St. Joseph County, Indiana - Chapter 15: St. Joseph County Bible Society. - St. Joseph County Total, 1880

Temperance Ceusade. Red Ribbon Movement

Pursuant to notice a large number of the friends of the Bible cause met at tlie Methodist Episcopal Church to take into consideration the organization of a County Bible Society which should be auxiliary to the American Bible Societ}'. After some discussion it was resolved to organize, and the following named officers were elected: William II. Patterson, President; J. H. Orr, G. W. Matthews and Almond Bugbee, Vice Presidents; P. B. Curtis, Secretary; J. L. Jernegan, Treasurer; John Brownfield, Reuben Burroughs and Jeremiah Banning, Executive Committee.

A constitution was adopted which has since been somewhat amended. The society during its existence shows a clean record, and has accomplished much good in the furtherance of the object for wliich it was organized. It has endeavored at all times to be free from debt to the parent society, and always to have a surplus on hand. At times this surplus has amounted to $1,200. It has now in store books amounting to $363. The Tribune bookstore is tlie Depository. F. R Tutt is the present President; J. E. Lewis, Secretary; Elmer Crockett, Treasurer.

The temperance workers of St. Joseph county very early began the work of advocating the cause of temperance, and in the fifty years of the organized existence of the county have not ceased to labor in behalf of those who have been addicted to the use of strong drink, as well as to prevent the young from forming habits that might eventually lead them to a drunkard's grave.

In 1841, when the "Washingtonian movement began to be agitated throughout the land, the men and women in St. Joseph county who believed in the doctrines of total abstinence, at once formed themselves into a society under the name of " St. Joseph County Total Abstinence Society." Annual meetings were held on the 22d of February at South Bend, and reports were received from the auxiliary societies formed throughout the county. The society had pledges of total abstinence circulated extensively, and all had an opportunity of enrolling themselves upon the side of temperance. It must not be thought their work was carried on without opposition. In that early d&y men loved their toddy as well as those of a later day, and as at present, those who advocated the doctrine of total abstinence were said to be fanatical upon the subject of temperance. " ijicense" or " no license" was advocated by their respective champions, and the total abstinence societies were for many years successful in preventing the legalizing of the traffic in ardent spirits.

The sixth annual meeting was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South Bend, Feb. 22, 1847, Samuel C. Sample in the chair. Judge Sample delivered an address urging all to secure a "no license" vote in their respective townships. A. Delano was elected President for the year; S. C. Sample, A. A. Whitlock, I. De Camp, Vice Presidents; Schuyler Colfax, Recording Secretary; Charles M. Heaton, Corresponding Secretary; E. B. Crocker, John Ruddock, Charles N. Ryan, President Whitten and John Brownlield, Executive Committee. Reports of a cheering character were made by auxiliary societies of South Bend, Mishawaka, Sumption's Prairie, Clay township, Kankakee, Terre Coupee and Warren township. The total number of pledged total abstinence persons according to the reports made were 2,019.

The seventh anniversary was held at the Presbyterian church in South Bend, Feb. 22. 1S48. John H. Orr was elected President; Jonathan Hubbard, Jackson Green and Eliakim Green, Vice-Presidents; George Pierson, Recording Secretary; John Brownlield, Corresponding Secretary.

A resolution was offered and carried by a close vote, asking the Legislature to pass an act changing the law as relating to this county, so that voters who wished to vote for license should have it expressed on their tickets, instead of counting all those who do not vote " no license," as being in favor of license.

Feb. 22 the annual meeting was again held in South Bend, and flattering reports were made, there being an addition of several hundred names added to the names of those taking the total abstinence pledge. James Davis was elected President; M. Stover, A. Wilson and G. HoUoway, Vice-Presidents; John Brownlield, Recording Secretary; M. L. McClelland, Corresponding Secretary. Feb. 21, 1852, James Davis was elected President; P. Whitten, A. Hudson and G. Holloway, Vice-Presidents; John Brownfleld, Recording Secretary; M. L. McClelland, Corresponding Secretary. The sixteenth annual meeting was held in South Bend, Feb. 22, 1856. George C. Merritield was elected President; President Whitten, Richmond Tuttle, George Holloway, Vice-Presidents; John Brownfleld, Secretary; Picketson Burroughs, Corresponding Secretary. A resolution was passed in which the society deprecated any effort to identify the temperance movement, or the question of prohibition, with either of the political parties of the State, with a view of arraigning the otiier jmrty against it. The society also expressed itself in favor of the prohibitor\- law, and against

The eighteenth annual meeting was held Feb. 22, 1859. R. Clark was called to the chair. Reports were received from several auxiliary societies of a not very encouraging character. Ricliraond Tuttle was elected President; H. E. Hurlbut, Ira Corwin and Matthias Stover, Vice-Presidents; A. Bngbee, Cori'esponding Secretary; John Brownheld, Recording Secretary.

