The Grange advance., 1874-04-08

mcrous others who are holding out to their
fellow mortals splendid chances to make
fortunes. This latter class will always be
shunhed by all honest minded men, for no
honest man wishes to obtain money (if he
could, and he csn't,) without giving value.
The Wenan's Crusade.
Sermon By the Rev. CAas. Gr;ss0old at the II.
E. Church, Red Wing, on Sunday night last.
It being understood that Mr.. Griswold
would preach on this subject on last Sab
bath evening, the church was filed to its
utmost capacity upon that. occasion. 1t
had been whispered around that the move
ment was to be inaugurated at this place
during the present week, and many sup
posed that this sermon was to be the mot
fordre, the opening shot, the rallying cry.
Those who went out Of curiosity to be
tickled by something new and striking,
went away disappointed. Those who went
to hear q rabid hsrangue compounded OF
equal parts Of fanaticism, frenzy and non
sense were equally disappointed.
The Rev. gentleman read as his text the
following passage, found in the thirty fifth
and thirty sixth verses of the fifth chapter
Of the Acts:
81 For if this counsel or this work be of
men, it will come to naught; but if it be Of
God ye cannot overthrow it,"
The speaker said he was not here to in
dulge in highly seasoned rhetoric, flights of
oratory or bursts Of eloquence this was
not what the subject required. He simply
proposed to have little plain straightfor-
ward talk with his people upon the subject
that was now uppermost in the mind of
every one. It was curious to listen to the
various comments Of the press Oh this
movement. Every shade Of opinion had
been expressed, sometimes the honest con-
viction Of the writer's but frequently die
tated by pecuniary or political interest, or
by prejudice.
Temperance people themselves were hon.
estiy divided in opinion on this subject
He was opposed to the movement himself
when he first heard of it. He feared it
was "of men" and would {" come to
naught." He had watched its progress
with deep interest, noting carefully its
workings and its results with direct refer
ence to it, human or divine origin, and he
had been convinced that it was "of God,"
and therefore its enemies could not over
throw it. ~
Almost every disreputable and vulgar ep-
itesh had been applied to these Christian
ladies, who, to say the least. are Christi like
breaking insult and ignominy without re-
senting it, and are working without money
or price in cause which they believe to be
just, noble, and good. They had been
called amazons, and crusaders, as though
they could be put down and their cause dis
graced by vile and abusive names. This is
mistake bad cause will sooner or later
make the most beautiful name stencil in
the nostrils Of the people, while u good
cause will dignity the vilest name. The
cause will make the name, but the name
cannot make the cause. The cross was the
instrument of death for the meanest, and
most degraded class Of criminals. Death
upon the cross was the most humiliating
that human being could suffer. It was
the emblem Of everything that was lowest,
vilest and most debased. But Jesus Christ
had made it glorious beyond every purely
material thing It had become through his
death the dearest and most sacred emblem
on earth, the central figure on the Chris
tian's banner, the symbol Of the worlds SAL
vation.
This movement was inaugurated at Hills
boro, Ohio, December 22d 1878, by DR.. Dio
Lewis in q lecture delivered there at that
time. Little did he then suspect he was
giving origin to movement that should
Jet shake the whole country and perhaps,
the civilized world. The whole movement
sprang from simple tale by the lecturer
Of how his mother and few other Chris
tian women had driven intoxicating drinks
out of little town thirty years before, and
had kept it out ever since. The plan did
not seem to have been concerted or devised
OF men, but to have been brought about by
God in his own good time.
The great means employed in carrying
on this work was prayer. 1t was not con-
lined to any one sect or denomination, but
there was united effort Of all religious
bodies. At on place in Michigan they con-
tinued in Drave. two weeks. Whila tho