Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-10
A SPECIAL COMMITTEE
To Consider Merger OF Presby-
terrain Churches.
OPPOSED BY 20 MEMBERS
First Session Of Stated Spring Meet
ing Of Local Pastors.
JUSTICE HARLAN's STATEMENT
Contributions for Home Missions
Candidates for the Ministry
Merit of Comparable Statistics.
JUSTICE HARLAH's STATEMENT
Contributions for Home Missions

of Washington. held this morning IN the
Sixth Presbyterian Church, petition
was presented from twenty members OF
the Assembly's Presbyterian Church ask
ing that the presbytery investigate the
vote of the congregational meeting OF
that church, which has been reported to
have been in favor OF union with the
New York Avenue Church. with a view
to determining whether the vote was
actually vote of the majority of the
members. The petition states that in
the opinion of the signers majority OF
the members of the Assembly's Church
are opposed to the union.
The petition was read by the stated
clerk of the presbytery after the resolu-
lions from the two churches concerned
in the union proposition had been read.
indicating that both congregations were
In favor of the merger.
The petition was as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned would respectfully
petition that the Presbytery of Washing
ton refuse to confirm the proposed sale OF
the Assembly's Church and the consolida-
ton of that church with the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church, the fol-
lowing grounds:
Not the Legal Number.
"We claim that there was not the legal
number present necessary to consummate
such sale and consolidation. We are con-
WINGED. after prayerful consideration, that
1t is not the proper time to remove the
church from that vicinity, inasmuch as
those who wish to remain are workers In
and contributors to its welfare, and Will
not go to New York Avenue. but will re-
main and make greater efforts for the sup
port and upbuilding of the church.
1--WE have no debt on our church and less
than 5000 deficiency in the current expenses
at the CONGREGATIONAL meeting.
I'VE. therefore, petition that your hon
orable body will carefully investigate this
meeting before taking favorable action on
said consolidation and SALE believing that
your Investigation will fully shbw you that
IT Is not the wish OF me m 1S Oh the
In a supplementary portion of the petition
1t was stated that the meeting which voted
for the union was made up of only ninety
eight out of 1856 members of the Assembly 8
Church. The vote OF those present was
given as II in the affirmative AVID 27 in the
negative. \
Some Signers Were Children.
Elder O. B. Brown. of the Assembly s
Church. who is heartily In favor Of the pro-
posed union. discussed the petition briefly.
He said that of the twenty signers he knew
one was not member Of the church and
that some of the others were children.
Justice Harlan, who Is said to be the
father of the union plan and to see In II
the possible realization of his cathedral
idea for the Presbyterian Church OF this
city, took the floor and said he desired
merely to present certain facts to the body.
Knowing. he declared. that II such a step
was to be. taken some one would have to
take the Initiative, he had invited the pas
tors of the two churches, the members or
the board of elders and representatives OF
tho boards Of deacons and trustees to meet
ftr,x,
thoroughly. He said after three such meet
ings those present were unanimously in
favor of the proposition.
The merits of the case Justice Harlan
did not care to discuss today, leaving them
to presbytery.
Upon motion of one of the members all
the papers in the case were referred to q
special committee for report. This COM
mittee was named by the moderator, Rev.
DR.. George Bailey. pastor of the Western
Church, and Is as follows: Rev. DR.. Albert
Evans. chairman: Rev. DR.. Donald c. Mac
Leod, Rev. DR.. Titus E. Davis. Mr.: Irving
3. Linton and Mr. c. H. Merwin. The COM
mittee Immediately retired.
For Home Missions
Rev. DR.. Macleod. chairman of the COM
mittee on home missions, made his report.
The total contributions to the cause stated
by the churches of this jurisdiction. which
includes parts of Maryland and Virginia
near by. was given as $4,000 for the past
year. The amount received the previous
year was ST, 052.
Rev. DR.. William C. Alexander reported
for the committee on education, Of which
he Is chairman 1t was recommended by
the committee that David A. Reed, a mem
Der Of the Fourth Presbyterian Church. and
John E. Small member of the Fifteenth
Street Church. colored. be taken under the
care Of the presbytery as candidates for
the ministry. After these young men had
been examined by the moderator they were
received as recommended.
The committee on foreign missions re-
ported through Rev. DR.. Joseph L. Kelly,
its chairman.
DR.. Macleod, in presenting the narrative
of the religious work OF the churches of the
preSbytery for the past year, precipitated a
discussion of the advisability of introducing
comparable statistics in regard to the num-
Der of accessions to the church member
ship, by profession in faith, In this and
osher presbyteries. Such comparisons were
made by DIR. Macleod. with the result that
the local churches were not shown in the
best light.
Objected to Tone Of Report.
The tone of the report was strongly OBJ
jected to by Rev. DR.. Teunis s. Hamlin,
pastor of the Church of the Covenant who
held that the work OF a church should not
| be judged by the number of professions OF
| faith, since many churches were located In
places where their opportunities are very
poor for such work, and 1t Is all they can
discouraging to the ministers Of these
| churches, DIR. Hamlin said.
| The chairman of the committee replied
| that ne had not intended to discourage any
| minister. but he believed that the value oil
a church should be judged by the number