Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-03-28
The Temperance Crusade in Ohio.
MOUNT UNION COLLEGE, ONO,
M.RCJ 18th 1874

MOUNT Union COLLEGE, OHIO,
MARCH 18TH 1874.
MIR. EDITOR The Temperance war in
this State is still in progress. Crusadcs are
being organized in every town and village,
and are meeting with remarkable success.
On the Sd inst, a crusade was organized
in the city of Alliance, about two miles
from this place, and has now nearly five
hundred ladies enrolled. The president of
this organization is Mrs MARY BYNoN
REESE, a sister of General SHERMAN, and
quite soldier herself These ladies meet
every morning in the College Chapel for
prayer, consultation, arrangement OF pro-
grammc for the day They then sally forth
and begin their work on the streets. 1t is
rather an affecting sight to see one or two
hundred of these women march in solemn
procession before one of these dram shops,
enter, if allowed; if not, stand before the
door and sing hymn, and then kneel right
down on the pavement and offer up fervent
prayers. But a few days ago an avowed
intidel, after witnessing an affair of this
kind, was heard to eXclaim with tears in
his eyes, 81 never believed before that there
was such power in prayer"
Two saloons have already been closed, and
the prospects are that others will follow be-
fore long.
When the crusaders appear before the
saloons some of the proprietors run away
or refuse to admit them, while others not
only admit them but talk quite freely with
them. OF this latter class some will frank
ly admit that the traffic is wrong, but plead
that it is all they have to depend on for a
living; others offer to sell out if the ladies
will buy their stock, while few show nc
signs of yielding. The ladies, however
are very determined in the matter; they are
resolved to fight it out ON this line if it takes
all summer" and the general belief here il
tina: they will ultimately succeed The
great majority Of the people are with then
and there is great enthusiasm on the subject
more so, suppose, than on any subject
since the war. There is no middle grount
in this matter, no neutrality. Then, al
were either for the Union, or against it
now, those who will not sign the pledge anC
support the temperance movement are class
ed among the disciples of Bacchus.
Last Sunday night temperance prayer
meeting was held in the College hall. Thu
meeting had been announced to begin at
O'Clock, but long before that time the larg'
hall was crowded to its utmost capacity
The room will scat fifteen hundred person
comfortably, hut it is estimated that Their
were fully two thousand present that night
The exercises commenced by the splendi'
choir singing-"Look not upon the win
when it is red" after which Rev. MI
WRIGHT, Baptist minister led in prayer
The president of the meeting Mrs. REESE
then made n short address in which sh
stated the results of the women's labors O
the street SO far, spoke of their future pro:
poets and of their determination to perst
we're in the work until victory should /
theirs. The choir sang IAN hail the pow
cr of Jesus name" after which DIR. LOCK-
= Methodist minister, Offered prayer. Aft,
thc'snging Of Nearer, my Col. TO Thee