The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-11
AT THE CHRISTIAN cAMp-GROUND.
The Day Devoted Principally to the Consid-
GRAFTON of Missionary Work.

An old settlers meeting, near by, where five
thousand old timers. young maidens and vealy
youths congregated to celebrate the annual fes-
tivities peculiar to such occasions, detracted
materially from the attendance at Bethany
Park yesterday. The staid and conservative
exercises at the Christian camp-ground were not
suf;c;ent in dra~;:"a qualities to overcome the
seductive influences OF the old settlers .'1e-
honored and whiskered Renaissance; the prime
val story of the first white child; the primitive
wooden plow-mould; the inevitable and omni-
present Aax-break and similar contemporaneous
A. and A, chestnuts.
The day at the park was mainly devoted TO
rne consideration of missionary work, Mr.. A.
Mclean opening with practical address on the
subject of missions in general He was followed
by J. FL. o. Smith, State evangelist OF Ediu-
burg, who gave an account of ais stewardship.
He reported that during the seven months in
which he had been engaged in the work he had
raised between four and five thousand dollars
for missions. He also reported that he had or
ganzed large number of districts in the State,
to each of which q missionary evangelist had
been assigned During the seven months he
had labored in this field he had succeeded in con-
verting about four hundred and fifty souls to the
cause of Christ, and the other evangelists
had about as many moro to their credit.
In the evening L. B. Smith, Of Huntington,
delivered an interesting sermon on 'The Cost
and Worth Of Christianity" 'sThe thorns have
grown on the rose and the flowers on the thistle,
ever since the Lord God placed the cherubim
and flaming sword at the east of the garden of
Eden" said the speaker. "Ali the best blessings
of life come us through suffering; life
itself is thus brought TO US, and by suffering is
perpetuated. And what is true of the earth life
is also and preeminently true of the eternal life.
No cross, no crown, is heavens philosophy.
Mistaken souls are they who expect to go to
heaven fowery beds of ease. The good fight
of faith must be fought; fatiguing marches are to
be made; painful sacrifices are to be offered; the
most heroic efforts are to be put forth. 1t is a
life long contest and death alone brings victory.
While history lives and republics endure, will
the heroic soldiers of Valley Forge be extoled to
the skies, and through all the ages the suffering
soldiers OF Andersonville will be wreathed with
immortelles When Garfield fell, nations
heart almost stopped its beating in GREATNESS
expectation of results, and when he died the
universal brotherhood of man went into mourn
ing and the nations of the world shed svmpa-
thetic tears. Thus it is, that the way to the
highest earthly distinction is way beset with
tears and trials with sacrifices and sufferings.
The lives of all the holy apostles were lives filled
with bitter trials, and cruel buffetings, and
heroic sacrifices. and all of those lives save one,
were closed by martyrdom."
Inc programme lor touay inciuues q Aoctu.e
at $50 A. NJ, on Bible history. by Professor j.
W. McGarvey. of Lexington, KY, and contin-
uation of the Missionary Society services. The
evening exercises at the tabernacle will consist
of brief song service and sermon by S. j.
Tomlinson, of Wabash
Next Saturday will be q red-letter day with
the Assembly On that day, at 1890 in the fore
noon, General Lew Wallace will deliver his lee
ture Turkey and the Turks" and at p NJ.
A N Gilbert, a noted orator, of Jacksonville,
Ill.,. will entertain the visitors with address
on walks About Jerusalem" One of the most
interesting features of the weeks programme
will be the lectures to be delivered on Thursday
and Friday evenings by Prof j. w. McGarvey,
on subjects relating to Palestine He is president
of the Bible College. of Lexington, KY. and the
author of Lands of the Bible" Prof. McGar-
vey is thoroughly familiar with his subject from
personal observations, and his lectures will be
further enhanced by being illustrated by the aid
of stereopticon.