The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-04-04
The Temperance Crusade-A Prs'
test Axa,nst street Praying.

Permit me, IN common Win many
other citizens with whom l have talked
upon the subject. to express profound
regret that any OF the ladies who have
been laboring 90 vigorously in the tenn
perancs cause in this city during the
past few weeks, should have permitted
their entbusiaem to 80 far out run their
discretion as to resort to praying IN the
SALOONS and in the public streets. l de-
plore, as deeply as any person can' the
evils OF iutemperancs, aud would cord'-
ally join IN any sober. rational and sens
s:ble mode Of abolishing the traffic 10
intoxicating liquors, but fear that the
mode adopted by come OF the ladies yes"
terday Will be productive OF more harm
than good. The crusade" as it is ap-
p,oprls,ely termed, seems to Dc dying
out elsewb here. The excitement is SUBJ
siding rapidly. 1t 10 not in the nature
OF things that such intense feeling as has
been manifested should continue very
long. and the small good that has been
accom- plished 10 the temporary closing
OF saloons in q dozen or more villages
in Ohio has ecarceiy compensated the
effort that has been put forth. The re-
cults attained but poorly pay for the
violence that has oeeu done 10 the gentle
nature OF woman aud the 81 ock that the
cause OF religion has sustained.
was q casual spectator OF a portion
Of the proceedings yesterday. and the
iu preston produced upon my mind
was painful in the extreme. l have
profound reverence for religion. and
look with the deepest awe upon prayer
AZ the most solemn act 10 which Q
mortal can engage. remember my
mothers and my fathers prayers Of
fered in my childhood, and | remember
also who taught men to pray. and what
HIS precept and example was.
Ia that wonderful "Sermon on the
Mount" whose every word Is full
of prec Gus truth, our Saviour not only
prescribes the manner OF prayer, but
slso utters a special caution against
praying publicly in such places and
a, such tunes as may destroy its sane
,ity or bring q scof upon religion.
Speaking to Christians everywhere He
ssys: But thou when thou prayest,
enter into thy closet, and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee
openly liza prayer uttered in this
manner is no. effective, how
can We expect that our Heavenly
Father will incline his ear
more graciously 10 petitions
offered IN liquor saloons or on the pub
lie streets 10 the midst OF an irreVeren
and sct Hing crowdl The street pray
.rs in other cities have already giveI
the skeptics and the rationalieis irest
courage and stronger ioothold, ane
they refer 70 the matter 10 the spirit, i
not iu the lagusge, OF Elijah when b'
Knocked the priests OF Basl aud bad
them Cry aloud for he is god
either he is talking, or he is pursuing
or hs is in . journey, or peradvettur'
he sleepeth and must be awaksd.
know full we'll that 10 all this tn
ladies are per ectly sincere. and thatthe,
are actuated bv the purest motlves. Blu
during the past few weeks they hsv
been permitted to think or dream o
nothing else than the evils OF intem pei
ance and the efficacy OF prayer. Thei
emotional nature has been so wrough
upon aud wrought up in the daily an
nightly mee,ings that have been helc
that a sort OF frenzy or intoxicatio
has taken the place OF cool and sooe
reason, and, like the crusaders OF OLD
they are ready to do the most irrations
and hurtiui things in the hope an
with the intention of doing good servie
to God and to mankind. That tb
cause Of religion will suffer in the en-
from the incorporate zeal Of these va
tarus seem to my mind an inevitab
fact.
And then, what good is to be accom-
plisbed that could not be secured b
some less Objectionable means2 In tn
CITY ard State tho saloon-keepers al
under the protection OF the law. Th'
have large sums of money invested
their business. and it is unreasonable
expect that they will with such unsn
mi,y close their saloons and abande
the traffic 10 liquors as to render it in
possible or even announcement for a.
person 10 procure whatever he desir
to drink. Solong as licenses are issu'
and % long a. the liquor dealer avoi
violation OF the law, there
no legal means OF suppre
sing the traffic. II one saloon keep
is persuaded by the entreaties Of q
ladies to abandon the trade. anoth
who has not been subjected to sui
persussion or who lie impervious
these guilty. Influences will at once tai
his place.
venture the prediction tb
there will be a. many saloo
open in this city three mont
her &C, unless license be refused BY {
citv council, 40 there are now.
Then what is the use and where
the p,opriety Of intelligent and seDsiti'
Christian ladies visiting saloo
and exposing themselves
insult and reproach7 What
to compensate those whc
religious sentiments are shocked BY Z
indiscrstion OF enthusiasts. and vi