The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-28

young men. but who thinks of the boys and girls
at the critical age between twelve and fifteen.
Our schools teach the three rs but who.
teaches the practical things of life. the law of
pure living, of good books. of nature, of courte-
Gus manners. This church is to give itself TO
this work. Opening schools Of sewing, or in
dustry, classes in drawing, design, music, Ian
guage; instituting talks on literature and science,
arranging lectures, concerts, exhibitions, meeting
weekly in religious, social and friendly ways; the
rich and the poor meeting together, the
Lord the maker of them all, while
through, all like the simple, original
melody, running through varied music, is the
thought of loyalty and love to Jesus Christ. You
say this is the dream Of an enthusiast. Not so.
1t is being done over the lard by many men and
women, and by many churches. We will try and
make it the work of this church. Do you re-
member when Jesus said: Il beheld Satan as
lightning fall from heaven" 1t was when a few
unknown fishermen came back, saying; Lord,
even the devils are subject to us through Thy
name" Once strike the method of God, and the
way is easy. Is it any larger scheme than Peter
Cooper had in mind when he decided to build his
institute! Is it any harder work tostorm the king
dom of evil than it was to uproot slavery en-
trenched in government, in church, in social in
stitutions! Did not twelve men turn the world
upside down! Were / not sure we should
work together in this, I might
say, who is sufficient But | know
that in this thing munster and people, as
always, so now, are of one mind. The way to
begin Is to begin. Some of this work we have
already undertaken. The Sundays school, the
industrial school, the Maternity Society, the In
dianapoliS lecture course. This next week we
will open up a room in which the young men can
meet each night with books, papers and maya
zines. This month, too, we will begin our
weekly social gathering, making a programme of
music and literary exercises. which shall be as
carefully aTTangedfOr as are the Sunday exercises.
Other things viii follow in good time. HE that
believeth shall not make haste" But to effect
this we need to change our ideas of church
finances. Hitherto we have raised money to
pay eXpenses-have sold Jews. or let them, or
passed around the subscription paper. What if
a miller should grind only wheat enough to pay
expenses! Or a merchant should solicit custom
in order to pay rent and clerk hire! But we take
up a line of work and raise money to carry it on.
The pulpit is only incidental-helongs to the ex-
penses of administration. Each one who comes
here regularly can select a seat. There is no
price set upon it, 1t is his privilege to have
one; but it is his duty to
aid in carrying on the work we have undertaken,
by money or counsel or service. He or she can
teach or nurse or sit up with the sick, or do
something. Each does according to his ability.
| ask for money, not for my salary, but to go on
with the church work. Out of one common
treasury we pay preacher and j%anitor and teach
ers, and send money to the suffering, and open
schools. We find no difficulty in sustaining
charities in this city. The work appeals to all.
So shall this work appeal to this congregation.
If any one can give 81. and is able to give no
more, that is enough; if 800, then that should
measure his duty; or if 5000, then that is well.
"A willing mind will decide this whole matter.
And, aside from that, / count on the interest
Which the people take in all positive advance
work. 1t was long ago noted by Prof. Huxley,
the amount of money which Americans give TO
colleges, hospitals and public institutions. No
rich man in Boston now thinks of dying without
consulting President Eliot, of Harvard, about
his will. Such a line of work as l suggest will
In time receive money from those outside the
congregation.
Professor Tyndall said that the American mind
was the finest and strongest in its scientific
delieay and power. Our common schools are
producing the best disciplined minds and best
organizers that the world knows. We shall
use these minds and organizers III our work.
No, / never doubt that when once the method of
God is found, means and men and women will
be found to carry 1t out. When the report of
Lexington and Concord reached Samuel Adams
he said, 1T is a glorious morning" 1 say so,
too. 10 us in the church it is a glorious morn
ing. Chalmers took the young Guthrie to Cow
gate, in Glasgow. There were the dark streets,
the high houses, the squalor, the misery. ut is
a beautiful field, sir-a very fine field of opera
ton And, looking out over this city, knowing
its people, rich and poor, criminal and pauper.
sorrowful and glad, / say lit Is a beautiful field"
My friends of Plymouth Church, l have been
with you nearly seven years. | can say with
Brutus, Il joy to think | never found a man but
he was true to me-" The call you gave me was
in the spirit of these words: Come to us; be
our friend and spiritual shepherd-but in per
feet freedom. Follow your own inspirations;
preach, talk to US, how, when it appears best to
you. We undertake to provide for all your pc
cuniary wants; live free from anxiety; teach us
how we should live and work. Our homes, our
hearts are open to you You have kept your
word.
1 have never heard one word of criticism. Here
are my old friends-the Oldest members of the
church. Aaron and Hur did not more faithfully
hold up the hands of Moses than you have held
up mine, by prayer and sympathy. You that
have feen longest here have loved this church,
have sacrificed for it, hoped, feared, and reioiced.
You who have come in later have given time
and money, and interest. You have made its af-
fairs your own. God grant that we may live long
together to carry on this work. And you, other
friends, members of other churches, we have had
your interest from the beginning. Like the
woman who found her piece of lost money, we
say, Rejoice with us"
And now, in the words of Tiny Tim, God
bless us, every one"
FALLACIES.