The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-24

former pastors and with the present pastor:
DIR. Kellogg. and told story illustrative OF
the ambition of the two churches-each 10
be larger, bigger and grander than the
other.
DR.. A. b. Philputt. pastor of the Central
Christian Church devoted his time 10 tell
ing stories OF the peculiar mikes between
the two churches that he has known he
enumerated a number of incidents wnere
confusion in the names of the churches
were responsible for laughable results he
said that his board of church trustees nau
on more than one occasion received bllis
OF the Central Methodist Episcopal Churcn
TO be paid by the Central Christian Church,
and he hoped that DR.. Kellogg had ex-
perienced the same thing end paid the bills,
and not did as he, mailed them TO their
proper destination. DR.. Philputt also spoke
OF the pleasant and cordial relations Oh ms
church and the church celebrating its TWEEN
ty-fifth anniversary
FRATERNAL FEELING.
DR.. A. j. Brown, pastor of the First
Friends Church spoke after Mr. Philputt
and said that the growth and good condi-
ton of the Central-avenue Church had been
an inspirat ton to himself and congrega-
ton. The progress made and the present
condition of the church always had to him
been a sort of guiding ambition to work
harder for his church, ne said. The Cen
tral-avenue Church, in its parish work and
charitable methods of dealing with persons
belonging not only to that church, but to
others. was good example to be followed.
he said, and he had been benefited by 1t as
an example.
DR.. II. C. Meserve, pastor of the Plym-
outh Congregational Church, preached for
few minutes in one of the most scholarly
impromptu addresses ever made in the
church. He started with a quotation from
ing this talked on the church and what il
stood for. The ideal OF Christianity a
well-educated ministry and properly
equipped church. with an intelligent and
believing laity, were all that could be hoped
for, Mr.. MeserVe said, and the Central
avenue Church. DR.. Kellogg and the mem
bers of the congregation are these. He
congratulated the church on its blrthday
and wished ii many more which would
record equally as much development as
the present one.
Following DR.. Meserve, Bishop Warren,
of Denver. spoke. Bishop Warren said IT
gave him pleasure to preach to such an in
telligcnt congregation from the pulpit OF
church celebrating twenty-five years Of
The services were presided over by DIR.
Kellogg, who closed with prayer and
short song service.
THE EVENING SERMON.
Hillary a. Goblin. president of De PAW
University. preached the evening sermon.
and said i'm part:
''In the apostles creed which we now
repeat IN every morning service occurs the
declaration. 1 believe in the communion
of saints What meaning do we give to
this expression? L fear we often repeat
IL without realizing its full import
THE Roman Catholic Church teaches
three phases of church life. the church
triumphant in heaven. the church militant
on earth and the church suffering in purga-
tory. These three constitute one body,
so that there is unity in the three.
I'm the Catholic Church the communion
OF saints means that there is fellowship
and intercession between the saints in
heaven and on earth Each can pray for
the other and each receives blessing from
the other We must not look with disdain
upon the doctrine that il is permissible
for saints on earth to have fellowship by
prayer and intercession with the saints in
heaven.
THE Scripture doctrine of communion of
saints means much more than the fellow
ship of Christian with Christian, whether
on earth or in heaven. The apostle John
said: Our fellowship is with the Father
and His son Jesus Christ One of the
most precious privileges of prayer is not
that We ask God for favors, but rather
that we commune with Him. We realize
without words His will concerning us We
are strengthened and inspired to live the
life most pleasing to Him.
what is IL to have fellowship with
Christ? He dwells in light. the light of
superior wisdom. grace and goodness. If
we walk In the light as He is in the light
we have fellowship one with another We
are brought into similarity of tastes pref
erenceS, work and SatiSfactionS not by
processes of repression and restriction but
rather by elevation, power and divine love.
Communion of saints means not only
Fellowship with Christians, but in some
mysterious and blessed way with the
angels II is a great thing to be identi-
fed In spirit and purpose with the great
minds OF earth, but we are also in union
With tt the greatest t minds of heaven Let us
not rear that IL Is superstition to believe
in angels. II there are no beings between
man and God, what desert is the universe
God Is not the God of the dead but the
God or the living. He delights in life, life
everywhere, life in endless varieties AS
there are so many varieties of life below
US is II incredible that there are many va
rieties of life above human life? The
Bible teaches that angels are interested in
US. They rejoice when we are converted.
They minister to us i'm our SORROWS They
desire TO look into the plan of our saliva
because ii is glorious The communion OF
saints means, therefore, that in some way
we are united in sympathy and co-oDera-
ton with all the high intelligences of heav-
en-the Father, the Son, the HOLY Shirt
the angels, apostles, martyrs and ali the
redeemed and glorified of every age and
every land
THE most natural conception of the
communion of saints is the friendships thai
should exist among Christians. This should
be intensely real and practical 1t should
not De polluted by discrimination or married
Dy selfshness. 1t should be expressed in
sympathy and cooperation in trouble. en-
enlargement in temptation and apprecia-
ton of all efforts to do right.
Thls friendship is not to be so exclusive
as TO be forgetful of the duties we owe 10
all mankind. whether Christians or not II
1t means coldness or neglect toward any
human being, however defective or degrad.
ed, II is not Christlike. In this we are moi
walking in the light as He is in the light
communion of the saints means united ef.
forts to make more saints, to bring all mer
aali varieties of men-into fellowship with
Christ.
There is bright side to this doctrine
IL Is not all duty. Communion of saints
means that we are TO partake of the gifts
graces, talents and achievements of all
saints In the present time as well as i'm the
past. >
Now, as we so often repeat Il believe
IN the communion of saints let us more
| fully enjoy its blessings and perform its
duties" ~ us
FROM PIGS FEET TO PUSHES