The Presidential campaign of 1860 coming on, followed by the war in 18C1, interest in the cause died out, and the societ}' soon ceased to exist, though efforts did not cease in other directions to advance the temperance cause.

What A Pint Of Whisky Cost

" Some 31 years ago Jonathan Beckwitli, a young lawyer of decided promise, bouglit a pint of whisky, and, getting drunk, wandered out on Terre Coupee Prairie on a cold winter night, and was so badly frozen that he lost his reason and the use of his limbs, and has been ever since, until his death two weeks ago, an inmate of the county poor house, an insane cripple, and his keeping has cost the county no less than $8,000!

The Temperance Crusade

In the winter of 1873, a movement was begun in Ohio, which was denominated the "Woman's Temperance Crusade," from the tact that a few noble women, despairing of success for the cause of temperance as advocated and enforced by the professed temperance people, proceeded to try the efficacy of prayer. Bands of praying women visited the various saloons in tlieir neighborhood, and by songs and prayer forced the rnmsellers to close their shops. Their very earnestness liad its effect upon all classes of society, and men and women who were lukewarm in the cause became aroused and renewed their fight against the enemy. The citizens of St. Joseph county were not to be outdone b}' communities elsewhere. In South Bend, Monday, March 16, 1S7-1-, there was a great gathering of the friends of temperance. A meeting was announced for three o'clock in the afternoon, but long before that hour the sidewalks were lined with people, and in tiie streets were the carriages of those who had come from a distance to take part in the [exercises. At a quarter betbre three the opera house was packed to the very limit. The stage was tilled with speakers, a choir of singers, and representatives of the press, tlie auditorium was crowded, every aisle had its ranks of persons standing, the gallery was packed, and many went away not obtaining even a glance of the inside. There was that in the eyes and mien of the people which showed that thej knew they were there, and meant all they expressed in tlieir manner. Tlie speaking and singino- were strictly in accordance with the attendance, and altogether it was a grand affair, and such a meeting as gives support and stability to any good cause and those engaged in it.

Promptly at three o'clock tlie assemblage was called to order, with Hon. Schuyler Colfax in the chair. The exercises were opened with an appropriate anthem by the choir. An earnest prayer was then oflered by Eev. II. A. Gobin, which was followed by a second song.

Mr. Colfax inaugurated the speaking by a few pertinent and eloquent remarks. "He called attention to the terrible ravages which the evils of intemperance had brought to the land, and the urgent need of the reform now in progress. The women's movement had been as startling in its cliaracter as a clap of thunder from a clear sky, and the cloud which liad been at tirst no bigger than a man's hand, had suddenly overspread the whole heavens. The speaker believed that the mighty uprising now witnessed by the whole country would only subside when the curse of the traffic in liquor had been swept away. Like the institution of slavery, the demon of drink brought nothing but woe to mankind. They were alike obnoxious in the sight of God, and, as by His aid the first had been uprooted and cast out, so under His divine guidance would the women and men who had engaged in this noble crusade succeed in exterminating the second. The opponents to the reform all claimed to be friendly, but - they thought some other method of bringing it about preferable. Moral suasion was urged, and the liquor sellers wanted their opponents to be careful to keep within the bounds of the law. With regard to the first, moral suasion was just the weapon in use, if he rightly a])i)rehended the term, and he thought that if saloon-keepers were treated to the medicine they prescribe, few would be able to hold a license. For his part be was willing to let the women choose their own course, and he wished it imderstood that wliatever they should see fit to do, he stood by them.

Marvin Campbell was the next speaker. In view of the fact that whole commiinities would often make ooncerted and most energetic efforts for the eradication of minor evils, it seemed strange that apathy could anywhere exist with regard to the blighting effects of intemperance. He blamed men, with whom all legislative and judicial power is vested, for allowing it to remain unchecked. He appealed to mothers, fathers and sisters, to throw all their influence in favor of the good cause now so happily begun.

