The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-06
Cornelius, the Earnest Christian of the Van
derbilt Family, Undertakes the Work
and Pushes it with Great Energy.
Losses of the Cutting Heirs Made Good
and the Prosecution Withdrawn.
A Gambler Saved from the Gallows by His
Cool Head and Steady Nerve--The Dam
gcrous Coca Habit-Turf News.
A WEALTHY REFORMER.

a WEALTHY REEORMERs
Rich Man Smoothing the Way to the King
dom ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Evangelism.
Special to the indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK. Dec 5.-Cornelius Vanderbilt has
undertaken to religiously reform Wall street
William H. Vanderbilt has just been successful
in starting big boom in the business of that
section. and now the son means to effect spirit
ual improvement. Cornelius is the earnest
Christian of the family. 1t was he who insti
tuted the Railway Christian Association, for the
purpose of converting the employees OF the
Vanderbilt lines to Christianity. He obtained
from his father who had no great personal SYM
pathy with the movement, the free use of rooms
in tho stations in most of the cities along the
routes; and underneath the Grand Central depot
here he fitted up large chapel and reading
room, wherein the prayer-meetings are some
times conducted by him. He is trustee, also,
in several institutions of beneyolence and re-
ligion, and, during the lifetime of the Commo-
CORES widow, was her partner in many charities,
notably in home for dissolute women. When
the great scheme of Episcopaian evangelism was
devised in this city last spring, Cornelius Van
derbilt became interested and WIS inevitably
placed On the finance committee. The revival
meetings have been in progress this week in
fourteen city churches. The exhorters brought
from London are assisted by several moving
orators from the local Episcopal pulpits, and
the Advent Mission as it is called, is altogether
the most determined and powerful revivalistic
enterprise ever known in New York. Whether
there will be the hopedfor success is not yet
clear. The especial aim has been to touch the
masses, and to that end the churches chosen for
the meetings are mainly those in crowded tone
ment- house districts.
Young Vanderbilt performed his duties as
fnaneier to the perfect satisfaction of the pro-
motors Of the mission. He contributed S., 900 to
the expense fund, and raised the rest Of the
quiste money among his personal friends. But
he had another hobby in the matter, and it was
to reach the Wall-street people Right at the head
of that thoroughfare, in Broadway. stands the
famous Trinity Church. The spectators daily
use its clock to set their watches by, for it
is in plain sight from the whole length of the
street. but they are not familiar with the inter
Tor of tho eGifice. 1t happened that Rector Dix,
who is son of the war Governor. John A. Dix,
author Of the shoot him on the spot" motto. did
ed too close in resemblance to excitant Method
ism, and not in accord with the traditional dig
nifty of Episcopalianism. Neither he nor any Of
the nine assistant rectors employed for the FIVE
churches sustained by the Trinity corporation
countenanced the preliminary work by the
slightest participation, although the active zeal
of Bishop Henry c. Potter was enlisted. It was
Vanderbilts idea, however, that noon meetings
ought to be held in Trinity Church for the
especial benefit Of the spectators. At
first the vestry of Trinity sided with its clergy
in discountenancingt the proposal, but the million
aire was persistent, and his personal influence
with several of the wealthiest and most potential
members enabled him to triumph. The midday
meetings have been held daily during this week,
under the management of Vanderbilt Not a
word of the speaking is done by Trinity minis
ters, however, the evangelist being the Rev. W.
II. NJ FL Aitken, the most celebrated missioner
in the Church of England, and organizer of the
force of exhorters for the present revival in this
city He is an uncommonly effective orator, and
after the first two days the church has been
crowded, chiefly by men and boys who spend here
the time usually devoted to lunching. The serv-
ices are brief and half an hour sufficient to hear
fine entire address. Those who declared to Van
derbilt that no noon assemblage of hurried Wall
street folks could possibly be made in the mid
die of the day were mistaken. This is sur
prise. Whether any considerable salvation will
be wrought in them remains to be SEEN but GER
tainly Aitken has got the ear of Wall street
whether he captures the heart or not His ener
getic discourses are plain, logical and argument
alive appeals, devoid of sensationalism in matter
manner. He is at least successful in partial
~, if only momentarily, diverting his hearers
thoughts from stock operations. However they
90 not break communication with the Exchange
There no tckers in the pews, but the quiet
ingress and egress of messengers frequently
prove that the congregation is en- rapport with
the street.