The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-04
DEBT TO THE CATHOLICS
DIR. B.. b. TYLER's LECTURE AT
BETHANY CAUSES MUCH COMMENT.
High Praise for Accomplishment of
the Church Of Rome-A Dull
Day at Acton.

lecture of the morning was delivered by
DR.. b. b. Tyler. of New York city. who is
pastor of the Church of Disciples on West
Fifty-sixth street. His subject was the
Worlds Debt to the Catholic Church"
He expressed a wish that the time might
come when representatives of various re-
hgions might come to the Bethany Assem-
bly, and each tell What / am. and why i
am"
But" said he, las we haven't reached
that point, l undertake TO speak in behalf
of the various churches. beginning with the
world debt to the Roman Catholic Church.
and speak in succession of the. worlds
debt to the Lutheran, Protestant.
Episcopal. Presbyterian. Methodist Epis-
copal. Baptist and to the Disciples of
Christ. There is an apparent ~incongruity in
the name of the Roman Catholic Church.
If ii is Roman, it isn't catholic; and IL it
is catholic. it isn't Roman. This. however.
is hardly a fair criticism: the word Roman
signifies merely that the member of this
church acknowledged an authority. in min
sterial matters, whose abiding place is in
the city of Rome. There is no other Chris
tian body that so well deserves the name
catholic; first. as to territory covered, and
second, as to the people reached and infiu-
enced. Wherever Christianity exists among
men. this church is known. 1t not only has
gone everywhere, but it reaches and inhu-
ences all classes, rulers and ruled. princes
and paupers. millionaires and beggars. rude
and refined.
1.-The world is indebted to a Roman
Catholic for the discovery of America, for
the invention of printing. for the preserva-
ton of the Bible and of manuscript copies
of the same, for government and order
among the people during the busiest CEN
turtles of the worlds periods. The story OF
missions cannot be told in part without
giving a large place to the work of the
Roman Catholics on the foreign mission
fields.
There are ~sociologists who think that
the golden age of the workingman be-
longs to the fourteenth century. But that
was the golden age of the Roman Catho-
lie Church. 1t then dominated every de-
partment of life In the matter of union,
we owe a debt to the Roman Catholic
Church for an example which may we'll be
initiated by every Protestant. / do not say
that the union which characterized the
Roman Catholic Church is the unity for
which our Lord prayed; it is not. But the
Roman Catholic Church says certain things
are and essential. and in
these union is maintained. Protestants
say certain truths. facts. principles and
precepts are Fundamental and essential
and then proceed to divide and organize
rival institutions on motives which all ar
que are neither fundamental nor essential.
The world is indebted to the Roman Cath
Ollie Church for some OF the best devotion
al literature in existence; and what shall
L say of church architecture. stately
music. fine sculpture and magnificent
paintings? When we visit Europe to adj
mire and enjoy these things. we are pay
ing a tribute to the sons of the Roman
Catholic Church. But let us come down to
matters near us and more prosaic and
practical. The priesthood of the Roman
Catholic Church is of more value in the
control of a considerable element of the
populations of our great cities than are
the police. Imagine what would result if
BY the stroke OF a pen this power was in
This lecture has caused more comment
and discussion by the members than any
other address given this season.
At $50, the report of the treasurer of the
Sunday School Association was read; total
amount received. s1.s42 %; expenditures. ST.
elisa, balance on hand, S50.3S.
In the evening f. S. Conner of Mobiles
vile, president of the Sunday school con-
v%ention; iectured on Friend of Gu Ac-
rifce prompted our forefathers TO lay the
foundation of a mighty republic and i'm
PEELED them to develop and illustrate the
ten of the North American continent.
That civilization is composite; many ele-
menIS ana principles nave been laid under
tribute to its formation, the chief of which
is the religious element. an element which
incarnated led to the belief that God Is
Father of all men who fear Him and work
righteousness. AS the natural consequence
the conviction grew that man is free moral
ly: capable ab man and responsible to God.
rally identified in the interest of the king
dom of God. Here virgin soil has been
fGSnd d fSF Hi1 prin sSipsisRtiGTq Here Fel tRe ch ,assS
flourishes and seeks TO restore apostolic
Christianity in its ordinances and doctrine.
firm that in this the trend Of our work is
increasingly more and more efficient"
Then the speaker talked of the beneyo-
missions. but said they needed TO have con-
centration of forces. OF the value of the
Sunday school, he spoke at length. say
ing that though limited II has done much
ton, leading us to forget prejudices. dog
mas and preparing for union a people
He said that the character of its
work must be definite and prac-
We work are the mind, heart and
soul. The instrument with which this work
must be done is the word Of God"
deliver an address on 1.-THE Religious Char
acter of Abraham Lincoln"
Miss Mildred Franklin. the outgoing mis-
sionary. left for Terre Haute and on her
departure her friends presented her with a
Bible and some nfctures of the Bethany
DuliuiuEs, WIS. Sdfdn rrdIhinn. mOlner Or
Miss Mildred. will start on "A lecturing tour
through the central part of Indiana in Oc-
tober. She has quite a collection of inter-
esting curios from India where two of her
daughters are already. as missionary teach
ers. She has Just received n letter from an
Indian boy. who is in one of her daughters
classes. He addresses her thus: ITO the
great Nam Sahib who lives in Bedford. Ind.
in the great L. S.-Danya Lingh sends
many Salaams-"
To-day is Children's day at Bethany and
in the morning Rev. Mr.. Tyler will give a
lecture. and from then until noon there will
be exercises by the children. In the after
noon q part of the programme will be
crowded together and the rest of the time
given to the childrer's exercises. Friday is
W.C.T.U. day and for that especial a~ssocia-
ton Mrs. Louise s. Rounds, of Chicago.
will lecture and Mr.. j. G. Wooley will also
talk.
DULL DAY AT ACTON.