The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-20

extended no,ice than can be given by me-
Among those who we're efficient In
the churchs financial councils a. this time
was Hon. Oliver II. Smith. His name appears
as chairman Of the finance committee. and be
brought to the service Of the church bis large
experience, ability and personal devotion. Associ-
ated with him, from time 10 time, in these trying
duties, were David V. Culley. E j. Peck. Henry
+. Coburn. John l.. Ketcham and Wm. ,. hub
bard, al men of rare wisdom and gracious spirit.
Our plan then was the assessment plan. aud
gave no end of trouble. At the end OF each
year there was usually q deficit, which WAS as
sessed around again upon about a hali-dozen
persons, always the same persons They got
used to il, however, and some Of them survive
to this day.
"The old frame church on the Circle was. in
its day, the scene OF thrilling events. Dir.
Beecher drew there the choicest men and women
OF the city and the State. Among the distin-
cuished gentlemen who often attended. were the
members Of that justly famous Su-
prems Court Of Indiana, Justices Dewey.
Sullivan and Blackford. I have seen them
come in together and sit through the service
with rspt attention. IL was no uncommon thing
20 see General Tilehman A. Howard. Joseph G.:
Marshall. Amos Lane, James Fl. Lane. Michael
G. Bright. Jesse D. Bright, George h. Dunn,
George e. Dunn. James Whitcomb, joseph A.
Wright, Oliver P. Morton. Hugh McCulloch,
Schuyler Coifax, Jacob P. Chapman. Alex. F.
Morrison, Hugh O'Neala and John B. Dillon, and
y iOUk ubL Oh eLtOlE meD, WIO CduuC w
the capital for business or pleasure. The first
named person, General I. A Howard, was, to
my mind. the q safest man l have meteor
tainly one Of the greatest It was his habit
when In town TO attend the Sunday morning
prayer meetings. then held in the basement. He
was q picturesque figure physically. Tall,
muscular. erect, with black hair. worn some
what long. and straight as an Indian. His eye
was singularly fine. piercing, bright. black as
coal He was deeply religious, very earnest.
- .-I1 I.. 49,. -.
like choicest music. He was simply magnificent.
One morning as We walked from the Palmer
So1se, where we boarded, the talk CHANGED to
fall upon the subject OF the Catholic Church and
its methods. OF course. / pitched into it, as was
the common feeling then. He very gently but
firmly said he would much rather have Catholic
education than none; that the hope OF free ic-
stitutions in the world depended upon education,
light and knowledge among the masses-and
much to the same purport. de did not
seem to know that his prayers and
exho.tations were more or better than
anothers. but they ring in nv ears yet. and
have been a lifelong mourner at his premature
grave. He was defeated for Governor Of In
diana by Samuel Bigger. i1 lS4O, and was after
ward sent by President Polk to Mexico on some
mission and fell a victim to yellow fever. Peace
to his ashes; tears and flowers to his memory.
To have seen and known two such men az
Beecher and Howard fills me with reverence
and gratitude.
ne ClOlr muslOO Oh TUG CuutCu III u olOTbic5
was to my youthful imagination magnificent.
MIR. A. @. Willard was then the leader and Mrs.
Aekley the leading female voice. No one whom
l have heard was or is her equal. kOliverlH- Smith
has tried his pen In his book OF
"reminiscences at a description Of Mrs. Ack-
ley's eloquent vocalization. Those who have
heard her rendition of Ewes Lament as she
often sang il in the old church 10 breathless
audiences, or who have heard Jenny Lind's
Bird Song will know the grandeur there may
IA - a-H 49, Ma h..1
can. 1t was a large choir, then as now; and, as
remember all gave their services free ss air,
for love of music, and for love OF Him who made
the voice wherewith to express His praises. Mr..
Ketchsm. Mr.. Davidson, Mrs. Parry. and others
not distinctly recalled, were also members. 1t
has remained q large choir, snd has always
been . body worthy Of the highest commenda-
ton.
1.-THE completion and occupancy of this chapel,
and the completion and occupancy of this
beautiful audience-room 10 which we mset to-
night, were occasions Of special thanksgiving.
Truly beautiful it is, and so we'll constructed that
IL ought TO be here for centuries as q witness to
the self denial and devotion of that beloved
of their substance to erect il. Mr.. Peck. who
was the largest contributor ISIS, 1907 to the
construction OF the church and parsonage aud
Mr.. Hubbard's the next largest 1914. ILL.,
Mr.. Daniel Ysndes gave $ll. 460-including the
lot. but Mr.. JacksoniS contribution TO it &c.,
O47.46j was the largest in proportion to his
means.
The first decade OF our church life may Re re-
ferred to as the period OF eloqueuce and songs,
of poetry and of magnificent utterance. Then
followed the period Of doctrinal preaching. ex-
tending mp TO the close OF DIR. Miils's pastorats.
There never was better doctrinal preaching,
perhaps, but it was not appreciated, for the
seats became painfully empty. even at the
morning services. The pastorate of DIR. Edson
was our period Of organization. He was most
efficient in this respect. and the perfect drilling
in practical methods of church work are IN force
to this day. The next period, embracing
lett, witnessed the highest tide of
our success, considered in respect Of
numbers. enthusiasm, devotion and consecra-
too. When DR.. Withrow came We still owed
SIC, 900 on our church building and furnishing.
That was raised as a memorial offering, and
almost concurrently Herewith the sum OF Sl6,-
600 to build the parsonage. The lot Thirty
seven feet 'front.' upon which the parsonage
stands was the gift of Daniel Yandes. Like all
the acte of this large-hearted Christian man. il
was freely done. without solicitation. He an
nounced his wish TO do IL. and requested Us to
make out the deed. before We knew of his IN
tention. IL would he perilous for this hasty
sketch to como any closer to the present
time. Possibly / may be induced. however, as
q closing remark, to pay this tribute of appreci.
alton TO the dear brethren who constitute the
board of ruling elders. and the board
Of trustees. with whom l have served,
SO long. Ricn as the church was in its early
history, in its personnel. at no period has il ever
embraced more exalted ability, character and
worth than may be found among the brethren
and sisters OF the present time. In the noble
band of its young people il has q rich heritage,
with vast possibilities for good. May the dear
Lord guard and guide Us all. and direct Us each
and every one. TO such service as He may have
for as to do"
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Spann's interest
ing sketch, Rev. Hanford A Edison was intro
duced. de said: II did something that pc
other pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church
ever did. / stole the best girl the church
ever had. IApplause 1 am glad
l did. 1t is true, ran away with
her. but then / bring her back some
times. / think she sent her love to these good
women here tonight" He said that when h,
had bis call to come to this city in the early
days he was not quite sure that all his frIendi
did not have something OF the feeling
expressed by his mother when told hel
was going to indianapolis. "Why, Indiananp
oils" she said, among the Indisnsf Will they
eat him upl" He said he remembered with
thrilling reality his first sight of the old cburct
on the Circle. II used TO be quite
imposing with it's pepper box" on top
its fine pillars. and especially tina
long flight of steps. AL these had been taker
away now, and he noted especially that tn,
latter had gone. He used to meet that CIR
on those steps" TLauehter When h,
frs. came here a cornfeid occupied the very
spot the audience was then on: aud whe1