The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-27


ceived into the Presbyterian Church
in the U. S. A. For the past ten years
there has been a Council Of the Re-
formed and Presbyterian churches.
However great the blessings are
that We have received as a church
they are not an end but a means"
Plans For onsoiidation.
Continuation of the special committee
on reorganization and consolidation of
the boards and agencies OF the Presby-
terrain church in order that further study
might be made of consolidation plans
and comprehensive program for reor-
ganization to be prepared. will be recon-
the SESSION m Of assembly here Th
committee which has been at work for
the last year refers to consultations
which which have already been effected effected be-
declares that from this experience in
trying out: piecemeal. the legal aspects
there is no insurmountable difficulty in
expediency and utility"
John TaSS Ssdne c + sssded by DR.
sists of four other Presbyterian min
listers and elders as follows: Rev.
NlsTander MascS' PhiSdslphs Rev Rev
Robert ]: MacAlpine. Buffalo. N. Y.
Rev. Walter II. Houston. Columbus.
Ohio j. NJ. |. Finney, Fred NJ. Bartlett.
Montgomery Webster iResigned).
The committee report states that a
full and frank discussion Of the whole
Outraged and that the entire church
should have opportunity to discuss this
question. 1t suggests a Presbyterial
referendum. II such action should be
eral assembly. The committee presents
two ways in which reorganization Of
Presbyterian boards and agencies might
sembly decide which of these two ways
t s a Ra @fS 1 for drawing up these
suggested changes and report at the next
These suggested plans for reorganiza-
ton calls for "a comprehensive plan for
the reorganiza ton OF the entire work OF
that ii has considered several such plans
laid before 1t which provide for a sub
tantial reduction Of the present mum
Presbyterian church. ranging in scope
and suggestion from a minimum Of two
to a maximum OF boards or depart
a re-grouping which would tend to elm
mate overlapping. and to an effective
co-ordinatoin which would increase CO.
operation"
ton might be effected. this Committee
suggests, is to have a plan worked out
for the consolidation Of certain exist
b% ON tas IN the
case OF the college board and the board
Of education. now the general board OF
education, Because Of the the immense Immense
tee reports itself not prepared at the
present time to recommend final pro-
gram but expresses the belief that 'the
unfortunate and that their reduction and
simplification would be appreciated great
ly by the church at large"
expr, sses its Judgment 'that the questions
involved in the matter OF consolidation
are so serious and far reaching that
personal desire must be subordinated In
The committee recalls that the subject
of the consolidation has been before the
Presbyterian church for many years. In
which made long study for and against
consolidation, but in its report declared
that consolidation was impossible to rec
0mmend because the union OF two boards
In 1909 this committee reported that
the legal obstacles to consolidation were
without question insurmountable. but
recommended the establishment OF an
executive commission of general assem-
bly,. The commission was instructed to
consider and formulate plan for the
boards as they may deem advisable, as
soon as the legal difficulties were out
of the way. In 1910 the general assem-
commission. which declared there were
o-insurmountable obstacles to CONSOLE
dalton resolved that the Presbyterian
boards of home missions. church erection
and freedmen. if the way be clear. should
be either consolidated. merged. or so re-
arranged that their general direction and
supervision. be brought under one gen.
crItieIse Interchureh Movement
Pacific coast Presbyteries criticize the
Interchurch Worl Movement and this
M IN an PeTS toSaS
calling for an Investigation of all those
Presbyterian board and agency secre-
taries who underwrits the Interchurch1
so illegally. II it is found that their
action was illegal. this overture asks
that these secretaries be not further
byterian funds. nor longer retained In
their official positions, because Of their
affect on the confidence of the Presby-
Another overture affecting Presbyterian
board secretaries calls upon general as
sembly to instruct such secretaries and
other paid officials Of the PRESBYTERIAN
orariums they may receive for preaching
or other outside work. A negro presby-
terry overture asks that the Presbyterian
burgh, Pa. which does work among the
Negroes and operates some 400 schools
for negroes, be given more funds with
which to operate.
Another overture calls for a merger
Of the Presbyterian board of home mis-
sions and the Presbyterians board of
missions for Freedmen; while still an
other asks that the name of the Board
of Missions for, Freedmen be changed to
one more in keeping with the work
which 1t does. The question of finances
is expected to receive considerable at
tention. the General Assembly facing
debts for the Presbyterian Church and
its boards and agencies amounting to
over $1,5ee, 000 most of which must be
paid Immediately. Plans are expected
to be prepared at this assembly which
will enable the Presbyterian church to
shortly be free of all financial obliga-
Nearly $4,000 yet remains to be paid
on the Underwriting by the Presbyter-
ians on the Interchurch world move
ment. The Presbyterian church with
drew during its last general assembly
but without making adequate provision
for meeting the 100000 indebtedness.
the amount of its underwriting. No
provision is made Nr this debt in the
budget of $12,000,000 prepared by the
last executive commission of the Pres
byterian church.
The Presbyterian New Era Indictment
am ne@ to- ,5oo.ooo ''a and BOTH the
Presbyterian board of foreign missions
and the Presbyterian board of home
missions have large deficits incurred by
advancing costs since pre-war days.
arde Nunber, Of s3verfures