PRIMITIVE METHODIST MISSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 223, 20 September 1893, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST MISSIONS.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of Primitive Methodist Missions in New Zenland was held in St. James's Hall la3t night. The platform was occupied by aboub 300 school children, who sang special hymns, whilsb the body of tho hall was rilled with members and friends of tho various churches in the city. The Rev. W. J. H'ayward prosided, and was supported by the Revs. W. S. Potter, J. Guy and C. Drake. After v brief address by tho Chairman,

Tho annual roporb was read by tho Secretary (Rev. W. S. Potter). Ib stated that the pasb year had been an eventful ono ir. the history of the Church in England whore the jubilee of the Foreign Missionary Society had been celebrated. In connection with the celebration a special jubilee fund of (aO present) £38,000 had been formed, whilst the Church membership showed an increase of 1,600. Reports from West and South Africa had been most, cheering. The conference had found it necessary to superannuate a number of missionaries who had long served faithfully, but the roporb stated that there was no falling-oil' in the number of workers. Twenty-nine young men had been received on probation, 25 probationers had been placed on the approvod list, 5 on the reserve list; 51 candidates had beon received for college training and circuit work, and 16 college Btudents had beon received on probation. Missionary wprk in New Zealand had never been more active. Under tho Row W. Laycock, the West Coast Mission in tho South Island had beon making good progress, whilst bho Revo. J. Clover and W. C. Wood had been similarly successful in the Stratford district. The Hevere floods had materially interrupted the work of Mr Geo. Field, gumdi^gors' missionary. The roport asked for gifts of reading matter for distribution on the gumh'olds. Circuits I, and 11. in Auckland had to date raised £60 for the Mission. The report expressed pieaaure at the English Conference having sent two young ministers (tho Revs. Hindes and Drake) to tho colony. The former had boon stationed at Temuka and the latter in Auckland.

A good musical and olocutioDary programme was then gone through. A Bpeeial feature of the evening was two juvenile addresses, one by Miss Annio Taylor on " Whab The Children Have Done," and the other by Master Bertie Daniol. " Tho addresses, which contained pood subject) mattor, wero excellently coutposod, and woll given, securing well-deserved and frequont applause. The other itorafl were :—Recitation, Minnie Yorko ; recitation, " Wanted, Christ Bearers,"Amelia Dunn; recitation, " Hooiag and Praying," Master Stanley Dimcry ; recitation, " Little Chris's Lottor to JesuSi" Winifred Over; addroae, Rev. E. Drake; recitation, "Tho Master Wants Workers," Dolly Bridgor.