Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-06-18

I'd 7slAAgreeable to my promise, /
sit down to write q few words about the
Congregational Conferences which / at
tended at Mansfield. This place is situat-
ed at the junction OF three rOads-the At
lantic & Ct. Western, the Pittsburgh 8
Fl. Wayne and the Sandusky & Newark
R. Rs. 1t is noted for its extensive reap
er and threshing machine factories.
The Congregational church is Just now
noted for the part which the recent pas
tor took ih the Beecher case Rev. DR..
Fairfield is man very much respected
in the place. He is spoken of as having
peculiar fitness 10 be President Of col
lege. he is now at the head of 3 new
normal institute in Pennsylvania, and is
there meeting with great success.
The new Congregational church is a
magnificent structure costing 100000. 1t
is built of brick, in gothic STYLE. with
white marble caps and trimmings. There
is perhaps, noSbullding in the State so
elaborately finished and ornamented4 Sit
uaied on IN eminence, and approached
by a wide fight of stone steps, and then
rising, with basement and audience
room above ground, and the tall'spire
shooting gracefully hesvenward, it Ger
tainly has an imposing and graceful ap
pearance. The society has been unfortu-
| nate, however. and are $4,000 in debt.
The panic is in part responsible for this,
as there were subscrTpnons enough 10
pay, but failure and embarr assment came
upon many in the society, SO that they
could not fulfil their promises.
The attendance at the conference was a
little over two hundred. One feature of
the session was that many ladies came
from the churches to be present at The
meeting of the Woman's Board of For.
eign Missions; Much interest is now TAX
en- by the women of the country in this
department of benevolence. The sessions
were also distinguished for the discus
sions of several topics which are agiiating
society. Resolutions were passed, disap-
proving the Roman Catholic movement /,
and defending the public school system !;
also on The Sabbath" disappr owing of
cheese-making on that dsY.also on ITEM
perance," and other subjects. .i. ...E.4
This body may be regarded as thorough
on all subject of moral reform, as the
churches are which itirepresents. An es-
say was read by Rev. Homer Thrall, on
The bestwsy Of treating modern skep,
ticism," which brought out much COM
mendation. The subject of Home Mis-
sions occupied all one evening, and ReY.
DR.. Wolcott, who is the acting secretary
proved himself TO be very efficient in the
work. The next meeting is to be at Co
lumbus. -1 4-.i-- --
On my return, had the opportunity to
be present at the meeting of 'The North
Eastern Ohio Teachers Association
An essay was read by Prof Const ock, of
Cleveland, on Science In schools" In
which little smacking ofIthe fashionable
twaddle about bigotry and the narrow
ness of theological study, appeared. It
was interesting to observe, however, that
the sentiments were not approved, and
one Of the most hopeful signs Of the meet
ing was that so strong and high toned
religious sentiment prevailed. Our $50 d.
less schools are taught by as excellent
company of Christian teachers as caa be
found in any land. f...-
President Fairchild also entertained the
audience with a description of the Uni
versities of Englsnd,~ and brought out
some facts that were new to all present.
The under. graduates Of Oxford and Cam
bridge are under no class organizatio ons,
and no college rules. such as are common
in this country, but a student can stay
and do as he chooses as long as he Gays
his bills, and when he graduates and takes
the first degree, he is no better educated
than our ''sOphom0res.p The real edu-
cation is gained after they have received
the first degree of "a. b.. and then
ihrnugh private tutors the better class
prepare themselves for the higher degrees
Ito be Masters Of Art, or 'Fellows ofthe
College," The "Fellows Of the College,
when received, are supported by the
funds of the University as long as they
win remain "Fellows," or bachelors, but
if they marry they are.obliged to leave
and take care OF themselves.
also visited the new building Of the
Theological Seminary, called Council
Hall :" and there iound "AshtabulA," over
one of the doors-an evidence that one
room was paid for by citizens OF this
place. The building is fne one. Each
room has been furnished with carpets
and bed, and consists of suite-4study,
bedroom and clothes press. The adyan-
tages for the theologic VI course have yery
much improved within few years. Cher.
In now boasts about as much STYLE as
the rest tioG the world. The old DAYS of
poverty and graham bresd have disgp-
peRred and very much Of the culture OF
the East have been intrDdhced by the
changes made. The religious and moral
sentiment OF the town has succeeded thus
far In keeping out all liquor saloons, and
high taste for music, and the acholarly