The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-21
ORGANIC UNION
MAY Be RESULT
y Of conference
Representatives of Southern
SynodS in Session at Hotel
ChiSCa to Work for Closer
Presbyterian Relations.

Representatives of the 1s synods of
the Southern Presbyterian church,
comprising the general assembly's
committee on closer relations, as
day morning at II o'clock for the
opening of conference with the view
TO perfectiug plans for establishing
closer. relations between the 10 or 10
branches of the Presbyterian church
IN tho United States with the ultimate
object of an organic or federated un-
ion Of all the bodies into one united
church.
DR.. A. M. Fraser, OF Staunton, Va, !,
moderator of the last general assembly
OF the Southern wing. OF the church,
presided over the opening session. Each
synod Is represented by one delegate,
nominated by the synod and appointed
by the moderator of the assembly that
met in New Orleans last May,
The committee. Is under instructions
of the whole question of closer rela-
tons with the various Presbyterian
and Reformed bodies and the negotia-
tons are not limited to any particular
branch OF the church, but contemplates
an approach to the entire body. The
raethods of bringing about the desired
END are to be determined by the COM
mittee, The committee will meet in
executive sessions with no announced
program nor predetermined Judgment
40 u (il0 pOHCy 10 Dc IOllOW6u, DuL IL
is the intention of the committee to
base its findings upon a thorough dis
cussion of all the elements entering
iRao the situation.
distinguished Personnel.
The problem of closex relations is
being approached by a committee con-
stituted of some of the ablest and most
distinguished men of the church. The
synods and their representatives are:
Virginia DIR. Fraser, pastor of First
church, Staunton. and moderator of
the last general assembly; Tennessee,
Or. A. 3; Curry, pastor of Second
church. Memphis; Kentucky, DR.. D. H.
Ogden. pastor of Second church, Louis
vile; North Carolina, DIR. J. M. Wells,
sembly;. Arkansas. DR.. John Van Lear,
pastor First church. Little Rock; APP
palachia, DR.. R. r. Campbell. pastor
First church. Asheville, N. c.; Ala
h5ama, pr. Thornton Whaling, presi-
mary Columbia, s. O.; Florida, the
Rev. ~ p. Rrowniee. pastor Of First
church Sanford. Georgia, Dr. Homer
MCMILLAN. Of Atlanta. secretary Of the
Horne Mission board; Louisiana, Or.
church. New Orleans; Missouri, d nS pr i
Charles r Nisbet, pastor OF Central
church. Kansas City; Mississippi, DR..
]. b, Hutton, pastor Of First church,
jackson; Oklahoma. DR.. Erskine
IBraptiey, Antler; South Carolina, DR.;
Hampton Sidney college. now pastor OF
First church, Florence; Texas, Dr. T.
A. Wharton, pastor First church. Sher-
man, and West Virginia, DIR. Ernest
Thompson. pastor of First church,
tnegro), is represented by Rev. l. C.
r. Champney, of Montgomery, Ala.
%, TOO, 600 Presbyterians.
Sss4n the United States and Canada
there are approximately $500 900 Pres.
byterians, comprising about u separate
branches of the church, all of which
hold to quite similar doctrines of faith
and are under virtually the same form
of government Each of the various
branches of the church now has a
standing committee on closer relations
closer cooperation and possibly ulti-
mate organic union.
One plan under consideration is the
merging OF, the different branches into
one organic union. The objection urged
to this plan is that under such a plan
autonomy and properly rights of each
branch would pass to the merged or
tance on the part of various bodies tc
give up their individual authority to the
united church. The Southern Presbyte-
rian church in particular has accumu-
lated great deal of church property
schools, orphanages, colleges and uni
verSities, to which under organic union
the title would pass to the central or.
ganization.
Many Local Problems.
A federated church, organized on 6
plan similar to the federation of the
states in the United States govern.
ment, in which each branch would re.
tain its individual organization, prop.
erty rights and autonomy, but present.
ing q solid front as one great church
has also been suggested, but this plaI
does not provide for one of the impor
tant results desired, the elimination O
competitive work and duplicate effor
in the same field where several branche!
of the church are already established.
No difficulty is anticipated in per
feoting cooperative efforts in the for
eign mission field, but in the home mis-
sion field many obstacles are presented
For Instance, the Southern Presbyte
rians do not feel qualified to pass OF
tho home mission problems of the Pa
cific coast where the conditions to
tally unlike those of the South, Nortl
and East, nor do they see the wisdom
of submitting the problems peculiar t,
the South to the jurisdiction of tn
other sections of the country wher
conditions are different. Many othe
st,6rplexing problems are involved in tn
plans for church union. but by degree
1t is believed that all such matter
can be worked out in a >satisfactor,