Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-08-26
sunday in Oberliu.
oBERI1E, August a, 1868.

OBERLIE, August q, 1868.
DEAR LEADER: Sunday in Oberlin is
indeed 0 Sabbath. as town, should
say, its distinguishing Characteristic as
well as its highest praise is that the Sab
bath is universally respected. There is
no business transacted, no money making
parties formed, no noise or hustle or ex-
citement. Even in this, to Oberlin, the
busted season of the year, all is quiet,
still, worshipful. Nine-tenths Of the pop
ulation, too, attend church regulaTly-and
the First Congregational Church, which
would itself seat nearly the whole
population of the village, is twice each
Sabbath well filed by the hearers Of Pres
ident Finney.
Revolving these things in my mind,
and contrasting these habits with those of
our Southern and Western towns, I enter
ed the Sabbath School this morning. 1
say THE Sabbath School advisedly-for
whether in numbers, in management, in
zeal Of teacher and scholar, or in results,
know of no school which can compare
with it It's superintendent Mr.. J. NJ.
Fitch, has held his position for twenty
years, and he is indeed model man for
the place. His zeal, energy and tact per-
meate the school. Every teacher, every
pupil, of the six hundred, feels his indi-
vidual influence. His schemes for excit-
ing interest, for keeping up the school, for
imparting instruction, are numberless
and novel. Under his direction every
thing moves off splendidly. In ten years
memory Of Sabbath school here, do not
remember single dull school, a single
emergency which Mr. Fitch did not over
come, q single occasion where his remarks
failed TO be interesting and novel. The
school has not lost its interest," as we see
on entering the well filed chapel, with its
big Bible classes, its smaller divisions of
boys and girls, its busy tesehers, and the
animated Librarians, who are dispensing
books from q complete and Rell-selected
library. True war has made its Inroads
even here, and the girls are now almost
three 10 one in majority. To-day, after
the business Of the day in hearing and ex-
planning lessons is over with, we are en-
tertained by excellent child-talks from Dr.
J. P. Thompson, Of New York, and Mr.. E
s. Williams, lately from Hilton Head
where he has been doing good work among
the contrabsnds. After this is over, we
20 to the first church to listen to The Bao-
calaureste Sermon, by President Finney
The burden Of the sermon drawn from va
rious text, was protest and a warning
against conservatism when opposed TO the
spirit Of progressive Christianity. II il.
Illustrated the malignant spirit Of such con-
sergatism and its fearful effects upon the
world and our own nation. It advanced
the idea that all christianity was radical
God is radical Abolitionist. Addressing
himself t. the graduating classes he warn
cd them against conservatism and equally
agaist fansticism, adjuring them as they
desired God to honor them, not to b
frightened or csjoled by this false spiri
into concession or compromise with wrong
This thoroughly characteristic sermon wa
most powerful, and full of thought anC
ferTor. It made deep impression upoI
all who heard it. Especially will it
thoughts and arguments leave q lasting
impression upon the graduating classes, L
whom it was especially addressed as
parting word Of admonition and advice
LANCELOT