, 1874-04-05
THE W0MEM'S CRUSADE.


! excitements as the one under discussion.
The history Of the world produces many par
a1lels, and plainly points to the end that inev
| itably results altar the first excitement wear!
OF and tho work becomes an old story. The
| great Crusades are casos in point, where, undel
| intense excitement the whole Christian world
| rushed to arms for the redemption OF the Holy
| City and the 6avior's Tomb from the
polluting bands Of the infdel Saracon and witt
what result2 After years OF war and all its at
fendnnt miseries, the expenditure Of untold
sums, and the bloody sacrifice Of millions o1
human lives, the excitement died away; and, tc
| this day; all they fought and died for remains
unaccomplishcd, and Jerusalem is yet posses
sion of the followers OF lfohammed.
| But we need not so to the dark ages for e1-
| amplcs Of such facts. In our own country and
times, how many so-called religious reuvala
have been called iuto temporary existence By the
| e1oqueuco or earnestness Of Home man, who no
doubt felt sincerely the truth of all he preached
| and actually believed he was doing God seryice
| in creating a tremendous excitement and work.
| ing the people up to feVer-heat so that,
| like some contagious disease, great
religious revival spread over tho land
like q tidal wave, creating iu.ense excite
ment and through sweet-voiced prayers, vehe-
mcnt exhortations, and tlundering denunc1a-
tions, working upon the feelings Of susceptible
people, until according to their story, one would
think tho Millennium was actually nt hand, and
the Whole human race wss going to be ilnme-
dlately converted and become humble followers
Of the Cross. Young women discard their fur
bellows and Fanties, tear their adornments from
their persons. and, forgetting the greatest beauty
of their age and sex, screech and yell at the ex-
tent of their lunga. throw themselves upon the
orh1 1cy11f11j ftn11C 0r1 41tS11,
rounded by the older brothers aud sisters, all
talking at once, encouraging them in their e1-
cesaes, adding fuel to tie flame OF Grim
inal excitement, and congratulating each
other On such wonderful display OF
Gods power. Young men forsako their evil
ways. emulate the antics Of the other sex. excc-
cise their lungs in frantic way discard their
former companions. and 80 on until finally they,
too. ''get region;" and oil! what howls and
shrieks rend the air over =" another brand plucked
from the burning"
And SO it goes On while the fuel lasts and they
can keep up the excitement, until exhausted ma
ture deinands repose, and the '.good aud faith
tul servants who have been the cause of this
great revival rest con1p!acen1ly from their Ia
bors. feeling certain that they have been doing
God service in bringing sinners to repentance,
and have for thomseires earned an eternity Of
glory and the highest place III the highest
heaven. But the excitement dies away, and,
long before another is called into existence By
the exhortations OF some other enthusiast, first
one, then another, aud finally crowds OF the
brands thathav been plucked,' ETC., fall back
into their former ways OF life, and their present
state Is fur woree than before.
1t is needless to multiply the instances of all
similar excitements, rs we can al recall many Of
them in cur own experience; and as We cen
only judge tie future by the past, does it need i
glass OF extraordinary magnifyiug power to see
wheIe this present WonlanH movement will
eyentuate Alas, no!
They themselves furnish too many good.
sound arguments 10 thair opponents to ever be
able to accomplish any grcat good by their PRES
ent course. How many OF these Indies are actu-
nted by the proper motive? How many Of them
sincerely fesl that they are engaged in a great
aud good work, ready to do and dare al because
it ID right2 do not doubt that there are many
Who feel deeply aud sincerely all that they
profess; but are not the majority-yes, / mean
inss? Do they not so into this thing
because it is popular, and they dare
not express dissenting views for fear thew will
offend some leader OF their circle OF society and
endanGer their OWL position in that society
How many, doyou suppose, are really actuated
by motives Of love aud piety; by tie true spirit
Of Christianity How many Of them act upon
the Golden Rule, q Do unto others as you would
TINT others should do unto you ?' How mauY
are ready to pluck the beam from their own eve,
that they may see clearly to tako tae mote from
their brothers. eyes?" How many of these
women can you convince that they are them
selves the cause OF their husbands, fathers,
brothers, and sons flying to the Intoxicating bowl
for refuge from q broken heart or desolated
home?
How many OF these women would believe
you II you sllould tell them, - Go back to your
homes aud do your Esiu, God-yiyon duty. Make
your home paradise and yourself its guardlaa-
angel. Meet your husband when he returns
from the tolls and troubles OF his daily struggle
for bread and existence with love and sympathy.
Keep the holy VOW you made at Gods altar,
tcfo1o God and man, to 'to0e, honor, and obey,
and Jorsaang al Others Keep thee only unto Inn
as long as ye both shall lire.' Give him your
sympathy in his trouble, mud your counsel in his
tiatreas-your aid in his efforts for livelihood
Keep his secrets as sacred Us the grave. Teach |
his children to love and honor him. Save his |
Don't spend every dollar you can Squeeze out OF |
him in fashionable gawgaws, because Mrs. So |
and-so has something similar, and grunble ami !
growl, and scold, aud pout, because. when he |
only earns ten dollars, he cannot. give you
twenty,-thus making his home q hell upon |
earth, which you and you alone, eau, if you
choose, render tho most attractive and happicst
place under Gods heavens"
These women expect tie ru1nse1lor who knows
them not, aud cares less for them to Weld |
to their prayers and give up his busi-
ness. How many OF them will yield to the
prayers and entreaties OF their husbands,
and give up whlm Of their own; cut an inch
or the filthy length OF their dress dragging
sououB preparations for disfigur1ng their faces,
which they fooshly imagine gives them fair
complexion and make them objects Of envy to
others, while pretending they use them solely to
remove their shining appearance. How many
will loosen q corset-string, wear tnick-ao1ed
shoe or D decent hat deny themselves new
dress, or cloak, or bonnet when their husbands
are straluing every nerve to save enough money
to psy some Just and pressing debt, OF make
on little house to hold his loved ones,
and that they may call their homer
How many, when times are hard, business
dull, and money ecarce, will deny themselves
single article cut OF q single cent OF unnecessa-
y expenditure. save little hero aud there. or
essen by one dollar their demands on their hus-
bands purse?
No! mol don't talk to me- about this
xomen's movement being under the especial
:harge OF Providence. Far from it, for i God
works in mysterious way His wonders to per-
'orm = but that be has no hand in this matter
8 plainly to be seen. for, in all cases mentioned
n Holy Writ, as well as all great reforms that
la1e actually been carried ont in this world. He |
1as first worked reformation in His instru-
nents, and fitted them especially for their work,
So, when these lady-crusaders show to tbs |
sorid that they have abandoned their own evil
and rco1 or ftn +;-1,4 |