USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Fiftieth anniversary service, First Friends Church : June 4, 1905 > Part 3
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William Mendenhall on Ohio street, just opposite our new Federal building, which did the best of work.
For about twelve years after the church was built, a thoroughly good graded school was conducted in the low- er rooms, but as the efficiency of the teaching drew more pupils, it was necessary to add a frame building in the rear of the church. Not only the Friends' children, but others, attended, since it was far superior to the public schools of the day. One custom, that of taking the chil- dren upstairs to Wednesday morning meeting, was al- ways followed. To the old pupils the memories of this school are very vivid and interesting. The influence of these schools is felt to-day, and they were only discontin- ued after Mr. Shortridge had come here and began his work in establishing a good system for primary and high schools.
From the very first, the charity of Friends has been dis- pensed with a free hand. A great work was that done during the Civil war under the auspices of the "Freed- man's Aid Society," of Western Yearly Meeting of Friends. In this city the main work consisted in aiding the destitute colored women and children refugees from the South. A one-story building on Pennsylvania street, just north of Washington, was in charge of Jacob Willits and his son Penn. It was filled to overflowing with clothing, which was given freely to the needy.
Growing out of this work, carried on by committees at home and in the extreme South, a school was organized at Columbus, Miss., in charge of Jonathan and Drusilla Wilson, who were sent South with a number of efficient teachers, willing to brave the dangers which were then very great to Northerners living in the South.
The white orphan asylum was established fifty years ago by Marcia Willard, and early in its history Friends took a great interest. In the early '60s, Drusilla Wilson became president of the board of managers, and when, on account of her work in the South, she was obliged to resign, Hannah Hadley began her services as president, and continued for twenty years. Hettie Adams and Mar garet Evans were for many years members of the board
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of this institution, and many of its matrons have been members of Friends.
Soon after this, James and Sarah Smith secured a building on Pennsylvania street just above the corpora- tion, which was then what is now known as Tenth street, and began a famous work among destitute and homeless women and girls. This work proved so sucessful and such a blessing to the community that good men and women supported it by voluntary contributions. Soon the accommodations were inadequate, but the citizens proved equal to the necessity and provided by private sub- scriptions the present building on North Capitol avenue called the Home for Friendless Women. The services of Sarah J. Smith in this institution proved so valuable, and her wisdom and power so great, that she was called upon for counsel by the committee in charge of the building and equipping of the "Women's Prison and Girls' Refor- matory." When the building was finished, she was made its first superintendent, and served many years until the infirmities of age would no longer permit. Her assistant during these years was Elmira Johnson, another Friend, who was placed in entire control of the penal depart- ment. She proved so successful with the prisoners that she was retained in this one position until failing health forced her withdrawal. Our meeting has always provided for the Sabath services once each month in this institu- tion. The present matron, Miss Emma Rhodes, is a Friend, and has recently brought her letter to this meet- ing.
The next charity work of prominence was aid for or- phan colored children, which was begun in 1868. Hannah T. Hadley, as president of the white Orphan Asylum, was often compelled to refuse entrance to colored orphans, so that she interested her husband and others in the idea of a home for them. Lots were secured, partly through do- nations and partly through purchase, and subscriptions secured to build a house large enough to begin work, at the corner of Twenty-first and Senate avenue. One donor, Calvin Fletcher, Sr., one of the pioneer citizens who headed the subscription with $500.00, and asked each of his seven sons to give $100.00, made it the condition of
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his gift that the institution should always be under the control of Friends, and this has been rigidly adhered to. Other large contributors were Gustav Sherman, who gave half of the land on which the building stands; Edwin D. Peck, who left an endowment of $1,000.00, $5,000.00 from the estate of Isaac Williams, of near Salem, Indiana, $1,000.00 from Western Yearly Meeting of Friends. The County Commissioners pay quarterly so much toward the support of each child, just as they do to the white Orphan Asylum, but the sole management is in the hands of a board of women managers and a board of directors, all members of Friends Church. Other work for colored peo- ple was that begun as a mission Sunday school by Jon- athan Wilson, William Pyle and Joseph Newsom in 1866, on the corner of East and St. Clair streets. These Friends secured donations amounting to $400.00 and pur- chased a lot in what was then an out-of-the-way place, Broadway, near Eleventh, and the colored people erected a very small, cheap house for church and school. At pres- ent a large congregation worships on the spot, and has a commodious building known as Allen Chapel Methodist Church. These same Friends, with some others, at this same time assisted by teaching and in other ways, the Baptist colored people on West Michigan street. Four other mission schools have been maintained for a time at least by Friends.
