The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-04
SERVICES AT THE CHURCHES
Reopening Of the First PRESBYTERIAN
Church with Timely Discourses.
Suggestions by Leading Clergymen as to How
Christian Work May Be Promoted-Fare-
we'll of Rev. Prentiss-0ther Services.
METHODS OF CHURCH WORK.

Presbyterian Church Last Evening.
There was large audience at the reopeniug
services of the First Presbyterian Church, which
has been closed for several weeks, undergoing
repairs Occupying the pulpit with the pastor,
Rev. NJ. l.. Haines, were Dr. James Mcleod, of
the Second Church, Rev. John Baltzly, of the
English Lutheran Church, Rev. j. A. Rond-
thaler. of the Tabernacle Church, and Rev. G.
L. McNutt of tie Fourth Church. The even
ing was set apart for addresses and remarks
upon Church Life and Christian activity" The
music attendant upon the services was unusu-
ally good Rev. John Baltzly read as the
Scripture lesson of the evening the Eighty fourth
Psalm, and the opening prayer was made by
Rev j. A. Rondthaler.
Mr.. Haines in a pleasant little talk. called
attention to the numerous improvements that
had been made in the church, and that the
neighbors had come IN to rejoice with the con-
gregation. He said there seemed to be con-
tagion of renovating and building, and the
church of every pastor upon that platform had
things as showing an advancing movement in
church life and Christian activity.
Rev. G. L. McNutt thought the time had come
when greater good should be accomplished in the
churches. Men could not be saved in masses,
but the work must be ndividuaized. In poll
tics there men who go about and find out the
position of every voter, and then find out the in
fuences that may be brought to bear upon him.
There are persons to see him and labor with him.
This suggests like method in Christian work.
majority of the people of this city have at
some time or other been church attendants.
Parannc chould fpor h1oaR IN hlnck and find
them out. and proper influences be brought to
bear upon them to get them back. Their at
tendance should be solicited individually.
Rev. John Baltzly spoke of the differing mer-
its of Calvinism and Lutherism, and paid we'll
worded tribute to each, especially praising the
capacity of the Calvinistic church for organlza-
ton, while holding the Lutheran church to be
poetic and philosophic 1t seemed to him that
people more and more went to church for the
purpose of being entertained. They received
the flower, but rendered neither fruit nor
flower. He believed there should be
respondent sense of responsibility among the
hearers, and, citing the parable of the sower,
made beautiful application. He thought every
nearer of the word of God was just as much
bound to advance toward GOD in His place was
the preacher in his place as priest But the
preacher talks and the hearers go on just as if he
had not talked. A great deal is said about the
preaching and nothing done about it. Shak-
speare did not write for Shakespeare Raphael did
not paint for Raphael. Every great and every
small work depends for its success upon appreci-
alton. 1t is as I. B. Aldrich says
You do poets and their song
grievous wrong,
II your soul does not bring
To their high imagining,
As much beauty as they sing.
Rev. j. A. Rondthaler spoke of the small audi
ences in the churches on Sunday evenings, and
pointed out how the pastors of the Presbyterian
churches then present might do good work.
He suggested that each Sunday evening two Of
the four there present go to some place in the
suburbs and preach, the congregations of
the preachers so going uniting for that
evening with the congregations of the
pastors who did not go upon those occasions.
For his part he did not greatly blame persons
for staying at home Sunday evening, with
their children, after they had attended the morn
ing service and done their duty at the Sunday
school, He was convinced that good audiences
would come to those who went out into the sub
urbs and engaged in this work. He thought it
better than the spurts of wandering evangelists
Dr. Mcleod said by Christian activity we are
to understand that kind of activity which keeps
Christ in view. seeks the spread of the gospel and
the conversion of sinners If this be so, church
workers and active Christians are not as nu-
merous in any of the churches as they ought to
be. We have a good illustration of what
working church can do in the book Of Nehe miah,
when in building the walls of Jerusalem, every
body worked. In doing church work, all are
not expected to do the same thing. Christ
gave TO every man his work to do
that is, the work for which he is best qualified
and there need be no difficulty in finding out
Just what that work is. There are diversites of
gifts, but need not remain in ignorance aS-to
what are our gifts. Bishop Butler could never
have been the father of Sunday schools, but
Robert Ralkes could never have written the
Analogy. Jeremy Taylor could never have
-iven us the Pilgrims Progress, but neither
cou,SS John BGpyau have given the Golden
Grain Let every Sce be himself. and
act according to the gift of Christ.
Peter good A. - - was, coulu 4o. W sne work or
las, and Dorcas had better stay at home than
try to do the work of Peter. But, although Dor
cas- great hand to make speeches, she was
still a worker. She knew how to make her nee
die evangelical and her memory is honored.
There is no power in the church apparatus.
There is no power in the preacher in the church
building in the thousands of Christians in TINS
city, minus His spirit: but let only the Holy
Spirit fill all, and His power would be felt so
that the report Of it wcnld shake the gates of
hell and be heard beyond the stars
The benediction was pronounced by Rev John
Baltzly.