Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-22
NOUN|ONOF CHURCHES
Washington Heights Congre-
cation Rejects Proposition.
DISCORD AS TO PASTOR
Objection to Demands of New York
Avenue Presbyterian.
COMMITTEE EXPLAINS REPORT
Refused to Permit Complete Subor-
dination of Rev. Mr.. Moss as
Assistant to DR.. Radcliffe

The New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church and the Washington Heights
Presbyterian Church will not consolidate.
The proposition, discussed for the past
few weeks by special committees of both
churches. was rejected at a congrega-
tional meeting held in the Washington
Heights church last night.
The insistance of the New York Ave-
nue. churchmen that Rev. DR.. Wallace
Radcliffe. their pastor. should be the pas
TOT of the proposed new church. and
that Rev. w. T. d. Moss pastor of the
; Washington Heights Church, should serve
as his assistant, was the obstacle found
insurmountable.
The Washington Heights committee
wanted MIR. Moss either to be associate
or junior pastor The New York Ave-
nue. Church committee would not concede
this 1t demanded for DR.. Radcliffe a5so-
lutte authority in the pastorate.
Committee Explains Report.
The recommendation against the project
was made by the Washington Heights
| committee last night and was adopted
at once by the congre CATION. Short adj
dresses were made during the evening
! Nv -. 4NoNtS, CIlhli VI i'lt
Washington Heights committee, and W.
h. Robson, James T. Newton and w. r..
Somerville. members of the committee.
Rejection of the proposition of the
downtown church to affiliate with the
Washington Heights church. Mr.. Noyes
said, matter of much regret to
| him. He had earnestly hoped that a
consolidation of the two churches would
be effected, but the committee of the
Washington Heights Church had never
advanced beyond the first question in
the negotiations-the relative standing of
the two pastors, he added.
There was no thought of compromise"
said Mr.. Noyes. LAS | understood the
question, ii was one of uniting with and
not of dissolving our identity into that of
the New York Avenue Church. Evidently
the committee of our sister church, or at
least the pastor, did not entertain this
view.
Committee in Full Accord.
Mr.. Moves said the Washington Heights
committee worked in harmony from the
outset and never developed any differences
of opinion as to what sort of report
should be made to the congregation. The
Washington Heights congregation, he
predicted would be knit together by the
experience through which it has passed.
and would so forward with the work that
is before 1t.
the proposed consolidation could not be
carried out. He said he had earnestly
hoped for the union for several years, but
that elements had entered into considera-
ton that had caused hope to be aban-
doned.
Mr.. Newton said he had been told that
1t was customary for few men to dictate
the policies of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. He was glad such
condition does not prevail in the Wash
in gtOn Heights Church.
Mr.. Somerville added his testimony re-
garding the work of the committee. The
meeting then closed.
Text Of Committee Report.
Rev Dr. George Robinson, former chap
lain of the army, presided over the meet
ing. The report of the committee, read
by Clifford X. Bergman. was as follows:
''To the congregation of the Washington
Heights Presbyterian Church,
"On the 18th day of January, 1909. at a
meeting held to consider proposition of
consolidation from the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church. the undersigned
d similar committee of the New York
| Avenue Presbyterian Church to consider
| the terms and conditions on which said
consolidation might be effected.
| Promptly the committee met and. hav-
| ing duly organized by the election of A
| chairman and secretary, appointed sub
committee, consisting of Thomas G.
Noyes. Charles A. Douglas and w. Fl.
Moran, to meet and confer on the subject
| with a similar committee of the New
York Avenue Church. After number of
joint conferences the subcommittee APP
pointed by the undersigned. at a meeting
held the 10Th day of February. 1909.
made a full and detailed report of the
matters and things discussed at the joint
meetings of the subcommittee, and
among other things, reported they could
not agree with the subcommittee of the
| New York Avenue Church on the subject
of the pastorate of the proposed consoli-
dated church. and the division of the
duties and powers of the occupants of
that position. and therupon the sub
committee asked for instructions. The
undersigned, after thorough considera-
| ton of the facts, and being appriSed OF
the differences of judgment that devel-
oped at said joint sessions. unanimously
passed resolution directing the subcOm-
mittee to forthwith communicate with
| the subcommittee of the New York Ave
nue. Church to the effect that it was and
| is, the sense of this committee that A
consolidation of the two churches cannot
be effected on the basis and terms in
| sisted upon by the New York Avenue
| Church.
THE subcommittee of the undersigned
| did promptly communicate with the like
committee of the New York avenue
church, and in such communication the
| VIEWS VI tflS COIllHlltcc were expressed
| together with the statement that it's con-
| illusions would be promptly reported to
| the congregation for it's final action.
! 1T is due this congregation that We
state. In brief. the reasons for our in
ability to agree with the conferees of our
sister church. We were, and are yet, OF
| the opinion, and so expressed ourselves
| to the representatives of the New York
Avenue church, that whatever rank
| might or should be given respectively to
| the proposed two pastors of the con-
| solidated church. their duties. powers and
responsibilities should be initially fixed by
| and in the articles of amalgamation, and
| that, subject to the laws of the church
! the pastors should, in the exercise OF
their powers and the discharge of theil
/ duties, be each responsible direct to the
congregation as thus amalgamated.
| with this view and position our
| friends of the New York avenue church
| were unable to agree. their position being
that DR.. Radcliffe must be the sole pas.
tor of the combined church. and THEN
| only GORGE ssion that Mr. Moss should be
| assistar pastor. both in name and fact
We regard the differences between US or
this point essential and vital. We
! therefore feel constrained to recommend
that you regretfully decline to consider
further the proposition Of consolidation
and that the undersigned committee. ap