The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-04-05

DAYTON, April 1.-The Literary at theirlast
meeting reelected their officers for the neN'
term OF ihreC months
The school.housc was crowded on the night
of the school exhibition. Even i" standing
room was all taken. The exercised were good,
and passed oil very pleasantly. Miss NJ. had
spent considerable time in their preparation
and laborcd Aac! to make them WHAT they
wclc--a complete success. The children had
their piece, we'll learned, and were So nicely
drilled that in speaking they were not part
Gle embarrassed. The rendering of the song
"Wlll YOU 90 out West with mc?' by Miss
Mary Barnes, was capital SOalSO was The
House that Jack built by little Eddie Hess
and little Miss Skliba. But all did 50 well
that we must be excused from giving partcu
lars.
Prof. Newbcrry has been holding Musical
Convention here during the past week. over
10 scholars attended. Too much praise cannot
be civcn the Professor for his excellent man
ncr of conducting this our first convention,
and well does he deserve the success he has
had. The school closes this evening with u
concert Monday evening the class was or
raniZcd into Musical Union, and the follow
inr officers were chosen President larry
Green; Secretary and Treasurer, Miss Reed,
Leader, Chas. Green.
\ chorus of 10 voices did the singing in
church Sunday evening.
Miss Stella Glbb of Sheridan, issucndinga
few DAYS in town this week.
In our last letter (of March l9) we raised
the Query, lis their action based on the prin-
ciplcS of Christianitv?" We now have an an
swer. but that the reader may better under
stand the whole matter we Will cndcaVor TO
explain;
when the Union" church was erected at
West Serena, the Universalsts and people Of
no church, contributed literally with the eX-
pressed promise that when not IN use by the
Methodist Episcopal people, the church should
be free to any other Christian denomination or
people, the Mormons, | believe, eXcepted)
In to this date, no denomination but the NJ.
f has had any control or use OF the house.
The Univcrsalist denomination have been
holding meetings at the school-house in We'd
ron during the past winter, but the United
Brethren of that place wishing to hold quar-
terly meeting at the regular appointment, Rev
Mrs. Gibb pastor of the Unlversalst church
at Sheridan, and congregations at Wcuron anu
DAYTON, very properly, in the true Christian
spirit, gave way to accommodate them. III tnen
became necessary TO find another place to hold
their meetings and 1t was suggested 'hat 'he
West Serena church would be the place pro
yidcd it could be obtained for StHgle Serotce.
Messrs. Debolt and Henderson made the re
quest, but were fatty denied by the minister
and people generally and the minister took DC
casion to use very harsh and unbccoming Ian
ruagc toward Rev. Mrs. Glib.
Mcssrs Brewer, Hess and Others having
contributed very literally to the building, with
the above named stipulation as to the use OF
the same, after beng refused applied in writ
irr to the Trustees for Il compliance with the
agreement or Il return of the money which
they had contributed under the agreement.
TO this the Trustees Messrs. Peter Jacobs,
lanes Hall and VIM \. GrecnleeS, replied
over their own signatures: We, as Trustees
Of the VethodtI Episc0pal dturch IF WCst
Serena, feel that re cdnRot co6Scteat'""~y c"h-
Dly ritz goW request
So 1t is altogether matter of conscience \
case of official conscience. These men OF
very tender conscience found no difficulty IN
dccciving their neighbors when money was
wanted for the church, but find this meddleT
conscience, which Shakespeare says makes
towards of us all, an impeachment to common
honesty when there is an opportunity to re
deem promise.
No, their action Is not based on Christianity,
but Is OF that character of pious fraud that Is
giving strength to infideiity by exhibiting the
| hypocrisy of so much that processes to be so
pure and Christlikc. No use for skeptlcs to
| invite InCersoll TO West Serena. These trus-
tees and their minister will drice men further
from the cause they so UNANIMOUSLY mt|Gprese",
| than Bob can persuade them. DC