The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-08
MINISTER'S DISCUSS SIM COY.
DIR. Jenckes Finds Food for Thought
in the Politicians Book.

At. the meeting of the ministers of the
city at the Y. NJ. c. A. Hall yesterday
morning the late Simeon Coy the topic
of discussion. DR.. Joseph S. Jenckes read
paper upon Coy's book. A lively interest
was taken in the discussion which followed,
and the same men who severely criticised
Coy as politician, and did much in bring
ing about his overthrow, spoke kindly of
him, and each could see good traits in his
character. DIR. Jenckes gave the book,
The Great Conspiracy probably the first
serious thought which it has received. The
Doctor had copy of the work before him
for reference while he read. BY the re-
marks it was evident that DR.. Jenckes has
a great deal of respect for the noted pol
itician. and that he regards him as vic
tim of the times rather than a man of
vicious tendencies. He said Mr.. Coy was
a man of extraordinary intelligence, of
close and accurate observation and of
marked ability. 1.-The Great Conspiracy"
he said, contains some excellent food for
thought and some good truths.
The main point which DR.. Jenckes drew
was that Coy was made what he was by
the wrongs, evils and rottenness of So
ciety which is manifest in politics A man
of Coy's ability and kindness of heart
might have filled an important and useful
place in the world had he been surrounded
by different environment and influences.
politics, and habit had a great deal to do
with the incidents of his life Habit the
Doctor said, makes it doubly easy for a
man to go wrong, with whom habit has
become second nature. Why is the effort
of such an one to reform uniformly fruit
less"' AS answer to this question tt
was said that there is an irresistible tide
of public opinion againt such men, The
progress of such is retarded by prejudice.
No one wants to employ an ex-convict or
a jail bird to work at any honest business.
Under the existing circumstances it was
impossible for Coy to have done much diff
ferently from what he did, or to have en-
tered some honorable business, after he
returned from the penitentiary. The rem
the use of little Christian Kindness. the
the book of the remarkable politician DR.:
Jenckes stated that the eighteenth and
nineteenth chapters Of The Great Con-
literature to all those who are really in
earnest in Christian work. The suggestion
made by their author that a State agent
be established, whose duty it shall be to
look after and care for prisoners released
from the prisons was wise Christianlike
and phiantrophic advice. Mr.. CoyS many
little acts of kindness recalled to
show that he was man of good heart and
discussion over what DR.. Jenckes had said,
and all present seemed to think that Coy
was as good man as hundreds OF others
kind and better than many of the men
whose tool he
The topic of discussion changed to
the pool question by the remarks of Rev.
NJ l.. Haines, who said he understood an
attempt would be made to get a pool law
passed at the coming Legisla ture similar to
the one in operation in New York state.
Such law, he said, would make gambling
respectable and result in Roby being es
tablished in every county in the State. He
said emphatically:
I'VE want to eXtermnate Roby and
erything of the kind and we want no law
which will foster the gambling industry
Or. Haines urged all the ministers to
speak against the proposed law in their
pulpts. Near the close of the session Or.
Jenckes introduced resolutions asking that
the Legislature close the monument to the
public on Sundays. There were several OBJ
jections to this proposition, Rev. ID. r.
Lucas entering an emphatic protest for the
reason that Sunday the only day many
had to visit the monument, which is
educa ton, and cannot help but he elevat-
ing. The matter was finally left to the ex
committees