Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-04-17
TEMPERANCE NO. 9.

reform we have another tidal wave, ex-
centric, strange and unique--the singing ,
and praying bands Of ladies visiting sa- ,
looms and other places, where drunkards
and their evil associates resort, with kind |
words, and fearful prayers. and sacred |
music, they strive to stop the 0ood-gates !!
Of iniquity, and win the unfortunate in |
ebriate from the verge of destruction up
on which he tremblingty stands. No
word of harshness falls from their sanity
lips; no sc)rnful frown settles upon
their placid brow; no scowl of hatred
no look of contempt is seen upon their
heaven-lit ftatur,s But with all the
angelic kindness peculiarly inherent in
woman's nature, they return pity for
scorn prayers for SC ifs and insults
blessing for cursing, and nought but love
for hatred. With true heroic bravery
they endure the storm Of contum ", re-
proach, vile slang and insult that is
hurled against them. Nor do they hesi-
tate to enter the Shiny den of the demon
of intemperance with its noisome atmos-
phere and abominable odors OF Bachan-
alan revels. which are the seIerable
attendants of these breathing holes OF
hell. Here, if permitted by Sltan's
swine herd, who stands behind the bar,
dealing out still-slop to beastifed human
ity, they off;r up their earnest petitions
and intercesslons to their Heavenly
Father, whose ear Is even open to the
heart-broken cries of wives who would
save their husband4; daughters their
fathers sisters their brothers, aud moth
ers their sons, from the vortex of in
terminable ruin and endless despair.
On! God of omnipitence, hear them, and
let the thunderbolrs of thx retributive
justice c"u,h every obstacle that would
hinder the onward progress of their
heaven-bocn mission. DIuntless, fear
less, and perspvering, these bands of
praying females perform their daily
rounds, expostulating with venders of
intoxicating drinks and their dsvotees,
imploring them to desist from their work
of ruin. ext nding to them the temper
ance pledge as the olive branch Uf peace,
which will spread its heavenly and
benign Influence upon the domestic
circle, that before had known nought but
blighted joys. dscord, and misery. Nor
are they inundated by threats of violence
from the low rable which haunt these
dens of infamy, as clrrion .lltures hover
around the rotten carcass, regardless
alike of their obscene iests, their filthy
slang and faal mouthed oaths, and still
fouler stencil of loathsome combinations
of unsavory ojor insep arlble from lhese
fl thy sinth lies Of pollution.
Was ever such sIt-denyino c7n1escen-
sion of virtue aud piety from the sub
lime heights of i5s exalted nature, down
to the lowest depths of vice and degra,
dation, witnessed, since the days of our
blessed SAVIOR, who set US the example
Of inf lite CD Id ;4censi IN, an ba le Us
initiate The same? With the eye of faith
steadily liked upon the promises OF God
and Ih,ir hearts nerved with more than
mortal cuergy, they boldly push the bat
tie to the gates Of the enemy, and de-
mand an unconditional surrender in the
name of the Lord of Hosts. They come
m ,rshaled in battle array, armed with
panoply divine, not with carnal but
spiritual weapons which are mighty
through God TO the puling down of the
strong holds" OF Satan. They come
from the temple OF God, from holding
converse with Deity in prayer, filled
with faith and the Holy Ghost, to rescue
| the victims of this fell monster, and roll
back the fiery tide of druakenness thai
! has sWtps all over our Ian 7, ard wifi
burning waves lavcd Ven the base Of Oh
proud Capitol, cot, NJ the Palladium o.
of L berty. AID pol u-ing the Slnctum
) ,nctOrum of our pulIIicll tabric-drag
ing down from the halls OF COngTes,
so ne of tn brightest ornaments and mes
gifted intellects, 70 a drunkarfs grav,.
What else thi + min ne crusade against
intemperance may a .cOmpliSh, one very
important re .ult has already been pro,
dured The public miHd has been stirred
to it's lowest depths. and this agitation
will purify and elevate public sentiment
upon this subject. AS water IN stagnan'
pools becomes puri and air closely con
lined b. lmes foul and impregnatcd d with
mas matte poison; 50 the public mind a
ease upon a great moral evil degener
ates, aud becumes cOrrdpt. And a:
water agteted 10y flowing with rapiC
current Is purified, and As the poiSonou:
etfluvia In the atmosphere is scattered
and the air puriii'd by stl ong wiads, 81
public sentiment is greatly G eansed ant
corrected by agitation. The budding
prosp CT of this fruit of the crusrie is
alrea ly apparent, and the loag i>tles
apathy OF the public mind his passed
! away, and firm resolve that sOaletItia
shall b. dJne 10 cradle ate the evil. Ia +
taken its place. What this som4ttin
shall be, Is yet in the dim and u K!
,ture, but We trust in the guidance O
asuoprin,enling Providence, (whOSe han
l. evi leu " di played in the working o
this holy crus lde) for direction in Tn
work and manner in which the pro len
Is to he solved. Another re.ult of thi
movem mt il Il W, II developed and clearl
Il fined distinction Of the cJmmunit
into three gra irs or classes.
, In the first class we ii Id all the friend
AID patrons of the Temperance ctusr
embracing all the pious an inteligrn
elcmcnt Of society, as Will as all tE
most refined and Respectable portion {
T. lilllllul' v. nj any III illt'l VI vi
church g lrist shOnid oppose The ten
p-ranoe IL form, or any measures c, pr,
t IN Drp il, is TO b. accounted fDr Only upo
> ,hr principle of inhert mt total depravi J
j. or the most culpable Ignorance. Su.
are burning sham= To rhe procession
. religion, and a stanciHg disgrace
ChriSi's church, and we are thanktI
that such living c,u'ucatUTts of chri
lev are not often flunI in Evangclic
1t churches. And where an e. tire congr
r garion is composed of such opBoscr
- they ara no more deserving the lame, {
recognition as a christian church. tbs
: were the IN mbers cT j bin Club
: Paris, under the bloody reign of LerrC
! and rule Of RobCspi6rre.
: In the second class We find such as
If military plrlance would be designate
- "neutrals in this moral warfare.
i politics their description would be " {
r. the fence" ready to jump either wa
inst "a the popular utiment seemed