The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-15
THE TABERNACLE CHURCH.
An Interesting Resume of Its History, by
Mr. G. n. Todd, Yesterday.

The services at the Tabernacle formerly the
Third Presbyterian Church, yesterday morning
were the last to be held in that building, and a
fitting farewell was INDUCED that occasion
Under the leadership of Dr. Maxwell the mu-
steal selections were appropriate, and rendered
with excellent effect Rev. Mr.. Rondthaler read
several portions of Scripture in harmony with
the sentiment of the day--thanks for the past
call for duty to-day, and encouragement for the
future.
The principal matter of the exercises was a
sketch of the history of the church, prepared
and read by Mr.. c. N Todd, by direction of the
session. Mr. Todd has been officially connected
with the church Tor many years, and in his
capacity as elder and clerk was especially fitted
for the duty devolving on him. The history was
an interesting epitome of the principal events in
the record of the organization, prepared with
much care and literary finish that made it
most admirable production of the kind. 1t is to
be published in pamphlet form.
The Third Presbyterian Church was organized
Sept %, 1851 at the house of Caleb Scudder, by
committee of Munce Presbytery twenty-five
persons members OF the First Presbyterian
Church, uniting in the organization. Messrs
Caleb Scudder. James Blake and Horatio c.
Newcomb were elected ruling elders. The newso-
ciety, strengthened by the addition of seventeen
members on the 3lst of January, 1852, began
worship in Temperance Hall, erected where the
News building now stands, on West Washington
street Rev. David Stevenson. recently a gradu-
ate from Princeton, and then serving the church
at knightstown, was secured supply almost
Immediately after the church was organized
and his services proving acceptable, he was called
to the pastorate at salary of $500 per annum,
and installed July 80, 1852. Steps were taken to
erect church building, and the lot corner of
Illinois and Ohio streets being purchased for
l,4O0, on Jan. s, 1854, the basement of the
building finally completed dedicated.
The building and lot cost 81, 000 This was
cupied for five years. In 1858 Mr.. Stevenson
was commissioner from this presbytery to the
Old-school General Assembly, and on
his invitation that body adjourned to meet
in the Third Church building, Indianapolis
the next year Under the direction of the
architect, Joseph Curzon, the building
was rushed to completion, at cost of 500, 600,
and dedicated May 10, 1859 Rev. Stevenson
preached the sermon and assisted in the
services by Revs. Sickles and Cunningham. At
that time the building was regarded as in ad
vance of anything else in the city The Thurs
day following the General Assembly convened,
with an attendance of 800 or more The session
was noted for resulting in the determination
after spirited debate to remove the theological
seminary from New Albany to Chicago, Cyrus
H. Mccormick being present to pledge the nsti-
tuition that liberal support be afterward gave it.
In 1883 Mr.. Stevenson's health began to suffer
from pulmonary disease and temporary release
was given him, which was made permanent
Aug 81, 1860 During Mr.. Steyensons pastor
nfn wa nd ad 70 fho oh no
pulpit was filled ad interim by Rev. r. A Allen,
of the Freedmans Board Calls extended to
Rev. Alexander Thompson, of Bridgeport, Conn,
and to Rev. j. A. Liggett, of Crittenden, KY,
On the 7th of Oct 1861, Rev. Geo. C. Heck
man, D. D., OF GAINESVILLE Wis, was installed
pastor. During his pastorate it became neces-
sary to increase the capacity of the auditorium,
which was done by adding galleries, in 1866 af-
fording 200 additional sittings. This and other
Improvements cost $4, 900. In 1860 a debt of
$1,000 had been secured by an issue of FIVE
year bonds, which were paid at maturity. During
DIR. Heckman's administration a Sabbath school
was started in the western portion of the city,
and maintained by the Third Church. which
afterwards grew into the Fifth Church, organ
lied Oct. II, 1867, with thirteen members from
the Third Church These, with five Others con-
stituted the society. Invited to the State street
Church. Albany, n. Y. DR.. Hickman accepted
and left the church Oct. 3, 1867 During DR..
Heckman's pastorate the Third Church became
In April, 1868, the name of Rev. Robert Sloss,
then about to graduate from Princet on, was
brought to the notice Of the committee on supply
resulting in unanimous call to the pastorate.
This was accepted and he entered upon his
labors in the month of June. His labors
were successful. During the four years he
served the Third Church 322 added to the
rolls lS6 on profession. Some young men of the
church in Mr. Slosss time established Sunday
school In the building abandoned by the Meth
odsts in Indanola and succeeded in reconstruct
ing society there Out of this work came the
Eighth Church, instituted Oct l. 1871 seven
members from the Third Church uniting in the
organization In 1871 the Third Church raised
$l2 900 as its proportion of the So 600 900 memoir
ial offering after the union of the two branches
of the denomination Part Of this was given to
Hanover College and the remainder invested in a
house Owing to the long vacancy following
Mr. Slosss resignation the house was sold and
the proceeds invested in lot for new church
building. This proved total loss to the society
change of climate being necessary, Mr. Sloss
accepted call to the Fourteenth street Church.
New York city, and the pastoral relation here
was dissolved May q, 1872
The Rev Francis l.. Patton. D. D., professor
of theology in the Chicago Seminary, occupied
the pulpit during 1923 During this time
also, the negotiations were had with the Fourth
Church, for consolidation of the two bodies
which came to naught. The Third Church.
however, resolved to locate further north at as
early day as possible. The next pastor was
the Rev. q. w. f. Birch who came from Lex
ington, KY, where he had charge of the Second
Church, in October, 1873. His ministry which
closed July l. 1876, not without good fruit
fifty eight being added to the church during
his pastorate
After a vacancy of eight months Rev. Robert
Sioss was recalled from Ttusvile, Pa, and be-
gan his services June II, 1884, and ended them
the last Sabbath in October, 1870 the dssou-
ton being caused by the inability OF the organ
ization to meet its financial engagements with
the pastor.
The pulpit had been vacant but few weeks
when the last pastorate of the old Third Church
was begun under Rev. Fl. NJ Mercy who came
in December 1879. from the Presbyterian
Church in South Bend During his term the
church adopted the limited. or rotatiye system