Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-07
CHURCHES
VOTE TO CONSOLIDATE
Grace Street and Church OF Cove.
naut Pass on Merger
Plans.
WILL ERECT NEW BUILDING
Only Point Now at Issue is Selection
of Observation-Disclosures Meetings
Arc Harmonious and Show Earnest
Purpose for Enlarged Work.

Congregations OF Grace Street Pres.
byterian Church and the Church, OF tho
Covenant voted favorably yesterday OF
tho merger OF the two churches. The
votes were taken ut Simultaneous
meetings held in the respective
churches after the ng service. The
plan OF consolidation, as reported by
the official bodies OF the churches. was
adopted az follows: Grace Street, @.
to II; Church OF Covenant. 145 to 41s.
Only ono hitch developed In either
church. and that occurred at Grace
'treet Presbyterian Church. which
failed to adopt tho article OF agree
ment regarding the namc OF the con-
ao!idoted church. The Joint committee,
Ind proposed az tho namc, tho Church
CT the Covenant, Tho older consrega-
ton objected to the surrender Of it's
name, and struck that part OF the
agreement out. ~ committee OK four
was appointed to confer with a like
ton upon another name. Tho recon-
mendation OF tho Joint committee will
then be reported back 20 the sessions
Of tho churches for adoption.
PLAN OF CONSOLIDATION MUST
he RATIFIED III PRESBYTEHY.
Tho resolutions passed yesterday
were prepared by tho Joint official bod
'es of tho two clurche.. An elaborate
plan OF consolidation had been out
lined. It aet forth tile various articles
o! agreement. which become effective
through the vote OF the congregations
II ratified by East Hanover Presbytery.
~ copy or tho plan had been printed
and sent to every member of the two
congregations In order that they could
Noto inteliiSentiy upon the proposition
Little opposition arose in, either
church. The older members OF Grace
Street Church objected to the adoption
of the namc OF the younger church, and
their objection was sustained. a. the
Church OF tho Covenant. the plan was
adopted with little discussion and
without change. This congregation nd.
tourned until next Sunday, when tic
minor differences Will be settled def
nately.
Under the terms OF the plan OF con-
soHdation. Rev. j. Calvin stewart, d.
d. pastor OF the Church OF the Cove
mint. will become pastor OF the united
congregation. All officers OF the two
churches Will bctretaIned ms officers of
the united church. IT'S prDptrty OF both
will be controlled BY four trustees
Ioil CiSik SoIiSItSdt!Oi.
MERGER MEANS ERECTION
Of HANDSOME: NEW CHURCH
The plan OF merger will now be sub
mitted 10 East Hanover Presbytnr.
for approval. When that body sane
lions the consolidation. building
committee OF eight four from each
congregation, will be appointed to ne-
lcct a new site upon which TO erect
q house OF worship. The committee
M VI al In, 10 Onln En-
property between Harrison street on
the east and Leo Circle on the west.
Tho property now owned by the
Church Of tho Covenant will BIO sold
and the proceeds. together with the
money received by Grace street Church
through the sale OF Its property two
years ago, will DO used in the pur-
cHase OF Il site and the cost OF the
new building.
Under the terms OF the agreement,
tho merger will not be efroct!vs until
April l, 1915. III tho Interim the two
lister their affairs as ats present. All
business and financial affairs after
that time arc TO be conducted by the
Joint official body.
COMMITTEE TO CONFER
AS TO NAME OF CHURCH
Rev. Q. Z. Caldwell. D. D., acted as
moderator at the meeting of the Grace
StTccL congregation, ana Is. &. Wherry
rs clerk. Among those who spoke on
the question were George Bryan, Will
linn r.. Miller. John n. Price Robert
"A. Lancaster. Jr.. Il. G. Diggs and 9TH
crg. a committee to confer with
similar committee from tho Church OF
the Covenant on II name for the united
congregations cons!sts OF William f.
MILLER. John NJ. Price. J. Scott Parrish
and Kent Ilawley. The committee will
suggest Grace Presbyterian Church as
the name.
At the Church Of the Covenant, Rev.
James Power Smith, ID. D.. acted as
moderator and r. II. Gillian as clerk.
There was very little discussion OF tho
question, and 1t was put to an early
and successful vote.
Each of the two churches has abou.
$50 members. Grace Street presbyte-
rian Church two years ago disposed OF
its property ut tho corner of Fourth
and Grace Streets, for $4,000. With
tho money on hand from the sale OF
one church and tho money to be de-
rived from the sale OF the other, "a
handsome and adequate house Of wor-
ship, it.is believed, can be erected, pos
sibly on the old Richmond College
campus or atsJ.ec Circle. es9sssE