Evening star., 1909-01-10
Specia! dispatch to The Star.

Special dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA. January e.-Negotia-
tions are actually under way here for the
union Of three denominations holding the
Presbyterian system OF doctrine-the
Northern Presbyterian Church, the Ger
man Reformed Church and the Welsh
Calvanistic Methodist Church.
Without any fuss or feathers and with
out declaring beforehand what they In
tend to do committees from these de-
nominations have been quietly in con-
ference discussing ways and means OF
bringing about this amalgamation. The
Presbyterians already have a permanent
committee. with power to enter into such
arrangements. and the Welsh church has
already taken favorable action upon the
proposition in 80 per cent OF its presby-
teries. The Reformed representatives are
not as yet authorized to commit their de-
nomination absolutely. but the leaders
express themselves as unqualifiedly IA
vorable to actual organic union In the
immediate future. Rev. DR.. William II.
Roberts is chairman OF the Presbyterian
section Of the joint committee. and also
of the committee as a whole: Rev. DIR.
]. 8. keiffer OF Hagerstown, Md. Of the
Reformed section, and Rev. r. T. Rob-
erts Of the Welsh section.
President Roosevelt's Church.
Popular interest attaches to tho Re
formed Church because it Is the denom-
ination to which President Roosevelt be-
longs. This denomination has a some
what larger membership than the South
ern Presbyterians. for it will take into
the union 10000 members. These are
principally found along the Atlantic coast,
and especially in Pennsylvania. 1t is
strongest among the Pennsylvania Ger
mans. 1t has, like all Presbyterians, four
denominational units; the local congrega-
ton. the classis. the synod and the gen
eral synod.
The Welsh Church with the seemingly
contradictory name-"Calvanistic Metho-
dist''-is simply the Presbyterian Church
of Wales. AS its title would Indicate, 1t
thrives in this land only in Welsh com
munities. Its membership is 15 200, found
chiefly in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio
and Wisconsin.
The presbyterian Church in the U. 3.
A" (as it's official title runs. to dis
tinguish 1T from the Southern Church,
denomination in the United States, having
1,341, ,492 members Since it's recent union
with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
it has congregations in all parts of the
land, south as well as north.
1t is easier for denominations to split
than to get together. One considerable OBJ
stacle is the fact that the officeholders in
denominations do not usually face with
pleasure the prospect of losing their posi-
tions; and as they are generally men OF
influence, they can exert considerable
weight against the extinction of their &C.
clesiastical identity and their own offices.
Vested Interests a Barrier.
The vested interests of denominations
have proved a great barrier to union.
This was notably the case with the United
Free Church of Scotland, where a recall
citrant minority. known as the "wee
Frees" were awarded title, after the
union. to all the vast properties Of the
Free Church of Scotland. In the inner
circles of Presbyterianism 1t is whispered
that the only real reason why the Re
formed Church has not united with the
Presbyterian is that lawyers have advised
that such step might invalidate the title
to the enormously valuable Marble Col
legiate endoWments in New York city.
This church, next to Trinity. is probably
the wealthiest ecclesiastical corporation In
the United States.
Sectional differences. theological diff
ferences, differences in language and
sheer denominational pride are other In
f1uential factors in preventing some de-