The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-02-24


number of responsible men backing up
the movement with their pocket-bOoks. |
The general plan of operations varles
little i'll different places. In conduct
ing the work, the Doctor says, There
are four distinct stnges First, the con
versatiOnal, which must he complete
oefOre the second step-the large public
meeting, at which the best lauies M
the town must be appointed in large
UumUers- Is taken. Inc tl,ird stage
will require no management. 1t is tue
stage oil saloon visiting,u the women
viii take care of it. The fourth stage
Is that of tying up the loose strings,
clinching the nail with reading rooms,
etc. 1t must he done in this order"
Although it is but about two months
since this movement was inaugurated,
at Hillsborough, ONO, its spread has
been without II precedent, and its sue
cess hey ond ali human conn utation.
LulIy une-lIali of the State, embracing
he southern and central portions. is
already thoroughly aroused on the sub
ect-the work is rapidly spreading in
TO Indiana and kentucky-a indeed
this novel war against the liquor traf
fic has assumed such proportions rs to
,ltruct the attention of the whole ma
ion. Like all similar enterprises, new
eatures are introduced as the work
progresses. The men are coming in to
supplement the good work OF the la
lies, to subduc the incorrigibe, and
make perpetual the good results.
In most instances the excitement is
intense. The case of Washington
Court house is fair sample:
"a grand mass meeting was held at
eight O'Clock in the morning, the banks
md business houses all being closed,
md the citizens gathering in crowds at
the Presbyterian church. reinforre-,
ments all the while coming in from all
The country round An hour was
,pent in singing and prayer, during
which one of the liquor-sellers sent in
MS surrender, and then the people
ormed procession, with the women
II front, and went to the different sa-
oons, pleading with the proprielors to
rive up the business. Among others.
hey visited n German named Beck.
who, upon being asked if the women
hould come into the yard and sing
md pray, said: No, no, no. don't
want no more of desc vimins. don't
want no more sing and pray. can't
tand dat. | talks to de pzness men,
not to the vimin.' After some talk, he
proposed to stop for two months. but
Ibis was not satisfactory, and his be-
,eigers kept at it til finally he came
Onward and said: Shentlemen and
Iickers so long as never Then three
'ousing cheers were given for Beck.
md the party returned TO town, where
he bells were rung and there were
general contradictions"
Reports from fourteen towns in
outheastern Ohio show that out OF
bout one hundred and fifty places
where liquor is sold, nearly two-thirds
have been closed. At Logan, Lees
burgh, New Vienna, Washington and
Manchester, complete victory has
peen gained. AT Ripley, seventeen
nut of twenty saloons have been closed,
md about one thousand have signed
the pledge. At jefferson. all but three
ire closed and in London the council
mas passed an ordnance prohibiting the
traffic entirely, while $4,000 has been
subscribed with which to prosecute
lealers. a peculiar phase of the move
nent was exhibited at Waverly, Pike
county, where the temperance move
nent was suddenly begun by the May
n, accompanied by the Marsha and
,ther respected gentlemen. who enter
d saloon and astonsheG its inmates
" kneeling and offering fervent
prayer for all present. AT Oxford near
y 1000 residents have signed the
pledge. and the praying bands are Wis
ting the saloons. The ladies engaged
IN the crusade are among the best peo
pie of the place, occupying high social
positions. The deepest interest cen
res in Springfield, Columbus and Ne
IL .l,x L., % la,
where the work is about commencing
liter the fullest preparation. If vic
DRY Is achieved in these large cities,
here will be no rullying point left for
he enemy. AT S5helbyville, Indiana.
The saloon keepers served n legal notice
Upon the ladies, threatening them and
their husbands with prosecution for
damages The ladies'. in reply, an
Iounce as their watchword. Peace,
Persuasion and Prayer, and ask that
heir reply may he received in che
iindly spirit which dictates it. They
say:
Gentlemen--You threaten US. We
lnswer in the kindness of our hearts.
You warn US to cease praying and sing
ng in the vicinity of your saloons he
.ause, az you suggest, 1t causes Il loss
If money to you. Permit us to answer
by saying that it is YOU who are de-
,troying OUR property, consuming our
resources, interfering with our peace,
4apping our health, blocking up our
sidewalks and streets with your drunk
n men, and putting US to tens of thou.
sands of dollars expense to support tl
Jaupers and restrain and punish the
'riminals you make"
There are few prominent charac-
teristics of the movement which we
cannot hel p noticing:
!. All denominations heartily Coop
crate in the mOvement-Presbvt
Methodists, Baptisis, both orders OF
Friends, Universalists, Campbellites,
and in most instances Episcopalians-
the ministers leading the van.
2. The men hold prayer meetings
while the women visit the saloons. The
meetings are universally crowded, and
deep religious feeling prevails.
3. The authorities heartily cooperate
with the ladies, and supplement their
their work with stringent measures to
hold permanently the ground thus
gained.
4. Success almost invariably crowns
hese labors, and we have heard of but
single Instance in which a dealer who
had yielded, manifested the slightest
inclination to resume the traffic.
This movement has already develop
ed purpose to ask an amendment to
the State Constitution of Ohio, and the
following has been drawn up in the
form of un address to accompany pc
tition to the Cons itutional Convention
now in session-which petition is being
extensively signed.
"In the providence of God temper
ance revival, greatly needed and earn
estly prayed for, was commenced in
Hillsborough, December 90, 1873. and
has since spread through southern and
central Ohio. In view of the fact. as
friends of religion and humanity, will
you join with us and help us establish
this reformation on a firm basis, and
give permanency to this effort. Let
US make 1t as criminal in the sight OF
man as 1t is in the sight of God to steal
II mans biains as to steal his purse, to
deaden his heart As to MAIN his limbs.