PHT PEPE h rer ate ey HEMEL SEELELbha ij athibhe itEtitetee TL tte PEREteueteeettegs itil FREI TAI ST IES SS Ses F bhai f iH it Hit | Hi AH iH Hit ATE HA tat j PHithts abate { HUE tet it ? ‘ i i Ht . Hi RET i fet i 4 i ili Ht th ‘ HEE Hil H | CENTENNIAL apap mene arnt san agipenaies citregheea(htats iebgts eH HHH LTTE Heaatiiiie TLC EAE { HEIN fHERTEEY tI HTT ~ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Princeton Theological Seminary Library https://archive.org/details/centennialmemoriOOfirs | ISAAC COK,* M.D. FOUNDER OF SABBATH SCHOOLS IN INDIANAPOLIS ELDER, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 1823 TO 1853 (From portrait painted by the order of the First Presbyterian Church Sabbath School, for the Semi-Centennial Sabbath School celebration, April 6, ; ene OF PRI NCES /~ ON i | c\ OA oP) oan 4S 3 ok © f \ <7 ff $oeicat sew 1823 ~ 1923 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL IPRS IE eRe ee Ween (Gia lUUR Ciel INDIANAPOLIS, IND. A record of the anniversary services, June tenth to seventeenth, 1923, cel- ebrating the one hundredth anni- versary of the founding of the First Presbyterian Church, together with historical material, session records, sermons, addresses and correspond- ence relating to its life and work during the century. CopyriaHt 1925 THe First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRESS OF THE WM. MITCHELL PRINTING CO. GREENFIELD, IND. To THE Ministers WHO Have LED aNnp INSPIRED, To THe Orricers WHO Have Wisety DirEcTED AND To THE UNNAMED Many WHo THROUGH THE YEARS Have BEEN FAITHFUL IN SERVICE, IN PRAYERS, AND IN GIFTS In Gis Name TH1s VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED BY THE PRESENT MEMBERSHIP CONTENTS UGE WOLKG iierecslacrercckesssonlbccbedosucceauesastucustans enpunUcekev cle wbektavi teet#atenscaeir ina en tenes Uaamannnane vf CHAPTER I THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Hahn ae shy Coin CO) + We LoepenenPobe er Ma aene Renee Yet ay Meher eer pr menn cog then oem tst bo bulge 9 PROGRAMS AND ADDRESSES Programs of (Centennial: We66K) s...cs..c01c.¢-scentevecdassuchise clescs eneestse thr stitaren ene 1B! Prayer—The Rev: M. li. Haines, D. Da wiki ii desagertocnpecs nivevactpeucwentaomesesetee 15 Sermon—The Heritage of a Century—The Rev. Matthew F. Smithy De Dis ak cosc heresies ORG tare tern Meee ee | Greetings from: City of Indianapolis by Mr. Louis Howland ................ 30 Presbytery of Indianapolis by the Rev. Geo. W. Allison’ 2.22.55 ee a eee eee ee ee 34 Church Federation of Indianapolis by the Rev. Charles: HH: Winters) Dil Die ne eee 36 Address—-Mr.."Thomas, GC! Day cect eee ee ee 38 Historical Address—Looking Backward—The Rev. M. L. Haines, D. D. 42 Some Women of the First Church in the Highties—Mrs. John H. FOV AY csi Siicees susie cucsa nee conececev eaten ce) Ante ened CO ELORET, Secaee Satrae ae meer 64 An Early Mission—Mrs. William Watson Woollen ...............cccccccceccceeeeees 68 Dr,-Isaac Coe—Mr, Henry (Coe: Sickel sir iacscce cores tetsecceett se ees ene wo Personalities Influencing the Life of the First Presbyterian Church ——Miss Elizabeth Moreland) Wisi ard. ccccesecseec-csestes sed seseesssecese essteeeeoeane Address in Presentation of Bronze Memorial Tablet—Mr. Albert BB ROM i iecacclivs loavsc ceboccenloscc sovactecaheddeeetoedenst treet ore stearate Narn en mee enn ge 91 Response to Presentation Address—Mr. Irving Williams ..................... 93 The Roll of Our Defenders (World War) 1917-1918 ou... eee eee 95 The 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Union Sabbath School........ 96 List of Centennial Gitta rye econ ct ete eee e arene, Se ene ee 97 Centennial Bazaar (Committees )7i...4.1 ccc 98 Program of Centennial Concerts. 4.0..4: eee 100 The One Hundred and Thirty-fifth General Assembly ...........00.c......cccee 102 Address in Presentation of Gavel to Moderator—The Rev. M. L. FHAIN68) Do Diiseminyccccececeuecndcsceebecnsteeeetan setnche cots tee ceat dene teen ee 106 CHAPTER II CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS The Woman’s Missionary Society—Mrs. John H. Holliday and Mrs. William: Watson (Woollenmi eae ee ee ee 111 The Young Women’s Missionary Society—Mrs. Julia Haines Mac- Donald, Miss Gertrude J. Baker and Miss Flora McD. Ketcham 114 The Chapter and Circle of Westminster Guild—Mrs. Will H. Adams 115 The Woman’s Auxiliary—Mrs. Hugh H. Hanna, Jr. oocee...ccccceccsescccceceseseee 115 The Men’s, Club) ors Ais caeecs bstorer ee, ee ee 118 The: Christian>Endeavor: Society ¢2. eee 118 CHAPTER III The Eldership of the First Presbyterian Church—William N. Wishard CONTENTS CHAPTER IV TPNEHIZGARL AE ILLY,) ¥ CATS=—— MEP IACOD ih UTD ideas secs con ccaspncdgvorsvetersotensesedess 167 (Roster of Officers and Organizations of the Church—July, 1923)...... 183 CHAPTER V Historical Sermon—The Rev. J. Howard Nixon, D. D. ...... eee 185 CHAPTER VI EARLY SABBATH SCHOOL HISTORY BEET ry LESLEY PC LLOO Le rrr ee eres ce clontcctaptade iu cateohesteeeetslactetc tees statonctes 205 Early Sabbath School Efforts in Indianapolis—James M. Ray ............ 206 THSZSLALE LSUNAAY SCHOO OrezaniZatian circ sechaw besa eel nedeces ccavlwocsesesseseoeanons 213 Roll of Officers and Scholars of the Sunday School, January 1, 1872 222 The Semi-Centennial Sunday School Celebration, April 6, 1878 ............ 224 Sabbath School Fourth of July Celebration, (1829, 1846) 0.0.0... 254 Hecoliections: of Mrs. Julia MOOres sbi cade steccceccs bv h igen coesth sd dedesda caste 258 Recollections Of Mrs. Jane. MiB Stam yisics iivccccccheccaccehsiseliccdecsucteceinevecorss 260 CHAPTER VII Historical Discourse—The Rev. JameS Greene ooicececc cc ccccesccesccescescceseeeses 262 CHAPTER VIII BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MINISTERS The Rev. James Greene—Mr. John H. Holliday oo... ccc ceeseceeeenceee 286 The Rev. George Bush—Mr. Jacob P. Dunn... cece ceeceseceeseesseesceeceees 288 The Rev. John R. Moreland—Mr. Jacob P. Dunn 2.0... ee ceeeseeceeeeeees 292 The Rev. John A. McClung, D. D.—Mr. Jacob P. Dunn ................. ce. 295 PIE SLOVO DINCAS: LC TUIPlOV, Lib Loe eacoctss Lcsunc test ov ties oe shun decesdaesoasoe Wichocasetareedes 297 RLY Bei eis ir eS TET) LOT LI an eee c eas cee ee ae kes cederewt, caueabaten a wee be 300 CHAPTER IX Records of the Session, First Presbyterian Church (1823—1831).......... 303 CHAPTER X Brief History of the Presbyterian Church in Indiana—The Rev. John MSR DICK OV een et ee eh On Aae DSO UOL IE y TCL Se mUEe EA: Ae A Ea uA 377 Extracts from Records of the Rev. Isaac Reed ou... cece seesceeeseeeeees 397 CHAPTER XI THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND EDUCATION AM TES Lips gd apd LOAM OF pal gt Cates iy a ELSE ANS aI Pade ae RG ad Bs iMag a eed ne AR 407 The Indianapolis Academy—Mr. Jacob P. Dunn... ceecccseeeee ones 408 The Axtell School and McLean Seminary—Mr. Jacob P. Dunn ............. 409 Bequests to Colleges Bearest oLeMr Parry MMS aM ea 5 Wiccceiels 5s Cone ccc eak Leech cs bo cea ee 410 BECNCSL Ok Mil LAC VG CBEST este crc csc naan ues ehcesscalatsccbucatebel econ caveay 411 Americanization of Foreigners | The Immigrants’ Aid Association (Tribute to Mr. John H. Holli- Gaveby sroreign-born = Residents) ic eee eee en ee ea 412 The Cosmopolitan Mission—Mrs. T. C. Dayunn...eecc cc cccccccccssssececcececsevecs 413 CHAPTER XII MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS Samuels Merrill MT.) aCODe ba UUnN ss te mete ee re ee eed ee eee 414 Manele andes——-Mre Jaco. HARUN bacscdecc. tertsstees hist ola deichis haras chicocrlicclesna 415 OAL PV LIOLULGLS fo hs lass hat ce Leese de Cert heres kote epad te ebed A tert eh ede tee nn bee 417 Dists or Ministers; Officers, > Mem Bers i 2ichicsecoctcs cles cces hab eroelecdledoecsasblecse 422-435 PUES IXLEeGN LN LCORLUrY eM arty TaOM ne rea nee eet GB ee 436 ILLUSTRATIONS LD} hid EE Onk Wet: Re SD ER AS cored Grado Wy sli eneaGy. Frontispiece Facing page Reproduction of Cover of Centennial Week Program......... 10 Dr? Haines,’ Dr. Smith. so). 3 eis im ole eepeaetstetn soem ee 16 Miss Holliday; Corner Stone Laying, Present Church Building 56 Elders of First Presbyterian Church, = 7.00 (he. gee 124 Benjamin Harrison Memorial Window............--+++++++: 140 Elders of First Presbyterian Church (continued)... .148-160-164 Anditorium: of* Present Buildinogiy Gee ee 178 Auditorium of Present Building (pulpit, organ, choir)....... 182 Centennial Summer Group of Sabbath School, 1923.......... 184 Exteriors of the Four Church Buildings.................... 186 Historie. Pulpit) Chairs 4°55. ¢ eae ne ee 194 Cards of ‘Union, Sabbathsochool sy. tue og ee 210 Caleb Seudder’s Cabinet, Shopa a. vaca it cn ee 240 Home’ of ‘Dr: Tsaae’ Coe. ty, cee ie ee tre ae eee ee 256 Auditorium and Sabbath School Room of Third Building... .278 Dr. Gurley, Dr. Nixon, Dr. Kumler, Mr. Reed.............. 298 Copy of First Document Relating to Presbyterianism in | Indianapolis cae ccc ee eee ee ee iiss cadens Say oe 302 A Group of First Church Ministers and Supplies........... 308 Harly Ministers, Educators, and Samuel Merrill, Daniel Yandes, Group of Sabbath School Officers, Teachers and Scholars, 1921. FOREWORD On the 3rd day of January, 1922, the session of the First Presbyterian Church appointed a committee to make preparation for the appropriate celebration of the One Hundredth anniver- sary of the church, which was to occur the following year. It was the judgment of the committee that a rather complete memorial volume should be published shortly after the formal celebration and made available to the congregation and general public. The committee requested the Rev. Matthias L. Haines, D. D., Pastor Emeritus, and Mr. Evans Woollen, an elder in the church, to have full supervision of the preparation and publication of such a volume. Dr. Haines and Mr. Woollen asked that Mr. Jacob P. Dunn,* former state librarian, be associated with them in this work, on account of his wide knowledge and experience as a his- torian. Mr. Dunn advised that, in the main, the anniversary volume be devoted to the publication of the sources of the history of the church. This policy was adopted and accounts for the inclusion of the early session minutes, historical discourses, cor- respondence, ete. The use of these old documents, unmutilated, explains any repetition of the historical narrative and also the absence of uniformity in style, capitalization, punctuation, etc. In this connection, special acknowledgment is made of the valuable services of Mr. Dunn in discovering and arranging the older man- uscripts for publication, and in writing a sketch covering the last fifty years of the history of the church. It is probable that errors of omission and commission have crept in here and there, in spite of much careful effort to elim- inate them. We are greatly indebted to the Misses Anna and Lucia Sickels for days of patient toil in copying documents, for editing, and for correcting proof. | This volume is placed in the hands of the reader with the hope and prayer that it may reveal something of the joys and sorrows, the trials and rewards, that enter into a century of service for the Master and His Kingdom. Committee of Session, MatTrHew F. SmirH Marruias L. Harness Wiuuiam N. WISHARD Evans Woo.LLEN Henry C, SICKELS *Mr. Jacob P. Dunn died June 6, 1924. i ‘Remember the days of old, consider the years of many genera- tions; ask thy father and he will show thee, thy elders and they will tell thee.’’—Deuteronomy 32:7. ‘“As the fathers laid the foundations, so must the structure reared upon the foundations be conserved and carried forward to completion. We must not let the lamp go out which was lighted in the wilderness. * * *° “If, therefore, the Church be loyal to her Lord and to His truth, unswayed by any gusts of passion or by any spirit of polecy, holding right on her way, true to her charter and her commission, then there awaits her another century of success greater even than that which is past.’’ | Samuel J. Wilson, D. D., DL. D. CHAPTER I THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION The year 1923 marking the centennial of both the first Sun- day School in Indianapolis and the organization of the First Presbyterian Church, it was determined to make fitting celebra tion of these anniversaries. The original Sunday School was or- ganized on April 6, 1823. It was the beginning of all Sunday School work in the city. The Sunday School of this church held a celebration of the anniversary on April 1, at the Sunday School hour. Nothing elaborate was undertaken but an historical sketch of our Sabbath School, and the work of its founder, Dr. Isaac Coe, and his associates was presented by Mr. Henry M. Dowling; Mr. Henry Coe Sickels gave reminiscences of Dr. Coe; children in the costumes of 1823 were represented—girls by Misses Dorothea and Alice Hanna and a boy by Master Harlow Hyde; and the school sang ‘‘Children of the Heavenly King’’ to the tune of Pleyel’s Hymn,—the quaint old air used a century ago. [The program of this Sunday School celebration will be found on page 96 of this memorial volume. | The centennial celebrations of the organization of the church were held during the week of June 10-17. In addition to the papers and addresses, delivered at the various meetings, which are reproduced herewith, there was provided, in the church parlors, through the efforts of Miss Anna Sickels, a continuous centennial display of church relics, portraits, and other objects of historical interest. Informal social gatherings were also held in the parlors, and the congregation lived for a week in the atmosphere of remin- iscenece and retrospection. In this, many friends from other churches and from the city at large participated, making the sea- son one of general historic interest. In response to formal invitations issued for the centennial, 9 10 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL letters and telegrams, bringing congratulations and good wishes, were received from friends in distant parts of the country. A tele- gram was received from the Rev. C. F. Wishart, D. D., Moderator of the General Assembly of 1923, conveying his felicitations, and giving assurance of his high hopes for the future of this church. Among letters received from former members were those from the Rev. John Dixon, D. D., Trenton, N. J., for more than twenty- four years one of the able secretaries of the Board of Home Mis- sions of the Presbyterian Church; Mr. Dwight H. Day, New York City, for seventeen years Treasurer of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions; the Rev. William H. Bryce, D. D., Wooster, Ohio. Other letters were from the Rev. Louis W. Sherwin, D. D., pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Oil City, Pa., formerly Assistant Pastor to Dr. Haines; Mrs. Emma H. Adams, Washing- ton, D. C., a daughter of the Rev. Phineas D. Gurley, D. D., former pastor of this church; the Rev. Melville B. Gurley, Assistant Pas- tor of the First Presbyterian Church, Germantown, Pa., commis- sioner to the 135th General Assembly at Indianapolis from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, North, a grandson of the Rev. Dr. P. D. Gurley; Mrs. Minnie Jewell Mermod of St. Louis, Mo., sister of Mrs. J. Howard Nixon; Mrs. William M. MecKelvy, Pittsburgh, Pa., daughter. of the Rev. J. P. E. Kumler, D. D., a former pastor. The outstanding event of centennial year, designed by the Cen- tennial Committee to commemorate our anniversary and a century of Presbyterianism in Indianapolis, was the entertainment of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U. 8S. A., in May, 1923, by the Presbyterian churches of Indianapolis, the First Church acting as host. The Assembly had not convened in In- dianapolis since the year 1859, and at its meeting in Des Moines in May, 1922, Dr. Smith, on behalf of the First Presbyterian Church, extended an invitation to hold its 1923 session in In- dianapolis. The invitation was accepted, and, in the early fall of 1922, the First Church turned its attention toward preparation for its two-fold undertaking the following year—the Church Cen- tennial celebration, and, in connection therewith, the entertain- ment of the General Assembly. (Further reference to the enter- tainment of the 135th General Assembly will be found on page 102.) 1823 1923 Oriteunial Werk June Tenth to Seventeenth Nineteen Twenty-three Che Hirst Yreshyterian Church of Judianapnlis The Rev. Matthew F. Smith, D. D. Pastor The Rev. Matthias L. Haines, D. D. Pastor Emeritus ‘“*Remember the Days of Old’’ First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 11 The reprint here given of the services of centennial week is fol- lowed by copies of the addresses and papers presented at those services. CENTENNIAL PROGRAMS AND ADDRESSES SUNDAY, JUNE TENTH 11:00 A. M. Organ Prelude Doxology Invocation and Lord’s Prayer Gloria PAG SC) GALL OF ONER MAN OE) se hlettho as s-aty chia she oe Godfrey Responsive Reading—Selection 34 Hymn 166—‘‘ Hark, Ten Thousand Harps and Voices’’ Scripture Lesson Prayer Dr. M. L. HAtmnss Offertory Duet—‘‘God Is My Strong Salvation’”’........ Berwald Mrs. Ropert W. BLAKE AND Mr. GLENN O, F'RIERMOOD Hymn 512—‘‘The King of Love, My Shepherd Is’’ Sermon—‘‘ The Heritage of a Century’’ Dr. MatrtHew F. Smita Prayer Hymn 658—‘‘O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand’’ Benediction Congregation remain standing for silent prayer Organ Postlude MONDAY, JUNE ELEVENTH 7:45 P. M. AN EVENING OF GREETINGS Dr. WiuLi1AM Nites WISHARD, Presiding Organ Prelude Doxology Invocation Rev. JEAN S. MILNER 12 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Quartet—‘‘O Wait Thou Still Upon the Lord”’............ Hyde Greetings from the City of Indianapolis Mr. Louis HowLanp Solo-— (OokRest: in the Lords? epee es ee eee Mendelssohn Mrs. Rospert W. BLAKE Greetings from the Presbytery of Indianapolis Rev. Grorce W. Auuison, Moderator Greetings from the Church Federation of Indianapolis Rev. CHarues H. Winners, Executive Secretary Hymn 300—‘‘I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord’’ Benediction Dr. MatrHew F. SmitH Organ Postlude TUESDAY, JUNE TWELFTH 7:45 P.M. AN EVENING OF HISTORY Mr. T. C. Day, Presiding Organ Prelude Hymn 310—‘‘O Where Are Kings and Empires Now??’’ Scripture Reading Invocation Dr. MarrHew F. Smite Solo—‘ Just, (Be Glad (ge eee is nie Ue eee Galloway Mrs. Everett C. JOHNSON Address— Mr. T. C. Day Address—‘‘ Looking Backward’”’ Dr. M. L. Hanes Duet—‘‘ Whispering Hope 2s be oe hee aes Hawthorne Mrs. Everett C. JOHNSON AND Mrs. Ropert W. BLAKE First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 13 Benediction Dr. M. L. HaAINnEs Organ Postlude THURSDAY, JUNE FOURTEENTH 7:45 P. M. AN EVENING OF REMINISCENCE* Mr. Evans Woo..en, Presiding Organ Prelude Per OOMeLning UW NISPErsigin s cae ite wteres Redes a's Doane Mr. THos. R. KNox anp Miss DorotHy STEEG Invocation Dr. M. L. HAInss ‘‘Some Women of the First Church in the Eighties’’ Mrs. JOHN H. Houuimpay Pleyel’s Hymn 419—‘‘ Children of the Heavenly King’”’ ‘‘An Early Mission”’ Mrs. WinuiAM W. WOOLLEN Hymn 345—‘‘Blest Be the Tie That Binds’’ ‘*Dr. Isaac Coe’’ : Mr. Henry Cor SICKELS ‘*Personalities Influencing the Early Life of the First Pres- byterian Church’’ Miss EvizABETH MoRELAND WISHARD Reminders of Early Days (Fifty Stereopticon Pictures) Song—‘‘ Auld Lang Syne”’ Benediction Dr. MarrHew F. Smite Organ Postlude *Reminiscence Committee: Mr. Evans Woollen, Mrs. John H. Holli- day, Mrs. Wm. Watson Woollen, Mrs. Hugh H. Hanna, Sr., Mrs. Chapin C. Foster, Mrs. John R. Hussey, Miss Anna Sickels, Dr. Wm. N. Wishard, Mr. Henry C. Sickels. 14 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL FRIDAY, JUNE FIFTEENTH 7:45 P. M. ANNIVERSARY CONCERT AND DEDICATION OF ME- MORIAL TABLET Mr. AuMus G. RupDDELL, Presiding Organ Prelude Quartet—— ‘Americas hoy cua, tere John Philip Sousa Invocation Dr. M. L. HAINES Presentation of Bronze Tablet Mr. ALBERT BAKER Quartet—‘‘ Hear, (0 My People’ Gate cr sett Stevenson Response Mr. Irvine WILLIAMS Prayer of Dedication i Dr. MatrHew F. SmitH Duet—‘‘I Love. the: Lord 70 ee eee West Mrs. Ropert W. BuAKE AND Mr. GLENN O. F'RIERMOOD Quartet—‘ ‘Sweet: the ‘Moments’ >. 0.0) an ee Verdi Hymn 629—‘‘God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand’’ Benediction Dr. MatrrHew F. Suir Organ Postlude SUNDAY, JUNE SEVENTEENTH Morning Worship, 11:00 A. M. COMMUNION SERVICE Organ Prelude Doxology First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 15 Invocation and Lord’s Prayer Gloria PATE Nea EIS CLIO VINO CIN GNCRS 41h, vel iis teres otern ele lanratsie Brackett Responsive Reading—Selection 33 Seripture Lesson Hymn 58—‘‘Come, Holy Spirit, Calm My Mind’”’ Prayer EretLorvars UOT sof PAI yg DCIS Zw Be ipa hola shs erseet Andrews Reception of Members Hymn 345—‘‘Blest Be the Tie That Binds”’ Sacramental Address Dr. MatrHew F. SmitH Hymn 225—‘‘ When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’’ Administration of the Sacrament Prayer of Consecration Distribution of Elements Prayer of Thanksgiving Hymn—‘‘Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow’’ Benediction ; Congregation remain standing for silent prayer Organ Postlude CENTENNIAL SUNDAY, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE 10, 1923 Prayer, Rev. Marrutias L. Haines, D. D., Pastor Emeritus. Eternal God—our Heavenly Father—Who art not far from every one of us, help us now to realize Thy nearness. This is Thy house; make it unto each one of us as the very gate of Heaven that we may be enabled to say—truly God is in this place. Open the eyes of our understanding that we may have a clearer vision of Thyself in Thy glorious majesty and infinite wisdom and good- ness and redeeming love. Thou hast assured us that there is forgiveness with Thee. We ask that our transgressions may be forgiven. We pray that even where sin has abounded in our lives Thy grace may much more 16 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL abound. We beseech Thee that Thou wouldst enable us to repent of everything evil, so that Thy pardoning love may cleanse and Thy redeeming grace may save us to the uttermost. Eternal God,—Who dost cause the outgoings of the evening as well as of the morning to rejoice, the night and the day are alike to Thee. Thou dost bring light out of darkness, and good out of evil and dost make even the wrath of man to praise Thee. In all Thy dealings with Thy children Thou dost rule and overrule to bring in ever more fully Thy kingdom of righteousness and peace and love. We praise Thee that as we look back we see how the darkness and the tribulations of past times have by Thy provi- dence been transmuted into means of good. Our fathers in the faith toiled and suffered not in vain for themselves or for us. What they sowed in tears we reap in joy. As we join in the services of this week and recall the story of the experiences of the years that are gone—we pray that we may discern Thy guiding hand in and through them all. May the celebrations of this anni- versary season not only enlarge our understanding but inspire our hearts to a fuller trust in Thee and a more loyal devotement of our lives to Thy service. Thou hast bestowed upon members of this ehurch an inheritance rich in privileges and blessings. Our fath- ers in the faith labored and we are entered into their labors. Truly the lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places, and we have a goodly heritage. We thank Thee for those who in past years have had part in the worship and work of the church and who haying run their race are now lifted up to higher realms of fellowship and of service. We pray, O God, that, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, we may run with patience and courage the race that is set before us. Grant that a double portion of their spirit may fall upon us. Help us to be faithful to the sacred trust Thou has committed to us— to finish the work Thou hast given us to do in our generation —and then in Thine own time—Thine own good time, open, we pray Thee, the gates and grant unto us an abundant entrance into the fellowship and the joys of the redeemed in Thy heavenly king- dom. And to Thy name we will give praise and love forevermore through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. PASTORS OF FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH REV. MATTHIAS L. HAINES, D. Pastor, Apr. 12, 1885—Nov. 1, 1920 Pastor Emeritus Nov. 1, 1920— MATTHEW: EF. SMITH, D. D. Pastor, Nov. 20, 1921— THE HERITAGE OF A CENTURY CENTENNIAL SERMON, Rev. MarrHew F. Smiru, D.D., MINIsrer, First Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, delivered June 10, 1923. Text: Deuteronomy 32:7. ‘‘Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask thy father and he will show thee, thy elders and they will tell thee.’’ ‘‘It is a noble faculty of our nature,’’ says Daniel Webster, ‘‘which enables us to connect our thoughts, our sympathies, and our happiness with what is distant in place or time; and, looking before and after, to hold communion at once with our ancestors and our posterity. Human and mortal though we are, we are nevertheless not mere isolated beings without relation to the past or future. We live in the past by a knowledge of its history, by ascending to an association with our ancestors, by contemplating their example and studying their character; by partaking their sentiments and imbibing their spirit; by accompanying them in their toils; by sympathizing in their sufferings and rejoicing in their successes and their triumphs; we mingle our existence with theirs and seem to belong to their age. We become their contem- poraries, live the lives which they lived, endure what they endured and partake in the rewards which they enjoyed.”’ Our chief duty in life is to look ahead. The standing injunce- tion of God to the human race, through St. Paul, is expressed in these words: ‘‘Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’’ Yet we have a duty which we owe to the past. We should search out its secrets, exalt its virtues, praise its conquests, esteem its legacies, garner its fruitage, incorporate its wealth of thought 17 18 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL and experience, and transmit its good to our posterity, and in this way give it an earthly immortality. Have you ever been impressed by the very large place given in the Bible to the record of the history of God’s people? In this sa- ered account one historical book follows another. The Old Testa- ment opens with at least eighteen books of history. To be sure they are interspersed with codes of law, nevertheless the chief charac- teristic is history. The New Testament opens with five books of history, the Four Gospels and the Book of Acts, the history of Jesus Christ, and the history of His apostles. It is as though God recognized the importance of repeating the stirring deeds of the fathers to their children and their children’s children in order that they might thereby be provoked unto love and good works; in order that they might hold the heritage of their faith in greater esteem. The words of our text suggest a contrast between the days of old and the days in which we are now living,—between 1823 and 1923. We can scarcely conceive, in these days of convenience and comfort, the hardships our ancestors endured and the labors they wrought in order to lay the foundations of our heritage. In an article which appeared in the Indianapolis News, Sep- tember 29, 1906, we catch a glimpse of the dangers and difficul- ties of travel in those early days. It is the story of the Rev. Isaac Reed, who came West in 1818 to do missionary work among the Presbyterians in this state. You will recall that he, with Rev. David Proctor, was present at the organization of this church, July 5, 1828. In the spring of 1826, Mr. Reed concluded to accept a call to a church in a town in the state of New York. The journey of over seven hundred miles was to be made with his wife and three chil- dren in a buggy. Of this experience, he writes: ‘*It was Wednesday, the 31st day of May, when we left Indian- apolis and entered the woods on the road to Centerville in Wayne County. To a traveler with a wheel carriage in so new a road as this, through a country where the settlements are so few and dis- tant, some difficulties might be expected at any season of the year, but at present they are numerous and truly discouraging. The First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 19 country is moist, the soil very rich and the road but partially cut out. Over the gullies and small streams log causeways had been made, but the high waters of the spring season had raised them and floated the logs in every direction, so that at these places the cut-out way was utterly impassable. The resort was to turn into the woods and choose some other place to venture into the waters and wet grounds till we were either beyond the entire causeway, or at least the raised part of it. Often at these places, and at others from the length of the places of deep mud, Mrs. Reed had to get out with the youngest child in her arms and the oldest walk- ing with her, and thus to make her way on foot, while I led the horse by the check rein, and frequently with the mud and water over the tops of my boots. ‘‘In many places it appeared extremely doubtful when the horse went into deep places whether he would ever be able to come out. Thus, we travelled for three days, in one of whic’). starting at 8 o’clock in the morning and travelling with the utm st diligence till sunset we made only thirteen miles. ‘‘ Another day we were so belated that in order to reach a stopping place it was necessary to unhitch the hors’, leave the buggy in the road over night and ride to the stopping place on horseback. The time did not admit of delay. The horse was taken out, the things were left in the woods, a bit of carpet was thrown over the horse’s back, my wife with the infant child was seated on it and the two other children both before me. In this manner we pushed on and got to a house before it was quite dark. The fourth day in the afternoon we passed through Centerville, and stopped for the night at Richmond, Wayne County, a prosperous little place on the west fork of White River.’’ Mr. Reed and his wife and children were from May 3lst to July 22nd making the journey from Indianapolis to Moriah, Essex County, New: York.’’ It is with difficulty that we comprehend, in these days of fast trains, automobiles and airplanes, the time required in travel and the hardships and perils involved. All these toils and travels are part of the price paid by our fathers for the material and spiritual heritage which we now so freely enjoy. In 1828, the greater part of the area of what is now the city of 20 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Indianapolis was a dense forest. Through the rainy season of the year the paths were almost impassable on account of mud. Ma- laria flourished in the lowlands. There was much sickness, pov- erty and hardship. Today, the forest has given place to field, park and garden. The muddy paths have been conquered by pavements. Malaria is almost unknown through the draining of the swamp lands. We have hospitals, convenient means of trans- portation, and a multiplicity of creature comforts. Look about, and on every hand we see evidences of our material heritage. The little hut in the forest with a crude shingle, announcing that a primitive store or shop was maintained there, has given way to the substantial city building and the department store. The little log cabin of the early settler has given place to the comfortable modern home with all its conveniences, surrounded by well kept grounds. But our chief concern is not a consideration of our ma- terial heritage, but rather an appraisement of the spiritual legacy which is ours from the past. ‘‘Ask thy father and he will show thee; thy elders and they will tell thee.’’ It is quite impossible in the brief hour at our disposal to go into details in appraising our spiritual heritage. We must be satis- fied with a restatement of some general propositions, in which our fathers believed, and upon which they took their stand: I. First of all, it goes without question that the motives of our forefathers, the makers of the American Republic, were domin- ated by their religious convictions. Many of the details of the early history of this nation, of this commonwealth and of this church are obscure, but of this one thing there is absolutely no uncertainty—the men who laid the foundations of the heritage of civilization and spiritual privilege which we enjoy, were, first of all, men of unwavering faith. | Rev. John Higginson, son of Rev. Francis Higginson, the first minister of Salem, Massachusetts, says: ‘‘If any man amongst us marks religion as twelve, and the world as thirteen, let such an one know he hath neither the spirit of a true New England man, nor yet of a sincere Christian.’’ There you have expressed in the briefest compass the attitude of the American pioneer toward re- ligion and moral idealism. First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 21 Among the early documents discovered by those seeking infor- mation and light on the early life of the pioneers of Indianapolis one hundred years ago, has been found a report of a committee charged with the responsibility of making arrangements for appro- priate Fourth of July celebration just a year previous to the date of the organization of this church. The whole tone of this report is so idealistic and uplifting that I am sure you will want me to read it. REPORT OF COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO ARRANGE FOR FIRST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN INDIANAPOLIS, 1822* ‘‘The committee to whom the inhabitants of Indianapolis and its vicinity assigned the duty of making arrangements for com- memorating the Independence of the United States, having had the subject under consideration, are of opinion, that if the day be observed at all as a memorial of the declaration of our indepen- dence, the exercises ought first in a public manner to express our gratitude to the Supreme Governor of Nations for the blessings of independence, civil and religious liberty which by His provi- dence we enjoy, and that the remaining exercises ought to be such as to cherish a spirit of patriotism and promote the interests of morality and religion, by whose influence alone under the Divine blessing we have reason to expect a continuation of our distin- guishing privileges. ‘With these sentiments, the committee have appointed to begin the exercises with the worship of God and a sermon adapted to the occasion, to be followed by reading the Declaration of Indepen- dence, Washington’s inaugural address when entering into office as first President of the United States under our present Consti- tution, and his farewell address; each of the readings to be accom- panied with appropriate prefatory remarks, and the whole con- cluded by prayer. ‘“The preceding exercises have been assigned to those whom the committee consider suitable persons, and are to commence at ten o’clock, at the Governor’s Circle. ‘“These are all the arrangements the committee have thought advisable to make in the present circumstances of the settlement, *See note page 435 oe CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL and in inviting their fellow citizens to attend this commemoration of our independence, they do it in the hope that nothing, under these arrangements, will take place calculated to injure the repu- tation or morals of a place whose character is now forming. By order of the committee, ISAAC COH, Secretary. Indianapolis, June 28, 1822.’’ (Indianapolis Gazette, Saturday, June 29, 1822 Volume 1, Number 15.) You will mark well the fact that the dominant note of this re- port is an acknowledgement of the goodness of God, provision for His worship on Independence Day, and the preservation of the morals and reputation of this community, then in its infancy. It is significant to observe that a host of thinking men in this day are of the opinion that we have wandered far from the traditions of our fathers, both politically and religiously. They are en- deavoring to lead us back through their utterances to this propo- sition, whole-heartedly subscribed to by our fathers, namely, that religion,—the worship of God—must be recognized as the domin- ant regulative factor in the life of a community or nation, if it is to be saved from decay and disintegration. II. There is a second proposition which is closely related to the first, and which has had a far-reaching influence upon the heritage of a century. The pioneers who came to this state shared with other pioneers, who built this nation, the belief that education, next to religion, is an indispensable factor in the building of char- acter. It is very interesting to note that quite early in the history of the capital city, the early pioneers were concerned over the question of the proper education of their children. An interesting sidelight on the intimate relation between secular and religious education in the early history of the First Presbyterian’ Church of Indianapolis, is gained from an advertisement in the Indian- apolis Gazette of November 21, 1826: ‘“The trustees of the school attached to the Presbyterian’ meet- ing house give notice to the public that Mr. Ebenezer Sharpe, late First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 23 principal of the Paris Academy, Paris, Kentucky, has taken charge of the school, and this day, with two assistants, commenced its in- struction and is expected to continue its permanent teacher. The prices of tuition are: Per Quarter Hor opelling -andmheadinein- clr devin ee ye a +l ve $2.00 WVTILIN GS ATICMATILE MCL eric ieee arc) nent tea tetas be Varta, 2.90 Geography, History and English Grammer........ 3.00 Mathematics, Philosophy and the Languages...... 4.00 For those scholars who attend less than a quarter, or un- steady, paying only for the time they attend, an advance of 20 per cent will be charged. And to defray the expenses of fuel, and other conveniences for the school, 25 cents a quarter will be re- quired for the two first quarters of the year, commencing in No- vember, and 1214 cents a quarter for the two last. Isaac Coe, President, James Blake, Secretary, Indianapolis, November 6, 1826.’’ It should be remembered that James Blake and Ebenezer Sharpe, as well as Dr. Coe, were early elders in the First Presby- terian Church. It is a far ery from the days of that little academy in the Pres- byterian meeting house, nearly one hundred years ago, to the splendid educational system of our city today, with scores of mag- nificent school buildings, with thousands of trained teachers, with scientific laboratories, with the most modern text-books, with rec- reational facilities, with everything necessary for the highest class work along educational lines. Nevertheless, there were bound up in that early educational enterprise, the possibilities of growth and enlarged influence. Our forefathers builded better than they knew, and the educational privileges of our children today in no small degree look for their origin to the zeal, devotion and de- termination of these men of a century ago. III. There is a third proposition, upon which our fathers had strong convictions. It is a proposition that needs to be re-affirmed in this day. In scriptural language it is expressed thus: ‘‘The powers that be are ordained of God.’’ The State is an insti- 24 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL tution of Divine sanction, as well as the Church. Every true Christian man is under obligation to support the State with his substance and defend it with his life, if occasion require such sac- rifice. To put it in another way, patriotism has always been a pas- sion with the Christian element of America. This church, through its century of history, has had a remarkable record of loyalty to our government which we could not begin to give in detail. Four times in one hundred years her sons were summoned to the colors and never once did they falter or respond with reluctance. Their loyalty, their heroism, their devotion to the right, as they con- ceived it, is a part of the priceless heritage of the century. You are well aware that this church has made a notable con- tribution to the larger welfare of the State and Nation, by the gift of an unusual number of statesmen, and counsellors. Were we to eall the roll of such public servants this morning, it would include one President of the United States, one Attorney General of the United States, several Governors of this commonwealth and a great array of legislators, jurists, journalists and others who have rendered conspicuous public service. I would be an unworthy successor of the noble men who have preceded me in this pulpit, if I failed to direct your attention to the part they played in shaping the conscience and establishing the moral convictions of this city and commonwealth. The men who have served this church as ministers during the past one hun- dred years have, for the most part, been men of unusual gifts and have made no small contribution to the heritage of the century. They have been, without exception, so far as I am able to discover, unfaltering in their loyalty to the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation. Consider for a moment the influence of a century of preaching upon the morals of a community and upon the citizenship of a commonwealth. Preaching and church-going keep alive a con- sciousness of the sanctity of the Lord’s Day. Where there is no Sabbath and no Sabbath-keeping, there is little religion. "Where there is no religion, God is not acknowledged. Where there is no acknowledgment of God, there is no conscience. Where there is no conscience, there is no respect for law. Where there is no respect First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 25 for law, there is little regard for property rights or for human life. The heritage of honesty, industry, integrity and good citizenship, which is ours, finds much of its incentive in this church and pul- pit. For a full century this organization, through its ministers and strong laymen and laywomen, has been quietly yet faithfully imparting spiritual vigor and moral stamina to this community. Today, we pause to give thanks to God for this wonderful heritage. In the one hundred years of its existence, 4,245 persons have been received into the membership of this church and have looked to it for guidance in service and for inspiration in spiritual matters. During this period, the church has been served by twelve pas- tors, one assistant pastor, and six stated supplies. The names of fifty-three ruling elders appear on its registry. It is impossible to pay individual tribute to this splendid suc- cession of spiritual leaders. It occurs to me that I ean best ap- praise the heritage of a century by directing your thought to two men, whose names will forever stand out conspicuously in the his- tory of this church. QOne stands at the opening of the church’s history, the other guided its destinies through more than one- third of its existence as an organization. One toiled unceasingly back there in pioneer days that this church might be founded and become a source of influence and power in this capital city. The other built himself into the hearts and lives, not only of the membership of this church but of the people of this city. One was a ruling elder, the other is a teaching elder. I refer to Dr. Isaac Coe and to Rev. Matthias L. Haines, D. D., the Pastor Emeritus of this church. What towers of strength they both are! What splendid types of Presbyterian manhood at its best! The initiation of any enterprise must center about a person- ality, and the moving spirit in the establishment of the Union Sab- bath School and the First Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis was Dr. Isaac Coe. On a granite monument which stands in Crown Hill Cemetery are inscribed these words: ‘‘The Founder of Sabbath Schools in Indianapolis.’’ One cannot read the sources of the history of the First Presbyterian Church without being profoundly impressed by the spirit of energy, devotion and splendid efficiency that characterized this early Presbyterian 26 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL leader and elder. Born near Dover in Morris County, New Jer- sey, in 1782, possessing in high degree physical, mental and moral energy, he was bound to exercise a decided influence wherever he located. His parents were God-fearing Presbyterians whose wholesome instruction was deeply imbedded in his heart and gave direction throughout his life to his unusual energy of character. Having determined to be a physician, Dr. Coe entered upon a three years’ course in medicine and surgery, the last year of which was spent at the New York Medical Institution and hospital connected therewith in New York City, from which he was gradu- ated in the spring of 1815. After practicing for a time in New Jersey and Virginia, his adventurous spirit impelled him to seek an outlet for his vigor of mind and body among the hardships and deprivations of what was then the far Western country. Coming in 1821 to Indianapolis, where he was the first graduate physician to locate, he soon foresaw the future importance of this city as the capital of the state, and devoted himself with very great earnest- ness to everything that promised to promote the highest interests of the community. Of course, in his judgment, the establishment of a Presbyterian Church was one of the very best means to that end, so he gave time, money, and influence freely to this work. His first step in this direction was the organization of an adult Bible Class which he himself taught at his home. His next effort was the founding of the Union Sabbath School. Modern specialists in religious education might well give study to the methods employed by Dr. Coe and his colleagues in this pioneer Sabbath School. Early in the third year of its existence, a careful survey of the town was made, whereby it was ascer- tained that there were two hundred children of a suitable age to attend Sunday School. Of this number, 161 were actually en- rolled. From the old records available, it is computed that from 1825 to 1836 about 70 per cent of the children of the town attended Sabbath School. This high percentage was maintained by sys- tematic monthly visits by Sabbath School teachers to the homes. In the year 1836, out of 558 children in the town, 430 were on the Sabbath School rolls. Thus it is unnecessary for us to look back First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 27 with pity and scorn upon the humble efforts of our forefathers in the field of religious education. Not only were the children brought into the school, but actual results were achieved after enrollment was accomplished. As we have indicated, there was a lack of day-schools at that time, and this enterprising Sabbath School took children who did not know their letters, put them through the alphabet and primer, and then started them to memorizing Bible verses. Older children were furnished weekly by Dr. Coe with questions to be proved from the Bible, and a liberal system of rewards to the scholars for mem- orizing was introduced from the very beginning. Only a few days ago we examined one of the original record eards still preserved. On it are noted the name and grade of the scholar, the number of verses memorized, his record for punctu- ality, behavior and attendance. One of the rules of the school was that the children should attend the church service. The impression that one gets after examining these sources of information, is that this organization was compact, efficient and directed toward a worthy purpose by the master mind who devised it and stood back of it. What this church and city owe to Dr. Isaac Coe cannot be estimated. As we turn to the ministry of Dr. Haines, which extended over a period