The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-02-20
SEEKING FOR UNITY.
HOWard.Street PresbyterianS Ad-
nit the Fact.
They Do Not Want to Coeree Woodbridge
Church, but Ask the Members to Unite
in Christian Fraternity.

A representative of THE CALL accepted
an invitation last evening to hear ex-
pressions Of opinion from prominent mem
bers Of the Howard street Presbyterian
Church in regard to the misunderstanding
with Woodbridge Presbyterian Church.
1t will be recalled that during the past
week there has been considerable discussion
of the subject of the reunion of the two
churches and that in yesterdays CALL an
article appeared from which it was inferred
that the Woodbridge congregation has no
desire to return TO the parent congregation.
Trustee Samuel Booth Of the Howard
street Church said 81 do not find fault
with the statement published in The CALL
Yesterday. 1t was very temperate presen-
tation of the case for the Woodbridge con-
gregaton, sand the history of the two
churches was given very fairly. But there
are certain facts in regard to the present
dispute which ought to be explained 10 put
matters sQuarely Tor the older church.
IL assume that the controversy was
brought about by the resolutions passed at
the Joint meeting OF the session and Board
OF Trustees of Howard-street Church. In
the first place, when this split from the Old
HoWard-stTeet society occurred long years
ago, an agreement was made by the new
Woodbridge congregation that they would
move SIX blocks away, whereas they only
moved a block and a half. OF course that
caused the soreness that has prevailed since.
FIELD OF LABOR.
The Woodbridge members claim that
the field is large enough for two, but | don't
see how that can be. II, as they say, the
population Of the district has increased ten
tod and the material wealth tWentyfOld.
how comes it that they have only fifty mem-
bers in their church? With such territory
a ah f,.rc in hp -
admit that they are in financial difficulties.
Ii is no use arguing about the reason.
Their pastor, Mr.. Curtis, has gone away
and is not likely TO come back. What we
think is, that one go0u strong church IS bet
ter for Gods service than two struggling
ones and we want our friends to come right
over to us. This Old Howard street c0ugre-
CATION that has built a new church. and is
going to call 1t Unity, has never had one
hard feeling against W oOdbridge. A little
soreness there may have been, but II is not
bard feeling. Let there be no Howard
street, n0 Woodbridge, but Just Trinity
Church.
"Such is the spirit of the resolutions
passed at the Joint meeting Of the session and
the Board Of trustees. What we suggest is
a joint meeting OF the committees OF the
TWO congregations. There is no idea on our
part Of putting pressure on Woodbridge OF
| cOercing her people IN any way. We want
them t. come in with US in spirit OF
Christian fraternity"
ONLY ROOM FOR ONE.
Captain Hall, another prominent member
Of the HOWaTd-street Church, said the re-
suit of sixteen years work at W Woodbridge
had clearly shown that there Is only room
for one church. There is not the slightest
i'll feeling, and the HOward-street people
Will gladly welcome the sister congregation
Three years ago 0YertuTeS were made by
" OOdDTldge on q proposition by Pastor
Curtis which could not be entertained be-
cause It would have entailed an outlay Of
$4,000 The proposition included the
building of a central church with two wings
MI Curtis and Mr.. Smith to divide the
marriage fees etc. All that is asked now
is that the question Of reunion be taken up
now where II left off then.
The Rev. MI Smith, pastor Of the How
ard-stTeet Church, who was present, iu-
dorsed the remarks Of tie speakers, and a
| representative member of the Woodbridge
| congregation took no exception.