Evening journal., 1919-03-07
WOMEN And Their
CRUSADES FOR GOOD
W. c. T. U. Writer Tells
of Prayers and Fight
for Prohibition
FOREMOST MOMEN
JOINED STRUGGLE
BY ANNA PRITCHARD GEORGE,
OF the National W. {. 4. L.

When word flashed over the wires
Nebraska, the thirty-siXth Slate-has
ratified. how the hearts Of all prohi-
bition workers jumped for 10y at the
glad news that our efforts for Ions
years were at last crowned with sue
cessl As our memories looked back
over the years, We thought, What
must be the JOY OF our crusade moth
ers, those who fought and stood lrm
throughout the years with all tbs
world seemingly arrayed against them
ilrst Of all. is the credit due for the
victory we are all reaping today.
10 was in December, 1913, that "the
whirlwind OF the Lord began % sweep
over the land. While 10 many it seem
ed to come as a storm out Of a clear
sky, yet for years it had been brew
ing.
About the year 1880. in Auburn, y
T., Mrs. Welecta Barbour Lewis, with
other Christian women, PRAYED with
and for the liquor sellers Of their town
until they closed up their business. In
other cities in various States similar
events took place
But there were certain causes which
brought 20 a climax the sentiment
against alcohol which had long found
lodgment in the hearts Of good Chris
than women. 4 large proportion Of the
men returned TO their homes from the
Civil War with the drinking habit firm
" established. Then too, the internal
revenue acts Of the war period which
President Lincoln had consented 10
only as a war measure, formed a close
union between the liquor traffic and
the government Also after the war
the large influx Of immigrants with the
drinking habits Of the old world in
creased the demand for liquors. Thus
The liquor traGlc had a fast hold on the
fathers and sons Of America
The crusade movement was led and
carried on not by the lowly and unfoc-
tunate, but by the wives and daugh-
ters Of eX-governors, Of judges, law
yers, ministers. and by women from
the highest walks in life.
The movement broke out almost
simultaneously in a number Of cities,
some widely apart. In three places ac-
livities began Immediately after an ad-
dress by Dr.. DiO Lewis, son Of Mrs.
Delecta Lewis. Of Auburn. y. Y. on
December IS, tS73, Or. Lewis spoke in
Fredonia. y. Y: on the 23d in HillsbOro,
Ohio, and on December "a in Washing
ton Court House, ohio, and in eocA
place enthused the women 10 start at
once on their praying mission.
Frances Willard called Hillsboro the
cradle" Of the crusade, and Washing
ION Court House the crown" In Hills
boro the leader Of the movement was
n
daughter Of the governor Of Ohio, and
the wife Of a judge; a typical woman
Of the home, the church and school
Mrs. Thompson was not present al
the meeting addressed by Or. Lewis,
but two Of her children were, and when
they returned told their mother that
she had been placed on the committee
10 so out 10 the saloons. While In her
room praying over the matter, her
dauChtcr knocked tim.dly at the door
and standing there with fearful eyes,
she handed her mother a small open
Bible. See what my eyes fell upon. IL
must be for YOU Il was the t46th
Psalm and the message, This is the
way. walk ye in it, satisfied Mrs.
Thompson and she went forth ready
to obey. This was thereafter used as
the Crusade Psalm.
The women met in the Presbyterian
church and chose Mrs. Thompson as
leader. Appeals were drawn up for
druggists. saloon-keepers and hotel
proprietors. Then followed a seascR
Of prayer. Long years before. througn
much trouble, Mrs Thompson had
learned 10 love the hymn, Give TO the
Winds Thy Fears Singing this, the
crusade hymn. the women formed into
line. two and two. and started out 10
visit the places where liquor was sold.
rhc daN WIS dark clondv and cold