The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-31

Presbyterian Church for their anti-slavery
principles. soon found their way into our
Congregational fellowship. They suffered
1T should be said that the movement in
indianapolis which led to the organization
OF OF sn sauren OF the pilgrim faith and pG,nsy
ened by the spirit OF freedom which was
abroad In the land at that time When we
endeavoring 70 find everything that bore
the name of denomination in Indiana
previous to 1861. after forty-five years this
is what We have to show-about eighteen
Guiding the four In the northern counties
still trammeled by mixed government.
DELAYED BY THE WAR.
AT first after 1861 the work was slow
because nearly all the centers Of populs-
ton We're well organized The war, TOO.
delayed the growth: In 1867 the mission
airy society re-entered the field. The work
began to develop first In the northern COM
ties. where there was considerable New
England element. A.l association was estflh-
lished with the four old union churches al
ready named. three or four In steunea
county.a vigorous new organization in the
city OF Fort Wayne. which has become a
power in that part of the State. and others.
ap0lis In 1863, and there were soon enough
churches In the central section of the State
TO 1Ss1 Iorm vigorous LOCAL ASSOCIATION: since
Home Missionary Society. In the last four
years FIVE churches have been located in
the new district which has been popu-
lated by the coming of Chicago industries
to Lake county. A good beginning has been
made in the new population OF the gas belt
The discovery of natural gas has brought
a new era Of development to Indiana. Sur
prising changes have been wrought through
out the large district underlaid with these
hidden resources of light and heat. Many
OtIiaf old have heen nj
stirring centers of manufacturing enter
prise. some have doubled and some have
quadrupied their populations. They are
now the rising young cities of the State
Many new towns have come into existence
ALSO Then large and inviting field of
State has been suddenly opened TO our de-
domination. AS far as possible efforts
have been made to meet this demand. A
gooo beginning has been made. A church
having its own attractive house doing a
prosperous work has been painted at Ma
rion Another well established with a fine
house of worship is located at Paramount,
and another VIII soon be erected at Ander-
son. and the congregation is doing good
work at Amboy and recently one was
is a new force in Clay county.
1T is noteworthy that the denomination
capita markeS w nxre n the s cit s AT the
since 1890. Three new organizations known
as Fellowship. Pilgrim and Peoples
yet we have done comparatively little in
the southern part of the State. A little
cluster of rural churches has been gathered
in Harrison county, one in Pike county and
two In Daviess county.
THE first missionaries in Indiana had a
hand in founding Wabash College. Two
other more modest institutions Ontario
Collegiate Institute and Liber College We're
established by Congregational pioneers, and
for many years they did good service. Late
ly in a most unexpected way valuable
college property in Ridgeville, Randolph
county. has come into our hands. almost
without cost, and with the good will of it's
FORMER owners, the Free-will Baptsts The
churches have increased from eighteen to
ffty-five since 1861. During the last six
years twenty churches have been added to
the list and the membership has gone I'D
from 2,275 to 3.46S. The Sunday school en-
roilment is 1856, an increase of so per cent"