The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-29
EPWORTH LEAGUE DAY
LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG CHRIS
TIANs AT ACTON PARK.
Christian Endeavorers at Bethany
Kept Busy-PentecOst Camp Meet
ing Being Largely Attended.

d 5ISdl HuHlOer OF young people 10 TIE
grounds and the camp livened up remark
ably. The programme during the day con-
sisted of lectures and addresses of direct
interest to the leaguers, while in the even
ing fifty young people from Edwin Ray
Church occupied the stage of the pavilion
and presented their justly celebrated can
tata The Two Ways
The chief events of the day consisted in
the organization of a new chapter of the
Epworth League to be known as the Acton
Park Assembly Epworth League, and the
meeting of the cabinet officers of the league
Of the East Indianapolis district for the
consideration of place for the holding of
the next convention. The new league Sc
cured a large membership and elected the
following officers: President, J. T. Jones.
of Whteland who is also district president;
first vice president Miss May Wheeler. of
Indianapolis second vice president, Miss
Alta Roberts, of Indianapolis; third vice
president, Mrs NJ. B. Thrasher, of Shelby
Vile; fourth vice president o. H. Lympus,
of Shelbyville; junior superintendent, Mrs.
Ida " Steeg of Indianapolis. These officials
were made a committee to formulate con-
stitution and another meeting to perfect
organization will be held to-day The work
will be the holding of daily services in the
grounds and the arranging of next year S
programme DR.. Dashiell suggested to the
members another purpose which they may
or may not undertake and that consists in
the erection of a new building that would
furnish a smaller auditorium than the pa
vilion. Such building is much needed on
the grounds for small-sized gatherings and
ba T,pa one not
it the association may do it.
IMPORTANT CABINET MEETING.
The cabinet of the East Indianapolis dis
trict held a very important session, the
first it has held since the Shelbyville con-
vention in June. Among those present
were President Jones. Secretary Holstein,
Treasurer A. A. Young. Mrs. Myers and
j. A. Shearer, vice presidents. 1t was prac-
tically decided to hold a two days conven-
ton at Acton Park next year, at which
time such prominent speakers as DR.. Shell
of Chicago, general secretary of the league
will be present Acton Park is in the CEN
ter of the district and it is expected that
a convention of from 500 to 800 delegates
will be readily secured The cabinet dis
cussed the departmental work consisting OF
the spiritual, the mercy and help, the liter
airy, the social and executive branches or
the league, and adjourned to meet Dec. Is
at Epworth League headquarters IN the
Pembroke, this city.
The DAYS programme began with an adj
dress by +. G.. Browne, PHI. d, assistant
editor of the Western Christian Advocate
who spoke on The influence or the Ep-
worth League on MethodiSm in the tu-
ture." Dr. Browne was greeted with
large morning hour audience and MADE
odism of the future will derive benefit from
the UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty which the Ep-
worth League is designed to promote 49,, 1T
ders more efficient the distinctive methods
of our economy. The itinerary, will be
dearer to the league, and from TINS loyal
legion the ministerial ranks of our church
will be reinforced. 1t will disseminate the
principles of Wesleyanism and Armenian
ism, and so contribute to the maintenance
of doctrfnal soundne land consistency
among us. 1t will promote the spirit or
unity among the Methodist bodies or CHRIST
endom. In time. adopted by all: II VIII
bring them together in the union of fellow
ship that shall know no sect nor be sun
dered by schism, When ther 1o Shadd De
Methodist Protestant nor American WeS-
leyans, Church North nor Church South,
but when all shall be one and complete IN
Christ Jesus. Under the influence of such
a movement the Methodism of the future
will be no delusive mirage 1t looms on our
vision a glowing reality. The victories it is
too dull to contemplate but we believe that
they will surpasS all the achievements OF
heavens songs and add new luster to the
diadem of Christ our Savior and our King.
AN AFTERNOON LECTURE.
DR.. J. H. Doddridge, of Bloomington, oc-
cupied the rostrum in sthe afternoon. His
lecture, "Grace. Grit and Gumption," had
special reference to the essential qualities
that make an Epworth League society sue
cessful. He said in his, introduction that
the destinies of nations depended on men
under twenty-five years of age. Lord Bea-
consfield had said that nearly all the great
things in the world had been done by young
men. The salvation of man, therefore, must
rest largely with the young, and the ex-
iStence of such societies as the EpWOrth
League, numbering 100000 in the different
Methodist sects and the Christian En-
deavor, numbering a membership of $780,
600, spoke encourag ingly of the future.
Speaking of the need of divine grace in a
league society, the doctor said that with
out it the league was mo league at all.
Every member should have personal ex-
perence of regeneration and all the meet
ings should be intensely spiritual A sys-
tematic study of the Bible should be made
by the league and the members must
learn to give implicit obedience to GOd's
word whether it seems contrary to reason
or not" The speaker, speaking of the need
of grit, said that it consisted in a tenacious
persistency that brings victory. The league
must put in it's best ticks and must have
the courage of it's convictions on all the
questions, moral and political, of the day.
''The league must also have gumption,
said the doctor, land this meals it must
have good. common, hard, horse sense. 1g-
norance results in lack of success, and i'm
agination causes nine-tenthS of the diff
cultes of life. Gumption prevents imagi-
nation from leading us aStray and it helps
us to a solution of the problem of amuse-
mentS. 1t dictates that queStiOnal amuSe-
ments cannot be afforded by leaguers. 1t
also dictates that leaguers should be loyal
MethOdists. The league that has the i'm
preston that it takes the place of the
church is a curse instead of blessing
And, finally, ,gumption will help the league
to plan wisely and execute intelltgently.
E p. Brown, of the Rams Horn, fol-
lowed DR.. Doddridge with a descriptive pa
per, presumed to be written by Sllas Gan
derfoot, a good Methodist. who tells of the
trials and tribulations of Brother Sky
buster, the pastor of the Ciderville circuit
Silas's comments on the liberal-hearted
church members of the circuit, well as
his piquant and truthful portrayal of a
donation party to the good pastor, Kept
the audience in very good humor.
EDWIN RAY YOUNG PEOPLE.
The best part of the days doings came
in the evening. when the Edwin Ray
young people gave their cantata, THE Two
Ways" The two ways were the ways of
the tempter and the spirit of wisdom. APP
proprate stage effects made clear to the
audience whittier each may lead and how
it ended. Miss Emma Monroe imperson-
ated Wisdom, Mr.. Benjamin Mercer Pill
grim, and Hugh K. Thatcher the arch enc
my of man. The director was NJ. L. Steeg.
The cantata, or church operate, as it might
be called, was carried out splendidly, and
the applause from the great audience was
hearty and continuous. The chorus of fifty
was rich and full, and the leading charac-