Smyrna times., 1889-12-24
The Leaders Story.
BY E. ]. THOMPSON.

vi INC evening OF Decent Der ~,
1873, Dio Lewis, a Boston physician
and lyceum lecturer, delivered in
Music Hall, Hillsboro, Ohio, a lecture
on Our Girls
He had been engaged by the Lee
ture Association some months before
to fill one place in the winter course of
lectures merely for the entertainment
of the people, But finding that he
could remain another evening and still
reach his next appointment Washing
ton G. H he consented to give
another lecture on the evening of the
23d. At the suggestion of Judge
Albert Matthews, an old-line temper
ance man and Democrat, free lecture
on Temperance became the order of
the evening.
II did not hear DiO Lewis lecture
although he was our guest, because
of home cares that required my pres
ence, but my son, youth of sixteen,
was there, and he came to me upon his
return home, and in a most excited
manner related the thrilling incidents
of the evening-hOw DR.. Lewis told of
his own mother and several of her
good Christian friends uniting in
prayer with and for the liquor sellers
of his native town, until they gave up
their soul destroying business, and
then aid,-'Ladies, you might do the
same thing in Hillsboro ifyOu had the
same faith, and. turning to the minis
ters and temperance men who were
upon the platform, added, Suppose l
ask the ladies Of this audience to sig
Nifty their opinions upon the subject 2
They all bowed their consent, and fiftV
or more women stood up in token of
approval. He then asked the gentle
men how many Of them would stand
as hackers should the ladies under
take the work, and sixty or seventy
| arose. And now, mother said my
boy, they have got you into business,
10" you are on a committee to do some
work at the Presbyterian Church in
| the morning, at nine O'Clock, and then
the ladies want you to 20 with them to
the saloons
MY husband, who had returned
ftom Adams county court that evening
and was feeling very tired, seemed
asleep as he rested upon the couch,
while my son in an undertone had
given me all the above facts; but as
the last sentence was uttered, he rails
ed himself upon his elbow, and said,
What tOmfoolery is all that p MY
son slipped out Of the room quietly,
and betoOk myself to the task of CON
soling my husband with the promise
that / should not be led into any fool
ish act by DiO Lewis or any association
Of human beings. But after he had
relaxed into a mildcr mood. cOntinu-
ing to call the whole plan as he under
stood it, 'tomfoolery,' l ventured to
remind him that the men had been in
the 'tOmfoOlery' business a long time.
and suggested that it might be Gods
will that the women should now take
their part. After this he fell asleep
quietly, and l resumed my Bible read
ing Nothing further was said upon
the subject that had created such in
terest the night before until after
breakfast, when we gathered in the
family room First, my son ap-
preached me, and gently placing his
hand upon my shoulder, in a very sub.
dued tone said, Mother, are YOU not
going over to the church this morning? ?
As l hesitated, and doubtless showed
in my COuntenance the burden upon
my spirit, he emphatically said, But
my dear mother, you know you have
to gO.' Then my daughter, who wa,
sitting on stool by my side, leaning
over in a most tender manner. and
looking up in my face, said, Don't YOU
think you will go? All this time my
husband had been walking the floor
uttering not word. He stopped, and
placing his hand upon the family Bible
"a foh l., h.
emphatically, Children, you know
where your mother goes to settle al
vexed questions. Let us leave hel
alone withdrawing as he spoke, anl
the dear children following him. !
) turned the key, and was in the act o
kneeling before God and His Holy
Word, to see what would be sent me
when l heard gentle tap at my door
Upon opening it, l saw my dear daugh
ter, with her little Bible open, and tn,
| tears cOursing down her young cheeks
t as she said, 4 opened to this, mother
1t must be for you She Immediately
+ left the room, and l sat down to rcaC
, the wonderful message of the great :
: Am contained in the 146th Psalm.
'No longer doubling, l at once re
paired to the Presbyterian Church
: where quite large assembly of ear
nest people had gathered.
Il was at once unanimously chOsel
as the president Tor leader); Mrs. Gen
: eral Mcdowell, vice-presidenL, ant
9 Mrs d. X. Finner, secretary of tn
Z strange work that was to follow.
D Appeals were drawn up to drug
gists, saloOn-keepers, and hotel pro
prietOrs. Then the Presbyterian min
ister (Dr. McSurley), who had up t
il this time occupied the chair, callet
a upon the chairman-elect to come for
q ward to the post of honor but you
s humble servant could not her limb
: refused to bear her. So DR.. McSurle,
/, remarked, as he looked around upol
= the gentlemen: Brethren, I see tina
= the ladies will do nothing while we re
y main let us adjourn, leaving this neN
Il work with God and the women
u 'As the last man closed the doc
Il after him, strength before unknown
% came to me and without any hesita
n ton or consultation walked forwar
s to the minister's table, took a larg
7. Bible, and, opening it, explained tn
d incidents of the morning; then rea
Ie' and briedy(as my tears would allow
% commented upon its new meaning t
v me then called upon Mrs. Mellow
is ell to lead in prayer, and such a pray
70 er! 1t seemed as though the angel ha
# brought down live Goals from off th
"a altar and touched her lips-she VIII
= had never heard her own voice i
n prayer!
=. 'As we rose from our knees If
!, there was none sitting on that morn
= iDg), l asked Mrs. COwden(our M. /
70 minister's wife) to start the good oil
hymn Give to the winds thy fears
and turning to the dear woman
said AS we all join in singing tn
hymn, let us form in line, two and TIVE
y the small women in front leaving th
u tall ones to bring up the rea
e. and let us at once proceed to OF
~ sacred mission, trusting alone
n. the God of Jacob. 1t was all done i
+. less time than it takes to write il
- every heart was thrObbing, and ever
: woman's countenance betrayed her so
n emn realization of the fact that sh
- - was going about her fathers business
! = "As this band of mysterious being
- first encountered the outside gaze, an
le as they passed from the door
x the old church and reached the stree
as beyond the large churchyard, the
'l were singing these prophetic words:
le Far, far above thy thought,
IN His counsel shall appear,