The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-21
Missionary Offering Proceeds with
Much Enthusiasm After Several
Strong Appeals.
SECRET ORDERS MEMBERSHIP
THIS AND PROHIBITION ARE STILL
DISCUSSED BY DELEGATES.
Visitors ncensed at the "OGicial Orr
ences-Street Meeting Dispersed.


The Christian Union Young People have
now become fairly familiar with their sur
roundings and are getting down to work
with an energy born of religious enthusi-
asm. With their elaborate programme at
their day and evening sessions and their
endeavor to evangelize the city and save
it for the kingdom of God they have their
hands very full.
The day yesterday began with the singing
of psalms at sunrise and for the whole day
in one way or another the young people
kept themselves imbued with the spirit OF
worship The day was essentially a mis-
sionary day. The four conferences held in
the morning considered the methods OF mis-
sion work, the afternoon session at the hall
considered Christian benehcence and tithe
giving, while in the evening came the grand
climax of the day in the offering made for
missions. The notable addresses of the day
were by Booker #. Washington and DR..
John Henry Barrows. The young people OF
the United Presbyterian Church take a
great interest in the Southern negro and as
sist their church largely in maintaining a
number of schools and missions among the
freedmen. The address of Mr.. Washington
stamped the afternoon as a home mission
session. and that of DR.. Barrows at night
as foreign mission gathering.
TOPICS NOT ON PROGRAMME.
Aside from the discussion of the imme-
date work in hand, the delegates have sew
eral topics to talk about which the pro-
gramme does not provide for. The other
day the Journal interviewed several of the
young people who happened to be lukewarm
in the faith concerning the article OF testi
rnony of the United Presbyterian Church
against secret societies and who also voiced
it as their opinion that the outspoken Pro-
hibitionsts in the gathering were cranks
These interviews have stirred large num-
ber of the strict members of the church to
q feeling of deep Indignation, and it is quite
evident that there is considerable diver
gence of opinion among the delegates re-
specting these matters. A discussion OF
them is quite out of place in this gathering,
as the convention is not a church legisla-
ton assembly, but rather an educational in
stitution by which the older members of the
church seek to inculcate into its younger
members the doctrines that they MEM
bers subscribe to- Nevertheless there is
much quiet talk going on beneath the sur
face concerning these matters and that de-
spite the efforts to keep 1t down
DIR. McGnI the general secretary,
who is a well-balanced man and does not
give way to his feelings, said yesterday that
the church who had been secret society
members. but that on joining the church
they had given them up stu, sun t,,i. saId ne;
there likely are members who continue
their affiliation with secret orders, though
it is contrary to the admonitlon contained
in the articles of testimony.
MR. TRACY is SEVERE.
]. P. Tracy, the chairman of the general
committee, is one of the most radical anti
secret society men in the organization and
hi on he
subject. He termed those who belonged to
secret orders as "scamps." He quoted the
article of testimony against secret societies
as follows 1--WE declare that all associa-
tions, whether formed for political on
benevolent purposes that impose an oath
of secrecy or an obligation to obey a code
of their own laws, are inconsistent with
the genius and spirit Of Christianity, and
church members ought not to have fellow
ship Herewith"
Mr.. Tracy then said: "Any man having
the solemn VOWS of the ministry of this
church upon him and who seeks by in
sinuation or by sarcastic reference to this
testimony to destroy its force before the
world is not only traitor to his VOWS ana
to his church but Is a weakling or such
detestable neutrality that if he would raise
his voice in the public assembly OF ms
church or subscribe his name to such sentl-
ments the church would spew Il-,. nm ou1 I,oI OF
who ioins the T. Z. Church asserts TO this
declaration of it's testimony by aIflrming
that he believes the articles or the doc
trines are founded on the word of God and
that the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testiments are the only rule or 1alth ana ana
practice and he solemnly promises before
God and men as ne hopes TO give his ac-
count Gi on the day of Judgment that he vii!
study to preserve the peace Luflly anu
prosperity of the church"
THE PROHIBITION CLOUD.
Aside from the subject of secret societies
there was also some interesting express
sions to be heard about the hotel lobbies
On prohibition These expressions have
been precipitated by the placing of John G..
Woouey on the programme for Sunday aft
ernoon. Mr. Woolley is an ex-lawyer ana
ex-drunkard who has become temperance
worker Of note. He is decided Pro-
hibitionist and urges his auditors TO vote
the cold-water ticket. The sentiment or
the gathering is a unit against the liquor
traffic but large proportion belong to the
old parties, particularly to the Republican
party. The number of out and out Pro-
b,bi4fonists however is unusually large.
some enthusiasts claiming one-ha0 of the
convention to belong to that party. Inesa
Prohis want resolution TO thelr liking
adopted to-day, but the resolutions COM
mittee Will probably not satisfy tnelr
wishes. Some of the younger prohibition
lists claim that the leaders are against
them but the fact that Mr.. Woolley IS on
the programme does not seem 10 substan-
tiate that claim. The leaders, however
evidently do not favor the making OF the
orranizatlon into an annex of the Pro-
hibition party which appears TO be the
some hint was given out yesterday that
possibly AN effort will be made TO abolish
the annual sessions cf the Institute and 10
hold them biennially. on the grounds or the
expense entaied by the holding or the gain
ering The sentiment In favor or biennial
sessions howeySsr + + not & he arsg sne one Sears ana
ever before the annual session is aban-
doned. DR. McGtT said yesterday on this
subject that the institute in the future may