The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-03-12
The Whisky War!
The First Step in the Move
ment in Ravennal
a LrvELx TIME.

Last Sunday evening large audi
ence, composed of Congregationalists,
Disciples, Methodists and outsiders,
convened at an early hour in the Con-
gregational Church, to listen to lee
ture from Rev. j. a. Cr1zan. on the
subject of Temperance, who had vis-
tied some of the cities where the cru
SADIE against King Alcohol was in full
operation. Rev. Geo. Darsie and Rev.
j. w. Gray assisted in the opening of
the meeting. Mr.. Cruzan's lecture
consisted in showing that the power
of the dealers and consumers of spir-
ituous liquors to corrupt and ruin our
country, is the great and impending
issue of the day. He showed the
enormous expense of the liquor traffic
in the State and in the United States !;
the vast amount of degradation and
crime, misery and death resulting
from the prevailing intemperance of
the land. He confessed his inability
to decide as to the propriety orimpro-
priety of the recent women's move
ment, and gave the opinions of wiser
men than himself, who claimed that
TO pray on the curb-stone and in the
gutter in front of dogg y was both
illegal and 3 prostituuon Of prayer,
and that God would heaT aud answer
their prayers as well from the pulpit
or the closet. He spoke of the eficien-
Icy of the law of the State, and said
that if temperance men seanted to,
they could enforce the laws, and that
this would be 3 legal and effectual
way of overthrowiDg intemperance.
He believed that temperance men
should organize for the purpose, and
that all Christians should rally under
this banner though tattered and torn
till victory should crown their efforts.
Mr.. Darsie followed with the i'm
portant question What shall we
do about itf" "Talk is cheap" He
claimed they should organize for a
vigorous campaign of five or ten years,
if need be, with money and means to
execute the law, and aid in every
laudable way in the extinction of this
growing blight upon our land.
Rev. Gray followed with the an
nouncement that he was surprised on
Saturday afternoon to see his name on
the hand bill as one of the speakers
on,that occasion, after having positive
" refused to take any part in the
movement. directly or Indirectly. He
assumed that Mr.. Cruzan favored fhe
idea of the prostitution of prayer and
differed from him Gin all courtesy"
claiming that this practice was in con-
formity with the teachings and prac-
tice of Christ. His motto was Hands
Off the Woman's Movement. He
claimed that men had failed to accom-
plish much in the way of temperance
and opposed. organization-he would
leave the responsibility all to the
women, and if it was Gods work
they would. succeed.
When Mr.. Gray took his seat Mr..
Cruzan said he thought himself enti-
tied to word in response to Brother
Gray. He fatty contradicfrd Mr..
Gray's statement as to the manner in.
which Mr.. Gray's name came to be on
the hand-bill. He said that Gray,
Darsie and himself, had a conference
on the subject, and that Mr.. Gray ac-
quiesced in the programme, and that
Mr.. Gray was here and had delivered
a studied address in keeping with that
arrangement.
Mr.. Gray jumped up and reiterated
partially his first declaration, contra
dieting Mr.. Cruzan and appealing to
his integrity of character since his So
ionrn in Ravenna, as a reason why he
should be believed.
Mr.. Cruzan appealed to Mr.. Darsie.
Mr.. Darsie confirmed Mr.. Cruzan's
statement privately, Gas Mr. Cruzan
announced) but only said publicly |
tsthat ne meant to keep out of this
cross-fre."
Mr.. Gray said that Darsie's "silence
was the better part of yalor
Mr.. Cruzan then proposed that an
expression be taken to see iftheladies
wished to hold meeting to organize
for crusade or not. Mr.. Gray op-
posed emphatically. Mr.. Darsie as
sented to the proposition. Mr.. Me-
harg made motion that the vote in |
question be taken, and intimated that
the audience had some rights as we'll /
as tha preachers. This remark called
out the applause of the audience. The !
cheering had hardly subsidized when
Mr.. Gray came forward and seconded
the motion OF Brother Meharg. After
a little discussion a vote was taken
resulting in favor of ladies meeting
on Monday evening.
Thus begun and ended the first farce !
of s'the Quiet Family" The text may
well be added: . Who hath conten-
ton, who hath babbling, who hath
wounds without cause 2"
We unfortunately were not there
and cannot give an opinion as to who
was to blame in this disgraceful affair
but it is quite evident that all the
Reverend gentlemen are not the pos
SCISSORS of little hatchet, and do
not fully realize how good and how
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell to-