

“We had a large distillery here, running in full force, when our work began, and one of our sisters made it a special point in her prayer, to ask that its wheels might be stopped, its doors closed, its grain given to feed the poor, and its men find better employment. In a few weeks it was closed, and has never made another gallon of whiskey since. It went into the hands of the government, and was several times offered for sale, finding no purchaser. It was sold a few weeks ago to a party who are fitting it up as a flour mill; and now, verily, its grain will go to feed the poor.”

MADISON, INDIANA.

I am indebted to Mary E. Sullivan, Secretary of the Union at this place, for the following facts:

The untold anguish of years found utterance at last on the morning of March 5th, 1874. Rev. W. W. Snyder prepared the way for the Quakeress, Mrs. Hunt and her husband, and others, for the Crusade in Madison. And as if we were to meet with the direst opposition from the very outset, the liquor-men, this same evening, met and formed an organization to resist the women.

Mrs. Hunt, after her husband’s address, rose calmly and spoke to the masses crowded into the pews, aisles, and gallery of Old Wesley Chapel. The enthusiasm was intense. On the morning of March 7th, a business meeting came together at Trinity Church. W. M. Monroe gave a stirring address; proffered his aid to do _anything_--work that was too menial for anybody else, to enable him to make amends for wrongs committed years ago, when he kept a hotel before he was God’s servant. Local option prevailed in Indiana, and J. W. Levick urged “action.” Accordingly, after prayer by Mrs. Hunt, the ladies filed out, and moved in a body to the court-house, to visit the commissioners who were then in session. And now, for the first time, the voice of a woman was heard in prayer in that building, and amid the most intense interest and profound attention, she prayed for the court-house officials.

We continued our visits to the commissioners, and committees canvassed the city, urging those who had signed the petitions of saloonists to withdraw their names. On March 9th, the room was crowded to its utmost capacity, and we can do no better than copy from the _Madison Courier_: “Gathered about the three commissioners, and the opposing attorneys, who were seated at the table, was an audience, which, for motley and variegated appearance, challenges the experience of the oldest inhabitant. Side by side, sat or stood, the low, shambling debauchee, and the lady of aristocratic mien and person. Brewers and saloon-keepers with burly bodies and flushed faces, contrasted strangely with the pale-faced, proper-looking parsons, and their adherents. The ‘odor of sanctity,’ and the fumes of tobacco, seemed strangely intermingled, and there was incongruity in everything. Upon the opening of the case, attention was riveted upon the opposing attorneys, John W. Levick, for the temperance cause; and Judge J. R. Cravens, for Donahue.”

Judge Cravens was counsel representing Mr. Charles A. Korbly, who, throughout the Crusade, stood like an adamantine wall against the ladies. On the morning of March 10th, after consulting the county attorney, A. D. Vanosdol, the commissioners refused the license to sell intoxicating liquor to Mr. Donahue. McLaughlin and Gaumer withdrew their applications.

We continued our work quietly and steadily, and a great number of signers to temperance and other pledges were obtained during our canvass of the city. And all the time, the spirit of earnest prayer and deep devotion prevailed, and women tremblingly waited.

We knew that it was our duty to visit the saloons, and at our daily meetings, morning and night, as we came down the aisles of the various churches, each would scan another’s face, and anxiously inquire, “Shall we go?” and the answer would come, “We are not yet prepared.” We agreed to spend one night in prayer. Many wrestled all night with God, and light came in the morning.

On the morning of March 13th, Mrs. Indiana Stiver rose in Christian Chapel and said: “Some of the sisters feel moved to begin the work at the saloons. For more than forty years I have tried to bear the cross, and have never felt its weight more heavily than I do this morning, but I also feel that I will be strengthened by the Lord for the work before us. I feel like Queen Esther--‘I will go in unto the king, and if I perish, I perish, for we are sold, I and my people, to be slain and to perish.’ As many of the sisters as feel moved to go to the saloons, follow me. Let us go into the vestibule and select the place where we will commence. We need a few of those who can sing to go with us. If any of the gentlemen have any advice to give, let them give it now. Let others stay here and pray.” Prayer was offered, and the hymn, “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,” sung, when the praying band assembled in the vestibule.

