The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
CHURCH OF THE PEOPLE
PLANS OF DIR. HIRAM w. THOMAs's
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION.
Theaters and Halls To BE Used for
Services-Dr. Minton TO Remain
i'm san Francisco.
special 70 he IndIanapolIs journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
NEW YORK. Nov. At now seems
probable that the s, 10000 which was given
10 the Peoples Church., Of which the
Rev DR.. Hiram w. Thomas is the head,
viii by the time it is available grow 10
double the amount namedf DR.. Thomas,
who has devoted over twenty years Of his
life to the work, has resigned the pastOrate
Of the local Chicago organization in order
that he may give all his energies TO the
national one. 1t is stated by Mr.. Percival
Hunter. the treasurer Of the church, that
the money Will be available next February
and that it will be used, as may be re-
euired, 10 help Peoples churches all over
the country. He says however that money
viii not be given to form such churches.
and that the only way in which aid can be
obtained from the central organization is
by the raising Of money locally. Any
amounts thus raised by new churches. or
ganized along the lines OF the original Chi
cago church, will be duplicated by the ma
uonal organization. 1t is not the plan 10
erect church buildings, but rather TO hold
Sunday services in theaters, halls and
other places used for secular purposes on
week days. Or. Thomas. who originated
the plan, thinks that many people would
attend religious services but they do not
like the idea of going to Church" Up to
the present time no churches have been or
ganized other than in Chicago; at least,
none has asked for any Of the money TO
be distributed from there. In that city,
however, there are seven or eight churches
organized along the lines OF the original
Peoples church. These are similar in plan
and doctrine. They are not orthodox, al
though many Of their. adherents come from
the Methodist body. Their local govern
ment is vested in boards Of deacons and
trustees, they observe the sacrament OF the
Lords supper twice yearly and children
are baptized annually at Easter.
XXX
Several attempts have been made since
he became moderator Of the Presbyterian
General Assembly last May to induce the
Rev. DIR. Henry Collin Minton TO accept
the pastOrate Of Eastern churches. He is
professor of systematic theology in the
San Francisco Theological Seminary and
one of the leading Presbyterians on the
coast. He has thus far declined all offers.
saying that he was elected moderator as
the representative of Western Presby-
terians and that il is but right that he
should remain on the coast during his term
of office The probability now Is that he
Will remain there for some time TO come,
for another member Of the faculty OF the
seminary has resigned TO become pastor or
Rutgers Presbyterian Church, of New
York, and his retirement will be used TO so
readjust matters at the seminary that DR..
Mintons position viii be much more i'm
portant and much more lucrative than IL
now is. The Rev. Dr. Alexander MacKen-
zie, who leaves. has the chair of apollo
getfcs, which has an endowment OF 100000,
while that of DR.. Minton has but $4,000 en-
dOwment- Both are leaders in their de-
nomination. and 1T is stated that one OF the
reasons why Dr. Mackenzie is TO 20 TO
New York is in order that DIR. Mnton's
position may be made much better that
he will not leave San Francisco. The semi
nary there is doing very important work
in training coast ministry something
which leaders in all religious bodies recog-
nize as a necessity to coast evangelization
XXX
Reports from all over the country indi-
cate that great interest Is being taken in
the plan Of the twentieth century national
gospel campaign. and hundreds Of churches
have already sent word to the chairman
of the central committee Mr.. William Phil
lips Hall, that they will observe the week
of Nov. 10 as week of special prayer for
the success of the campaign, and many OF
them will follow the week with special serv-
ices in the endeavor to arouse a wide
spread religious awakening. All sections
Of the country are represented by these
churches from the Pacific to the Atlantic,
and unless present signs fail the move
ment will be much more potent this year
than last, when IL was first organized.