Evening star., 1955-01-19
South Defeats
.Presbyteriians'
Merger Plan
Proposal Favored,
56-9, by Potomac
Presbytey
BY cospor Names


The proposal to unite the
major Presbyterian denomina-
tions was defeated by Southern
groups yesterday, although the
Potomac Presbytery of the Pres
byterian Church in the United
States voted overwhelmingly for
the merger.
Ministers and elders. acting as
commissioners at the meeting Of
the presbytery in Mount Vernon
Presbyterian Church, Alexandria
Va, voted 56 to Q for the merger
The proposal would have
brought together the Presby-
terian Church, USA North
ern). with 2.5 million members;
the Presbyterian Church, U. S.,
750. 900, and the United Presby-
terian Church. 225 700, into a
Presbyterian Church of the
United States with 3.5 million
members.
The union move was beaten
when IA Southern presbyteries
voted against 1t yesterday,
bringing the negative votes to
the required 26 against the mer-
ger. Approval OF three-fourths,
or 81 Of the SO Southern pres
byteries was required. The vote
killed efforts, since 1898. to end
q century -old split In American
Presbyterianism.
Merger Called Inevitable.
Church leaders generally were
disappointed but remained Arm
In the conviction that union was
inevitable in the next few years.
Frank w. Price of Lexington,
Va, pastor and former moderator
Of the Presbyterian Church, u. S.,
said Loyal Presbyterians will ac-
cept the result Of the voting In
good spirit. My firm belief is
that Presbyterian union will
come sooner or later, certainly
within flve years. Failure to OBJ
tain the consent Of three-fourths
Of the presbyteries now does not
mean defeat but only q short
delay In reaching the goal"
Dr.. Henry B. Dendy Of Wea-
verville, N. c., secretary Of the
Association, for the Preservation
and Continuation of the South
ern Presbyterian Church, said his
only feeling on the vote was lone
Of gratitude to God.
'Now that the presbyteries
have spoken and the matter OF
church union has been defeated,
I hope the whole church will
unite In the forward With
Christ movement with special
emphasis on evangelism during
the coming year.
A motion to make the Potomac
Presbytery vote unanimous was
blocked when DR.. A. r. Bird,
minister Of the Presbyterian
Church Of the Pilgrims, objected.
"I cannot vote to bring un-
speakable distress to the people
in our United States Church to-
day who are not carried away
by the noble enthusiasm Of those
supporting union" DR.. Bird said.
Those opposing union feel that
the church will be taken away
from them If the plan passes"
Brief Debate.
A surprisingly brief debate pre-
ceded the vote. Two hours had
been allotted to the discussion.
but less than half that time vas
consumed. as it became apparent
early that supporters of the un-
ion were In a large majority.
Donald G. Benn, an elder of
Trinity Presbyterian Church, Ar
ington, Va, as chairman Of the
presbytery committee on union.
presented the majority report.
Mr.. Benn told the gathering
1--WE are not dealing with our
church or the Southern church
but with Gods church. We have
an invitation to rejoin again In
union on common standards.
"Some claim that we will be-
come too large a church, too diff
ficult to administer. Where we
have worked together there have
been no unsatisfactory results.
Served in Both Churches.
"What has disturbed me-" he
continued, sis the strong impli-
cation that our church has q
sounder doctrine and that the
Northern church is too liberal. !
was born In the Southern church
and I have been privileged to
serve as an elder in both
churches. In session meetings
where the member comes to af-
firm his faith. have heard the
same questions asked and the
same standards observed, and I
understand those are the stand
ards that our Lord Jesus Christ
supplied"
Cornelius Petersen. an elder Of
Central Presbyterian Church
who presented his minority re-
port. charged "there is more lax
ness in the Northern church than
there is among us. There Is lax
ness growing in our own church. "