The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-02-11
.DR. EDMONDS TELLS HIS CONGREGATION ]. THEIR DESTINIES WILL REMAIN ONE Explains Recept Reports That He Might Again Be- come Affiliated With
 Presbytery SAYS MATTER IS ONLY AT STAGE
 OF CONSULTATIONS Reports Were That He Was to Be Called by the
 First Presbyterian
 Church


 pastor of the Independent SPresby terian church, yesterday morning made a statement to his congregation regarding the recent reports of th' possibility of his again becoming af filiated with the North Alabama pres bytery.
 Temple Emanu-El was crowded tc capacity at the morning service, as i had become known that the pastor was to make an important statement and every member of the congrega tion was eager to hear it. The words used by Dr. Edmonds were as follow
 II think I ought to make some state
 ment this morning concerning our possible utilization with another
 church. since reports and counter re-
 ports have been in the public prints
 during the past week and since among
 you have appeared some signs of un-
 easiness.
 "The matter has not passed beyond
 the consultation stage, and, of course,
 nothing further may come of it.
 "In any case, however. I would
 have you understand that there has
 been no notion or suggestion or re-
 traction or apology or anything that
 would emharrass or prejudice either
 side. The only basis of utilization,
 which has been contemplated has been
 that we should forget our differences
 stress our agreements, and render to-
 gether in the spirit of Christ great
 practical ard public service.
 Rest assured, moreover, that Tn this matter, as in any matter, noth- ing will be done without your fuil and intelligent concurrence. If this affair should come before me in defi- nite form it will be immediately pre- sented to you, for it is your affair
 Ard your cecision would be my decis- ion. Our destinies are one"
 CAUSE OF STATEMENT
 pr. Edmonds' statement was brought out as a result of the reports published during the past week which caused an unusual stir in church circles.
 The reports were to the effect tisAe a number of the best known lness~ bers of the North Alabama pres esyy were taking steps to he kA- monds again accepted ae nelshsr of the presbytery and sha; when this had been done csll #a Eo De ex- tended to him to hecc aa paator of the First PresbyteriaN ufch VI Birming- ham, which is no-s without a pastor.
 The matter wa4 oe sach exceptional interest beosas If the dramatic man. ner in whica tie utilization of Dr. Edmonas wtss tks presbytery had been severed { 70 years ago and the or sas. gzst sn aG the Independent Presby- tsItafs church which became almost inr alAtely one of the greatest com 8 Ka1ions in the south. The church TOW has between 600 and TOO mem bers and the tie between this congre- gation and it's pastor has been espe- cially close.
 It has been understood that there has been much regret among the most men of the presbytery that nasty action resulted in breach and these men have for many months quietly been at work to see if there were not some way in which recon ciliation could be affected.
 GREAT FORGE FOR GOOD
 Prominent members of the First church also felt that if in some way the two congregations could be united and Dr. Edmonds could become pastor of the united body it would be one of the greatest forces for church advancement in the entire country.
 Dr. Edmonds in his statement yes- terday referred to the Consultation stage" and said that after all noth- Ing may come of 1t.
 It is known, however, that some of the most prominent Presbyterian min isters of Alabama have been in con- ference with Dr. Edmonds and it is there has been the fullest and freest discussion of the theologi- cal views of each and that these min isters are convinced that there is nothing irreconcilable in the views of