The reporter of the _Daily Courier_, M. E. Garber, Jr., politely advised us to go to the saloon of Tom Mullen, saying he knew Mullen would treat us well, and walked on before us into the saloon. This band, at first small, but afterwards increased to a hundred or more, consisted in part of

Mrs. Sarah Thomas,
” Indiana Stiver,
” Sarah J. Hughes,
” Malvina Quigley,
” Kate V. Williams,
” Jewel,
” D. G. Stewart.

Arriving at Mullen’s, our band filed in, evidently to the consternation of the proprietor. The evils of intemperance were of course depicted, and permission asked to pray; but Mullen said he preferred we would not do so. And so, thanking him for his courtesy to us, we withdrew; and in all our after visits to him, he invariably treated us politely.

We moved on to Johnson Conaway’s, at the door of which stood the barkeeper, who refused admittance. Our entreaties proving of no effect, we kneeled on the pavement and prayed, the barkeeper in the meantime having opened the door and locked himself in. We then passed on to the saloon kept by Nadler, on Main street, whose door we found locked. Nadler was very rude, talking roughly, saying, “It’s no use to talk to me. If you want to do me any good, give me some money;” and walking off, locked the door behind. During our prayer a window opened above, and an old German woman cried out in mingled glee and wonder, “Oh, see ’em pray! Oh, they are praying!” The ladies now returned to Christian Chapel.

The next morning our band left the German M. E. Church, and called at Frook’s saloon, the proprietor of which treated us well; but several men, with disgusting bravado, stepped to the bar and drank in derision of the women. We next moved on to the Western Hotel, kept by Henry Neisse, followed by an immense crowd. His barkeeper informed us that the proprietor was not yet up, but his instructions were to admit no one, and we prayed on the pavement. Drinks were here taken during prayer. Such was our uniform treatment at Neisse’s. Indeed, so often were we told that he was still in bed, that the house acquired the name of “Sleepy Hollow.”

Broadway Hotel, kept by George Smith, was our next destination, and the scene was terrible. Our band huddled together, and jeering faces closed around us, and a group at the bar continued drinking and clinking glasses, and the women of the house, in an adjoining room, tittering and laughing--altogether making a perfect Babel of confusion.

The Crusaders were followed up street by several hundred people, and they halted at George Glass’, at which place we were greeted with a scene which we are sure had been studied and practised for us. Glass had been known to boast how he would treat us, and the curiosity of the mob was intense, and was amply satisfied in a scene which beggars description, and disgraces the city.

Our leader, Mrs. Stiver, having nearly swooned on the way, had dropped into the house of a friend, and we marched on, led by Mrs. J. F. Hutchinson. The door was locked, and we had no escape from the surging circle that hemmed us in. Again we copy from the _Madison Courier_, adding name: “Those in the rear shoved and jostled to get forward, so the circle narrowed and decreased till there was imminent danger of the kneeling women being crushed under foot. Rough words were bandied about; loud Amens issued from the bar-room; then snatches of derisive song; and amid and above all the din, the orchestra pealed out, rattling and drumming like a steam brass band. But a motherly old lady (Mrs. Susan Buchanan) prayed on, with her hands outstretched, notwithstanding the hideous noise within, as sweetly and calmly as by the bedside of a little child. The praying woman’s action and utterance alike expressed her faith: ‘The Lord will hear us, though the crowd will not.’ Presently Glass elbowed his way through to the doors and threw them open. He spoke pleasantly to the ladies, inviting them in, but the scene within was enough to deter them. A house full of burly men, drinking, and smoking, and acting as boisterously as they well could. In the ladies went, and the rush after them was so great that life was imperilled. They were greeted by the proprietor himself in a kindly manner. He expressed his regret that they had called Saturday, as this was a busy day, and he could not give them the attention they deserved.”

