The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1916-12-22
M. E. Church North and
South Preparing Union
ofForces Divided 1874
COMMISSION MEET DEC. 2S
Huge Body Which Assemblies in
Baltimore Has Two colsred Men
Representing Three Hundred
and Fifty thousand Members.

ASHvILLE, y. g., pc. ~ The
jDint commission Of the Meth dis Fp -
copsl Church and the Netiio.iiSt Epi-s.,-
pal Church, South, Will met ia Belt
r~ore, December 18th. L, h-in~ about II
possible, the union at ths $50 tsp Z enI
branc' - of Meth Dii-r- This merge
discussed pro andc.,n with vsri,-i ~arm'l.
and emotions during she past twent,
years has been rendered probably by leg
islstiye action of tie grr, RAJ c..ni~rrnc-
of the two churches Jr.t what ,ii-..'
the union of th.-e chur-.ii,-~ ~il have
upon the more then SO. $50 e.. prt~i .-pin-
munica@fs "f the Neth."i,s. E,.i-s-.,pa
Chu'ch l. problem atiral a4.d j. at ractlnc
considerable &ttcn'i"n an,pnr tii. ughtfrl
people of the rsce A. tl,s. ti'uc Tor the
comm niissi"n mre;iag apPr ar.i,-~
The Original or,. o. ay of N~fn, ,iiSt
suffered divi-i,n in l~il ov thr ia ,
that white bishop h'c@mr iuyolv' 4 j.
slavery by marrying "A ~ii. Wh, had or.
c''lored girl named Kitiy H. = slave. II a.
seventy-t~" years az, '.i" white 90 ..
OF ,ae Meth ~ii-t EpieoVt Churci.. N.rs1
Ind S.-uth. parted company With tn
colOred as ihe in' ors nt ,c,atirr e a.,
division Now ,h.t tilr r,urlnn ~ ti,..-.
t~o branches II N-tio,.i-in - iinniaruf
the relation "f ih- calcr-i ruan To- ia
reunited chu ch l. ore If ti'e inii"cen'
causes involvrsi
Upon the commission representing IN.
Methodist Episropal Church ase twr
prominent men Of the race, Dr. Robert
r. Jones, editor of the Southwestern,
Christian Advocate, Ne~ Ori.an-, ard
Dr. l. Garland Penn, corresponding scs
retsry OF tbe freednsen's AID >ccist,.
Cincinnati Drs. Jcn,s aisd P-ln rep
resent the ministry and lsi'y respective
ly upon the commission, bnt hryond :lat
they are the sole representatives of tie
35o,cO colored members in tie Meth
dist Episcopal Churcl.. whose Fortunes
in a large measur. viii i,.s sfirct.d
Ii Is quite the understanding that fles,
distinguished eolored lead. r. ~er,- place,l
upon the commission I'm eri-r that the
interests of the colorcd mtnptess would
be safeguartsd. Tie assignment L. ar
important and Responsible one, fnr ther.-
has been 10 surh lxTtor.c commission
tDuchiDg tie religious and e,i, G. ,fional
lie OF the nation since emancipation
Both the Methodist Episcopal Chu,cl,
and the Methodist tp-~c'ral Church.
South, sub-cribe tO a plan %. unilcAtion
10y reorganization in which each. IL j.
supposed, Will lose It's identity in the
unified church. Both have stated their
position as " the Negro. The southern
church prefers that the .ss,.,ssp coiorsd
members in the Methodist Epi-copal
Church shall he organized into seps
rate and independent body. holding ouiy
fratsrnal relations u the unified Whit
body, II such union should be- aeon
plished- The Methodist Episcopal Church
at Its general conference in ~-ratoga l1-t
May stated Its position - ioliDws. Fhai
the colored people -iioo.. be a part -oi
the reunited church with representation
in the general conference and supported
its position by naming tiIese two coioresi
men on its COMMISSION {. nlert The white
commission of the Methodist Eri.c,tal
Church, SOUTH