Evening journal., 1914-02-18
MERGER PLAN
'HUMILIATES'
DR.. MORGAN
Regrets the Subject Was
Discussed By Preachers
Association
thinks SUBJECT G
VITAL INTEREST TO ALL

VITAL INHERENT lU ALL
The Rev. DIR. S. NJ. Morgan, pastor OF
Mt. Salem NJ. Z. Church, has been stir
red by circular sent out by a commit
tee Of tho Wilmington NJ. L. Preachers
Association in advocacy Of District SUI
perintcndont +. J.. Hofecker's proposal
to merge the Wilmington with the Phil
adclphia Conference. Dr. Morgan has
issued a statement in reply to the cir
cular In which he SAYS that he feels 'as
n member of the conference, Inundated
that the preachers meeting took the
action il did,
The committee of the Preachers As
eociation that sent out the circular adj
vocatine merger of the conferences com
prises the Revs. c. L. Anderson, Vaughan
$ Collins. r. L. Hoffecker, c. I. Wyatt
and n. 7. Quigg. In the circular they
say
Statement of Preachers.
ITO our minds and to four-hfths, or
more, OF those Of us who heard the
full discussion, there was but one
side TO this question; that the argu-
ments in favor OF the merger are so
overwhelming that those in favor OF
our continued separation seem en-
tirely without force.
I'VE send out this note, brother,
not to argue the question at this time,
but for two purposes only, viz:
Il. To inform you that we, as
members Of the Methodist Preach
ers' Association of Wilmington and
Vicinity have not attempted to
nsurp the functions OF the Whining
ton annual conference in any wise.
We have not only done what any
company. large or small, Of members
OF the conference. or any individual
member Of the church, clerical or
lay, has a perfect right to do, viz: to
plan an item of business of supreme
Importance in order 10 bring it to
the attention OF the conference for
its consideration and action.
"2. We ask you, please do not
come to the session Of the confer
ence in Berlin with the case preju-
diced Come in a thoughtful, prayer
full spirit with mind open to consider
frankly and impartially the most i'm
portant question submitted to the
Wilmington Conference since its or
ganization.
MAY our God guide us in wisdom
that the results Of our action may be
the promotion OF His holy work
throughout our beloved peninsula.
His honor and glory. and the truest,
highest. noblest success Of our beloy-
cd Methodism is all that is sought in
this movement by
'Your Brethren and Co-laborers in
His service,
&C. L. Anderson,
Vaughan S. Collins,
"E l.. Hoffecker,
&C. r. Wyatt,
III T. Quigg,
M ~ comfnittees
Or. Morgans Comment.
nr Morgan, in his comment on the cir
,ular. says:
II received circular letter this
morning regarding the conference mcr-
ger. mailed at Eikton. and signed by
vou five brethren. Presumably IL WAS
mailed 10 every member of our confer
ence 1t puports TO be a statement of
fhe history of the passage of that pro.
nosod measure for the conference action
later. bv the preachers Association in
this tity a fow weeks ago.
IN am on the friendlicst terms with
evervone of Won brethren. You arc an
real brethren to me- But this fact should
not hinder me from disagfoeing with
vou. and since your circular letter was
rrohahlv sent 10 an of the brethren oi
Inc conference. 90 thus publicly state
soino of the items OF our disagreement
do not now refer TO any divergence OF
views between as on the main issue.
win defer any sufficient statement oi
nv nosnion in thc matter until We meet
In the conference session at Berlin in the
npcn discussion on the question that wit
licn take place Now as 10 what ! do
wan. 10 say;
H. I think that the proposition o
the merger itself should never hav'
hoen considered In any formal wa
in ;hc preachers meeting. Anybod'
there might have spoken Of the mat
trr. and for IL as we'll, il he so desir
"a. but If should not have beer
acted upon either for or against b.
The Preachers Association.
The preachers meeting as such ha
nothing whatever 10 do with the mat
fer. any more than any other groui
az tho members Of this conforenc'
that in the interim Of the sessions
~ the conference might meet an
rfvo expression 10 their views on th
subject This would not be under
taken formally by any other group o
4ar Of the group or Wilmingto
Conference preachers. II should no
he. ard n should not have been IN thi
raee. The matter concerns and
felt to concern every preacher an
ris family in the conference, an
orerv church and every layman .
every church In the territory, TOO vi'
alir. For this reason. the first plac
for the formal coridcrafiOn of IN
matter and for any formal action q
81 in an fairness 10 al conccrnei
should have been In conference sci
sion itself
~,iorcoyer. feel rs a member Of II
ronferenoe. humilsted that the pieac
~ meeting took the action u did.
nm humiliafed for two reasons Fir'
laeau-e We have brcn hrralded abro'
einrc that action ae seeking rcinsf a.
inent a. a part NJ the Philadelphia lo
frrrnce as u some favor were thus
~ conferred on D.. when ] Do not so B
firte and when nothing competent ar &
ias bcen done 10 the matter.
Secondly J am humiiiated becau
y tas gone forth 10 fhe public that y
desire this change OF conference in
and conference relations for The purpo
Of wider range Of opportunity 20 2
nreachers % this territory. You bret
rcn know. too. what measure Of wara
wae given in the discussion in {
rreachcr.' meeting for that impressi
--....rt..t. r.rl.aItf aud fUH {