Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-06
THE PRAYER MOVEMENT.

Continued Spread of the Woman's Pray
ing MOvement--Its Progress fn Ohio,
and Its Appeara nee I'm the East and the
Far West--A Graphic Account OF the
Work in Richmond, Ind.-The Crusade
Begun i'm Chicago--An Incident Of the
Movement mt Xenia, Ohio.
The Temperance Praying Movement grows
apace. From almost every portion of the
country reports are received of the progress
the ladies are making in the work of shutting
up saloons and converting their keepers. OF
course the largest measure of success attends
their labors in Ohio, where the movement
originated, but even there the novelty of the
movement has to certain extent worn of,
and in some localities the ladies have aban-
doned the gentler weapons of prayer and song
and laid hold upon those furnished
by the laws, the latter being used
only when the former are Intellectual.
1t is estimated that up to the 1st of this
month over 1 800 saloons had been closed in
Ohio alone, and their death dealing contents
emptied into the public cutters. The ma
chinery of the law has in some cases been in
voked to stay the efforts of the ladies, but so
far, up to this writing, no injunction has been
granted which has been able to stand the test
of judicial investigation. The case at Hills
boro was decided in favor of the praying
women, but an appeal was taken 10 a higher
court, and the matter is yet undetermined.
At Oxford one Branderberg had a petition
filed for an injunction, but on the 28th ultimo,
pending its consideration, the ladies assaulted
him with godly weapons, and he surrendered,
signed the pledge, emptied the contents of his
saloon into the street, and abandoned his at
tempt to obtain an injunction. The bells of
the city were rung and there was general re-
joicing.
In New York City, Philadelphia, San Fran
cisco and Louisville, KY, meetings Prellm-
mary to a crusade have been held, and 1t was
thought on the LIST that active praying as
saults would be made during the first week in
March.
The following account Of the experience Of
a praying band at Richmond, Ind, as de-
tailed by Chicago correspondent, will prove
interesting;
With dropping heads and funereal tread we
| crunched the frozen snow beneath our feet,
| and thus moved along, wheeling into cross
street; and then, the head of the procession
sank to its knees. A moment later apd the
party had grouped itself upon its knees close
to the wall, In front of disreputabe- looking
whisky-shop, whose door was locked.
A tremulous voice in prayer rose upon the
air. The rabble gathered from every drec-
tion and soon the PROSTATE group was fringed
by dense mob Of jostling boys, of men and
women. The sidewalk opposite became
speedily lined; vehicles stopped in the street;
and there was formed a semicirele of several
hundred around the praying women.
Dear Jesus, may not this man find the
door shut against him when he seeks 10 enter
at the last great hour" was the theme Of the
first womans prayer, and II was taken up by
all the others. A couple or three prayers, and
then all rose 10 sing, aud then down they sank
again on the Icy stones, and with upturned
faces pleaded with Heaven for forgiveness Of
the barTlcaded sinner who furtiyely peered at
them from 6ssure In the window.
The outlying mob was simply tolerant
nothing more. 1t did not jeer or scoff; but IL
retained It's hat on It's head i continued 70