The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-01
UNDER Big GOSPEL tent
THE SOUTH-SIDE EVANGELICAL
UNION UNDER WAY.
Churches of that Section of the City
Unite I'm Revival Services-Well-
known Evangelists.

The dedicatory meeting in the huge COS
pei tent stretched at Prospect and Linden
streets to accommodate Sunday worship
ers in the eight South Side churches was
held yesterday afternoon. The dedication of
the tent-a canvas structure so by 100 feet,
capable of husing from wind and weather
1900 people who may sit protected from
the elements, reasonably cool, and hear
advantageously from all parts of the in
closure-was a successful one In point of
attendance and enthusiasm shown for the
success of the summer gospel meetings.
The Rev. Milford II. Lyon, the Chicago
evangelist, who will conduct daily services
in the tent during the month of June,
preached the sermon of the day yesterday
and was introduced by. several of the
South Side ministers who are cooperating
in an attempt to relieve the people Of the
i~rksomeness of Sunday worship during the
summer months. The choir, two hundred
well blended and well trained voices, rep
resenting the choirs of the various churches
and assisted by many good voices who nave
volunteered for the work, was directed by
Hiram ]. Lloyd, Of the Moody Institute,
Chicago, who. as a director of evangelical
music. is recognized by church workers
~ ehO eN oNoNOo 90 OiO ia lhC DtSl.
To seat the 1000 people who attended thir-
ty ushers were employed and, under the
direction OF ]. l.. F. Steeg and o. B. Ball.
all of the people were seated soon after
$3.50 o'clock, cool and comfortably and not
chilled by the rawness of the day, which 1t
was feared would interfere with the gath
ering of a large crowd at the dedicatory
services.
The chairs provided, of the ordinary
straight back variety, were a comfort and
so little like the seats generally found in
tent meeting places that they surprised
the visitors. Water in ice cooled vessels
was provided for the thirsty and every
thing was planned under the direction of
the ministers to attract people to the Sum
day afternoon and evening services as well
as the other services which will be held
daily with the exception of Saturday. AT
night the tent will be well lighted by
numerous lights, so that hymnbooks NAV be
read easily in n part of it.
EVANGELICAL UNION.
The gospel tent is to be conducted under
what is known as the South Side Evangeli-
cal Union. which is composed Of the follow
ing church congregations and PASTORS:
Fletcher-place NJ. E. Church. the Rev. NJ.
B.. Hyde; the Seventh Presbyterian, the
Rev. David Ayrton Heron: Hoyt-avenue
Methodist Protestant. the Rev. Crates S.
Johnson; Edwin Ray NJ. E.. Church, the
IRCN" -. VI. EIuIlduel bdDIlSI,
the Rev. ]. r. Henry: Trinity Congrega-
tional, the Rev. Levi White; Birthplace NJ.
E. Church, the Rev. D.. w. Noble, and the
First German Baptist, the Rev. r. NJ. Won
Miller.
The June services in the tent will be con-
Quoted by the Rev. Milford H. Lyon, assist
ed by Mr.. Lloyd, and to him yesterday was
given the pleasant duty of opening what it
Is thought will prove one of the most sue
cessful of summer church camps and that
one in the heart of the city.
AT the services yesterday the Rev.
Crates p. Johnson spoke shortly in ex-
planning the work planned by the members
of the Union and was followed by the Rev.
Levi White. pastor of Trinity Congrega-
tional Church. who made the opening
prayer. Chairman c. C.. Edwards conducted
the service, and with music from the choir
under Mr.. Lloyd's direction, the services
proceeded until the first sermon in the new
tent was preached by Evangelist Lyon.
Mr.. Lyons sermons during the afternoon
and evening services were directed toward
an impression on his hearers that services
of churches and divine worship on Sunday
and other days are as necessary during
the summer months as in the winter when
they are not attended by inconvenience to
the worshiper. He said that the most sue
cessful work of churches came from earn
est effort and he said he thought that the
enthusiasm shown in the first meeting was
an indication of what the promoters OF the
work were TO expect during the summer.