The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-01
in THE CITY CHURCHES
SEVERAL CONGREGATIONS UNITE IN
THANKSGIVING SERVICES.
ermon of President Butler and
Rexs. w. A. Quayle, Nj. l.. Haines
and a. X. WOOdson

The Roberts Park and Meridian-street
F. Churches united in a service held
Yesterday morning in the latter church. DR..
william A.. Quayle preached the sermon,
and in the course of his remarks said: I'VE
who are here in Indianapolis have blessings
MANY and generous. 1t has health. We
are not devastated with foundations of
plague. We nave parks and beauty. We
have scant slum regions. Ours is a city of
homes and the workingmen, except the
preachers. own homes so largely as to make
the fact impressive. Ride through our city
where YOU will. and see the dainty cottages
and the well-kept yards, and the evident
pride in possession and cleanliness, and find
therein something TO excite gratitude and
urban pride.
1--WE have public schools which are a
legitimate pride. There is room for every
child TO aspire and accomplish. The class
of teachers is a cause for gratitude. That
the training of our children is in the hands
of Christians. in the main, is an immense
satisfaction TO those who love the future
Of America.
THE spirit Of philanthropy abounds. The
helpless are not forgotten. Our City Hos
pital is a credit to us and our civilization.
1t is admirably managed. There are homes
for old ladies-what a sweet philanthropy
that is: and homes for little children-how
God must love such a charity! And the
Charity Organization of our city insures a
degree of comfort to those in distress,
whether temporary or permanent citizens of
our city. And there are those organizations
which war against crime. Chief among
them is the Rescue Mission, whose work
as a crime preventive is of more value to
this city than a guard of police. Brother
Wheeler should be paid as an officer of the
police force. because his habitual attend
ance on the Police Court is a purely civic
service. And there are free kindergartens
and the Girls Industrial School and the
Boys clubs. Chiefly the Christian churches
are sapping crime at the root. For these
OF gratitude not easy to compute. And we
should be abundantly grateful for the spirit
A forward movement among us looking
TO the perpetual supervision of the city by
Christianity is as marked a tribute to the
been afforded"
In discussing reasons for national thanks
giving Dr.. Quayle said these had been
state paper which will live for one hundred
years or more" Continuing, he said: w
tlave had few strikes. and those which have
occurred have not been upheld by the public
judgment. America stands in the path of
service as she has not stood in her history.
She has taken up her burden and is bear
ing 1t as a giant bears a child, with scarcely
perceptibIe effort. We have steadily grown
in comfort for the many. which is the dis
tinctive glory of American communities, and
II believe that despite all the hue and cry
(which regularly follows some great achieve
ment we have steadily grown in a manly
patriotism. Certain it is that sectionalism
has never been at so low an ebb in half a
century and more.
w have had world blessings. The peace
congress Is enough to fill the year with
triumph. God marches or. The worthy
conclusion Of the arbitration case in which
won laurels. not for himself so rnucb as for
us. his fellow-citizens. and for US. his fell
ioW-Americans has given new hope TO those
who believe in arbitration. AS individIaIs
we have been blessed with home culture.
comfort, work and church opportunity and
the presence Of God, if we have cared for
that un~speakable mercy"