Glass called out, “Come in, ladies, and take a drink, and hear the music. I paid so much for that organ. I keep a respectable house.” Mrs. Hutchinson replied, “If you keep a respectable house, you will stop that noise.” Upon which Mr. Glass, somewhat pacified, ordered, “Bill, stop the organ,” which was done. Beer all this time was flowing gratuitously. But we must add, to the praise of _One who protected each hair of our heads_, that this man’s hand was stayed, and the mob grew comparatively quiet, and Mr. Glass himself conducted himself much more gentlemanly during the rest of our visit, and invited us to call again. Before we were out of the door, however, a boisterous song was raised by those inside.

The effect of this visit was varied. The monster Alcohol grew so hideous in its deformity to one man, that he renounced drink, and became a temperance man.

During our frequent visits to Mr. Glass we were never able to make any impression for good on him. At one time, in response to the entreaties of Mrs. Stiver, he replied, “It’s no use. You can do me no good.” She answered, “Well, Mr. Glass, if we cannot, we will pray that God may.” To which he said, in response, “I take no stock in God.” Mrs. Electa Wilson frequently accompanied us in our visits here and elsewhere, and was very efficient in praying and exhorting the crowds. One morning Mrs. Joseph Todd for the first time accompanied us. Mr. Glass asked, in a very impudent manner, “What can I do? I can’t shovel coal.” And she replied, in a beseeching tone, “You had better shovel coal than ruin our sons.” She had known the effects of this inhuman traffic. He immediately proceeded to have her summoned before Mayor John Marsh, upon charge of “provocation.” Mr. Glass’s counsel refused to make any argument, and after a few scathing remarks from Mr. A. D. Vanosdol, the counsel of Mrs. Todd, the case was dismissed, when our band, who had accompanied her in a body, broke out in a song of thanks.

Mr. Glass afterwards made a cowardly “assault with intent to kill,” upon Mr. Levick, who seemed destined to bear the brunt of the war, and was slowly recovering from an accident in which he narrowly escaped losing his limb, and was then walking around on crutches.

Mrs. Horning locked the doors against us, as did Mr. Effinger. Mr. John Kraut admitted us once, but never afterwards. The house kept by Kraut bears the reputation of being of the class called _fine_, with marble counters and tall mirrors; and manufactured drunkards by the hundreds. Mr. David Humphreys always received us politely, and always treated us well and gentlemanly, but we were never able to make any change in him. C. Kraut refused us admittance. Johnson Conaway did also, and we were never able to see his face. Mrs. Kinne was a reluctant host, but treated us well. At one time the liquor element felt dissatisfied with the reports of the Crusade, as published in the _Courier_, thinking it favored us, and proffered to pay a reporter themselves, if his productions would be published. On our part we felt that we were ridiculed, and on the same day sent a committee to request Mr. Garber, Jr., to discontinue his visits with us. His reply was, “That is what we get for carrying water on both shoulders.”

Henry Pfeiffer’s doors closed, as also did Lohman’s. Mrs. Patrick Devany treated us well. Fred Winnefield always refused us admittance, and we kneeled on the pavement. On April 4th we called on Fred Glass, Mrs. Stiver entering and inquiring for the proprietor. Mr. Glass started up from the rear of the saloon, exclaiming, “What’s here--more praying? I want no praying.” Mrs. Stiver answered, “But see here, Mr. Glass--” Mr. Glass, abruptly, “I want no conversation at all.” So we grouped together on the pavement, and Mrs. Stiver delivered an impassioned address, but we are compelled to add that, as far as we know, we were never able to produce any good effect on Mr. Glass. Mrs. Scheible treated us rudely. Leonard Klein tried how rudely he could talk to us. We were sometimes led by Mrs. Hutchinson, and sometimes by Mrs. Stiver. Great confusion was created on one occasion by Mrs. Thomas, an old lady eighty years of age, and loved by everybody, familiarly spoken of as “Aunt Sally,” stepping into the doorway, and kneeling down to pray. Klein hurriedly ran forward, and rudely drove her up and off. Aunt Sally was so much overcome she could not control her voice, and said, “Oh, excuse me, Mr. Klein, I am old and did not know I was doing any harm!” Mr. Klein frequently told us we were doing more harm than the saloons.

