The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-11
SIXTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY.
Special Services at the Central Chris
tian Church TO-MorrOw.

The members of the Central Christian
Church will celebrate the sixty-f1fth ami
versary of the founding of the church to-
morrow morning with a special service of
music and an address by Rev. Allan b.
Phlputt. the new pastor of the church.
The Central Christian Church has had an
honorable career through many difficulties.
In 1928 John OKane visited this place
during the session of the Legislature, and
held services in a log cabin. This became
too small, and services were held in the old
courthouse Many of the members of the
Legislature were among the attendants. AS
a result of his preaching there were two
converts, Mrs. Rebecca Smith and Zerelda
G. Sanders. now Mrs. u. G. Wallace, better
known Mother Wallace who is the
only one of the first members now living.
They were baptized, and were the first who
were publicly baptized upon a profession of
their faith. There were twenty-five who
signed the following covenant:
1t has been the custom, and, we think,
the duty, of disciples or followers of the
Saviour, from the time His kingdom was
first set up in the world, to meet and form
themselves into congregations or churches,
for the purposes of worship. Therefore, we,
whose names are here registered, in like
manner agree to constitute ourselves into a
church congregation, designated by the
name of the Church of Christ in Indianap-
system of our practice, agreeing to make
it the rule of our lives, and as such to the
exclusion of all others. And as often as we
can meet conveniently the first day of
the week to do so for the purpose OF wor-
Shipping God
John H. Sanders, Mrs. Polly Sanders,
Miss Zerelda q. Sanders, Samuel Fleming,
Mrs. Serena Fleming, Butler K. Smith, Mrs
Sarah Smith, Carey Smith. Mrs. Rebecca
Smith Smith Mrs Hester Council ,, Ebenezer
erts, Peter H. Roberts, Mrs. Elizabeth Rob-
erts, Miss Sally A. Roberts, Edmund G.
Boston: Mrs; Nancy Boston. James Forsee.
Charles G. Mediation
Among those who came to the city about
this time was Dr. John III. Sanders, of Ken
lucky. He was a map of influence and
force, and assisted in forming an organiza-
ton. He was the father of Mrs. Robert
Duncan, Mrs: Beatty Mrs. Richard Calling,
Mrs. Il. g. Wallace and Mrs. McCrea and
members of the families. even to the fourth
generation, are still members of the church,
grandchildren being John S. DUNCAN, Mrs.
John r. Wilson, Mrs John c.. New. Mrs.
Colt, Miss Beatty, Mrs. w. P. Herod, Mrs
Jameson and Mrs. Wallace. After DR..
Sanders came Mr.; Ovid Butler and his de-
scendants are still in the congregation. The
first church was on Kentucky avenue, and
later one was built at the corner of Ohio
and Alabama streets. where the Dental
College now stands. 1t was built on the
site of blacksmith shop owned by Butler
K. Smith. The church was visited by Mr.
OKane., and among the others who
Hoshour, w. M. Brown, Michael Combs
William Irwin and Thomas Lockhart The
congregation was prosecuted and ridiculed
and almost went to ruin, but it was rescued
by the untiring efforts of Ovid Butler, Dr.
Sanders and B. K. Smith. In 1889 it began
to have. a standing, and ever since that
time it has grown slowly but steadily. A
number of mission churches have branched
from the parent church. In 1882 commit
tee, composed of David Walk, who was the
pastor, b. w. Cole, j. L. Avery Simeon
FRAZIER and DR.. P. II. Jameson. took the
first steps toward the erection of the new
church at the corner of Walnut and Del
aware streets, which it now occupies. The
new church cost $47, 800. 1t has had thirteen
pastors since the beginning. Rev. Love H.
Jameson was called to the church and filled
the pulpit second time. There is scarcely
a church in the city in which the families
for succeeding generations have held such
continuous memberships.