A letter was read from Rev. D. J. Spiliard, pastor of St. Patrick's Church (Roman Catliolic), in which lie declined to take part in or approve of the movement inaugurated by the women, but pledged himself to do all he could to further the cause of temperance in otlier ways. He had but a few days before organized a total-abstinence society in his Church, and would labor faithfully to increase its members. In concluding his letter the reverend gentleman said: " Let committees be appointed to watch and report every violation of the law, and then let legal proceedings be instituted, the guilty parties brought to justice and forced to forfeit their licenses. Let God be earnestl}' and piously supplicated to stay this terrible scourge which is devastating our fair land. Let every minor be made to bring to the bar of justice the man, if such he can be called, who would deal out his poisonous potions to innocent, unsuspecting, wayward youth; let every woman wbo suffers at the hands ot the terrible demon have recorded the name of her tormentor; in a word, let all just and proper means be used to wage untiring warfare against intemperance. Count on me always as the friend of temperance and the unrelenting foe of drunkenness." Charles Smith, A. N. Thomas, Lucius Hubbard and Miss Fanny Spain followed in short remarks, when Mrs. Emma Malloy made the closing speech. Mrs. Malloy said she had often been asked what she thought of this woman's movement, and hesitated to give a reply lest her answer should be less reverent than tlie subject seemed to demand. She could not doubt but the movement was a natural revulsion, an eruption of the smoldering fires that for centuries past was pent up in the heart of woman. She could not doubt but that the hand of God had shaken these internal fires, and could only gaze with awe and reverence at the mighty upheaving that thrilled tlie nation from center to circumference. She was convinced that women were not satisfied to sit with folded hands while the first-born of the nation was being slain, - while the fairest and purest in every household in the laud were the victims of the fell destroyer. The heart of woman had thrilled with silent anguish; she had wept her night of sorrow through; and now had arisen the host of Israel. The foe was being routed. " The glad dawn whose early twilight" all had been gazing down the centuries of time to see, had come.

A temperance meeting was also held the same day at the Reformed church, and an association was formed under the name of the " Women's Protective Association of South Bend," its object being, " In the spirit of love and earnestness to try to protect the hearths and homes of the women of South Bend, and those of other places who have fathers, husbands, sons or brothers, from the evils and dangers of intemperance." Various committees were appointed - on canvassing, visitation, enforcement of law, license, finance, mass meetings, printing, music and legislation. In addition to the regular membership there were to be co-operative members, composed of the men who would sign a pledge wherein they pledged themselves to abstain from signing any petition for the license of the sale of intoxicating drinks, and to give cordial support and cooperation to the Women's Protective Association, in their efforts for the banishment of the trafiic and use of intoxicating drinks.

Iiistokt Of St. Joseph Codnty

The movement was not confined alone to South Bend, but at other points in the county large meetings were held and good accomplished which is yet felt in every community.

Red-Ribbon Movement

The next movement in behalf of temperance was that known as the "Red Ribbon Movement," which was the direct result of the women's crusade. An interest had been awakened throughout the land, but many not religiously inclined, and some who were conscientiously opposed to the work as performed by the women, were yet ready to embrace some other method that would lead to good results. At the opportune moment the red-ribbon movement was set on foot and rapidly spread throughout the land. In the winter of 1 876-' 77, eloquent speakers in advocacy of the claims of tliis new eflbrt came into this county, and at South Bend and other points large meetings were held and many induced to sign the pledge and wear the ribbon. The first club organized was at South Bend, on the 7th of April, 1877. John Browntield, Jr., was elected President; Ricliard Holmes, John Duey and Fred Barnhard, Vice Presidents; Otto M. Kuoblock, Secretary; Z. M. Johnson, Treasurer; Mr. Perkins, Chaplain. On the Sunday following the club held a public meeting and was addressed by several young men who had been accustomed to tiie use of intoxicating drinks. Under the direction of Mrs. Emma Malloy a series of meetings was held, and the number of those signing the pledge was greatly increased. The movement was one of love to all men, the doctrine of hate being unknown.

After Mrs. Malluy ceased her labors in South Bend, there was a lull in the movement for a time, but it was again inaugurated in July following by John W. Custer and Major Plympton. Under their labors many who had not previously signed were induced to do so, and the cause of temperance received an impetus which could not be impeded by any slight obstacle in the way.