The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-29
RECALLED DAYS OF OLD
SERMON OF REV. j. II. COwAN, A
PRESBYTERIAN PASTOR.
"Pastor for Twenty Years I'm Indian
apoJis" Was the Subject of
the DISCOURSE.

Yesterday morning at Woodruff-avenue
United Presbyterian Church, Rev. J. P.
Cowan. the oldest pastor in point of serv-
Ice I'm the city, delivered a sermon to a
larCe congregation on Pastor for Twenty
Years in Indianapolis" His text was: al
have considered the days of old, the years
Of ancient time" In part he said II have
been pastor in this city for twenty years.
not long time, comparatively. but long
enough to be the oldest pastor In service
in the city; long enough for young man
TO grow into the meridian of life and learn
some lessons from it's environments.
Twenty years ago there but 10000 people in
indianapolis. now there are nearly three
times that many. Twenty years ago the
foundations of the Statehouse were being
laid and Monument Place was occupied by
a few shade trees and a wooden pump.
Now we have the magnificent monument.
and the English block has taken the place
of inferior buildings. The old jail is a
thing Of the past. The erection of Tom
linson Hall and the market buildings with
innurnerable other changes have come
about as IL by magic. There have been
changes innumerable. When I first came to
the city the great lawyers here were
Thomas A. Hendricks John NJ. Butler,
Major Gordon and General Harrison, all of
whom, with the exception Of the latter,
have passed away Another remarka BILE
thing is that all the Governors of this Pc
Rod have passed away. Williams, Porter,
Gray. Hovey. Chase and Mathews have
entered into their long sleep.
The churches and pastors as I knew
them twenty years ago are still fresh In
my memory. The pastor OF Christ Church,
Rev. Bradley. a good preacher and organ
izer, loved by his people, worked himself
to DEATH Rev. Morey was in the old
Third Presbyterian Church, now known as
Tabernacle Church. The Rev. j. Sanders
Feed was the pastor of ST. Paurs Epis-
copal Church, but found himself out of
harmony with his congregation and re-
manned but short time. Rev. II. j. Tai
oott, pastor Of the Meridian-street Church,
was a good preacher whose name seldom
appeared in the papers, but he accom-
plsned much good In the community. The
the ground now occupied by the north side
or the English block, facing Meridian
street The pastor was Rev. Oscar Nc
CoIloch and he was thoroughly in love
with church organization. of which he was
the leading spirit of the time. His great
work In the city was in connection with
tneSe organizations, and he emphasized the
work of the charity organizations by build
ing Its office in front of his pulpit. 1t was
great work, but 1t would have been
greater had the charity organizations of
this city been built up Independent of the
cnurches, the same as the City Hospital.
Rev Myron w. Reed was pastor of the
First Presbyterian Church and was In the
zenith OF his power. He was a brilliant,
erratic, Independent man, with many fol-
lowers but few lovers. The Pastor of the
First Baptist Chuch was the Rev. Henry
Z. Mabie, a good preacher and a great or
ganizer He organized the young men of
Yoke Fellows. and it has been the strength
of the church ever since. The Rev. A. w.
Bartlett, pastor of the Second Presbyterian
Church. was the greatest literary light
that has ever been in Indianapolis during
this period of time. He afterward went
to Washington. laid aside his manuscript,
changed his method of preaching and
worked himself into a physical wreck.
1.-The Central Christian Church twenty
years ago was located at Delaware and
Ohio streets. Shortly after L came here
the Rev. David Walk became the pastor,
but the great work of the congregation was
done during this period by the Rev. d. r.
Lucas, the best known minister in Indianap-
oils, or in the State. Rev. Vernon occupied
the pulpit OF Roberts Park Church and was
strong preacher and a lovable man.
Twenty years ago the Third Christian
Church was q struggling organization, but
through the efforts of Rev. ID. X. Van
k
DR.. Cowan mentioned the names of other
churches and pastors, among them
the South-street Baptist Church and
the Fletcher-place NJ. E. Church,
and also called attention to the
fact that twenty years ago there
were no churches east of Massachu-
sets avenue and the Big -Four tracks, run
ming north and south to Washington street
After giving a number of "reminiscences
of the churches of the city In the last
twenty years. DIR. Cowan said that while all
of the churches had made progress they
had not kept pace with the progress of the
city. Said he: I'm the first place, the civil
war had an effect on the city. Indianapo-
lis was the camping ground of the larger
part of the soldiers of the State. 1t was
the great gateway to the seat of war. Be-
sides, this city has been the storm center
of politics and il has also been one of the
greatest convention cities in this country,
and the people have imbibed the influence
from all of these things. The public schools
Of this city have made wonderful progress
In literature, art, music and methods of
teaching, so that our boys and girls COM
pare favorably with the freshmen of the
best colleges. From all OF this the lesson
comes once more that 1t is earnest heart
work and heart life. in connection with
intellectual attainment which brings the
largest success to the Church OF Jesus
Christ"