Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-29
FOR ORGANIC UNION
ACTION TAKEN By TWO PROTEST
ANT CHURCHES.
A Methodist Denomination and the
United Brethren-Con Congregational
lists Considering Proposition.

The national bodies of the Church OF the
United Brethren meeting next year, ana oi
the Methodist Protestant Church. meetins
in 1906. will be called upon to ratify the
action in favor Of the organic union OF
these churches, which was recommended
yesterday afternoon by subcommittee OF
ten which met in this city after discussing
with representatives. Of the Congregational
Church details pursuant to the plan OF
union decided upon at the convention neio
in Pittsburg April q last. 1t Is believed by
prominent members Of the two churches
that the steps taken in favor OF denoml-
nation coalition will be sanctioned by ooth
Of the conferences referred to. A name for
the proposed new church was decided upon
yesterday, and a committee OF SIX was
appointed to draw up the compact Of union
in detail, with Instructions to present
report in writing to the subcommittee De-
fore its report is made to the general COM
mittee which will meet In P1ttsburg July l.
The members of this committee of six,
named by Chairman Lewis, are the follow
ing: United Brethren Church. Bishop J. >.
Mills of Annisville, Pa; Rev. DR.. w. X.
Funk of Dayton, Ohio. and Rev. DR.. w.
NJ Weekley, also of Dayton, Ohio, Meth
odist Protestant Church; Rev. Dr. +. T.
Tagg of Baltimore Md; Rev. DR. George
Shaffer of Pittsburg. Pa. and Rev. DR..
NJ L. Jennings. also of Pittsburg.
The meeting, which was held in the How
ard House, was presided over by Dr. i II.
Lewis, and DR.. M. M. Weekley acted as
secretary. The following were the commit
teemen:
From the Methodist Protestant Church
Rev. DR.. T. H. Lewis, president OF West
minister College, Westminster Md; Rev.
DIR. d. s. Stephens of Kansas City, Mo-,
president national conference of Methodist
Protestant Church; Rev. DR.. M. l.. Jen-
nings, editor of one of the leading church
organs; Rev. DR.. F. T. Tagg of Baltimore,
also editor of one of the church organs, ana
Rev. DIR. George Shaffer.
United Brethren Church-Rishop j. 8.
Mills one of the four bishops of this denom-
nation; Rev. DIR. w. r. Funk of Dayton,
Ohio, manager of the United Brethren Pub
fishing House; Rev w NJ. Weekley and
Rev. DR.. w. NJ. Bell. also of Dayton, and
]. w. Ruth, a lay member.
Looking to Union of the Three.
The subcommittee of ten, representing the
two churches, got together after the sub
committee of fifteen. representing in addi-
ton to the two churches named the Con-
gregational Church, had agreed upon a
report concerning the details of the pro-
posed union of all the three churches &C
cording to the general plan outlined at the
Pittsburg meeting The conference of The
representatives of the Methodist Protestant
Church and the Church of the United
Brethren was held with the knowledge and
approval of the representatives of the Con-
gregational Church, entertaining the hope,
it is stated, that the consolidation of Two
of the interested churches will render more
easy the final union of all three. 1t was
pointed out that a drawback to the early
union of all arises from the fact that the
Congregational Church is without any SUI
preme central governing body, making 1t
necessary to get the consent for the pro-
oh frnp he in6
cations. For this reason the plan of grad
ually educating the individual communi-
cantS concerning the advantages to be de-
rived from coalition was decided upon. The
Methodist Protestant Church and the
Church of the United Brethren, having
central governing bodies. it was argued, are
in a better position to consider more ina
mediate union. This was the understand
ing among all of the fifteen committeeman
when the ten above named went into con-
ference at the Howard House.
Discussion OF Greed.
After name had been suggested the
discussion of a creed for the proposed
new church took up considerable time. 1t
was finally agreed to leave this problem to
the committee of six with the understand
ing that the declaration of faith shall con-
tain virtually the same points at pres
ent, there being very little difference in
the creeds of the two churches. Upon the
question of the adoption of a name let
ter was read from Rev. l.. w. Stahl of
Greensburg. Pa, who had suggestions to
make along this line Upon motion Of DR..
Weekley, a name, as suggested in the
letter, was decided upon, but it was agreed
that 1t should not be made public until
the report of the subcommittee Is made
to the higher body in Pittsburg July 1.
There is reason to believe, however, that
the new church will be called either the
United Methodist Church or the United
Church.
A considerable obstacle in the way of
agreement arose in the question of bishops.
The Methodist Protestant Church has no
bishops. while the Church of the United
Brethren has. The separation of the Meth
odist Protestant Church from the Meth
odist Episcopal Church was caused by diff
ferences this very point. The parent
body was governed by bishops, to which
officials as q part of the church govern
ment, the dissenting members who formed
the new church objected 1t was evident.
therefore, that this question would be OF
vital interest to the representatives of that
church. However. a ground of agreement
was reached in the name general superin-
tendent" in place Of bishop This was
proposed by the United Brethren and ac-
&C pied by the Methodist Professionals. After
the meeting closed yesterday DIR. Weekley
expressed the belief that the outlook for
the union of the two churches is bright.
The combined membership today is esti-
mated at about $4,000.