Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
OvERTURES PRACTICALlYOvER
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHESFAIL
TO AGREE ON UNION.
Washington Heights and New York
Avenue Committees So to
Report Today.

The negotiations for consolidation of
the Washington Heights and New York
Avenue Presbyterian churches have been
practically broken off. The two commit
tees of fifteen of the respective churches
after dividing into subcommittee for con-
ferences, have found that they are unable
to agree. The special committee of the
Washington Heights Church will prob
ably report at the service this evening
while that of the New York Avenue
Church may be made this morning or
later.
The two committees locked horns upon
the question as to the future status Of the
present pastors of the two churches in the
event of a consolidation and the erection
Of a modern church structure in the Wash
lngton Heights section of the city. The
New York Avenue Church committeeman
wanted Rev. w. T. Moss, the pastor Of
the Washington Heights Church. to be-
come assistant to Rev DR.. Radcliffe, pas
tor of the New York Avenue Church
The Washington Heights committee
would not agree to this arrangement, and
pointed to the fact that several years ago
Whei, the New York Avenue churchmen
wanted to consolidate with the congrega-
ton of the North Presbyterian Church
they agreed to have Rev. Dr. George P
wilson. the pastor of that congregation,
MADE co-pastor with Rev. Dr. Radcliffe
of the consolidated church The members
wanted some other designation for Rev.
Mr. Moss than assistant pastor.
Firm in Refusal.
The New York Avenue Church commit
tee remained firm in its refusal to accede
to the request of the Washington Heights
churchmen, with the result that the lat
ter reached determination to report back
to their congregation that they had been
unable to agree.
When a prominent member of the
Washington Heights congregation was
seen last night relative to the negotia-
tons he said 1t was a matter OF much
regret that the two committees had been
unable to agree. He explained that it
Was particularly regrettable that the New
proposed consolidation by refusing to
agree to accept Rev. Mr. Moss as junior
or associate pastor to DR.. Radcliffe.
He declared that the special committee
OF the Washington Heights Church did
not demand that its pastor be made CO.
pastor with DR.. Radcliffe. but urged the
New York Avenue conferees to agree that
the two ministers be designated by title
giving Mr.. Moss a more dignified status
than the assistant. They called atten-
ago by the New York Avenue churchmen
to make DIR. Wilson co-paStor in case Of
the proposed consolidation with the North
Church then under consideration, and
urged that they make some concession
which would allow them to make a favor
able report to their congregation.
Decide to Report Disagreement.
The New York Avenue Church commit
tee. after holding several conferences,
however, remained firm, holding that Rev.
Mr.. Moss would have to become assistant
pastor to DR.. Radcliffe in the event of a
consolidation. The Washington Heights
committee then announced that a report
would be made at once to their congre-
cation stating that no agreement could
be reached.
In closing he said that from the view
point of a Washington Heights church.
man the proposed arrangements advo-
Gated by the New York Avenue Church
committee would seem to be nothing
other than that the New York Avenue
Church would move to the Heights sec
tion of the city. and that the Washing
ton Heights Church would dissolve as an
its members as individuals to join the
new church.
When a prominent officer of the New
York Avenue Church was seen last night
he admitted that the negotiations with
the Washington Heights Church were
pra ctically ended. He said the two COM
mittees were unable to agree as to the
consolidation. He said he
thought the Washington Heights Church
pa stor should become assistant pastor of
the proposed church If a consolidation
should be effected Further than this he
declined to discuss the situation.