The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-07-02
FOR UEION OF CHURCHES
RECoMMENDATIoNoFJoINT DE- NoMINATToNAL COMMITTEE.
Platform for the Uniting of the Cons grega.ionai, Methodist and United Brethren Churches Address to the Governing Bodle. Adopted-Text of the Platform.

f Pittsburg, July 1.-The joint commit- tee representing the Congregational Methodist Protestant and United Brethren churches after an all-day ses-
 sion to-day came to an agreement on a platform for the union of the three de- nominations. The greater part of the day was taken up in considering the re port of the subcommittee of five mem bers of each denomination which met in Washington a few weeks ago to form a basis of union. This report embraced a number of recommendations and d letter to the churches. It was amended to-day to some extent and was finally adopted.
 An address to the governing bodies of. the three churches was also adopted. and both will be sent out at once for consideration. The recommendations of the sub-committees as amended and
 adopted are:
 First That the basis of representa- ton in the General council shall be one
 for every 5000 members. Seeond-The power of the General
 council shall be advisory, and any rec- concentrations it may make shall be re ferred to the constituent bodies of the three bodies for approval.
 Third-That a committee of three from each of the general bodies repre- scented shall be authorized to arrange for the time and place of the meeting of the first General council
 FourthThat at the first session of the General council temporary organ ization shall be effected by the election of chairman and secretary. and the council itself shall deIe. .ine the offi- cers it may need and the manner of per- manent organization it may prefer. FifthThe purposes of the General council shall be: (a) To present to the world some realization of that unity oS
 believers which In accordance with the prayer of our Lord seems so desirable among Christian churchesi (b) to pro-s mote better knowledge and closer fellowship among the Christian bodies thus uniting; Co to secure as far as
 possible the unification of kindred or ganizations now existing ill the several bodies; (d) to consider methods by which in the state. annual and district conferences the bodies may be brought
 into coordinate activity and organic unity; Gel to prevent the unnecessary multiplication of churches and to unite
 weak churches of the same neiglbor-
 hood whenever practicable; (D to unite
 and encourage the af1iliation with this council of the Christian bodies. cherish ing kindred faith and purpose.
 The letter to the churches gives a lis-
 tory of the work of the joint committee.
 an explanation of the work done and
 the results hoped for.
 Dr. Washington Gladden. of the Con-
 gregational church, chairman of the
 joint committee and Dr. w. H. Week.
 ly, of the United Brethren church, sec-
 retary of the joint committee, were
 chosen as commissioners to present the
 matter to the governing bodies. These
 bodies do not meet until next year, but
 in the meantime the letter to the
 churches will be sent to every minister of the three denominations that it may
 be laid before the congregations and
 considered deliberately.