American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-03-07
THE WHISKY CRUSADERS.

= w AAAS n i VI SSA - AsheSs
The Western Methodist, published
at Memphis, Tenn, comes boldly to
the aid Of the women who are waging
open warfare against liqnor dealers
and saloon keepers, pronounces
these fanatical Amazons ''true aud
good women and even blesses
them in their disgusting and dis
graceful exhibitions. We are much
surprised that any Southern rel,g>
ious Journal would favor a move
meDt that requires woman to unsex
herself by removing every restraint
that virtue and religion had thrown
around her, in order that few
grOg-shops might be temporarily
closed at her approach. This cru
sade is an outrage on the principles
Of common decency, an infringe
ment Of the laws of society, and a
reprOach 10 the cause of christianity.
The movement, as at present coll
Quoted, is SO extremely revolving to
our ideas of true wOmanly deIicacy
and refinement, that We seriously
question the piety and purity of the
woman who lends herself to such Il
disreputable mode of checking a
popular vice. By such conduct she
not only compromises her self-re-
spect, but prostitutes the purposes
OF q holy religion at the SHRINE of
Bacchus. There is nothing in the
Bible to justify this departure from
the legitimate sphere Of female dig
nifty and decorum, and we can but
regard 1t as q shameful and sinful
innovation upon the laws of decen-
cy, propriety and genrllity.
The New Testament Scriptures
enjOin silence upon women even in
churches, and under the Jewish
dispensation they were not permit
ted to teach in the assemblies, or
ask any questions that we're not in
perfect keeping with the delicacy
and mOtlesty of the sex and this
ordinances was confirmed by the
great Apostle of the Gentiles in the
usages which he established for the
Christian church.
It was beautiful custom among
the ancieDts, that in all acts of re-
ligiOus worship, women should veil
their faces before offering their de-
yotiOns to Deity and although the
Cumean Sibyl, and other heather
pEiestesses, delivered their oracles
with uncovered heads, yet even in
that age of the world conformity to
SO immOdest a custom would have
been considered disgraceful in wo-
men protesting to be governed by
the teachings of christianity.
The world is said to be improving
in morals and religion, and in all
the social refinements of an ad-
vaDced and advancing civilization
but what think you would have been
the estimate placed upon the women
of St. Paups day who would have
gone about the streets of Ephesus
or COrinth singing psalms and howl
ing hypOcritical prayers at the doors
of erog-shops and around gaming
tablssi Would they not have been
regarded as fools and fanatics ?
Most assuredly; and We hesitate
not to say, that these Ohio and In-
diana women who are prOwliDg
about the streets of cities and vii |
lages in quest Of grog- shops, under
q false view of philanthropy. and
with the vain hope of ultimate
triumph, merit no higher distinc-
ton. Christ never intended that
his Gospel should be prosfituted to
such base uses, and we feel assured !
that all the prayers that these delu>
ded female refOrmers may watt from
the scenes of debauchery to the
Mercy Seat, will never check the
vice Of intemperaDce, or awake in
the hearts of its victims any thing
but scorn.
We do not wish to be understood
rs opposing any and all proper
methods for The destruction Of the
terrible monster, Intemperance. AS
q prolific source of crime and moral
degradation, it calls loudly On
every philanthrOpist to assist in
It's suppression. We well know,
and deeply lament the fact, that
domestic happiness, pubic useful
ness, fortune, honor, and all that
dignifies and ennobles human char
acter, are sacrificed Oh the altar OF
this demon of the Still. We are
we'll aware that Bacchus is the god
whom the drunkard wOrships, and
that all the tender feelings and
of his nature are made
to his nod. We know,
Too, that intemperance is an evil
With ont excuSa-an evil which adj