Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-29
Conference Correspond ence
AsHTABuLA, July L..

Conference Correspond ence.
, AsHTABuLA, July l..
! NsSSrS. Editors:-Ashtabula is n yer
2 pleasant town. situated on the LAX
| Shore Road, about three miles from th
, Lake. The residences, churches. &c, il
dictate more wealth than is usually man
fest in place of its size. The N.
[ church is a fine, large building, recent
erected. The new Congregational churcl
however. far surpasses it in architectural
finish.
Contrary to my expectation. | learl
that the town, situated as it is in the Re
mote part of "benighted Ashtabula,
contains large sprinkling of Copper
heads. Where does not the Constitution
and its like find readers?
On Tuesday evening a sermon was de
livered by Rev T. Graham subject. tho
Prodigal Son. The discourse was one oI
interest, being done up in ''Tommy's'
style.
The Conference was called together a
eight o'clock on Wednesday by Bishop
Simpson. After the usual religious intro
ductions, Rev. w. F. Day was elected
Secretary and C. w. Chesbrough Assis.
tant. The Presiding Elders of the sever
al districts were appointed to nominate
the several conference COMMITTEES. Dur
ing their absence some very interesting
remarks were made by the Bishop. He
said he never presided at Erie Conference
without feelings of peculiar emotion. He
looked over the body this morning and
saw some who entered the work with him
thirty years ago at Meadville, before the
Erie Conference was struck off from Pitts
burg. But some of the class were gone.
A few of the fathers were before him, but
most had left. And where are they ,
Shouting the praises of the Lamb in the
world of glory. He exhorted his breth-
rem to be diligent few more years, that
they might go to their rest with their
works following them.
After the remarks of the Bishop, mo-
ton was introduced TO lessen the number
of P. E. Districts This brought on Il
spirited discussion on the merits and de
merits of the Eldership. Some We're for
the motion, even to the discontiuance of
the office. Others favored an increase of
districts, SO that the Elder might come
round, as of old, regularly once in three
months, to make the people happy. One
brother went in for this particularly
strong. He knew the people would sup
port an increase of districts. Only give
them live men and rotation in Office
There were a good many brethren who
would bear the Elders cross rathe~ than
let it 60 begging. The motion was lost
After the report on committees a mo
ton was introduced and carried that the
oath of allegiance be administered TO the
members of the Conference on Friday, at
10 o'clock, by the Hon. Judge Chaflee
The afternoon was devoted to commit
tee meetings. In the evening an elo-
ouent discourse was delivered by Rev
John Peate, from Ephesians 3:l4-I5.
Thursday morning was mostly taken
up in receiving reports and in the exam
ination of character. In this last there
was displayed, as thought, great deal
of the IN tickle you if you'll tickle me-
have come TO the conclusion, after two
days looking on, that there are schemers
in the Conference as well as out of it,
The reports made most conspicuous,
and which seem to give kind of status
to the man, are those of Missionary col
lections. These have been much increas-
ed over last year-in some cases from
three to four fold. a few places in your
vicinity reported the following amounts
as having been collected during the past
year: New Castle, Pa, $500; Youngstown
5000; Warren, Sl6S; Pennington, 552l;-I
st. Clair St., Cleveland, Sl3S.
In the evening the Educational Ami
versary came off. The address was deliv-
cred by President Reed, of Genessee Col
lege. The speaker said he had no set
speech. He was in hopes to havefollowed
some one, so as to had his ideas aroused.
He thought it the duty of the Church to
secure educational facilities. Erie Con-
ference should rally around Allegheny
College and seek its complete endow-
ment. He denied the charge that the NJ
E. Church had ever favored ignoranee.-I
She was born in a college. Her first ba- |
by cry and infant shout had come from
Old Oxford, and she did not issue from |
the walls of the university until large
enough to get on horse back. She pre-
sented highly respectable list of learn
ed men. Much as he esteemed theoreti-
cal education, he priced practical higher,
and he thought our system eminently cal
culated to secure it.
He believed all ministers should study
their subjects and preach them from the
heart. When he found himself or n
brother preaching an old discourse, which
fell powerless upon the people, he was re-
minded of the old darley, who, after
having vainly tried to fire some powder
with coal and lighted match, turned
up the white OF his eye and said, "Massa
| tink dis powder bin fired afore.7 For
nearly an hour the Doctor held the audi
once as entranced, interrupted only by
the frequent bursts of applause.
LAYMAN.