Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-23
THREE CREEDS
ARE COM MBINED

Brethren and Methodist
Protestant Churches Join
Union
chicago, March 22.-An act Of un.
Ion, BY which the Congregational Uni
TED Brethren and Methodist Protestant
.cnurches OF fourteen states are formed
into one large religious organization
was consummated yesterday by the
general conference Of delegates from
different parts of the country.
The final vote on the polity report
was taken late yesterday afternoon aft.
er strenuous session in which the
Methodist Protestant delegates from
Louisiana and Mississippi "bolted" the
conference and refused to have any
thlng to do with the union as planned
Although the members Of the con.
ference prayed with the obstleperous
delegates from the south, plealed with
them and begged them to reconsider
their decision, the doughty southern
ers stood pat" and refused to bulge
an Inch. When the final vote was talk
en- they voted loud and emphatic
After the formal adoption Of the po-
iity report, which provides for tho uu-
Ion OF more than 100000 comlnuni-
cants throughout the country and
brings about the fifth largest Protest
ant church organization in the United
States, the name "The United
Churches of Methodist Protestant, Uni
ted Brethren and Congregational De
nominations was adopted. Tie new
organization, however, will be known
as 'The United Churches"
Secession Surprise.
The secession OF the southern dele
gates came as a complete surprise to
the conference. as 1t was thought that
the entire assembly was in harmony.
1t was brought about by f. IA. M Wat
son, editor of the Christian Standard
Of Uriel. Miss.
In no place does the report mention
sanctification subsequent upon regen-
eration," said he, when the chairman
had accorded him the floor I'VE
Methodist Protestants uf the south do
not care to enter into any organization
which might take from he our nd and
established creed. This is what the re-
port practically does. All we are rot
In favor of a--of fedel alton. This
union, as outlined In the report, is not
an organic one, but, federation
Therefore, as representative Of Mis-.
sissippi and Louisiana / withdraw and
refuse to have thing to 10 with ssbe
union. 3 = s-s3 sss As
Instantly there was wild excitement
and about twenty delegates demanded
the floor. The chairman. DR.. d. s.
Stevens, arose to his feet and himself
addressed the conference.
1T seems that the delegates from
the south should have said something
about this before said he. aThey
have had plenty Of time to mako OBJ
jections before we were ready TO adopt
the report and consummate the UNI
ion.
Sanctificatlon Rock.
I'VE are not demanding that they
give up their sanctification subsequent
upon regeneration. We have tolerated
them in that creed for some time and
don't see any objection to continuing
along the same line"
After several excited speeches in
which the southern delegates were
urged to relinquish their ground, DR..
Stevens announced that there would
be ten minutes Of prayer for MISSISSIPPI
pi and Louisiana representatives Sew.
eral 'liyines prayed deyoutedly, and a
number of songs were sung in the hope
that Watson and his coterie would see
the light and return to the fold.
After the prayer and song service,
Watson again took the floor and an
nounced tnat he could not be true to
his constituents and approve the union
plan. He was followed by j. e. Carr,
president OF the Louisiana conference,
VINO concurred in the secession move
ment Then DR.. Stevens apologized to
Watson for his use of the word "toler-
ation."
The polity report, or act of union,
was considered by a committee of six
ty-three of the general council Of the
three churches. The document will
now be referred to the local and state
churches -and will also be sent to LOU
isiana and Mississippi in the hope that
it will be adopted over Watson and
Carr.
The conference was held at the I'm
ion Park Congregational church and
was attended by more than 300 dele
gates and members.