The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-19
IN rRE1E SEW cHURcn.

Dedication Of the New Edifice Erected by ME-
mortal Presbyterian Congregation.
The new Memorial Presbyterian Church,
handsome stone ediice, at the northwest corner
Of Ash street and Christian avenue, was dedi.
Gated yesterday. The church has had rather
remarkable history since it's inception in 1870,
and the membership feel Justified IN the un--
usual pride they now manifest in the handsome
structure which is the work OF so many years.
labor, for not only is it new and beautifully fin
ished. but 1t is one of the most substantial edi-
fees in the city. One Of the official board
declared that he was not. he was
cure. speaking from a biased standpoint,
when no said the Memorial Church 'fnside
and out. was the best in the city" The build
Ing is not entirely completed The spire is yet
TO be erected and it may be year or two before
that and one or two other improvements ara
added The building consists of the main
auditorium. the chief entrance to which is on
Ash street near the corner, with a smaller door
and vestoule upon the Christian-avenue side.
Further north, on Ash street. is an entrancelead-
ing into the lecture-room, In which the congrega-
ton has been worshipin while the building
was being completed. This room will accommo-
date 500 or 600 people. as will the Sunday
school room, which is just above it. The
chapel occupies the entire front portion of the
building, there being second floor. Il is
handsome room, with a lofty ceiling, the pews
facing north. The floor slopes gently. affording
auditors in the uninterrupted view OF
the pulpit and assisting materially IN acoustic
effect. The entire interior OF the church is
finished IN elegant style-pews, pulpit, COM
Inunion table, brass work, curtains and carpets
being OF the richest patterns. About the only
thing to the beauty of the room at present
is the large gap left for the pipe organ which Is
yet to be erected. The seating capacity Is 500.
The origin of the Memorial Presbyterian
Church is to be traced to the memorial year of
Presbyterian reunion. 1870. A COMMITTEES was
appointed by the session of the Second Presby-
terrain Church, on March IL, 1870 TO purchase a
lot for the enterprise. The church is really an
offspring of the Second Presbyterian Church,
made necessary by the large membership locat-
ing in the northeastern portion of the city DIR.
Edison was the pastor of the Second Church
started, and had been for 3 period of nine years.
He associated himself, however. with the new
work. and has since remained with it tenn
porary edihce was first erected at the corner OF
Christian avenue and BellefontAine street. and
was dedicated May g. 1870 The church or
ganization effected with thirty-two mem
bers on March IL, 1873, and on the first Sabbath
of the following month Dr. Edison began his
pastorate. lot for a permanent house
of worship secured, and the
CONVERSIONS of the present edifice was laid April
z, 1874 The vIcissitudes attending the COM
pletion Of the building are interestingly related
Ia DR.. Edson's address below. The architects
were r. P. Daggett s. Co. The building COM
nittee consisted of Rev. III. A. Edison. chairman;
B. A. Richardson, treasurer; George W. Stubbs.
secretary VI. n.
At the de0icatory exercises yesterday the at
tendance was far in excess of the capacity of
the church, numbers being turned away.
Beautifully decorated. the pulpit and COM
munion table being half concealed by floral of
ferings. choir of fully hundred persons
the music. which constituted notable feature of
the exercises. DR.. Mcleod, of the Second Pres
byterian Church. delivered the dedicatory
sermon, but the pastor, DR.. Edison, preceded
him with short address, relating. to
tent, the difficulties which the church
had experienced In bringing their work to a
first words here, shall not hope to try to ex-
press the gratitude and joy of the Memorial peo-
pie. We have the satisfaction of work COM
pleted, task felIcitously ended. 1T is good that
q man should both hope and quietly wait for
the salvation Of tins Lord God has manifestIy
led us and helped us. It is true that every
church is a child of Providence. [ think, how
ever, that the history Of this church, minutely
rehearsed. would peculiarly illustrate the power.
and wisdom, and love of God
From the first the purpose has been to build
"a plain, but tasteful and substantial house of
worship. We moved forward cautiously,
though the year was 1873 Nothing was done
until promises apparently trustworthy had been
secured nearly covering the entire cost oe the
building But we had only fairly started when
the panic came like blizzard. With ali our
canvas spread We were in good shape to suffer
from storm. In common with the whole city
and the whole country, We had our difficulties
and our losses. The good ship sailed on. how
ever, and it looks as though we had got into
port
economy. For the solid walls at the right and
left of the pulpit multitude of willing hands
brought bricks and bats. There have been self
denials and persistence and generosity on the
part OF many. Kind words and deeds from out
side OF the congregation have notably helped.
While the walls have been going up, the spirit.
nal house has been enIargng, too.
''The aim has been distinct and undertaking.
In tbs first place, we are to have here church
of Jesus Christ. His Is the name above every
name. He is to be presented here as prophet
priest and king. These affairs not erected to
literature, art science. civilization
They Christs affairs. Every good cause
will doubtless be served by them, but primarily
and chiefly they are for salvation Jesus Christ,
the Son Of God. To deny Him is to refuse that
on which the whole structure of mans present
and future we'll being finally rests.
1--WE also emphasize here the historic Protest
ant doctrine Of the Holy Scripture. The word
Of God, AS contained in the scriptures of the
Old and New Testaments Is the only rule TO
direct u.s. To this Bible inspiration belongs,
mot the inspiration OF genius, but the inspira-
ton of God. The church is Gods school; it's
textbook is the written word that we are
preach We are to teach IL to our children. To
IL we are TO look for those great principles
which support our civil liberty, social hap
piness, the peace Of families and the life of the
soul
Besides, this is to be a church for the peo-
pie. With Christ to lead us aad His word to
teach Us We could not here forget the brother
hood of man. In Gods house the rich and the
poor are to meet together. No place could be
less suited Tor the small distinctions of rank
and wealth, and earthly power than the temple
where Jehovah is worshiped as God alone,
where the carpenters son is sought as the
souls Saviour"
Following DR.. Edson's address half hour was
consumed IN receiving subscriptions toward the
payment OF much of the debt created by
the building as still existed, the amount being
rs the pastor stated, about s.. 900. Fully half
this sum was subscribed during the thirty min
ufes devoted to the task. The subscriptions
started at 500. there being Ave members who
pledged that amount, viz. p. IL. Edison,
George w. Stubbs George Ruhman, w. b At
kinson, aud DIR. Edison. The Ladies' Society
md the Society of Christian Endeavor also SUBJ
ecribed 800 each.
The exercises then closed with the dedicatory
sermon by Rev. DIR. Mcleod. whose subject was
''Ths Church aud the Gospel Preaching from
the text, Il am not ashamed Of the gospel OF