The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-24
Squaring
The Circle
With
McCREADY HUSTON
McCREADY HUSTON

TINE night before Christmas. This
l. column will not be read by as
many as usual this evening. It's
friends will be trimming trees. They
will be getting ready to go to early
communion. They will be in the
evening spell which only Christmas
casts.
This is the most important eve in
the year. None other approaches
it in effect on peoples minds. Have
you noticed that people who like
noisy parties on New Years eve are
always quiet on the night before
Christmas. Excitement, except the
excitement Of children, seems a. vio-
lation
The night before Christmas. May
all Times readers have at least a
share of the benediction.
Il q
7 met for the first tin1a a man
= had long heard of-Edmund H
Bingham. His grandfather was the
first bishop of the Episcopal Church
in Indiana. Ed, as his familiars
call him, was one of the active
newspaper men of the city for many
years. He was the citys first sports
editor. That is, he was the first
man to assemble all the sport news
on one page. He is full of interest
ing anecdotes of the nineties.
What drew me to Ed chiefly was
the fact that he is a brother of
George Uphold Bingham. The Up
fold is for the churchman grand
father. And the connection in my
mind is Christmas eve. After living
in indianapolis for many years,
serving as deputy state auditor.
George Bingham joined Rome C.
Stephenson, of Rochester, Ind, in
going to South Bend to operate a
bank. Mr.. Stephenson having died,
Mr.. Bingham is now president.
THE bank, however, was not Mr.
- Bingham's first concern. He
devoted himself to the church, serv-
ing as it's treasurer. The church
had hard shedding. Episcopalians are
not numerous in the northern sec
tor and not many of them are rich.
Due to Mr.. Bingham's hard and
faithful work, that of the late
Bishop White and the present Bish-
op Gray, as well as that of Rectors
Francis and Ferguson, the church
became a power in the community.
George Bingham might serve as the
ideal layman.
When his bank closed during the
panic he was almost crushed. He
seemed to take it as a personal re-
sponsibility. And since the churchs
money was inpounded, he seemed,
for time, to shrink from meeting
people. But his sterling character
asserted itself and, as the govern
ment came to the rescue and the
banking situation was Strengthened
out, he became his old self again.
TONIGHT, in the church he has
E served SO nobly, there will be
a midnight service, with the holy
calm of Christmas eve spreading its
healing and consoling magic over
the hearts of hundreds. And if it
hadn't been for the work of this
Indiana man, George Bingham, the
church probably would not be open.
GONE Christmas presents will be
~ on hand tomorrow because an in
telligent indianapolis woman has
been shopping for her men friends.
Seeing their bewilderment in the
face of crowds and the multitude of
gifts, she volunteered to make the
choices, see to the sending, the
charging and all the details. Her
offer was gratefully accepted by
more than one anxious husband.
Although she did it without a
commercial thought and does not
expect to make a business of it, the
thing has possibilities. The average
man is embarrassed and hesitant
when buying gifts for his wife and
family. He needs the aid and adj
vice of competent woman. This
woman is called blessed tonight by
some Indianapolis men.
OTHER OPINION
True Picture