19$ / The Merger of the Ohio Mennonite and Amish Conferences

resolution: "Resolved, that the executive committee he open for consultation to a union of Mennonite and Amish Mennonite Conference."' This year, 1914, there was no action recorded in the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference.

In 1915 there is the first report of the committees of both conferences. The committees met in special session at the Midway Church near Columbiana, Ohio, May 28, 1915. The following was the report submitted to the conferences by this group, consisting of A. J. Steiner and J. M. Shenk representing the Ohio Mennonite Conference, and E. L. Frey and J. S. Mast representing the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference:

We submit the following report for your prayerful consideration: (1) We are glad to note the fact that a kind and brotherly feeling has been developed and maintained between the members of both conferences in a commendable way and that there has been a gradual flowing together of our members in the

church organizations and activities, (2) that fellowship and conference privileges to be extended to all members of bath conference bodies; (3) we are sincerely hoping and prayerfully looking forward to the time when the two conferences may be completely merged into one body to the praise of His glory."

Renewed Efforts to Mere

For a period of six years from this time on (1917-23) there is no record of any merger proceedings, but in 1923 committees again began to work anew- on the problem of merging the two conferences. The Ohio Mennonite Conference which was held at the Pike Church, near Elida, Ohio, May 23, 24, 1923, took action on the following question: "Does this conference favor the merging of the Ohio Mennonite and the Eastern A. M. Conference into one body?" A motion was passed at that time to appoint a committee to cooperate with a similar committee appointed by the Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference. The Eastern Amish Mennonite Conference held at the Plainyiew Church, Portage County, Ohio, on May 31, and June 1, 1923, after considering the merger problem passed the following resolution:

That a committee of five be appointed to work conjointly with a committee appointed by the Ohio Mennonite Conference to consider the matter of merging the said conference and report at the next conference; said committee is to consist of the following members: E. L. Frey, John S. Mast, John E. Kauffman, A. L Yoder, and E. B. Stoltzfus.'