Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-14
MAY FORM MERGER
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoRERs DE.
SIRE TO JOIN YOUNG PEG.
PIES SOCIETIES.
At Convention of Y. p. S. c. e. Yester.
day at Denver Resolutions Were
Adopted Favorins Merging With Ep.
worth League and B. Y. p. v.

The plan of merging the three large
young peoples societies, the Christian
Endeavor, the Epworth League and the
B. Y. P. IT,, was favored in resolutions
adopted at Saturdays session Of the
international biennial convention Of the
Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor being held this week at Den
yer. The proposition has been breach
ed before but this time there seems
to be a more united effort than ever
before to bring about this result. OF
tumwans prominent in the work for
the young people express different
opinions as to the advisability of merg-
ing the organizations.
The Christian Endeavor society is in
terdenominational, the young people
uniting regardless of creed, while the
Epworth league and the B. Y. P. u,
are confined to one church, the former
to the Methodist Episcoal and the lat
ter to the Baptist. 1t is argued that
with united effort greater good could
be accomplished by the societies. The
opinion of some of the leaders in the
young peoples work in the city is CIV
en- herewith:
S. l. Vest, a prominent worker in
the Epworth League of the First Meth
odist Episcopal church, when inter-
viewed in regard to the proposed mer-
ger of the Christian Endeavor society,
the Epworth League and the Baptist
Young Peoples Union, states that it
is not new occurrence for the Chris
tian Endeavor society to suggest that
this merger be made, as 1t has been
done before, but with no avail. Mr..
Vest says that to his knowledge the
EpWorth League has never favored
such a merger and that it has never
cared to change from it's present po-
sition. The Epworth League is -four
ishing now and it has been for some
time and it can be seen that merger
as the one proposed will in any way
benefit it.
George Miller Talks.
George Miller, president of the Os
| kaloosa district of the B. Y. P. U. said
| when talking relative to the proposed
| merger of the Christian Endeavor
Epworth League and B. Y. P. u, that
he favors the merging of the three or
CARNATIONS from national standpoint
but it would not be advisable for the
| would prompt disregard for the differ
ent churches that foster these organ
| izations From national standpoint
that is to say that the three organiza
lions meet as one in national conven-
ton, Mr.. Miller is much in favor o
the merger, but otherwise, he states i
| is not expedient that the societies
unite.
Favors the Plan.
George McElroy, prominent mem
bef of the Christian Endeavor society
of the First Presbyterian church, sale
in AN interview today:
| fThe original idea when the Chris
tin >Endeavor society was organized
wAs that it should include members
from all the churches-should be non
sectarian This is still its idea and i
is with this in view that the action was
taken by the national convention to-
day There was a time when the
Christian Endeavor society was the on
| ly young peoples society among the
protestant churches, but the Epwortl
League and B. Y. P. U. have beeen or
ganized and have drawn upon tn,
| members of the churches they repre-
sent
"Such union as is proposed would
I think, be beneficial to all concerned
I 1t is a weakness with some wome1
i @1,o% af no 10,