The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-26
MethOdists Send Word to e. b.
On Union.
Doctrines Are Identical, De-
cIares Bishop Kephart.

| n WIRE from Lyman DaNlS, pieSi-
dent of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
general conference, declares his de-
nomination is as warmly in favor of
the merger proposition as is the
United Brethren church. The tele-
gram was received this morning by
Bishop C. ]. Kephart, who read it at
! the session today. The North Kan
sas conference of United Brethren,
meeting in six days session, official
| ly approved the union of the two
churches at their meeting Thursday
afternoon.
Fourteen of our conferences"
wired President Davis from Pittsburg,
Pa, covering territory from the AL
! Ieghanies across the western plains
and from the northern lakes to the
Tennessee, have now voted. and all in
favor of the union. Seven were en-
tirely unanimous and the other seven
registered so few votes in the mega
tive that the opposition passed away
in the ballot These conferences rep
resent more than half our member
ship"
The ist-ProteStants and the
United Brethren have never been one
denomination, but their doctrine, ac-
cording to Bishop Kephart, is identi-
cal They differ in organization only.
Where the Brethren have bishops, the
Methodists have conference presidents.
The merger has been under consider
alton for a year. 1t will join the
Protestant MethQdists, 100000 strong,
and the United Brethren, numbering
10000 in this country. There are
1900 of the latter denomination in
Kansas alone. Approximately 200
are present at the conference.
If three-fourths of the annual con-
ferences of each church agree to the
union, the question will be submitted
to the membership of the church. If
three-fourths of the embership en-
dorse it, a general conference of both
bodies will be called to make the Of
fetal and final decision. 1t is prac-
tically assured that the year 1914 will
see the consolidation of the two
churches.
S. A. Rauch, chairman of the tenn
perance committee. read his report to-
day 1t was followed by a brief address
from Frank NJ. Stahl, president OF the
State Temperate union.
'tAs regards prohibition, Kansas IS
the leading state in the union,'' as
serted Mr.. Stahl. the eyes of the world
are on the Sunfiower State"
Bishop Kephart, whose daily ad-
dresses are attracting much favorable
comment, spoke this morning on
What Is Revival" using as his
texts, 20, Jehovah, revive thy work IN
the midst of the years" and wilt
thou. not quicken us again. that thy
people may rejoice in thea"
THE burden of Habakkuh'G PRAYER
explained the bishop, was that Gods
people might be brought back to al
legiance of Jehovah. This was the re-
vival for which he prayed. A revival
that is truly revival will awaken the
church to conscious recognition. of it's
responsibilities for the moral and social
conditions about if +"
Following the bishops address were
reports of various conmttees--the
committee on Christian stewardship
memorials, Bible cause, Christian
homes. Christian endeavor and publish
ing interests. = r. p. Funk, son of the
general manager of the United Rreth-
ran publishing house in Dayton, .
gave an interesting report of the pow
er and prosperity of the business Rev.
d. Shut. pastor of the East Side M E.
church, was officially welconned by the
bishop, and the courtesieS CT the church
extended to him. The morning session
closed with a benediction by Rev. o. A.
Chapman of Oskaloosa.
The afternoon session VIII be deyot-
ed to the consideration of REPORTS.
among them the committee o., nominal
tons, and an address by DIR. A. 5. Sid
dell of Dayton, secretary of the Church
Erection