The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-23
THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.
Tho Ancestry OF the Praying women


The Ancestry of the Praying Women.
The Rev. John Hussey contributes
aninterestingarticle To the Independent
on the extraordinary movement against
intemperance, now in progress in por.
tionB OF Ohio and Indiana, in which he
shows that the pious women who are
conducting this singular campaign are
descended from praying people. We
make the following extract:
Southern Ohio was perhaps the last
place where one would have supposed
that such movement could begin.
The people Of the section where this
work took form belong less than any
other people OF our country north OF
the Ohio River, except those Of some
parts Of Southern Indiana, to the New
England type. Between the Scioto and
Miami Rivers lies the " Virginia Mill
tary Reservation, {" granted by the Gem
eral Government 10 the State Of Viz.
ginia, in place OF claims which that
State relinquished 10 the Northwestern
Territory. This large territory was
settled originally by Virginians who had
Revolutionary claims. The land was
owned in very large tracts, and has been
more or less subdiyided. The old Vir-
ginia families have always been very
influential, especially in the counties
Highland, Fayette, and Ross. Early
in this century many came to Southern
Ohio from other Southern States. The
Friends or Quakers came from Virginia
and Western North Carolina in such
numbers as 10 exhaust some OF their
settlements In those Slater. and pur-
chased OF the old Virginians In Ohio
smaller bodies OF land, forming line
Of settlements from Lawrence county
through jackson, Ross, Highland, Clin.
ton, TO Warren. The great body Of the
Quakers are now in the three latter
counties. These plain Christians have
beenan important element in the prayer
movement, but were not much con.
cerned in It's frat origin, as few Of them
are found either In Marlborough or
Washington, the two places where sue
cess was first achieved. Somehow there
Is law OF nature which told families"
are prone TO violate. Family pride is
not apt To be mn active element in the
busy industries OF life. Too much
leisure invites dissipation, and many oil
the scions OF our excellent old families
have gone under before the destroying
evil OF intemperance. Hardly promi.
nent family In Hillsborough but has
felt the keen shafts OF this adversary,
In some, all the male members have
died Incorporate, or are in danger Of
doing 80. II II wero not improper, ]
could connect with the names OF the
most Of the women who nre prominent
10 carrying on this movement in two Of
the largest places in which this work
has been highly successful, some one
dear as life cut down in youth or man.
hood with some Of whose names the
country OF large ID not unfamiliar; Of
oil neutrality-suspicious., lawyers,
aud not emitting shining example Of
the clerical profession-some IN public
life, others renowned in war. The re.
ligious element is an important one,
and has given soul TO the whole move.
ment. The churches OF all Of the prin-
cipal denominations are many OF them
large, and have for two generations
welded powerful influence. The
three principal religious bodies are
Presbyterians, Methodists, and Quakers.
In Marlborough the Presbyterian
Church numbers over four hundred
Communicates. The Methodists do
not, I presume, fall far behind them.
In one Of the towns reformed, the
Quakers have six hundred members.
Religion is influential, and hence the
essential elements were Of hand.