The Indianapolis journal., 1895-11-03
ACHURCH SCRAP BOOK
1T SHOWS MUCH OF THE LATE REV
MR.. MCULLOCHrS LIFE WORK.
What Plymouth Has Accomplished
for the Beftermcnt Of Life in
This City.

Most people at some time of life keep
scrap book. Most scrap books have but
brief term OF existence. There are very
few institutions and almost no churches
that have such a book. Plymouth Church,
OF this city, unique in more ways than
one, has scrap book. 1t should be said
that the church has several scrap books,
for there are three. The first and second
have been filled, and the third will be
nearly full by the end OF the year In
these books there is much history. In a
small pamphlet with a faded green cover,
which is in the very front OF the first
book. there is a brief account of the be-
ginning Of the church, when there were
only few members. and when the meet
ings were held in Ramseys Hall, on North
Illinois street. The place has been long
forgotten except by few. This first or
| ganization was perfected Aug. 9. 1857 when
the meetings were held in the Senate
chamber of the old Statehouse; then came
the meetings in the hall. The first preach
er was w. G. Bartlett. A house of wor-
ship was erected at the corner Of Meridian
| street and the Circle, which is even now
a thing Of the past. The church was dedi-
Gated Sept. 4. 1859. AS late as 1860 the
church only boasted Of fifty-five members.
They were a determined few and held
services under the spiritual guidance of
Rev. N. A. Hyde. who afterward went to
Mayfiower Church, and has now been
retired minister for a number of years.
The church continued in it's modest way,
with births, deaths and marriages to add
to, decrease or change its membership.
Mr.. Hyde followed by Rev.
o. S. Dean, who is now
preaching in Massachusetts. The little
faded book only gives the outlines of the
life of the church up to that time. The scrap
book takes new lease of life as the
last page of the little book is turned. An
other chronicle states that Rev. Oscar c.
McCulloch was called to old Plymouth. In
another pamphlet, with newer, brighter
cover, there is recounted his first sermon
on the subject of Accidents" in which he
said that there was no such thing as acci-
dent or mischance; that everything was di-
rected by God and was for some great pur-
pose Mr.. McCulloch came in 1877. 1t was the
desire and dream OF his heart to build
church. A wall was to be built round an
idea." The result is the well-known building
at the corner of New York and Meridian
streets, and the old Plymouth Church was
long ago incorporated in the block just south
of the city library. There are numerous
cards, sheets and pamphlets together in the
book to tell of the opening of the new
church; the dedication first in a religious
service on Sunday, Jan. q. 1884. The pro-
gramme for the services are printed on fine
white paper with a picture of the church.
the list of Sunday services and the list of
meetings to be held during the week. Mr..
McCulloch once said in regard to the archi-
lecture of the church that some one had
called 1T a fire engine house. He meant that
the place should have the spirit to put out
fires. In the first services, Mr.. NcCulloch,
Rev. Myron W. Reed and Rev. " A. Hyde
were the speakers. Right within the same
leaves with the former. is a card with the
words, Dear friend, we invite you to the
social opening of our church. 1t is fitting
that the new building should be dedicated
to the social life it is 70 the intellectual
| and religious. May it be home 10 you and
yours; it's doors always open; ITS greeting
kindly" The social opening took place
| Wednesday evening following the dedication
On the first page of the card is the quota
| tion, 'The gates of 1t shall not be shut
by day." The doors of Plymouth
Church are always open and it is
| the only Protestant church in the city where
a member can go at any time and find 1t
open. The first choir in the new church
consisted of Mrs. Grace d. Levering, Mrs.
Thorn, Mr.. Andrew Smith and Mr. Max
Leckner. The two former are now dead
The singers took part in the entertainment
Wednesday evening and the social life of
the church has always been special feat
ure, for on through the book there are
frequently programmes of the social gath
erings, the choir and members of the
church being frequently assisted by outside
talent.
PLACE FOR MUSIC.
The organ was not placed in the church
and made ready for use till October of the
first year. The inaugural was made a
grand occasion. 1t was the largest organ
in the city. had two parts with electrical
appliances and was run by water power
Mr.. William III. Clarke, who built the
organ, gave the first recital and explained
the workings of the instrument On the
programme was a full description of all
the stops. pedals and extras. Organ recit-
al programmes later in the book show that
Henry G. Rogers. Clarence Forsyth Miss
Nellie Hanvy, Prof. Paul Bahr and w. H.
Donley have presided at the great key
boards and tramped over its pedals since
that time. The children of the church have
always been important actors in the church
work, for there are many programmes Of
services held especially for them. There
are accounts Of the days in the spring when
the children met and were given seeds,
bulbs or small plants, which they took
home and at given time brought to the
church to show what they had done with
them. In brown cover between two leaves
is book with about fifty hymns. Mr.
McCulloch did not approve Of having
hymn book with unfamiliar hymns, so he
selected some of the best of the old and
a number of new ones, had them printed
and these the congregation used. There is
also a book of social songs which were
used at the social gatherings when every
one joined in the music. One of the days
in the woods is called The
feast OF the Tabernacle" and
every one is urged to leave home,
and business cares and spend day in the