Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-06-13
COTTON NEXT UNI

the party or parties chle1Iy con-
cerned. That is to say, we do
not believe that union can be
forced. We, therefore, give our
people and our organizations
time and opportunity to grow to-
gether, and we believe that I'M
der this plan such growing to-
eether will Immediately begin to
take place. This provision
amply protects minorities in each
jurisdiction and is an example of
that trust in each other without
which real union cannot exist and
increase.
8. 1t removes at once the cause
of competition and overlapping
on the border, and it does this
for the following reasons:
"a While we enter upon this
plan of cooperation and union
with the two jurisdictions stand
ing just as they are in the
United States of America, new
ertheless the two Churches are
united in one church, having one
name, one General Conference,
and one correctional "organiza-
ton and administration through
out the world" This fact alone
will silently work in the minds
of our people, taking away the
impulse and desire for the con-
tinuation of Churches which
overlap and the establishing of
new organizations which con-
flict one with the other.
(2) The proposed plan gives
to the General Conference the
power Ito govern any and all
enterprises and activities which
may be agreed upon as being of
a correctional character" While
the determination of what enter
prises and activities are, as
matter of fact, of a correctional
character is left to the decision
of the General Conference, it
will be Immediately evident that
the evanglization of needy fields
here in America, both in our
cities and in our rural Districts,
does constitute an enterprise
which is correctional in charac~
ter. The suggested plan, then,
will give to each jurisdiction the
opportunity of studying in asso-
citation with the other the en-
tire field. Together the two
jurisdictions will address them
selves to the one task of giving
the gospel to the lost in the
home field.
~ The plan which we recon-
mend associates together for
counsel and cooperation the adj
ministrative officers of the two
jurisdictions. "Imn ediately aft
err the union shall have been con-
summated, the bishops shall meet
and organize as one body and
shall arrange for the superin-
tendence of the work of the
Church." And not only so, but
the plan draws together all other
administrative officers for eoun-
sci and cooperation.
4. One of the most important
features Of our plan of unifica-
ton is that it looks to the inn
mediate organization of the work
of the united Church outside the
United States, so as to consum-
mate the unity of Episcopal
Methodism in foreign lands.
Nothing is more to be desired
than that united Methodism,
without competition the one
jurisdiction with the other and
without waste of men and NON
ey, should be able to deliver its
full strength upon the world in
the interest of human salvation.
This important aspect of our
proposed plan must Immediately
commend it to all who love our
Lord Jesus Christ and pray daily
for the coming of his kingdom.
And now we wish to add a
few words of suggestion touching
the wisest course of action
pending the consummation of
these negotiations.
We advise that the work of
the two Churches go on just as
usual. 1t would be unwise for
either Church to change its gem
eral policy of procedure in any
important particular. We rec
ommend that, while we pray con-
stantly each for the1 other, the
two Methodisms continue with
undated zeal in the develop
ment of plans upon which they
have already entered. So shall
the two Churches be larger and
stronger when they do come to-
gether as one. And we suggest
also that it would be a capital
blunder for local Churches in
any particular Conference or
community to endeavor to- hasten
union by precipitate action. We
advise, therefore, that every
whre the work of the Church to
go forward in normal channels
and that Conferences and COM
munities take no action looking
to union until the constituted au-
thorities advise that the time for
such action has come.
Meanwhile let us be much in
prayer. If We continue stead
tasty in prayer to the God of
our fathers, we shall make no
serious blunder. Wisdom and
brotherly love and quiet come to
those who pray in self-surren-
der and faith. We, therefore,
beseech you ''that We walk
worthy of the vocation where
with We are called, with all lowli-
ness and meekness, with longsuf-
fering, forbearing one another
in love; endeavoring to keen the