The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20

followers. opened the book Of nature and
read His parallels, taught the e, charactsr OF
assembling here f., in some measure, rec
IGNITION OF the struggles and sacrifices that
wilderness. but now the center OF influence
ana power and of the population OF the Ma
p Eon, SIxty-six years age mve gooiy men
IN this State and dedicated a tract or land
for the foundation of college. Dr. John
self-denial, another college in the wilds of
MS state. The power Tor good that has
semanated from Wabash and Hanover Col
be measured by omnipotent wisdom. The
presbyterian Church shared these priva-
tons, encouraged education and exerted an
| influence that became a potent factor in
making this a center of progress and power
that is now in large measure molding the
| destiny of this Nation. Do l unduy extol
| this part of our common country? l beg
| your Indulgence while / sustain the position
assumed by historical facts. The three great
| Presidents of the United States. save one.
Tor forty years, and IN that instance gave
| the Vice President. They furnished a large
proportion of the great military leaders of
| the civil war together with the great chief
| tain who, with headquarters in the field,
commanded all the armies and received the
surrendered sword OF the. Confederacy
| peace and to the vanquished, Go home and
cultivate your fields. With convincing facts
1 L could continue this army or 1lIuStr1OuS
leaders in peace and war, but forbear.
CHURCH INFLUENCE.
I'VE have here conditions that are most
| conducive to the development of the best
citizenship and the greatest prosperity. We
| have producers and consumers, busy fac
| tories and fertile fields. growing cities and
| productive farms side by side. We have gas
and oil, stone, coal and timber in the midst
| of the best farming country in the world.
Here churches and schools abound, and the
printing press thrives. Here every bent of
mind may find congenial employment. Here
| the different vocations, pursuits and pro-
fessions flourish side by side. and the spirit
| of interdependence strengthens the bonds of
| union and good WILL Here neither the
| tremes of great riches or poverty exist. This
is favored center from which to diffuse
| the heaven or PreSbyterianism. The inf1u-
ence of this church has been conducive to
the highest manhood and noblest citizen
| the glory of the Nation the Presbyterian
church has furnished a large proportion. 1t
is not only with state. but with national
PRIDE that / point to the fact that at one
| Tune the Presbyterian Church of Indiana
! gave to the Nation it's President and secre-
| taTy of state, both of whom were and are
to-day ruling elders in this church. Gen.
| BENJAMIN Harrison and Gen. John W. Fos-
Ter nave not become inactive Presbyterians
| tonal honors which have been bestowed
| upon them. Their loyalty to their country's
highest interest did not divorce them from
her 1helr loyalty to their church and their God.
| This is the kind of Presbyerianism your
meeting here in this General Assembly will
| Chautauqua of the West. Your coming will
| strengthen the church and be an inspira ton.
and your presence will be a benediction In
| behaf of this Commonwealth, 1 extend to
| you most cordial welcome"
me large auditorium in which the as
| Semoly met was decorated with flags and
even the extemporized pulpit was draped
| with the national colors. The petition of
MODERATOR jackson that God should speed
| ny bring termination to the present con-
met was greeted with deep chorus of
The Rev. Sheldon Jackson. D. D.. the re-
firing moderator, in the opening sermon,
spoke, of the American Presbyterian
church. It's Position, Opportunity and Re-
81; He said, in part
1t is not without significance that Amer
| lea should have remained hidden from the
| civilized world until the close of the If
| teenth century. For ages history had re-
corded in brick and stone. on papyrus and
| parchment, the rise and growth. the decay
| and fall of nations in Asia, Africa and Eu-
| rope; but the story of America remained a
pldhk; It's very existence was unknown.
| RESERVED FOR THE CHURCH.
This is the continent which God has re-
| served for His church. This is the land
which God has given His church to possess,
to take ana % hold a base of operations
for the conquest of the world From its
1
| out its beacon light eastward to the sacer-
| dotalism and Journalism of Europe and the
| heathenism of Africa, westward to the dead
| conservatism of Asia and southwark to the
| benighted millions of the neglected CONT
| nent. Was there ever a better base? Was
| there ever a stronger leverage for uplifting
the race? Was there ever a grander theater
| for action? And on this vantage ground God
has placed the American Christian the re-
| sultant combination of English tenacity.
Scotch shrewdness, German steadiness, Gel
| tic vivacity, Dutch sturdness, Huguenot
| seriousness and Scandinavian thrift-the
very best and highest type of character-a
| character that: brought under the sway CT
| powerful religious motives, full of faith
and the Holy Ghost becomes invincible in
| the conversion of the world.
| While we recognize and admire the dash
| OF the Methodist and the zeal OF the Bap-
| lists, the energy of the Congregationalists
the loyalty of the Lutherans and the state
| liness of the Episcopalians; while we recog-
nize most fully all branches of the church
| OF Christ as our brethren, as different corps
of the same grand army as fighting under
the same flag and obedient to the commands
| OF the same leader yet in this year, during
1 which we are celebrating the 25Oth anniver-
standards, upon an occasion like this and in
| such presence it will not be improper or in
vldlous to give special prominence to our
| own corps of the army of Christ.
| AS American Presbyterians we can thank
God and take courage Ours is not a Scotch
Dutch, Irish, English, French Swiss or
4
| OF all of them. AS with our American char
| acter, so with a resultant combination of the
| very best of the several constituents from
winch 1t was originally formed. AS in CO.
lonlal or revolutionary times, so ever since
| the Presbyterian Church has been among
| the foremost leaders in reform and good
| government. The tendency of it's doctrines
| being to make brainy, wholesoued and res
| olute men-men of affairs, 1t is not strange
| that its members are found in the upper
| most seats of scientific, professional com
| mercial and political life; that it forms the
| Judicial character sought for the Supreme
| and other high courts of the land that ten
| times the Nation has turned to the Presby-
| terrain Church for its President-Jackson
| Van Buren, Harrison, Polk, Buchanan, Lin
| coin, Cleveland and Harrison.
The Presbyterian Church is a leading
| church in liberality. According to the CEN
| sus of 1880 it contributed for missions a
| larger sum than any other denomination
| The Presbyterian Church in the United
| States has the most complete, efficient and
| perfect system of organized work in exist
| ence. With the inspiration of its past sue
| cess, its present influential and wealthy
| membership and its thorough organization
| it stands to-day the leading church i'm the
! evangelization of America and the world -
After the vote for DR.. Radcliffe was made
| unanimous, to-day, he was escorted to the
| chair and welcomed in a brief speech by
| Dr. Sheldon Jackson, the retiring nodera-
| tor, and then assumed the duties of his Of
| flee. DR.. Radcliffe accepted and spoke of
| the Presbyterian Church in glowing terms
! He asked that in the work of this assem-
| bly, past dissensions should be forgotten