Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18


such women as were ready to organize for
active work the next morning So hearty
was the response, that when they assembled,
the following morning, about fire h'tudred
were in readiness to join the invading army,
and were eager to enter upon the work, un.
der the banner Of God our leader" A
delegation visited our drug stores, and the
proprietor Of erery ono in the city signed
the pledge at once agreeing to sell hereaf-
ter only for medicinal purposes Good for
the first day.
The next morning the women met at the
Christian Association rooms aud organized
to operate on the saloons. After a season
of prayer and praise, and resolving to igbt
it out on that line if it took all summer" ,"
they Gled out, two by two, to the number
ofone hundred aud City. The pavements
we're filed with an amazed crowd who could
hardly believe what their eyes beheld The
Shades Of Death, and several other places
Of like reputation, were visited this day,
and many we're the heartfelt prayers, the
earnest entreaties, and the beautiful songs
which ascended to God in behalf Of the
rum.sellers and their families. The i'm.
mense crowd which hoyered about the
women on the street we're a mixed mul.
titude, many Of whom never witness relig.
ious exercises Of any kind. They were at
once overcome by the sweet singing and the
fearful and heart-touhcing appeals Of many
mothers whose sons were being ruined at
these places.
The next day the force was divided into
several bands, with leader 20 each, thereby
visiting many places at the same moment.
As general thing they were not admitted
to the saloons, but were obliged to pray and
sing and plead in the muddy street, or on
the cold, wet pavement. Mr.. Genear, a
French saloon keeper was the first to sur
render At mass meeting, held in the
evening Of the third day, he came forward
and surrendered before the vast audience.
The following Sabbath he was at church,
with his three beautiful children, aud has
since united with the Presbyterian church,
And such is the moral and religious force Of
the movement, that since its Inauguration
our churches have been crowded as never
before
The praying band, though weary with
their intense labors and exposures, dc.
termined upon another visit to the frowning
Shades Of Death" After a season Of sad
but importuuate and agonizing prayer, the
sun burst through a cloud, aud most beau.
tifully bright and cheering did it rest upon
the heads of the forlorn band Hope seemed
to dawn with the sunshine, for, as if by
magic, crowds upon crowds gathered at the
scene, aud few OF the leading women were
summoned to meet MIR. Phillips, the pro,
prietor at bis store-house, where he at once
surrendered his entire stock of liquors, and
plegded himself to abandon the busines.
forever. The ladies at once crushed in the
heads Of the barrels, and while the liquor
ran down the cutters, the air was filed witt
such songs Of praise as would have melted
stone. The bells Of all the churches wert
rung, and the whole city turned out anC
gave itself up to an hour of jubilee.
The day following had previously beer
set apart as a day of fasting and prayer fol
success in the work so this surrender cam,
in good time.
The next conquest was that of a coloret
saloon keeper, followed by still large
and more enthusiastic popular demonstra
tion, and promises of further surrenders to
morrow Mt ten o'clock.
The Grangers, hve hundred strong, beinj
in session here at the time Of the last.
capitulation, came upon the street in a body
their ladies with them, aud read resolu
tions, drawn up by their ladies, promising
to advocate this movement with all thei
power at their respective homes.
Fast-day dawned, and at eight o'clock al
immense audience gathered for prayer an
praise. At ten O'Clock the crowd folowe,
the women to receive the two promised sur
renders, which were unexpectedly accom-
panied by third, all on one street. Th
bells of the city rung out glad peal a
the surrender, but changed to "A funeral knel
as the poisonous fluid swept down the gut
ters. The public service was held at tn
Presbyterian church through the day, an
the attendance aud interest increased to tn
last. Every hour the bell was rung--a ne,
chairman appointed, and the audience NOR
or less changed, Many were present fror
Cincinnati, Columbus, Springfield and othe
places, aud took part in the meeting. Tn
hearts of all were melted, as by the Spiri
of God, and their tongues loosed as at tn
day of Pentecost. Strong men and prou
women wept aloud. So affecting was tn
scene that even reporter Of the New Yor
Herald was constrained to cry out, " Surel
God is in this place!' Mass meetings ar
held every day and prayer meetings ever
morning-all crowded. Our streets, ou
homes, our business places, our by-ways an
! hedges, all seem to feel and acknowledg
that God is in this great and wonderful
movement, and to Him all the glory Of ou
success is ascribed. The morning praye
meetings, at which cheering accounts Of th
work elsewhere are read, are wonderfr