And now we come to trying days indeed, but we were upheld by the power of God. Mrs. Hunt, who some time before this had left the city, was again with us, and Mrs. Stiver avowed her own willingness to sit at her feet and learn of her, and so under her leadership we concluded to visit Walnut street, along which almost every other house was a saloon. We had looked forward anxiously to this time; had heard threats of harshness. Cheeks blanched with fear and voices trembled with unshed tears. But into this stronghold of the enemy we marched, and called first at Mr. Schwab’s, who treated us well, and acknowledged he was ashamed of his business. His wife was glad to see us, and received us into her own sitting-room, thanking us with genuine earnestness. Winters refused to sell while the ladies were present, and a young German, being twice refused, ran behind the counter, drew the cork from the bottle, and was proceeding to help himself, when Winters snatched the bottle from him, and made him leave. Winters firmly avowed his intention to sell, however. John Greiner’s ale-wagon stopped here while we were inside, and men began drinking, and one of them took a bottle to the door, and drank from it ostentatiously. By this time drays, buggies, and wagons stood at the saloon doors, while swarms of human beings gazed upon the solemn procession of sisters, who pushed their way through the rough crowd, and commenced singing at Kimmel’s, who refused to sell drinks in our presence. A lady at the doorway passed through a severe ordeal in barring out the crowd.

Jacob Schuler’s saloon was found filled with men drinking noisily, and there was a perfect jam before and around the door as we approached, and we found Schuler himself intrenched in an arm-chair, haranguing the crowd, crying, “Clear off my pavement.”

When Mrs. Hunt said: “Brother, we were calling on the rest and would not slight thee,” Schuler, pacified, replied, “I am obliged to you for coming.”

Our visit here was amusing in the extreme. Schuler, swearing unconsciously all the time, told of his bravery and exploits in the army, said he came to this country in “1885”--became very angry at any noise inside, swearing, “I can stop that, by ----,” set down quietly, while we prayed, but began again as soon as we arose.

Amid yells and cries, and great confusion, we started for Mat. Baus’, where quite a controversy occurred between Baus and his wife. Baus’ wife interrupted his words, and took up his argument, and Baus seemed hugely amused.

After singing and prayer, we discontinued our visits for the day, but renewed the skirmish the next morning, and called on S. Pfau, who was inclined to shut us out because we passed him yesterday. He talked kindly to us, and expressed a hope that we might succeed.

Not being admitted at Barar’s, Mrs. Hunt made a stirring appeal, after which, and singing and prayer, we closed the Crusade for the day.

At another time, led by Mrs. Stiver, we again went out Walnut street, and finding Solcher’s door closed, we stepped off three paces, and held our usual exercises. Soon a rude crowd gathered.

At Mrs. Woodchopper’s a motley crowd of children by the hundred, women by the score, and men innumerable, all mixed in a confused mass, gathered. A dray with empty beer barrels, the Walnut street hose, country wagons, dogs, etc., completed the company. Mrs. Dr. Little stepped forward, and, in her own kind way, turning to a crowd of children, delivered them an appropriate address. Mrs. Newel also spoke very effectively to some part of the crowd; and amid the confusion and boisterousness Mr. J. W. Levick, that indefatigable temperance worker, jumped into the spring-wagon of Mr. Auger, while Mr. A. held the horse, made an appropriate speech, tending to quiet the people, referring to his own German origin. Several men, in a rough, though not rude manner, interrupted him, asking him questions, to each of which he politely listened and replied. He then jumped to the ground and came near the ladies. During his address he was treated with more courtesy than we had any reason to expect, and one German followed him down-town, desiring to sign the pledge.

And now, having given a brief account of some of our visits to the saloons, which our readers must take as an example of our work in that direction, we will pass on to other matters.

On April 30th, 1874, Hon. Wm. Baxter came to Madison and spoke on the subject of Temperance, two evenings in succession. The Crusaders held a mass-meeting in Wesley Chapel, on the evening of May 6th. The church was well filled, our President, Mrs. Stiver, in the chair. After singing by the choir Mrs. Susan Buchanan led in prayer, after which Miss Emma Vail read a portion of God’s word. Mrs. M. E. Sullivan made a thrilling address.