For several years, in the '80s, a number of Friends who lived in the northeastern part of the city, held regular meetings and Sabbath school in a building on College ave- nue, and J. J. Mills often led the services. Another Sun- day school and library for white people was carried on at the corner of Yandes and Thirteenth streets for sev- eral years by two of our women, assisted by Mrs. Sarah Heath, of Roberts Park Church. It grew to such pro- portions that the people desired to form a church and be taken in by Friends, but this not being thought advis- able at the time, Roberts Park assumed the work and to- day has a large Methodist Church grown out of this nucleus.
About fifteen years ago a Sabbath school was organized in West Indianapolis. A church has now been built, free
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from debt and prosperous, with about 150 members. An- other mission is in Haughville, where Friends own the building and carry on a Sabbath school and regular serv- ices on Sunday and during the week.
Very early in the '50s there were times set apart for Bible study, but the Sabbath school, with the superintend- ent and officers, was not begun until 1863, when it was organized with Nathaniel Carpenter as its first superin- tendent.
The change of ideas in regard to music is worthy of note. I believe the love of good music is strong in Quak- ers, and that in suppressing this they got entirely away even from the ideas of George Fox. For many years there was no singing whatever in the meetings, and the first piano bought for a Quaker child in this city, in 1876, caused a great deal of censure.
Gradually, from one person occasionally singing alone, the custom grew for all to join in this devotion. For sev- eral years our best singing on special occasions was fur- nished by members of one family, two sisters and two brothers, but one of whom is still a member of this meet- ing, whose voices blended beautifully in a quartet. Later, a choir was formed, and at first a small organ was brought into the Sunday school and Christian Endeavor work. Then a piano for the Sunday school, and, finally, an organ for the regular church services.
The committee, entitled the "Peace, Book and Tract Committee," of late has done good work in managing a series of lectures on peace and arbitration, and in dis- tributing many books and papers.
When it comes to the history of the part our meeting has taken in temperance work, I fear we have but little to record. Probably ten names in all these years would cover the list of active workers in this line, but it is noteworthy that when our members do undertake it, their strength is recognized. One who was called to her eternal home only a few years ago served as president of the first local temperance union, from the beginning of the Crusade until many years later, when it seemed she could do more efficient work out of the union than as a mem- ber. Another woman, now with us, is always in a posi-
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tion of great responsibility in temperance work. Several of our men occupy positions in the temperance societies, and our pastor was last winter made chairman of the legislative committee of the Ministerial Association of this city, which is an inter-denominational society. As to the real work of reformation and Christian influence among the intemperate, while the field is large enough to keep us all busy, our members, as a whole, are simply quietly ignoring the whole question.
The earliest aid society in our individual meeting was organized in 1874, with the young girls of the church, aged from 8 to 16 years, who desired to keep their mem- bers interested in their own church, by giving them some- thing to do. They met at regular times and made, with the intention of raising enough money to carpet the church floors, useful and fancy articles. Strange as it was in that day, they were permitted, with no dissenting voice, to hold a fair and social, a carpet was bought and the children's interest kept in their own church. A lit- erary society was organized about the year 1882, and maintained for several years. It added a great deal to the social life of the church.
