New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
FOR METHODIST UNION.


On Friday last the Joint Commission on red
GRAFTON appointed by the Methodist Epscopal
Churches North and South. began lis SESSIONS
in Baltimore, and it is believed by re"
Methodlsts that federation of the TWO great
branches Of Methodlsm or perhaps even an or
ganlc union. will be brought about by IT, Nhiie
such result is not likely to follow. the meet
Ing OF the Commission is interesting. neyerthe-
less because il Is the first official step looking
TO closer union which has been taken since
the division in 1916. In the General Conference
of the Church which was held IN TINS city III
1914 there was debate on slavery which
showed that the Church North and South TOOK
q radically different view OF that question. ihiS
antagonsm was made still more evident III the
discussion concerning the case OF BISHOP An
drew whose wife before her marriage owned
slaves that. in accordance with State law. ne
came the property Of the Bishop When rcSo-
luton suspendlng him until he parted WIN MS
slaves was finally adopted it was felt by every
one that a separation was inevitable, ana TWO
years later the Methodist Episcopal Church
South was formally organized.
II is to promote federation or union or THESE
two bodies-stlll one in polity and doctrine, IN
spite of the old cstrangement-that ths JOINT
Commission has been appointed The IDEA
originated with the General Conference or the
Southern Church that met in Nashville Ienn.'
three years ago. and the suggestion was acted
UPON favorably by the General Conference or
the Northern Church. which met in Cleveland
a wear later The Joint Commission now
meeting in Baltimore. appointed by the two
Churches. consists Of the following members:
ISL
s NJ Merrill. W Y Ninde and j. y. fitzgerald;
minister's the Revs. j. f. Goucher Baltimore;
T.. j. Cooke, Chattanooga. Tenn: H. G. Jackson
Chicago, H.; laymen. K. T. Miller Coyngtoh
Ky; T. y. Sweet. Topeka Kan. ard l. II. Muir
ray. Clearfeld Penn.
Methodist Episcopal Church south-Bishops
j. G. Cranberry r. X. Hargrove and W: W.
Duncan: ministers. the Revs e. T.. Hoss, Nash
VILE Tenn: c. y. Mcdowell. Savannah. Ca:
j. r. Dye. Arkansas; laymen. Judge Walter
Clark Raleigh y. c.; Professor r. w. Jones
oxford Miss and Colonel Asa Holt, Texas.
The division Of these two great branches Of
Methodlsm and their failure thus far to re-
unite forclbly illustrate the difficulties that lie
in the way Of an organic union Of Churches IN
general The Methodists North and South have
the same creed. the same Church government
and the same Ideal Of religious life And while
they differed radically in regard TO slavery fifty
four years ago, slavery does not exist now and
has not existed Tor many years. NlOTtONtI, tHc
bitterness and antagonisms OF the War are
gradually disappearing on both sides OF the line
and the young people of both Churches have
been coming together frequently Of late in Ep-
worth League conventions. one would say that
under such circumstances a union now would
be as inevitable as n separation was in ISL
Yet in point Of fact, the two Churches have
failed TO come together. and they are not likely
to come together for many years. When two
sister Churches find II so hard TO heal an old
schiSm, the cause Of which has been wholly re-
moved. no one need be surprised when Churches
differing in creed and polity continue to remain
apart. Even If n universal creed. that all Chris
tans could accept as n sufficient form OF Chris
tan faith, were to be found. organic unity
would not be assured. Methodiss in 1914 be-
lieved the same creed and they continue TO do
P so still. IN spite OF which they separated. And
to-day It IS doubtful if they care for organic
union enough to give up for It their denomna
tional pride and the little reSentmcnts that grew
ont OF the division Speaking generally. it may
he said that there Is organic unity of Chris
tianlty because the majority Of Christians do
not believe that 1t Is either necessary or pos
sible.