The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-14
THE CLOSING MEETING.
Rev. WILDER =. Sheridan Addresses
the EpwOrthians.

the EpwOrthians.
The farewell meeting of the Epworth-
ians, held in Tomlinson Hall last night.
was the occasion of a brilliant address by
the Rev. WILDER S. Sheridan, pastor of
Trinity NJ. f. Church, Louisville. Mr..
Sheridan appealed to the delegates TO give
better personal service to the cause of
Christ His address was a plea for the
maintenance of the right ideal in church
work-the helping of the lowly and suffer-
ing. He said:
You will leave this place TO face men
and women who have other ideas Of life
than your own. You will go back TO the
world where there is a constant and bitter
struggle for selfish existence. There is
struggle everywhere. Il is in the animate
and in the inanimate world. 1t is in the
industrial world. Even now terrible in
dustrial conflict is brooding-a conflict to
secure the very necessaries of life. We
have prosperous times now but panics are
liable to come and commercial depression
that will bring out the worlds suffering
in all its gloomy colors. One of the things,
my fellow Epworthians, that you and 1
will have TO do, if our faith is to be more
than a religion for the well-to-do, is to go
out and sympathize with and help those
who are caught in the clutches Of the ter
rible struggle that is everywhere.
1.-The average man believes absolutely IN
the selhshness of his fellow-men. When
ever man does anything good they say;
We'll there is something in it for him.
They repeat with glee the old saying:
Every man for himself and the devil take
the hindmost. 1t is this feeling that
people whom the struggle has touched to
the quick. But there is another struggle
going on-a struggle that is kindly and
humanitarian-a struggle for life. There
is an instinct in the animal world and
among men that prompts living things
TO protect and care for and save the weak.
1t is this struggle that will eventually win
and which will in the end counterfeit the
effects of the selfish strife. In men and in
animals God has implanted the spirit or
saving others. The struggle TO save the
lives Of others has it's origin in the life and
teachings of Jesus Christ. He left behind
Him a league Of pity TO go out and minister
to men. Whenever the church has been
true to this ideal it has lived and pros
pered and men have blessed it. Whenever
il has failed to keep that ideal before it 1T
has failed and the shackles and tears OF
men have borne eloquent witness 10 the
travesty upon religion. Men see quickly
when church is failing to do the work IT
should; when ii seeks worldly things in
stead of the eternal and living truths.
They then hold il in contempt and its use
fulness is at an end There is a difference
between Christianity and churchianity.
sect down from this mount of transf1g-
uration and put your arm around the suf-
fering and dying. 1t Is unselfish labor that
has done the great things of the world. 1t
was unselfish labor that gave America her
independence and gave Switzerland hers.
II was unselfsh labor that made Martin
Luther the father of Professionalism; that
made Coligny and Cromwell bulwarks of
the faith in their oppressed lands.
IF there is any motto that l would sug-
gest TO the members of this league it would
be: Act my best every day for God
GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS.
Now when you go back to your homes,
don't go with the idea that you cannot do
| anything of value there Don't think the
| community you live in and the church
you work in are so dead and slow that
| there is not valuable service awaiting you.
That would be great mistake The great
est ACHIEVEMENTS in history have originated
| in humble surroundings"
The report of the committee on resou-
| tions was read to the leaguers. 1t is as
| follows:
Whereas, In the providence of God we
| are now near the close of one of the most
| spiritual State conventions that we have
| held since the beginning of our organic
| alton, the spirit of Christ having prevailed
/ at all of our services; the sermons and
| songs having been inspiring; the various
| speeches uplifting; souls having been born
! into the kingdom and our hearts having
| been strangely warmed, be il,
| Resolved, That we lift our hearts and
voices in praise and thanksgiving TO our
| Heavenly Father that he would thus bless
| us. We believe in our pledges: The high
est New Testament standard of experience
| and life for every Lacquer. If time would
| permit we feel that individual mention
| should be made of every one that has
/ helped make this convention a success. We
| return our heartiest thanks to the Roberts
| Park, Meridian-street and First Baptist
| Churches for the use of their structures
| Resolved, That with clearer vision than
| ever recognize the iniquity of the
/ saloon with a deeper conviction declare
| our sense of duty to oppose It; and with
| firmer determination announce our purpose
| to fight il till it be in our midst no more.
| THAT we recognize with satisfaction and
| solemnity the present opportunity and re-
| sponsibility TO use the blanket remon-
| strances under our laws as now interpreted
| and township, and pledge ourselves without
| reserve to this work. Full information as
Rev. f. G. Saunderson. 70 Baldwin Block
| Indianapolis, superintendent of Indiana
| Anti-SalOOn League.
THAT we firmly believe that an earnest
| and well-informed Christian citizen car
| more than match the baleful POLITICAL IN.
| fluence em2nating from the saloon TC
| this end let Christian patriots be active
and efficient, not only that no prohibitivt
| feature of present law be tempered with
| but chat the law afford increasing facility
| for saloon exclusion, till well-organized anc
| determined sentiment and State law unite
| to free the State from the traffic in rum
| I'VE would not forget the press for its
| splendid and accurate report of the con.
| vention. Finally, we believe in the Indiana
| Hospital. We would recommend that every
| league in the State do it's best toward max
| ing the great enterprise a success. Lee
| L 600 brick, or more, from every chapter
| be our motto. We would suggest that {
| free will offering be taken tonight for thai
| work
| GEORGE S. HENNINGER, Chairman
| DIR. l.. w. Munhall, of PHILADELPHIA
| closed the convention with exhortatior
| to the leaguers to go back to their homes
and take up the work with freshly inspired
| hearts.
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