The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-11-13
CHURCH HOME MAY BE MOVED Question Considered Sunday Morning. CONGREGATION WILL VOTE Central Presbyterian Building Not Near Enough to Communicants'
 Homes. Believe Proximity of Two Edifices of same sFaith So Near Each Other Initiates Against Most ssc- cessfuI work and Results.
 Two sites Proposed.

Sunday morning a resolution pro- viding forssthe sale of the present church property owned and occupied by the congregation of the Central Presbyterian Church at Lawrence street and Washington avenue will be submitted to the members of the con- gregation.
 For some time 1t has been the belief of the congregation generally and the officers of the church that the prox- imity of the two churches of the Presbyterian denomination initiates against the greatest success of the conversations and the convenience Of the members.
 This idea leads to the proposed re- moval of the Central Church and the proposition includes the erection of two Presbyterian church buildings at sites in the northern and southern sections of the city some distance from the present church site.
 The text. of the resolution to be pre- sented Sunday morning at the services at the Central Church is:
 The Resolution.
 "Be it resolved, by the Central Presbyterian Church of Montgomery. Ala. in congregational meeting as- sembled.
 1. That sale of it's property. now
 
 street and Washington avenue. be au- thorized.
 % That a committee of five be elected from the congregation and by the congregation. who shall have au- thority to sell said property and to take all legal and necessary steps to convey to the purchasers legal and satisfactory title, having full author ity, if necessary, to employ counsel fn flla atfn hills as said counsel may advise. "3. That the proceeds of said sale shall be devoted to the purchase of two lots and the erection thereon, as far as possible, of two church build- ings, for the use of congregations of the faith of the Presbyterian Church of the United States. Both of said churches to be located in the city of Montgomery Ala, one of the same to be located to the north of the present location of the Central Presbyterian Church; the other to be located to the south of the present location of the Central Presbyterian Church. A. That the division of the proA ceeds of the sale of said property shall be made by said committee in l such proportion as to said committee may seem fair and equitable" The following communica ton,
 
 ficers of the Central Presbyterian Church has been sent to the members of this congregation:
 The Letter.
 "In the judgment of many of the loyal friends and supporters of our be- | loved church, 1t is becoming more and more apparent that the two Principal Presbyterian churches of Montgomery are located too close together-only two and half blocks apart-while to the south of them is one of the most desirable and growing sections of our city, more than a square mile in ex- tent. in which no church of our faith Is found. In that section a consider able body of our own members have 1 their homes. and several prominent de- nominations, other than Presbyterians now occupy the ground with houses | of worship. This state of affairs is one for which you are not to blame, but it Is most unfortunate for the Gen. l traI Church, and for Presbyterianism in general. We believe that our church Is suffering seriously on account of it and that the trouble Is one that is steadily on the increase.
 Thirteen of your nineteen church of ficers met recently and had a full and brotherly conference in regard to this vital matter and while there was much sincere regret shown at the prospect oi having to change the location of oul church, we found. after carefully con sidering the whole case. that all those present were practically of one mind Our verdict was that God, in His prov idence, seems to jmpel us to move oul church a considerable distance to thu south of our present location. The To- cation of our church building, and tht control of Its property, is not a mat ter for the decision of the officers oi the church. but Is in the hands of tht members of the church.
 "The officers recognize this. and they have no desire to dictate. But we be lieve that the matter Is now in such { condition that 1t should be discussed by the members of the church as { body For this reason the session has | taken order for a meeting of all thu members to be held on Sunday, No vember If, at II a. m.. to consider this | question, and do what Is best for oul beloved church. This letter is sent tC l all of you. with the earnest reques