The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-26
BAPTIST FUSION
IS GRADUALLY
TAKING PLACE
Progress Of Absorption Of the
Frees" by Larger Body
Seen in Convention
COMPROMISE REACHED
ON PLAN OF VOTING
Provision Made for BallOting
Both by States and by In.
dividual Delegates

The Baptists aud Free Baptists have
gone beyond the mere federation or
cooperation which measures the steps
taken by other denominations OF the
United States Ia the general move
ments for closer aff1liation, aud they
are accomplishing an organic union
which will result In the passing OF the
Free Bapusts Into the larger Baptist
communion
The progress OF this organic union is
III the Northern Baptists
convention now In session in Detroit
Dr. Latham A. Crandall, who will
preach the convention sermon on
Sunday, Is the son OF Free Baptist
clergyman. and In his early life was
pastor In the same denomination.
he went 10 the Baptists long before
the union now taking place was inaug.
urated, and has been prominent In the
larger body. one OF the most active In
the formation OF the Northern cOnven-
ton. and even more potent ia the
World Baptist Alliance. President
Henry I. Mcdonald, OF Slower college
free BaptisU, In Harper's Ferry, w.
Va. has been assigned the paper for
Tuesday. on the Baptist work among
the Negroes. Both Of these are grad.
yates OF Hillsdale college. the presi.
dent, Of which. Joseph w Mauck, Is
at the same time the president OF the
national General Conference OF Free
Baptists. vicepresldent OF the Amer
lean Baptist Publication society, on
the general committee OF the Ameri.
can Baptist Foreign Mission society,
and delegate in full standing to the
Northern convention.
The Free Baptist mission fields are
now controlled and administered by
the Baptist societies, 10 which Free
Baptist churches send their con.
tributions, and the former Free Bap-
received by the convention on an
equality with the Baptist missionaries.
Many delegates from Free Baptist
churches are In the convention on an
equality with the Baptists.
The General Conference OF Free Bap-
lists, an incorporated body. has trans
ferred to the Baptist organizations Its
funds, securities, churches, missions.
etc. as far as this has been possible
thus far but must maintain its legal
existence for time not yet fixed. in
order TO perform the further acts re-
Quired in the union. II for nothing
else. To this end the majority Of the
Free Baptist churches must preserve
their afYiliatton with and appoint the
delegates necessary TO preserve the
integrity Of the legal conference. This
temporary necessity 10 conserved by
the simple plan OF Free Baptist
churches and associations Of churches
being In full and regular afiiliation
with two denominations at the same
time. for the period during which the
national conference must legally be
continued However, many Of these
churches have already gone over into
permanent Baptist churches.
The general conference Of Free Bap-
lists meets once in three years. In
It's session in Ocean Park, Maine, In
July Of this year. II will act upon
amendments to It's charter by which
its size may be reduced substantially
to legal necessities. and its sessions
be held at longer intervals than three
years, In the discretion OF its ad In
terim board, as the requirements or
the completed organic union may
dictate
The multiple ecclesiastic relations
temporarily involved In the forming
OF the union Is uniquely illustrated In
Prof Alfred Williams Anthony. OF
Lewiston, Maine, now in Detroit. He
tary OF the general conference Of Free
Baptists, 10 for the Free Baptists the
joint secretary of the three leading
nA1 ttato N
full delegate to the Northern Baptist
convention and chairman OF Its
Maine delegation. Geo. W. Myers. 10
q delegate from the Hillsdale, Mich,
Free Baptist church to the Northern
convention and at the same time 10
the state agent OF the Michigan State
Association Of Free Baptist churches.
Many other pastors and laymen Of
Free Baptist churches In several
states are certified delegates TO the
Northern convention without disturb.
ance Of their standing In the general
conference.
IL is believed that this pioneer Illus.
tration OF organic union will establish
principles and presidents which viii
facilitate the union OF other denomin ma
tons.
A compromise was reached Satur.
day morning In the Northern Baptist
convention on the question OF whether
new plan OF voting by states should
be adopted. as recommended by the
executive committee. This proposal
was the occasion OF so sharp clash
when the rest OF the committees re-
port was approved. Thursday. that IL
waa nut over for further considers.
ton The Rev Henry l.. Morehouse
who made the motion for delay acted
az the peacemaker 10 bring the two
factions together.
His substitute which met general
acceptance Is that onehfth OF the
delegates voting on any question can
refer II TO vote by states. but that
after the ballot has been taken by
states. the result must 5e referred o
the convention al large for concur.
renee. should the convention sitting
as a body OF delegates refuse TO con-
cur the question must be dropped and
not be again taken up till the next
year
This solution OF the difiiculty was
approved by Or. T. L. Anderson, OF
Newton Center Theological seminary,
and Or. Benjamin Otto. of Peoria. H.,
who led the opposing sides In the for
mer debate. as we'll as by most Of the
other speakers II was opposed only
by the Rev. ". u. Riley. OF Mineap-
oils. who wished a referendum 10 the
state conventions
To comply with the constitution OF
the convention the matter was refer