Mrs. Hutchinson read an essay, and Mrs. Johnson and Miss Mary Page sang solos. Miss Jennie David recited an original poem and when she demanded, “Was it _all_ the fault of the suicide?” the effect was indescribable. Miss David was an indefatigable worker, and willingly did anything our band desired. Mrs. Tibbetts concluded the exercises.

Again, on the evening of June 10th, we held another mass-meeting at the court-house, Mrs. Stiver in the chair. Mrs. Sullivan made the opening address, followed by an essay by Mrs. Anna Dougherty, who in turn was followed by an address by Mrs. Electa Wilson, who from the depths of an earnest soul poured forth thrilling words, which coming from the heart went to the heart. Mrs. Wilson was listened to with rapt attention. Mrs. Gilpin concluded by reading an essay.

In the meantime committees had circulated pledges and procured 2,500 signers to the total abstinence pledge. Our feet were blistered from the scorching streets, while we worked faithfully on, defeating the license of George Glass and others. In this place we must make especial mention of Mrs. Thomas Clark, Mrs. Elizabeth Crane Black, Mrs. Harry Colgate, Mrs. Berryhill, Mrs. James Lewis, Miss Mary McFetridge.

We also held mass and street meetings in various parts of the city and county. We gratefully remember Mr. Nat Williams, who at one time when we held a meeting on his wharf boat, kindly arranged seats and lights, and exerted himself to make us as comfortable as possible. On the arrival of the Louisville and Cincinnati mail packet, the commander, Captain Chas. David, cordially received us on board, followed by an immense crowd. Miss Jennie, daughter of Captain David, again recited an original poem to an attentive audience; and when she feelingly referred to the claim of the saloonists that theirs was a respectable business, and demanded authoritatively,

“If so,
Remove all bolts and bars, and let us see
What gin-shops are, what drunkards do,”

the effect was thrilling in the extreme.

At another time we held service on board the Cincinnati packet, commanded by Captain Sam. Hildreth, who received us cordially. After singing and prayer by Mrs. L. J. Hughes, Mrs. Stiver spoke for some thirty minutes, when after some other devotions we retired, escorted to the shore by Captain Hildreth. Captain Hildreth afterwards attended one of our meetings, was so much impressed that he resolved he would “taste not the unclean thing,” and let us hope that he adheres to his resolution.

A stranger meeting one of our number afterwards informed her that through our efforts, on board the _Buel_ that day, he had ceased the use of intoxicants; and yet we must record the bitter with the sweet and say that the whiskey fraternity gave the United States Mail Company warning that if that performance was repeated, they would ship no more produce with them.

And now, after all these long weary months of suffering and waiting, we have nothing to recall. Led by Jehovah’s hand we did what we could, and we leave the results to him. Though the good done seemed comparatively slight, yet we worked on, and to-day we recognize the recent reform movement in Madison, as the _child of the Crusade_, and as God’s answer to our prayers. We believe that by some agency God will answer our prayers and that _Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin_, is written over every bar-room in the United States as plainly as when the finger of God placed it over Belshazzar’s feast.

We desire to say that we have been warmly seconded by most of the ministers in the city--W. W. Snyder, J. F. Hutchinson, B. F. Cavin, I. H. Hardin, Henry Keigwise and J. H. Barth. And we would especially mention the Rev. Dr. Little and Rev. David Stiver, who have firmly stood by us through all opposition and given their wives their warmest approval. We look forward to the coming day, when our victory shall be complete.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

I am indebted to Mrs. Dr. R. T. Brown, President of the Woman’s State Temperance Union, for the following facts:

When the Temperance Crusade was spreading over the West like wildfire, in February, 1874, the Friends held a temperance meeting in their church.

