The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-06-17
Methodist
a|EUNION IS
IpROM|S|NG
sstrsngement of Il
a ears, Is Being Over
come, Belief
DIFFERENCES
ONLY SECTIONAL
Merger Would Give
\ Church Dominating
Force of 100000
" THe RELIGIOUS RAMsLER.

" THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.
h(egh time has elapsed since
VI 6journment of the Methodist
b2at conference at Saratoga TO
6on the sense OF the church al
rGo concerning its deliberations.
- oQe action that has made
1eSsa appeal to the country Is
~ nnthusiastic and unanimous vote
= ! reunion of Methodism. This
sven more important than the
tct1oa Of the bishops or the con-
eonce announcements on labor
n10So.T There seems TO be only
- mind In Methodism north and
n{. and il favors reunion OF the
~ bodies which separated In 1914.
o11mtaily. ii is taken for granted
~ n sthe two big Methodist de-
n1nations merge. the lesser ones
1o1l natufally follow.
3Ao press reports fail to state the
nfncter OF the union proposed. II
simple and fundamental and
4u16s al questions OF detail The
h1Dse was frequently used. RE
1oa By reorganization" The pro-
onaL which originated with the
u1hodist church south, proposes
~ htyision OF the country into sec
- ,aonferences, with an add
- confesence for Negroes.
s 80 ~Quadrennial conferences" as
( Gr oGne TO be called In the dis
rnUtons. are of an elastic nature,
~ ouulA easily be extended to in
n1o Methodism in Canada and
1o1hodism ON the mission field In
- aeneral basis discussed is foi
- QundrenniaI conferences: One
~ Ne territory lying west Of the
lDG1ssippi, one for the south. and
1or the north. and one for the
npee.s Some leaders. however,
uwooe . greater subdivision than
10, even talking about eight quad
n1Ga conferences.
- hlSb-water mark Of enthusi-
s'sn4 spiritual fervor OF the
rGhooist conference was reached
nm ~ an Irresistible impulse. and
~ : shout and a song. the con
1noeA unanimously adopted the
>6D0oa16 for reunion. The venera
~ Dlshop Cranston OF the North
church, and Bishop Henrick. Of
~ Oouthern church. clasped hands
1870 the conference, while the
Eonk body sang, "Blest Be the IT,
- utnds.s
~ conflict and competition be
~ he two Methodisms has com
No communities which hav
Ho11ly increased in number wher
tn1xe4Ations OF both branches e,
IA. Everybody admits that ther
10 adequate reason for tw
l&odist churches, holding th
- Doctrines and the same polit.
one neighborhood, competin
- Each other simply because or
Northern and the other is SoutI
- The difference Is basically Sc
- ana entirely q question Of q
o1Ctyation. The hard sense
eaupch has voted continuant
lneoo conditions inexcusable.
~ leaders and laity have wan
" way out Of this dilemma, whic
rejected discredit upon III
I'M q large: for II has made
DG6r that UNCONVENTIONAL and Sc
~ seal were weishtier tina
q Christian principles.
Inch a. the reunion will mean (
Denomination rs q whole. IL wi
~ pcre TO local communitie
c(o neighborhoods and familie
y uviAed. l know OF one Mar,
teWn where two brothers G
1 hmily went to the Civil wa
sopposite sides. They returne,
Dgoepering In business. eac
= - imposing Methodist churc
= opposite corners Of the sam
Sook, one Northern and one soutl
-. Times without number II hs
80 aaia that everybody know
- Ne war In over. except Il
ngchoa
~ growth OF cooperative vol
~ union sentiment In the counts
1nete has made the leaders
othodism increasingly Eealous
~ . way out OF the present dii
~. At its general conferenc
~ pears ago, the Methodi
1seh, South, proposed the form
Dlon which has been accepted
Methodist conference. Tn
o11s any appearance of one d
nlnotion swallowing up the oths
simply analogy OF the feder
rfnment has been followe
: Hill ~ = general ccnferenc
@uo - Delegates from the qua
confereuces. or the annu
oose. that point 10 be settle
~ NJ amount OF ter