The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-20
RECALLING PAST EVENTS
Happy Social Observance of the Semi
Centennial of the Second Church.
Remembrance of Henry Ward Beecher as
Given by John S. S~pann-Other COntri-
buttons TO tho Evenings Pleasure.

1Q9r9 Wa5 . hIE6 nv ta0 CuI
centennial social of the Second Presbyterian
Church last evening. and the occasion was in
many respects a notable one 10 the religions
history Of the city. There were present on the
platform two former pastors Of the church, Rev.
Arthur 2. Pierson and Rev. 81. A. Edison. The
pastor, DR.. JAS Mcleod. IN opening the exer-
c;ses made some brief illusions to his historic
sketch Of yesterday. but that be would not rs-
hearss this now as there were those present
whom oil desired TO hear. he then read the
following letter from Mrs. Beecher:
STAMFORD. Conn, Nov. Is, 1888.
The Invitation from you to be present at the semi
centennial anniversary OF your church just received.
Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to at
tend, but IL will not be possible for me TO be present.
I do cot know the uresent srranoemsnt of the church
building, but IL you think that a large photograph OF
Mr. Beecher could be appropriately placed there. l
as soon as hear from you. Ny present address is
Mrs. II. w. BEEcHER.
DR.. Mcleod then said; al have also q letter
here from Mrs. Vance, in which she says that
about the time Of his departure for Brooklyn,
Dir. Beeeher had his photograph taken for Mr.
Vance, who requested him TO assume. At the
time. the expression he was won't to wear ~
prayer-meetin2 when be was just about TO 'ake
shsm over tho GOALS And the old picture
which Mrs Vance las sent as. does full justice
20 the occasion"
DR.. Arthur 7. Pisrson. who was then intro
duced, said:
My beloved christian friends, I have ne ves
had q rarer pleasure than at this moment 10
looking into your faces. and / heartily ~conRrat.
ulate you on this semi centennial of your church
life. Though but Just returned from Europe,
j gladly consented 70 come here tonight. IS |
feel very closely identified with your interests.
j. 10 q happy arrangement you should have
chosen your anniversary TO fall just now. You
remember the Irishman who prided himself
on his nationality, and that being al
Irishman, lt was q matter OF great felicitatiop
with him that be had been born in Ireland. And
so it seems fortunate that you have chosen this
anniversary in The very month in which General
Harrison was elected President ] would be
very glad to add sn imperial photograph OF my
self to the collection OF this church, but / have
never been able 10 tempt an artist 20 risk a val
uable camera by such an exploit I think the
Presbyterian Church is the catholic church Of
the world. She has the most perfect union of
doctrine on the one side. and OF liberty on the
other. While not a very valuable cenomipa-
tionalist, / am, from conviction, an honest and
earnest Presbyterian Carlisle said Of Charles
James Fox that you could not measure his in1u-
epce by any ordinary figures. You must
measure il by meridians of longitude, and par
allels of latitude So you cannot attempt to
MEASURE the influence of q church like this for
fifty years of her history. l suppose there have
been 1000 sermons preached here in fifty years.
I think | have never known Q church where
there were so many grand men, as there were
IN this church five years ago IL put IL that way
because present company 10 always exceptedh
men who were competent to make an acceptable
address 10 q prayer-mesting, or, fer that mat
ter, from the pulpit. Then, again wa can say,
with regard TO the women Of the Second Pres
bytsrian Church, that they have always been in
the front rank. They have been women Of
great capacity and zeal fol the cause.
Members OF this church have been liberal
eivers. both Of time and money. Have you ever
thought why msmmon 10 mentioned a. . master
and associated with Godi Why think Of the
things that can be done with it. Money sug-
Rests the divine. Money suggests omnipctence.
Things can be accomplished with il that
could never be thought of without il.
Money suggests omnipresenee. Every dollar
spent for the cause will DO some good
somewhere. Till its influence has no and. sup
pose there are Two hundred and fifty places in
the world today where The influence of the
money given by a single poor individual 10 felt
Sarah Honsson. that poor factory woman. sent
$50 to educate a young man TO preach in the
Orient. and whom dnally she had seen her hope
realized, and he had gone to
work in that great field, she
five missionaries had been sent from the product
of her toll and Self-depial. As she grew older
and could do nothing else, she still worked with
her needle and sent even another. and when the
nshes Of Sarah Honeson were lad to rest not
less than six ministers, promulgsting the gospel
of Christ, stood for her 10 the chapela OF Persia.
From NV heart of hearts l rejoice IN your Joy,
and l am glad to see that your house has been
renovated, aud IL has been we'll done. too. | trust
that this may be but typical OF the renova-
tion or your entire congregation and their per-
feet devotion to advancing the cause of Christ"
DIR. Mcleod thon Introduced Mr.. j. S. Spann,
who said that it was certainly . tribute to the
ability of the ladies tina: he was to speak at ell.
for be should not have thought OF doing 30, and.
in having prepared his address. be was simply
obeying their
Mr. Spann said that the fifteen embers Of
the First Presbyterian Church. who, in 1888,
Withdrew from that church to form the Seoon q,
are on record as their Justification therefor. in
these words: I'm taking this step. they trust
they are influenced by no other motive tnan
that of the glory of God. the building up of the
Redeemers kingdom, and their own edifcation
and growth in grace Neither slavery or new
school. he said. were mentioned in any part of
she recorded correspondence. And Yet, no one,
:hen or now. need De at any loss 10 know the
moving cause. This church took it's place with
shs New School General Assembly, and became
veil known IS being animated by antislavery
sentiments. The correspondence that ensued
vas very interesting and instruciive. Evidently.
the First Church brethren parted with those
who went out with regret and reluctanee. Both
parties had the Gift Of diplomatic expression.
The letters that passed were models of outward
Kindness, but underneath there was hidden fire
which lit up many a hsrd-foueht field in the
years ensuing. But real love did come at last.
and is here fo~revermore.
My first sight of Henry Ward Beecher.- he
said. was in the now famous Old Seminary
building, which stood in University square. on
a certain Sunday, probably in the winter Of
1889 30. the first winter of nv residence here.
A man named Samue! A King, then working
In the same printing Office with myself. said to
me in . way that arrested my attention, that
there Was q young fellow preaching In the semi
nary every Sunday who was, as he declared,
the smartest chap be had ever heard; and that
IL I would 60 with him. he would show me the
place. When we entered, Mr.. Bsecher had al
ready begun the service. He stood behind o
common table. thiekly surrounded by "a
many people as could be crowded in-some
almost close enough TO touch him.. there being
chains IN the aisss. and people half standing.
bali sitting, IN and upon window stills. The
noor Was sagged in the middle OF the
room and being somewhat embar-
raised. l almost stumbled from, the IN
expectsd sudden descent towards the pulpit
stand. Ny eyes looked full into Mr.. Beechers,
and from that moment be took possession OF me.
heart. sou. mind and imagination. He was at
ns best that day. aud as he reasoned OF right.
eousness. tsmrerance and Judgment to come
many . heart, certainly my own, trembled with
conviction and with awe. was greatly i'm
pressed, aud when the service was over. ali too
soon for me. as We came away l we'll remsm-
Der 10 seemed Is IL we were entering it 10
another world. Inoneed. aud still distinctly
remember some OF those who were present. and
who spoke 20 me and who were Afterwards nv
fellow members in this church. Among them
David V. Cuiley. Samuel Merrill. John +.
Ketcham. b +. Morris ard Daniel Yandesa