Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-12-20
ess....-;.:: .:s:,:,;:: cs:,ss:. s.a g.

dependent, is on : llsctsfiss tour in tho
West. He lectorsd up At oberlin few
nights ago. and writes from there the fol.
loving plcsssdt letief ojhis bspsr "a ~
I nave made q visit TO Oberlio- -sweet
and mellow name. Hardly a village in
America, OF its size, is so famous. Hardly
D village in all the world, of its size, can
furnish 80 large an audience to q public
speaker. Let o meeting be called, and sud.
denly the entire population are with one
accord in one place"
Here 1 saw the old Broadway Tabernacle
risen from the dead-the same ample audi
toriutn, the same circular gallery, the same
supporting columns, the same orchestral
seats behind the platform. This great
meeting. house is as perfect in its acoustic
property as Plymouth church. In either
place man may stand on the platform apd
breathe bis voice through tho whole house.
as easilyas through flute. Some speaking
balls squander ones breath; it is a luxury
to fiud one that economizesit. Mr.. Thsck-
cray told me that the easiest building for q
speaker which be had ever spoken in, either
in England or America, was Plymouth
church,, But its complete match is At Ober-
hnl 81 s. 0t4i iU9 si ,S!inMlUf3E ~
huu WudJ ntttlngh uhNo Dccu III tuto
little village of Ohio fanatics 1t was
enough to mako, one Is pulses, beat quicker
to look into the faces of this company Of
ancient and faithful witnesses for God and
Liberty. IA ,TTE2 CU
Oberlin is little world within q world
q selfcentained community of men and
women who are heroieally in earnest, 1t
was like taking 0 sudden Whit Of fresh air
to spend an evening in their ssse tnbled com
papy. They are a folk of splendid fiber
They love Ged and man. This is the true
theology What the remaining and COM
plete theological tenets Of Oberlin are | did
not stop to, inquire. All men who are sound
on these two commandments' may in
dulge in whatever whims Of orthodoxy or
heterodoxy they choose: their various
vagsries are of no importance as compared
with that chief and central doctrine ION
which hang all the law and the prophets. !"
This world. famed seat oflearning can split
hairsa-like all tberseminaries;"it it can con-
tend stoutly for forms Of words, and teehni
cslities Contemporaries; it can thrust thorns
of criticism into Andover, and Princeton,
and New Haven; it can brandish q Damas-
Gus blade of controversy with all opposing
champions. But, on the other hand, this
troublesome and illustrious Oberlin breeds
no ascetics no mystics, no cloud-dwellers;
its sons are hardy, solid, heroic tribe Of
practical Christian hard workers for the
worlds good. And its great merit is that,
not withdraw him from his country. James
Buchanan and Franklin Pierce have lately
Joined the church; but | don't think they
wouldreIishI the preaching at Oberlin,
There is an awful air of logic around this
consecrated pile. 4 Socrates would like TO
have lived here. | think the little shrubs
and bushes must hear arguments and syllo-
gisms in the summertime. Ifhe had, how
ex. president Finney would have prayed for
his soul! I heard this extraordinary pray
er!maker make an extraordinary prayer for
the conversion of Andrew Johnson-one
which must either prove the doctrine oi
total depravity or else end in Andrew John.
sons change Of heart.
look With generation on an old man who
knows howt keep yoang. Aud here is
Dr. lFinoey, who is seventy four years old
but is still the chief youngster in the place.
To see this man, now past threescore and
ten, yet straight rs 20 arrow&fthe as colt
frisky, as a kitten; pacing up and down the
room in his red coat, like Napoleon; in his
battle-suit; taking at the rate Of two hun
dredF words minute--the desptirof pho
nographers rubbing his: hand over fore
head royal with the truth, and looking al
you with eyes which OF themselves are Q
sufficient proof Of the immortality Of the
sonl--the spectacle was one which filled me
With mingled amusement, affection, and
veneration. have seen many great men
but I have seen very few intellectual equals
Of Charles g. Finney. TTTr
OF all the religious semiinaries in the lane
F Oberlin has made the enoblest impression
for fidelity to Human Rights. I doub
whether there is q single fugitive slave il
Canada who ever heard of Princoton or
If he did. ever cared for that venerable col
, lege. But many black man prays nigh
and morning for blessings on OberliA. Car
any encomiums be nobler? do not for
: get that my valiant friend, Mr.. Cuyler
, came from Princeton; but his Alma Mate
was always a little afraid OF him, and &C
cordiugly with mingled pride and terro
gave him last summer a doctorate of divin
ity in the hope that, with such weight OIL
his head. be would hereafter carry it a lit
tie eteadier.
Love of oountrys love of justice, love o
liberty, love Of Humanity these needfu
lessons for the American citizen are taugh
3 ,Ersndly at'O Oberlin. Ii vas for this reasol
] that tpy: heart lesped when i looked for th
= first time in my life, last week, At her plain
: ugly brick walls. know of no communit.
in which finer feeling for the brotherhoO'
of maa ,peryades ell hearts than in this fiat
? unprepossessing village. -
"What is holy church,
Unless she awssthe times down from their sins!"
The Eastern seminaries may say wha
, they will against Oberln for her creed
only know that her beautiful practice re
Dukes them all. peace be within tb
y w.lls - 4,t ...H -. ~,