The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21
DECAY OF RELIGION ON THE
WESTERN RESERVE"
Rauenna, o.

Under the above caption, an article
has been going the rounds, which was
first published in the Religious Herald,
(Congregationalist), and contributed by
one George Thompson, of Oberlin, o
1t is melancholy picture which Mr.
Thompson draws of the moral and re-
ligious status OF the people of that Sec
tion, generally regarded as a highly in
telligent and Christian portion of the
Buckeye State. He says, after stating
that in the olden time "the people gen.
orally went to meeting, the Sabbath
was observed and churches were large
and well sustained"
"But times have changed. In many
places the people work on Sunday as on
other days = blowing, cutting and draw
ing in hay and corn, etc. And Sabbath
visiting is alarmingly common. In
places where churches we're we'll sustain
ed fifty years ago, there are no religious
influences, no preaching, and the people
are already Spiritualists, Universalists,
infidels, atheists, blasphemers, etc. In
many places very feeble churches are
struggling to keep up the appearance of
life while worldliness and pleasure seek
ing run riot. Many who went to church
once go no more. In number of places 1
saw Congregational churches turned into
barns and no organization remains. In
one section are four small Congregational
churches in four towns adjoining, and all
without a pastor. It makes my heart
ache to see and say these things, but they
are true Ihave seen them"
Persons acquainted with the people
of the Western Reserve know the above
to be gross Misrepresentation. 1t is
believed there are more churches in
that section than any other similar area
in the United States, 1. e., considering
the population. 1t is true that great
change has taken place in the style of
preaching, and the doctrines taught,
the teaching of the traditions of the
elders" having largely passed away.
But while there is not so much as FORM
erly, the mere appearance of religion,
there is more genuine Christianity than
existed in the good old orthodox days to
which Mr.. Thompson alludes. tits easy
to see what it is that gives color to this
sour epistle from this orthodox
brother, for such he evidently is. He
means ''our religion" Congregational
ism), does not prevail to the extent that
he could wish. Finding the Univer-
salists in possession of several impor-
tant fields, he hastily concludes that
everything is going to the bad, and
takes delight in classifying Universal
lists with ''infdels, atheists, blasphe-
mers, spiritualists, etc." All of which
is significant in showing that the world
cat least that portion of it, "does move"
Partialism in its old and crude form
Except among the very ignorant) has
passed away, and it alarms Mr.. Thomp-
son. But he should possess his soul
in peace for the people of the Western
Reserve are really as moral and relig-
ious, and care as devotedly for the
church and the Christian Sunday as
ever they did, though there is less of
sanctimoniousness. 1t is true, we are
no better than we should be. We
ought to be ever so much better, con-
sidering our advantages, and we know
that certain influences 1.-THE saloons es-
pecially) have wrought great evil in
tending to Sabbath dissertation and
non-church-going; but there is no
ground for such wholesale charge as
the above, and the Western Reserve
will compare fayorably with any other
like territory. VIC.