The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-17
A PASTOR WITH FINANCIAL TALENT.
Rev. E. J. Gantz, of Central Christian Church
His Ministerial and Business Methods.

There is great variety of gifts among the
pastors of this city. The Central Christian
Church people have pastor who has an endow-
ment not usually given to preachers-a financial
talent-for before entering the ministry he was
a business man, and since his preaching begun
he has meyer been permitted to allow his none
tary talent to remain unused Edwin J. CAN'T
is not only among the youngest but handsomest
of the clergy of this city. He is of medium
height, his eyes dark and expressive, his hair
black. He wears a very becoming mustache,
and his dress, while in good taste, will
never encounter the criticism of being TOO cler
ical. He is a genial, companionable person, an
excellent conversationist and well informed on
all current topics His easy and affable man
ners, together with his hard and practical com
mon sense, would make him valuable poll
tician, but he looks out over the congressional
field in Indiana and notes w. ID. Owen, Ira
Chase and Milton Ragsdale and thinks the supply
at present is ample.
Mr.. CAN'T was born at Niagara Falls, N Y,
May 80, 1853. His father, who is yet living, was
long noted miller at that place. Mr.. Gantz
is of Swiss extraction his grandfathers
parents emigrating to this country from
the land of William Tell and Arnold Struth Won
Winkelried. who made way for liberty. AT six
teen years old young GantZ worked in the in
surance business in the summer and in the
winter attended the academy at Lockport, n. Y.
AT eighteen he went to Bethany College, where,
at the age Of twenty-five, he graduated. During
his college course he was minister of church
half the time Shortly after graduation he was
made district gelist for the State Missionary
Society of Ohio. It was while so engaged that
he made the acquaintance Of Miss Frances
L. st. Clair of GAINESVILLE O., whom he
married In 1879 he took charge of church in
Baltimore, at the corner of Paca and Lombard
streets, resignlng after few months service.
He was then made financial agent of Bethany
College, and travelled for that famous education
al institution nearly five years. He came to In
dianapois in June 1885, to fill the pulpit of the
after few sermons a majority of the
congregation thought he was about the
kind of pastor they were looking
for and this opinion becoming unanimous, he
made pastor in the September following.
He has always been a member of the Y. NJ. G..
A, and taken great interest in their work. but
his duties prevented him from being as active
in furthering that work he wished. He is
now member of the advisory board Of the COM
mittee. The Central Christian Church has the
wealthiest or next wealthiest congregation in the
city. The church is quaker-like in its plainness,
and in an unostentatous way the congregation
gives freely to the Lords treasury; at the same
time, being eminently practical they want to
know what good is being done with their gifts
Under their present pastor they have system
of accounts, whereby, at tho end of every three
months, each member may know exactly how
he stands on the church books and the objects
to which the moneys collected have been ap.
piled
Mr.. Gantz is an enthusiastic Mason, he and
DR.. Jenckes of ST. Pauls being the only preach
er members of the Ancient and Accepted Scot
fish Rite from this city.