The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-06
ACTON PARK ASSEMBLY.
Rev. DIR. Talmage's Lecture on big
BIGnders," and Sermon Yesterday.
The Usual Large Sunday Crowd-The Ser
mon of DIR. Marine and Lectures of
DIR. Snowden, Mr.. Conner, Etc.
SATURDAYS LECTURES.


Rev. d. II. Snowden on "work and Work.
ers," and Brother TalInage on 'Big Blum
ders."
The Acton Park Assembly continues to be an
attraction. On Saturday the attendance was
very large, DR.. Talmage's lecture probably being
the principal cause for this Besides the
city people, there were large delega-
tons from the country and the neighbor
ing towns. At 11:30 o'clock, Rev. D. II.
Snowden of Camden, Ind delivered the open
ing lecture, on "work and Workers." He ad-
vanced the theory that no parent or teacher has
moral right to mark out even suggest the
natural calling or profession of a child; and he
expressed the belief that because many people
took this upon themselves, many in
all businesses and professions had become fail
ures. The child having been msdirected ac-
counted to some extent at least for the fact that
many round men were found In square holes
and square men in round holes, and that many
small men were found IN places that they were
in nowise capable of filling. He urged the edu-
cation and proper training of children, and that
if this were done. and the education and train
ing were of the right kind, they would then Do
capable of choosing their own line of life with
out making serious mistakes. He explained at
length what ne meant by education, and said it
Nao lbporthu1 always tHdb AuOWl-
edge had been growth-that what the world
called wisdom had been arrived
at little by Httle-that 1t had cost
the toll of thousands in many generations TO
bring the race from the savage condition to the
present high state OF civilization, and TO make
out truths and establish facts Everything we
read has history, which, If we were only IA
miar with it, would greatly increase the value
set upon that which we know. And then, too 1t
must not be forgotten that even the speculatons
OF the present VIII be the foundatian upon which
will stand the arts and the sciences of the future.
The speaker then traced in an interesting and
practical manner the history OF various scientific
facts and discoveries, showing how little by
little, they had become established In the popu-
lar belief, aud what their influence had been
upon society and the world at iasAa. III so doing
he developed the thought that IL is not mere
teachers who leave the most enduring impress,
but that the man who makes some useful in
veption, thus helping forward civilization who
puts the world under lasting obligations
AT O'Clock DIR. Talmage delivered his we'll
known lecture on "Big Blunders" 10 an audience
OF the pavilion. The subject was
treated in an entertaining manner and profusey
illustrated: "rhe man that has never blum
dered," he said. ''has never yet been born" If
he hau he would have died right away. The first
blunder was horn in paradise. and IL has had
large family until the world is full of 0lunders of
oil kinds And yet | disposed TO take a
cheerful view OF humanity, and 1 have not the
least faith in people who are always groaning
Limo sing, but never paid a cent to hear n
man groan. Laughter.l My religion is sun
heaven is that The sunshine of earth gets be-
clOuded, while heaven is everlasting sunshine.
The more religion man aas the happier he is:
and when man comes to me with professions
OF religion and a long face he does not impress
me. OnA OF theRe men-a minister he was too
once borrowed $50 OF me, and then, out of pure
delicacy of feeling never referred to the sub
iect again" Mr.. Talmage then proceeded to dis
cuss at length the various kinds OF plumbers,
having a multiplicity of employ mente, indulg-
enoe IN bad temper, excessive amuse-
ments, the establishment of distasteful domestic
relations, lack OF enterprise, etc.
In the evening Hon. j. Is. Conner discussed
some of 1.-THE Phases OF Religious Thought" He
theology. The world welcomes 1t in every other
department. New adjustments are everywhere
demanded. In religious thought and interpreta-
ton alone has il been assured that the end mad
been reached. But the world has come TO be-
lieve that there Is as much to learn at least of
scriptural truth as had been known, and every
where men were striking out for better inter
probation and asserting the new attained. This
new phase Of thought and activity had beWild-
cred those who had come to believe that scrip
tural truth had been learned and fixed forever.
The fact ls we approach God to learn his nature
and will concerning men by the same mental
faculties which we utilize in solving problems in
mathematics, in chemistry, in tile mineral and
vegetable kingdoms. Religious truth, like all
other truths, is tentative. Let any one act upon
the standards which the patrlarchs adopted, and
our civil law is 50 much better that 1t consigns
him TO the State prison. Any standard of
scrptural truth and Interpretation, is but the
best conception of the time, and about the best
promise the world Is getting on better Is the fact
that we see one generation kicking over the
standards that the other had set up. The 10000
the best conception till Paul explained the
known God to that people. Each OF the 10000
was put mp one at time, and out of con-
scious need and better conception,