The Rev. Mr. Bayliss preached a sermon on Temperance at Roberts’ Park M. E. Church, and President O. A. Burges, in a sermon at Bethlehem Christian Church, made strong appeals to the women, spoke of the many saloons in the city, and told them to go out on the streets to work, and he would stand by them and give his assistance at all times, which promise he faithfully fulfilled. Soon after this, a call was made for the women to come to Roberts’ Park Church, to organize a temperance union. The attendance was large, and the meeting enthusiastic. A central union was organized, and soon after each ward in the city organized an auxiliary union. There was a general awakening in the hearts of the women. Well do I remember how large bodies of women met first in church for prayer, then walked in a long procession through the streets to the auditor’s office, and copied the petitions filed for permits to sell liquor, then again met in church for prayer, before going to the Commissioners’ court to expose fraud. They asked leave to open the sessions of the Commissioners’ court with prayer, which was granted, and there they sat from day to-day with dozens of beer-bloated, brazen-faced men, gazing at them.

One morning there were five temperance women in the Commissioners’ court, and an old colored man came in and gave the women five pamphlets, some in prose, some in doggerel verse, containing low, vulgar abuse of the Crusaders. The women hid them, and said nothing. When the women first met from the different churches, they were strangers, but they were soon acquainted and became lasting friends. They held many mass-meetings; they called the ministers into each other’s pulpits to make temperance addresses; in short, the Crusade work brought about a Christian union that nothing else ever had done. Prof. R. T. Brown said it looked like the Millennium had come. The Crusade has been a great blessing to the women of Indiana. It has developed latent powers and faculties which have astonished none more than themselves. They have circulated petitions extensively, and presented, in person, at two successive Legislatures, the names of more than forty thousand citizens, praying relief from the burden of liquor legislation. Besides this, there has been a growth in the social and Christian virtues that other means had failed to produce.

The women kept liquor from being sold on the Exposition Grounds one year, and the next the managers allowed it to come in, and fifty of the leading temperance women pledged themselves not to attend the fair, and published the following card:

TO THE LADY READERS OF THE INDIANA FARMER:

DEAR SISTERS:--Knowing our sex as we do, and its womanly instincts,
keenly alive to all moral questions of conscience and duty, we appeal
to you.

Last year the State Board of Agriculture inserted a clause in
its leases prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors at the
Exposition, and thereby failed to rent the usual number of stands,
losing, as is claimed, several thousand dollars, while there was
probably no compensating increase in attendance on that account.

Consequently, the prohibiting clause is omitted this year, and the
sale of intoxicants will be allowed, unless the applicants fail to
procure a license from the Marion County Board of Commissioners,
which is altogether improbable.

Thus, as is usually the case, moral sentiment has again been
compelled to retire before appetite and avarice, which give to the
liquor traffic all its vitality.

It is also reported that large sums of money ($50,000 in one case)
have been paid to the Centennial management at Philadelphia, for the
privilege of selling intoxicants next year, where our nation, by “an
exposition of its material, commercial, intellectual and political
prosperity, resultant from an hundred years of self(?) government,”
will celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of that day when the
“Old State House” bell proclaimed “liberty throughout the land and to
all the inhabitants thereof.”

It is a sad commentary, that wherever our brothers, sons, fathers
and husbands are expected to gather, there the rum-seller invariably
plants himself, plies successfully his vocation and spreads his
snares.

He does not thus intrude upon gatherings of women alone, for he finds
no appetite to meet his avarice.

Now where, and by whom, shall a standard be raised against this
burning disgrace?

By whom, but the women and the churches? Where, so appropriately as
at our own Indiana Exposition and State and County Fairs?

Are the women of the State of no consideration to its commercial
interests?

Who wear its dry goods and jewels? Who change annually its fashions,
replacing the old with the new, while the old is still tasteful and
comparatively unworn? For whom do its young men dress well? By whose
tasteful housekeeping is the demand created for beautiful carpets,
handsome furniture and table appointments, pictures and other home
ornaments?

To gratify whose taste are thousands of men employed in building
elegant homes?

Who demands sewing machines, improved coal stoves and other
conveniences?

For whose eye is three-fourths of the display of our markets, on
business streets and at the Exposition?

Verily, women have a power for weal or woe, commercially as well as
morally, and can by combination make themselves felt.

Will you not, therefore, Sisters and Christian people, unite with us
in setting our faces like flint against the Indiana Exposition and
State Fair, while the management tolerates the sale of intoxicants?

