The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-06-11
CHURCH WILL Be
SCENE OF BIG
ANNIVERSARY
Central Christian Will OBJ
serve Ninety-Ninth
Birthday.

Sunday the congregation of the
Central Christian church, Delawars
and Walnut streets, will celebrate
the ninety-ninth anniversary Of the
organization of the society on
Wednesday, June II, 1888.
The meeting was held, probably
in the evening at early candle
lighting" in a log house. the home
of Benjamin Roberts, which stood
on the east side of Illinois street a
short distance north of Market
street.
Many of the first settlers in In
dianapolis and its vicinity came
from Kentucky and quite a few Of
them were enthusiastic followers Of
Barton w. Stone, leader of the
"Newlight" reformation which came
out of the long famous revival at
Cane Ridge, KY, in 1901.
A few came from Ohio and Penn
sylvania and some of them we're fol-
lowers Of Alexander Campbell
The meeting in the Roberts home
was the result of a series Of group
meetings in the homes of those re-
formers. held by John OKane, an
itinerant preacher of more than or
binary ability, during the winter Of
1928.
At the meeting on June u, 1888.
twenty persons signed the Gov
enant' as charter members, and
they organized as "the Church Of
Christ in Indianapolis" by electing
John H. Sanders and Peter H. Rob-
erts as elders or bishops" and
Samuel Fleming as clerk COR clark"
as the term was them. Robert A.
Taylor, James Foresee and Butler K.
Smith were chosen as deacons.
Met Many Places
During the first three years they
met in large frame building in
the Circle, built for a residence for
the Governor of the state, but
never so used.
Sometimes they met in the county
courthouse. Then for time in the
old Academy building in University
park. In 1889 they built a frame
meeting house" in Kentucky av-
enue, where the G. P. Lesh Paper
Company building now stands.
For some years the little society
struggled with difficulties. Twice
it was perilously near dissolution.
But it survived and by 1850 had
outgrown its quarters and in 1851
they built the old Christian chapel
building at the southwest corner
Of Delaware and Market streets,
where they remained until 1893,
when the present building at Della
ware and Walnut streets was built.
For several years the society was
served by itinerant evangelists. In
1910 Chauncy Butler Sr father of
Ovid Butler FOUNDER of what is
now Butler university, served as
minister for a few months. It's first
regular pastor was Love H. jane
son, who began in September, 1912,
and continued for ten years.
Splendid Record
In ninety-nine years the little
group of twenty persons has grown
to a congregation having more than
1000 members. More than $4,000
persons have been members of the
Central church. and they have con-
tributed to its various interests more
than $1200,000.
It's pulpit has been filed by able
men. The most prominent were Otis
A. Burgess, David Walk, Daniel R.
Lucas, and Allan B. Philputt, who
occupied its pulpit for twenty
years.
Its present minister, DR.. William
A. Shullenberger is widely known
not only as an able speaker, but also
on account Of his prominence in the
work of the national organizations
of the Disciple Brotherhood at
large.
An interesting program for the
services Sunday has been arranged,
beginning with the celebration of
Childrens day at $50 a. m. and
ending with program of music at
Low p. III. by Jne large chorus choir,
directed by Fred Jerry.
The Rev. Otto H. Mater of the
Missionary Tabernacle will speak at
1890 a. m. on "The Greatest Wrest-
ling Match" At 7:3O p. m, the Rev.
J. F. Higgenbotham will preach on
What Must Do to Be Saved?" At
z;3O p. m, the Rev L. Clayton Cas-
sidy OF the Second Free Methodist
church, will speak.
In the morning at the Merritt
Place M. E. church, the Rev. M. H.
Reynolds speaks on THE Great
Affirmation" Followed by a special
dedication day service. At night his
subject will be The God of Our
Fathers"