The second aid society was "The Young Ladies' Aid Society," organized in 1887, with thirty-five members, the object being to raise money to aid in establishing a board- ing-house for girls.
The women of Western Yearly Meeting were organized in 1887, and formed the association to establish a board- ing home, which was formally opened in August, 1890. For years it was up-hill work to maintain it, as it was desirable to make the expense to the girls who were either getting their education or starting with low salaries, as low as possible. William Hadley Ballard, one of our mem- bers, seeing the need of a suitable building for the home, which should be permanent, as a memorial to his little daughter erected the magnificent building, with all con- veniences, large enough to accommodate sixty girls, which you all know as the "Bertha Ballard Home." Upon its com- pletion he turned it over to the association, which was incorporated under the laws of Indiana. Starting partly as a charity, since contributions were continuously so-
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licited, this gift of a house, and efficient management, have made it self-supporting; that is, the board paid by the girls sustains the home and leaves a surplus for future. needs.
The Young People's Christian Endeavor Society was or- ganized by Levi Rees in February, 1889, with eighteen members, and has been a power for good ever since. It has not only strengthened the Christian life of the young people and aided many enterprises of the church, with its money, but has contributed largely outside the church. One room was furnished by them at the Bertha Ballard Home, and accommodations for one patient provided at the Flower Mission Hospital. Each year they send a certain sum of money to the Mexican missionary, besides answering all home calls. At times a Junior Endeavor has been carried on, though there has not been one for several years.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society began in Feb- ruary, 1882, with Rebecca Morris president, she having been appointed by the Yearly Meeting to organize the women of this meeting, and Elizabeth C. Marmon secre- tary. Twenty years ago there were twenty-nine members and sometimes fifty subscribers to the Missionary Advo- cate. This year there are thirty-three members. Death has claimed many of the early members, and many have moved from the city, but the society should be larger now that it is, as our church membership has doubled. The main work of this society is in aiding the Mexican missionaries, but a fund is also maintained for supplying the Cuban missionaries with suitable literature for their work. Twenty-three years ago the society asked that the Sunday school collection once a month be devoted ex- clusively to foreign work, and this has been done con- tinuously. One of the members of this society, Jemimah T. Pray, was the first president of the Women's Foreign Board, which was composed of local societies from all the American Yearly Meetings. The young people, many of whom are so engaged as to be unable to meet with the women's society in the afternoon, organized in March, 1903, a young people's society. It meets the last Tuesday night in each month, is called the Delitha Butler Harvey
Rev. ALBERT J. BROWN.
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Circle, and its object is to aid both the African and the Mexican missionaries of our church. Forty-five is the average attendance. Along with the interest which it is creating in foreign missionary work, it is doing home mis- sionary work by seeking the strangers and newcomers, making them acquainted and giving them a pleasant so- cial time.
The Home Mission department of the church has been actively engaged in its service of mercy for many years. There are several subcommittees having charge of cottage prayer meetings, conducting monthly religious services in the public institutions of the city, distributing flowers to the hospitals and supplying needed help to all who are suffering. The Door of Hope receives much help from this department, which has become a strong arm of power in the life and activities of the church.
The Women's Aid Society of the church was organized in the spring of 1895, for the purpose of raising the funds necessary to supply the church furnishings. The women of the church were divided into five sections, each to raise $200.00. After this was accomplished, a permanent so- ciety was formed, the first meeting for work being held October 8th, 1896. Its work was no longer confined to help for our own church. Its charity has been ample and no good cause appeals to it in vain. As a social institu- tion, its benefit to the meeting is great, since at its gath- erings there is opportunity for strangers to feel at home.
In the year 1900, April 2d, a number of our members, much interested in seeing that everything of interest in the history of the church was preserved, organized and in- corporated "The Friends Historical Society." A number of lectures were given under its auspices, and a great many valuable books have been received, which otherwise would have been lost. It is the desire of the members that pamphlets, essays or books which may have a bearing on the Friends Church, be placed in the care of the so- ciety.
