The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-10
PROPOSED UNION.
PROPOSED UNION.
Convention of Free and Christian
Baptists in Boston.
A Meeting Which 1t is Believed VIII
Result in Great Good.

BOsToN, March 9.-The matter of for
NAL union between the churches of the Free
Baptist and Christian Baptist denominations
has been for some time a subject of discus
sion among the members of each, and as a
result informal meetings have been held by
various conferences. These eliminated final
ly in the calling of a general meeting, and in
response to this call a convention of breth-
rem of both denominations was opened this
forenoon in Boston, over fifty of the pastors
of churches in Boston, Lynn, Lowell, Brock
ton, Haverhill, Providence, Fall River, New
Bedford, Lewiston and other cities in the
New England States being present.
The convention was called to order shortly
after IL O'Clock by Rev. A. l.. Gerrish of
Providence. A joint presidency was pro-
posed and Rev. /. d. Stewart of Dover and
Rev. l. Ii. Coe of New Bedford were chosen,
the former ON the part of the Free and the
latter Of the Christian B3aptists: Prayer was
offered by Rev. j. L. Ward of Providence,
followed by Rev. B. S. Bachelor of New
Bedford. Rev. j. T. Ward and Prof. A. II.
Morrill, of Stanfordville, N. Y, were ap-
pointed joint secretaries.
Rev. Mr.. Coe said that in presiding at this
session, as agreed upon between Mr.. Stew
art and himself, he would endeavor to deal
fairly and justly with all. This meeting
was the outgrowth of the popular feeling in
the churches, and it was hopeful sign that
the Christian denominations We're drawing
nearer to each other. There was natural
tist churches, and they have been drawing
closer and closer to each other, and he be-
lieved could work in harmony together. He
believed this meeting would result in great
good, even if no formal union came of it, for
1t would give the brethren chance to know
each other and to look into each other
hearts. He then called for a statement of
the objects of the meeting.
Rev. j. W. Osborne of Swansea, and Rev.
Mr.. Ward responded, speaking of the action
80 1rnf ord fla1
proposed union, and told of the meeting at
Fall River some weeks ago, at which the
call for this meeting was sent out. Rev.
Lewis Malvern of Laconia raised the oues-
tion of credentials, and asked for an under
standing as to who was entitled to take part
in the convention. After discussion it was
voted that any clergyman or lay brother. In
good standing in either denomination be in
vited to participate In the proceedings.
Rev. /. ID. Stewart then read an interest
ing paper ON the formation OF the two de-
nominations, showing how they had grown
out of each other on minor differences OF
opinion, and how for the past seventy-hve
years they had run along on parallel lines,
and in some cases with unions as lar as
quarterly meetings and conferences were
concerned. The paper was very favorably
received.
Messrs Gerrish and Summerbell, a COM
mittee previously appointed TO ascertain
who were present, reported 52 Dretnren as
representing either churcneS or ASSOCIATIONS.
The associations represented were as fol
lows: On the part of the Free Baptists-
Rhode Island Association, Western Rhode
Island and Connecticut Association, Massa-
chusetts Association, Rockingham Quarterly
Meeting, New Durham Quarterly Meeting,
Belknap Quarterly Meeting; for the Chris
tian Observation-Disclosures and Rhode Is
land Ministerial Association, York and
Cumberland Conference, American Christian
Convention, New York Eastern Conference,
Vermont Eastern and Vermont Western
Conference, Rockingham Conference, Rho de
Island and Massachusetts Christian Con-
ference, Western Rhode Island Quarterly
Meeting. The report was accepted.
A proposed ground of consolidation pre-
pared by the committee at the Fall River
meeting was made by Rev. Mr.. Wood and
ject by Rev. Mr.. Summerbell of Fall River.
A committee of nine from each denomin-
alton was chosen to formulate plan of union.