The Washington herald., 1909-02-22

over a periOd'of several weeks, the propO-
sitiOn OF consolidation with the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church was bluntly
and fatty rejected by the congregation of
the Washington Heights Presbyterian
Church last evening.
The downtown church did not ask Us
70 unite with them: they asked us TO
merge our identity with theirs. was the
spirit OF the report Of the conferees. and
after an absolute statement that the
differences existing are essential and
VITAL the congregation adopted the re-
port without dissenting vote.
The congregation acted as a unit on
the matter. Speeches expressive of re-
gret and deprecating the demands Of the
New York avenue church were made. but
not one voice was raised in favor of
consolidation.
Emphatic Rejection.
The action Of the church was not
merely an emphatic rejection Of the Gues-
tion upon the terms which. Il IS said,
were laid down peremptorily BY the elder
congregation, but also a vote Of conf
dence and appreciation for the pastor
Rev. ". T. =. Moss.
The fact that DR.. Moss would have been
forced into a subordinate position by the
consolidation. that he would have TO be
an assistant pastor IN fact, as well as in
name" as was said. that the New York
avenue church insisted upon Dr. Wallace
Radcliffe as the recognized pastor OF the
proposed consolidated church. and upon
having his authority absolute. were the
rocks upon which the negotiators split
The conferees never even reached the
question OF salaries or OF division Of Ia
Dor. said Thomas G. Noyes. who, with
Charles \. Douglas and ". II. Moran.
acted as the committee which conducted
the negotiations. we did not get be
yond the FIRST question q the relative
standing Of the pastors
DIR. Wallace Radcliffe was the propo-
sition. pure and simple, 50 Ear as decid-
ing the question al issue was concerned
The New York avenue committee re-
ferred all questions 10 him. and acted
simply as his m0Cthpiece Dr. Radcliffe s
position on all matters was. this must
be SO and so. or not ar an There was
no thought Of compromise. II simply
Was a question whether we we're willing
TO see our minister be made an assistant
pastor OF the proposed consolidated
church
Question of Identity.
The question. as I understood IL, was
one OF Joining. not OF dlssolving our
identity into that OF the New York ave
nue. church. Evidently our sister church.
or at least It's pastor, did not entertain
this view. We simply could not present
such a plan 20 our congregation.
Mr. Noyes' remarks we're REINFORCED BY
those OF several other members Of the
congregation. including u. B. Robson.
who referred significantly 10 the per
sonal element. go and said; The responsi-
biIity for blocking such a wise and good
undertaking must stanG with the New
York avenue church.
Il desire 70 say brie1 word IN eUlogy
Of our forlorn hope continued M RObi-
son. u am sorry the negotiations failed
I had hoped earnestly that they would
be successful. and - worked 20 that
end for several years. But other elements
entered II.
James Newton congratulated the church
that the whole matter had fallen through,
saying he had been opposed TO the project
from the first
Different Conditions.
7 have been told that il is custom
ary in the New York avenue church for
a few men 10 dictate what shall be
done" said AIr. Newton. Fortunately. q
very different condition prevails here"
In continuance OF his review Of the
negotiations. Mr.. Noyes stated that he
was disappointed al the outcome. The
Washington Heights church committee
worked in harmony from the outset. he
declared. K never developed any DIFF
ferences Of opinion as 20 what report
slsaEild bs made 20 the congregation.
Our congregation win be knit together
by the experience through which It has
passed he concluded We can nov 90
forward with the work that is before Us"
The chairman OF the meeting was Rev.
George Robinson. .. d. former chaplain
in the United States army. The meeting
opened with the reading Of the committee
report by Clifford X Bergman. and il
was Immediately accepted on motion OF
Howard Fisher
The report follows IN full:
Report in Full.