Evening star., 1922-11-20
Church MERGER
i. MAY EMBRACE 3
Washington Heights Presby-
terian Considers Join
ing Group.
MEETINGS TO BE HELD
New York Avenue and Covenant
Congregations Need More Room.
Big Structure Proposed.

There is now a possibility that
| three prominent Pres sbyter a ny
| churches OF Washington may merge
and form an outstanding cathe-
dral-1ike Presbyterian church here,
| IN conformity with the desire
| OF the general assembly OF that
| denomination. These are the Church
of the Covenant, the New York ave.
nue. church. and the Washington
| Heights church, 1862 Kalorama road.
| The fact that the New York avenue
| and Covenant churches might mergA
| was first stated exclusively in iaxe
Thursdays Star. there having al
that time already been an informal
conference among those favorable u
, the idea
Meeting Next Sunday.
At the Washington Heights church
yesterday notice was given of a
meeting of the congregation to be
held next Sunday to consider over
| lures for a merger of that church
No reference was made to the
Church of the Covenant angle.
Some six or seven years ago the
same proposal arose, but nothing
NhiiS VI
with the downtown congregation
| lacking pastor. are different and
more favorable. it is pointed out
1t is certain that there is an active
sentiment among members Of all
| three churches that a union would be
desirable. Conversely, it is certain
that the Washington Heights con-
sregation would naturally object to
; any merger between the other .ao
churches which would probably result
|
being located within the same ter
! ritory as the Washington Heights
/ church.
If the three unite. it is emphasized,
j they could locate the great new build
| ing, with its vast auditorium and
Lincoln Memorial tower. at whateyrr
spot in the territory now containinl
! the two uptown churches that Nigh,
seem most advantageous.
Convent Church to Meet.
A congregational meeting has beeu
called for Thursday evening at the
Church OF the Covenant to consider
the union of that church and the New
York Avenue church from the stand
! points OF advantage TO both congre-
cations. to Professionalism in the Ma
tional Capital and to the welfare OF
the entire community.
/ Last Thursday the church held a
joint meeting of elders. deacons,
} y
! Of the Covenant-this group duplicat-
ing in character as nearly as possib e'
the council of the New York Avenue
church--at which a motion was made
and seconded that the sense of the
meeting was favorable 10 putting the
question of merger before the con-
gregation with view to action
which the other church could regard,
as assurance that merger overtures
would be kindly received. Action on
this motion was postponed until next
Thursday, however.
Boards Take Steps.
The several boards Of the Washing
ton Heights Presbyterian Church took
steps at a meeting Friday night con
templating a merger OF that church
with the New York Avenue PreSby
terian Church. A conference" COM
mittee, headed by Charles A. Doug
las. was unanimously appointed TO
consider the advisability and the wis
dom OF such a union. Rev. DR.. John
G. Palmer, the pastor, yesterday All
nounced that this committee viii
make its report to the congregation
next Sunday morning. Other members
| of this conference committee are:
Arthur F. Beal, chairman Of deacons:
William H. Moran. president of the
; board of trustees; Edwin {. Goodwin.
president of the congregation. and
Frank B. Gibson, representing the
! elders.
A consolidation Of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church and tho
Washington Heights Presbyterian
1 Church was for a time considered, IL
| was pointed out by Mr.. Douglas. and
! the proposed merger of the former
church with the Church of the Cove
nant has given a renewed impetus to
the plan. About seven years ago, Mr..
Douglas said, union Of the New
4
and the Washington Heights Presby-
terian Church was prevented only by
a failure to reach a definite agree
! ment on the basis for consolidation.
Would Build Larger Church.
Mr.. Douglas said the Washington
Heights Presbyterian Church has no
right to object and does not object to
a union of the Church of the Cove
nant and the New York Avenue Pres
byterian Church, providing. of course.
the new church is not located within
the zone of the Washington Heights
Presbyterian Church.
II there should be a consolidation
of the fiocks of the Washington
Heights and the New York Avenue
; churches. Mr.. Douglas said. new and
larger church would be built-,-thTt
All Need Changes. .-E
Among the church officers who al
tended the meeting at which tks
Conference" committee of five wa
appointed to consider the advisa bility
and wisdom of union of thA Wash
ington Heights and New York Avenl;,
churches were: William II. Ross. Ma
than Hazen. Maurice c. lIatta, VII
liam P. Mayfield. Charles D. wefder
hamer, Wilbur La Roe. jr.; Leman Fl
hewitt. Paul Moran. Harry ]. Burch. J.
Preston Mayfield. Norman Weiden-
hamer. Harry D. Evans. James =.
Henderson. jr.: Edward s. Bailey. Ed
ward c. Goodwin. James b. HendeI-
son. Henry ]. Finley, Charles J.
Walker and c. X. Bergman.
The consolidation of the three into
one great church, as contemplated.
would. no doubt. remove the obstacle
Of any possible sentiment St Wash
ington Heights Church against the
merger of the other two. There exist
conditions in all three making such
q step advantageous. All thre38 have
outgrown their present locations and
buildings. while the New York Ave-
nue. Church not ony is too far down
town, but has no pastor.
CREWE SUCCEEDS HARDINGE
LONDON, November 2o.-The Mar