The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-14
SOCIAL UNION MEETING
MONEY TO BE RAISED FOR A WEST
INDIANAPOLIS CHURCH.
Rev. C. c. ROwlison Discussed Thea
tiers, Card Playing and Dancing
-Other Exercises.

At the meeting OF the Young Peoples So
cial Union of the Christian Churches at the
Third Christian Church last night the
executive committee reported a recon-
mendation which was unanimously adopted
by the union. 1t was that the Christian
Endeavorers take up the work with the aid
of the union to raise $1,000 to assist the
West Indianapolis congregation to erect a
new church building. President Ralston,
of the local union, made a few remarks in
which he said If the members of the Chris
tan Endeavor Societies were TO work hard
they can easily raise the $1,000 by securing
subscriptions from 10 cents to $3.50. The
convention sermon was delivered by Rev.
G. G. Rowlinson, of the Third Christian
Church. He outlined the duties of the men,
bers of the Christian Endeavor Societies.
In part he said:
I'VE are too apt to think of the Christian
Endeavor as a society without realizing
what are the purposes and intent of its
movement. At times we give our sole at
tention to the society without regard to the
relations of the rest of the church. The
Christian Endeavor is not social club If
we go into it with that understanding we
miss the sole purpose and intent Of its or
ganization. The Christian Endeavor is an
organization for special Christian culture.
have seen great many of these societies
grow great deal, but not bear much fruit.
The time has come for us to bear fruit and
we do it by giving our aid to the West
Indianapolis congregation.
Many people do not enter into church
work with the right spirit. Many go into
the church for fear they will not go to
heaven. We have had 1T emphasized to us
to read the Bible and be religious and We
must support our church. We all have a
tendency to minimize the duties of our
pledge. He who lives In that line of his
duty utterly misapprehends the pledge and
will never grow into the church. Let us not
.linger but rise to the higher plane. Nom
members of, Christian Endeavor societies
give peculiar reasons for not entering into
the work. Some say they do not care to
join the society because their crowds are
not there and others say the pledge is too
binding. Take the pledge because you take
what you believe to be a Christian duty.
Take time from other things rather than
give time to your Christian duties instead
of to your own amusement In other lines.
THEATER, CARDS AND DANCING.
There has been great deal or talk
concerning the theater, cards and dancing
as connected with the lives of Christian
Endeavorers. The theater may be nice
thing, but don't know anything about the
other two. / am not here to say you cannot
do these and be Christians. but IL you give
your heart to these amusements you cam
not be good Christians. 1t is possible for
some people to go to a good, wholesome
play at a good theater without destroy
ing any of their Christian-like instincts,
but / have been on the street cars at
night, during the season just closed, and
followed the faces of the young people who
attended a certain theater here night after
night and the influence of their visits
were written on their faces the same as
the influence of liquor is written on the
face of the man intoxicated. The young
people attend such plays and live on the
unrealities which would destroy the spirit
of a saint. know people who go to dances
and they talk of nothing else for a week
afterward. There are a thousand ways we
can destroy our spiritual life. 1t is of
vital Importance for young people TO take
part in prayer meetings, for in doing this
we are brought into closer touch with the
church work. "piis1 DIE ,s"teSss -
The convention exercises began in the
afternoon with a praise service and re-
views of the junior and intermediate work.
E. s. Ames, of Irvington, was not able
to be present to deliver his address on ac-
count of the smallpox quarantine. Prof.
G. Il. Coleman made an address on Read
My Bible Every Day." Rev. A 3. Philputt
talked on Support of My Own Church"
Pastors of other churches made short TALKS.
Before the sermon in the evening there
was ,'uion Christian Endeavor prayer
meeting.