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LOCAL CRUSADERS

THE GIFT OF THOSE ENGAGED IN THE NOBLE WORK OF 1874

A MARBLE PANEL TO BE PLACED AT THE ENTRANCE TO WILLARD HALL IN THE WOMEN'S TEMPLE AT CHICAGO -- COMMEMORATIVE OF THE WORK OF THE MANSFIELD CRUSADERS

In March, 1874, many Christian women of Mansfield united in protest against the traffic in intoxicating drinks.  From the bands of Crusaders, who went to dealers in intoxicants, with prayers and appeal, all over our country, has been evolved an organization, which, by its evangelizing, educating, reformatory and legislative lines of work, has attained national and world-wide influence.

The crowning agency in this reform movement is the temple in Chicago which is the headquarters of the Woman's Temperance Publishing association -- also the scene in Willard hall of daily noon-tide religious services, where many a wanderer is brought back to a life of sobriety and Christian experience.  Thus is perpetuated the element of prayer which kindled the Crusade fires and still holds preeminence among the various means employed for the uplifting of humanity.

The rentals of the temple, from banking houses and business offices will, when the building is paid for, furnish an income for carrying on the work of the organization.  It is the aim of Mrs. Carse, the founder of the temple, and her associate trustees to lift the debt by Jan. 1897.  As soon as this is done, one half of the fine income from rentals will go the national society and the other half to the various states pro rata the amount contributed by each state to the building fund.

Of the 500 ladies in Mansfield, who, in 1874, voiced their protest against the liquor traffic, some have entered the life eternal;  others reside in various distant cities.  A goodly number of the Crusade band is still here, doing the faithful service for the Master, in various lines of beneficence.  In order that their early work may have historic record in the temple, a gift of $100 is being raised, which will entitle them to have inscribed on a marble panel in the corridor leading to Willard hall, the following:

Recognizing the temple as an outgrowth of the Crusade, they regard it as a privilege to own stock in this far-reaching instrumentality for advancing the spiritual kingdom.  Among the donors to this gift are the following well known names, beloved and honored, a few of which are memorial:

Zimmerman, Yeaman, Mary White, Waring, Wagner, Weldon, Weatherby, VanAtta, Trimble, Sewell, Sturges, Sirpless, R.R. Smith, Rigby, Reed, Ricksecker, Rissor, Ricketts, Proctor, Potter, Emma Alden Proctor, Pluck, Nye, E. McMillen, Mary B. Mitchell, Marquis, Ellen D. McVey, Marshall, Loughridge, King, Sophie Johnson, J.P. Hedges, Haynes, Finfrock, Fenton, E. Endly, M.E. Douglass, H.P. Davis, S.B. Day, A.H. DeCamp, M.L. DeCamp, Condict, Corliss, Cole, W.P. Clark, Brinley, J.H. Black, Bradford, Bushnell, Buzzard, Bonar.

Seventy-five dollars have been raised and remitted in two installments in June and September.  The soliciting committee hopes to receive further contributions to complete the gift very soon.

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