Cadle Tabernacle

== Controversies ==
The initial plan for the Cadle Tabernacle was to allow Gypsy Smith's revival choir to organize on a permanent basis. This led to controversy, which was well publicized in newspapers at the time. The [[Methodism|Methodists]], a large and influential section of Indianapolis's [[Protestantism|Protestant]] base, feared it would interfere with their ministry plans. Other ministries, such as the [[Unitarianism|Unitarians]], felt that the tabernacle hurt Christian unity by splitting religious groups in Indianapolis. Cadle denied these accusations and others that claimed he created the Cadle Tabernacle for self-serving motives.<ref>Anderson, pp. 313 and 314.</ref> Additional issues arose when Indianapolis Mayor [[Charles W. Jewett (Indiana politician)|Charles Jewett]] misunderstood the building's purpose as dedicated to the city of Indianapolis, allowing it to be used for municipal functions. The misunderstanding occurred after Cadle promised to use the building for public uses but not to donate it to Indianapolis.<ref name=":6" />

In November 1921, Cadle and the tabernacle's board disputed control of the tabernacle's evangelistic program. The board gained final authority, but Cadle disagreed with the decision. The dispute led [[Bob Jones Sr.|Bob Jones]], who planned to meet at the tabernacle, to cancel his plans.<ref name=":8">Anderson, p. 316.</ref> A month later, in December 1921, Cadle announced his plans to turn the tabernacle into a multi-use convention center,<ref name=":8" /> at a time when the largest public auditorium in Indianapolis seated 3,500. [[Samuel L. Shank]], the newly elected mayor of Indianapolis, proposed buying the tabernacle building, but Cadle refused. Mayor Shank pointed out that legal action might be taken against the tabernacle and its tax exemption as a religious institution cancelled if it held secular events. He never pursued this, however.<ref>Anderson, p. 317.</ref>

Another issue occurred in April 1923 when a group of [[Ku Klux Klan]] members gave $600 and a letter of appreciation to visiting evangelist E.J. Bulgin and the Cadle Tabernacle Evangelistic Association.<ref>Anderson, pp.317-18.</ref> This led ''Tolerance'', a Chicago-based anti-Klan newspaper, to claim that the Klan funded E. Howard Cadle.<ref name=":9">Anderson, p. 318.</ref> After a dispute with the board, who encouraged him to leave the tabernacle,<ref name=":9" /> Cadle sold his financial interest to the building in June 1923 to an organization that promised to continue its religious program before moving to [[Florida]].<ref>Anderson, p. 319.</ref> The details of the disagreement between Cadle and the tabernacle's board are unclear. They were accused of targeting Cadle for taking money from the offering, an unsubstantiated claim.<ref name=":9" /> It is possible that Cadle may have had financial problems too.<ref name=":1" />

After Cadle left Indiana, the tabernacle sponsored various events, including boxing matches (one of which Cadle protested in October 1928) and [[dance marathon]]s.<ref name=":10">{{cite journal |author=Slutz, Theodore |date=Winter 2005|title=How He Came Back E. Howard Cadle and the Cadle Tabernacle|journal=Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History
|publisher=Indiana Historical Society|location=Indianapolis |volume=17|issue=1|page=20}}</ref> On May 12, 1924, the Klan met at the tabernacle under Grand Dragon [[D. C. Stephenson]] to declare the [[Indiana Klan|Hoosier Klan]] was independent from the Klan's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, due to disagreements over the organization's operations.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Hoosier Faiths|last=Rudolph|first=L.C.|publisher=Lilly Endowment, Inc.|year=1995|location=United States|pages=571}}</ref>

Outside of these events, during much of the 1920s the tabernacle fell into disuse. Ownership eventually reverted to the bank until Cadle returned to Indianapolis in 1931. With a fundraising event and media support,<ref name=":11">Anderson, p. 320.</ref> he raised enough money to reopen the tabernacle in October 1931, ten years after its initial opening.<ref name=":12">Anderson p. 321.</ref>