The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-20
JOINT PUBLISHING
HOUSE IN SHANGHAI
The Two Methodist Churches
Reach an Agreement
PLAN IS FINALLY APPROVED
Shanghai Is the Commercial and Dis
triburInn Point Of All China and
Appealed to Each as the
Best Location.

New York, August 1s.-The two great
branches of American Methodism, the
Methodist Episcopal church and the
Methodist Episcopal church. south, are
to unite In Shanghai China the publish
ing interests of the two denominations
throughout the Chinese empire, the joint
publishing house to be known as the
Methodist Publishing House, in China.
The final act in this agreement came
about today when the plan was finally
approved by the book committee of the
Methodist Episcopal church, south, at a
meeting held in Nashville, the board Of
managers of the Missionary society of
the Methodist Episcopal church having
voted on the agreement week ago at
New York The scheme of joint pub
fishing house In China was proposed more
than six years ago by the missionaries
in China of the two denominations. Since
that time each of the denominations has
felt continually the need of a much larger
publishing equipment in China mat it has
possessed.
Shanghai is the commercial and dis
tributing point of all. China, has, of
course, appealed to each, as the strategic
place for a publishing center. The econ
omy in the united publishing plant for
the empire has been patent to all, but for
various reasons joint action has had to
be postponed from time to time.
Tentative Agreement Reached.
A tentative agreement was reached at
a joint committee meeting held at Alto
Dale, Baltimore county, Md. the coun-
try home of the Rev j. E. Goucher, the
president of the Baltimore Womans col
lege on August 5.
At this meeting there were present DR..
Goucher, the Rev. A. b. Leonard and
the Rev. DIR. Homer Eaton, representing
the board of managers of the NJ. e.
church, and Bishop A. w. Wilson, the
Rev. DR.. Paul Whitehead and the Rev.
DR.. Collins Denny, representing the book
committee of the Methodist Episcopal
church south. The agreement which
these men drew up has now been ratified
by the authoritative bodies which they
represented.
The plan proposes for a capital stock
of 100000; one half of which is to be paid
up, each of the contracting corporations
providing $4,000. The ownership and in
terest In the publishing house is to be
guaranteed by equal proportions to the
corporations. Six directors who have al
ready been elected are to have the con-
troll and there are to be two business
managers of equal and coordinate au-
thority, one from each church.
No other Interests Changed.
In effecting this union Of publishing in
terests in China 1t is understood that all
other mission interests of the two
churches remain as at present organized
and established The publishing house is
to occupy the property recently built by
the book committee of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South, for a publishing
house, and ,ent is to be paid to that
book committee for the use OF the build
ing. In the purchase Of machinery that
is now owned by the missionary society
of the Methodist Episcopal church at
Foo, China, II is TO be moved elsewhere,
provided such machinery and equipment
be needed by the new concern.
The boerd of directors for the board Of
managers of the missionary society of
the Methodist Episcc pal church consists
Of the Rev. John #. Goucher, Lemuel
Skidmore and the Rev. DIR. Homer Eaton.
The directors for the book committee Of
/ the Methodist church, South will be
/ elected at Nashville, Tenn. tomorrow.