The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-27
MORT INVEST CHURCHES
FAVOR CONSOLIDATION
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCES
ADOPT RESOLUTIONS.
Consolidation Of Conregationalists,
United Brethren and Methodist Prot
estants Would Bring 100000 Into
One Denomination-Action Taken in
Minneapolis, st. Paul and Dawson.

Congregational churches thruout the
northwest seem to be DESTROYS that the
talked-of consolidation of the United
Brethren and Methodist Protestant
churches with the Congregational shall
take place.
At three recent conferences Of Con-
gregationalists held in this state reso-
union have been adopted. The first
conference in the northwest to take
such action was the Anoka conference,
held in Minneapolis several weeks ago.
At the St. Paul conference, held in
Plymouth church, St. Paul, the past
week, resolution was adopted May
22 indorsing the proposed move. The
latest conference to pass such a reso-
luton was the Minnesota Valley con-
Mimi, and at which, on May "a, the
resolution in question was presented by
Rev. L. H. Hallock Of Plymouth church,
Minneapolis. This latest action, typical
Of that taken at the previous two
meetings, was given expression in the
following words: 8
"While our attachment to the hiss
impaired, and we believe that the ulti-l
mate ecclesiastical authority rests in
the local church as led by the spirit Of
God,
. We also believe that the time is
fully ripe for union of denomina-
lions in the interest of efficiency and
economy of administration, and az a
demonstration Of the power Of the Cos,
pei to produce true Christian unity.
that they all may be one we there
fore welcome any cordially approve.
the action Of the Dayton council In
planning the consolidation of the Con-,
gregational, United Brethren and
Methodist Protestant churches, and
pledge ourselves to cooperate to the
extent of our ability in promoting this
happy cOnsummatlon." ''5',t
Three Essential Points
The consolidation of the three de-.
nominations in question has been dis
finally eliminated in action at the gen.
eral conference Of the Congregational
church held at Dayton, Ohio, last Feb
| ruary. There three essential points to-
wards securing the union were settled.
| First-A creed upon which all three
| denominations agreed, was adopted. It
is little different from that of the old
Congregational church, except it is
| briefer and somewhat more liberal. In
short, it is a plain statement of evan
| gelical belief. 49,.
Second-The question of vested in
terests of the different denominations
| and basis Of union Of such interests,
was adopted In general way and left
to committee to work out the details.
Third-In the matter Of polity, it
| was agreed that the local church shall
remain the ultimate authority and that
these, churches shall continue to be as
sociated into district, state and ma
tional conferences, with some modif-
cations of customs now existing.
Three committees of twenty mem.
bers each have in hand the details Of
the three essential points above mem
toned. These committees will make
final report to an adjourned meeting
of the general council to be held in
about a year at some interior city.
Kansas City has extended an invita-.
ton to entertain the conference at
that time, but no action on the invita-
tion has yet been taken:
The Congregational church at pres
ent has membership of 100000. The
United Brethren number 100000; the
Methodist Protestants, 100000. Thus
the consolidation will bring into mem-
bership in one denomination 100000,