Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-01-09
3asyenent on in Jewell to Console
date the Congregational,
Methodist and Chris
tian.
easAn1zE A. PRESBYTERIAN
Win Give the Town one Strong De
termination Project Meets
Much Favor.

The movement toward consolida-
ton in various organizations and In
dustrial projects is becoming more
and more in general favor and In
NOT few places have several weak,
struggling churches merged into
one strong, self-reliant religious In
stitutfon. And this seems to be the
proper thing to do. Many commun-
tiles have more churches than they
can support In manner that such
organisations should be supported
ana In such places wisdom would
suggest consolidation, but prejudice
oftentimes prevent. However. a
movement is now on foot to CONSOLE
date the Christian, Congregational
and Methodist churches Of Jewell in
to one strong organization. probably
i Presbyterian. The Record says
that lever since the union revival
meetings of last month, there has
been feeling Of union and harmony
existing between the membership OF
these three churches such as has
never before existed. 1t is a matter
Of common knowledge that Jewell
has too many churches, more than
the town can support. The member
ship OF none Of the three churches
L, strong enough to pay pastors the
salaries they ought to have. and the
burden Of supporting three denom-
nations, none OF them with
strong membership, has been 9
heavy one. Immediately upon the
close Of the union meetings the pas
tors and members Of the churches
began the talk OF permanent
union. The sentiment seemed very
favorable towards such step. New
Or before has there seemed to be SO
little UNCONVENTIONAL feeling evident
and on every hand seemed to exist
the desire for cooperation and clos
er relationships. The meetings at
all three churches have been almost
altogether Of a union nature ever
since the evangelistic meetings, first
one church, then the other and then
the third making overtures towards
union services. The feeling of har-
mony between all three churches
has been q splendid one.
Out OF It all developed a meeting
Tuesday night Of this week. attend
Cd by fifteen men, members OF the
Methodist and congregational
churches. No representative Of the
Christian church membership was
present but that fact is not taken as
signiffying that there are none OF
the membership Of that church de-
string union. Committees were APP
pointed. John Foster to canvas the
membership of the M. e. church, l..
6. N. King the membership OF the
Congregational church. and Otto
Fenton and John Groves to canvas
Others who have not yet placed
their membership with any of the
three churches. The plan adopted
Is to organize as denomination
different from any OF the three now
existing, and the Presbyterian was
selected as one upon which all
might unite. II was felt that great
Or harmony would result by such a
step than by attempting to unite
the three churches into any one OF
the present denominations.
As the matter stands at the pres
emit time, It seems very evident that
the Congregational and Methodist
churches at least will unite to or
ganize one church. The members OF
the Christian church, which probab-
IL has triie stronger membership
at the present time than either OF
the other two. are not yet taking
any active steps towards union. but
4 strong sentiment exists among q
portion OF the Christian church
membership, that may result, after
further consideration Of the propo-
sition. in bringing that church too
into the union movement.
n the project as 1t is being de-
veloped should result In the union
Of all three churches into one strong
church body, II will without doubt
mean great deal for Jewell. In
Place Of three struggling churches.
there win be one strong church,
which, with the present strong
Lutheran churches, will be ample
tor the town. The three ccugrega-
tions will be working In harmony
and the result Of their efforts will
~ bound to BE- far larger. Three
churches, agreeing In the all-import-