METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7732, 27 February 1909, Page 2

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

WELLINGTON, February 26. The annual conference of the Methodist Church was continued to-day at the Taranaki Street Church. The Rev T. Fee, who was elected president last night, occupied the chair. The business of the morning was the election of various. committees. . The following laymen were elected to the Standing Committee:—Auckland district,, Messrs E. Winstone and L. Wheeler; Wanganui, distract, Messrs E. Dixon and G. H. Bennett; Wellington district, Messrs J. G. Harkness and G. Tiller; Nelson district, Messrs G. H. Penny and T. A. Lucas; Canterbury district, Messrs G. H. Blackwell, R, H. Turner and J. A. Flesher; Otago district, Messrs J. F. Arnold, M. R., and E. Rosevere. \ A Special Committee met this afternoon to consider a proposal to establish a central mission in Wellington. The first business to-morrow morning will be the consideration of the balance sheet by the Stationary Committee. I A conversazione was held in the Wes- ! ley Hall this evening. So large was I the attendance that seating accommodation could not be found for everybody. The Rev D. McNicol occupied the chair, in the absence of the president, who was engaged on the Stationing Committee. The Rev S. J. Serpell (Wellington), chairman of the Conference Committee, delivered an address of welcome to the visiting delegates. A programme of vocal and elocutionary items was gone through. The Rev H.- E. Bellhouse (Ashburton) delivered a most excellent address in the interests mainly of the younger members of the church. He said the air was electrical with challenge—problems of every kind had to be solved; moral, social, and spiritual. The Christian Church was really standing on its trial. Challenges were being flung at the Church, and the trumpet calls were inging in its ears. Great responsibilities were being imposed upon it, and every member of the Church, especally the younger members, should do something to show themselves worthy to discharge more completely the responsibilities which devolved upon them. He exhorted the young members, to endeavour to realise the enormous obligations to their splendid heritage of the past, of which ,they should be most" proud.