OHIO WHISKY WAR.-PRAYER AND MUSIC THE AGGRESSIVE WEAPONS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1806, 6 May 1874, Page 3

OHIO WHISKY WAR.-PRAYER AND MUSIC THE AGGRESSIVE WEAPONS.

DESTRUCTION OF VAN PELT'S LIQUORS. THE COMMENCEMENT.—GIGANTIC MEETIDGS.

The women's crusade against liquor- ' sellers in Ohio, which excited so much 5 ridicule a few weeks ago, is becoming an. important movement. The meetings; ae- ' cording to reports, were first'held at ' Washington, 0. Its population is about 3,000. Dio Lewis delivered a temperanco lecture there last Fall, and the women of the audienoe were so deeply affected by ■ his vivid portrayals _of - the misery, \ wretchedness, and rain caused by the ' liquor traffic, that on the following after--1 noon they met and resolved to have the 1 doctor speak again. The next morning, 1 the streets were flooded with posters ' calling for a temperance mass-meeting in | one of the phurches. Nearly the entire population turned out, and, after an | enthusiastic meeting, nearly one hundred 1 of the leading ladies in town formed themselves into a loag procession, and, 1 while siuging a kind of pathetic chant, , they marched to the nearest grogshop, leaving the gentlemen at church to pray ' for success. CLOSING OF SALOOKB.—LIQUOB POUBBD DOWN THE GUTIHB, In less than a week, all the saloons in town except one were closed, and their liquors emptied into the gutters. Prayer meetings were held hi adjoining towns and counties, and it was not long before the movement spread through the southi ern part of the State into Indiana. Of coiirse'there was much opposition at many of the places. ' ; THE OPPOSITION AND SCBSEQaEST CONVERSION OP VAN PELT. At Vienna, while the ladies were praying ia a saloon belonging "to Van Pelt, a German, he rushed forward, and drenched them with hops aud lager beer. This was telegraphed over the country as a good joke on the advocates, and Van Pelt suddenly found himself a hero. Flo cursed the ladies and threatened them ' ■frightfully.. They only retired as far as the side-walk, ana continued singing and praying as before. Sometimes he was present aud overwhelmed them with mook' friendship. At other times he appeared frenzied, and once he brandished an axe at the women. They finally built a booth ia front of his saloon and took down the names of all who visited it, while they increased the fervency of their prayers.-, To the utter surprise of everyone, exoeofc the ladies, Van Pelt suddenly began to see things in a new light, and he asked', forgiveness for his past life.'. Word was' sent to the, churches; citizens were called to the saloon, and while the bells were ringing and the multitude singing songs of rejoicing, Van, Pelt rolled his... liquor-casks into the streets and demolished them with the ate he had intended for his besiegers. The' news was flashed to other towns, to the amazement of his former friends. • AOIECONVEBTEDINCOATABBBIUCLB. In another town a photographer's car was used as a tabernacle, and as one saloon was closed it was drawn before the door another, where the extorters prayed day and night. A calcium light ' illuminated the neighbourhood, and the scene was strangely solemn. At JJlanchester the ladies were refused admission to a saloon fronting the railroad track. Then the superintendent of the road ran a car alongside the building and invited the ladies to take possession of it. At Morrow, the Brewery Company said trade had fallen off to the anuunt of 3,000 dollars since the movement began in that town. Dio Lewis has recontly gone to Ohio, and a vigorous movement is projected. Van Pelt travels with him, and makes the most radical speeches against the liquorsellers. At Springfield, Canton, Logan, Zenia, Charleston, Athens, and other places the excitement is increasing. At Oxford, vnearly one thousand residents signed the pledge. 08IGIN OP THE MOVEMENT. ' It is popularly believed that the plan of praying down intemperance originated with UioLewis. HilUbro'claim*tbhave been the first to initiate the movement, but, .from what can be learned, it was begun in Springfield by a drunkard's - wife, who in great anguish called on .Mother Stewart for advice, about four month's ago. The lady listened to'her sorrowful story, and prayed fervently. Chen she advised her to prosecute the iquor-seller under Adair law, and she promised to conduct the case, which she did, and judgment was awarded in her favour. From this time Mother Stewart, consecrated herself to the Temperance cause, but she declared that : the law alone was of little value-real power must come .from' God through prayer, but not without accompanying work. A meeting wai called by the Ladies' Benevolent Society;. of which she is a member, and after a • night of prayer and lamentation, radioal temperance resolutions were passed, and each member pledged himself to stand by them to the end. The pastors of the various churches were consulted, and! 'their co-operation secured. Mass meetings followed, and the "Springfield's Woman's Temperance League " was organised, with Mother Stewart president. It is claimed that the movement in this town was not Jthe result of a lecture or temporary enthusiasm, but of a deep and solemn conviction this rum selling must be.stopped, or inevitable ruin would befall sooiety. ACTIVE OPEBATIONB. On the 10th of February, the first visits to saloons were made, but the doors were locked and the keepers refused to listen. Then followed the praying scenes' that.have excited so much comment throughout the country. For days and nights the devoted women prayed on the' cold sidewalks, entreating drunkards not to enter the saloons. And the result has been that many of the drinking places have closed, and the liquor .traffic been greatly reduced. ,' - '■ N