AUSTRALASIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 262, 11 November 1897, Page 2

AUSTRALASIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

EIGHTH GENERAL CONFERENCE,

THE OPENING PROCEEDINGS,

The eighth general conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church commenced its session last evening, in the Pitt-street Church. The members present numbered 104, the constitution of the Conference being as follows :—New South Wales, 16 ministers, 8 laymen; Victoria and Tasmania, 19 ministers, 15 laymen; South Australia and West Australia, 9 ministers, 7 laymen ; New Zealand, 11 ministers, 10 laymen; Queensland, 4 mipisters, 5 laymen. The Victorian and Ta'smanian delegates occupied the centre of the auditorium, the South and West Australians being placed on tbe left, and the representatives of New South Wales and New Zealand on the right. There was a large attendance of the public. The proceedings opened with a hymn, after which the Rev. H. T. Burgess (South Australia) read a portion of Scripture, and the Rev. W. Clarke (New South Wales) and Mr Thos. Vasey (Victoria) engaged the meeting in prayer. THE ROLL CALL. The retiring secretary (Rev. H. T. Burgess) then called the roll of the ministers and laymen who, were attending the Conference ex officio, or who had been elected representatives by the Annual Conferences. The following answered their names, or were announced to be on their way to the Conference :— New South Wales : Rev. J. Woolnough (President), W. Halse Rogers (Secretary), Geo. Brown, D.D. (General Secretary of Missions), G. Lane, R. Sellors, D.D., J. E. Moulton, W. Clarke, J. E. Carruthers, F. Langham, R. Bavin, W. W. Rutledge, J. Spence, J. A. Nolan, W. H. Beale, A. J. Webb, J. Beale, Mr W. Robson, J.P., Hon: J. S. Larke, Messrs T. Cowlishaw, W. Kellett, J.P., W. L. Dash, J,P., John Wade, J,P., C. Stratford, W. H. McKeown, J.P., W. S. Foxall, J. P. ' Victoria and Tasmania: Revs. W. Williams, F.L.S. (president), T. Grove (secretary), E. I. Watkin, D.D., and Mr E. Whitehead (treasurers of the supernumerary fund), the Revs. E. S. Bickford, W. H. Fitchett, 8.A., H. Bath, E. W. Nye, W. L. Blamires, B. Danks, S. Knight, T. Adamson, C. Lancaster, J. G. Wheen, J. A. Marsland, J. J. Brown, F. Neale, J. Nicholson, J. Haslam, Messrs J. W. Eggleston, F. J. Cato, W. Coltman, J.P., W. F. Brownell, A. Harkness, J.P., T. Vasey, T. Lockwood, Dr. Wilkinson, Messrs J. Callaghan, J. Webb, W. T. Hansford, F.R.G.S., J.P., S. King, J.P., J. Buttle, E. C. D. Garis, G. Chessell. South Australia:. The Revs. Joseph Berry (president), W. A. Langsford (secretary), H. T. Burgess, G. E. Rowe, C. T. Newman, R. S. Casely, J. B. Stephenson, H. H. Teague, J, CoAvperthwaite, 8.A., Mr J. W. Langsford, Dr. R. Brummitt, Messrs T. Rhodes, D. Nock, J.P., J. C. Haslam, J.P., E. E. Mitchell and C. W. Priest. New Zealand : Revs. P. W. Fairclough (president), D. J. Murray (secretary), W. Lee, Mr J. P. Leary (treasurers of the children's fund), Revs. W. Morley, W. Bauraber, H. Bull, C. H. Garland, J. Orchard, W. J. Williams, W. C. Oliver, G. Bond, W. G. Parsonson, Messrs W. Harris, G. H. Blackwell, J. A. Flesher, F. L. Prime, T. Buddie,- W. S. Allen, M.A., W. G. Bassett, C. W. Benhow, W. Harding, W. Gunson, W. Wardrop. Queensland : Revs. C. A. J. Hutchinson (secretary), H. Youngman, W. Dinning, W. Jeffries, Messrs A. Gibson, R. Aland, H. Williams? W. H. 'Bairhes,1 'arid W. T. Reid. RETIRING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The Rev. W. Morley, the retiring President, delivered his address as follows :— Fathers andbrethren of the ministry and of thelaity.—Our Book of Laws requires the retiring President of the General Conference, should he be present, to deliver an address prior to the election of his successor. I recognise the propriety of the regulation,but 1 should have been unfeignedly glad if it could have been set aside in the present instance. My voice has frequently been heard in our New Zealand churches, and it would have been more interesting to the general public could some of our gifted brethren from Australia have spoken at length on the present occasion. I remember, too, the high character of previous inaugurals. The first elected General President, after an address of great spiritual power, moved us all to enthusiasm by a hymn or poem of his own composition. The second, in dignified and sonorous tones, not only presented his own views, "but enforced them with extracts from some of the masters of English literature. Joseph H. Fletcher, the silver-tongued, in his own admirable and terse fashion, summed up the leading features of our doctrine and polity, and in most felicitous phrase, exhorted us to hold fast the traditions of the past while adapting ourselves to altered social conditions. J. C. Symms, with great ability and force, well stated and defended our ecclesiastical position as one of the great Protestant Churches, while my friend, the Rev. J. B. Stephenson, gave us a most exhaustive review of the previous quadrennium in our last assembly. I cannot hope to charm you as these masters of address have done. My life is a busy one, and all that I can do is to speak straight on. A CORDIAL WELCOME. On behalf of the members and adherents of the Church in this colony it is my pleasant' duty to extend to the representatives from the other side of the Tasman Sea a .cordial welcome to __ New Zealand. Your names are familiar to them. With , ybur past services they are hot unacquainted. They are glad now to see you ; "face to face." They will follow your _ discussions in this Conference with intelli- _ gent interest, and you will have the ad- > vantage of their prayers and sympathy, i It gives me special pleasure to welcome | you in this city of Auckland, and in Pitt- ; street Church. Before New Zealand be- i came a British possession, it was a success- { ful mission field of the Wesleyan Church. . Heroic work was done, and by the blessing of God hundreds of Maoris were turned E "from dumb idols to serve the living-and j true God." The missionaries were also the j first ministers of the colonists, and laid the t foundations of the European churches. ] Not a few of them gave some of their best t years to Auckland. Their names are com- ] memorated on the- tablets affixed to the I walls of this church, and we cherish the E memory of their lives, and of the noble ( work they did. Nor do we suppose Aus- f tralia has forgotten them. f THE DEATH ROLL. t Since we met in Adelaide, three and a-half c years ago, "the Great Reaper—Death"— v lias been among us. Both from the J ministers and laymen who then assembled honoured brethren have been summoned I h0me..... William P. Wells, the diligent c pastor, the, judicious administrator, the c earnest and useful preacher, who did all 3j his work faithfully and well, is no longer with us. In the ripeness of his experience, c t and with mental powers undimmed, he has ? been called to higher service. Robert 1] Morris Hunter, the thoughtful student, the careful expositor, the ardent evangel- I ist; whose growth both in knowledge and a grace was conspicuous to all who knew p him, in the very prime of his powers, has n heard the message, "Come up higher." p Charles Drew, thegenerous-heartedsteward, 1; who, by his liberal contributions to the b Foreign Mission Fund of our Church, s< earned our best thanks, and by his generous a and well-timed gifts to the enterprises of J w