If these gatherings are for the vicious and immoral, let us abandon
the field to them; if for the virtuous and moral, let such insist
upon a recognition of their moral sentiments; but if they are solely
business enterprises, which must pay at all hazards, let us know it,
and withhold our patronage as we would from a beer garden or saloon.

Mrs. Z. G. Wallace,
” J. H. Bayliss,
” J. A. Ross,
” R. B. Duncan, Sr.,
Miss Auretta Hoyt,
Mrs. H. M. Brown,
” Judge Test,
” M. M. Finch,
” T. H. Sharpe,
” F. M. Farquhar,
Jane Trueblood,
Mrs. Dr. J. R Siddall,
” John Gotschall,
Mrs. Lucia S. Holliday,
” Ovid Butler, Sr.,
” D. B. Harvey,
” Ingraham Fletcher,
” M. M. B. Goodwin,
” Dr. F. G. Carey,
” John S. Newman,
” F. C. Holliday,
” H. Parrott,
” Elijah Fletcher,
Miss Annie Butler,
Mrs. Wm. H. Page,
” R. T. Brown,
and many others.

The consequence was that the Exposition was a failure, leaving the board largely in debt. Since then liquors have been excluded by the board from the fair grounds.

Corresponding Secretary Woman’s National Christian Temperance Union.]

RICHMOND, INDIANA.

Richmond is a beautiful town, containing about 15,000 inhabitants. Of the thirty-one registered saloons, only one was doing a legal business under the Baxter law. The town was of Quaker proclivities, and the Crusade was inaugurated by a few Quaker ladies; but the women of other denominations rallied around them, and the town was soon in a blaze of temperance enthusiasm.

Among the places visited was the “Continental,” kept by one McCoy, which was the finest saloon in the city. McCoy could not stand the prayers and appeals of the women, but unconditionally surrendered. A thousand dollars was raised, and loaned to him to begin another business; and the “Continental _Saloon_” became the “Continental Market.”

August Woeste unconditionally surrendered, and his liquors were poured into the gutter; a public entertainment was given for his benefit. Thomas Lichtenfels treated the ladies with the greatest indignity; he had a license under the Baxter law, and claimed that he was doing a legitimate business. The ladies continued their visits till one afternoon, six or eight ladies who had entered were locked in, and were prisoners from four till nine o’clock P. M. The very worst men in the city were in the saloon at the time, drinking and carousing, singing, and blaspheming in mockery. Beer flowed freely, and the tobacco-smoke was stifling, and the attempts to frighten the ladies were of the most threatening character. The noise and the confusion was so great, that no religious exercises were attempted, but the women sat in silent prayer, while the drunken rowdies offered every insult but actual violence.

The Baxter law required that all saloons should close at nine o’clock. When that hour arrived Lichtenfels released the ladies, and, closing his saloon, said: “This is the last time I will open my saloon--this is too much for me.” For a week the saloon was closed, when, notwithstanding his promise, he reopened again.

The Police Board of the city had it in their power to close all of the saloons of the city, but the one that was licensed; but, instead of hunting up evidence to stop the illegal business, they hunted up a city ordinance preventing the obstruction of the sidewalk, hoping in that way to stop the Crusade. But the ladies, getting a hint of it, changed their tactics, and went out in small companies.

Enthusiastic mass-meetings were held--young men’s meetings, young ladies’ meetings, and daily prayer-meetings--and a public sentiment was aroused that would have closed every rum-shop in the town if they had not been sustained by official influence.

Richmond is the home of Mr. Baxter, originator of the Baxter law.

The women continue their work, adopting various methods, and are waiting and praying for the victory.

MISCELLANEOUS.

The Crusade was carried on in the following towns of Indiana, with more or less success: Fort Wayne, New Albany, Dunkirk, Portland, Muncy, Frankfort, Columbus, Buffton, Kokoma, South Bend, Valparaiso, Lawrenceburgh, Union City, Terre Haute, Greenfield, Bedford, Lafayette, Logansport, Warsaw, Wabash, Franklin.

ILLINOIS.