The Detroit times., 1910-10-04
,MEaRYF|ELO CASE
WON'T Be TAkEAUP
baptist Pastors Plan To Bar II From
Convention, Leaving Guild Board
q To Take Action.

There will be no washing of soiled
linen In the Baptist state convention
10 De held In the North Baptist church
the week Of Oct. IL, II the Detroit
osptist Ministers conference can pre-
vent II. and that this organization viii
use every effort TO do so was appar.
ent IN the Hrst meeting of the confer.
ence Tor the season, Monday morning.
IN the schoolroom of the Woodward
ave. Baptist church.
Inc refusal OF the Baptist Guild
BOARD TO take the responsibility OF
oennite action In the case OF the Rev.
frederick Merrifeld, director OF the
baptist Students Guild In Ann Ar
DOR, against whom charges have been
made by 'old line Baptists that he
was teaching false doctrines to the
students under his care, was brought
70 the attention of the conference by
the Rev. T. w. Young, In his report of
tne state convention program, which
! - TO be held In his church.
"Pressure-I might say threats--has
been brought to bear upon the con-
vention program committee. that the
Merrineld matter be given place for
discussion In open convention. on the
regular convention program" said DIR.
Young. THE guild board has declined
to act In the matter and Its members
wish the convention to stand In tudg-
ment. Such course, believe. would
be the most harmful thing we could
DO, and appeal to the Detroit Bap-
list conference members to stand unit
Cd In an effort to have this matter ad-
5usted In some other way, and by
every means possible to avert, Its en-
trance Into the doings Of the approach
Ing convention. The convention, as q
matter OF fact, has no right to discuss
the matter, anyway. Whatever may
be the opinion and sympathies OF the
Individual members OF this body on
the alleged charges against Mr.. Mer-
rifleld, for the good Of all concerned
we should stand together In this case
and prevent its discussion In open
convention"
DR.. Young's attitude had the warm
support OF Pastors Fixes. Cutler, Gal
pin and others, who scented a bitter
controversy on doctrinal lines II the
matter came up. Following prolonged
discussion, the conference decided the
best course to pursue was to present
Q resolution In the convention making
II mandatory for the guild board and
not the state convention, to act. In
the course OF the discussion, some of
the "old line" ministers present de-
plored the fact that Ann Arbor II
hothed Of heresy of all sorts, agnos-
ticism, inhdelism and what one called
'sWenleyism."
DR.. Galpin spoke In defense of Mr..
Merrineld, whom he declared to be
- man whose purity OF thought and
action might be that Of young girl.
and whose religion II that OF q sweet.
christianity. while DR.. Cutler said he
thought the exercise Of . Christian
common sense" wouid solve all dimcul-
tee c6hn4cted with the matter. Z
The salary Of the director Of the
guild IN Ann ArDor Ia paid by the
board Of state missions. whereas II
really should come under the admin
istration OF the educational commit
tee. and I think the coming conven-
ton will see a change made to the
latter" said DR.. Fixes. Mr.. Merri-
field is a splendid fellow whatever
his ideas on higher criticism may be
and I'm strong on the faith OF my fore
fathers, too"
In connection with the approaching
convention, DR.. Young stated about
600 delegates were expected and asked
that all Baptist churches In the city
do their share toward entertaining the
delegates for bed and breakfast.
The conference voted to send let
tor 10 the Rev. Herman G. de An
guerra. former pastor of Clinton-ave.
church, now in his old home In Roches-
ter. N. Y, expressing their love. conf
dence and admiration for him as a
Baptist minister and Christian man.
II developed through statements made
by the Rev Myron K. Adams. that MT.
de Auguera left Detroit much discour-
aged over the lack Of support given
him by the board Of trustees Of Clin-
ton-ave. church.