The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-05-24
FREMONT, May %, 1876

FREMONT, May %, 1867.
EDIroRs JouRNAL:-A stranger visiting
Fremont would be struck with its air of
thrift and business, its pleasant locality, and
the genial, hospitable bearing Of the citizens.
He would note it down comparing it with
other inland towns, as eminently vigorous in
its enterprise, healthy in its youth, and
commercially prosperous. One who had
known it fifteen or twenty years ago, would
feel the strong contrast presented between
the Fremont of to-day, and the slow, black
piratical-looking" town which once stood
here, bearing another name an unhealthy
locality retarded its early youth, though
situated SO as to unite rapid settlement; a
miasmal influence enervated the people who
settled here, gave them sallow hue. and
demoralized their energies.
But all this has passed away the town is
healthy, new inhabitants have come and set
tied, business has worn new and various
channels for energy to flow in, and social
life has dressed itself in comfort and refine
ment. Citizens may well feel some pride in
the view presented of their fourishing and
prosperous city.
And yet prosperity is not all on the sur
face of things; it is not the number of stores
banks, and hotels, impulse of business,
or the commercial enterprise of the people,
which alone make place prosperous, in the
best sense. Moral and religious influences
running through all these, like silver cord,
steady the currents of life, and give purity
and strength to their flow. tsgs s
No citizen with just views of life can feel
Indifferent to these influences. The large ma
jority, in all western towns, is always COM
posed of those who make no profession of
religion, to a great extent Of young men,
making their first experiments in business,
and laying the foundation of character
these mingle with the elements Of life already
existing, and at length leaves the mass. Now
vigorous christianity is needed in every
community, not only to save its morals from
corruption, but TO preserve its commercial
prosperity.
Such point needs no proof, but how shall
it be promoted. The churches are engaged
in this very work, but from some fault or
perversity, the business men, and especially
the young men are not given to church-go-
ing they might be gathered in classes for
the study of the Bible on the Sabbath-but
they are not, and SO the most positive power
in our social life, that of the young business
men, is lost. ~ ..
A Young Mems Christian Association in
Fremont, would help this desired end very
materially. 1t would call our young men
from all the christian denominations, and
those outside of them. It would bind them
together for work, personal work, in the in
terest of morality and religion; it would first
establish daily noon prayer meeting, in
some accessible place, using efforts to make
it attractive and pleasant. 1t would seek
to reach all the young men in the city, and
enlist them in some enterprise for good, get
ting them into Bible Glasses, Sunday Schools,
dc.
1t would be the nucleus of work for local
tiles all around. Neighborhood prayer
meetings could be started and religious inter-
est awakened, and dead souls brought TO life.
Mr.. Editor, these are some of the results
that might flow from such an undertaking.
And could any citizen, religious, or irrelig-
Gus, feel Indifferent to themf Would not
such results if secured elevate society, tone
its morals and glorify Godf