The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-12-26
FORTIETH
Anniversary Of The WOmGn'S
Crusade
Against Saloons Observed BY
The ". c. 7. U.
(By Press Reporter)

celebrated the fortieth anniversary
of the crusade Tuesday afternoon at
the Home For The Aged with a most
enjoyable program. Rev. Ira j. Hous-
ton read the Crusade Psalm (146th)
and offered prayer after which the
Crusade hymn was sung. During the
short business session, the names of
four honorary members were given.
Mrs. Tilton, who was in the Crusade
from the beginning, had charge of the
program, and read from the Ohio Mes
senger Anniversary of the Crusade"
(by H. B.
Forty years ago the women of Hills
boro, Ohio felt called by God to enter
protest against the liquor traffic, the
inhumanities of which had become in
tolerable. Town after town lighted
the beacon fire. Village after village
fell into line Whatever phases the
temperance reform may assume, the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
must preserve the spirit of the Crus-
ade. These godly women were i'm
PEELED by supernatural power to go
into a country that they knew not of.
Filled with the Holy Spirit they found
a voice to speak to God, and to plead
with man for the deliverance from
this awful thing that had well nigh
destroyed the home. Since then sci
ence has joined hands with religion
and they, too, have not ceased to cry
out against this enormity. There has
never been a thought of failure in the
hearts or minds of the early Crusad-
ers. 1T is the voice of God has been
the watch-word. The power of the
enemy had not been suspected. Ap-
petite leagued with avar:ce have dev-
eloped strength that had not been
measured, but as God is God, and truth
Is truth, there can be but one issue.
The saloon and the drink traffic must
go down before the aroused energy
of the worlds womanhood, before the
the quickened conscience of long suf-
fering manhood A few incidents may
make the scene more vivid. In Xenia,
o., band of women were kneeling
on the pavement in front of a place
where drink had been sold. They
were led by Henrietta Monroe, later
the President of the w. G. r U.
Fervent prayers were being offered for
might flee from the wrath liable to be
poured upon them; for the drinkers
that they might be delivered from the
clutches of the drink demon; for the
wives and children, the innocent vic
tins of the drink traffic. A man drew
near to enter and drink. The sight be-
fore him stopped his steps. The Holy
Spirit opened his eyes to a new view
of himself and the drink problem.
His emotions could not be controlled.
His eyes were fountains of tears. He
breathed a prayer for pardon and
strength and turning went his way a
new man. Such was the testimony
written to Mrs. Monroe later Many
such instances occurred. Saloon
keepers were convicted of sin against
God and their own souls. Some were
converted and left off doing evil.
Young girls who went with the pray
ing bands to lend their glad voices to
the holy service, were constrained to
devote their lives to the worlds better
ment. Women who had never raised
their voices in audible prayer or praise
filled with power became leaders on
the platform and in the pulpit, thrill
ling great audiences with their elo-
quent appeals This tidal wave has
never receded. Now half million of
women, by their representatives, meet
in convention to record victories and
plan new campaigns Now all tenn
perance forces unite for the prohibit
ion of the liquor traffic in the nation
"The Spirit of the White Ribbon
Movement" by Frances E. Willard
was read by the president, Mrs. Wal
ker. In the vocabulary of practical
craftsmanship" the words "oppor-
tune" and ''expedient" stand at the
head. We would make the same crit
icism upon them that Abraham Lin
coin did concerning a book left with
him by the agent who demanded a
notice whereupon the great man wrote
''for those who like this sort of a
book, it is about the sort of book
they like" and for those who ring the
changes upon opportunism and ex'
pediency, there is nothing to do ex'
cept to let them ring. But this is moi
the genius or the spirit of the white
ribbon movement. Nothing could
could have ben more impolitic than
for women to form professions on the
street as a demonstration against the
liquor traffic; nothing could have been
less opportune than prayer meetings. in