the Church both in England and the colonies showed the breadth of his sympathies, and gained a front rank among our supf>orters, has "ceased at once to work and ive." Robert Dawson, who, with a "calmly fervent zeal," faithfully served the Church as local preacher and class leader for more than a generation, has likewise been called hence. The venerable James Bickford, who, though not a member at our last Conference, attended its sessions day by day, and watched the proceedings with keenest interest, has also entered into rest. He was painstaking and methodic to a degree, farsighted and tactful, and most loyal to the Church of which for so many years he was a minister. Other vacancies also have occurred in the ranks of our Australasian ministry. The aged Samuel Ironside, in his early days a capable, earnest and successful labourer in the Maori Mission in this land, and subsequently a faithful circuit minister in Australia and Tasmania, has finished his course. Isaac Harding, one of our veterans, who after sixteen years' toil in English Methodism in a most critical period of its history, when principle was tested and hardness had to be endured, and who afterwards laboured with unabated vigour in three of our colonies, "full of days" has been gathered to his fathers. And John G. Millard, for a short time a worker in the mission field, and then a popular preacher in some of our most important colonial towns and cities, has passed away. The Yen. Fathers Wallis and Raston, who were successful missionaries before most of us were born, and George Daniel and Spencer Williams, brethren beloved, have also been taken. Younger men, too, some of them only just buckling on the harness, have passed away in the midst of their days. And in all the colonies, capable and devoted men and women, who loved the Church and rendered excellent service, have been stricken down. We honour them for their consecrated lives, and it is but meet before we close the ranks, and the advance is sounded, that we should pay a tribute to their memory.

