Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1868-06-20
Ohio Congregational Conference.

The lOth annual meeting OF tne CUnSreSa-
tional Churches of Ohio, met In the First
Church on Wednesday evening of last week.
This body is composed of the pastors and lay
delegates from the churches of that denomina-
ton throughout the State. There were pres
ent on this occasion about $50 pastors and del
egates by far the largest number ever present
on a similar occasion, and the spirit of the con-
ference was most devotional, cheerful, earnest
and harmonious. - s re ra.' ss.
The mornings of Thursday, Friday and Sat-
urday for the hour between and9, were spent
in devotional exercises, and the effect OF this
beginning of the day was quite palpable
through the exercises. The strict order and
economy of time, and the earnest working
spirit of the conference, secured the accom-
plishment of a large amount of important bu-
siness. -.' II
On assembling at Z 1-2 o'clock Wednesday
evening, Rev. L. Kelsey, of Columbus, Regis
ter of the conference called to order and pre-
sided during the election of officers, which re-
suited in the choice of Prof ]. NJ. Ellis, OF
! Oberlin, for Moderator L. F. Mellin, of Cleve-
land, for Scribe, and Rev. J. II. jenkins, of
Lebanon, assistant Scribe.
Rev. H. NJ. Storrs, D. D., was the regularly
appointed preacher for the occasion, but his
removal during the year from Cincinnati to
Brooklyn, n. Y, prevented his attendance, and
consequently Rev. J. A. Thome, of Cleveland,
was chosen to take his place. He preached
sermon in favor of Christian Union, from Col.
iii IL, and 1st Cor. xii I: IL, 13.
| At the close of the evening services, confer
ence adjourned to meet Thursday morning at
8 1-2 for devotional exercises The spacious
audience room was nearly filled, and delight
full hour spent in prayer, praise, and words OF
earnest exhortation. At the close of this meet
ing, Prof. Ellis took the chair and announced
the various committees.
| Reports on the state of religion in the
churches were then called for, and occupied
nearly the whole of the day. These were ex-
ceedingly interesting and showed large addi-
tons to the churches-precious and extensive
sive revivals-increased interest in Sabbath
schools-church building-temperance, and
whatever most vitality affected the cause of
religion. -t.g
Tuesday evening was devoted to Foreign
Missions Rev L. ]. Humphreys, of Chicago,
District Secretary for the West made the
opening address. He was followed by Rev.
G. HI. Wheeler, Missionary of the A. B. c. F.
NJ. from Harpoot, East Turkey, now on visit
to this country for recruits. Two large maps
gave birds eye view of the vast field of Ia
Dor. # - .s.. ~.
M. Wheeler is a most intensely wide awake,
earnest, enthusiastic and practical speaker, and
his words on this occasion fell like live Goals
on the hearts of the vast audience, and eXtor-
ted the conviction that the speaker was deter
mined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and
him crucifed; whether talking to christians
in America, or working for the salvation of
souls in Eastern Turkey. His account of the
extreme poverty of the native christians, and
their great self denials that they might sustain
the gospel among themselves, and send it to
their neighbors, was truly affecting. ,..
| Next Rev. ]. A. Bates, missionary from Cey-
lon, made an address, also full of the true spir-
It, Il f,t-. IerF -ss irf esi .
| Friday morning after another hour of de-
votion, followed fraternal addresses of dele
gates from corresponding bodies, and also re-
ports of delegates to such bodies. -fa
Rev. A NJ. Richardson, of East Cleveland,
presented the report ofthe Committee of Wis
itors to Oberlin Theological Seminary, COM
mending it to the earnest support of the Con-
gregational churches of Ohio
Rev. DR.. Wolcott presented paper on the
Observance of the Sabbath This paper gave
rise to the following resolution, which was dis
cussed and adopted:
"Resolved, That the Conference regard the
transportation of milk to cheese factories and
the employment Of persons in the manufacture
of cheese on the Sabbath, as palpable desc
Grafton of the day, the milk which is devoted
to this use, might, one day in seven, be appro-
priated to other uses, and the persons thus en-
ployed might, in this way, be released from
labor and left free to attend to the religious
duties of the Lords day."
Friday evening, from to s, was spent in the
porlors of the church, as social reunion. The
ladies of the church and society had prepared
sumptuous repast of which several hundred
partook to the full satisfaction of the physical
man, after which Mr.. Wolcott was called to
the chair by Rev. Mr.. Hayden, who made a
very happy speech and set the ball rolling He
then called on Rev. Mr. Moore, of Cincinnati,
who made a charming address, full of gems of
wit and humor. Then came Rev Mr.. Phillips.
of Columbus who said some very pleasant
things about Northampton, MtHolyoke, and
Lake Erie Seminaries. Then Rev. c. Cushing
of Boston, full of sharp hits and keen thrusts
at the old pro-slavery opinions of 30 years ago,
and he was followed by Rev. Col Anderson, in
one of his perfectly inimitable, unreportable,
harmonious speeches, which kept the crowd
in a tumult of laughter from beginning to end
The audience then repaired to the church
and listened to addresses on Home Missions
The subject of Home Evangelization and of
Educating young men for the ministry, were
discussed during the day. t.5
Saturday was largely occupied with the
discussion on Secret Societies, growing out
of the report on that subject presented by Rev.
Prof, Morgan, D. D., of Obcriln.
The Conference, about p m, brought its
routine business to a close, and many men,
bers left on the evening trains East and West,
contrary to expectations. On Sabbath, the
pulpits of the Baptist, Disciple, Methodist and
E;rot Church 1pare sunnlied both p,orn;no ord