The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-02
PLYMOUTH CHURCH
REV. III. c. MESERVE'S LAST SERMON
IN THE OLD BUILDING.
He Discusses the Church in Retro
spect and Prospect'-Other
Church Services.

Rev. II. c. Meserve delivered the last
sermon in the Plymouth Congregational
Church yesterday morning before a large
congregation. A special musical pro-
gramme was given. Mr.. Meserve took for
his subject, Retrospect and Prospect" and
told the history of the church and pros
poets of the future. In part he said:
Evolution expects TO reckon with at
least two factors without which 1t Will
venture no conclusion, namely, heredity
and environment. Given these IT has sui
hcient data 10 form reliable opinion
concerning anything which lies within the
scope of its Investigations Now II we
Substitute for heredity that which in this
instance at least is nearly synonymous
term, history, we have the necessary fac-
tors by which man determines something
of the meaning Of the world, of society and
of his own life. The application of this
ourselves this morning will reveal, not the
eddieS of the great movement of which this
current which has borne it along to its
present position and given ii the power to
cope with its present problem.
FACED TWO CRISES.
plymouth Church has faced two crises
and is about to face third. 1t was born
in the stormy period of our Nations his
tory QS5O, and began at once to gather
strength the Nation gathered strength
for its mighty struggle. A quarter of
when the church removed from it's loca-
ton on the Circle 10 its present site, and
now the crisis is again before us we
go out from this place to take up our work
in some other favorable but at present I'M
known location.
These crises have been marked, too, by
different but complementary spirits. l at
tempt no exact definition, but would Sug
geSt that the first of these may be called
the militant spirit 1t was a time of
struggle for life and for principle. Political
churches those
and men had the courage of their conVic-
tionS and heSitated not TO show them when
uncertain stand upon the dominant
question of the day. Indeed the voice of
Plymouth has been no uncertain voice up
any question upon which it has felt
called to speak. 1t is true in the early days
that the questions of theology were lost
in the rush of events and that the church
content to be like all other churches
in this regard, but the struggle for life
at the very beginning and after the church
acquired property were facts far too po-
tent to be abandoned for the discussion
of theories. Then came the philanthropic
spirit. The church began a larger life.
1t came TO be unique in its life and work.
Responding to the appeal of it's leader il
began to preach and live the oneness of
life. He felt that no concern of man was
alien to the church, that in every depart
ment Of life, intellectual, social, civil,
we'll as that which is termed religious, the
church should have part. The city knows
the work that was done for our charity
system and the interest the church has
taken in all philanthrOpic problems. It's
religious life has been broad and free. The
idea has not been TO shut men up TO a
tain faith, but to introduce men into a lib
erty by which all men may be made free.
THE PROGRESSIVE SPIRIT.
1.-The spirit of this the third, crisis is
the progressive spirit. 1t gathers up all
the good of the past, it treasures the in
spirations of the past, but it expects to
advance beyond the mark of the older days.
This place is filled with sacred memories
to most Of you. 1t has touched the deep
est and best side of your life. You see
here to-day faces that you will never see
in the flesh again. You hear voices of
loved ones who have passed forever from
the activities of life. They were men and
women like TO us. They had their dreams
and met their defeats and accepted their
They accomplished much, but be sure that
do more They had plans never completed.
He who nObly led this people who
fought his doubts and gathered strength
continually, passed, full of unfulfilled hopes
for the good of this people and for the com
munity. These all bid us hope and to
enter into their labors. They bid us ad-
vance along the way of life and fill it
with blessing for all who pass. l dream
may the hope find speedy fulfillment-of
shall rise fair and beautiful and dedicated
to the service of man. Why not to God
do you say? Because there can be wor-
thy dedication to God our Father which is
not first made possible by a true service
for our brother man.