The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-09
In TENTS AND THEATERS
CHURCH WORKERS ADOPT NEW
WAYS or REACHING SINNERS.
Canvas Houses Of Worship for sum
Aim Of the New Peoples Church.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK. June. S-An effort is max
ing TO organize Christian open-air work
ers in this country. and TO increase the
number OF evanselists who provide them
selves with tents. Philadelphia and few
other cities are TO have tent campaigns
this summer and tent makers report
larger demand this year than heretofore
both for tents for independent work, and
for awnings and coverings in yards adj
Joining churches. the notion obtaining that
people viii attend services in such places
when they Will not enter church In
England there are two organizations for
this work and 1t is upon the English model
that the proposed American Christian tent
workers will form their organization An
appeal has been made for $1,000 TO be used,
not i'm the purchase of tents but for the
prOpagd cation OF the idea, and the education
OF evangelists for this sort OF religious
campaigning.
The pioneers OF this outdoor work are the
Baptists and COngregati onalists OF Lon
don. In that city no fewer than twenty
four large tents will be employed this sum
mer, each seating from 800 10 1000 persons.
They are pitched on vacant lots, in public
squares, in every section of the city and
suburbs. Not even the driStOcratic West
End is omitted An evangelist OF expert
ence IS placed IN charge OF each, ana there
are good singers in abundance. When at
tendance wanes in one place. removal 10
another follows. About 10000 a season is
spent in the work There is also open
air mission. fully organized. with an in
come OF 5000 year. that sends tents 10
race courses, fairs, military encampments,
the seaside resorts, and everywhere. The
meetings are very evangelical, but not SEN
sational England Is reported thoroughly
aroused this spring, some say excited, over
religion and temperance. The undertaking
on this side is TO have national organiza-
tiop 10 foster work here similar TO that in
England in summer.
The aim of the Peoples Church of Amer
ica new national organization started in
Illinois, will be TO preach the gospel in the
theaters of every great city OF the United
States Instead of lingering in fashionable
suburbs and residence districts, the new
church viii carry the sign OF the cross
into the playhouses and pleasure grounds
OF the American people. The idea is TO
gather into the theaters of the various
cities men and women who are devoted to
Christianity but independent of sectarian
dogma and practice. The success of DR..
Thomass Sunday services at McNickers
Theater, chicago, Il said TO nave attracted
the favorable notice of many Christian
men. and thus far the only obstacle TO
large cash contributions for the work has
been the lack of a recognized organization.
The Sunday congregations which have
greeted the efforts of DR.. Thomas in Nc
Vicker's Theater, of DR.. Gunsaulus in the
Studebaker Jheater and OF DIS Acton ana
Salter in other playhouses of Chicago fur
nished these several evangelists with the
motive for the present organization.
Some Presbyterians are saying. perhaps
unadvisedly, that Moderator Mnton. of the
General Assembly. made the most of his
opportunity to appoint the additional men,
bers of the creed revision committee. lie
Is a conservative, and Is said to have
named only conservative men. In his De
CALF. however. it Is said that his appoint
ments represent what seems TO have been
the sentiment of the late Assembly. All of
the pronounced liberals are followers from
the old committee-PTssident Stewart, of
Auburn Seminary. the Rev DR. =. +.
Sprecher, of Cleveland, the Rev. Or. Her
rick Johnson of Chicago, the Rev. DR..
Henry Van])yke, of Princeton, and Justice
Harlan. of the Supreme Court. The new
committee is called to meet in Pittsburg.
the 18th inst. The belief is expressed that
1t WIZ take the 1892 report as basis, and
that IL will be able TO frame report which
the next Assembly will adopt.
That venerable Pole. Cardinal Ledochow-
sky, whom Pope Plus TX elevated under
dramatic circumstances. is now practically
blind. and will. it is announced. soon resign
as project of the Propaganda He will be
succeeded by Cardinal Satolli former dele
gate at Washington, who has long dis
charged the duties of the position, owing
to the growing feebleness of the aged Pole
II is through the Propaganda that business
or English-speaki nations Is transacted
able to understand English, a fact which
has accelerated matters in the Propaganda
recently. TO the relief of American bishops,
who have heretofore been compelled to put
their correspondence into Italian, not al
ways an easy task for Celt and Teuton.
1t is now said to be settled that the Rev
DR.. Thomas +. Kennedy. professor of dog
matte theology and Latin at the ST. Charles
BarrOmec Seminary, Overlook. Pa is to
be the new rector of the American College
In Rome. This college. as is well known.
is one of nineteen maintained by different
natlonaliticS under the supervision and a
part of the work of the congregation of
the Propaganda. the great missionary body
OF the Roman Catholic Church. In 1873 the
italian government tried TO get hold of the
property OF the college. as 1t did of all
property Of religious societies in Rome
and since then the college and all American
possessions IN Rome and it's suburbs have
been placed in the name of five American
afchbishoDS, and 10 this committee has
been given the absolute administration of
the college. The nomination of a new rec
tor will be made by Cardinal Gibbons.