The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-25
Three Thousand Persons Attend the
Impressive Services Conducted
I'm "God's Acre."
ADDRESS BY DIR. J. H. BICKFoRD
LESSONS DRAWN POINTING TO THE
WAY of ETERNAL LIFE.
Music by q Band and n Mixed Quartet
-Omcers and Plans of the Gene
terry Association.

staff Correspondence Of the Journal.
ANDERSON, Ind, May A.-Beautiful
Maplewood, Anderson's future city of the
dead, was dedicated this afternoon with
the eloquence of a gifted orator, with
prayer that fell from fervent lips, and with
the sweet melody of sacred music. Solemn.
impressive and intensely interesting were
the exercises that were listened to by three
thousand persons.
Maplewood, with its wealth of shade and
it's luxurious meadow land. lies high above
the city. little over mile north of An
derson- 1t slopes gently from the north.
reaching almost to the winding and pic
turesque White river. The tract which is
to be devoted to cemetery use includes
about ZIG acres. A more beautiful spot
could scarcely be selected as a resting
place for the dead. The master hand Of
landscape gardener Is already seen in the
grounds, and the place Is to be made yet
more attractive The Maplewood Gene
terry Association has followed the methods
of Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, and
other similar organizations. which have
proved satisfactory and successful.
The officers Of the association are Will
liam H. Stanton, president; John p Sears,
secretary; George E. Nichol. treasurer; ex-
John p. Sears. John H. Terhune, James ].
Netterville. Charles L. Henry; trustees.
George Lilly. John H. Terhune. William II.
Stillwell. Albert A. Small James A. Van
Osdol, John L. Forkner, James Yelling
ton; Willis s, Ellis. John P. Sears. George
Z. Nichol. Charles l.. Henry. Dale ]. Crit
tenberger,. William H. Stanton.
The dedicatory exercises took place this
afternoon at 2:s6 O'Clock. They were held in
seats had been constructed for the accom-
modation of a large concourse. The prin-
cipal address was by the Rev. John H.
Bickford. of Wilkesbarre, Pa. who was
Church, of Anderson. Governor Durbin
was on the programme for an address, but
could not be present. William II. STAN
ton, president OF the association, presided.
The exercises opened with music by the
Citizens band, followed by a selection by a
quartet composed of Mrs. l.. L. Langell,
MISS Mrs H. ehe In Miispaush Hs The Re@ RnSs Miiam ann
Smith, Of the First Baptist Church, deliv-
cred the invocation. The address by Mr..
Bickford was an grafton filled with golden
that are promised In the Christian religion.
IT was not sermon, yet 1t was full of
the spirit of the Master Mr.. Bickford
talked to people he had known before. He
had shared with them their joys and their
sorrows and told them before of the life
beyond the grave.
noon," he said, Ito say some words and coin
some memory by which this silent city
of the dead shall occupy In our thoughts a
dignifie6 and proper place let be per-
suaded with the beginning of this hour that
We are not nominated to death, but we
are candidates every one for eternal life. :.
The speaker congratulated the assembled
people on having in their community the
| men who undertook this great task and
pushed IL to a successful termination. Fur
| ther on in his address he said II was easy
| for a man to become pessimiStic. Perhaps
| he shall have to struggle little to be op-
| timistic." he said. but We are to remember
that our energies are 10 become concen-
] trated: our minds are TO be exercised; our
and practice the lesson of life. / have
| heard since the time of my childhood. and
| I suspect there Is no one here this after
noon who Is a stranger TO this oft-repeat-
/ ed utterance, that we are to get ready &c
| die But / want TO say TO you by the au-
| thority of Him who speaks because IL Is
! His right TO speak and who Is the author
/ of all truth that there is no such thing
/ as that, but we are to be concerned about
being ready to live
Again the speaker said: I'VE shall think
| of this place as the city OF rest We shall
/ think of IL as the city of peace We shall
think Of IL as the place of triumph. We
shall know IL as the gate through which
we shall pass TO be forever in the enjoy
ment and fellowship and peace OF the in.
\ finite God. You pause for moment and
| look out over the stretch of green, anc
you peer through these groves, and per-
| chance the question comes. i wonder whs
/ IL Will be?' and reverently and courteously
| 1 want to say TO you tnat IL does not mat.
| CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 COL. 81