Hammond Times, Volume 15, Number 32, Hammond, Lake County, 28 July 1921 — Page 10

PAGE TEX

THE TIMES. Thursday. Julr 28. 1921. 2T C2253WESE r,inMMMM- . ... .. iTMjiwiaiiiiiBTMiii iii riHMrttfiifcTmnr-ii'ft waft MiififflMiiiirginim?MiimJg,:m"

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Part In Development Of The Calumet Region

All Religious Denominations Work Hand In Hajid In States Richest Field Keep Americanization As Watchword

From the faithful Catholic Sisters asking alms for the little orphans in the Carmelite home at East Chicago to the busy settlement workers teaching domestic science, hygiene and Christianity !n the homes of the forelgn."peakir.gr peoples of East Hammond ar.i Gary's south side. Lake county Is alive with church activities. The spires of churches of a score of faiths are to be seen in the Ave industrial citieB while out in the rich agricultural belt the tjurmi car of the well-to-do farmer can be seen parked at the oid hitching- post In front of the house of worship at the cross-roads every Sunday morning. SEW AVD NOVEL METHODS. God lit not forgotten in Lake county. The churcih is not a failure. But in order to keep in pace with the changing world t;e church has adopted many new mefiods. For one thing the movies have been added to the usual csremonies in many of the churches. And practically every denomination Protestant ami Catholic has gone in for missionary work and Americanization.

In East Hammond, West Hammond pnd Indiana. Harbor the Baptist church has established settlement houses that embrace every form of social and educational activity of the community. The Methodist church has done the same In Indiana Harbor and on the south side of Gary. Many of tha churches have built gymnasiums in their basemants where the members go to p'.ay 'basketball, handball and jcx. AMERICANIZATION THE KEYNOTE. The keynote o." Christian endeavor in the Calumet region is Americanization. One of the loaders in this work is the Rev. father DeViile, originator of the Gary plan of Americanization. The Rev. Father DeVille has organized eiht nationalities of Gary into Americanization clubs. Every evening one or two of these groups attends his school, learning to speak and read English. These pupils are taught the principles of the American government and the beauty of its tradition and institutions. This, district has always been friendly to the church. Even in the old days when the saloons were open this was r.oticeable. There was a national church convention in Hammond about eight year3 ago when the town was as we-t as Singapore. Everybody was enthusiastic over the honor of entertain- j ir.g people from all parts of the coun-' try at so important an event and this I spirit extended to the saloonkeepers. Needless to say'.the ministers and elders were somewhat surprisd upon alighting from the trains in Hammond to see banners over the front doorr of

prominent downtown barrooms which read: "Welcome Convention Delegates." NO FRICTION HKRE. There Is probably less friction be

tween the varion m l numerous rc'tg- . icus faiths in the Caiuniet n-gion than in the average community. Uy muiual consent, it appears, the hatchet has ! been buried. Not that the confirmed Presbyterian is ready to subscribe to j the doctrines' of the Cor.grejjati.'.nalist i or the Jew to the Catholic religion, but l there is a spirit of tolerance and democracy that makes things go along smoothly. The average Catholic will not hesitate to subscribe to a worthy ' Protestant cause and vice versa. Re- i ilgious lines are not drawn :n business and industry. It id efficiency that ' counts. j A story of church activities of Lake county would not be compete without mention of the enterprising work done , by C. J. Sharp, who is now the pro- i moter of a plan known as "Croup 1 Evangelism" which is being intro- j duced in many sections of the country ,

by his organization. j REV. SHARP'S WORK. Nearly seventen years ago C. J. ' Sharp, then a divinity student, came to j

Hammond one Sunday to flu in at the pulpit of the First Christian church, which was1 at that time about to pass out. The audience that morning was comprised of six women, three small children and an old man. It started to rain and drops began to trinkle down through a leak in the roof. The Rev. C. J. Sharp closed the Bible and excused himself to the congregation. He went next door and borrowed a hammer, some nai'.s. a saw, some pieces of wood, and a ladder. Then he climbed straddle of the rocf and made the necessary repairs'. The morning service was continued without inconvenience of having the rain fall on the pulpit and although the minister's clothes were somewhat moist his ardor was not dampened. MADE THEM COME. The Rev. C. J. Sharp decided to tackle the Job of saving the Hammond church. A few Sundays later he enlisted the chief of police and a volunteer band in

his behalf. People were hauled to the i

morning ser.'i;-3 that day in the police patrol who hadn't seen the inside of a church in years. Many of them became converts and workers. With a membership recruited from the working class Sharp built up a strong organization. He put up a big tabernacle in a day with volunteer workers and conducted a revival meeting, raising the money to buy a valuabVe piece of property and erect a handsome and spacious ediflce. Since then

he has organized Cftisrcgation? in every city of the district ;unl many of the towns of the county, building five churches-, each in a day by volunteer labr. Lake county has some very prominent clergymen who are noted in their denominations throughout the nation. The aggregate cost of the splendid church buildings In the rrgion would rim into millions of dollars. Gary is p'nnniny a ?3"rt.i)no downtown church.

THREE PIECE SUIT IN SUMMER FABRIC

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The three piece suit is being talked about for fall and no sooner is it talked about than the summer styles show this smart jade green Canton crepe one with frock and cape to match. The braiding in rat tail design and the bodice of Canton crepe are of an oyster white. The sport hat is green with white beading.

Cor. State and Hohman Sts. HAMMOND, INDIANA

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Association

CALL AND SEE US

PETER W. MEW. President JOS. W. WEIS, Vice-President

DAVID T. EMERY. Secretary-Treasurer CHAS. H. WOLTERS. Asst. Sec.-Treas.

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