The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-16

A Large Crowd In Attendance at the Services
Yesterday-Dr. Gilbert's Sermon.

Testerday-Dr. Gilbert's Sermon.
There were 5000 persons at Bethany Park
yesterday That there were not more is owing
to the fact that the management requested the
railroad officials to run but one train out from
Indianapolis, and one from the southern end of
the road. These were both early trains. That
leaving indianapolis at o'clock, yesterday
morning, took out ten coaches which were
sparsely filled at starting, but gathering passen-
gers at all the little stations the way, came to
Bethany crowded No less than $50 got on at
Mooresville, alone That there could have been
ten or twelve thousand people, had sufficient
number of trains been rum isreadily conceded, but
the management desire to avoid the afternoon
revel aud night riot that is apt to follow the
herding together of promiscuous crowd. The
attendance yesterday was of orderly, we'll
dressed people, and judging by the great num-
Der who listened to the services, it is fair to con-
clude that they were church going people.
1t is about concluded that more ground shall
be taken in, and. fifty or seventv-fve acres of
wooded hillside and some low ground will be
added. The little lake of six or seven acres will
be enlarged to cover thirty acres or more, and
other improvements will be made, probably In
ing on Sunday, the day being one devoted
wholly to religious exercises.
Over two thousand persons gathered in the
tabernacle yesterday forenoon to be addressed
by DR.. A. N. Gilbert of Baltimore, while large
overflow meeting was held on the hill in little
grove and was addressed by Rev. w. B. f. Treat,
of Martinsville
DR.. Gilbert's sermon was on ''The Victory that
Overcometh the World" his text being. John,
" 40. The sermon was of great power.
In concluding Dr. Gilbert said I'VE live in an
age when the most rigid orthodoxy. of doctrine
does not amount to much with the public The
world, in some way, has acquired very eonsid-
cradle knowledge of what was the sp{rt of
Christ and what kind of life it developed.
Though the world is long remove from
that life it knows enough. to exnect it
just to the extent that the church manifest it,
the church and the pulpit have influence. When
the word of all church members is az good as a
legal bond in business affairs; when all Christian
merchants need no badge but the probity of
their transactions; when the name Christian is
synonymous with purity of thought, and word,
and action: when the activity of the church in
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and heal
ing tho sick destroys the argument for secular
benevolent societies; when the universal church
is in the van in all reforms that seek
to lift up humanity; when, in. short,
the spirit of Christ rules in the church,
and the world is forced to see and realize that
the protesting church is a great body of people,
fully committed to the service of Jesus Christ
then shall the chariot wheels of salvation roll on
with speed that shall put to shame the slow
progress of to-day, and there will be more
essays on the waning power Of the pulpit. Then
shall the glad church echo with rejoicings and
upon her walls shall be inscribed, This is the
victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith" and then shall she at
length. enter upon the enjoyment of
those fruits of victory that make luminous the
apocalypse. Toll on, struggle on, suffer on,
fight on. Victory and its fruits are before you.
Now the sorrow, then the joy; now the groans
then the shouts of triumph now the partings,
then the meeting beyond which there is no part
ing; now the tears, then the rapture; now the
cross, then the crown; now the hope, then the
fruition; now faith, then sight-and always love-
blessing, and honor, and glory. and power be
unto Him that sitteth upon the throne and unto
the Lamb forever and ever"
In the afternoon the Lords supper was adj
ministered, Rev. David Walk presiding followed
by a sermon by Rev. Robert Moffett, of Cleve
land, 0. At 7:30 P. NJ. there was a song service
and at P. NJ sermon by Rev. L. r. Norton,
of Logansport
The tents and cottages looked beautiful, yes
terday, under c.oudless sky, and, except for
awhile in the afternoon, the heat was not great,
and even then it was tempered by delightful
breeze. The announcement was made during
the services that misunderstanding had gone
abroad in regard to the assembly The enter
prise was not managed in the interest
of individuals but for the good of all, and they
had not gone into it for the purpose of making
money out of it. Many were giving their time
and money, several of them preachers, and do
ing it cheerfully. Mr.. Atkinson called attention
to the fact that the young ladies who waited
upon the hotel tables twelve or sixteen of the
best and sweetest girls. gave their service for
nothing. It was this announcement, doubtless.
that caused such a rush for the dining rooms
when the morning service concluded.
This morning DR.. Gilbert will lecture on
Christ in Prophecy" and Rev. e. L. Frazier,
of Kokomo. on 1.-THE Ideal Man" In the after
noon Rev. L. Fl. Stine of New Albany. will de-
liver an address on "Secularism in the Min
istry; DR.. Gilbert, on "Christ in Old Testament
History" and in the evening Rev George B.
Peck. of Bloomington, win speak on Christian
Work"