of more than thirty-five years, we are astonished at the very bulk of it as indicated by available: statistics. During his ministry, he received 2,369 persons into the fellowship of the church. From 1823 to 1885, the year his pastorate began, a total of 1,648 persons had been received, and the church then had a membership of 347. When his pastorate ended in November, 1920, the reported membership was 905. During the same period the contributions to church support and benevolences had risen from less than $7,000 a year to more than $39,000. During his pastor- ate $153,822 were raised for benevolences and $454,420 for church support. This makes a grand total of $608,232. It sounds like the figures of big business. They tell us the average minister conducts approximately 160 public meetings each year. “Allowing one hour each for these meetings, and computing on the basis of thirty-five years, Dr. 28 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Haines stood before this congregation and community 700 days of eight hours each, or about two years and four months, making allowance for rest days and holidays. But the great bulk of pastoral labors cannot be stated statisti- cally. Think of the joys and sorrows, the happiness and the heartaches of thirty-five years. Through all the experiences of life Dr. Haines went with his people. He has baptized the chil- dren and married the sons and daughters of this church. He has comforted them in the hour of bereavement and gone with them to the gates of death. Scores of times, under a scorching summer sun or amid the chilling blasts of winter, he has stood by the open grave and spoken a last word of hope and assurance. The details of his toils for this church as an organization cannot be even touched here. Suffice it to say that under his guidance, this church be- came a closely-knit organization along modern lines. Only those familiar with such work understand the significance of this phase of the pastorate of Dr. Haines. I am confident that I am able more clearly to discern the high quality and the perman- ence of the structure Dr. Haines has erected than those who for long years labored with him. A ministry of thirty-five years is something of an achievement in itself. A pastorate of thirty-five years in one church is the acid test of a minister’s wisdom, patience, intellectual and spiritual re- sources and Christian manhood. Not only has Dr. Haines passed this test with highest honors, but he remains enthroned in the hearts of those who through the years have looked to him for spiritual leadership. What a contribution is his to the heritage of the century! How shall we best honor the memory of those of our number who have been ealled from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant? How shall we bring satisfaction to those still with us who have been abundant in their labors for the Kingdom? Not by any words we can say but rather by our deeds. We honor them when we fight the battles of our day as courageously as they fought their battles. We honor them when we bear our burdens uncomplainingly as they bore theirs. We honor them when we First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 29 turn our faces hopefully toward the future with a high resolve that this old church shall increase in spiritual power with increasing years. We honor them most when we determine that through all the changing years, their Faith shall be our Faith, their God shall be our God, their Saviour shall be our Saviour, their Hope of Sal- vation and their Eternal Home shall be ours. 30 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL GREETINGS FROM CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS Mr. Louis Howuanp, Epitror, The Indianapolis News To the First Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, June 11, 1923. Speaking for the community by your appointment, and for no other reason that occurs to me, I take pleasure in extending to your church the greetings of Indianapolis on this happy oc¢a- sion. If Indianapolis could be incarnated, and endowed with a voice, she would, I am sure, not only extend a greeting to the First Presbyterian Church, but also acknowledge with thankfulness her great indebtedness to it, an indebtedness that she can repay only by living in loyalty, as she has in the main done, to the fine tra- dition of which this organization is a part, which it did so much to establish, and has done so much to maintain and perpetuate. It is curious that a community that is a hundred and more years old should have retained so clearly the impress of the stamp set on it in its infancy. The little village of a few hundred souls still lives in the city of more than three hundred thousand people, and I for one rejoice that it is so. We have lost something of the old ways and customs, which was inevitable, and perhaps desirable, and much of the old narrowness, and this no one will regret. But the spirit of our founders survives, and among them none exerted a stronger and more soundly spiritual influence than those who laid the foundations of this church a hundred years ago. In do- ing that, they performed a community service the importance of which it is impossible to exaggerate. The community’s greeting is In recognition of that service, and not a mere courtesy. My task is really done, since the message is delivered, and in as sincere and heartfelt a way as I have been able to command. But, laying aside my representative role, and speaking as friend and neighbor—for my spiritual home is not far away—I may be for- given a few observations that may not be inappropriate to the ocea- First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 31 sion. It is pleasant, profitable and most helpful to ‘‘ praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us,’’ and to think of them as con- stituting that ‘‘cloud of witnesses’’ by which we are ‘‘compassed about.’’ But one can not indulge in such reflections without think- ing of the future, of the race that we are to ‘‘run with patience,”’ and of the ‘‘witnesses’’ as alive, and sympathetically, anxiously and eagerly awaiting the outcome. All of which means that tra- ditions are not dead things. They are the prolongation into the present of the life of the past, and the life of the present is stabler, safer and also nobler when lived in the tradition. Traditions are, in a very real sense, institutions. There is much talk today of 100 per cent Americanism—a good deal of it pointless and foolish —hbut there can be no such Americanism except in so far as it is true to the great American tradition. Precisely so is it with our religion. This is by no means to say that everything that is tra- ditional is true—that is far from being the case—but Christianity cannot be taught, held, or even thought of except in relation to the past, and a very remote past, and to the innumerable influences that have gone into its making. It was not invented yesterday— was not invented at all. Its history is not the history of doctrines or dogmas, but of a life of which those doctrines and dogmas were once, and of which some of them are even yet, the expression. In- stitutional Christianity has taken them into itself and built on them. It also rejects them when they no longer serve, no longer minister to our religion as a life. But though we can and do outgrow many things that are tra- ditional, we can not outgrow tradition, for it is a part of us. The family tradition, to come down to the individual, is in the blood, a part, and—when it is fine—a most precious part of one’s inheri- tance. With our English friends, the words ‘‘It isn’t done’’ are stronger even than the law, and there are no people with a greater respect for the law, or with whom obedience to the law is more in- stinctive and implicit. But no law is needed by the English to en- force obedience to the inhibition ‘‘It isn’t done’’—it is self-exe- euting. It is the law of self-control, self-restraint and is the fruit of self-respect, and respect for a tradition sanctified by the alle- giance yielded to it by high-minded gentlemen for generations 32 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Life has been moulded to this pattern. The principle plays, or should play, a very important part in social life, in politics, and perhaps most of all in religion. | Viewed thus, our religious life seems to have a framework or body that it can not have in the eyes of those who do not see it in this light. Those to whom it does appear in this aspect need have, it seems to me, little fear or concern about heresy. The problem of the churches is to present to men, in such a way as to win their loving loyalty, the life and teachings of their Master, and the im- parted and inherited life of which His life was and is the inspira- tion. The truth, we have been taught, is not a body of doctrine— which may or may not be true—but a Person—‘‘I am the Truth.’’ The Christian life is also a Person—‘‘I am the Resurrection and the Life.’’ He came to earth that men might ‘‘have life and have it more abundantly,’’ and that life was in Himself. ‘‘In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.’’ For light, therefore, we must go, not to general assemblies, general conventions, or church councils, but to Jesus Christ. So, too, men who are wandering in strange paths, and in danger of being lost, should remember that He also is ‘‘the Way.’’ Here then is the source of our great tradi- tion, to which churches, and communities inspired by them, must be true if it is to be well with them. In that tradition we may, if we will, all be one. It is only through unity between man and God that unity of men and churches with one another can ever be brought about. Surely it is not going too far to say that your anniversary and festival have a deep spiritual significance. It is not much merely to live for a hundred years—indeed it may be a curse. ‘‘The days of our age,’’ we read, ‘‘are three score years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to four score years, yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone.’’ So the prayer is: ‘‘So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’’ To live a hundred years is nothing; to live a hundred years wisely is a divine achieve- ment. The mission of this church, as conceived by its founders, was to teach men to apply their hearts to ‘‘the wisdom that is from above,’’ which ‘‘is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ay easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without parti- ality and without hypocrisy.”’ To that mission your church has, I believe, been faithful. It has lived its hundred years well, and may enter its second cen- tury with high hopes, and with a chastened pride that need not be at enmity with a true humility. It has ever recognized that ‘‘here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come,’’ that ‘‘city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.’’ So you have reason to rejoice—and the community which you have served rejoices with you—but you also have reason to be sober and vigilant, as people charged with the administration of a sacred and Divine trust must always be. ‘‘For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore; for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight or at the cock- crowing, or in the morning, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch.’’ This means that your festival is a day of dedication and conse- eration, and points to the future as well as to the past. I bring you the greetings of this community, a community grateful and thankful for what your church has meant and still means to it, and confident that it will mean even more to it in the future. ‘“The Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, * * * Only be thou strong and very courageous.’’ GREETINGS FROM THE PRESBYTERY Rev. George WILLIAM ALLISON, Moderator of the Presbytery of Indianapolis, 1923 To The First Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, June 11, 1923. I am charged with the pleasant duty of bringing greetings from the Presbytery of Indianapolis. But what a task! How does one formally greet his mother? For this church is literally the ‘“‘mother’’ of Presbyterianism in the Presbytery. Within the bounds of the present Presbytery, there are only two older churches, Bloomington founded in 1819 and Spencer Bethany in 1820. There is no older church so far north as this in the state. I bring these words of John Drinkwater from his ‘‘ Abraham Lincoln :’’ ‘“When we the high heart magnify, And the sure vision celebrate ; And worship greatness passing by, Ourselves are great.’’ This church has had an honored history and we prophesy for her a noble future. We do honor to ourselves when we pay honor to its notable contribution to Christian citizenship, not only within the city and Presbytery,—but in the state and nation as well. Indiana has been called the last frontier, for, with the devel- opment of the railroads, the conditions of settlement farther west were vastly different. Our grandfathers settled in Indiana not to exploit its resources, but to found homes for themselves and their families. This has given color and character to our citizen- ship, and, to the development of the state, this church has made its distinctive contribution. | I do not know, but I feel quite confident that there are three 34 First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 35 sources from which its early membership came. There were those sturdy, intelligent, hardy New Englanders; the courteous Cav- aliers who came from or through Virginia; and the liberal sprinkling of Scotechmen that every Presbyterian church is sup- posed to possess. They each brought with them noble ideals, they wrought great work, and have left us a great tradition. This they have bequeathed to us. And if we in our generation permit these ideals to suffer, this tradition to languish, this institution to be anything but its possible best,—we can only be ‘‘ashamed uv oursel’s.’’ There has been what might be called a miracle of God enacted in American History. One may follow from the Gulf of St. Law- rence to the mouth of the Mississippi a list of French names, which are the only remnant of a deliberate and subsidized effort of the French Government to establish, in the heart of the richest contin- ent on earth, a New France. Similarly, in the south, from St. Augustine, El Paso, Santa Fe, on to San Bernardino and San Francisco there was an attempt to build a New Spain. The only coins in the Wabash Valley fifteen years after this church was founded were Spanish—the doubloon and piece of eight. But in the Frovidence of God, it was out of neither of these efforts that America’s greatness was to come. On the contrary, it came from a ragged fringe of scattered colonies of diverse origin and with many conflicting interests, ranged along the narrow Atlantic seaboard,— colonists, who were either driven from their home-lands, or cared for by them none too kindly. Out of their unaided efforts, the enterprise which is America grew. And in the building of a free Christian America here in the heart of the continent, this church has played no mean part. I bring you, on behalf of the Presbytery of Indianapolis, greet- ings upon the completion of one hundred years of splendid service to the cause of Christ, and bid you God-speed for the years ahead, assured that these will not be less noble than those which have already passed. 36 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL GREETINGS FROM THE CHURCH FEDERATION Rev. C. H. Winners, D. D., EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. To the First Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, June 11, 1923. I bring you greetings from the churches of this city. I do so with great joy and satisfaction because I know in what high es- teem the personnel of this church is held by all the church people of this city, and because also of the fine spirit of cooperation in every good work manifested by this church. It is a great thing to have been a pioneer in the religious life of a great city, and that position of leadership, at least in certain im- portant respects, has been held by this church through all these years. I have been impressed by four things as I have been think- ing of the meaning of this centennial celebration. First, pioneers of progress in the moral and religious realm are too often honored last and least of all. This should not surprise us; too few really live in such a manner as to make possible an appreciation of work done in this realm of life. The influence of such men is so pervasive, so gradually transforming, being void of everything spectacular, there being no blare of trumpets, no attempt to thrust their hght out to be seen of men, but simply to let it shine, that too frequently it is entirely overlooked. The man who builds railroads, tunnels mountains, bridges chasms, lays out cities, or constructs great buildings, should be honored, but the man who builds character, who establishes institutions for the transformation of men and women should be thrice honored. From every standpoint, the Church, next to the home, is the great- est institution in the world. Mr. Babson tells us that our security does not depend upon the construction of great vaults to hold our money, or substantial buildings to protect us from the enemy, but upon the principles of honesty and fair dealing, which are taught by the Church and the ministers of the gospel. The Church has no apology to make; it doubtless has not lived up to its opportunities, nor by any manner of means met fully its responsibilities, but it has been and still is the greatest factor for human helpfulness and First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 37 human progress, next to the home, that the world has ever pos- sessed’ or is now 1n possession of. Second, this church was a pioneer in the realm of religious edu- cation. We have been a long time learning that the commission of our Lord was not only to preach but also to teach, and that true religion must be based upon intelligence. This has always been a strong point in the Presbyterian Church, and this contribution you have made to the religious life of this city. The Church has al- ways been a friend of education, but not always a wise friend. It has always stimulated and fostered the school, but it has oceca- sionally expressed fear lest the school should supersede the Church. The remedy for this is Christian education. Just now the Church is coming to see this and is taking a new interest in this great task. The principles followed and the program outlined in the school out of which this church grew, have not changed much since that time; they have developed some and are being more cenerally applied, but they remain very much the same. Third, you were pioneers in the field of cooperative Christian- ity. I have come to estimate people not so much by their intellec- tual strength or by the strength or attractiveness of their person- ality, but by their ability to work with other people. No one of us knows very much, nor can any one of us alone do very much; it is only by cooperation that we accomplish great things; it is only by the comparison and exchange of ideas that we come to know very much. This is the day of codperation, and surely if men codperate in business affairs they should cooperate in the great work of the Kingdom of Christ. You set an example of Christian cooperation one hundred years ago when the spirit of sectarianism was much more bitter and intense than at the present time, and you have con- tinued in this spirit of cooperation to the present time. That first Sunday School, held in the little cabinet shop, was a union Sun- day School, and it did not cease to function as a union school when moved into the First Presbyterian Church building. The fourth thing I have been thinking about is that the early stamp put upon Presbyterianism in this city has been carried by that Church throughout its one hundred years of history. You are missionary in spirit. I am not speaking of your relation to the 38 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL work in foreign fields; I refer to the missionary needs of your own city, and your generous response to these needs. You have’ estab- lished and are now maintaining missions in your own city, just as your people were instrumental in establishing that first Sunday School because there was a call for it. You have been a people greatly interested in religious education. You are leading in this city at the present time in the field of Daily Vacation Bible Schools. You are teaching the rest of us how to do this work thor- oughly and effectively. You have been through all these years, and still are, a very cooperative people. Your relation to other religious bodies has been most brotherly and helpful, and it is a pleasure to work with you in the great field of cooperative Chris- tianity. This has been a great century of achievement, and the future is full of hope for the First Presbyterian Church of Indi- anapolis. In the name of the Protestant churches of this city, I bring you greetings and bid you God speed! ADDRESS, MR. THOMAS C. DAY Centennial Service, Tuesday evening, June 12, 1923. The committee of arrangements has notified me that my duties this evening are twofold—to give personal reminiscences of a few of the earlier members and officers of this church, and then to in- troduce Dr. Haines, the speaker of the evening. Among my earliest recollections of the membership of the First Presbyterian Church is a call at our home from Mrs. Caleb C. Burgess and Mrs. Thomas H. Sharpe. As specimens of the membership of a church these women would commend the church to any stranger. Their gracious bearing, their friendly and sympathetic attitude at once won the confidence and friendship of all who met them. The striking characteristics of these two ladies were generosity of judgment as to other persons, and spir- itual poise. The author and poet Hood, at one time threatened with an in- troduction, said: ‘‘No! don’t introduce me to that man; I want to hate him, and you can’t hate a man that you know.’’ Quite con- First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 39 trary to this, Mrs. Sharpe and Mrs. Burgess wanted to love every- body, and sought introductions, that they might show their love. Besides their social life of beautiful hospitality and good cheer, Mrs. Burgess and Mrs. Sharpe organized what were known as Mothers’ Meetings in the parlors of the First Presbyterian Church. They visited the homes of needy ones, inviting the.mothers to the meetings, where these ladies, assisted by others of the church, taught the women to make garments for their children, while they also instructed them in the fundamentals of good housekeeping and in Christian methods of rearing their children. The same lessons have been carried on ever since through the kindergarten. Dr. Caleb C. Burgess, elected to the eldership in 1888, ever dis- played a deep concern for the welfare of the church. Always present at the prayer meeting and at meetings of the session, it was easy to see that his life was largely bound up in his church and its activities. Thomas H. Sharpe became an elder in 1850. A man of sub- stantial build, he illustrated in his physical form the solidity of his convictions and endurance of his faith. At the time I knew him, he was rather deliberate in his movements, calm, sedate and pre-eminently fair and just. Chapin C. Foster, installed as an elder in 1879, was the opti- mist of the session. Gifted with a happy social nature, he was always placed on committees charged with the duty of inducing men to give something or do something. If Chapin Foster failed, the case was dropped as impracticable. He was a good listener, and in answer to a vigorous criticism of the church or its methods, his reply was an indulgent smile, a smile which almost convinced the complainer that he was in sympathy with his views; but the smile was fatal to the critic; it effectually demolished the attack and left Foster coming home with what Samuel J. Tilden would call the ‘‘usufruct.’’ Mr. Foster was immensely popular with his Sunday School class of boys whom he took annually, through a period of years, on picnic excursions, giving to the boys practical demonstrations that Sunday Schools and Bible study are in perfect accord with picnics, games, swings and ‘‘lots of fun’’ on week- days. 40 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Opposite to Mr. Foster in character, attitude and bearing, was Robert S. McKee, who, like the war horse of the Hebrew poet, sniffed the battle from afar. He often detected danger and lha- bility lurking behind silver-lined clouds. Mr. McKee’s cautious nature never prevented him from giving his loyal support to the church and to its activities. He stood firmly on Presbyterian doce- trines, and, when my brethren elected me to the eldership, I asked Thomas H. Sharpe where I could see a copy of the Presbyterian Confession of Faith to learn if I-could qualify for the office. Mr. Sharpe declared that he had no copy, but, reflecting a moment, said ‘‘Go to McKee, I dare say he is the only man in the church who has one.’’ Accordingly, I appealed to elder McKee who kindly furnished his copy of the Confession of Faith, printed, I think, in 1882. Mr. W. H. H. Miller, who was installed an elder in 1882, later under Benjamin Harrison’s administration Attorney General of the United States, was a man of deep conviction. There was noth- ing colorless about his mental equipment. On any subject about which he thought it worth while to have an opinion, he was pos- itive and emphatic. His kindly heart was hidden away from the public gaze but was ever responsive to human need. For some years, W. H. H. Miller was the treasurer of the church, and his services in that office were of special value. During the period which my remarks cover, Rev. Myron W. Reed was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. I think I may properly describe him as a Christian socialist. Strongly sympathetic toward the laboring man, he was easily aroused in defense of the one who works with his hands. Added to this was bis vivid impression of the bitter controversies leading up to the Civil War which colored all his thinking. First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 299 field for the burial, and composed the hymn which was sung as the martyred President’s body was lowered into the grave. Dr. Gurley’s labors in Washington were not confined to the New York Avenue Chureh. He founded a mission in another sec- tion of the city, and the beautiful new building at Sixteenth and Newton streets in our national capital stands as an enduring monu- ment to his work in that vicinity. From a small beginning in 1866, when he and his assistants started a Sabbath School in a room over a car stable, gathering in the children of the neighbor- hood, the organization, having developed into a church called the Gurley Memorial, steadily gathered strength through the years. It outgrew successively five different buildings, and, joining re- eently with a sister church in Washington, the united congrega- tions have just completed and occupied their handsome new church home. The following is an extract from a tribute to Dr. Gurley written at the time of his death by a fellow pastor in Washington, D. C.: ‘*The death of Dr. Gurley has not only left sorrow in the hearts of all who knew him, but has made a profound impression upon the churches of all denominations in this city. It could not have been otherwise. For many years he had been one of the leading ministers here, occupying a representative station before the country, pastor of three or four Presidents, Chaplain to Congress, and friend and adviser of many of the first men of the nation. Dr. Gurley was one whose counsel was sought upon many im- portant subjects outside of his religious duties, and he was repeat- edly called in to advise confidentially in times of national dark- ness and danger, when the wisest consideration was demanded. He was very modest and made no boast of these things; but in his quiet and confiding manner, with intimate friends he would nar- rate with graphic distinctness the scenes through which he had passed. Dr. Gurley was not ambitious. He simply took what the Church gave, and rose as the wave bore him up on its crest. Be- sides the positions upon Boards and in Theological Seminaries pressed upon him, a number of the most prominent pulpits in the East and West at different times made overtures to him. But in all these things he bore himself with great modesty and humility. 300 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Above all, he sought in all things to be directly led of God, and his closet was his council chamber. From this walk with God there came forth an authoritative air of sincerity, earnestness, and a force of personal conviction that deeply impressed the hearer. The preaching of Dr. Gurley, in slow and stately solemnity, was confined with remarkable closeness to the great essential doctrines of the cross. There was no phrase more frequently upon his lips, as his constant hearers will bear witness, than ‘Christ and Him crucified.’ This was the theme on which he loved to dwell. His discourses were steeped in the Scriptures, and his hearers were nourished by the sincere milk of the Word. God’s blessing natur- ally followed such preaching and sinners were converted, as well as saints built up in the faith.”’ Dr. Gurley’s death occurred September 30, 1868. Of his im- mediate family, which consisted of three sons and two daughters, the only survivor is his daughter, Mrs. Emma H. Adams of Wash- ington, D. C., widow of Dr. James Osgood Adams. Another daughter was the wife of Colonel Wiliam Anthony Elderkin, U. S. A. It is an eloquent tribute to Dr. Gurley’s memory that three of his grandsons are actively engaged in the gospel ministry: the Rev. Melville B. Gurley, Chaplain The Berry Schools, Mt. Berry, Ga.; the Rev. Alvin B. Gurley, Associate Minister Second Presby- terian Church, Phila., Pa; and the Rev. Richard H. Gurley, Rec- tor of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Radnor, Pa.,—all sons of the late William Brooks Gurley of Washington, D. C. REV. J. P. E. KUMLER, D. D. (Taken in part from sketch published in a Pittsburgh paper at the time of his death.) Dr. Kumler, one of the beloved pastors of the First Church, was installed October 1, 1871, and resigned September 14, 1875, to accept a call to the Third Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, Ohio. ‘‘Dr. Kumler was born at Lewisburg, Preble County, Ohio, on August 16, 1830. His father’s family came from Switzerland, where they were a part of the sturdy, industrious, and virtuous First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 301 people of that country. They settled in the town of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. Many of them were college graduates— lawyers, doctors, Presbyterian ministers, and members of other professions. When the subject of this sketch was twelve years of age the family removed to Millvale, Ohio, where he was educated in the public schools and ‘‘the Institute’’ presided over by Dr. Seott, father of the late Benjamin Harrison’s first wife. At twen- ty years of age, when his father’s family removed to Oxford, Dr. Kumler entered the Miami University. On graduation in 1853 he went to Lane Theological Seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in May, 1856. In October of that year he was married to Abigail Golding. ‘*On leaving the theological seminary Dr. Kumler became pastor of the Presbyterian church at Greenville, Ohio. His next charge was the Presbyterian church at Oxford, Ohio, in which his father was an elder. From there he went to the Presbyterian church at Evansville, Indiana, of which the Honorable John B. Foster, after- ward Secretary of State, was an elder. Thence he was called to First Church, Indianapolis, of which Benjamin Harrison, after- ward President of the United States, was an elder. From Indi- anapolis, Dr. Kumler went to the Third Church at Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to the East Liberty Presbyterian Church at Pittsburgh, Pa. During his pastorate at Pittsburgh the East Lib- erty Church grew from a membership of 533, under his prudent, faithful and powerful ministrations, to 1,309, and he received 1,- 584 members. On December 30, 1900, Dr. Kumler resigned the pastorate of the East Liberty Church. At the congregational meeting which followed, resolutions were adopted affirming and placing on record the congregation’s love and esteem for him and expressing profound sorrow that the weight of years led him to think the work too arduous. The resolutions recalled how he had also endeared himself to the hearts of the people of the commu- nity. The Presbyterian Banner in its editorial at the time said: ‘“No minister has ever done better work in Pittsburgh, and he will carry with him the respect and love of all our people. Such de- votion is one of the richest rewards of the ministry and Dr. Kum- ler has nobly earned it.’’ On December 31, 1903, the congregation 302 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL of the East Liberty Church dedicated the large and splendidly equipped Kumler Memorial Sabbath School building at a cost of $85,000, on which occasion Dr. Kumler participated in the admin- istration of the Lord’s Supper. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon Dr. Kumler by Lane Theological Sem- inary at Cincinnati, and that of doctor of laws by Miami Univer- sity at Oxford, Ohio. ‘‘One who knew Dr. Kumler well paid him the following trib- ute: ‘It was no ordinary privilege to come into close contact with such a man as he was. His was one of those rare characters for which one’s admiration increased just in proportion aS one was permitted to look down into his heart and note the springs of action. A warmer or more sympathetic heart never tenanted a human bosom. The uplift of his influence lives beyond the years of a mortal life!’ No uncertain note was ever heard from his lips. Eloquent, evangelistic, biblical, and spiritual, his words were blessed abundantly. In addition, during all his ministerial labors his work was marvelously seconded by the untiring and un- selfish labor of his noble and consecrated helpmate. Dr. Kumler’s death occurred on January 3,1909. He is survived by two daugh- ters, the elder the wife of John B. Wight, at one time a commis- sioner at Washington for the District of Columbia, and the young- er the wife of William M. McKelvy, formerly vice-president of the Standard Oil Company of Pittsburg.’’ [Copy of original manuscript of the first document relating to Presby- terianism in Indianapolis, which records the election of Trustees of the Presbyterian Society, the adoption of building plans for the Presbyterian Church (later the First Presbyterian), and the election of a committee to organize the Union Sabbath School. ] Presbyterian Church, Trustees’ Election, March 22, 1823 Committee to form a Sunday School At a meeting of a very respectable number of persons con- tributing to the temporal support of the Presbyterian worship in the County of Marion, held on Saturday the 22d day of March, 1823, at the School House in Indianapolis, pursuant to public notice given by publication two weeks heretofore in numbers 1 and 2 of the Western Censor, and in numbers 48, 49 and 50 of the Ind. Gazette, the two newspapers published in said town,—present, Isaac Coe, Danel Yandes, Harvey Gregg, James Linton, James Blake, Caleb Scudder, D. B. Wick, Alex. Frazier, John T. Osborn, Hervey Ma- gure, Douglass McGuire, Samuel Morrow, William New, John E. Baker, H. G. L. Dunlap, K. A. Scudder, S. G. Mitchell, Nathaniel Bolton, John Hays, Noah Leaverton, Jeremiah Johnson, Robert Culberson, Robert Siddill, John Wilken, James Paxton, Joseph Clark, Wilkes Reagan, B. F. Morris, John Packer, George G. Larue, C, Fletcher, Joseph C. Reed, Obed Foote, I. P. Duvall, and James M. Ray; Whereupon, on motion, Harvey Gregg was appointed Charr- man, and James M. Ray, Secretary. Inasmuch as there has been no legal election of Trustees, on motion, the above persons, being a majority of the persons contributing as above, proceeded to the election of five Trustees, to compose a body corporate under the laws of the State of Indiana, approved the first day of January 1820, for the purpose of holding real estate in the County of Marion, on which to erect a building for public worship, and a school house, which election was, on motion, resolved to be taken by ballot. And, thereupon, on canvassing the votes of the above persons, subscribers, the result was that Harvey Gregg, Daniel Yandes, James Blake, Isaac Coe, and William W. Wick were duly elected Trustees of the Presbyterian Society at Indianapolis, in the County of Marion, Indiana, thirty-five votes having been taken, of which number each of said persons had a majority. On motion, Resolved, that the above proceedings be recorded in the Recorder’s office of this County, pursuant to law. H. Gregg, Chairman. Attest, J. M. Ray, Secretary. The Presbyterian Society met, as above, on the 22d day of March, 1823, present, as within mentioned, being thirty-five im number, Harvey Gregg, Chairman, and J. M. Ray, Secretary. On motion, Resolved, nem. can., Dr. Isaac Coe, Daniel Yandes and James Blake having made known to this meeting now that the most expensive plan, proposed by Dr. Coe, shall be erected, that the said plan be adopted by this meeting; that the Trustees this day elected are by this meeting endued with full power to carry the plan into effect, and are, therefore, acknowledged and constituted payees of the subscription to said plan. Adjourned, H. Gregg, Chairman. Attest, J. M. Ray, Secy. On motion, Resolved, that David C. Proctor, John Hawkins, Tsaac Coe, Lismund Basye, John McClung are elected a Committee to draft a constitution to organize a Sunday School,* who are to meet here on next Thursday Hvening at 4 o’clock. *[It will be noted that, in taking the initiative in the Sunday School movement, the Presbyterians designed from the outset that it should be a co-operative enterprise—a union Sunday School—-participated in by all the denominations of the place. To this end, they elected only two of their own number to membership on the committee of organization— the Rev. Mr. Proctor, Stated Supply of the Presbyterian Society, and Dr. Isaac Coe. The other three members elected by the Presbyterians to this committee were leaders in their respective denominations— Lismund Basye, a Methodist, the Rev. John McClung, a Campbellite, and John Hawkins, probably a Baptist. The last three named were, of course, not in attendance upon this gathering of Presbyterians, but were appointed by them at this meeting to serve on the committee to form a union Sunday School. The call for the first meeting of the Union Sabbath School, which appeared in the issue of the Indianapolis Gazette of April 5, 1823, was issued by this committee. ] CHAPTER IX RECORDS OF THE SESSION OF THE FIRST PRESBYTER- IAN CHURCH, INDIANAPOLIS (From July 5, 1823 to March 29, 1831. These furnish informa- tion of value regarding the life of the church during the first eight years of its existence.) Minutes of the Formation and Proceedings of the Presbyter- ian Church of Christ at Indianapolis, Indiana. Indianapolis, July 5, 1823. In pursuance of public notice, those persons desirous of being formed into a Presbyterian Church, met at 9 o’clock A. M. in a building belonging to Caleb Scudder in which public worship has usually been held. The Rey. Isaac Reed, a member of the Louisville Presbytery, within whose bounds this place is situated, and the Rev. David C. Proctor, now statedly labouring with this people being present, the Rev. Isaac Reed was designated as moderator and Isaac Coe acted as clerk: When Isaae Coe and Rebecca Coe his wife, Caleb Scudder, Alexander Frazer, Margaret Walpole, Isabella Kimberly, Mary Baker and Ann Burton respectively produced to the clergymen present, certificates, duly authenticated, of their membership and good standing in the Presbyterian Church in other places; and Jane Duke, Margaret Frazer, Laura Osborn and Mary Scudder, being examined as to their faith in Christ and their knowledge and belief of the doctrines of the Scriptures and satisfactory evidence thereon obtained, as well as of their previous baptism and Chris- tian deportment, were admitted as suitable persons to enjoy the privileges of the church in full communion; Laura Finch Wick,* *Laura Finch Wick, wife of Judge William W. Wick, and sister of Judge Fabius M. Finch. 303 304 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL Ann Yandes, Mary Ann Kimberly, who had not been baptized, ex- hibiting on similar examination like satisfactory evidence, were also deemed fit persons to be received into full communion in the Presbyterian Church after they shall have been baptized. Where- upon the above named persons assented individually to the follow- ing articles of profession and covenant, viz: We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the Word of God and the only infallible rule of faith and prac- tice ; We believe in the doctrines of original sin (depravity) and re- generation by the Holy Spirit; We rely entirely on the blood and merits of Christ as our ground of acceptance with God; We believe the sacraments of the New Testament to be baptism and the Lord’s Supper; that baptism is to be administered to be- lievers in Christ and to their children, and the Lord’s Supper is only to be administered to those who give evidence of a religious experience and make a creditable profession of Christian faith; We approve of the government and discipline of the Presby- terian Church in these United States; We now covenant together to live as Christian brethren in fel- lowship with and watchfulness over each other, submitting our- selves to the orderly administration of government and discipline in this Church, and we promise to sanctify the Sabbath and to be diligent and regular in attendance on the public worship of the Church: After which the church thus formed was constituted by the moderator with prayer. At eleven o’clock the Rev. William Martin and the Rev. Ezra H. Day arrived and the church adjourned to attend public wor- ship at the Presbyterian meeting house, now erecting, where, after a sermon by Rev. William Martin, Ann Yandes, Laura Finch Wick, Mary Ann Kimberly, above named, were baptized by the Rev. David C. Proctor, and after the close of the religious services, the church proceeded to elect two ruling elders, when Caleb Scudder and Isaac Coe were duly chosen and on being questioned by the First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 305 moderator consented to serve in the office to which they were elected. The succeeding day being Sabbath, the elders thus chosen were during the hours of public worship ordained to their office and the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper administered to the church; and Isabella Coddington, having produced a certificate of good standing in the Hopewell Church, was admitted by the session. On the Monday following, after close of the monthly concert for prayer, it was unanimously resolved that this church request to be taken under the care of the Louisville Presbytery. Isaac Coe, Clerk. Isaac Reed, Moderator. OBSERVATIONS ON THE FORMATION AND STATE OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGATION IN WHICH THIS CHURCH IS FORMED In October, 1821, the lots on which the town stands were first in part sold and in July preceding the lands around were opened for sale; a few families had, however, settled in and around the town the year previous. August, 1821, the Rev. Mr. Gaines visited the place as a missionary and preached three or four sermons. May 1822, the Rev. David ©. Proctor, from the Connecticut Missionary Society, spent about a week in this place and preached four or five times, and a subscription was circulated to procure half his services for one year from the lst of October ensuing. About a week or ten days afterwards, the Rev. Mr. Reed, from the Board of Missions, visited this place and preached three or four times. October 1, 1822, Mr. Proctor returned and $400 or up- wards having been subscribed, it was agreed that Mr. Proctor should spend three-fourths of his time for one year with us for what should be collected on the subscription. March, 18238, a subscription was circulated for building a meet- ing house* 54 by 34, which was raised the last of May and worship held in it Bae sixth of July. arahig was the first church edifice of any denomination erected in Indianapolis, official action toward its building having been taken as recorded in document opposite page 302.] 306 CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL October 1, 1823, the time for which the Rev. Mr. Proctor was engaged having expired, the congregation became vacant. _ In December or January, the Rev. Mr. Moreland of Kentucky, passing through this place, preached an evening sermon. February, 1824, the Rev. Isaac Reed visited this place and spent nearly a week—preached several times and baptized 5 children who are entered on the table of baptisms, and administered on the 22nd instant the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. MINUTES OF THE CHURCH (Continued) In July, 1823, the church resolved to hold a weekly prayer meeting, to be public and on Wednesday, except the week in which the monthly concert of prayer occurred, when it should be on Sat- urday and confined to the members of the church. This meeting was continued until about the Ist of October when from sickness and unavoidable absence of many of the members it suffered an interruption until the month of November when it was again re- sumed and the elders combined with it a course of religious exam- ination, the alternate meetings being devoted to examination on the Scriptures commencing with the New Testament in course and the Confession of Faith, beginning with the Shorter Catechism. These meetings, about the Ist of May, 1824 were altered to Sab- bath afternoon. September, 1823. The following constitution of a library* for the church was adopted, viz: The Presbyterian Church at Indianapolis, believing the reading of well chosen religious books eminently calculated to increase Christian knowledge and improve Christian practice, and desiring to place such works more easily within reach of its members, their families and such others as may be disposed to enjoy the benefits thereof, propose forming a library of doctrinal, practical, histori- cal and periodical religious works, and imploring the direction of the Great Head of the Church and His blessing on this attempt to promote the interests of His kingdom, we establish the following regulations, viz: 1. Every person contributing to the library in approved books or money to be entitled to one share for every dollar contributed, *See page 407. First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 307 which may lie dormant, without expense, or if used, the owner shall contribute twelve and one-half cents in advance for every quarter of a year. II. Books will be received as presents or on loan. Those pre- sented shall forever continue the property of the church; those on loan shall be returned whenever called for by the owner, and, if Injured, the damage made good. III. The session of the church shall manage the library, pre- scribe such rules and regulations and purchase such books as they shall deem expedient, and do all other things necessary to be done to promote and carry into effect the object intended. IV. The session shall have power, and it shall be their duty to grant the use of the library freely to any member of this church whom they shall deem unable to contribute to its funds and who shall conform to such regulations as shall be prescribed for the use thereof. | V.