The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-31
PLYM0UTH'S FIRST SOCIAL.
The Congregation of Plymouth Church at
Home to Their Friends.

On last Sunday was the religious opening of
the Plymouth Church; the social opening was
held last evening. Supper was served in the So
cial room up stairs, by the ladies of the church.
from to o'clock, and Immediately thereafter
the exercises in the main room were held
Shortly before these exercises began, the first
marriage took place in the minister's room, and
so quietly that, until it was over, less than half
a dozen persons knew that nuptial ceremony
had been performed. The pair thus welded were
Hallett L. Vaughan and Emma A. Creek
The first address of the evening a brief
and informal talk by Rev. N. A. Hyde, the
former pastor of the church. Looking over the
audience, he said that when the first members
of this church came together, when these pill
grims landed in Indianapolis, they set up their
tabernacle in the old State-house, in the Senate
chamber They enjoyed their worship there.
The room was smaller than this, but it had a
dome, and that dome was painted blue. The
Legislature came, and they had to find other
quarters. They found hall on South Illinois
street, near the depot and climbed up rickety
stairway to it. But the fellowship of that day
delightful When churches are small the
congregations are drawn closer together. After
again admitted to the State-house, and stand
ing at the presiding officers desk looked out
over my audience and fancied myself sur
rounded by grave and reverend senator's
After time the front part of Plymouth Church
on the corner of Meridian and Circle streets was
built, whereat the congregation rejoiced exceed
ingly and four or five years later undertook to
complete the house. 1t was completed; but it
was not to be the permanent home of the
church. 1 believe this has been the history of
all the larger congregations in the city. OF the
churches that were here when came that then
thought they were occupying permanent homes
nearly all have moved and enlarged. ] believe
this is to be your home. 1t is not hive for
drones and | here find preparation for great
variety of work. Here the Christian religion
is to give you consolation and instruction and
prepare you for the life to come. Here you are
to express your sympathy for humanity and
minister to the wants of the suffering This
church now has work in the wider field which
has been opened to it.
introducing Rev. Myron w. Reed Mr. Nc
Culloch said: "You would never have had this
building in its present form and idea if it had
not been for Mr.. Reed. If it had not been for
his friendship should not have been here, and
not been able to do what has been done"
Mr.. Reed said that while he did not love his
neighbor as himself he came as near it that
evening as ever he did. He said that by this,
the last church he had looked upon, he
minded, by the strong contrast of tho first
church he ever looked upon an old-fasbiened
.
house in Vermont. 1t was seated
with pews, and each pew had a
door and each door had a lock upon it, and if a
man got disgruntled with his pastor he locked
his pew door and went away In the churches
of the thirteenth century the place of the people
was low, and the priest, in his place, was lifted
high above the people. He thought for them
and commanded them what they should do. On
the modern platform a minister is not lifted up
above his people; he reasons, he argues, he per-
suades, but he does not dictate. And the de-
mocracy of it is that the high should come down
and the lowly be lifted up. A pastor in a city
like this is not confined to his own church. He
becomes part of the city in which he lives,
and that, too, is modern. Mr. Reed told of
his first meeting with Mr.. McCulloeh. He (Alr
Reed had preceded Mr. McCulloch at the col
lege, and had come back on a visit and
dropped in to eat with his mess-where the boys
had dubbed together and were living on ten
shillings week. They had pork and beans for
dinner A hypercritical, esthetic dietetic young
man was declaiming against the food, saying
that man should not eat this, and one Of the
boys of the mess Mr. McCulloch) quietly said,
1T isn't what goeth into man that detiles him,
but what proceedeth out of his mouth Mr..
Reed spoke of another occasion when Mr.. Nc
Culloch and himself had been brought together
Mr. Reed said, we stand here to recognize
the fact that a church means very nearly the
idea that Mr.. Arnold suggests. 1t is not conse-
Grated to one purpose. A man is not to- a
part of man, but whole man. The Greek
idea was not perfect. The Plymouth idea is not
perfect Man ought to enjoy all good things to
be rightly and thoroughly rounded man. !
look back to the Potomac, and there lived not
wonderful man, not prodigy to terrify the
world but, with the exception of Abraham Lin
coin, perhaps the most perfect American that
ever lived.
The exercises concluded with an address by
Mr.. MeCulloch. The music, both vocal ana IN
strumental, was worthy Of the applause it re
ceiyed