The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-18
GEN. HARRISON'S TOAST
LEADS HIM TO "REMINISCENCES OF
OLD-TIME CHURCH LIFE.
First Presbyterian COngregation's
Observation-Disclosures and
the Philippines.

| r ITSt presbyterian Cnurcn dltel4ueu lllS u4Il-
ner in the church parors last night rendered
! by the ladies. Tables set tete-a-tete were
scattered through the main parlor about
! large table in the center, around which were
gathered the POSTMASTER, Rev. M. l..
| Haines, Mrs. Haines, General and Mrs. Har-
rison, Albert Baker and Mrs. Baker and
others. The affair was enioyably informal
and the responses to the toasts We're III a
| light and happy vein. Something of an in
novation was the idea Of calling on ladies
to respond to toasts, and those who were
heard demonstrated that women on occasion
| can make as interesting and entertaining
! after-dinner speeches as are commonly sup
posed to be made only by the benedicts of
| the family. During the course OF the re-
| sponses to the toasts there were one or two
illusions to the possibility of the present
church site being taken for the new gov
eminent building. There did not seem to be
much opposition to the idea, and 1t appeared
to be accepted as only matter of time until
the present site must be surrendered and
another obtained. There were few incidents
of unusual character, and the evening was
regarded as most delightful by those who
had the pleasure Of being present.
In responding to the last toast on the pro-
gramme General Harrison made slight al
fusion to the Philippine islands, the first
that he has uttered publicly. He was rem
iniscent, telling of his recollections of the
early history of the First Presbyterian
Church, with which he has been associated
since 1854, shortly after he came to Indianap-
oils. The toast to which General Harrison
responded was "Auld Lang Syne." lie said
that when he first learned the toast that
had been assigned to him he was uncertain
20
that he was relic. Il have had all sorts
of experience in speaking at banquets," said
he. AT d large dinner which L had the
privilege of attending in New York found
that the programme was arranged chrome
logically, running from antiquity to the
present time, in behalf of which 1 was to
speak at the end. Here see it is set the
other way. They have been reverting back
as they would say at Terre Haute, to an
tiquity. Judge Martindale has recalled the
time when l was the very youngest end
very smallest elder, which reminds me of an
occurrence at Washington when a number
of very anomalous bills for public improve
ments were introduced containing pro-
visions similar to those to which Judge Mar
tindale has referred In the Indianapolis post
office bill. l decided to veto some of them.
I remember that there was a New York rep
resentative who had interest in an appro-
priation of $250O00 for a public building on
the Hudson. A friend learned from him that
1t had been vetoed. See the President sug-
gested his friend. The representative re-
sponded that that was his intention, and next
day went to the White House. where he was
informed by the secretary that the president
could not be seen. Good I4ord! exclaimed
the representative, has he got so small as
that?'"
RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD CHURCH.
General Harrison went on to tell about be-
coming associated with the First Presby-
terrain Church in 1854 He remembered that
Indianapolis was a struggling town, with
poor courthouse and a Statehouse no better,
and that the First Presbyterian Church
was, perhaps the most creditable building
here. He described the edifice, which then
occupied the site Of the old Journal or Fftz-
gerald building, as two-story structure,
with a stairway on the outside, so that the
members Of the congregation could literally
say Let US go up TO the mouse OF rI Ine
Lord" lie described Rev. John A. McClel-
land, who was pastor in those days, as a
remarkable man, tall, angular, sWarthy and
high-cheeked, who had wonderful expert
ence in religion. In his younger days he had
intended 10 become a minister, but drlIted
away from the faith and took up the study
Of law. His mind turned again 10 Ola
things and he sat down to study the prophe-
sizes of the Old Testament as lawyer, ana
it is said that out Of that study he turned
again to his faith" said the speaker Gen.
Harrison told how interested he had been in
attending lectures on the prophesies, which
DR.. McCleland delivered, and which at
tracted such men as Governor Wallace,
father of Lew Wallace and meny members
of the Legislature, who, the General re-
marked with a smile, seemed more IN the
habit Of going to church than are the legis-
la of
him He stalked back and forNard on the
rostrum, discoursing with fiery gesture, de-
void of senSatiOnaliSm. 1t was SAID that
he compounded his sermcnS-is that the
right word DIR. Haines ?-seated astride of
an old rocking chair from which the arms
had been broken, resting his Bible on the
back Of the chair, which gently rocked
while he prepared his discourse. Perhaps
there would be more moving 10 some MOD
ern sermons X they were CompOseu III tude
way"
the breaking out of the civil war, ana, as ne
told of the willingness or the churcn 10
fight for the country when It's institutions
were assaied, his manner was most impress
siye In 1861 General Harrison was reporter
OF the Supreme Court. BY an agreement he
was permitted to use the old study of the
church while he and assistants were prepar-
ing induces to the reports one cay ~; ne sala,
they were attracted to the window by an
unusual stir in the street Then they learned
of the firing on Fort Sumter. shall
never forget" said General HARRISON, NE
recoiI and shudder that passed over the
community While it was not altogether UNI
expected, there was a shudder When we
knew that the war OF the rebellion was
upon us. But the recoil was but temporary
and soon men with resolute eyes were hur-
ryipg to the recruiting offices; out or that
old church, strengthened by the prayers OF
the little band that were there, we went to
the struggle
REPRESENTATION AND PHILIPPINES.
1.-THE Presbyterian Church, then, as now,
was a loyal church. There was not much
politics in the talk or preaching-some few
left us-but how we did pray for the coun-
try. The church was ready to fight for the
defense of its country when its institutions
were assailed. We were Presbyterians. We
believed that the Nation was predestined to
be saved. 1t seems that our Methodist
brethren" said the general, assuming less
intense and more humorous tone, ARE com
ing to this doctrine, judging from the ex-
pressions of young senator ana our
President, who, it seems, are saying much
about the predestination of the Phlhpplne
islands" The generals good-natured refer
ence to Senator Beveridge's well-known
views on expansion was received with
laughter and applause.
General Harrison maintained that many
towns of the State took on the character OF