The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-12-12
ALL METH0DISTS
MAY MERGE IN
ONE BIG CHURCH
indianapolis CIergymen Are
Enthusiastic in Support
of Merger.
HAILED AS GREAT STEP
No Reason to Maintain Old
North South Split, Is
View Here.

Indianapolis Methodist cler-
gymen this afternoon voiced
enthusiastic approval of the
national merger of the three
M e t h O d list denominations,
unanimously recomm e n d e d
today by church commission
erS.
Those commenting included:
The Rev. w. G. hartinger, super
intendent, indianapolis District of
M. E. church; the Rev. Richard M.
Willard, Broadway M. E. Church;
the Rev. Abram S. Woodland, Me-
ridian Street M. E. Church; the
Rev. Guy o. Carpenter, Irvington
M. E. Church; the Rev. Charles I.
Alexander, Roberts Park M. E.
Church; the Rev. r. R. Cross, Barth
Place M. E. Church, and the Rev. r.
O. McRae, Edwin Ray M. E. Church.
The Rev. w. C.. Hartinger, super
intendent, Indianapolis District, M.
E. Church: Il most heartily APP
prove of such union, and believe
that it will take place. The. result
ing unification of membership will
make the church greater force in
influencing the Christian life of the
nation. 1t will hasten the union of
all Protestant denominations.
The Rev. Abram S. Woodland,
Meridian-st NJ E. Church: Il am
enthusiastically in favor of such
union. More than that l favor
union of all Protestant denomina-
tons. Until all Protestant churches
get together, Professionalism will not
make the impact which it should
in world affairs And the beginning,
for us, of course, must come with
merging of all Methodist branches.
The Rev. Charles T. Alexander,
Roberts Park M. E: ut is the great
est move that we have made as a
church toward becoming Christian,
and toward the building of the
kingdom of God"
In anticipation of such q union,
Mr.. Alexander said that during the
coming Student Volunteer Conven-
ton, from Dec. 20 to dn. /, the
Roberts Park Church is to entertain
the young people of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, North, and the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South,
with fellowship supper at the same
hour. The groups, he said, would
meet together for at least part of
the evening.
The Rev. r. r. Cross, pastor,
Barth Place M. E. Church: Every
one in our denomination is in favor
of this movement. A united Method
ism would greatly increase the eff
cheney of our church"
The Rev. r. o. McRae, pastor,
Edwin Ray M. E. Church: All
three of the churches trace their
origin to John Wesley, and the con-
ditions that caused them to sever,
were eliminated years ago. If we
are going to make Christianity a
force in the world, We will have to
have more unif1cation."
The Rev. Guy o. Carpenter. Irv-
ington M. E. Church. This is the
best thing that could happen.
The basis on which the union is
to be affected is not as important as
the fact of union. I'm sure that
minor details will be worked out as
soon as the union is completed.
The Rev. Richard M. Willard,
Broadway M. E. Church: THE mem
bership of all three churches are OPP
timistic concerning possibilities of a
reunited Methodism. The congre-
cations are entirely in sympathy
with the union.
Il believe that the time has come
when Christian churches should
unite for purposes of worldwide
service. The first step, of course.
must be to the unification of de-
nominations, looking toward an I'LL
innate universal union"