The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-14
"amens ~ and almost by one impulse the
congregation arose and sang the only dox-

Praise God from whom al blessings iow."
Before the echo died away the sexton
was in the tower of the church, and the
/ bell peaied forth the news of the surren-
der. The bells of other churches took up
the tidings, and for half an hour they
chimed away, until it seemed that every
body in Mount Vernon and vicinity must
have been aroused. This bell-ringing is a
| favorite feature of the movement, and has
become in nearly every town well-known
signal of victory over whisky seller
THE PRAYING BANDS ON TIE STREET.
The prayer meeting over, the women
sailed out of the church and dividing into
two sections, each under an appointed
leader, visited the few liquor stores still
| holding out. Snow several inches deep
was on the ground, and it was intensely
cold, but there was no shrinking from
duty. The first place visited by the prin-
cipal division was a grocery where liquor
is retailed 1t was not their first visit, nor
yet their second, nor their third, and the
proprietor was on the look out He met
them at the door and began to demonstrate,
as he had done before. Ladies'" said
he, "it amt worth while for you to come
here any more. will sell liquor only ac-
cording to law, and intend to keep within
the law" But" said the leader Of the
praying band, while the others gathered
about the door, "can we not persuade you
to stop You would make us all so hap
Ply, and it would be so pleasing to God"
mo, ma am, you cannot" was the de-
cisive reply. 81 claim to be as religious
as anybody, I'm no heather. You can't
come your Paris Communes over me. 1
believe in God, in God Of righteous
ness and Justice And mercy"
said one of the ladies. "Well, yes, and
mercy and why should l be sung and
prayed over in this way; why don't you
60 and pray down in the billiard saloons
that are keeping your young men out until
10 O'Clock every night long after my store
is shut up and I'm gone to bed 2" He
decided not to argue with him. The lead
er said, Ladies', let us sing" \ hymn
was begun, the proprietor went in and
locked his door, and a prayer meeting of
half an hours duration was held on the
sidewalk. Meanwhile it was so cold that
most of the men, who had followed the
women from the church as spectators, left
to seek more comfortable quarters in their
well -heated stores, shops, and offices. The
women went to each of the other liquor
stores remaining open, and had the usual
devotional exercises in front of each, but
accomplished nothing more that day.
NIGHT ATTACK.
At night another union prayer meeting
was held; but, while the brethren were
praying and singing, the sisters had a pri-
vate meeting in another place. Mrs. Want,
wife of a clergyman, arose in this private
meeting and called for volunteers for special
duty If there were % ladies who would
follow her, she proposed making night
attack upon a saloon that had been barred
against their entrance during the day
Thirty ladies promptly arose and expressed
their willingness to 90 anywhere their
courageous leader might direct. Some in
quired what was to be done, but Mrs.
Want declined to tell, lest the enemy
should hear of the movement. The main
column was ordered to move down Mulber-
~ street to Front down Front to Main,
and up Main to certain point, and there
await signal which would be understood