The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-18
Special Services Held at the Young
Mems Christian Association
i'm This City.
ADDRESS BY REV. F. o. BALLARD
REV. II. j.. vILLERS'S MEMORIAL
SERMON AT BAPTIST.
Rev. R. v. Hunters Tribute nj the
Seventh Presbyterian-Neetings
Held Throughout the State.

Memorial services over the death of
General Harrison were held In the audi
forum Of the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION building yesterday afternoon. The
meeting was for men only. as 1t was
feared the seating capacity of the room
would be overtaxed, but there were a few
women present.
Mr.. T. c. Day, who presided. said: MY
friends. We have met this afternoon to
Jesus Christ upon the heart and charac-
ter or the great man whom we mourn
to-day. The daily press throughout the
Nation, the orators and various Organiza-
lions by their resolutions have been speak
ing TO us, in eloquent passages, of Gen
eral Harrison's greatness of intellect, his
greatness as a statesman and greatness
as a patriot, but in the hour we spend
together this afternoon we are to con-
slider Benjamin Harrison as a great Chris
tan, not that he was ostentatious with
his Christianity. or made a display of his
religion, but that i'm his early life he
decided the great question, which every
man must decide for himself sooner or
later, What shall be my relations to Jesus
Christ? He decided to be a Christian,
and throughout his busy life he was a
Nazareth Not many weeks before his
death L was walking up Meridian street
In company with General Harrison. while
he was giving his views of a public ques-
ton. Said he: 1t is not what We would
like, to do nor what the people would like
10 have done, but the question is. Is Il
right? IL occurred TO me then. and / be-
heve now that that expression is IL right
was the guiding principle of General Har-
rison's life. He brought every question
given TO him to solve to the bar of his
conscience, and tried TO answer it by that
rule. 1t has been said that General Har-
rison, In every phase of his life. can be
held up as a model for young men to imi-
tate. Surely in his faith in God. his rev.
erence. for Gods word, and unblemished
christian life he was an example for us
ALL"
After the reading of a scripture lesson by
Rev. c. Z. Bacon. of Roberts Park Church.
and a song by the quartet from the First
Baptist Church, Rev. Frank O.. Ballard. of
Memorial Presbyterian Church, delivered
the address. He said it was especially be-
fitting to have memorial services in honor
of General Harrison because he was a
stanch m of the association and was
once president of the local branch of the
y. NJ. c. A. He said the election of Ben
jamin Harrison as president of the asso-
citation occurred when he was twenty-six
years old. which was the first time the
title president" had been conferred upon
him. and after that date he had been
elected not only to the highest office of
many other associations, societies and or
CARNATIONS, but to the presidency of the
United States, the highest office the people
Of his country could give him.
The Rev. Mr.. Ballard first gave a brief
review Of the ex-President's life before
taking up his subject proper. He said the
newspapers and public comment had told
much about General Harrison's personality
relating to political. industrial and social
life hIf as n Christian no had not haap
discussed. To this particular and promi-
nent feature of the statesman's character
Mr.. Ballard said he would confne his re-
marks. 1--WE may well think of the .inhu-
ence and life of General Harrison" he
said. "as q Christian man. 1 consider such
a Christian the very best defense for ad-
verse commentary against Christianity. II
is the very best proof and is conclusive
argument in defense of individual Chris
tianlty itself. In this man is the proof
that the Christian is a real life" He said
General Harrison decided that he would be
a Christian early in life and placed his
trust in God, and he continued to have
that same implicit trust TO the end. His
is the finished life of a finished Christian"
he said. "and such a life proves that Chris
tianity is true"
Continuing, he said: HE believed in the
common doctrine of Christianity. Ii is not
church. We are all the same. He loved
the sweetness of the Christian faith. This
intellect, which had such a grasp OF juris-
prudence; this intellect, which had such a
grasp of politics; this intellect, which had
such a grasp of matters of state and the
powers that belong to craftsmanship, was
also an intellect that grasped Christianity.
His thought was I'm the thing which he be-
lieved. III a man does not put his faith in
something that is a conviction he is a
weak man. He believed In Christianity the
same as the humblest in faith. He was not
ashamed to be identified with Christian So
c~ieties, religion and missions.
I'm addition to this immutable faith in
Christianity he had an unalterable trust
In God. He had a simple faith. If you find
a man exceedingly difficult to understand
and to know he is not a great man. What
we need is simplicity itself and faith in
God. These are the things that make men
great" The minister said he obeyed his
conscience in all things. obeyed the inward
voice which says this do General Har-
rison's interest and identity with public
affairs, he said, were worthy of imitation.
He finished by saying that Andrew Car
negie had recently given $6.000.O00 for the
founding of libraries. but General Harrison
had given more to the world than 10000