Beginning as "Jim Garfield," he determined to win the respect of both pupils and parents until he was known as "Mr. Garfield." To do this a deal of firmness was required, and his first day at school was a series of battles with naughty boys. After that a most friendly relation was established between pupils and teacher. They felt he had no desire to domineer over them, but that he would maintain order and decorum at any cost. In "boarding around," as was the custom for district school teachers in those days, he became well acquainted with all the families in the neighborhood and gained a still firmer hold upon the affections of his pupils. Before the winter was over, _Mr_. Garfield had won the reputation of being "the best teacher who had ever taught at the 'Ledge.'" It was a great delight to his mother to have him so near her. Every Sunday he spent at home, and it was at this time that he became deeply interested in religious questions. His mother was a member of the Church of Disciples, or Campbellites, as they were sometimes called, from Alexander Campbell, the founder of the sect. Their creed is as follows: I. We believe in God, the Father. II. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the only Saviour. III. That Christ is a Divine Being. IV. That the Holy Spirit is the Divine agent in the conversion of sinners, and the sanctification of Christians. V. That the Old and New Testament Scriptures are the inspired word of God. VI. That there is future punishment for the wicked, and future reward for the righteous. VII. That the Deity is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. VIII. That the Bible is our only creed. The founder of the sect was for a long time a member of the Baptist Church, and declared that he differed from them only in his "disbelief in the binding force of the church creed, and in the necessity of ministerial ordinations." The new church grew very rapidly, notwithstanding the persecutions it received from both the Baptist and Freewill Baptist denominations, and it numbers now over half a million members. It is not strange that James was drawn to this single-hearted, struggling sect of "Disciples." The earnest, persuasive arguments of one of its preachers led him to Christ, and when, that same winter, he was baptized in the little river at Orange, he became at once an earnest champion of the new church. In all religious discussions, he claimed the right of following the Bible according to the convictions of his own conscience, and declared that every one else should have the same right. His consistent Christian life added strength to his spoken words, and the Disciples felt that a bright and shining light had been added to their ranks. CHAPTER VII. Return to Geauga Seminary.--Works at Haying through the Vacation.--Teaches a higher Grade of School.--First Oration.--Determines to Go to College.--He visits the State Capitol at Columbus.