The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-22

we may say stands for the Calvinistic ribs
OF the church; that strong framework
which has enabled it to cross The stormy
seas. Perhaps the poplar. a tree stately
and magnificent, may stand for the SYM
metrical and orderly Presbyterian govern
ment which has become model for civil
government the world over. The black
walnut is a tree, the timber of which no
one ever paints: no one wants to hide IT and
varnish is an offense. Its beautiful lines,
ltS flne shades OF color, stand Tor the pOHSn,
the love for education, the individuality of
the church. The beech, that beautiful tree
which drops its sheltering arms until they
almost drink the dew from the sod, may
represent the sheltering, folding love of the
church for the lambs of God And the
maple-the sugar maple-through the veins
of which there courses such sweetness, may
stand for our retiring moderator, DIR. With
row, or his sermon or yesterday, and doubt
less, Mr.. Moderator, when you have com
pleted' the year of your duties. it may also
well stand for you. 1t is well for each
and all to remember, that to get the sweet
ness out of the maple 1t has to be boiled
down."
General Harrison then explained the con-
struction of the gaVel each piece or WOOD
in which is taken from some spot IN IN
diana memorable in Presbyterian church
history. The oak handle was made from
the old log church erected near Vlncennes
in 1906 1t was the first Presbyterian
church in Indiana and likewise the nrst
Protestant church. THE committee has
furnished me with some mention OF my
grandfather's connection with this church,
said the general, which it is not neces-
sary for me to go into to-.
The commissioners cried for him to go
on" but General Harrison claimed he had
lost the memoranda. Finally, amidst much
laughter, he produced them. said he: me
record Of the first year OF THIS church was
lost but it seems probable that my grand
father was one of its charter members. II
is also certain that my father IS the nrst
person recorded as having been baptlzed IN
fThe piece of oak is from timber taken
from the first house erected Tor tne
10 al GNIr, ,fKaafr q
The institution was afterward moved TO
New Albany and was the mother OF Lne
Mccormick Theological Seminary. me
piece of poplar is from one or dne deSks dS
used in Hanover Academy in 1SZ.. Inc
beech is from tree which formerly stood
on the campus of Wabash college at CraW-
fordsyille The black walnut IS from
piece Of furniture in the old First Prespy-
terian Church of Indianapolis, erected IN
1923 and the maple from timber in the old
Second Church, in which Henry ward
Beecher once preached. The church was
erected in 1898 and is now being torn Gown
Mr.. Moderator, these brief hlstorlc!aii
references TO the wood of this gaVel VIII
show you, sir, that they all have reference
to first things. 1t is very appropriate, slI,
that a gavel made from the wood of pioneer
churches and furnishings devoted to frst
worship should be presented to one whose
life has been much associated WIN
pioneer churches. Does not the story
have told-dO not all the associations pc
tween the life work OF the modetator an. aio
the gavel bring to us Impressions tniS
morning in harmony with the thouSht, al
ready often expressed here, that the fFes-
byterian Church should now start IoI WdLu
in a great and earnest movement for the
advancement of missions? 1t does not re-
quire sir, an eXpounder OF the Word 10 ull-
derstand why it is that church that is all
aglow with missionary zeal ana enterprise
should be a growing church also. lt Is easy
to know why it is so, because 1t IS llFlng III
the spirit and in the teachings Oh the Mas
ter and so securing the fulhllment OF Ills
promised blessing. When we are giving
ourselves to frescoes and organs ana
cIIShiOpp6 are DOSS1Dly uOlnS wen.
Taste may be educated, but the heart IS
not set on fire When work Tor missions
takes hold of the church, work for others
and for the Master who gave hlmsef Tor
MS II fills the church with enthusiasm, and
the drawing power which illustrates that
giving does not impoverish but enriches
and brings into the contributing cnurcheS
large accessions of useful members.
Pardon me that have not boiled down
my syrup =. o,,,,,o
pirate words. He then announced the
chairmen of committees were announced
as follows: Vice moderator, John Wana-
maker Philadelphia; bills and oVertures,
John l.. Withrow Chicago; judicial bust
ness, DR.. Henry G. Minton, san tranc1Sco,
church policy DR.. Robert f. Sample, New
York home missions, Dr. John ~. l1gWH,Its. 14faH,lt.
Chanman. philadelphia; education, Dr.
stephen w. Dana, Philadelphia: publication
and Sabbath school work anoo1;o1 Eiaer oaiIl9s nr
George r Whitworth, Seattle; theological
seminaries, DR.. j. Clark Hill, Chi
cago; ministerial relief, the Hon. lanes IIl,a a:
Mount. of Indiana; freedmen, DR.. Thomas
Lawrence Ashevlle; aid for colleges, Dr.
George L. Spinning, Orange n. j.; COZ, cor
respondence DR.. Byron Sunderland, Wasn-
ington: benevolence, DR.. William Fnfa4eT'
New York: narrative DR.. Maurice ID. Ed
wards, St Paul; temperance, DR.. A X.
OIney West Troy, N: y. leave OF apSehGg' IE f1T'
David r. Moore; mileage, Elder W. w.
Fisk Phiadeiphia finance, Elder James
M Ham Brooklyn.