Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1874-04-11 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

FIELD DAY IN MADISONVILLE. Ia Madisonville, which is only a short distance from Cincinnati, an attempt was made to overawe the women and to crush them out by a novel prccess. A day or two ago, on beginning their rounds, the praying band found on the saloon doors placards with inscriptions such as these: "No singing, praying, and preaching allowed in front of. these premises." "No ladies allowed in these premises." "No trespass allowed on these premises." The doors of the saloon thus placarded were closed, and the ladies engaged in religious exercises on the greet. But at another place there was show of fight, and it soon appeared that the saloon keepers had determined to make this the scene of a pitched battle. A large crowd of Germans from Cincinnati bad gathered in the bar-room, and were ostentatiously drinking, singing, laughing and talking in order to drown the sound of the women's voices. But the women were undismayed, and their prayer meeting at this establishment lasted about twice as 1-ng as usual. Later in the day, and before the time at which the women rnerally began their afterooon march, the tactics of the enemy were still more apparent. Large delegations o (Sermans were continually arriving from Cincinnati, and their carriages and waggons filled the streets. Mimic was also provided, and the braying of brass instruments, and rattle of drums added to the excitement of the occasion. At two o'clock, whea the ladies were expected to come out of church. tLe beer party placed their band in front, and forming a long procession of carriages and waggons, went to the saloon which they supposed would be first attreked. Here the carriages were so die posed as to form a cordon around the saloon and prevent the approach of the enemy. Free heel was ther dispensed, and merriment over the projected discomfiture of the women was the order of the day. But they were disappoiuted. Fearing a collision that might cadge an attack of the exasperated men of Madisonville upon the intruders, the wometi prudently decided to spend the afternoon in prayer at churcheinstead of going on the street. Presently the beer party, to their great surprise, received a polite and kind invitation to attend the services at the church. The invitation was accepted, and the whole party abandoned their vehicles, beer kegs, and brass band, and attended, many of them for the first time in their lives, a temperance prayer-meetieg. The house was filled to overflowing, and the earnestness and good temper of the women had the effect of making the most disorderly elements come to order. Mrs Weds, a lady of good sense, soft voice, and sweetness of manner, was fortunately the leader. After conciliating opposition by pleasant words, she read and commented upon several verses of the 10th Psalm, in which she said God had long ago described the character and proceeding of the modern as oonkeeper. Such passages as the following did indeed seem very appropriate under the circumstances, and their application was amusing if not edifying to the men from Cincinnati:—As "His ways are always grievous; • . . as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them." "He hath said in his heart, I shall never be moved." "He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages ; in the secret places doth he murder the innocent; b s eyes are privily set against the poor." "He lieth in wait f..r the poor; he dale catch the poor when he draweth them into his net." "lie bath said in his heart, God bath forgotten ; he hideth his face, he will never see it."