The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-16
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVED
MODERN wOODMEN HOLD MEETING
AT ST. PAUL'S VI. e. CHURCH.
apolis Join i'm service-Graves at
Crown Hill Decorated.

St Pauls NJ Z. Church, RAIDER and
Eugene streets, North Indianapolis, was
filled with members of the Modern Wood
men or America in a memorial service
arranged for departed members yesterday
afternoon. The ministers from the vari-
Gus churches in the suburb conducted the
service. The Rev. ]. Edward Brown, pas
tor of the Home Presbyterian Church. de-
lvered the sermon. The choirs from the
other churches rendered the music under
the direction of Frank Terwillegar. At
the conclusion OF the services at the church
the various camps of the order marched 10
Crown Hill, where ritualistic service was
held. followed by the decoration OF the
graves of departed members. DR.. Brown
said in part
at is with pleasure that l address my
self 20 you. To recall the virtues OF those
who have passed out OF this life is honored
in the observance. 1t is proper that
order have memorial day. well as a
nation. But my message to-day Is one
TO you, the living, rather than one con-
corning the dead, who have run their race,
who have fought their fight, and we trust
have been crowned victors by the Judge
of the quick and the dead. In the good
providence of God, Park Camp has lost
no members by death during the year past.
But this is an unusual experience even for
a camp so new as ours; and death is
a reaper who knows no time and who
reaps not only among the aged.
but among the young as well. 1t behoOves
u.s. therefore. to think earnestly of life as
time of probation, as school in which
we are TO be disciplined for the great life
10 come. l am glad in addressing men OF
our order, l am addressing men of the
church, men who recognize and own al
legiance first Of all and above all TO Jesus
Christ, the head of His church, the divine
Son of God and the Savior of the world.
| would to God that every Woodman of
Park Camp, and indeed of every camp in
our city and throughout the country. were
a disciple, a follower, a devout believer in
the Christ of God, our supreme Lord and
Master!
Your presence here in this sanctuary
and on this holy day is a tacit admission
that you believe life ought 10 have thrown
ABOUT II the sanctions or our molly religion,
that as men we can do no better than sit
at the feet OF Him who spake never
man spake From a minister OF His you
can expect nothing, you ought TO expect
nothing other than a Christian message.
one spoken in the consciousness that we
are ambassadors of Christ. and must be
true 10 our Master and commission.
If L understand the purpose of the many
orders which men have formed. IL is none
other than 70 realize and promote the same
social well-being which Christ taught and
which His church teaches and ought TO
teach more and more. The order does not
exist for itself any more than the church
exists for itself. The order is an incarna-
ton OF the principle Of brotherhood, men
DO not live unto themselves or ought not so
to do. The church of Jesus Christ embodies
or lncarnateS the same principle. The diff
ference between these two institutions as
conceive il, is chiefly a two-fold difference
They differ in the nature Of their founda-
ton or authority, and in their methods Of
miniStering to men. The authority of the
one Is human. the other divine. The one
lnculcates truth by positive precept de-
rived clearly from a divine revelation. the
other inculcates useful lessons by means Of
symbol and sign and allegory. The one
ministers principally 10 the physical and
social man, the other 10 the social and the
spiritual man. There is not essentially and
there ought not 10 be any antagonism be-
tween the order and the church. The prin-
ciple OF benevOlence and brotherhood for
which the order stands is but one OF the
principles for which the church OF Christ
stands. Who shall find fault because this
principle has found incarnation In hun
dred orders2 on the other hand we ought to
glory in the church OF Christ as an institu-
ton which stands for every principle and
virtue and grace that can ennoble man IN
this life and prepare him for never-ending
life OF bliss and glory. We shall be stronger
for recognizing the difference in the spheres
of order and church. The is not and
may not be a substitute for the other
| That churchman is narrow and illiberal
who says the order does not subserve an
important end; that orderman is narrow
and illiberal who does not recognize that
the church Of Jesus Christ is the conserver
and promoter of all that makes for right
eousness ard civilization, art and literature
and education and pure religion and good
life