The initial steps of the movement in London toward organizing a raid against the liquor dealers were taken at a meeting held in the Methodist Episcopal Church January 18, 1874, which received an impetus at a meeting held in the Presbyterian Church on the following evening. The result was the preparation of the following petition:
"We, the undersigned citizens of London, Ohio, and vicinity, desiring the good of our community, and interested in the welfare of our friends and children, knowing the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage to be injurious to all concerned—the buyer and seller—pledging ourselves to its discontinuance hereafter, do kindly but earnestly ask you to unite with us in this purpose. Accompanying this petition are pledges which our representatives will present, setting forth our desires. We assure you that it is with the kindest feeling we petition you."
This pledge was circulated throughout the town, and in less than one week was signed by over one thousand citizens, of every class and condition. On the 19th of the month, committees of ladies, selected from among the best citizens, waited upon the proprietors of the several drug stores in London, and presented, for their signature, a pledge to the effect that they would sell no intoxicating liquors, save for purely medicinal or mechanical purposes. This was readily signed by all the druggists. Two days later, committees of ladies, two of each, waited upon every person in the town who was engaged in the liquor traffic, with a pledge that they would discontinue the business at once and forever. But one of the twenty dealers, we believe, signed the pledge, though a good feeling prevailed between the committee-women and the saloonists. On the 28th of the same month, a deputation of ladies, to the number of between thirty and forty, ealled at several places where liquor was sold, and engaged in singing and praying for a short time. The exercises were uninterrupted by any unbecoming conduct on the part of the liquor dealers or other persons.
Prayer-meetings were held at the Presbyterian Church from 9 to 10 o'clock each morning, which were attended by all classes of citizens, many of the business men closing their business houses for the purpose. Prayer-meetings were also held each evening at the Methodist and Presbyterian Churches alternating, which were largely attended. Every day ladies assembled at the Presbyterian Church and proceeded from thence to the several saloons, where, after soliciting the proprietor to sign their pledge, and his refusal to do so, they would engage in singing and praying. Sometimes the ladies were refused admission to the house, so they gathered on the pavement in front and conducted their services. During the week closing February 7, two saloonists succumbed to the pressure and gave up. By the close of the following week, the novelty was somewhat worn away and the excitement considerably diminished. Still, there was manifested on the part of those engaged in the warfare a settled determination to continue the contest until the enemy was routed. The ladies still continued their daily administrations of song and prayer before the principal saloons, but their numbers were somewhat lessened. During this period, another means of bringing about the desired end was inaugurated. A subscription paper had been circulated asking material aid to be used in prosecuting persons unlawfully engaged in the traffic, and for defraying expenses incident to the temperance movement. For this purpose over $20,000 was subscribed, the sums given by any one person, ranging from $10 to $2,000. February 11, the London Temperance Association, composed of all who had subscribed to the temperance fund, was formed, and the Executive Committee instructed to draw on the fund for expenses in carrying out the laws. Next, the ladies divided their forces into small squads and took their stations in front of the saloons at 7 o'clock in the morning and continued until about 10 o'clock in the evening, relief parties being regularly sent out. On the 17th, the tabernacle first made its appearance on the streets; this consisted of a large box-shaped contrivance with comfortable seats for half a dozen persons, inclosed with oil-cloth curtains and mounted on small wooden wheels for the purpose of being easily transferred from one point to another. February 13, the Town Council passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale of beer and ale within the corporate limits of London. This, of course, was done under the pressure of the temperance excitement. On the following Tuesday evening, another saloonist rolled his casks out and emptied their contents groundward.
Friday, February 20, 1874, was pretty generally observed as a day of fast, the business houses were about all closed, and many of the citizens attended the services at the several churches. During the fourth and fifth weeks, the ladies were, for the first time, molested and indecently treated. On one occasion, eggs and other missiles were hurled at them; on another, beer slops were thrown on them, and the third witnessed the removal of one of the tabernacles from its position of attack, whereby one man was knocked down and another injured. About this time, another saloonist gave way, selling out and sending off his liquors, left the town. After the difficulty attending the use of the tabernacle, those vehicles were discarded, but the policy of sending out daily skirmishers was still kept up.
The 5th and 7th of March were days of great triumph to the crusaders, for on these days surrendered two men engaged in the liquor traffic, one of which seeming to be so great a conquest that nearly all of the bells in town were rung, causing great excitement and much joy. After the bells had ceased ringing, a number of the more enthusiastic temperance advocates met at the Presbyterian Church and sang songs of thanksgiving and praise. On March 6, the Woman's Temperance Alliance of Madison County was organized at the Presbyterian Church for the purpose of furthering the cause of temperance. The daily and evening meetings were continued, but by the middle of March the campaign was considered about at an end, though there still remained a few obstinate scattered forces to subdue. Thereafter, operations were chiefly confined to "Battle Run" and the forts in the neighborhood of the railroad.
At the spring elections, an entire crusade ticket was elected. The fourteenth week of the movement still saw the ladies making one visit a day to each of the obstinate rum-sellers, and both the morning and evening meetings were in progress, but several weeks later street singing and praying was gradually ended.
While the movement did not perhaps result as successfully as some of the most enthusiastic supporters of the cause had anticipated, it certainly was the means of accomplishing great good by materially lessening the evil arising from the sale of liquor for a period of time.