Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-02

NORTH RIDGEvILLE.-lu the LEADER o
April 2Sd, we published some extracts o.
the Report Of Rev. Henry Cowles, of the
state of religion in the churches in the
Cleveland Congregation Conference. A COM
munication was received soon after from
the Rev. q. NJ. Bosworth, pastor of the
church at Ridgeyille, which was unfortu-
nately mislaid, and which, in justice to the
church at that place, we publish now.
The part OF the report referred 10 in the
communication reads as follows:
At North Ridgeville the place has been
exceedingly dark and disheartening. OF
ninety families on the main Ridge Road,
through our township, not more than one
in four ever attend worship on the Sabbath.
The time has been when they drove a COW
into the house Of God and exalted her upon
the Bible, snd shut in 3 flock Of geese over
night, TO make it unfit for worship the next
day but those days are past. The children
Of those people are, many Of them, serious
attendants and even their fathers appear
pleased 70 have the minister remain and
their children sustain religious worship.
Rev. N. Bosworth, Pastor, has been there
TIRES years, began with a church Of twenty
i've, the LAST year received fifteen, and finds
great encouragement in his Sabbath school
and among the young.
The following is the communication
Error OF CLEVELAND LEADER In the re-
port Of Rev. Henry Cowles published in
your paper of April 25d, there are some
things which troubled our people very much.
Brother Cowles either misunderstood what
was there reported or has failed to give q
correct idea of what was stated and the
reasons for stating il.
1--WE have been frequently asked, both
before removing 10 RIdgeville and since,
whether it was not an awfulIy wicked place,
a very hard field, and if there was any pros
pect Of doing any good theLe, and other
questions OF like import. Now, RidgeYille
its hard name from some things that
were said 10 have been lone there many
years ago, but now, and for many years
back, no such thisgs as those referred 70
would be lone or encouraged BY The peo-
pie there. We have never had a more or
quiet congregation than those we
gather there from week to week.
One popularity Of the place renders il
ilfhcuit To meet the expenses Of sustaining
worship. OF the ninety families
IN our Main Ridge road, a large proportion,
think three fOurths of the male heads Of
he families are not in the habit of attend
church. But 1t IS an encouraging fea-
that many Of the other members of
hese families are regularly found in the
house Of worship, aud-some, we believe, are
rom time to time takiag a personal inter
crest in the love snd worship OF God. As
o the unpleasant things mentioned in the
epOrt, they were not spoken Of 70 stir up
my old difficulty, but, hearing them fre-
referred 10 at home and abroad, il
eemed best TO say that these things be-
onged TO a past age, having happened
hirty or forty years ago, and hence people
hould not judge Of the place now by those
eports.
In conclusion, let us say that it was not
OF desired on our part that these
hiogs should be published, for while tho !
eport was so made that Conference seemed I
} understand it and 70 receive q faUora6k Z
ather than an unfavorable impression from {
!; yet in q published extract it is difficult
D convey the correct idea to all who may |
cad it. Hoping that this explanation may
ravel as last as the mistake did, and cor
eet any Misunderstanding or evil that may :
ave grown out of that, we send this to you,
you 10 give it as wide a circulation
s the original article had.
Q. NJ. BOswoRTH, Minister.
WV. J. NEVIS, Delegate.
Ridgeyille, May 18th, 1866. {