The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-20
A HAPPY SOCIAL GATHERING
Members of Memorial Congregation Re-
ceiVe Friends in Their New Church.
4 Delightful Banquet. at Which Gen. Harri-
SON and Several others Respond to Toasts
indianapolis as City of Churches.

The socia! reunion at the new Memorial Pres
byterian Church last evening was well attended.
and the festivities of the evening appeared to be
in no way marred by the dismal nature of the
weather. Invitations had been extended to
large number Of people outside of Memorial
Church, including several well-known public
men. and the attendance composed very
largely of those from other churches
in the city. The evening was spent
in social intercourse followed by banquet
at the conclusion of which the guests were in
vited into the church chapel. where a number of
toasts were delivered. Refreshments were
served shortly after o'clock. and the feast Of
eloquence began 81 8. DR.. Edson the pastor of
the church. presided, and was very happy in his
manner of introducing the speakers The adj
dresses were of an Informal nature, and the OBJ
servation made at the close that none of the
speakers had 'etnck very close to the subject"
They were, however, bright and entertaining,
and were appreciated by the audience.
Mayor Denny to have been the first
speaker with the subject 'Ths City of
| Churches" but It was announced that he
unable to attend, and DR.. Edson read letter of
regret from him, 10 which he gave some inter-
esting facts relating to the subject upon
which he was to have spoken ''There
are. now" said he. ''nipetv-nine church
enihces in the city of indianapolis or about one
| for every thousand inhabitants. IL we
include the suburban villages. there
hundred and eight churches making fully
| of Brooklyn, as shown nv the Enclosed letter
| from Mayor Chapn is 10000. and the number
of churches is 800, for every 2.400 of popu
lation therefore conclude that Brooklyn is
longer entitled De called the City of Churches
aud that that honor belou gs to In Indianapolis"
| The Mayor stated further in his letter that he
HAD Vrri fran IN nrnfE van liza ktY1rp
the number of churches in that city, ana also
the number OF saloons. The renly was to the
effect that Evansville had forty-four churches
and 223 saloons AS Evansv1lles population is
$4,000. it mas one saloon to every 155 inhab-
itants Indianapolis. Mayor Denny went
state. had 3l5 saloons and 100, 900 inhabitants
or one saloon to every 266 inhabitants
Senator Harrison was the next speaker, his
subject being State and Church" He said he
had been greatly surprised at being called upon
to make speech on such an occasion. he had
been so paravzed by the invitation that he
couldn't decline IN time" He also rather
aoaShed at the portentous subject assigned to
him. 1t was so large that he did not know what
part of i: they expected him to touch. 1t
comprehended the entire arch of the universe
In this connection the Senator took occasion TO
twlt the ministry in a manner that caused
some amusement He thought his subject must
have been suggested TO DR.. Edison originally by
some minister who was in the habit of preach
ing from" texts rather than ''ou" them; and he
thought that ne might be following the
annie OF great many minister's If he totally
AVOIDED his subject
He tnen proceeded in a more serious strain to
stats why the church and state should be kept
distinct The church of God should depend
voluntary contributions from its members
The Presbyterian Church as he knew, had not
devoted itself to spiritual interests as that it
did take active part in protest against
any public wrong. He thought that patriotism
was one of the things which should be taught in
the church
Ex-senator Harrison's address was interrupted to
a great extent by fire in the immediate vcini-
tv of the church, which caused a number of the
audience to leave and created considerable con-
fusion
The next speaker was Rev. DR.. Jenckes, of
st. PauPs Episcopal Church. who responded to
| the toast, The Communion of the SAINTS y He
also expressed surprise at the subject that had
been assigned to him, and said that he would
find it difficult to give definition of
1T He referred to the observation of
''Au Saints day" among the Romans, and
thought the present occasion perhaps
offended a somewhat similar affair among the
| Presbyterians He considered that the true
communion of saints the spectacle of Chris
tians engaged hand in hand and side by side in
/, the work of evangelizng the world and spread
ing Christianity
- Judge Howe, of the Superior Court. re ponded,
in interesting manner, to the toast s'Tne law
| and the gospel" He said that if reports were
true the ministers had quite advantage over
the lawyers, for the former said always
have on hand large stock of sermons which
were capable of fitting any text He thought
| as well as of the gospel. Some Christians
| Of II the United States because it
/ did not recognize Christianity. because
In did not much mention Gods
name. These people had overlook ed the fact
that the mission of our forefa hers had been to
establish God In the household rather than to
put His name into the Constitution. They were
God-fearing men. but they had suffered from
religious persecution. and. when they made the
Constitution now enjoy. they TOOK to
insert nothing which would serve s q pretext
for an established church in this country,
such existed in other nations Law
left much to mans own judgment It depended
for its enforcement uDon the moral sentiment of
the community. Jails, penitentiaries and work
houses would be utterly inadequate but for the
existence of churches An educated moral SEN
timent the essential of republican govern
ment
The last toast wasNby Rev DIR. Mcleod of
the Second Presbyterian Church. whose subject
was The ladies'" He stated that the subject
assigned TO him belonged properly to Senator
Harrison, who going to be the next Pres
dent. He thought that sentiment wonld not
meet with any disfavor among the ladies. as
they were all Republicans when it came
to Harrison for President. He took DIR.
Jenckes to task for overlooking Saint Patrick
in responding to the toast that had been assigned
to him Coming back to his subject, he said
that women had for been bound by the
closest ties TO the church, and to-day, without
the ladies what would become of The prayer
meetings. the missionary societiess The ladies
were fully as active and certainly more numerous
in the churches than the men, He hadn't the
slightest doubt that when Judge Howe and him
self entered the celestial city that they would
find three ladies there to one man. He paid an
especial tribute the ladies of Mem orial
Church and to 1.-The lady of Memorial Church.
the pastors wife.
Dr. Edison called on Rev John Batzly for
few remarks, which, he responded to- drawing
likeness between the Memorial and English
their foundations laid for years, and tn at each
had only recently been finished.