next take was wonderfully relieved by thought of the ’cloudy pillar’ and ‘parted waters’ of the past; hence, with confidence, I was about turning my eye of faith ‘up to the hills,’ from whence had come my help, when, in response to a gentle tap at my door, I met my dear Mary, who, with her Bible in hand and tearful eyes, said:  ’Mother, I opened to Psalm cxlvi., and I believe it is for you.’  She withdrew and I sat down to read the wonderful message from God.  As I read what I had so often read before, the Spirit so strangely ‘took of the things of God,’ and showed me new meanings, I no longer hesitated, but, in the strength thus imparted, started to the scene of action.

“Upon entering the church, I was startled to find myself chosen as leader.  The old Bible was taken down from the desk, and Psalm cxlvi. read.  Mrs. General McDowell, by request, led in prayer, and, although she had never before heard her own voice in a public prayer, on this occasion ‘the tongue of fire’ sat upon her, and all were deeply affected.  Mrs. Cowden, our Methodist minister’s wife, was then requested to sing to a familiar air—­

  “’Give to the winds thy fears! 
      Hope, and be undismayed;
    God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears: 
      He will lift up thy head.’

“And while thus engaged, the women (seventy-five in number) fell in line, two and two, and proceeded first to the drug stores and then to the hotels and saloons.”

Thus began this memorable Crusade, which was maintained in Hillsboro for over six months, during which time the saloons were visited almost daily.

Within two days, the women of Washington Court-House, a neighboring town, felt the inspiration of their sisters, and inaugurated the movement there.  A description of what was done at this place will afford the reader a clear impression of the way in which the “Crusaders” worked, and the results that followed their efforts.  We quote from the account given by Mrs. M.V.  Ustick: 

“After an hour of prayer, forty-four women filed slowly and solemnly down the aisle and started forth upon their strange mission, with fear and trembling, while the male portion of the audience remained at church to pray from the success of this new undertaking; the tolling of the church-bell keeping time to the solemn march of the women, as they wended their way to the first drug store on the list (the number of places within the city limits where intoxicating drinks were sold was fourteen—­eleven saloons and three drug stores).  Here, as in every place, they entered singing, every woman taking up the sacred strain as she crossed the threshold.  This was followed by the reading of the appeal and prayer, and then earnest pleading to desist from their soul-destroying traffic and to sign the dealers’ pledge.  Thus, all the day long, going from place to place, without stopping even for dinner or lunch, till five o’clock, meeting with no marked success; but invariably courtesy was extended to them.