The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1898-01-12
HiRSCHMAN'S,
PROBABLE REUNION.
The Two Branches OF The
Methodist Church Get
Together.
There will Be Conference Of Eigh-
teen Commissioners, Representing
Both Branches, at Washington Fri
day. Cause of the Split


WASHINGTON, Jan. THE first
official step since the split of over
half century ago looking TO a closer
connection between the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, win be
taken this week in this city. To-day,
in the Metropolitan NJ. Il. Church,
eighteen commissioners Will meet to
discuss a plan of federation on sew
eral important matters. While the
reunion of the tree branches is not
the immediate business of this meet
ing yet the result will be looked on
as indicating that within the next
few years Methodism will be tho lead
ing Protestant denomination in the
United States, with nearly 1000, 600
members.
The strongest men from each
church will be present at the gather
ing. Three bishops, three ministers
and three laymen will represent each
branch, For the Methodist Episco-
pal Church the delegates are Bishop
S. NJ. Merrill, w. Y. Ninde and j. N.
Fitzgerald; ministers, Rev. Messrs. j.
Goucher, Baltimore, L. II. J. Cooke,
Chattanooga, and ii. j. Jackson,
Chicago; laymen, II. Il, Miller, Gov
ington z. T. B. Sweet, Topeka, and
I. ii. Murray Clearneld, Pa.
On the part of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, there will
be present: Bishops J. c. Granbery,
R. X. Hargroye and w. w. Duncan;
ministers, Rev. Messrs. Il. e. Hoss,
d. d. Nashvill; G.. G.. n. Mcdonald,
Savannah; and J. ii. Dye, d. D., Ar
kansas: laymen, Judge Walter Clark,
Raleigh; Prof. r. w. Jones, Oxford,
Miss, and Colonel Asa Holt, of Tex
as.
The conference is TO try TO arrange
plan of federation by which the
Epworth Leagues of the two churches
can be made one; a plan for the use
of the same hymnal; union of forces
in missionary work in japan, China
and Mexico, and union for great
Methodist university in Washington.
1t is thought that the methods will
be agreed to and the plan reached
first to the General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
which meets in Baltimore in May,
and subsequently, if ratified by that
body, to the General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The friends of the federation think
thai union will b reached through
the young folks of tLe Two churches.
Last summer the Epyorth League
of the two branches met in common
at Toronto, Canada, and a great i'm
petus was given to the federation
movement.
1t is SO years ago last May since
the Methodist Episcopal Church
split on the question of slavery. The
climax was reached at the General
Conference of the church which was
held that year at Buffalo, n. Y. For
several years the body had been on
verge of dividing on this question and
the crisis came at the Buffalo meet
ing. Bishop J. O. Andrews had
come into the possession of several
slaves through his wife by inheri-
lance The General Conference of
1914 passed a resolution suspending
him from the functions of his office
until the impediment of owning
slaves should be removed. The
Southern delegation thereupon left
the conference and the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, was born.
There were other differences, but
the split resulted from the Andrews
dispute.