Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-05
RECEDES FROM ITS ACTION
Articles of Agreement Between Two
Congregations Referred Back.
UNION APPARENTLY AFFAIR OFF
Protracted Discussion of the Question
at Meeting of Judicatory This
Morning.

The larger Presbyterian church proposed
by Justice Harlan for this city, popularity
known as the Presbyterian Cathedral, is to-
day no nearer a reality than 1t was last
April. before the union of the New York
Avenue and Assembly's Presbyterian
churches was ratified by the presbytery of
Washington. This condition of affairs 1t
Is stated is the indirect result of the failure
of the presbytery to indorse the cathedral
idea at its April session, which has resulted
in disturbed condition in the Assembly S
Church. and finally brought about at an ad-
journed meeting OF the presbytery this
morning in the New York Avenue Church
reconsideration of the whole matter and
a tabling of the ratifying resolution.
The articles of agreement as drawn I'D by
the churches. In which a distinct reference
Is made TO the cathedral idea as purpose
of the proposed union, have been referred
back to the churches In the amended con
dition In which they passed the presbytery
last April The section referring to the
larger church was stricken out of the ar
tcles by the presbytery at that time and
the union ratified upon that basis.
The members of the congregation of the
Assembly's Church since last April have
declared their unwillingness to proceed with
the union, In view of this action of the
presbytery, the ground that they had
Intended union with the New York Avenue
Church merely because they desired to fur
Their the cathedral Idea and were not willing
10 give up their identity as a church for any
other reason.
DR.. Radcliffe's Views.
Rev DIR. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of the
New York Avenue Church discussed at
length this morning the other phase OF the
question, which was that the presbytery' S
action in fact did not change the original
articles OF agreement between the churches
because presbytery had no power to inter-
fere with agreements OF union between in
olvidual churches, but merely had the
OF union
The matter was threshed out in great de-
tail. and strong arguments were brought
to bear on both sides of the question. l..
c. Williams, as commissioner from the
mass meeting of the people of Assembly
Church. who petitioned the presbytery yes
terday. led the opposition to DR. Radcliffe
and was aided by Rev DIR. George p VIII
son, pastor Of the Assembly's Church
DR.. Radcliffe proposed to clear the at
filming the meaning of the presbytery in
its action last April This resolution re-
affirmed that there was no intention either
to approve or disapprove of the cathedral
proposition at that time. 1t was present ed
yesterday and was under debate when the
proceedings were interrupted by the sud-
den death of a member Of that body, Rev.
DR.. G. B. Ramsdell. The debate conferred
around this resolution this morning.
After about two hours debate DR.. Rad
cliffes resolution was defeated. and mo-
ton to reconsider the action of the pres
bytery in this particular matter, made by
Rev. DR.. Joseph 7. Kelly, was adopted DIR.
Kellys motion to table the ratifying reso-
luton was likewise adopted. and 1t was
then voted to refer the amended petitions
back TO the churches involved.