The Indianapolis journal., 1886-08-06
CHRISTIANS IN THE WOODS.
Opening Services at Bethany Park and
the Days Lectures at Acton.
Pencil Sketches of How Midsummer Recrea-
tion Is Enjoyed at These Places-Ser-
mons, Addresses and Recitations.
BETEANy,s FIRST DAY.

still in the Rustle of Preparation-The Open
ing Sermon Last Night
Yesterday was characteristics first day" at
Bethany Park. There was hustle and con-
fusion every whs-e, but before night all the ar
rivals were comfortably fixed in pleasant
quarters It would be difficult TO conceive OF a
camping ground more delightfully."- situated
There are about forty acres in the inclosure
and what little nature left undone to perfect the
location as one Of Gods first temples, has been
fashioned TO perfection by the ingenuity and
art of man. The grounds are undulating in
Buring speedy and perfect drainage, and the
shaded knolls and deils are economically stu
ated. About seven acres on the north side are
covered with an artificial lake of crystal water
from surrounding springs, affording ample fa-
cilities for boating, and the verdant hills which
border the camp ground and rise beyond it
completes scene charmingly picturesque. It
ls miniature park, rather than the crude grove
ores fancy has been educated to associate with
conventional camp-meetings, and the atmosphere
which pervades Bethany seems redolent with
, Christening influences
During the present summer the grounds have
been greatly improved and bearti6ed- Scrupu-
lous cleanliness prevails everywhere, and the
new and freshly painted cottages are creditable
to the brain and hand Of the architect and arti-
san who created them. One Of the handsomest
Of these is one just being completed by the
Standard Publishing Company, of Cincinnati.
President Atkinson has large and substantial
cottage on the border Of the lake. and Secretary
Frasier's house. near by, is a clever conception
Of comfort and odd architecture. The hotel
proper has accommodations TO. hundred
guests. and as many more can be provided for in
the annexes and adjoining cottages, all of which
are owned and controlled by the association.
The Tabernacle has seating capacity of 2,000
and all the arrangements are substantial ard
comfortable. Asystem of waterworks has been
established. and the grounds are dotted with
hydrants, fed by a reservoir having capacity
of LOCO barrels, pure cool water in abundance
being thus assured
The first formal services were held last night
D. r Van Buskirk, of Indianapolis. preaching
the inaugural sermon. He took as his text Ro-
mans /, IA, l5:
at am debtor both to the Greeks and to the barba
Fians; both to the wise and to the unwse that
much IN is. am ready to preach the gospel to
you that are in Rome also."
ssThe law of accountability" I" said the speaker,
recognized In this statement is that the supe-
rior is the debtor of the inferior. For the ages
human selfshness has sought TO reverse this law,
and to give the superior lordship over the infe-
ror. By Just so much as the father is the supe-
Tior of the son In experience and business iudg-
ment does he become the debtor of the son. So
of mother and daughter Paul had been the
possessop of the very blessings which the world
needed and became the worlds debtor on that
account. His indebtedness to the parties men,
toned cannot be explained on the ground Of
benefits received at their hands. From them he
received kicks and ccffs, and scourges, and i'm
prisonment. And yet he was debtor to them.
II this law bound Paul it should bind US, and
under tha operation of this law it becomes our
duty to carry the message of salvation to all the
world. las much as In me is' measures the
limit of duty under this law. All cannot preach
as Hail. or Beecher, or Spurgeon. but
many men have mission which no other being
Not only the law and the limit
Of obligation under that law are in
ticated in the text but the spirit in which life's
duties should be accepted. II am ready to
preach the gospel" reveals the great heart of
Paul and furnishes the secret of the wonderful
success of this matchless missionary Of the cross
''Ready'-yes, ever ready to suffer persecution
or exile that by any means he might save the
lost and the ignorant, whose debtor he felt him
self to be.
Among the arrivals yesterday were l. l. Car
penter, A. NJ Atkinson and family, and Mrs
Price, Wabash; Naomi j. Boaz. Cincinnati; Rob-
ert Gordon, indianapolis; Mrs. M. +. Simpson,
Martinsville; FL. P. Ryan. Walter III. Shortridge,
Indianapolis; R. f. Blount and wife, Wabash;
w. B. Craig; Martinsville; s. t. Cast and wife;
Huntington; d. X. Cess Bloomington; II. c.
Hodges, Paragon; JOINT Keller Wabash; w. II.
Carpenter, Toledo; q. J. Van Winkle. Cadiz; w.
D. Hornaday, Indianapolis; T. S. Bench, Hunt
Ington; Judge Franklin, Spencer.
The celebrated Emerson Quartet, of Hunting
ton, arrived yesterday and will remain through
out the session.
To-day is '.children's day. and large at
tendance is anticipated The president was ad-
vised yesterday that there would be at least
eighteen coach loads of Sunday school scholars
from the surrounding towns.
The following is the programme for Saturday:
1890 A. NJ, address by General Samuel F.
Carey, of Cincinnati. o.. on The Mistakes of
Moses or Ingersoll- which,; 230 P. NJ. lecture
by President C. L. Loos, Lexington, KY. on
America in Europe" P. NJ, study of the Sun
aay-school lesson, led by Professor Amzi At
water; s P. NJ, concert by the Emerson Quartet
ACTON PARK ASSEMBLY,.