The Indianapolis journal., 1898-05-27
HISTORIC EXHIBITS.
Notable Collections of Relics Dating
Back 25O Years.

WINONA, Ind, May sS.-The ''Westmin-
ster exhibit" which deals with the history
of the Presbyterian Church at the time of
the adoption of the Westminster standard,
is now complete and is located in the
cyclorama building under the charge of DR..
r. V. Hunter, of Indianapolis. Chief among
the historical exhibits is the private colec-
tion of church mementos of the time of the
Westminster Assembly, 250 years ago. This
rare collection, every article in which is
authenticated, is owned by Dr. McCook, of
Philadelphia and is practically priceless in
value. In it is included several textbooks
and hymnals of the original edition bearing
the date of 164S, printed books on the church
discipline and caricatures of that time, the
antiquity of which cannot be doubted.
Original contemporary prints and engrav-
ingS of leaders in the church of that date
and prominent members Of the celebrated
trump parliament" of the time of the com
monwealth'' in England are scattered about
on the walls in great confusion. In addi-
ton there is nearly every seal of the various
church societies that has figured in history
of both the church and state during the
past two centuries.
One of the chief attractions which lends
air of realism to the exhibit is q pair
of genuine Covenanter flags of the regula-
of one is the Scotch thistle, while in the
other is the emblem of the English king
dom before the union of the Scotch and
English as Great Britain. The other eX-
hibits, while from an American standpoint
of great historical interest, are not nearly
of the age of DR.. McCook's display.
The boards of foreign and home missions
both have interesting exhibits in the nature
of articles typical of the handicraft of the
people among whom the work of the two
organizations is carried on. Here is seen
everything from the peculiarly ugly needle
work of the Asiatic nations to gaVel used
by the moderator, which was made at the
BiddIe University for the Southern negroes.
From purely historic standpoint, the ex-
hibt of the Lane Seminary is probably the
hreSt Of all the institutions OF learning in
evidence, including, as it does, all the noted
characters who have been identified with
that seat of learning for nearly. a century
All the Beecher family are in evidence, pre-
served in fine oil paintings Wooster Uni
versty, where DR.. Hunter received hjs edu-
cation. also has fine exhibit including,
the history of the college, a fine biological
exhibit in active operation. Here can be
seen the latest developments in this art, in
Guiding even cross sections of microbes.
Among the other noteworthy exhibitions
are that of the University of Texas, Wa
bash College, Westminster University Of
Denver, Leland Stanford University of
California Hanover College the various
prominent churches of Indiana and the Nc
esting feature of this latter exhibit is the
portrait of Dr. McMasters, which is of espe-
cial interest to Indiana Presbyterians from
the fact that he was the first president of
the seminary, when it was located at
Evansville and was the first Presbyterian
theological institution in the country before
it became known as the Mccormick Semi
nary.
On all sides great credit is given to DR..
McCook, who has done so much to make
the exhibit a success. He has transported
his own private collection here at his own
expense, without any assurance that he
will be reimbursed by the assembly. The
fact that this will be done does not in the
least detract from the merit of the prompt
action in making the exhibition a creditable
feature of the assembly.