Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-21
UNION OF CHURCHES
IS RATIFIED BY NEW
CASTLE PRESBYTERY
First and Central Presbyterian
Will be Officially Merged
on March 3.
NEW BUILDING PROBABLE

Nv action of New Castle Presbytery,
taken at a special session yesterday alter
noon. the First Presbyterian Church,
located on Market between Ninth and
Tenth. and the Central Presbyterian
Church. on King, between Seventh and
Eighth pass into history, and will he
merged into a new organization to be
known as the First and Central Prcsby-
terian Church of Wilmington.
Thus Is consummated union that has
been advocated at various times for a
GOOD many wears, and new church
organization is formed that will he strong
both IN material and spiritual resources
ns we'll as in the personnel of the COngre-
cation.
The question OF the union of tho two
churches came up at the last meeting OF
New Castle Prcsbytery. and was favor
ably acted upon. three commissioners
l,eing appointed from each Of the congre-
cations Ia meet with the frcsbytcry IN
special session yesterday.
The commissioners who were charged
with taking the final steps necessary for
the merger were. George W Jones, John
L. Heinxcroth and John TAFT, .lr. for the
First Church, and judge W :. Pricllctt
Leonard T. Wales and Miss Mary A.
Tucker for the Central Church.
rET TfTf0NS AXIS READ.
The presbvterv met Yesterday after
noon in the SUNDAY school room of tho
First Church. with Rev Charles H.
Rohner presiding rs moderator Rcv Mr.
BohnCr led IN prayer after declaring the
ecssion open. and the roll was cailrd by
Rev !. NJ Fckard of smyrna who acted
rs secretary
Rev. i. II. Crawford. representing the
fc.S ~ sst
he commissioners. The petitions from tho
Two church organizations. rs read at the
last session 0f the preqbYterv. were then
read. They We're practically the same, and
l,olnted out 10 the prCsbyterv the ad-
vantagrs of such union, IN that II would
prevent duplication of work amt eN-
l,ensc. as the churches occupied prac-
ticallv the same field IN the city; recon-
mended that the name oi the nov church
he the First and Central i'reshvtcrian
'h,lrrh of Wilmington; that the new
organization he authorized 10 accept the
reSignations of the officers of the two
churches and elect new elders and dea-
cons one half 70 he from each congrcga-
lion. and that the pastor hc chosen hv the
new congregation rs soon rs the union s
perfected. that a congregational meeting
10 authorized rs soon rs possible for the
rlcs-tion oi 4 pastor for the new church.
hat the preshytery authorize the sale ot
he property az the Central Presbyterian
/ 'hprch and the proceeds tc turned over
10 the new organisation, the erection ct
new church on the site of tho present
FIRST Church, and e. authorize the pro
,itrprent Of q charter for the nov organ
ration The petition of tho First church
was read hv G. " Jones and the petition
If the Central Church was read hy Judge
" : Prtckett.
Upon the reading Of the petitions, the
following resolution, offered hy Rev
Charles l.. Candee, pastor ot West
minister Presbyterian Church was unan-
lno,l9iv adopted
The Prysshvtery al New Castle hAy
ing heard the petitions al the First and
Central Presbyterian Churches Of VII
mlngton. thai they NC permitted to unite,
merge and consolidate, docs hereby ar
prove Of the SAID petitions. and authorizes
he said churches to unite. merge and con
~oli.Iatc upon the terms oi SAID petition
The Prcshvterv authorizes the said con
,oIiClation "a take place on March ), Or as
ec.on thereafter As MAY i>c possible
The last clause IN the resolution was M
sertnd on the Suggestion that there might
i,frSSiblv ARISE some complication that
would prevent the consolidation on that
tate. II nothing arises. tho merger viii
AXE place en- that date, and the two old
organizations will pass INTO history
MAkI>G HISTORY
DR., Candee. IN speaking OF the merger,
>ajd the Prcshvtcry was making history
II IS progressive step, he SAID and IS ID
keeping with the march oi progress ~ the .
cItv. which Is on h eve OF such develop
lnent As was never dreamed OF before
He referred 10 the splendid history OF the
two churches. and II the great oppor
tlInitv the consolidation would afford IN /
widening the field Of work. and the part /
il could and would play as great, thrlv-
ing church IN the heart Of the ciiy.
Rev. Z II Bohner congratulated the
members OF the congregations Of the two
churches III the consummatlon ot the
merger, and their hcIng ablc ~ get to-
gcther SO harmonioIsiy and spoke 81 the
great work the new organization would nc
able TO do.
Rev ]. II Crawford the pastor oi the
Central Church, and who viii i've pastor
of the new organization until the united
congregation shall elect . pastor. said hls
1.osition had been rather of ;4n 3ovlsorv
nature. and somewhat delicate He had
offered 10 resign, but had hcen asked nor
fo do 50. as his remaining a pastor would
not in any wav eniharra~~ he Union, he
vas told. He SAID ne heartily indoreed the
merger. and was satisfied Il would tt the
4st for all
In the capacity of pastor Rev traw-
ford will cali the Two congregations to-
gether preparatory 10 the formal union on
March In the meantime, the churches
will function Us separate organizations
First hurch has been without 8 regular