The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-13
is READY FOR ITS MISSION
Katharine Home for Aged Women Ded.
icated with Fitting Ceremony.
Dr.. Clevelsnd's Eloquent Dedicatory Address
Remarks BY DR.. ROndtbaler, Mr.. Day,
Dr. Taylor and Mr.. Denny.

Dedicatory services were held yesterday
afternoon at the Katharine Home, at 4
o'clock. and there was a large attendance.
The services were held in the dining room,
and the large reception hall and rooms ad-
joining were flied to OVERLOOKING with the
friends and those interested in the in
stituticn. Mr.. Z. G. Cornelius announced
the cause for the assembling. and said that
DR.. II. A. Cleveland would have charge Of
the services. DR.. Cleveland read two ap-
proprIate selections of Scripture. and the
audience. rising. joined with the quartet,
composed of Mrs. Anna Walker, Miss Sa-
die Walker. Mr.. Morris Neck and Mr.. +.
NJ. Loomis. accompanied by Mr.. C. +. Han
sen, in singing the GLORIA Patri." and Rev.
w. Z. Taylor made a prayer. Dr.. Cleve-
land then read the following address:
"The virtues that were most admired and
ext0lled by pagan moralists were the
masculine and rugged virtues, were
etrength. courage, endurance, seli-controi.
Paganism had little regard for the femi-
nine and gentler types of goodness, and. as
q -onsequence. exercised no charity to-
wards weakness of any sort. Pagsnlsm
founded no asylums for the poor and the
infirm. The pagan state valued the man
solely according TO his ability to serve the
state and to strengthen 1t. In the pagan
state woman was the slave OF man. and In
her ~widowhOod. old age and lnhrmlty she
bad no rights that any one was bound to
respect. m would best serve the state
by oeasing to exist. To give her
money. houses, goods. would be an
expenditure that wasted the state. In the
pagan state human nature had in itself no
~Bacredness. no dignity. no worth. The in
dtvidual was in himself nothing; the
citizen was everything. but the title OF
citizen belonged only TO those who need
not work to live. Only he was a good
citizen and worthy of esteem who had
wealth. Plato taught dramatically that
those who were attacked by illness should
be unhelped. because If they had not q
constitution strong enough to resist the
malady, they would not be OF any further
use TO the state even if they recovered and
SO they were not worth physicians nor
anybOdy's care.
lit Is Christianity that has made posi-
BILE in the world such an Institution as this
which to-day, with formal words and songs
of Joy, we launch upon it's career of bless
Ing. 1t Is Christianity that has emanci-
pated woman and gwen her to herself and
TO society in her zeal and recognized worth
fulness, and has made her the equal of her
brother In the dignity and sacredness of her
own nature aud in her claims upon the
thought and strength of the world, accord
ing to her needs. The ideal character
which Christianity has presented to
IL 49, Va
the world has displaced the heroic
types of mere ru~ggedness and vulgar might.
and has raised the feminine. the softer
and sweeter types into supremacy. and has
woven an imperial crown upon the DrOW or
woman herself.
As wnen the Madonna entered art, art
was transformed, so when Christ, meek and
lowly and doing good to all without respect
of persons, entered society, then, In q ten
der aHd respectful way, society began to
care for the needs of aged and intirm
women. Thsckeray's daughter. In her
'Recoilections of Ruskin.' says: If We
look at tie Elgln marbles we feel that tho
standard of human attainment is forever
raised by those broken lines in eternal
harmony When we look at Christ upon the
cross. committing his aged mother to the
nder and reverent care OF John the dis
ciple, @ deep sense of obligation is
awakened in us to care thoughtfully and
earnestly for all aged women IN every need
whatsoever.
"It was the early Christian church which
introduced this noble charity into the
church appointed deaconesses for this Same
good object, and held them in high and
reverent esteem. The early Christian faith
ers regarded the church as a spiritual re-
public in the midst of the state. and taught
the perfect equality of man and woman.
Throughout the history OF the early
church frequent mention Is made of the
conspicuous works of charity done by
NuIl6Llan OUu0u iii IbOotODu Guys VI
these womep, They surpass us In low to
the savior, in chastity, In compassion for
the miserable Melania, the younger. bad
large estates in all parts of the empire, ali
which she gave to the church for the poor;
she dedicated herself to the service or the
unhappy; she went through the country
seeking every where to relieve distresses, to
help the sick and to comfort the afflicted.
Those early Christians made it the law of
their life to help thosesfrst. men or women,
who mOat needed their helm. In their
thought and faith the poor and inirm were
as much In Gods image and Christs love as
were the rich and the strong. and were az
much entitled to human respect and service.
"St. Ambrose said, 1T Is not the census.
but the qualities of the soul that show us
who are really the rich.' Those carly
Christians regarded outward poverty as in
itself no disgrace, Eince Christ had not
houses nor lands. silver n0r gold.
"Pagans held that to repulse the poor with
contempt Is q sign of greatness of soul.
Christians held that TO hello the poor and
to compassionate the SORROWS of our neigh
bors is true greatness. and Is the sign an
proof of virtues In us that are divine. In
The Christian worship rich and poor
met together, and the Lord was the maker
Of them all.
THE truest use. the highest happiness of
wealth. is to serve the pains. the
lOw-creatures. who. In themselves,
are inadequate. In the civilization that is
entirely Christian not only 10 honest and
vIrtuous poverty not permitted TO suffer
want. 1t is not permitted to feel itself to be
separated from the confidence. the Gym.
pathy. the affection and the fellowship of
the community.
1T is not surprising that this new insti-
tuition. which We this day dedicate to its
holy mission. should be added to the many
splendid charities that do honor to our
city and Work blessing in our community.
The forlorn condition of lonely women,
who. in their old age. have not means
enough to provide themselves comfortable
homes and subsistence makes a very direct
and pathetic appeal to the help of all per-
soEs of good heads and good hearts who do
have means beyond their own necessities.
To make secure the comfort and add to
the happiness of these lonely and worthy
people, some of whom are infirm. is q deed
that has In il as much of nobleness and
beauty as of charity.
owe the creation OF this beautiful
home TO Christian Influences operating on
many minds and hearts. to the pray ers and
earnest endeavors of many Christian
women In the community. and. 1 may say.
especially TO the excellent thought and
generosity of two men in the community.
u q man of science, the other o man OF