The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-06-08
THE WORK OF FOUR BISHOPS
Substantial Growth of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in this State.
Historical Sermon by the Rev. DR.. Bradley
Review Of the Past Fifty Yesrs-Recep-
tion and Banquet at the New Denison.
Reviewing the Work of the -Four Epfsco-
pal Bishops.

esv1swins the Work of the -Four Episco-
pal Bishops
Yesterday was the closing day Of the Episeo-
pal convention, and was devoted wholly to ami
vsrsary exercises Rev. DIR. z. A Bradley,
formerly pastor of Christ Church, delivered the
sermon at 1890 A N. 1t was an abe effort, full
Of interesting incident and historical facts. He
chose for his text the thirty verse Of the
fourth chapter of Deuteronomy and the thir-
tsenth verse Of the third chapter Of Ephesians.
In his Introductory he said that the first white
settler came here in 1919. There were Indians
here until 1924. and about fifty years ago WILL
lam Jones helped to catch fawns where the Van
dalia depot now stands. In 1S45 there was
roost of wild turkeys IN sugar grove where
st. Clair street crosses Meridian. The first rail-
road to Madison, was not built till 1s47, and the
nrst train that left this city carried out Of it
Henry Ward Bsechsr, or his way to Brooklyn.
Fifty years ago this city was mud village Of
1000 people. with the canal fraud, like . de-
tachsd skeleton, lying upon it. and to-day it 10
the largest and the handsomsst inland city In
the United States.
The great wheel Of the worl DIS life has rolled
on With increasing velocity in these last fifty
before since spostolic days. The spread of the
English race has been watched by the spread Of
the English church. The episcopate IN America
has multiplied tweuty-fold. The United States
census reveals the fact that the rate of the
churchs progress has been greater than that OF
any other religious organization. The church
has grown three times as fast as the Nation
Nine doceses have been developed out OF Bishop
Kempsrs first field. and in the far West the
apostolic church leads the van OF the onward
rolling tide of population. In 1919 there were
six churchmen in. St Louis, and the first Episco-
pal church in all this vast region was organized
there IN that year. 1t was not until 1884 that
the first confirmation took place The
next year, when Bishop Kemper was
consecrated. he was elected rector OF
that church. The Rev. Mr.. johnson
cams west with the Bishop and visited Law
vile and Terre Hauts. Good old DR.. d. ". III.
Johnson. now Of Brooklyn, came West the next
year and reached Michigan City about o'clock
n the morning. Ii twas 0 weary journey by
And AT oa l.aS IN tine
the hotel register, walked him up and insisted
he should stay over and preach They were
hungry" be said; they had not had Episcopal
prsschirg for year." He stayed and preached.
Before he could leave town on Monday he was
called to DO their rector at 500 year, an I'M
common salary for those days
In Indianapolis the Methodists had held
camp meetings since 1921, the First Baptist
Payne settled here, and had possession of the
first log school house. The next year the First
Presbyterian Church was born in the same
cradle, and "Beecher's Church was organized
1887, and the Congregatonalists in 1857.
Christ Church was organized In 1887,
The church in New Albany had been organized
two years before and in Madison in 1885, Jsffsr-
sonville and Michigan City in 1886. Lafayette
organized Just before Indianapolis and Rich
mond and Evansville followed afterwards In
June. 1888, Bishop Kemper held q convention
10 Evansville and called q convention TO meet in
Madison, Aug. "a. 1888. Nine parishes and
nine cergynen reported, and six cleraymen
came over the mud roads to the first conven-
ton. Bishop kemper was unable to reach the
convention owing to the state of the roads. Ten
lAymen, seven from Madison, two from Rich
mond and James Morrison of Indianapolis. The
diocese was then organized Indiana then had
been organized Territory nearly forty
years and as State over twenty years. There
were 100000 people In the State either utterly
ignorant OF the church or filed with sectarian
prejudices again st her. In those days it was Q
rare sermon that was not ssctarian. Differences
were magnihed. Ii 1t any wonder that Bishop
Ksmper said to the next convention: "The
world knows not. and scarcely can our friends
ut the East realize In imegin alton. the peculiar
and often sore trials to which my devoted fell
low-laborers are exposed during our efforts to
establish the church Of the adorable Redeemer
In all it's apostolic purity IL this interesting
country To-day there are 5000 communi-
cants worshiping in noble church buildings,
with church schools and institutions and .
band Of forty clergymer led on by the dauntless
missionary bishop, who knows no such word as
fail. Ten parishes only reported to the second
convention. Fifty parishes and stations report
to this. Bishop Kemper urged upon the church
NJ the best helps TO its growth the two things
Bishop Knicksrbacker is doing so much to set
forward. the esteblishment Of church schools
and the endowment of the diocese"
1T would be interesting TO trace the Doctor
continued, ''the changes in religious spirit and
tone. rs well as in outward forms. in the past
dead. or dying fast The differences those
Of Christian brothers, all baptized into the one
household of the Holy Catholic Church of God,
and 10 be made. we daily pray. by the operation
of the spirit Of unity. to dwell together as
brethren in the one household Of the apostolic
faith. Fifty years ago men hunted more dill
gently than intelligently for Bible supports for
sheir sectarianism, md the best sermon was
that which hit the hardest blows for the preach
er's side of controversy. To-day. thank the
God OF peace. We hear the children
OF those old warriors speaking kindly Of
their opponents. The pulpit of victory 10 not
hacked with the old battle ak, but wreathed
with olive branches and decked with the lily Of
the valley So In outward things. the log school
house and the barnik structures have given
place to the stately aud costly churches Of
architectural beauty. Our liturgical service is
ever more and more taking the place OF the
carpenters gothic in architecture without, and
the old three decker arrangement before the
altar within. with great fat-cushions, heavy with
bullion and tassels. All that seemed to say.
barn il good enough for Gods house; the SER
mon il the main thing and must DO suggestive
of sleep. yet duly ornament aud elegant; the
service was in the second story OF Importance,
but the people need not take any part. that had
better De left to the clerks, and the sacraments
are as the bottom, in Importance. IL had at all.
NOW when we enter church we know with
St Paul that we have altar, and that Gods
thought of Holy of Holes In His church is
ours to-day. There the elders bow before the
symbol of the presence OF Christ upon the
throne Of God, and with angels and archangels
the white robed choirs lead the worship of the
church earth till il lifts our hearts to heaven.
As late as when Trinity Church, New York, was
built, il was debated whether to put q cross on
the spire, or an arrow, or pineapple or pump
kin, and when my parish church was remodeled
In Maine, in 1868, sailor was employed to put
the cross the steeple in the night, the carpen-
ter saying If be did IL in the daytime he would
be mobbed a papist. God 10 leading the
church forward TO all her glory, and beauty, and
power rs in the days OF old. the days OF her un-
broken apostolic unity, when the empire of Rome
bowed ~ her feet and kings and priests served
her for Jesus sake"
The Doctor closed with eloquent sxhorta-
tion to his hearers to carry out the work Of the
church as Christ and the apostles designed it.
In the afternoon historical papers on the four
episcopates were read The frat. on that OF
Bishop Ksmper, was by the Hon. j. II. Stotsen-
berg of New ALBANY. He began by comparlC q