Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-30
MERGER EFFECTED.
Three Churches Will Join Issues
Under One Head.
OTTuMWA MINISTER At MEETING IS PLACED UNDER $500 BOND

Rev. S. J. Geddes, Pastor South Side
Methodist Protestant Church, Re-
turns From Pittsburg, Pa, Where
He Attended Convention.
Rev. S. j. Geddes, pastor of the
South Side Methodist Protestant
church. has returned to his home in |
this city from Pittsburg, Pa, where |
he was one of the Iowa representa-
tives at the convention which resulted |
in the merging of the Methodist Pro
testant. Congregational and United |
Brethren churches of the United |
States. The preliminary work has
been finished and within short time
it is the intention of those at the head
of the movement to bring about the
organization of general council and
form close relation of the three now
separate denominations.
The denominations are to retain
their present names and the methods
of legislation in regard to local affairs,
but shall add to their official title,
In Affiliation with the General Coun-
Gil of the United Churches" The re-
port of the subcommittee named by
the convention to devise scheme for
consolidation called for the appoint
ment of a general committee to formu-
late plans looking toward complete
organic union After considerable dis
cussion this report was adopted. The
report in full was as follows:
'.The Congregational, Methodist
Protestant and United Brethren de-
nominations represented in this meet
ing agree and recommend that sub
committee shall be appointed by the
general committee to work out the
preliminary details of union. looking
| to the ul,lmate and complete organic
union of these denominations in ac-
cordance with the following ideas:
1.-THE formulated statements OF
doctrine as held by each of these de-
nominations at present, although
phrased differently, yet being essen
TALLY the same, are to be affirmed.
General Council Provided for.
.II-The union for the present is to
! be expressed In the organization OF
general council to be composed of rep
resentatives elected from the respec-
tive denominations composing the
union on some ratio of membership
/ This council is to have its powers and
/ duties defined, but all legislative and
judicial matters shall be referred to
the general bodies of the respective
/ denominations. These denominations
shall retain their present name, and
their autonomy in respect to all local
affairs, but they shall add to their Off
cial title the following: In afillatlon
with the general council of the united
churches" AN
:. After the report of the sub-commit-
tee had been adopted the new gener
al committee was appointed with five
representatives from each of the
three denominations. Rev. 7. H. Lew
is, D. d., president of Adrian college
Michigan, and Western Maryland col
lege, Westminster, Maryland; Rev. d
Stephens, d. D.,chancellor of the Kan
sas City university; Rev. NJ L. Jen
nings, D. D., editor OF the Methodist
Recorder" Rev. F. 7. Tagg, d. D., edi
tor of the Baltimore Methodist Prot
estant,' and Rev. George Schaffer, d
! d., of Bellevue, will present tbs
Methodist Protestant church; Bishop
~. S. Mills, D. D., Rev. w. R. Funk
: 4 II.
Rev. w. S. Bell, D. D., and Rev. j. w
Ruth will present the United Brethren
in Christ, and Rev. a. H. Bradford
Rev. Washington GLADDEN., D. D., Rev
A. E. Dunning, D. D., S. w. Newman
. and Rev. w. H. Ward, d. D., will rep
resent the Congregationalists.
= Will Meet in Washington.
: At the conclusion of the regular ses
sion the general committee had a meet
= ing and decided to hold conference
= in Washington, D. c., May 27.-Dr
GLADDEN. said at the conclusion of thu
session that the work of the conference,
5. had been very satisfactory. He sail
j. that the appointment of the genera
committee would surely lead to close
organic union within few years. Ev
. cry three or four years, he said, whel
, the general bodies of the tire,
:, churches meet the general council o
y the united churches would also NEE
in the same city and discuss the prob
lens and questions that come befor
a the general organization of the tire
churches. He also said that at eacI
meeting of the general organization
e of the three denominations the othe
S two denominations would have repre-
a sentatives present to become acquaint
ed with the problems of the churches.
4 No definite time was given the ger
+ eral committee in which to formulat
a Ian organic union of the tire
churches, but the general opinion pre-
vaded the meeting that organic unto
/ will come gradually with the assis
e ance of the General Council of tn
= United Churches" Whenever the con
mittee, which will meet in Washingto
,l next month. is ready to report, d
It GLADDEN. will call another meeting {
5. the general committee which met her
The organic union cannot be compile
ed until each committee of five pr
= sents the matter of union to the hlg
y est bodies of each denomination fc
q ratification.
If Fourth Church Represented.
= Three ministers We're present at I'll
b, sessions representing the Christie
Of Church of the New Connection
e They were not considered in the plar