Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-04
THE WOl7AN'S CRUSADE
Some Salient Poini@I.Described by
SPECTATOR.

spectator
To the Editor Of The Free Press ana Times:
The experiences of the woman's crusade
temperance work in Ohio in the Winter of
1874 and following, have had no parallel
In our country, except in the revival under
Whitfield and Edwards in New England and
the remnants in Pennsylvania and adjacent
parts in the last century. Indeed, there was
something in the crusade movement that re.
minds. JUS of that earlier time in the beginning
OF our era when the Pentecostal power came
down upon the people. The writer, quite sken-
tical and suspicious from the exaggerated 70.
ports with which the papers haG for some
time been filled, reports that seemed to ind.
cate enthusiasm and wild-hrc like that which
swayed the Ana-Baptists in the time of
Luther, or better perhaps, the salvation army
OF these days, first came upon the movement
on the first day of March at London. tbe
county town of Adams county aud about
twenty-five miles west of the capital, Colum-
bus on the road to Cincinnati He reached
London about II o'clock a. m, and wearieJ
by long riding left the cars for rest. As no
stepped out on the platform he saw IN the
street, 30 rods or more distant, a companv of
women engaged in he knew not what. but soon
learned that it was one of the women's nrav-
ing bands, Investing saloon" and using
to close it up and clear it out, weapons abont
as as effectual as were the blast of the rams,
horns 10 throw down the walls of Jericho in
olden times. Going to the parsonage of tho
Presbyterian church near by, he was warmlv
welcomed by the parson and invited to stov
and rest there, with the further information
that his wife was now away but would soon
ne at nome to get dinner. She soon came
and made ready the dinner az simnle os
soon, for dinner of many courses was moi
IN her mind or that of her household The
dinner despatched and the dishes done nm
all IN the course OF an hour-for the King's
business required haste, she asked to he n,
cused that she might go out again into The
street win tne praying woinen whose leader
sue was we saw her no more till
she came back towards evening" 10
prepare the supper. Left oIon No
we sought the rest for which we had left Tho
cars. But fatigue as we were and worn foo
how could We rest? There was stimnns
IN the house and in the street if not noises in
the air. Presently my brother came and
asked me TO go with him into the cbnrch
which joined on the parsonage. Hero ,ro
found goodly number waiting on God and
imploring his favor for 'the women in tbo
street" Tor The cause before the court y 70,
the success OF the meeting IN the evening"
anu lGr lhe cause generally in the State.
henalnlng an hour or more in this place OF
prayer, my brother invited me further 70 Tr
with him to the court house and witnes.
what was going on there. There wn fonnd
an eager crowd in attendance upon the court
his honor the Mayor presided with several
officials at his side, the jury in their seate
and plaintiff and defendant with their comn.
SCI ana witnesses properly arranged Tho
trlaI, now in its third day was n comn,ain,
brought by some of the friends of the wa
men against sal on keeper who had
thrown pau OF slops upon one of the wo.
mens praying Dands while they were ia the
s.leG' pclore MS saloon We of course
not detail it, further than to saw vord Ina
was given the third day against The defnn'
cant saloon keeper and lie was finad
Tor breach OF the peace and pat unJcr how'd
Tor good behavior. Besides his oomnsal
was hned on the second day for tcontenrni
OF court" In coming into court drnnk r.
plead the cause of his client. Attendapco
upon the prayer meeting and the court viii
other observations made in the afternoon n
ma out the state of the case Ia London and
~ .ne s.ate 10 Whlch we had been so unex.
;roeo ',i introuuced took up the rest of the
tlme until evening when there was croudad
gathering in the ample PRESBYTERIAN cb",oI'
LUZ LUZ 'his we went too. Speakers had
come come oGt from Columbus and from
T.ned pages as vel as from
tne speaking and praying and singinn
went on, all were enthused if not in s,saIs
and spoke with new tongues as the sn rit' neu
mem qtterance; The meeting Continued Fin
laie eour, and then broke up reluctan, i,,'
ana tnese scenes were enacted dav After dsv
Ior ABOUT -FOUR months, until all these intensyo
wolhefs, Ia London, men and women were
enabled TO rejoice together, and saw wv" W.
nave conquered The twenty.four saloons
.9a Nv were deallng out death at the beginnjpS
od t n crusade, are all now closed and clean.
e eh OUT Ihere was no place perhaps in Ohio
sn n1i iba rum nin was more defiant and persistent
Leaving London by next nornina's civ