The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-01
EXERCISES AT BETHANY
THREE THOUSAND CHILDREN AT
THE PARK YESTERDAY.
The Little Folks Wen Entertained by
the acknowledgements
ings at Acton.

Yesterday was the banner day at Bethany
Park and the grounds and cottagers were in
holiday attire. Flags and banners foated
from the buildings and the tabernacle was
draped with the Nations colors. Girls in
hlmy dresses, made gay with bright rib
bons, and lads in natty garb blended har-
moniously with the soberer garments OF
matron and church brother The day was
given over entirely to the children, and
everything was done with a view toward
their happiness and comfort. Free excur-
sions on Lake Jewel were planned and the
unlimited freedom of the grounds
given them, Every train brought jolly
crowds of visitors while carriages from
the surrounding towns brought many more.
Scores of the neighboring farmers brought
their families and big baskets filed to
overlooking with the good things of life
and enjoyed the RAJ treat of eating their
dinners out under the .rees, where the fresh
| air so sharpens the appetite that fried
chicken and homemade bread and butter
disappear with alarming rapidity Cyclists
from all parts of the country wheeled to the
park in great numbers to enjoy the ad-
vantages offered.
AT every turn one saw groups of young
couples making merry, ana staid old min
A0NS'0 NNiO ACuld " ASAldlh llldl III lLlS
contemplation of such scenes they lived
their sweetheart days over again. Mr.. De-
wees the park photographer, was kept
busy asking people to look pleasant just a
minute, please A soda water man dis
pensed drinks all day to a very thirsty
crowd. Extra tables were set in the large
dlnlng room of the hotel to accommodate
the surplus numbers, while the restaurant
was estimated to be between three and
Tour thousand. Very little solid work was
done the day being one of rest and pleas
However, at II o'clock the tabernacle was
nlled TO hear Rev Pritchard and 7. NJ.
Wiles, of Martinsville, discourse on BY
made by Rev. l.. l.. Carpenter. Mr.. Wiles
spoke OF the old-time Sunday school and
and charts to help out with our study;
IN fact we had no lesson assigned us. Those
who could, read took their pocket testa-
nents ana with the help of teacher
worried laboroUsly through a chapter and
at the close knew very little more about it
than at the beginning" Mr.. Wiles then
gave humorous description of the old
time singing and called attention to the
gloomy kind Give us the bright, cheerful
songs of to-day" he said, with the sunny
fa9e OF the teacher, Let us have the flow
us make the lessons easy and let the little
ones have the happy side of the word of
TROUBLES OF A CHURCH.
Rev. Pritchard followed him on the same
subject, telling some stories illustrative of
some of the prejudiced notions some Of the
early churches OF his experience used to
hold. Il remember we'll of some Of the
troubles that one church in particular had"
said the minister, lit all grew out OF the fact
that some of the young men had learned
to sing bass; at the first evening service
after that as the old song, When l can read
my title clear was started the young fell
lows, proud of their accomplishment began
to sing bass with all the vim they pos
sessed, it Immediately caused clamor; the
church was soon divided into the bass and
anti-bass factions and they wrangled until
finally there was nothing left of the church
Mr.. Pritchard closed his talk with some
excellent advice for the young and gave
his fatherly blessing to all.
The exercises closed with some very eX-
cellent music. Miss Lena Myer sang very
sweetly the solo, only Tired" The jubilee
singers of Plainfield, who are prime favor
ties with the assembly. sang some spirited
songs after which all adjourned for dinner.
In the afternoon the children had a special
programme of their own Some delightful
music was furnished. and little Mary Lang,
of Ripple, Ind, recited in d very clever
manner "A Little Missionary" Misses
do You Know That We Are Building?'
There were also two songs by the mem
bers of the intermediate branch of the
Junior Endeavor of the Fourth Christian
Church of Indianapolis. Little Alice Mays
and Pearl Turney recited in very charm
Following these exercises E. s. Conner,
of Noblesville, Ind spoke on "Childrens
fact that this day is observed is evidence
that the child is an important factor in our
life In order that we may know what we
should do next year we must study the
child and his environments. The child has
a place by divine right Only in the last
few years has he received the recognition
which he deserves Time was when the
child was unknown in literature and art.
Ruskin says Greek art gives US no children.
And until the thirteenth century there were
when Christianity laid hold of art and in
there were restored to the earth the foot
steps of the children. The myths of
Greece and Rome, the pagan religions,
sacred books of the Orientals and histories
of the ancients have scarcely spot for the
deeds and power of children. The Bible
procaims their rights. The babe of Beth
day. Holy writ declares that out of the
mouth of babes God hath ordained praise"
THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.
Mr.. Conner then spoke of the chld's
claims, and said:
In this century these were disregarded
ard child labor was introduced. In Eng
land alone merciful epidemics swept away
thousands from death-dealng tasks. The
written records of child labor are as fearful
as those of the inquisition. AS short a
time ago as 1880 there were one million one
hundred and eighteen thousand children
employed at labor, for which by nature end
providence they were not fitted. They need
to be protected morally and their spiritual
rights recognized and advocated. Some one
must see that they are restored to their
rights What a high mission and holy
service. This means nothing less than al
lowing the world to see what "a child cen
do, and to make known their potential
value 1t may be asked what can the chill
dren do? The reformer gave answer when
he said, Children are praying for us
A teachers meeting was held at o'clock,
Mr.. Legg presiding, al which the model
Sunday school for to-day was planned. In
the evening at the tabernacle the stere-
opticon song lecture was given by G. G.
Cline. The quartet composed CT Miss +.
Maud Cline. Miss Kate Whistler Mr.. J. E.
]. Whistler and Mr.. Davis sang "Bail the
Blessed Morn" baptism anthem, quartet;
''Who at the Door," c. c. Cline and quar-
tet; Come Home, Prodigal." quartet;
Lead Me Gently" soprano and bass solo
and quartet; ABIDE with Me-" solo, c. c.
Cline; Come Unto Me-" solo, f. Maud
Cline. NJ. May Cline. pianist.
The evenings entertain nent was one of
the prettiest features Of tho day and some
thing entirely out Of the ordinary. To-day's
services promise to be good, and the Steak
ers rank among the pest orators To-mor-
row is the opening day OF The state Sun
day-school convention.
QUIET DAY At ACTON.