The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-03-20

ance present was evidence he had done so
God had preceded him in the matter and wa
willing the work should begin here, havin,
instiled into the minds of the people the i'm
portance Of the work. 1t could not be carried
forward differently, To see such multitude
whose minds were centersd upon one subiec
was evidence that God was in the work. 1
was not in the power Of man 80 to concentrat,
the minds of the people. Had meeting o
this kind been called three months ago, yor
could not have brought the people out. They
would have said it is the old story we have
heard for forty years, and they would not have
come out. But now we see the churches and
the people everywhere engaged in the work.
He would endeavor to show them by compa-
rision how the work should be done. The vast
good which had been accomplished since tt 9
| work began, was evidence man could not have
accomplished it but that Gods power was in
it. Ninety-one days ago the work was begun
In Hillsboro, and the seed that was then sown
took root and spread all over the State. It had
spread to the East and to the West, and to the
ANOAbA dAu OOulAAg anu 5l1lk Luo SANS power
which had originated it led in the work and its
progress was unchecked. People thought Gin
cinnati could not be afected-that while the
movement might be successful IN small places
1t could not succeed in such dense communi-
ty. But the work had been begun there, and
the movement was meeting with great success
The movement was not yet fully organized or
lnaugurated, but even before step had been
taken, men came forward and voluntarily gave
up the traffic, saying they feared they had
committed great sin. All the wholesale drug
stores had pledged not to sell to any dealers in
the city, nor to ship to druggists in the coun-
try except for medical purposes. This was
different work from any which had preceded
it. History recorded nothing like it-such
great uprising in such a cause, and it could not
be supposed man planned it, only as it was i'm
planted in his mind by God, Men had opposed
the work, and called it the doings of fanatics,
which could not last. 1t was SO in his town,
and it was SO everywhere, but men were now
hocking to the assistance Of the women. He
had thought with others it was a movement
Of fanatics and would soon die out, but the
work had gone on. When the work commenc-
ed in his town the men had opposed the wo-
men taking hold and exposing themselves to
the inclemancy Of the weather, and proposed
to try the law. The women pleaded that the
law had been tried for forty years without sue
cess, and were firm in their resolve to encom-
pass the saloons. The men at last consented
that they should try the other saloons, but they
would qusll the demoG Van Pelt with the law
They lawed him three weeks and accomplish
nothing, while the women had done their work
and three saloon keepers had j0ined the church
under their gentle and persuasive ministra-
tions. The men were discouraged. The more
theylawsd Van Pelt the more stubborn he be-
came. He feared not man and he sometimes
thinks now he did not even fear God. He
would never have yielded to the efforts to com
pei him by law to close his saloon.
The speaker here related with considerable
pathos, which visibly affected many in the
audience, various experiences during the ssigs
to which he was subjected by the women
his struggles against his convictions, and his
hnal yielding to their continued prayers. It
must, he said, have been with sad heart |
that women took hold of his case. Three |
weeks before they might have begun with |
greater hopes, but during that time he had |
developed into devil in fighting against the
aWiug men. He remembered well their frat
visit He felt then as he had never felt before /
hat this was the means by which he was to
be overcome. He had thought that be might
.errify them and make them fee, and he
would be safe. They knelt and prayed. He
became enraged, but they only sang and
prayed. They came from day to day and had
aith. They prayed that God would enable
Van Pelt to see the evil he was doing. He
hought they might have prayed with faith
or his destruction, and he feared calamity.
But they prayed for his redemption, and ey-
ry day he felt he must yield but something
Ield him back, 1t had been thirteen years
ince he had been inside of church. Thir-
cen years since he had heard the gospel
yet he felt the power Of their pray
7, and he at last yielded. And it waa bv the
mcaey Of prayer the work must be wrought.
W nCA 4AOSCb ASu lnS CLlluI6n OF Israel ont |
I the land of bondage, there were some who
ebelled and wanted to take short way TO
he promised land, but God led the way. And
his Is the way he has chosen to do this work.
fe hoped they would organize, meet night
fter night, 60 forward, and in a short time !
hey would be able to see that God oyerrules
L.
Van Pelt is large man, rough and uncooth
/ his speech, but possessing considerable
'rce and energy, which enables him to hold
le attention Of the audience. !
At the conclusion Of his remarks Rev. Bush
ell led in prayer and was followed by Jacob
owlus, after which Rev. Lease read notice
Lviting the ladies to meet at the parlors of
e Presbyterian church, on Wednesday af-
moon for consultation.
Rev. Lease remarked that they had all
ard Of moral suasion and legal s1asion, and /
cir workings, but this moyementlwas one of
nseience, 1t was an appeal not only to the 4
mixer but to the seller. It came with the I
rec of truth to the heart urging US to pro
ote this cause. Did not pretend to say what
urse would be adopted, was ready to do his
ty al d trust in God. We should not forget
at su cess depends on associating ourselves
tn God, and We should keep the true spirit
gospel reformation in mind.
eV,bacher had a word to offer, although, :,
rhaps, there were some present who had !.
yer prayed, he desired to ask them to pray n
night that God would open way. That
T city might be the abode of quiet and peace
the Sabbath day, instead OF violence and
'auehery. Lay aside the fear of man and
st IN God. Pray tonight that we may be
Ibled to share in the blessings God is SO
'rall y bestowing on those around us.
l meeting for prayer and conference was Bl
lounced for Friday evening, at the Presby- Ar
an church, and with the singing of an ap-
pirate hymn, the meeting adjourned.