Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-10-26


PRREEoE.-The Cleveland Congregational
Conference held its Eleventh Annual Session
with the Congregational Church of CoIIamer,
Rev. Andrew Sharpe, pastor. The exercises
commenced Tuesday evening, October 2Oth,
at Z ?. ", with a sermon by Rev. ). A.
Tholle, from I'd Cor. I'd Chap. 14th verse
'fNoB thanks be unto God, which always
causeth US to triumph in Christ, and maketh
manifest the SAVIOR of his knowledge by US
in every place."
Acknowledgements of growth and progress
in religion, were made from most of the
churches in the Conference, and the dslibe-
rstions of the body were characterized by
harmony and good will to all.
Among the exercises of interest attendant
upon such a gathering, the examination of
FIVE young men from Oberlin College, for
license to preach the gospel, was one of the
most prominent. Their names are E. Booth,
]. H. Laird, W. q. Rice, Geo. W. Phinney,
and Geo. 7. Fairchild. Their examination
met the unanimous approval eff the Confer
ence, and they have its recommendation for
the calling they have chosen. The closing
session Of the Conference was directed to the
discussion of paper reported by the Busi-
ness Committee, in which many members
participated, and the same received uuan-
imOus vote of endorsement by the Conference
and congregation. The following is the
paper:
EXPRESSIONS ON THE STATE OF THE CoUETRY
MADE BY THE CLEVELAND CONGREGATIONAL
CONFERENCE AT cOLLANER, OCT. 81, 1858.
We have met, as Christian body, dnr
ing the continuance of the civil Sar which
for two years and half has ragged in our
country, and of which there is as yet NJ prog
pect of termination.
We would record our profound regret that
there should be occasion for this protrs cted
and sanguinary couplet; still convinced that
there is indeed such occasion, and that this
offence must needs come, we would cordially
scquiesce in this as the method proVldential-
ly suffered for the riddancs Of the nation of
the curse, greater than war, Of chattsl
slavery, being persuaded that the Lord is ef-
fectually using the lesser evil to scourge and
exterminsts the greater.
Our rearnest prayers and unremitting exer-
tions have been, and shall be, first, for the
attainment of the ends of the war, and then,
for the attainment Of the end of it.
We are continually encouraged, while thus
waiting on the Lord, by the evidences of pro-
gress toward the grand contamination, sig
naliEed by successive steps in the direction
of the Liberation of the enslaved and the ns-
tiOn from the stupendOus evils Of negro
slavery.
Among these steps wo would gratefully
mention, the Proclamation of Emancipation,
the enlistment Of colored soldiers, first slave,
in the Army of the Union, and the recently
the slaves of the border States, oonfscating
those Of dislOyal masters, and furnishing re-
muneration for those of loyal citizens.
We hail with gratitude to God and joyful
hope the responses made by the people of
several of the loyal States, at the late Fall
elections, SO nightly sustaining the policy
Of the Government, and rebuking so strong
ly treason in the bosoms Of our communities
and Southern rebellion.
We Weuld most joyfully recognize the NOR
al victory which was won in our own goodly
State at the polls on last Tuesday. We
trace this decisive triumph to the impoTtu-
nate supplicaticns of Gods gospel, and thus
We regard it as a glorious proof Of the pre-
vailing power of the prayer of faith. We
consider this triumph which is not to be es-
timated by overwhelming msjOrities; the
results Of which on the war, on the peace
and honor of our own commonwealth, on the
dsstiniss Of the Union, and on the future in
terests of Zion are indeed incsloulsble.
So far as this our humble testimony may
reach, we would send to our Brethren in
Christ our salutstion in the name ofthe Lord,
and bid them good cheer, for the Lord
hath done great things for us, whereof we
are glad" Blessed are our ears that hear of,
and our eyes that see these wonderful works
Of God in this land. Let US, as the pastors
and delegates Of the churches of this Con-
ference, be with all our brethren prepared
for the greater spiritual blessings which, we
cannot doubt, are about to be poured out On
the Israel of God.