The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-24
piled the pulpit since the departure
Of DR. Lilly about six weeks ago.
The Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement
The fall text Of the report OF the
toint committee, agreeing on the
terms of the union and the plan to
petition presbytery TO unite the
churches as II was sent to the mem
hership of the two congregations
follows:
Your undersigned subcommittee, APP
pointed to consider and report plan
of union Of these churches, recommend
that the committee from each church
make the following report to the or
fciaI body of its own church, with the
recommendation that the body adopt
the report aud present 1t TO the churcn
assembled properly in congTeEauahai
meeting for its action. care pelnE
taken to have the Congregations
meeting in each church on the same
day and at the same hour.
Your committee would respectfully
report that il has met from time 10
time since its appointment with the
like committee from Grace street
Westminster church that the JOINT
committee has given the matter OF tne
union of thAse churches most earnest
and prayerful study. and That t mas
come. with singular unanimity. To the
convection that these two churches owe
IL 10 themselves 70 PresbyteTianism an
Richmond. to the church at large, ana
to ifs Great Head the Lord christ 10
unite: that. IN its judgment IN oTH1E-
iug about this union. due consideration
shoH.d be paid 10 the hpary past oi
Grace Street church and due consider
alton to the present effectiveness of
Young Westminster church, that IN
choosing the location for the house OF
worship al The united congregation.
chief regard should be had to that
locality which Will give most addition
al LEVERAGE to the Presbytersans in
F-k,v ! 1tssAss N
street; that the contamination OF the
ungon is bound 10 be- somewhat hasten
"a or retarded by business exigeneies
connected with realizing on the prop
critics In present use, bat that i'm
naedtately after the union has been
contaminated tire united church
should proceed orderly to the election
~ a pastor.
Grace. Name Suggested.
Your committee Is advised that the
ureroeattyc o. uniting Gong-e cations IS
lodged with Lresbyteries. th4 rights OF
The churches concerned in this direc-
non extending only To requesting pres
bytery to unite them.
Your committee recommends. there
fore.
First. That Grace Street West
minister church. IN congregational
meeting assembled. makes tkc foil1w-
ing request OF East Hanover presby-
terry:
tal That preShytery unite Grace
Street and Westminster Presbyterian
churches.
.b} That rrestytery give The name
Grace Presbyterian Church" 70 the
united body
tcl That preshytery, IN bringing
about this union, preserve the hoary
organization Of the Grace-Streei
church but recognizing the fun
equality Of the Westminster party to
the union with the Grace Street. party,
authorize the members ~ the boards
Of elders Of the two churches to con-
stitute the hoard OF elders OF the
united church, the members Of the
board Of deacons of the two churches
10 constitute the board Of deacons OF
the united church. and that the pres
bytery he also requested 10 tNeserVe
ths continuity of the life aad history
Of each church by proper presbyterial
+fle merger and -ttt4+44's-+49lA
with other; and taht session OF the
united church be authorize and In
gtructed tn count as members OF the
united church, the members OF both
Westminster and Grace Str Q 4
churches as existing at the nunr Of tht
union and make out the roll according
~.
Proposed Early Union.
(dy That 9resbytcry authorit1tiVel'
convenience; and. because there may
be an interval between the authorized
union and the actual merGiug Of TIN
congregations. authorize the sessIHf
OF the united church to appt Int these
who now constitute the sessions Of tn
two churches severally to act for TIN
joint session ia all matters pertaining
to temporary and separate afnirs O.
the respective Coneregatic MS, and
that presbyfcry authorize q similar Al
rangement OF the boards If doacons,
Second That NcstminSter~tiraCe
Street church appoint a committee o
three 70 form. with "A committee a
like number 10 be appointed by thu
Grace Street Westminster church,
loint con1nffttee. whose duty IT shall
he 10 work toward the Consummatioi
Of the physical union u these cEurche
at the best ascerta.nable Y" nent.
Third That t'race-Strec' Westmin
ster church declare that in it's vtey
the house 81 worship should Re locatel
west Of Lombardy street. east of tn
Boulevard south of Broad and nortl
Of Grove avenue.
Fourth That Grace Street w & t
minister church appoint d commtte
OF ive 10 form. with Ike committe
from Westminster Grace Str e
church. a tolnt building committee
whose duty Il shall be to select ant
purchase 81 suitable lot have plans
made for the new church building
submit the plans 10 the congregation
for approval. and have she house @
worship built
Elect Pastor Early.
Fifth. That Grace Street Westmin
ster church declare that the propert
rights of each church shall become til
property rights Of the united church
and for the purpose of making teen
tlical compliance with the statute
governing church property, and witt
church Law. a finance committee com
posed of three members from eacl
congregation shall be appointed b.
seasonal authority 10 woCk out tn
detail Of the legal and financial ques
tiC1s involved
SIKH That Grace Street~Westmin
ster church declare that II favors tn
election Of "a pastor Tor the unitet
church MS soon after the actual physl
cal union as can orderly be done,
Seventh That Grace Street West
minister church declare that the pres
ent Westminster church building shall
be used as place OF worship for tn
united church after the physical merg
ing until disposed of. or. until tn
sonn rlef{0n Of the PROPOSED ueV