ABSENT COUNSELLORS. There are others, too, Avhom Aye miss. On our Adelaide platform sat the much-loved John Watsford, the first Australian-born itinerant, who, after conspicuous service in the mission field, occupied an equally eminent and honoured position in the ministry in four of the colonies, and who, as a former President of the Australasian Conference and the first elected president of the General Conference, Aye all " delight to honour," We cannot forget hoAv, through a ministry that is longer than the life of many of us who are here to-day, he has been a faithful and soul-saving Methodist preacher, and Aye rejoice that though he cannot be Avith us to-day, like the palm tree, he still brings forth fruit in old age, and in evangelistic missions "gathers in the sheaves." The A'enerable and venerated William A. Quick also, whose address at the Sacramental service in our last Conference Avill not soon be forgotten, and Avhose perfect self-control, courtesy, and calm recollectedness in debate, made him a model to us all, he, too, is not here. A Avorthy and honoured layman likeAvise, one Avho has had the honour of being elected to every previous General Conference of Avhieh laymen have been members, — William Moxham, ready in debate, forceful in expression, but tender of heart, and always seeking the Avelfare of the Church, Aye shall also miss. The vacant places of these and other honoured men remind us that soon the fathers and first Avorkers of our Australasian Church will have passed aAvay, and on younger men will devolve the burdens and responsibilities Avhieh they so honourably sustained.

! GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. Probably because of the great commercial depression the number of ministers has not .been largely increased during the triennium. But the agenda shows that there . has been a net increase of 6,847 church members and 4,096 catechumens, while 30,499 persons more Avorship in our congregations. Such returns, Avith 204 addi--1 tional churches erected, show that we are not satisfied to rest upon our oars, but ' anxious to follow the advancing tide of ' settlement. Tbe colonies that slioav the largest additions to the number of adherents are NeAv Zealand and Western Australia—the first being due in part to Methodist Union, andin part to agricultural settlement, and the second to the rich auriferous discoveries, and to the energy of our brethren there _vho have made splendid efforts to supply the neAV populations Avith the ordinances of religion. Lovers of missions Avill deplore the fact that a declining population in Fiji necessarily produces a diminution of hearers, but they Avill see that the slight decrease there is more than twice made up by the increase in NeAv Britain and Ne.v Guinea, Avhile the Tongan district also slioavs an advance of 20 per cent. Whether something cannot be done in the way of arresting the decline of native Polynesian tribes, by teaching in the schools or elsewhere the elements of sanitation and the general haws of health, is a question Aveil Avorthy of our attention. METHODIST UNION. It is my duty to report to you what has been done in the Avay of carrying out the "Plan for Methodist Union" in these colonies, Avhieh the last General Conference formulated and laid down. The Ne.v Zealand annual Conference of 1895 having before it statistics of the United Methodist Free Churches and the Bible Christian Church of the colony, and the fact that these Churches accepted the provisions of the "Plan," declared its Avillingness to consummate such union. The assent of the superior courts in England of the two Churches named having been duly obtained, a detailed and formal agreement for the carrying out of the same was, as directed, submitted to me on your behalf. A heavy responsibility Avas put upon me by the Conference to decide upon this matter. But believing that all essential interests Avere duly guarded, the "Plan" Avas not disalloAved, and by a practically unanimous vote of the district meetings of the two smaller Churches, and of the Ne.v Zealand Wesleyan Conference of 1896, it : was resolved, to carry it out. The union \ actually took effect on April 13 of the same year. An Act to duly vest the property Avas after .yards obtained, and the representatives of this colony take their place in the General Conference to-day in ; accordance Avith the modified constitu- ' tion Avhieh the " Plan of Union" provides. I In Queensland, during the tnennium, the properties and congregations of the Bible Christian Church in that colony Avere, ! by mutual arrangement, taken over by > and incorporated with the Wesleyan | Church. Since then the Primitive Metho- ] dist Conference and the Wesleyan Con- • ference in that colony, after earnest ] thought and submitting the matter to vote of their official courts, nave also agreed to j unite as and from the first of January next, and a " Plan " for carrying that out, j with due recognition of the rights and privileges of all concerned, is noAv under consideration. Whether any modification ( of the general "Plan" prescribed three j years ago is needed, and if so in Avhat direction and to A\diat extent such modification should take place, are questions -i which you yourselves Avill determine during the present session. ?

