The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-14
THE LATE DIR. SPROLE.
The Funeral Services Held Yesterday-Ad-
dress by Rev. Mr.. Sutherland.

|
residence of Mr.. James Brown, according to no.
tiee' The remains arrived from Detroit on the
morning train, in charge of Mr.. D. NJ. Ferry, of
Detroit, and were accompanied by his daugh-
ters, Mrs. Dunster. OF Ann Arbor and Mrs East
man, OF Minneapolis also his son, Prof. s. M.
Sprole, from Brooklyn, N. Y. A large number of
old settlers were present, to whom DR.. Sprole
was well known in the early days of the city.
Inc norai tributes were beautiful and profuse.
Inc pall-bearers were ex- Governor Baker, John
+. Walilck, John A. Holiday, DIR. G. N. Todd,
sergeant WapDenhaus, Thomas H. Sharpe and
Rr W. c. Thompson. The services were con-
Quoted by Revs. c. H. Raymond and L. G. Hay,
OF this city, and Rev. ). r. Sutherland, of JACK
sonvnle, Ill. Mr.. Sutherland delivered the ad-
dress, which was as follows:
MR.. sUTHERLAND's ADDRESS,
Were simply to consult my own feelings upon
this occasion, my humble tribute to the memory
OF MIN whose spirit has passed into the Unseen
and Eternal would be that of silent grief. When
the death angel summoned him to go hence, he
summoned one of the most constant and devoted
friends Of my life. have reason to believe that
ne watched my career with as much interest as
II had heen his own son, and whatever success
nave achieved in the vocation to which, in the
providence OF God, 1 have been called the credit
OF IL ls IN no small measure due to the wise cOun
sci and kindly interest of our departed friend,
HIS memory will ever be precious to me, and the
thought that held so warm place in his affec-
uons wlllcontnue to be source of pleasure to me.
In view OF the friendship and affection which
pound us together, you can appreciate, In some
measure az least, my feelings upon this occa-
sion L only wish [ were able to picture DIR.
Sprole's life before you to-day, in all the fulness
richness ana beauty in whicn 1t lies in my own
mind and heart.
Born in the year 1909, his earthly life began
almost with the beginning OF our century, and
continued throughout all these eventiul years.
growing In strength and beauty, in Christlike-
hess, to the close. AS man, DR.. Sprole was a
prince among princes He had doubtless his
1ailings and weaknesses, but they were held In
check by the higher self, which swayed the
scepter OF his princely manhood. In early life
MS associations were wisely chosen, and some
OF them, who hsequently became distin guished
In the church and in the state, had much to do
In the moulding OF his character and the shap-
ing OF his future destiny-among whom
might be mentioned the late Rev. DR. Erskine
Mason, OF whose splendid talents and lifelong
friendship DR.. Sproe often spoke to myself
when recalling the associates and recountlnR
the experiences OF other years. with such COM
partnership our deceased friend entered upon hia
preparation for the Christian ministry, to which
profession he had decided to consecrate his life
and his talents. His literary studies were pros
ecuted in the College OF Baltimore, and under the
supervision of Rev. DR.. Duncan, who for up-
ward OF fifty wears was the beloved pastor OF
the Fayetie-street Church of that city. Dr.
sprole graduated from Princeton Seminary in
the spring of 1880, and soon after his lincensure
came TO this city, In company with his sister,
Mrs. Colonel Blake. Before returning East he
spent several months in Terre Haute, aud while
there organized Presbyterian church. On his
return to Baltimore be received a call to become
county, New York, and on his way to look over
the field he remained a few days at Philadel-
phia with his friend, Mr.. Chambers, and while
there was waited upon by a committee from one
Of the city. whose s''' psstorat sD'V was
then vacant and he was strongly urged
by them to accept call and become their pas
tor, which, after consulting his friends, he con-
cuded to do. Although so young and inexpe-
trp 0ad Qt TINA nF nl..Ior tv,
Philadelphia was marked by what might be
truly called phenomenal success. The mem
bership increased within the three years of his
ministry there, from about so TO over 600. The
success which attended his labors In Philadelphia
brought him into widespread notoriety through
out the East, and when the Rev. DIR. Duffield re-
| signed his charge OF the First Presbyterian
Church, of Carlyle, Pa. he strongly urged his
people to call DR.. Sprole, which they did. After
some hesitation he accepted, and continued as
pastor Of that church for period of seven years,
when he assumed The pastoral charge of the
First Presbyterian Church of Washington, D. c.,
| and was at the same time elected chaplain to
Congress. The First Presbyterian Church was
at the time known as the administration
Church" President Polk and his family and the
majority of the members of his cabinet were reg
nlar attendants there. DR.. Sproles popularity
in Washngto was not won at the sacrifice Of
truth or by pandering to the whims and tastes Of
men. Like the great Apostle, he WAS
determined not to know anything among the
| people save Jesus Christ and him crucihed. In
this connection il might not be out OF place to
relate an incident which strkingy illustrates
DIR. SprOe's fidelity to the simple truth OF the
Cross, well as the Impression which his course
in this regard made upon some of the leading
iuen in Washington az the time of his passionate
there. The Unitarians had just organized a
church and called talented young man from
Boston To become their pastor. A deputation
| from the new organization waited upon Rufus
Choate, senator from Massachusetts and urged
him to attend their services, believing, as they
were free to say, that the distinguished sena-
tors presence would materially aid and popu-
larize their new church venture. They said to
Mr.. Choate "rhe gentleman whom we have
n Lodi n "a a n 1nnr
and an orator, and we have no doubt you would
be charmed with his preaching" Senator Choate
listened to them patiently until they got through,
and then turning to the leader of the deputatiOn
firmly said: Il shall not attend your
services, sir. When want poetry can go to
| the masters When want philosophy can go
TO the original sources When want Oratory 1
can do little of it myself. But when l want to
hear about the Lord Jesus Christ, propose to
go down to Our-and-ahalf street to hear Mr..
| sprole."
| office he appointed DIR. SprOle chaplain at West
| Point, which position he held for about twelve
years, when he was removed by President
Pierce, at the insrigati0n of the then Secretary
| of War, Jefferson Davis The First Presbyterian
| Church of Newburg. on the Hudson, was vacant
at the time, and DR.. Sprole was unanimously in
| vited to become It's pastor. This church had
| been weakened by dissensions and divisions, but
it was not long after Dr. Spro!e assumed charge
of t before 1t began to show signs of new life and
vigor and when he resigned his charge after a
pastorate OF about eighteen years, 1t was one of
the largest, the most prosperous and most influ-
| entail Presbyterian churches in this country.
| While settled at NewburH, DIR. Spr0le twice
called to his old charge in Philadelphia, as well
as to several other prominent pupts in the
East But these indications OF popular favor,
while they we're doubtless gratifying to him, did
not tend to make him restless in the position IN
| which the providence of God had placed him.
| No man was ever freer from self-seeking spirit
than was he.
| Whenever he spoke of his public career In my
presence he never failed to make acknowledge
| inents OF Gods goodness through 1t all; and in
| fact the stme gratitude, the same spirit pervaded
| his references to his social and domestic reIar
| lions. How often have heard him use the ex-
precision, 20 how thankful l ought to be to God
| for His great goodness toward me-"
/ shall not prolong this Imperfect sketch of his
| life. After the resignation OF his charge at New
| burg, mis- career Ia more less familiar to all of
van who are present here to-day AlmOst TO the