The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-05
YOUNG MEN AND THE CHURCH.
Rev. o. G. McCulloch Talks to Young Men O.
Their Relations to the Church.

Their Relations to the Church.
The auditorium of Plymouth Church was
crowded last night on the occasion of the Rev.
Oscar G. McCulloch's address to young men.
Following the second hymn the reverend gentle
man read letter of Theodore Parker dated in
1853, to young man who was about leaving
homo. He prefaced the reading by stating that,
in the near future, he hoped to Idelver an ad-
dress on Parker, whom he regarded as the
model preacher, and one who always
manifested the warmest interest in
young men, The letter. among other
things said that the possessions giving the
greatest enjoyment were those fairly and really
earned. The best thing is not money or what it
will bring, nor great estate but that which
makes good man, a wise man. q religious man.
Money makes one acceptable to man; religious
life makes one acceptable to God. There are
three things young men should be set against
intemperance, gambling and RIGHTEOUSNESS. In
their place should be pursued the cultivation of
the mind in reading history, biography and the
best literature. This can be accomplished be-
fore the age OF thirty. A young man should be
endowed with love of truth, love of justice, love
of God, love of man.
Mr. McCulloch selected for his text the four
teenth verse of the second chapter of the first
epstle of st. John: II have written unto YOU
fathers, because ye have known Him that is
from the beginning. I have written unto you,
young nen, because We are strong, and the word
OF God abldeth III you. and ye have overcome
the wicked one" A noticeable, fact, he said, was
that Western audiences were made up of young
men, Horace Greeleys advice had nearly de-
populated the East of young men. Until
within the past few years business men
in the West were mostly young. and came from
the East, but their places are being taken by
Western young men. just before coming to In
dianapolis, eight years ago. he had received call
to church in an Eastern town He preached
there to an audience of white haired, bald headed
men. The young men had gone West, and he
preferred to go there, too. History shows that
young men are always in the front of great
movements The disciples were young men, and
the appeals of Christ drew them out Of them
selves. 1t was young Luther who nailed
his thirty-nine theses to the church
door, John Knox was not an old
man when he led Scotland out OF superstition
into strong and sturdy Presbyterianism It was
young Mazzini who began the creation of young
Italy. 1t was young Kossuth who gave Hungary
place among the nations. 1t was young Duffy
who, in 1882, laid the foundation of the Irish
movement of to-day. 1t is young Russia that is
many sought to give that country a republican
constitution and it was the failure Of the cause
that gave to this country Schurz, Hassaurek,
just dead, and others.
ent from the Sabbath of to-day. and when
church attendance was different. There has, in
deed been a change, but whether for better or
worse, remains to be told He was not one of
those. though. who believed young life had
changed for the worse. On the other hand he
believed the change had been for good. There
is less peculation in pubhc life greater faithful
ness to trust. less vituperation in politics
than when the government was founded.
The questions then arose, Why are young men
found outside of the church, and why they
should not be in. His friend, the Rev. Wash
ington GLADDEN., of Columbus, o., had investi-
gated this matter, and OF the result of his re-
searches the speaker made use Mr. GLADDEN.
sent out letters of inquiry as to the reasons
young men gave for holding aloof from the
church. considerable number of those who
responded treated the inquiry loosely. They
did not appreciate the gravity of the question.
One wrote that he did not attend church
because his sweetheart would not go.
This was chaff, but others said
they were embarrassed among old people. others
did not like to hear politics discussed from the
pulpit, while others objected to theological dis
QUESTIONS Some gave the contribution box as
reason. They were not able to stand its de-
mands Several said they remained away on
account of costs. They did not feel at home
among aristocrats There were some churches,
doubtless, of that Class, but any enterprisng
young man can find church somewhere in any
city that wiz welcome him. Among other
reasons were long sermons and that Sun
day was the only day for recreation. He
knew that sitting still in church for an hour
and half was not recreation but in the prayers,
music, songs and sermons there was recreation
recreation of new thought Others claim they
do not go to church because they are not invit-
ed. The newspaper announcements and ringing
of bells proclaim general invitation, and the
poltest young men stationed at the doors
to give every one welcome.
The reverend speaker then spoke OF the dan
ger in critcising faith that was held by fathers
and mothers. The influence of churches was the
spirit of progress. Fifty years ago Indianapolis
was founded by church members, on truth Or