QUEENSLAND JUBILEE. By your appointment the opportunity Avas afforded me during the present year of paying a visit to the youngest of'our annual Conferences in Queensland, and taking part in the jubilee of Methodism in that large and important colony. Accompanied by gifted and eloquent colleagues, representing the other three annual Conferences, and thus demonstrating the interest of the whole Church in the celebration, the ap-

pointment was duly carried out. We rejoiced in the evidence presented of what has been accomplished during fifty years, we realised something of the immense territory that is under the charge of that Conference, and we thankfully recognised the faithful and unwearied efforts of the brethren there—lay and clerical—to extend our Church's borders. Personally great kindness was shown to us. As your representatives we were accorded a warm welcome, and greatly honoured. Probably my brethren will allow me to say on their behalf, as well as my own, that we have returned with the conviction that if anything can be done by the General Conference to strengthen the hands of our Queensland brethren and enable them to overtake the work that presses them on every side, we should promptly and cheerfully do it. LEGISLATION AND DIVINE POWER. Our work in this Conference is almost entirely legislative. By the constitution of the Church, the work of administration is committed to the annual Conferences. This Assembly, which represents the whole' of the colonies and the mission field of the South Seas, and is therefore the largest and most powerful ecclesiastical court in the Southern Herai. sphere, has devolved upon it the duty of shaping and adapting the polity of the Church to the varying needs of the populations in these rapidly-STOwing communities. No thoughtful man will be unmindful of the responsibilities that attach to us on that account. Nor will he be insensible to the privileges which we possess in being able once in three years to make such alterations as are necessary. lam but uttering a truism when I say that the besetting sin of all legislative assemblies is a passion for making new enactments. Probably you will agree with me when I add that the endeavour to bring our machinery to the- highest state or efficiency, and thoroughly carry out the present laws is at least equally important. In this connection the power that moves the machinery and the agents who are responsible for its working alike demand attention. That power which alone can render any ecclesiastical arrangements useful, and without which the more elaborate they are, the more cumbrous, is the God-given power of the Holy Ghost. That Divine gift—the supreme gift of this dispensation—is available for the direction of a Church Assembly as well as for the guidance of the individual Christian. And it is ours now in all its fulness if only we seek the aid, and believe and claim the promises. To enlighten men's minds, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, to recreate them in Christ Jesus and build them up in all holiness of living, that power is as freely bestowed and as wondrously operative as in Apostolic times.