In regard to building a new church home, William Had- ley, in closing his short history of the early church, which he wrote about the year 1880, said :
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"Whilst we are thus blessed with the ministers of the Word, who are discharging their duties to the church faithfully, before God, there remains for us who are called to other parts of the work, to fill up our places and faith- fully discharge our duties, and even make some sacrifices for the cause we have espoused. Without entering largely into a consideration of these, I think I may mention one that is now moving upon the hearts of our people, to provide a more comfortable and commodious church. This has served its day, and cannot much longer accommodate our growing congregation and Sabbath school. In five years from now our membership will reach 500, and per- haps in less time we shall be recreant to our duty if we should fail to consecrate of our means for the Lord's cause and build for Him a house that shall honor His name."
This was the general sentiment for years, and one day several Friends, who had met socially, decided to further agitate the subject of a new church building by calling a mass meeting of the members. After much discussion, many plans and the usual trial, the old church was sold, this ground bought and the building erected, at a cost of about $30,000.00. It was dedicated in the fall of 1895, by the pastor, Thomas Brown, one whom we loved and honored, who had aided so much by large contributions, as well as by his wise counsel and deep interest, Benjamin F. Trueblood, of Boston, Mass., preaching the dedicatory sermon. William R. Evans, one who had worked faith- fully for the building, was never permitted to wor- ship in the new building, death having claimed him before the dedication.
It is well to know sometimes what others think of us, even if the judgment be not flattering; therefore, I quote an article from a Methodist paper, which I noticed sev- eral years ago. It is as follows :
"It is a fact that when George Fox died there were more Quakers in England than there were Methodists when John Wesley died. The Quaker movement, in its earlier stages, was more widespread and more successful than the first phase of Methodism. If the Quaker movement had continued, there would have been no need and no
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room for Methodism. Why did it so disastrously fail? Because, for some unexpected reason, the Quakers, not long after George Fox's death, ceased to be audaciously aggressive. They no longer carried the war into the en- emy's country. They settled down comfortably in their meeting houses, and while they continued to inspire many social philanthropies, and to effect enormous political improvements, they seemed to lose 'the passion of souls' al- most entirely. In our own day some of them are begin- ning once more to make a brave attempt to reach the un- reached masses of the people, and we earnestly pray that they may wholly recover the intense and fearless evangel- ism of George Fox and the first apostles of the Society of Friends. England has greater need of them than ever, and let all be warned by the disastrous blight which befell them as soon as they ceased to promote forward move- ments in every direction." I believe this criticism cannot be justly applied to our Indianapolis meeting.
This is the Methodist view. While it makes no differ- ence as to which denomination carries on the evangelistic work, it is the duty of each individual Quaker to the cause of Christianity to see that this criticism shall no longer hold true. Again let me quote William Hadley, giving his view of the unity of our meeting :
"Indianapolis ยท meeting has been remarkable for the unity of its members in a more liberal and progressive spirit than has prevailed in many other places-no divi- sion of sentiment has manifested itself. Whilst commo- tions and dissentions and divisions have arisen in some sections of our church, we have been preserved in that Christian love that has bound us together a united body. Whilst we must acknowledge this to be a direct blessing of God, it has been cultured and maintained largely through the instrumentality of our teachers and preach- ers, who have not been confined to the narrow limts of our peculiar tenets, but to the broader ground of the doctrines of the Gospel as seen from Scripture standpoint. Our ministers in the last few years have been from the young- er members of the church, raised up as it were from amongst us, in an opportune time, untrameled by the con- servative ideas, that in some places have bound the church
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to forms sanctioned by use in an age that is past, but not adapted to the present."
As it was twenty-five years ago, I believe it is true to- day that our meeting is singularly united. A few ripples may appear occasionally, but amount to little. We are striving to do Christian work and to take a broad view of life, which will shut out criticism of each other's efforts and mistakes. There can be no hesitation in prophecying that our meeting will still progress, and no backward steps be taken, if we continue each to do his duty and fol- low the doctrine.
