New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-18
FAVORABLE TO A UNION.
NO DISSENTING VOICE IN THE PHILLIPS
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
ACTION OF THE OFFICERS IN REGARD TO A
CONSOLIDATION WITH THE MADISON
AVENUE CHURCH UPHELD BY
THE CONcRE.C TTON

CONSOLIDATION WITH THE MADISON
AVENUE CHURCH UPHELD BY
THE coNGREGI
At a meeting of the congregation OF the Phil
lips Presbyterian Church. Madison-ave and Sew
enty-third-st.. held last evening the question Of
the proposed union OF that church with the
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church was set
tied. The congregation OF the Madison Avenue
Church. as published exclusively in The Tribune,
voted unanimously for the union at a meeting
held on May TO- and all that remained to assure
the success Of the project was the formal
quiescence Of the congregation OF the Phillips
church This was given last night and, al
though the action Of neither church Is final,
there Is no longer any doubt that the amalga-
nation will be contaminated at an early date.
THE ACTION OF CHURCH OFFICERS.
The Rev DR.. John Z. Bushnell pastor Of the
Phillips Church, presided the meeting. and
l. Parker was secretary. After stating the ques-
ton for consideration, DR.. Bushnell said that
he had conferred with the elders, deacons and
trustees OF the church at a meeting held at his
home on May IL, and that the sentiment OF
those assembled was that the invitation from
the Madison Avenue Church to join forces with
them should be accepted. Pursuant to this de-
csion the following committee had, he said,
been appointed to confer with similar one
from the Madison Avenue Church with regard
to arranging the details which will be necessary
before the amalgamation can be effected: DR..
Bushnell. T. G. Sellew James +. Ware. Dr. J.
" S. Wooley, William Allen Butler jr., Will
lam w. Hall and Ebenezer Hurd
1T remains for you to ratfy these appoint
ments," said DR.. Bushnell. THE action OF the
officers Of the church, while 1t may be taken
az fair indication Of the general opinion Of It's
members, is IN no way binding upon them. and
you are at perfect liberty to indorse or reject
the committee you At"
DR.. Bushnell then read the invitation from the
Madison Avenue church. in which were set forth
the reasons why consolidation of the two con-
greGations would be desirable
I'm my reply to the communication" he said,
Il stated that. so far as 1 personally was con-
cerned. most heartily approved the proposition;
that we both occupy the same field. and that
believed the time had come when should
work together and be allies rather than Compel
itors. There have been proposed unions in the
past which have not met the approval OF the
Presbytery, because field another would
be left deserted In this case, however. no such
objection can be raised"
NOT A DISSENTING VOICE.
When opinions were called for Timothy G.
Selew, Ebenezer Hurd. president of the Board
Of Trustees, and others put themselves on rec
ord as favorable to the union. There not
one dissenting voice. Secretary Barber asked II
the name Phillips would be lost. The church.
he said. was built a memorial TO the Rev. DR..
Phillips, and he did not believe that it would be
legal to change It, Dr. Bushnell replied that the
committee would have this matter in charge,
and that the best legal advice would be OBJ
tanned.
A viva-voce vote was taken, and the commit
tee authorized to proceed with It's work.
The meeting was then adjourned to reconvene
for final action at the call of the pastor. 1t Is
probable that the conference Of the committees
will occupy at least two weeks. Following Is
the committee from the Madison Avenue church:
The Rev. DIR. II. G.. Johnson pastor; Titus Meigs.
Clark Brooks Warren s. Williams, S. H. Leroy,
Matthew Dady and Gideon +. Fountain.
Mr. Hurd said last evening that although the
plans Of the congregations were scarcely far
enough advanced to be discussed, he felt safe in
saying that they would be substantially out
lined In The Tribune more than a week ago
This provides for the disposal of the Madison
Avenue church property, on which 1t is ex-
pected 100000 will be realized. Two hundred
thousand dollars Of this sum will be devoted to
rebuilding and charging the Phillips church. in
order to accommodate the combined congrega-
tions The remaining 100000 will go to the
forming of an endowment fund for the manten-
ance of the church. and to extend the East Side
mission work now conducted by the Phillips
CHI