The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-24

limit can find no better place for its friends
and enemies to urge their opposing claims.
church toward the social life OF its men,
bers, hefe is the place TO discuss them
Indeed there is no better forum for the
interchange of our ideas than a social or
ganization of our church people.
''Oae of the best results of these gather
ings lis the opportunity 1t gives for preach
ers and laymen to meet with each other.
Has II ever occurred TO you tnat we laymen
do not often get a chance to look at our
preachers in the same way we look at other
menf Even when We entertain them IN our
own homes IL is not easy TO rid ourselves
of certain quasi ecclesiastical feeling.
We hardly meet a men, but rather as pas
tor and parishioner and the view we have
of Our beloved but dignified pastor In the
church socials, where he is the only cleri-
cal member of the gathering, and all the
more clerical because he is the only one.
he really is. Here We meet in totally dif-
fereIit way Here we not pastor and
people. We are simply men, brothers In
comInon brotherhood.
iSOCIAL UNION IN CHICAGO.
.If 1 may be allowed TO speak to you of
the workings of our Social Union in Chi
cago 1 would speak of things it has done
in a. practical way. In Chicago we have
many poor churches and you must have
| then. here. The Chicago Methodist Social
Union found many of our churches saddled
with an enormous debt. aggregating some
$4,000. and believing that the feeling OF
Christian brotherhood could not reach
very exalted state so long as those OF us
who are able to render aid allowed these
churches TO struggle on with this mass OF
debt, instituted a movement which re-
suited in the raising of a fund which
cleaie ed this debt away.
1T is easy to make such union a social
| club for the well-to-do members OF our de-
nominations. Do not bind yourselves with
oh RI h0f
merely a rich mems club. Some OF the best
brains and some of the most companionable
| and social natures are TO be found among
| our members who sit in the out-of-the-way
pewS and would sit in better ones IL they
| could afford TO pay for them.
let y09r s s1sai ue serY,c seTve no
| TO be the beautiful things they really are.
| If our young people could only appreciate
this! 1t is we'll worth the QUESTIONABLE we.
| by strained ideas Of what duty consists or.
| making the service of the Lord seem an UNI
! grateful service, hard service. a renuncia-
ton. of delights for which the God or
nature has implanted in US keen desire? Are
We not failing TO grasp fully we might
the great truth that God has placed US IN
a world OF beautiful flowers that delight
! the eye and crafty every sense. and that
he desires US TO pluck these flowers ana
not spurn them and tTample them uncer our
feet2 Christ said that He came that We
1 might have life and have IL more abundant
| ly. Let US live abundant lives. opening 10
ourselves every avenue through which
/ hcalRn1ul pleasure anu ntdl SplIitUdi
| profit may come 10 Us. Let make our
! example and our teaching clear that the
| young men and women, many OF whom
| are 4eaving our church and hocking 10 otn-
| er denominations, may see that the infiu-
ence OF the Methodist Church. while stead
| tasty fighting all that comes of evil, WEI
| COMES the proper exercise OF every God
| given right and privilege We possess"
JUDGE HORTON TALKS.
Mr.. Farson was followed by Judge Oliver
II. Horton. president OF the Social Union
| in Chicago. who spoke on the Mission OF
the Social Union Judge Horton said one
frequently hears that the Methodist Church
is hot a friend of the workingman. but
that he wished TO say that IL there ever
| was a church that is friend of the work
, ingTnan. it is the Methodist Church lie
| also said that he thought IL the duty OF the
| Methodist Church 10 take care OF ministers
| who have become superannuated and 10
| keep them from want.
| Tie Rev. DR. Mitchell was the last speaker
| and spoke on THE Mission of Methodist
| The mission OF a Methodist Is, said he.
| Ito be the avowed enemy OF the liquor
| business and do all in his power 10 stamp II
| out Another mission of the Methodist
| Is TO further education. To-day the Meth
| odists have more money invested In educa-
tional facilities than any other denomina-
tioE.