New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-11
MAY END ROW IN
CALVARY CHURCH
Congregations Will Meet
Tonight to Decide on
Fate of Merger.
TRIBUNE DISCLOSURE
TRUE, OFFICER AYERS
RockefellerS Attend Services
and Both Urge That Union
Be Made Permanent.

An officer Of Calvary Baptist Church,
high in the councils of the congrega-
ton. confirmed yesterday most OF the
essential details of the story printed
exclusively in The Tribune of the Sc.
cret controversy which has imperllled
the plans permanently TO merge Cal
vary with John II. Rockefellers ruin
Avenue Baptist Church.
Familiar with all the details OF the
NEGOTIATIONS, he said IT was true that
tho Fifth Avenue people had demand
cd the retirement Of Joseph NJ. Lesser,
J. Griffin Daughtry and Ora b. Coates
az officers. and their pledge not TO &C
Ccpt reelection. 1T was also true ne
said. that new alignment of church
property was demanded by the koche-
TELLER congregation.
There was an error il one important
particular. he said. and that was in the
statement that il was certain the mer-
ger would be given up. He seemed TO
think there was strong possibility the
{, congregations. at meetings TO be
held tonight and Wednesday, will vote
10 reject the recommendation OF their
committees for the abandonment OF the
union.
"Soon after the Bouck White incl
dent" said this officer of Calvary
there was a good deal of grumbling
bv some Calvary people concerning the
crowd we were harboring, but that
Crumbling has ceased, and there IS a
considerable element now in Calvary
i'm favor of making the merger perma-
nent.
Moreover. we are convinced tho
Fifth Avenue people are absolutely SIN
cere in the proposals they make. They
are no more likely to want TO sell Cal
vary property than Calvary people
themselves. and whatever legal restric-
tions apply now would apply IN case OF
a permanent merger.
so far from friction. the fact rs
that we found many of the Fifth av.
people more democratic, more sociaDle,
more helpful than the average run OF
our own people. And we all like the
Rev. DR.. Woelfkin."
The reason the Rockefeller people
demand a new alignment OF Calvary
church property. he said. was 10 make
possible an adaptation of buildings to
what they considered the needs of the
church work This would involve the
erection of new plants on the East
and West sides of the city. IL IS known
that the Rockefellers are IN favor OF
the combined churches taking up eN-
tension and social service work on
large scales.
From another source il was learned
that Ora B. Coates, chairman OF the
board of deacons of Calvary. and one
of those on the prescribed list because
OF his opposition 10 the Fifth av.
merger. had been won over and was
now in favor of making the union per-
manent.
1t was said also that the pro-merger
people intended TO spring a big sur
Prise at the Calvary congregation
meeting tonight by bringing DR.. Mac
Arthur. for many years pastor OF Cal
vary. all the way from Baltimore to
try 70 get Calvary insurgents IN line
20 vote to make the merger permanent.
II was also said that the plans OF the
Fifth Avenue people had progressed
so far that they had picked Herbert
Hill. secretary of the Sunday School
Association, TO be a paid superinten-
dent Of the church Sunday school to
succeed Joseph w. Lesser. present
Bible school super Of Cal
vary. whom they prescribed. Also, It
was said, his wife, Mrs. Harriet Hill,
has been selected by them to help re-
organize the Sunday school and take
the place Of Miss Sarah T. Haviland,
Bible school and church visitor, whose
resignation was demanded.
John d. Rockefeller and his son were
both at church yesterday and remained
after the services, doing missionary
work in behalf Of making the merger
permanent.