The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-20
THE NIGHT PROCEEDINGS.
Rev. S. e. Martin and Rev. David Nc
AIlister the Sneakers.

AIlister the Speakers.
The capacity of Tomlinson Hall was
taxed last night, and many people were UNI
able to find seats. Scores who found only
standing room went away disappointed.
Delegates who had passed the afternoon
sightseeing finished the day by participant
ing in the evening meeting. Enthusiasm
and interest were undated, and every one
went away declaring the second night
meeting a fitting conclusion of a profitable
day
The meeting opened with the usual
praise service" under the leadership of
Rev. j. A. Wilson, of Allegheny, Pa. There
was singing by the choir and singing by
the audience, and then by all together. Rev.
j. w. Witherspoon, pastor of the Fifth
United Presbyterian Church of Allegheny,
Pa, one of the prominent preachers of the
denomination, delivered the invocation For
a number of years he has been correspond
ing secretary of the Freedmens Board.
After the prayer DR.. Wilson read the even
ing Scripture lesson from Romans V.
AT the conclusion of the praise service
President Wishart called upon Rev. S. f.
Martin, of College Springs, Ia, pastor of
the United Presbyterian Church of that
place. His church is one of the largest of
this denomination in the West. In Bat
tie Line for Christ and Country" was the
subject of his very impressive address. He
began with a graphic picture of the SOL
dier's cali to arms, his march to battle and
his deeds of valor Drawing the parallel
between the worldly and Christian war
fare, he said:
In a hundred places the first step to-
wards the organization of a United Presby-
If4i no "a n lriVa
the coming year. Members of the Christian
Union may do the preliminary work as well
proved many a time from the history of
churches IN the city and country that
others besides preachers may be instru-
mental in planting the standard of the
church in needy fields At first it may be
the organization of a Sabbath school in
some needy district after consultation with
pastor or some other Christian worker goes
out TO this district with a gospel message.
by little effort enough of money is raised
to place some good live theological student
there during the summer vacation. A series
of services is held during the succeeding
fall or winter and with Gods blessing on
the sowing and upon the reaping you will
find about you an earnest band OF young
Christians who only need training to make
Them loyal to the United Presbyterian
Church.
You may get into battle line for Christ
and country without organizing new con-
gregations and building churches in needy
or the organizing ability to perform this
kind of work; but faithful service in your
congregation and Young Peoples Society
will prove that you are in the Christian
soldiers place and that you have within
your breast the Christian soldiers purpose.
There had been Series Of eVangelistiC Serv
ices in an Ohio town some years ago and
many were found inquiring after the way
of salvation. Among those who were hope
fully converted was poor ignorant German
washerWoman. When they asked concern
ing her church preference she replied that
she wanted to join Mrs. MaXwells church.
That poor woman did not know much about
the pOlity and distinctive principles of the
United Presbyterian Church. but she knew,
and so does everyone else that there are
other ways of choosing a suitable church
home beside reading the Confession of
Faith" And when / say this | do not
minimize the Importance of church doc
trine either but | magnify the Importance
of a faithful, consistent life of Christian
service.
THE THEOLOGY OF SAVING SOULS.
"Dr. Lyman Beecher once said when an
old man. The principle thing in the life of
the Christian is not theology; it is not con-
troversy; but the saving of immortal souls
A greater than Beecher has said, He that
winneth souls is wise have failed to find
any verse in the Bible which says He is
wise who winneth riches or fame 1 have
failed to find within the lids of the sacred
who transverses the wide domains of sci
ence and philosophy Can you turn to the
chapter and verse where ii says: The
wealthy and the honorable shall shine as
the brightness Of the armament and they
that are eloquent or popular as the stars
forever and ever No, it is not there. But
you can find this sentiment within the
precious volumes: He that winneth souls
is wise and They that be wise shall shine
as the brightness of the armament and they
that turn many to righteousness as the
stars forever and ever While engaged in
this most important, this divinely appoint
ed work, the cor duct of the Christian SOL
der should be characterized by earnest
ness and enthusiasm. l do not mean a
last only one week out of the year or one
day out of the week. A member of my
Christian Union one evening attempted to
describe the enthusiasm that bubbles and
froths and sizzles at a great rate for time
and then Vanishes away. In his description
he recounted the experiences of a certain
clergyman from the rural district. He did
not belong to the United Presbyterian
Church nor to the Associate Reformed
either; in fact, do not think he was con-
nected with any pSalm-Singlng church.
This clergyman was at dinner and had
come to the last course. He attempted to
eat that kind of fluffy white pastry that
looks like the stuff dreams are made Of
1t is beautiful to look at, light and airy
causes fond anticipation and then dashes
them to the earth when the hungry man
raises a spoonful of sugared soapsudS to
his lips. Our clerical friend lifted one
spoonful of this mysterious provision to his
mouth, closed his lips vigorously and looked
surprised and astonished. He tried it again
with similar results and then he exclaimed
Where did that thing go to" He seemed
ready to charge someone with petty lar
ceny. In like manner, after the outburst
of transient zeal, after the evaporation or
of seafOam enthusiasm, the
steady plodder in the service Of Christ is
tempted to ask: Where did that thing
go to" While l would not com
mend the enthusiasm that bubbles
up like the foam on beer glass
as a United Presbyterian. it would
be better for me to say like soapsuds in a
highly the proper kind of earnestness and
enthusiasm. | believe 1t was the genuine
article and no counterfeit enthusiasm that
was seen and experienced in the COLUMBUS
two years ago. for even to this
day the members Of the convention keep
telling us, oh, you ought to have been at
Columbus.
Il believe it was real Christian enthu-
siasm that was present in Omaha one year
ago and out in our section or the church
for hundreds it marked new era OF Chris
tan experience and Christian activity.
INFLUENCE OF CONVENTIONS.
1.-The influence of these conventions upon
the church was like that Of a summer show
er upon the thirsting land. And. under the
blessing of God, we hope to see such zeal
and earnestness in this convention as to
arouse within our beloved church a holy en-
thusiasm for Christ and country. If we
could have heard that sermon upon the day
of Pentecost. we would have been convinced
that Peter was terribly in earnest when he
warned men and tenderly in earnest when
he plead with men, If we could have been
with Paul in Antioch and Athens and Co