Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-19
ON THEIR KNEES.
Thrilling Incidents and Impressive Scenes
at the AIl.Day Prayer Meetings
How Women Heard Of the Re.

suits at Voting Places.
The all-day prayer meeting at Smithfeld
Street NJ. E. Church was largely attended both
morning and afternoon. 1t was conducted
each hour by different woman. All were
wellknown officers of the W. C. T. U. or ladies
connected with church work independent OF
temperance organizations. Mrs. Graft presided
at the organ and Mrs. Rev. Locke announced
the hymns The proceedings all day were en-
livening, bnt at times became very impressive.
1t was between and o'clock when THE DIS
PATCH reporter dropped into the church.
lady dressed in deep mourning was.just at
that moment pleading with young women to
use their influence upon the young man of the
day.
When she had finished, another woman-and
bright, vivacious soul, too-jumped up with
this little story:
To-day at noon was walking down Smith
field street for lunch. 1 had just passed the
polling place in Municipal Hall when three
young men came out and walked on ahead Of
me. You can't get your vote In, said one of
them, until woman gets hold of you and tells
you how to VOTE 1 stepped right up to that
young fellow and said to him: Look here
young man, nothing better could get hold of
you than a woman-provided she is good
woman. You should vote to please her. He
looked confused and then said: why, you're
one of those old w. G. T. U. women Yes, I
am one of those old w. C. 7. U. women, and
thank God for it."
A PSALM AND BALLOT TALK.
81 want to read aloud one of David's Psalms
about wickedness." Then she read it in low,
rhythmetic tone. The selection was indeed
suitable to the theme of the day.
Still another woman arose to speak She
tad her nf to re- nj
prohibition ballots at one of the precinct polls
in the Fifteenth ward. The liquor agents there
first tried to bulldoze her by announcing that
they would allow no electioneering within 90
feet of the voting window, and as she was
electioneering she must leave. She demanded
to see the law for their demand.
They sent her back of the window
and there a man handed her an open PuIdon,
but she could not find the law they mentioned
and defied them to put her away. They did
not try it, but when she returned to her stand
she found antiamendment tickets substituted
in her box for the temperance slips; She de-
nounced this as fraud, and said the women
could be very useful at the polls.
At this juncture Mrs II. G. Campbell took
charge of the meeting. She said she had just
come from similar prayer meeting at North
Avenue NJ. E. Church, and there she had been
IMPRESSED WITH THE POWER
of earnest, concerted and continual prayer.
She had been aiding in that all morning. AS
result she had heard favorable reports from the
polls at frequent intervals-such reports as left
her without doubt of the victory of the Pro-
hibitionists.
One such incident Mrs. Campbell related. At
the voting place where her husband was in at
tendance gentleman well known in Allegheny
came up to vote He had boasted all along that
he was going to vote against prohibition, and to
execute the boast he asked for and received an
anti-amendment ballot. But before he had time
to cast it bystander stepped up to him and
said: do you know, sir. that your
Christian mother is at this moment on her
bended knees in that church across
there praying that you will vote for
Temperament For moment the voter stood
still; then he threw down the anti-amendment
ticket, left the polls, and in spite of all the per-
suasion liquor men have tried on him they
have. not yet succeeded in getting him to
vote"
Then Mrs Campbell delivered the most i'm
passoned prayer to a throne of grace that was
heard in either Pittsburg or Allegheny yester-
day. 1t was broken by sobs and 'amensr
throughout Its quarter of an hours duration.
As the softened audience sang Hide Thou
in Me-" brass band, footing in the interest of
liquor, passed up Seventh avenue. Its dis
cordant strains were soon followed by the war
song. Hold the Fort" sung by children
hauled past the church in two wagons.
PRAYER FOR THE SOBER SIX.
Scarcely observing the interruption, Mrs.
Campbell read another passage of Scriptures,
and then announced four persons who would
pray before the people arose from their seats.
II want the audience to pray for six men
who between the hours of IL and /, cast their
votes for temperance, and who, for the first
time in their life, are sober on election day.
Pray for them that they may remain So"
This was what rough-clad workingman
called out to the audience as it was about
kneeling for the season of prayer Many were
the fervent petitions sent up for the six voters
mentioned.
At all other prayer meetings similar Incl
dents occurred At North Avenue M. E.
Church the prayer meeting began at A. NJ.
and lasted until P M. In several of the Pres
byterian and U. P. Churches of Allegheny and
and Pittsburg the women put in most of the
day praying and singing. Some few men at
tended beside clergymen.
Altogether it was a strange but solemn
spectacle for an election day.