The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-20
PRESBYTERIAN RALLY
TOMLINSON HALL FILLED IN THE IN
TEREST OF HOME MISSIONS.
DIR. Thompson Delivers an Interesting
Address the History of the
Work-Over $1,000 Raised.


Hall attracted a concourse of Calvfnists
who filed the hall, floor and balcony, and
the gallery was partly demanded to &C.
commodate belated worshipers The stage
used during the May festival had not been
removed, but, the recess back of the pros
cenium was curtained Off by that spacious
cardinal curtain. and the wide stretch of
color variegated by several large flags
palms and flowers gave beauty TO the ter
raced platform, which was occupied by the
united choirs and the Presbyterian pastors
There was also on the stage the familiar
form of John III. Holiday who was the
lay elder acting as master of ceremonies
Mayor Denny also occupied "a palm screened
chair at the left of the front row. Profess
sor Arens directed the music. which con-
sisted or an anthem by the indianapolis
Choral Union. with piano accompaniment
and Mrs. Lottie Adam Raschg bearing the
solo part The first hymn was "All Hail the
Power of Jesus Name" Rev. George
Knox, of the Seventh Church, read a Script
ure lesson and Rev. Dr. VI. l.. Haines, of
the First Church, offered prayer.
After singing, I'm the Cross of Christ L
Glory" Mr.. Holiday spoke briefly of the
purpose and character of The meeting. The
cause of home mission work, he said. was
to be advanced. The term, ne said, sug-
gests to the ordinary ear the far West, TO
the exclusion of old and settled COM
munites. Too many fail TO appreciate the
full meaning OF the term. The common
idea is that Indiana is supplied with
churches and that the State, though once
a mission field is now thoroughly covered
by Christian effort. These. said Mr.. Holli-
day, are complete decisions. One will 20
far astray in his ideas if he take only a
cursory glance of the churches along the
highways. Indiana is home mission field
There are 100000 people of suitable church
age, who are not members. There ste thou
sands of families who never go to church
There are four counties i'm The State which
have Presbyterian congregations, and
fifteen counties have only one Presbyterian
congregation. Twenty-Five counties lave
only two Presbyterian congregations. The
demand for churches of TINS denomination
is greater than ever. The population is
shifting and the church which has no other
purpose than TO extend the gospel must
follow. Have we done all we could TO
possess this State for Christ? We have
at least he said. started in the right di-
rection and have made some progress. For
years ago Indiana drew from the general
home mission board of the church 5000
more than il paid into the treasury. The
report for 1894 shows a gain of $1,000 the
total being $3.50 a gain of LIS per cent
OF the largest gain or any State in the
Union by ~ per cent. The church has
shown an improved condition and growth
There are fourteen new congregations IN
Indiana, while for twenty years previous TO
that period, there had been net gain of
Presbyterian churches. There are sixty
four more ministers and twelve thousand
more members. Every pulpit to-day, he
said, is filled. The meeting, he said, had
been called a rally. He did not like the
word because of its imputation that there
had been broken column and some IN
nueNce
panies. But while the advance has been
steady for several years, 1t is possible 10
Mr.. Holiday then introduced Rev Dr.
Charles L. Thompson, formerly moderator
OF the General Assembly and a member of
the general board or home missions. The
Doctors theme was announced as America
for Christ" DR.. Thompson said i'm part:
presbyterian friends of Indiana 4 con-
graduate you this great outpouring of
people, and on the great interest displayed
in the course of home missions. L
of such city indianapolis. the capital
OF great State, should be willing TO give
up their morning service for home missions
and 10 meet here to put their hands TO
work, with a common enthusiasm in this
cause. 1t is, however, just like the West
they could not do this east of the Allie
ghenies-this uniting Of twelve or fourteen
churches on Sabbath morning for home
missionary drill. ut is a magnificent sight.
IL is sign OF the times, the brightest
sign, / believe. L have ever looked upon.
IL means better things for the Presbyterian
Now, let Indianapolis be our Jerusalem
this morning, and let us traverse the State.
We will find that the spirit OF this meeting
will finally go further-even to the ends OF
the earth. Herbert Spencer, in speaking
OF many good things he finds In America,
expresses sometimes a fear that the char
acter of our population may prove source
OF ultimate trouble Nevertheless he eX-
plains that large national results come
he encourages the hope that our clinical
character may result In a higher type. He
is right to historical possibilities. Read
the history OF the German nation, CONSOLE
dated and compacted into national life.
Read the story of the Roman empire de-
livered from the processes OF decay by the
Infusion of new and wilder blood England
by the infusion of new types of man, has
produced magnificent, cosmopolitan Saxon
But the social evolution into the new
types which Spencer mentions cannot be
trusted for everything; 1t is fraught with 18th
moral and spiritual development OF the
people is ignored. The Roman empire was
saved from lapsing into barbarism by the
Christian missionaries Germany was saved
by the zeal of Christian missionaries who
bravely plunged into the dark forests with
the light of the gospel. This was something,
not evolution, but like a fresh living stream
infusng life. England would have
NAMED pagan and barbarian except for the
godly men who crossed the channel and
planted the Goals of Christian fire on the
affairs of Canterbury, Christianity made
England strong Ii will work i'm the same
manner as to the American people. Glad
stone has said that Americans have the
opportunity for empire more enduring
than the world has ever seen. even as he
believes the American Constitution is the
greatest work of man. IL is therefore folly
III we put up the bars of immigration East
or West. Our thought is not homogeneous.
but heterogeneous. II there is one thing
Herbert Spencer taught more than another
IL is that in nature strength and beauty
comes from heterogeneous elements. proper
" contrasted and directed. The gospel of
Jesus Christ, represented in home missions,
supplies the one supreme condition for the
development of the finest type of man the
reason i am here to-day. and you are
here to organize and plan for this cause
. America for Christ-do YOU know
think that is the reason for America-not
for culture. material wealth or achieve
ment. but that IL NAV be the means of
sending forth that infinite love OF Christ
which shall go out and bind the whole
world TO the throne OF Cod
Dr. Thompson sought proof of this state
ment in the history OF the country. He
showed the providence that carried vigor-
Gus people, worshiping one supreme God.
TO the rugged shores on the Plymouth
coast. There was no other providcntial call
so nearly parallel to that which God gave
TO the people of Israel. with authority and
the duty TO declare to the idolaters east
and west. There is one God" There was
a loud sermon in that meeting in the
cabin of the Mayiower. go years ago. when
men put their names 10 the colony charter.
I'm the name of God. and for the free
exercise OF worship. and fer propagating
religion" These Puritans had no concep-
ton of the magnificent religion which was
TO become theirs. but when they dreamed
of the home for religious and civil freedom
81 70 mos he Il 80