Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-18
SCHEME ABANDONED.
Belmont and Summer Street Churches
viii Not Consolidate at Present.

The scheme for the consolidation of
Belmont and Summer Street Congrega-
tional churches has been practically
abandoned. Last Sunday announcement
Of this fact was made from the pulpit
of Belmont Church, and on Wednesday
evening the members of the church held
a business meeting instead of their
regular prayer meeting, at which time
committees We're appointed to sell the
present edifice, if possible, and erect
new one in more favorable location.
The committees appointed were:
ON selecting a church site-Rev. w. B.
Oleson, Ephraim Tucker, Jr., F. E. Ben
Itnett, c. R. Clemence and John A. Sher-
man.
On church plans-Norman Whites
sey, c. R. Clemence, A. E. Mcdonald
Mrs. Wilson Doe, Mrs Adams, George
Chamberlain and Dea. c. E. Hinckley.
On ways and means-Mrs. C. r. Glenn
ence, Mrs. Mary Rice Thomas Taylor
I. w. Thompson, Rev. w. B. Oleson and
Mrs. F. w. Barrett.
The present building at the corner of
Belmont and Hanover streets has upon
1t mortgage of about $4,000 G.
Henry Whitcomb holds one mortgage
for $4,000 on the property, and he is
ANXIOUS to secure possession of the prop
efty lie has made a proposition to the
stahdlng committee of the church. to
| the effect that if he can secure the
church building and land, he win give
the Church the use Of it free to Jan. /,
1879, as well as allowing other considera-
tlons aggregating in the total about
SZO0O. The standing committee. believing
| that new church could be built better
than the money to pay the mortgage
| on the present property could be raised.
mas looked with favor upon this offer.
ana a vote will be taken at the next
meeting.
| Inc following statement furnished the
! Spy by the pastor, Rev. w. B. Oleson,
SHOWS The condition of affairs al
Inquiries as to the status of the
| movement for the consolidation of
summer Street and Belmont churches
| nave been SO frequent that a brief
statement Of the facts seems due the
public.
Al its annual meeting, Dec. 80 last.
Belmont Church voted to authorize its
slandlng committee to negotiate with
parties for the sale of its property. AT
meeting held Jam IL the standing
committee of Belmont Church. through
us chairman, presented a communica-
tlon from Summer Street Church. pro-
posing union of the two churches. A
committee of five was thereupon ap-
pointed to represent Belmont Church.
and courteous response sent to Sum
mer Street Church, suggesting the ap-
pointment of a like committee of 10 to
confer together on plans for a union of
the two churches.
subsequently, this committee of 10
held a conference, at which it was
voted to appoint a special sub-com-
mittee Of five TO formulate plans for a
union of the two churches
This subcommittee held a meeting
FEB. II, at which two propositions were
submitted The representatives Of
Summer Street Church proposed that
belmont Church should leave its house
OF worship, and go in body to worship
at Summer Street Church until the mat
ter of relocating could be agreed upon
ITO this proposition it was replied
that the field that was eventually to
be occupied ought not to be de y ted
to go into a field that was eventually
to be abandoned.
"The representatives of Belmont
Church proposed that both churches re-
tain their present quarters until after
a careful canvass of the whole situat-
ton, and that then both churches
merge themselves in new organiza-
ton, in a new location, and under
new pastor.
ITO this proposition 1t was replied
that the Summer Street Church would
not relinquish it's organization, nor
leave its present location.
1.-THE representatives of Belmont
Church concluded that there was no
prospect of a consolidation of the two
churches, and such report was made
from the pulpit Feb. 10.
1.-THE incident thus closed leaves Bel
mont Church where it was before the
overtures were received from Summer
Street Church, viz, with negotiations
progressing for the sale of its property,
and with plans forming for the build
ing of new church.
william B. Oleson."