Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-16
MITIGATION PLAN is
REACHED BY METHOD|sTS
Wide Chasms, However, May
Prevent the Final Adoption
of the Plan


= CHATTANOOGA. Tenn. May 15-An
address was issued late yesterday by
The committee on unincation OF the Meth
bdist churches. which embodies the plan
which VIII be submitted TO the general
conference for final action. The plan it
self win not be made public until IL
comes before the conferences. The ad-
dress OF the committee indicates that
while great progress toward unifcation
has been made there are yet wide chasms
accomplished.
ADDRESS OF COMMITTEE.
The address OF the committee follows:
To the Meshodists Of the United States.
greetings:
Al the first meeting OF this joint COM
mittee OF the Methodist Episcopal
church. south. the Methodist protestant
church. and the Methodist Episcopal
church. held At Baltimore in December,
1910. the commissioners OF the Methodist
Episcopal church in a written express
sion TO the commission used the follow
ing language:
III is our conviction that the time
has come when II is due 10 our people
- well as the interested public that
the desirabiIity and the practicapility of
orEanic union shall be discussed be-
EWFrn Us. ana II Nuc UICHOAA4CAaANC u
Judgment be found against either the de-
STABILITY or practicabiiity OF organic un-
ion. that the reasons be clearly set be-
fore our churches. in order that being
Informed as 70 the same. they may the
more inteIligently judge the work OF
their commissions and conform their own
utterances and actions 20 the conditions
As thus developed. We believe they have
q right to this knowledge and that We
owe It TO them 10 give them this oppor-
funity 10 measure the difficulties. and
Is FAR as possible to remove them or
adjust themselves TO actual conditions
starting from this point the commits
sion. after prayerful consideration. or
aered that a subcommittee Of nine.
khres from each church. should be des-
lrna<ed 70 take the whole matter under
advfsement. and. after considering ali
the accessible facts. should report II pos
xibIe a Plan for the unihcation OF the
three churches BY reorganization
FIRST MEETING HELD
This subcommittee met at Cincinnati.
t9hio in January. 1911. and after three
davs OF conference found itself able 10
tAake only tentative suggestions touching
fundamental points as preliminary 10
later and more final effort TO eonstitui
what might be termed plan Of reorgan-
watSou in harmony with it's instructions
triue. ritual and the main points the
book OF discipline. the churches are es-
eSntfaIly agreed. The differences that
are radical and difficult OF adjustment
have their root in historical and tradi-
sfonal divergences OF convictions touch
INK the essential principles of govern
ment As TO this. II was quickly per-
rrived that the only possible adjust
snent was 10 be found on middle ground
reached through mutual concessions.
The report OF the subcommittee was
brought before us az our present session
held in the city OF Chattanooga, Tenn.
Nav 1D-12 1911. and has been weighed
and discussed with the utmost care AS
in duty bound we shall make a fun re-
port OF our conclusions. as far as we
have been able 10 reach any conclusions.
20 the general conferences. To satisfy.
however, the just expectations OF our
own people. we issue this brief state
ment and address.
TASK NOT LIGHT
s'Our task has not been light one
Many difficulties have emerged in the
course OF our sessions Things that DO
not appear on the surface often become
ma nffest on closer examination. This
fact. however. has not appalled, us When
: difficulty Is once clearly seen. II is
already partly conQdered. In truth, we
are greatly encouraged. The bare fact
that il has been possible for US to en-
gage in the discussion of the several
issues that have arisen is much The
frank and candid spirit IN which these
discussions have been conducted is also
ground for congratulation and the sub
stzntiaI agreements reached on some
points furnish reasons for the anticipa-
ton thai We may eventually be able to
see eve &c eve on others.
while our work is not in such a state
~ maturity. as in the Judgment Of the
committee would warrant US in making
a detailed statement TO the public. even
n We supposed we had authority 70 do
50. we yet do not hesitate to say. as
we have minated above. that we have
made real and substantial progress and
shat we close our present meeting with
hope holding ourselves open to receive
euy new light that may come TO us in
Tire future and ready to convene again
when IL may be deemed expedient.
I'VE wish II TO be distinctly understood
that wha- We have done is not and does
not pretend 20 be. of the nature OF a
definite plan Of unIfication. but is cast
ir the form OF series ofssuggestions to
the general conferences such as may be
helpful TO them in reaching final con-
clnslons''