The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-15
CLOSE OF CAMP MEETING
LARGE CROWDS PRESENT AT 10Th
ACTON AND BETHANY.
President Carpenters FaPewelI-Ac-
ton VIII Be Able to Pay $500
ON It's Debt.

Yesterday was Assembly day at Bethany
Park, and a very good attendance assem-
bled at the tabernacle to listen to the fare
we'll addresses of this session. The Bible
school in the morning was conducted by T.
J. Legg. state Sunday school evangelist A.
B. Philputt, of the Central Christian
Church, Indianapolis, preached a sermon at
Ii o'clock. He spoke from the text, Mark
iv, II, Unto you it is given to know the
mystery of the kingdom of God"
Mystery in the New Testament refers to
that which is yelled from the eye; some
thing confided only to the initiated" said
he Paul uses the word in the Romans
and Corinthians with reference to Gods
plan of salvation through Christ, once hid
den but now revealed. 1t is never used to
indicate that which battles investigation or
is difficult to comprehend. Theology would
have been saved good deal of discussion
if this fact had been remembered. The
mystery in this parable is that the king
dom of God is to be a growth, and not an
institutional continuance. Men generally
thought it would be set up established by
earthly power and circumstance, full-orbed
and coming in great glory. This secret of
the kingdom which Christ said should be
revealed only to the initiated accounts for
its only partial success in the earthly
stages To those outside it seemed fail
ure. John sent to Jesus to know whether
He was the Christ. 1t seemed inconsistent
with the heavenly kingdom to invade the
world so slowly. If Gods hand is in it,
success must be speedy. Natural processes
would be superseded and supernatural pow
ers would intervene in it's behalf. The mys-
terry set forth by Jesus is that the kingdom
belongs to living, growing things, and is
subject to the same laws seeds, leaven
and the like. When this kingdom is to be
introduced no elaborate machinery will be
used, just simply ''sower went forth to
Sow" There is running through all our
church and missionary activities an undue
eagerness about results. We are not con-
tent to follow natures laws in spiritual
things, and. somehow, we are slow to be-
lieve in natural law in the spiritual world
but Jesus has affirmed His presence there,
and if we could be content to sow seed
and keep on sowing in humility and sin
cerity, the kingdom of God would finally
come. Churches grow restless and preach
ers discouraged if results are not apparent
at once. We seem not content to leave the
increase with God. A voice from out the
long ago said: In the morning sow thy
seed, and in the evening withhold not thy
hand. for thou knowest not which shall
prosper, this or that God is infinitely
lavish; the seed sown will much of 1T be
wasted; it will fall on stony ground and in
hard places, among thorns and by the way
side. but some will fall in good ground. Why
this loss? The cause lies in the fearful
power we have for good or evil within our
wills. In every heart is found all the nutri-
ment of a spiritual life and all the nutri-
ment of those seeds and persons which de-
stroy spiritual life. This is what makes
Christian character, when complete, SO
precious, not from the value of the material
IN them, but from the risk and difficulty
of bringing ing them to Pc perfection"
Vile, delivered an address on Progressive
Revelation In the a course of his remarks
possible by the fact, that God desires to re-
veal himself to all creatures, and by the
additional fact that the human heart gropes
after God. To bring God and the human
heart in touch is the aim of the divine rev.
elation. There are four lines of revelation
First, God reveals himself in creation,
which was one of power and glory; second,
a revelation of His will as expressed in the
law of Moses; third, revelation of His
character vas made in the person of Christ,
who God manifested in the flesh He
who hath seen me hath seen the Father
fourth, a fuller and further revelation of
God is found in the true Christian, The
world receives the moral and spiritual light
through Gods people. The world does not
read the Bible, but 1t reads the Christian.
All the Christian is. and more, is taught in
the word. but between that word and the
lost soul stands the Christian giving light
to the lost
MR.. CARPENTERS FAREW
A prayer and praise meeting was held
at the tabernacle in the evening, after
which the guests at Bethany assembled 10
tender a reception to l.. l.. Carpenter, of
Wabash. the retiring president of Bethany
Assembly Mr.. Frazier presided and pre-
sented resolutions. commencing Mr. Car
penter for the long and faithful service
spent as president of Bethany Assembly
to which the president responded. Rev.
Leewell Lee Carpenter retires from the
office of president of Bethany Assembly in
October, having held TIE office for the past
fourteen years He is also a charter mem
Der of the Bethany Assembly Stock Asso-
citation. and has devoted his time and en-
ergy to the success of Bethany since the
time of his appointment. Mr.. Carpenter is
Indiana Ministerial Association, and was
the first man to take life membership in
the Foreign Missionary Society of the
Christian Church. Light refreshments were
served after the farewell address. To-day
is closing day The prayer meeting will be
conducted this morning by Rev. Mr.. Car
penter, after which the eottagars and tent
erS will make preparations to return home
and the cottages, hotel and park will be
locked for another year.
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