PDF (20 MB) - Virtual Library of the Public Library of Cincinnati

260 HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY
you pick up a hymn book and find the hymn, then find the tune, then
the pitch is given, and you sound the do full and long, and I will risk
it anyhoAV."
Aftenvard another musical genius came here to teach music, whose
name Avas Hazelton. There Avas then considerable strife over the respective
merits of the music of Thomas Hastings, of New York, and LoAvell
Mason, of Boston. This man claimed to be a pupil of Mason and condemned
the music of Hastings. Over that matter he and W. T. locked
horns, and the upshot was that Mr. West resigned his position as leader
of the choir, leaving Hazelton in possession of the field. Hazelton had
a peculiar scheme of pronunciation. One of the anthems they Avere
accustomed to sing included these words: "He likes the tents of Jacob
well, but still in Zion loves to dwell." After Mr. Hazelton had applied
his science to them they came out as follows: "He likes the tents of
Jacob weel, but steel in Zion loves to dweel." Mr. Hart asked him Avhy
he pronounced the words in that fashion and Hazelton retorted:
"Mr Hart, I am from Boston, Avhere music is made, and I won't give up
my opinion for anyone."
March 6, 1845, a meeting was held at the courthouse, the object of
which was "To correct an erroneous impression that the citizens of
Sandusky are so generally abolitionists that they offered every facility
to the fugitive to make good his escape." This meeting Avas held by
men then and since honored in this community. The fact is, that the
sentiment on the Firelands Avas at that late day generally unfavorable to
the slaves. At the October election in 1844 there Avere only sixty-eight
abolitionist votes cast in the whole County of Erie.
Yet this church was sound on the question of slavery, for on the
16th day of August, 1847, at a called meeting of the church resolutions
d«nouncing slavery were introduced by Moors Fanvell and passed
unanimously. FolloAving are one or tAvo of the resolutions.
"Resolved, That Ave view the system of slavery as it exists in the
United States as at Avar with every principle of right, especially that
plain fundamental law of love, 'As ye Avould that others should do to
you, do ye even so unto them,' and that Ave utterly disapprove of and
abhor it.
"Nor can Ave countenance the doctrine recently put forth from high
places, that its being an organic sin tends to lessen its enormity or take
from individual responsibility, but in our vieAv this fact only SIIOAVS that
the evil is Avidespread and therefore of fearful import.
"Against it, therefore, as a mass of complicated and flagrant Avrong,
we record and proclaim our solemn protest especially against those perversions
of the sacred oracles by which it is attempted to make their
Divine Author the patron and protector of a system so entirely repugnant
to their principles and spirit."
The folloAving resolution received only tAvo votes at the same meeting:
"Entertaining these vieAvs of slavery, and believing that any violation
of right is a sin against God, we as a church of Christ cannot invite
to our pulpit or communion those who participate in this iniquitous sys-