The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04
VACATION LETTER.

I have frequently seen notices in our
denominational press of our ministers
taking their vacations atsummer resorts
or else crossing the ocean. During my
ministry I have been rendered vaca-
ton but once; so I determined to take
short one any way, and go entirely
out of the line of tourists and see what
more could learn about my native State.
My first objective point was
St. Clairsville, o.,
the county seat of Belmont county. |
presume this town would be considered
picturesque, for it abounds in hills and
! hollows. It has one street, the houses
connected, touching the sidewalk, while
the rear ends ara set up on stills. The
old national road forms its etreet. The
whole county is rugged, but rich in min
eral wealth Her coal fields are only
partially opened. During the last forty
years the town has increased but little in
population. The houses for the most
part are old and dinRy.
1t was in this town that the first Aboli-
ton society in the world was founded.
1t was instituted by Benjamin Lundy in
the year 1915, with six members. With
in six months the mem bership swelled to
six hundred. After the organization Of
the society, Lundy devoted his entire
life to the anti-slavery cause. He be-
| gan to contribute articles for q small pa
per published by Osborne, of Mount
Pleasant, o., and soon after started pa
per wholly devoted to the cause of Aboli-
tionism. think it was in 1919 he issued
his appeal, which contained every argu-
ment ever produced against the crime of
slavery.
Alexander Hall.
st. Clairsville, at one time, was the
home of that erratic creature known as
Alexander Hall. While living here he
issued book entitled "Universalism
against Itself.'' This was in June, 1916.
An edition OF this work was published in
1857 by Rev. DIR. W. p. Strickland. In
his introduction Strickland grossly mis-
represents the spirit and teachings of
Universalism. Hall got out another edi-
ton of his work few years ago. In
1847 Gas recently stated in The UNIyERs-
ALIsT), Rev. G. T. Flanders published at
GAINESVILLE, O., "Review of Hail." in
which he handled him without gloves.
This was followed in 184S by Review
of Hail." by DIR. Jordan, of Indianapolis.
The work is diffuse, covering 449 pages d.
Halls work was preceded three years by
Powers Exposition of Universalism."
The latter work was not reviewed until
1S47, when George Rogers commenced il,
but it was finished by Rev. e. NJ. Pingree.
Those must have been the days of bitter
controversy, judging by the samples be-
fore me. While living at st. Clairsville,
Hall undertook to build an immense
Campbellite church in the vicinity. He
got the frame up, and there it stood many
years. 1t was known as "HalPs folly
1t was fair illustration of the life of the
man. BY the way, nothing has appeared
in THE UNIvERsALIsT lately, either in
commendation or condemnation of Halls
PROBLEM of Human Life" Editorially
it has been treated in both ways in past
numbers of the paper.
Wheeling, West Va.
After staying in st. Olairsville nearly
week, next proceeded to Wheeling. This
city is located both on the main land and
on Wheeling Island. The island is con-
nected with both the Ohio and Virginia
shores by bridges. A view of Wheeling
is one of disappointment. What beauty
it has is furnished by the hills and the
river. The city is forty-nine squares long,
or say five miles. Its average width is