Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-21
CHURCH UNION ABSORBS
TIME OF CONFERENCE
Methodist Protestants Un-
able to Solve Question-In-
dOrSe Jones-WOrkS Bill.

BALTIMORE, May 21-Church union
again engaged the exclusive attention of
the General Conference of the Methodist
Protestant Church yesterday. The cause
of "a reunited and common Methodism
in America to which the church SOL
emily dedicated itself four years ago.
still doomed ahead as the greatest goal
to be gained.
The United Brethren in Christ, with
which this church made an ''act of
union at a council of the Methodist
Protestant. the United Brethren and the
Congregational churches in 1907 in Chi
cago, has made overtures for union in
the Immediate future. A commission,
headed by Bishop w. NJ. WeekIey, is ex
pected to appear before the general con-
ference tomorrow to present the action
Of the General Conference Of the United
Brethren and to ask for immediate actor
by the Methodist Protestant Church.
Whatever the recommendations Of this
commission may be. the question OF
union with either the Northern or South
Church is considered definitely settled
until those two branches unite.
Act Now or Never.
"If action toward immediate union al
least within the year is not taken tomor-
row or Wednesday," said Col. r. T. Pick
ems of North Carolina, union with the
United Brethren will be as far off as with
the other churches. 1t Is immediate &C.
ton or nothing"
The United Brethren In Christ repre-
sents body of 275.OOO people. the greater
part in the middle western states and in
Pennsylvania, where Philip William OF
terbein and Martin Boehm, the founders,
first began their ministry. Like the other
churches, it's first formal conference was
held in Baltimore, in 1883. when it took
form a denomination. It's government
is like the Methodist Protestant Church.
only it's head officers are bishops. elected
every ,quadrennium. It's pastorates are
not limited, and women are eligible to
the ministry.
Just after the church union question
had been settled for the day Bishop AL
pheus w. Wilson, senior bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, was
introduced to the conference and address,
ed it. He said:
Are Bound Together, He Says.
Il rejoice in your prosperity. We are
bound together by ties that cannot be
broken. We are united in a greater way
than by church government. Personally
my preference is for UNCONVENTIONAL
churches; ! am satisfied with my posi-
ton. Yet l have no objection toward
friendship and cooperation. You have a
great church and you have brought ques-
tons before the church of the world to be
answered. They might not have been
asked but for you
A resolution was offered for the con-
solidation of the Pittsburgh and Balti-
more publishing houses and of the church
papers by Rev. w. F. Kensett of North
Carolina. The Baltimore paper is the old
est Methodist weekly in America, as it is
the direct successor of the Wesley Repos-
itory. started in 1921, and of the Mutual
Rights, the two papers which fostered
the protests eliminating in the formation
of the new church
In the afternoon a resolution indorsing
the JonesWorks bill limiting the number
Of saloons in Washington, which is now
before Congress, was introduced by Rev.
F. I. Benson of Washington. Some MEM
bers began to balk at the proposition of
seeming to indorSe saloons in any way.
Trouble was averted bv Rev. NJ c. Jack
son OF Arkansas suggesting that they in
dorse the bill in the sentiment, taking of
the half loaf If we cannot get the whole
The resolution was passed with a stand
ing vote, and a telegram was immediately
sent to Representative Johnston of the
District of Columbia committee of the
House of Representatives