At half-past twelve o'clock the procession marched out of the basement of the Baptist Church, over one hundred being in line. These were the 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 Christian Temperance Union of Fredonia_. Two hundred and eight members were enrolled, sixty-four of whom were young women. The first officers were: Mrs. George Barker, President; Mrs. D. R. Barker, Vice-President; Mrs. L. A. Barmore, Secretary; Mrs. L. L. Riggs, Treasurer. Thus was the wonderful movement called "The Crusade" begun, and the first local Woman's Christian Temperance Union organized.