"Do unto others as ye would that they do unto you."
Offertory. Solo, "My Redeemer and My Lord."
Remarks by the pastor.
"The one who is next to address us needs no introduc- tion to this audience, having been the former pastor of this church for four years, pastor when this church in which we are assembled to-night was erected. This broth- er of ours will speak to us to-night on "The Church of the Future; What Should It Be?"
THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE; WHAT SHOULD IT BE?
THOMAS BROWN.
. Dr. Sheldon has well said that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, yea, and forever, and humanity is the same. Christ is the same in His power to save, in His power to teach, in His authority as the perfect person of all ages, pre-eminently at the head of all known ethical and spiritual forces in the world; and humanity is the same from age to age in its need of salvation, in its pow- er to choose between right and wrong, in the retribution which it suffers for wrong choices and the ability, by the grace of God to be redeemed through the redemptive force of Jesus Christ."
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This personal Savior, the Son of God, remains to be the true foundation, the rock upon which the church is build- ed, as truely as when He declared to Peter, "Upon this rock I build my church."
The Holy Scriptures remain to be the inspired word of God; infallible in their teaching, when rightly interpreted, and are the safe outward guide in all ethical and spiritual forces in the conflict with, and their conquest over sin.
He who holds to these two fundamental doctrines, the Deity of Jesus Christ, and the Inspiration of the Bible, will not drift very far afield in the realm of doctrine, and will always have a base from which he may operate in life's battles. Hold to this anchorage at any cost.
"Thou canst not add one cubit to thy stature" was nev- er spoken of the soul or of the church. There are abso- lutely no limits in this regard. "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" usually is given a personal application. This is doubtless as it should be; but the command should not be confined to this personal application. Is it not as equally applicable to the entire church as a body? The vision of Nebuchadnez- zar of the stones cut out of the mountain without hands, increasing, enlarging, growing until it fills the whole earth, certainly has a note of victory in it that should breathe courage into all church members. In the evolu- tions that attend this growth there is conflict. The forces of corruption and darkness are pitted against the forces of purity and light in deadly combat, but the fact that the vision holds until this stone fills the whole earth as- sures us of the final triumph of the church. Its duty and destiny are clear. The former is to oppose sin to the last ditch and rescue the sinner; the latter is to enjoy with God Himself the fruits of that perfect victory, which He is working out through the instrumentality of the church. With the church planted on the doctrinal foun- dation of the Deity of Jesus Christ and the Inspiration of the Bible, and guided by the Holy Spirit, the result of the issue is no longer in doubt. Victory will crown its effort.
A glance at the history of the church in the centuries of the past, in its struggles for the ethical and spiritual
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supremacy, reveals the fact that every generation has its peculiar form of conflict. As James and Jambres with- stood Moses, so there have been men in all ages who resist the truth as they did, by opposing unto death (witness the stake), by the spirit of compromise (holding men back from full consecration), or by duplicating in some meas- ure the miracles of Christianity by the deceitfulness and cunning of designing men (witness Spiritualism and Christian Science). Truth is with the church, and the rapidity with which it prevails will be directly in pro- portion as the church adopts methods suited to the people and times in which they live, provided always that its wit- ness for Christ be kept clear and strong
In recounting the incidents that have marked the prog- ress of this church during the fifty years of its existence, we have an apt illustration of the wisdom of the church in its flexibility and ability to adjust itself to the par- ticular needs of the hour. As to its doctrinal basis, this church stands to-day where our fathers stood at the time of its organization in this city, and where Fox and Penn and Barclay stood at the time of the birth of our denomi- nation, two and one-half centuries ago; but, had there been no readjustment of the methods of work, this house would never have been built, and the splendid Sabbath school and Christian Endeavor and Foreign Mission work in its present form would never have been organized and "Ichabod" would have marked this spot and the effort then put forth.
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