The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-30
Push PLAN
II 0 UNITE
|METHODISM
Would Bring Nearly
Six Million Into
One Fold
SOUTHERN CHURCH
NOW WON OVER
Committee Enthusias-
tic Over UnificatiOn
Proposal
~ TIE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

The amalgamation 81 American
1Gethodism. which IS the larFrs'
single project dehnitsly before the
churche- OF America. has been sig
naIly furthered by a remarkable
action taken by the men OF the
nouthern Methodist church AZ their
recent triennial convention al Jun
alaska, n. G.
The general conferences OF both
nodes have voted in favor Of i'm
mediate reunion OF the Methodist
>episcopai church. which has mem.
bershlp OF more than 100000. and
the Southern Methodist church,
which enrolls more than 1000 600
members. This legislation was The
high-water mark Of the Saratoga
conference last spring when scenes
Of remarkable enthusiasm were en-
acted. The vision OF one Metho-
dism swayed the delegates 70 pow
orful display OF feeling
There sun1e---ttSs separate
Methodist denominations in this
country, with a total membership
OF nearly 100000 persons II the
two largest bodies, those mentioned.
really merge. then the others will
follow In course OF time. especially
| n provision be made for the colored
churches. Pending the meeting
this fall. OF the joint committee on
union, there is q spirited discussion
% the methods Of union, and many
obtections have been found 20 the
Rhole project Already certain pub
Ncations have declared that the
nnion cannot be eonsummated The
onswer TO these criticisms is found
- the action OF the men az Juna-
Jurka, who NAV fairly be said 20
represent the uHRrofess!nnal. nm
technical rank and Gle Of church
membership.
n Aside from the steady rise OK a
I general sentiment for church union
thruout the country. there have been
various practical considerations put
ting pressure behind the present
project. AS both hig branches OF
Methodism have prospered they
have spread out, the northern
church even establishing congreEa-
tions in southern cities and the
sou,hern church entering the new
\ region OF the west and northwest
Along the border the existence ~
rival Methodist churches has been
common. Often this competition
assumed the proportions Of scan
Gal.
So contrary has THIS been 20 the
good feeling that should prevail
Among Christians. and 20 tho gen
sral spirit OF efficiency and economy
that public opinion has forced The
!. eccIesiastical leaders into an atti
tude OF apology and explanation. As
\ everybody knows both sides have
the sETHt form -t1ff -fstts fFt44Gpt- thu
same doctrines and the same his
tory. prior 10 the raising OF the sec
tIonal issue. The war s. over III
the mind OF the average person
there exists no good reason for the
continuance Of the separation.
Unihcation r. now proposed or
the basis OF sectional conferences
a which there should be at Least
four--one for the north, one For the
west, and one FOR the south, ant
one for the colured Methodist con
Rrpeations. These should all mergf
quadrenniaily In one general confer
ence.
Most OF the discussion certers
over whether the greater authority
should reside in the general confer.
ence, which would. naturally, give a
preponderance OF influence 20 the
Methodist Episcopal church, or in
4 the sectional conferences. which
would leave the Southern Methodist
church practically autonomous. All
cases OF conflict and overlapping
would, Of course, be cared for by
the general body.
Pressure from the pcws has led
the union negotiations up 70 the
present point The average church
member is not concerned over
ecclesiastical questions. lie regards
general issues and broader aspects
In both OF the largest branches OF
Methodism the laymen exert great
and increasing power That is why
the Junaluska deliverance r. so i'm
portnnt, and u creating widespread
!, interest, Some church papers crit
icise ~ sharply and intimate re
n prisais against the foreign mission
board. under whose auspices On,
great conference wa held
Il A strong committee OF laymcn rer
rescnting the whole south. with W
Erskine Williams, Of Fort Worth
Texas, as chairman, signed the res
stations. Of which u'e uniacatio