The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-10
Letter from Eastern Ohio.
EDITOR OF THE HERALD:- =

EDITOR OF THE HERALD
Will you allow me space in your col
ums for letter to my many friends in
Somerset county? have had num-
Der of inquiries in regard To our new
home, the town, church work dc,
which | will answer through the HER
AID. We left Tippecanoe City in April
for our present field. The principal
cause for making a change was the
malarial effect of the Miami valley
from which my wife and daughter suf-
fered almost constantly. Here we are
free from it. We enjoy the change in
every respect. Leetonia has a popIla-
ton Of nearly 1900 and is located on
the p. 1T. w. 4 G. and the Nypano
Railroads. The industries of the town
are two blast furnaces, one with ca
pacity of 80 tons, daily, Il rolling mill,
axe manufactory, foundry and pottery.
AT present new machine plant is in
process of construction, coal is abund-
ant. The industry being largely in
iron and coal the general paralysis of
business is keenly felt here. In pros
porous times and with the present IA
cilities of shipping this place is on an
equality with any eastern Ohio town.
Our school building was erected at a
cost of $50, 900 and the educational work
ranks among the best. We enjoy the
conveniences Of electric light system
and water works. We have five
churches including the Roman CathO-
lie. The Catholic population is, about
one-fourth of the whole. The protest
ant churches are the Presbyterian, NJ.
f., German Lutheran and English
Lutheran. On our arrival We found
kind and hospital people. The second
evening after our arrival Il reception was
given in the church which was attended
by at least 80 persons, composed of the
different denominations. The super
intendent of the Sunday School deliv-
cred the address of welcome in behalf
of the congregation and the paster of
the Presbyterian church spoke in be-
half of the other denominations and
the citizens in general. After re-
sponse on the part of the incoming
pastor, all were invited into the annex,
where the ladies of the church had pre-
pared luncheon. The evening was
spent most pleasantly i'm social inter-
course and forming new acquaintance
which has grown into strong friend
ship. One afternoon, short time ago,
it being my birthday, i was lured away
from home by one of my members to Il
neighboring town. In our absence the
congregation arranged for birth day
surprise. When / came in sight of the
parsonage on my return, | was startled
by an unusual illumination ofthe house
and lawn but soon discovered that at
least 200 people had taken possession of
theparsonage. L was met by committee
and being escorted up to the piazza |
was introduced and compelled to make
an impromptu address. As soon a.
had concluded my remarks, thanking
them for their presence and their uni
form kindness ever since our arrival,
one of the ladies in n neatly prepared
speech presented the pastor with Il pair
of very fine pulpit spectacles. The
evening was spent in most enjoyable
manner, the friends returning To their
homes at Il late hOur. In my church
work | have been kept quite busy since
here n is usually the case in coming in
II a new field. As you know | am some
what Ofa IVditOaida, but not having "A
stream nearby inhabited with bass |
did not cast single hook, much less
had time to take a four weeks vaca-
ton. But as | am also something of
NimrOd, | expect, after the meeting
of East Ohio Synod to spend week or
ten days among the hills ofsOuth-west-
ern Somerset county. Church work il
moving along eneourageingly. We have
not been here quite six months and yet
have had 80 accessions To the church,
making our total membership lSj. The
sunday-schOol has increased during the
same time from l60 10 22). We have
two societies of young people. Each
has about go members. Oar services
both morning and evening are well at
tended and the future outlook of the
church is most hopeful. rejoice in
what has been accomplished in COM
paratively short time, but ana not un-
mindful of the fact that our SUCCESS Is
due, in "A large measure TO the efficiency
of faithful members and the work Of
predecessors who sowed the seed that
their SUCCESSORS might reap the harvest.
Whilst We as ministers may not always
in every particle follow the same meth
Ods as those of our predecessors, yet il
must be a very rare case, if divested Of
selfishness, that We cannot see that
others have wrought well in their day.
But / must close. Should any of YOU
pass this way we should be glad to have
you stop and see Us. The latch string
is on the outside.
Teetonia, o. JoHE III. ZINN.
Oct. ,, 1894.