The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-13
BELIEVES IT ALL.
Governor HOch Gives HisOpiniOn
of the Bible.
Accepts Even the Whale Story,
He Says.
THE IDEAL CHURCH
Should Have Best Building,
Grounds and Preacher.
Start of a Thriving New Church
on West Side.

''I believe in the whole Of the old
Book even including the whale story
said Governor Hoch Wednesday after
noon in an address at the dedicatory
exercises of the Central Park Congre-
gatiOnal church. Governor Hoch out
lined to his audience his opinion Of the
ideal church.
In my opinion the ideal church, said
he, should first of all be architecturally
perfect. whether it costs $500. $1,000 or
100000. It should be the prettiest
building in the community in which it
is situated. It should have an ideal
situation, that is the best situation that
can be had. hope that when you have
built your church that you will have q
carpet of green grass about it and beds
of flowers.
''Then the church to be ideal should
have an ideal pastor. A pastor who is
pious. Who loves God supremely and
his neighbor like unto himself. Then
the church should have an ideal con-
gregatiOn. A congregation which be-
lieves its church to be the best church
and its pastor the best pastor IN tha
world. A congregation which is not all
ways fault finding but Overlooks the
blemishes and lives in harmony and
sweetness
Other speakers who participated were
Rev. Charles A. Finch Of the First
Christian church, Rev. H. A. Northcutt
of St. Louis and Rev. Wnl. Trelau. Gov
ernor Hoch was placed down on the
programme opposite, LAS the Spirit
Leads but instead chose his own sub
ject for an address when he arose. Rev.
Mr.. Finch made a brief address on Eel
lowship." He was preceded by Rev.
NOrthcutt who gave an address on The
Ideal Church" The history and growth
of the church were given by the Rev.
Mr.. Irelan who is president of the Off
ciaI board Of the Central Park Christian
church.
There was nothing especially notable
about the dedicatory exercises of this
suburban church except beyond what it
! in itself represented.
The Central Park Christian church is
the history Of small things made over
into large possibilities It is scarcely
eight months ago that the church was
first founded with a membership aggre-
eating SO persons. Today the church
/ has a membership OF 49, it has pur-
chased and paid for three lots, the
church site, and is now erecting q frame
church with a sea ting capacity Of 3O0
costing upwards Of $500, a part Of
which has already been paid for.
The fight which led up to this foun-
dation has been a vicarious one extend
| ing over a period of three years start
ing with the establishment Of a little
Sunday school above a store building
which f1ickered with increasing life and
then waned away and completely died
out Then the spirit Of militancy awoke
again and some of the sturdy souls
fought for the founding Of new church
and won. For the past eight months
the congregation has been holding ser
vices in a little frame tabernacle at the
corner of Sixteenth and Clay streets
The new church is located at the corner
of Sixteenth and Buchanan street. IN
way the church is typically pioneer.
1t is the outcome of a series OF revival
meetings which has led to a permanent
organization. It is located in a portion
of the town which is just beginning to
become thickly settled, a suburb which
is becoming a part of the city
Rev. A. Y. Lesson has been chosen
as pastor and will regularly act in that
capacity.