The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1911-01-20
CONSOLIDATION OF
| THE CHATTANOOGA
| CHURCHES IS MADE


Two, saANcHes Of METHODS"
ARE COMBINED IN
ONE.
conference Committee Of Both De.
nominations Agree to Plan for the
Erection Of one House for Their
Common Worship.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, Jan. 13.--
long step was taken here today In
the organic union Of Methodism IN
America, when Centenary Methodist
Episcopal church, South. and the
Methodist Episcopal church north
srn branch) agreed to consolidate
and build one great church and be enc
people.
A meeting of interest to American
Methodism as a whole was held in
this city today. Twenty-Five repre-
sentatives Of each branch Of Method.
lam sat down to lunch together and
discussed the future Of Chattanooga
Methodism In a frank, fraternal way,
Members of these two churches which
separated In 1845 on account Of polit'
zeal and ecclesiastical differences, de-
clared themselves one in spirit and
while recognizing loyalty to their re
spective denominations, every speak
er showed himself unalterably In Il,
yor of a reunion of the Methodist
family in America. John A. Patton
and Bishop William Anderson, both
members Of the commission on organ
ic union, participated In the discus
sion. Prof. John r. Race, Of the Chat
tanooga University, made strong
appeal for union.
The basis Of agreement reached be
tween the tive churches Is as fol
lows
The Joint conference committee
composed Of representatives from the
First Mthodist Episcopal church and
from the Centenary Methodist Episco
pal church, south, Chattanooga. met
at the Hotel Patten on Tuesday, Jan
10, 1911, and after consideration Of
the relation of the two churches rep
resented in the conference, the fol
lowing conclusions were reached:
First, the two churches we're plant
ed In proximity to each other, eacf
representing its respective denomina
ton and each attempting to occupy
the most advantageous position fol
serving its own constituency. Sepa
rated by only short distance, the
two churches have grown side BY
side In numbers, in influence and II
strength, each in a large measure the
representative church of it's resrec
tive denomination In the city of Chat
tanooga During all the years tha
the churches have lived and wrought
In such close proximity to each cthel
the fraternal relations between the
two have constantly grown ant
strengthened until the two churches
have become one in spirit.
Second, Both the Centenary Metho
dist Episcopal church, South, and thu
First Methodist Episcopal church
have come to the place in their his
tory when they are under necessit!
to improve and equipment for service
to the community. Plans for the >erec
ton Of two new churches have beer
lnaugurated It Is agreed by TIT
conference committee that in order II
conserve the resources OF boil
churches, and to utilize the forces o
both denominations, that only ONT
church should be constructed, ant
that the two denominations, now ont
in spirit, should be made one in fact
and for the common cause of Method
ism.
Third, to the end that unity of spir1
may come into unity of service, TIT
committee has agreed that all frater
nal and kindly relations between TIN
two churches should be fostered b!
bringing the people together In relig
lous exercises, and by cooperating
With the other in every good work.
> fourth, the site selected by tn
Centenary Methodist Episcopa
church, for the erection of the new
church, We are agreed, is an advan
tageous and strategic location for on
common Methodism to occupy.
Fifth, confidently anticipating tina
Ill. p