Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-08-23
ADDRESS TO THE ALUMNI.

church was filled, and although the day was
very warm and the exercises long, the audi
enoe was attentive and quiet.
The desk was occupied by the Faculty,
Gov. Dennison, Hon. h. G. Blake, and other
distinguished guests.
Prayer was offered by Prof. Pratt.
Prof. Monroe then addressed the Alumni
in an able and scholarly discourse, evincing
deep study, careful research and skilful ar
| gument. He illustrated and discussed the
proposition that "The Originality Of the
Christian religion is satisfactory proof of its
Divine origin" Any partial report which
We could make would mar the whole. The
line of argument was clear and sound, and
the Alumni of the institution could appre-
oiate the effort.
HIsToRICAL ADDRESS.
At2 p. m. yesterday, the Alumni gath
cred at the Church to hear the Historical Ad-
dress of Prof. Fairchild. The church was
well filed. The afternoon was warm, but
not oppressive.
The subject of Prot. Fairchild's address
was the History of oberlin, its Origin, Pro
gress and Results.
Prayer was offered by Rey. Fayette shep-
herd.
Prof. Fairchild said that the plan of Ober-
lin originated with Rev. John shepherd, in
1888, while he was pastor in Elyria. The
plan, as set forth in his first published circu-
lar ,,,;rht ovs,rar e,r fLa ,lo, oF tIo ,,I,o al
to-day. 1t included theological and intel
lectual branches, uniting secular and reli-
gious instruction. Those who were ready to
embark in the enterprise, were asked to sub
scribe to a series of articles under the name
of the Oberlin Colony. They were to locate
in Russia, Lorain Co., o., and there to serve
God as best they might. To hold no more
property than they thought they could hold
and use for the service of God. They would
renOnnce all bad habits, including smoking
and chewing tobacco, and live as plaiuly as
possible, both as to food and dress, particu-
larly avoiding eight dressing" They
would have plain houses, carriages, &c
They would take care of the needy, and ed
ucate their children in the fear Of the Lord,
and were to live together in all things as
brethren. To this they affixed their names,
the articles being designed to promote re-
ligious education, and to bring the families
together. After few years the covenant
was laid aside as too specific. The name
was borrowed, not from Oberlin the elegant
scholar, but from oberlin the Swiss pastor,
who lived for the good of others. The name
was the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, until an
act 9f the Legislature in 1850 changed it,
Its location was in the dense and trackless
forest. A portion of the land three miles
square was bought at s., so per acre, and after
wards sold at an advance of 81 ,per acre,
thus creating their first fund. Northern
Ohio possesses more eliRihle situations, but
the wisdom of the choice has ever since
been shown.
The first house was the log cabin of Peter
Beebe, who moved into it in April 1883 In
December of that year the first school was
opened, under charge of ]. F. scholl, of the
Western Reserve College. The school now
numbered A pupils--young people from the
Eastern States. In May 1895 the school was
regularly organized under the Pupilage of
S. H. Waldo, James H. Dascomb and David
Branch and their wives. The pupils during
the fIst year numbered 100. In the winter
of 1885 the school first took position as to
cOlOred pupils. The following year the The
illogical Department was established, under
&C parr Ago
The place was healthy and grew rapidly.
To many there were days of poverty, but
generally days of pleasure and hope. The
aim was that the place should ever remain
quiet Christian community. The school
has been prosperous, by aid of a sympathi-
zing community. The community has not
been totally exclusive; social obligations
and true christianity demands no cloister or
cave life, but hearty sympathy with the ex-
ternal world.
AT the outset no carriage road reached the
place. There are ladies with US to-day who
in first coming to the school walked for at
least two or three miles in mud and water
up to their ancles.
The place has grown and fourished. It
has become linked to the world. The policy
has not been exclusive. The church only
sent out teachers to stir up the neighboring
churches. A bevy of Anti-slavery lectu-
rers was let loose upon the State, and an idea
Of exclusion was early broken down.
The religious training of oberlin has ever
been prominent feature. The great re-
vival of - visited the place. The great
revivals were often spoken of as the dawn of
the millennium.
The religious life and history of the Insti-
tuition and the place were here reviewed by
the speaker in interesting resume. The peo-
pie were called fanatics and heretcs bad
men framed evil stories and good men be-
lieved them about them One good effect
of this was that strict surveillance was ex-
ercised on all within the three miles square.
and they were kept closely up to the line Of
christian duty. Our "fanaticism" was such
as sent preachers to distant islands, to Africa
and to the Indian tribes at the West Yet
the fanaticisms which have ragged over the
land during the past twenty five years, have
seldom visited and cursed oberlin. All had
opportunity to set forth their claims here,
but they were not received nor bid God speed.
Many revivals visited the place, and
many hearts yet bear their record. 1t had
been supposed that oberlin piety was espec-
tally noisy, but such was not the fact. The
voice of prayer was pervading but not m
seemly loud. At every gathering, whether
social, intellectual or religious, the help oi
the Lord was invoked, practice which has
come down to the present day. It has been
supposed that the oberlin religion an
austere one. Nothing could be further from
the truth. Oberlin was always cheerful
place No extreme doctrine was ever taught
publicly. Utility and not ornament has beer
the aim of the Institution and the place. TIL,
anti-slavery element was not plank in the