The Indianapolis journal., 1891-01-04
TIE CHURCH AND CHARITY
By Far theLargest Contributions to Help
the Poor Come from the Religious.
Il Is Thoughtthe World Is Growing Better Un-
der the Influence Of Christian Sentiment
--Intolerant viilagers-Week of Prayer.

Few cities are probably better organized
IN charities than Indianapolis, and the sys-
tematlc giving prevailing here led to the
inquiry, who furnish the means for the
benevolences of the cityf' A Journal re-
porter yesterday soughtto ascertain what
per cent. of donors are members of the
church and how largo q share of charitable
work must be credited to religious people.
The questions were put to Rev. Oscar G.
McCulloch, OF Plymouth Church, and pres
ident of the Indianapolis Benevolent socie-
y. 1T is very hard TO say with accuracy"
sald he, but judge that if you would take
list of all the donors to benevolences in
fhis city you would find at least 90 per
cent of them either members of the church
or that their wives and children are. in
some way connected with it. In some of
the branches of charitable work the men,
bers are all interested IN church affairs, as
Is the case of the Flower Mission. the
free kindergartens and the Orphans Home.
Indianapolis business men are almost all of
them in church fellowship, and so are the
manufacturers. who, as a rule, are not
merely brothers-in-law. as the say of those
whose wives are members but active men,
bers themselves Ali charity practically
herited power of church life. Whether the
benevolence is of Catholic OF Protestant
agency. it is all fed by Christian sentiment,
lifting natural humane instinct upon o
higher and more effective plane"
What do you mean by a natural humane
instinctp the reporter asked.
Il mean that mankind is so constituted
rs to be subject to q law of brotherhood
Is. therefore, the normal law of life. In
stead of competition. the normal spring of
action Is one of mutual helpfulness. of CO.
operation rather than competition. 1t Is an
old law. old as the race. and established by
the Creator, and Is. as 1 said. fed by the
religious sentiment through the church.
The church alnoe has no longer direct touch
with all reform and benevolent movements,
but it is still the church with its gospel
whether by means of pulpit. Sunday
school or daily newspaper, that is keeping
the sentiment alive and active. You will
ind 1t also among the ee-thinking Ger
mans, but they are simply living the life.
as they understand IL, of a higher human
ity. / wish you would add that charity is
not matter of creed or sect. but belongs
10 man as man, and Is energized by Christ
and His teachings
DO you believe the relation of the
church to the benevolent movements as
outlined by you is generally recognized?"
Il have never met an element in Indian
sSolis hostile to the church-thou gh
at times to certain churches-so
that 1 have never heard the fact men,
toned disputed. The day of the old viii
lage infidel has disappeared along with the
village TO OIL He was usually blacksmith.
or more often . shoemaker, and would talk
1nfideiity to the knots of men who spent
their time about the shop. He was proba-
bly, reader of the Age of Reason or q
disciple of Voltaire. but his day Is gone. In
his place there have arisen men who study
nature and attain at least q scientific rev.
erence for the Creator. There is more rev.
erence for Deity now than ever before
There Is more earnest, serious, docile think
ing about the nature of God. and man, and
truth. 1t Is a time when the world is
building. not grand cathedrals, but col
leges. which are better. The church and
the world are growing better"
Week of Prayer.
To-day is the beginning of the week of prayer
observed under the direction of the evangelical
alliances. The services in all evangelical
churches win therefore be more or less appro-
pirate to the occasion. On each afternoon of
union meeting for prayer and conversation viii
be held ar follows: Monday. Second Presbyter-
anS tPR Pls
Baptist Church. led by Rev. J. A. Ronthaler: ID.
d; topic. The Church Universal" Wednesday:
Meridian-street Methodist Episcopal Church. led
by Rev: J. A. Milburn; topic, "Nations and Their
Rulers. Thursday. First Presbyterian Church,
led by Rev. III. A. Cleveland, ID. D.; topic, The
Church at Home" Friday, Tabernacle Presby-
ferian Church, led by Rev W. f. Taylor; topic
ssThe Church Abroad" All the pastors, with
their congregations, viii unite in supporting the
union temperance meetings led by Francis MUIR
ply each evening in Roberts Park Church.
An Instance of Village Prejudice.
''village prejudice Is strange thing"
marked Mr.. w. p. Fishback. "but I do not be-
lieve that It is what it was thirty years ago.
In the little place in which I lived In Ohio there
was Universalist, the only man in town who
did not believe there was any hell. Every child
was taught to avoid him. The cholera came
along. Most of the truly good shut themselves
up In their houses But this man who would
not believe In a hell went out among the sick
and did what he could. Universalism was never
so unpopular in the town after that. / always
thought well OF him. He taught me when a boy
good soldier. and now enjoys pension"
Religious Notes.
The Rev. John W. Wilson, of Chicago, will
preach at Mayfower Church this morning and
evening
Rev. c. E. Asbury, OF Greencastle, former
pastor of Nadison-avenue NJ 4. Church, Will
preach for that congregation tomorrow. both
morning and evening.
CentraEavenue NJ. +. Chnrch next week. be-
glnaing sMonday evening. They will be under
the direction OF Mrs. l. o. Robinson. who has
recently returned from California, where her
services were marked oy very large audiences
and many conversions
ANOTHER NATURAL-GAS LINE.
N ~ n Il