he
wives of Fredonia's most respected citizens, venerable and revered
matrons, as well as many young women. Headed by Mrs. Judge Barker and
Mrs. Rev. Lester Williams, they quietly walked across the park straight
to the Taylor House saloon. The band of women filed in, nearly filling
the place. Mrs. Barker immediately made known their mission. Mrs.
Williams read to the proprietor the appeal. A hymn was sung to Pleyel's
sweet air, and all joined in the Lord's prayer, after which Mrs.
Tremaine, a venerable and gifted woman, offered a prayer full of
Christian tenderness. Mr. Taylor was then asked if he would not accede
to their appeal. He finally said, "If the rest will close their places,
I'll close mine." His brother and partner did not consent so readily.
The ladies asked him to consider the matter, promising to call the next
day for his decision. The proprietor replied "That he would be pleased
to see them every day," and politely bowed the ladies out. This visit
was a sample of those made until every saloon, hotel, and drug store had
been visited. This work was continued daily, and during the week union
prayer-meetings were held every night. One drug store responded to the
appeal; one hotel closed its bar; the visits became distasteful to one
dealer, and he locked the women out.

The _Fredonia Censor_, a weekly paper, in its issue of Wednesday,
December 17, 1873, contained the following headlines:

_A TEMPERANCE REVIVAL._

* * * * *

_Enthusiastic Meeting Sunday Evening--Every Place where Liquor is Sold
in Fredonia Visited by a Band of One Hundred Women on Monday--They
Appeal to the Proprietors to Stop the Traffic--A Season of Prayer and
Hymns in Rum Shops._

On Monday afternoon, December 21, the women met to perfect a permanent
organization, which they did by adopting the following pledge and name:

PLEDGE.

We, the undersigned women of Fredonia, feeling that God has laid
upon us a work to do for temperance, do hereby pledge ourselves to
_united_ and _continuous_ effort to suppress the traffic in
intoxicating liquors in our village _until this work be
accomplished_; and that we will stand ready for united effort upon
any renewal of the traffic. We will also do what we can to alleviate
the woes of drunkards' families, and to rescue from drunkenness
those who are pursuing its ways.

NAME.

This society shall be known as _The Woman's Christi