The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-18
WILL BE FOR UNION.
United Brethren Take Broad View
of Church Situation.


From every indication the vote of
the United Brethren general confer
ence will be for organic union of that
body with the Congregational and
Methodist Protestant churches. The
vote on the question was made a spe-
cial order of business for this morn
ing at 10 o'clock. but was deferred
owing to the pressure of other bust
ness.
The minority in the body of the
conference who have been opposing
the merger are still of the same opin-
ion and stated this noon in an inter
view that they expected to vote
against the organic union of the
church I'VE want to retain our
identity" said Rev. w. H. Washingerl
OF the Pennsylvania conference; that
is, we are willing to have spiritual
union but we don't think it is neces-
sary to have an organic union We
think it is better for US to retain as lar
as is possible our church identity. We
don't think it is best to eliminate our
church government and substitute for
it one under which all the three
churches would labor. We are in ia
vor of taking part in the New York
city movement; a conference to be
held there IN November of all the
churches in the United States At
that time representatives viii be pres
ent to agitate closer spiritual union OF
all the churches. That conference we
port federation and not union express
es the sentiment"
Said another prominent delegate |
with reference to the probability of
the passage of the motion TO merge:
''I presume it will carry all right One
thing that is favorable is the action OF
the higher dignitaries of the church |
who are inclined to such a step. Inc
rest of them, some of them, fear to |
cross the wishes of those higher up !
and follow the leading"
The same faction is backing a move |
ment looking to the adjustment OF
the young peoples Christian organiza- |
ton of the United Brethren; the !
Christian Endeavor society. The
technical name of the society is the
Young Peoples Christian Union. In
the eastern part of the United States |
the Christian Endeavor society has
crept into the church and supplanted
to quite an extent the church's own |
young peoples organization. The mi
nortty is willing to go that far IN the
way of federation; they wish to take
part in the wide world movement of
federation and think it is best gained
through the fundamentally of abolish |
ing the church's own young people |
ton that this portion of the minority
agitation will be adopted by the con-
vention at large and it is entering into
the talk of q considerable portion OF
the convention
The same discussion which has en-
sued every time a matter of import
ance has arisen in the conference pre-
vailed this morning. Tt took the con-
ference the entire morning before II
finally decided to adopt with a Few
minor changes, the report of the pub
fishing house committee. The most i'm
portant change of the body with regard
to the report was to strike out the rec
OmmendatiOn of the committee to aDol-
ish the United Brethren Review, a min
isterial periodical, published by the
church of which DR.. Thompson is ed1-
tor. There was some feeling prevalent
over the attempt to do away with the
periodical but it was smoothed over on
the passage Of the motion to strike out
The report makes an important
change in the book committee 1ncreaS-
Ing that body to five members, placing
on it in addition the editor Of Watch
word and the professor of theology IN
the Union Biblical seminary.
Both by the adoption of the report,
editor and associate editor OF the sun
day school literature are now elected
by the conference. Formerly the editor
alone was so elected, the associate be-
ing elected by the committee.
A new designation for the various
bishopries was adopted this morning
The new church districts vary in des-
ignation from those adopted Wednes-
day They are now named as folIows:
East district; Central district; west
district; racine ulSlItcl anu oOt l4lSA
district. The change in nomenclature
is the substitution Of the names Cen
traI for Indiana and West for Central
A motion was introduced by Minis
terial Delegate Carlton from Iowa to
equalize the general assessments to the
annual conferences. The motion has
been referred to the committee for ac-
ton. The motion springs from the wing
of the church who were against the in
crease in the size of the board of bish-
OPS and is intended to meet the de-
nands made by some of the smaller
conferences that more of the burden of
the expense be carried relatively by the
49,, s15 1t-ea1fl7fer conferences.