The San Francisco call., 1896-10-23
BREACH IN THE
PASTORS UNION
MethodiSts Withdraw From
the Celebration of
Luther's Day.
DR.. Wendte of the Unitarian
Church Was Given Too
Much Prominence.
Rev. HUMMER so INSTRUCTED
He and His Choir Must Take No Part
in the Proposed Union
Meeting.
Rev. HUMMER so INSTRUCTED
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
9OS Broadway. Oct. p.
The evangelical Christian churches of
this city will not all unite i'll the union
services which had been planned by the
Oakland Ministerial Union Saturday night
OF next week in commemoration of
Luther's day.
The reason of this is the feeling between
evangelical and other churches.
1t was supposed that the arrangements
for the meeting had all been satisfactorily
made, but it is now announced that the
official board of the First Methodist Epis-
eopal Church sat on the whole affair and
have instructed the Rev. Alfred Hummer.
DID,, their pastor, and the choir that they
are TO have nothing whatever TO do with
the affair, owing to the prominence being
given the Rev. Charles W. Wendte, pastor
of the Unitarian church, on the pro-
gramme.
The official board of Methodist church
consists OF the trustees, class leaders and
officers of all departments. They held a
meeting and considered the matter at con-
siderable length and it was finally decided
that as a church they could not take part
in a service to commemorate an event of
such historical Importance in the church
when a man who denied the divinity of
Christ, their leader, was to be the most
prominent on the programme.
The Mlnisteria! Association was organ
lied little over year ago for the ex-
change of thought on theological que $
tions, consultations on important issue S
and questions of local interest, and, as far
as possible to reach harmonious action by
the churches. The association has in
creased in power and influence, and now
has membership that represents every
Protestant church in the City. Once a
month they assemble around the banquet
table and feed the body while listening to
addresses by members or invited guests.
The mem bership is as follows:
The Revs. ]. L. Allen, John Bakewell, G. W.
Beatty, r. F. Coyle, James Curry, E. E. Clark,
L. Dallgren, J. E. Edwards. John W. Ellis, J.
Hill, C. H. Hobart, H. L. Holzgraie, Alfred
Jolander, A. J. Jatho, Owen Jones, G. H. Jones,
Alfred KHmmer, J. K. Mclean, F. ]. Mynard,
August Peterson, James Small, Robert Ritchie
V. Marshall Law, o. w. Lucas, n. NJ. Nc
Knight, R; F; SteiInbach, J. Il: Theiss, h.
Tychsen, Z. S. Williams, Robert Whitaker,
Edward Davis, G. S. Wallace, ]. NJ. Freeland,
E. S. Chapman, J. o. WahIberg, j. Brasefeld
and George GIunZ.
The officers of the as sociation are: President
the Rev. R. +. Coyle; secretary, the Rev.
Owen Jones; treasurer, the Rev. Alfred
Hummer.
Three months ago the Rey. j. H. Bush
nell, pastor of the English Lutheran
church, suggested union meeting of ali
the churches of the city for Sunday even
ing, Novem her l, at the exposition build
ing, at which time programme should
be presented bearing on the Reformation
and Martin Luther. II met with favor
and the Rev. Mr.. Wendte having num-
Der of fine stereopticon views connected
with that event, offered them for the occa-
sion.
Immediately there was a division
among the members regarding tine ad-
visibility of all trying to attend the ex-
position building, and some suggested
union meetings in the various parts of the
city at the same hour. The matter was
finally left 10 the executive committee
and they plac the Rev. Mr.. Wendte in
charge of the programme, as he had
shown so much enthusiasm. At the next
meeting the following programme was
submitted:
Music by the united choirs; scripture
lesson, the Rev. c. H. Hobart; prayer, the
Rev. Alfred Hummer, d. D.; address, the
Rev. R. F. Coyle, DID,. biographcal sketch
of Luther, the Rev. J. Z. Bushnell; Luz
theirs hymn, "Ein Festen Berg: offer
tory; address, the Rev. Charles r. Brown
stereopticon, the Rev. G. w. Wendte :
benediction.
The ministers finally decided to hold the