Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-02-13
THE VIEW TEMPERANCE MOVE
ATENT

THE NEW IEMPER1NCE MOVE
AfENT.
We have frequently heard or read of la
dies visiting places where tho sale of intox
icating liquors had become a nuisance,
pleading with the seller for its discontinue
ance, and in case of absolute refusal emp
tying his barrels, kegs, demijohns aud de-
cAntors Of their various liquors. Although
such proceedings are very eXceptionab'e,
yet We have wondered often at their good
results. We have now 10 record a some
what different movement, which Is crcaIin G
a great excitement in the West, and, so far,
has been encouragingiy successful. We
refer to the women's crusade against liq-
uor selling by appeal, prayer, &c. In Ohio,
wheie it Is more in vogue than in any
other State, nine counties now being over
run with the excitement, their method oil
operation is chiefly thus: They choose a
president, vice president, recording, corre-
spending and assistant secretaries. On
their working days public prayer meet
ing is held in some chapel or church at 9
o'clock III the morning. After the meeting
u committee of ladies 20 out on their rounds
of visitation, and continue at work till noon,
and some times till o'clock in the after
noon, the rest remaining, aud at the close
Of every prayer the bell is struck to cheer
the "praying band" in theiI labors. AT the
evening prayer meeting report is made Of
the situation and their i'll or good success.
II is said that when success is reported
the scene becomes ACKNOWLEDGMENT ioy-
ful prayers Of thanks and hymns of thank =
giving are seldom heard. After giving the
rumseller time for deiberalion, If lie still
persists, the ladies go in bands with "per-
sonal and dealers" pledges, and ask per-
mission 10 hold prayer meeting in their
Saloons, OF in the vicinity of their bars,
where they make their appeal and pray and
sing. If shut out or denied, a tent, consist
ing OF n square wooden frame covered with
canvass, a good floor, carpeted, with settees
for the ladies TO rest upon, is pitched in
front of the place, and here the meeting is
held. Before the places of the hardened
cases they frequently hold their meeting a
whole afternoon. II is said the toughest
men find it hard, and sometimes impossi-
BILE, TO restrain tears as these ladies kneel
on the flags in the cold or storm.
Another method of procedure is to sta
lion pickets 10 watch the saloons, even to
the back doors, and those that go in have to
III" IN" uanntlet of their fair eyes; when
ever this is done s'o-' drought generally
prevails. Success is greater wiz tho sa.
looms or places kept open exclusively for
dram selling. AS the business is illegal,
no suit for damages can he maintained, aud
if they were not held in countenance by
those who are afraid their supplies will be
cut off, their task would be easier. Where
it is connected with legitimate business
as drugs or groceries, suits have been
brought for damages for interruption of
business. The lawyers, however, decide
that if they do not obstruct the doorway or
sidewalks they need not fear any trouble.
a permit is obtained OF the mayor or other
competent authority to have the tent erect
ed in the street, and in this the prayer
meeting is held till the rumseller yields.
A remarkable feature of the movement
is the entire absence of caste; wives and
mothers, daughters and sisters, all unite in
harmony against the common enemy. The
meetings are conducted with great propri-
ETY. and solemnity, and as some woman
bears on her heart drunken husband, fa-
Their, son or brother, or some other dear
relative, all are melted to tears. a noble
and intelligent lady, one who seldom meets
her peer, writes: ooh. what encourage
ment have TO work ! l am bearing our
poor boy on my heart all the time, and at
every prayer and hymn l say to myself |
am working for him." Their success thus
far has been of a mark ed character. Where
the ladies showed the most pluck, there they
ieaped their greatest rewards. Suits in a
few places have been commenced for tres
pass and defamation. The rumsellers have
raised good deal Of money, and the wills
key rings Of the cities will do all they can
10 defeat them, and the law will undoubt-
eddy be brought t. bear powerfully on both
sides. If the ladies succeed, and they seem
to have great faith that they shall, the
movement will spread over the whole
country. In about one week firly-fiv sa-
looms were closed in Cincinnati.
Efforts are now being made to inaugur-
ate the movement in Massachusetts.