MINISTERIAL EFFICIENCY. But in order to our taking full advantage of the Holy Spirit's power, is it not necessary for those of us whom God has honoured by calling us to special service in the Church that we should take care that we are fitted by entire consecration to be thoroughly receptive of the Divine Gift, and that then by sanctified common sense Aye should fit ourselves to become in the highest degree "co-workers with God?" From the beginning the ministers of our Church have joyfully accepted the designation of "Methodist preachers." In this they have at once recognised the Divine vocation, and attained the highest honour. But preaching is not all. For the successful discharge of a minister's multifarious duties in our day, and particularly those of a circuit superintendent, there is needed a constant vigilance, a warm-hearted , sympathy, . and-,a steady hand at the helm. One of the duties of those who are called to occupy this position is to " rule well." And if in Apostolic days he who did this was accounted worthy of "double honour," not less than this meed be given him at the end of the nineteenth century. Such a minister will recognise it to be his duty not only to work hard himself, but to gather about him a band of toilers in all departments. He will at once stimulate and guide their efforts. In the administration of affairs he will not always consider it necessary to " take the line of the least resistance," but will realise that he must observe the New Testament order, "first pure, then peaceable." Inflexible as to principle, but wisely elastic as to methods, giving full opportunity to all to speak who have the constitutional right to do so, and willing to take good advice whencesoever it may come, lie will ever set before them as before himself the highest ideal of duty. Wisely fertilising his own mind by a study of the best literature, delving ever deeper into God's word to bring out its hidden truths—knowing systematic theology, but never being so wrapped up in it as to forget present day needs—apt to take up any passing occurrence and point out its lessons—but realising that his noblest work is to teach and instruct from Holy Scripture—his discourses will be listened to with the more pleasure and profit, because his life is a commentary on his teaching. He will steadily guard against the growth of a narrow, parochial, spirit, and feel it incumbent to promote among the people of his charge connexional interests, and to " look upon the tilings of others" as well as their own. Such anian, always alert, always conciliatory, in all of whose acts devotion breathes, will secure and retain the esteem and respect of office-bearers and people. All ministers cannot be eloquent, all cannot command attention by the brilliancy of their talents, but if we have " all our wits about us," and attend faithfully to every department of duty, we may hoijpurably gam and keep the confidence and love of our people. Possibly one incidental result of such steady devotion would be that senior men instead of being elbowed out of the ranks Avhen their experience is at the ripest, because their physical powers are no longer what they were twenty-five years earlier, could find their work so adjusted that they would continue to itinerate with considerable benefit to the churches and to their younger brethren. Certainly such superintendents would always be sought for and heartily welcomed in our circuits

FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP. Only second in importance to the work of the minister himself is that of the steward. I am no alarmist and no pessimist, but unless I am greatly mistaken, there is in some places imminent danger of regarding the work of the circuit steward as simply that of an accountant. He is to attend the quarterly meeting, receive the amounts paid, duly enter these, and see that they are disbursed according to rule. But that is only the smallest part of his duty. The modei steward, according to my conception, is one whose conspicuous piety and uprightness of life have already made a deep impression on his fellow-members. He not only receives the contributions, but he takes pains to ensure there being contributed from the various parts of the circuit, not what may come or may not, but that the giving of all is "according to the ability that God giveth." He carefully studies the needs of the circuit, frequently visits all parts of the same, considers its possibilities, and is ever solicitous for its development and growth. He has definite plans to propose and does not hesitate to urge them in official meetings, where he carries weight, not by any dictatorialness, but by his evidently having studied the whole subject. He is well acquainted with the Church discipline, stands by it, and aided by society stewards like minded, and into whom he has infused something of his own spirit, he is able to relieve the minister in many cases, while he himself thus serves the Church and "his generation by the will of God." Ido not mean that such stewards are simply to echo the ministers' views and opinions. The

- stronger they are in intellect and character, t the more readily will they form plans of , their own. They -will take care by private - conference with their brethren, by friendly t discussion, and "a sweet reasonableness ' 1 so to create and guide thought, that how--3 ever diverse opinions may be in official I meetings, there will be no" painful jarring t or unseemly wrangling. Such stewards, - fitted for their work as the first stewards i or deacons were, by being "full of faith r and of the Holy Ghost," have a noble r sphere in Methodism. All ministers have c not naturally business aptitudes, all are - not born superintendents. Possibly 1 may - say, without suspicion of heresy, that - some will never shine in that capacity ; 5 but many of them have compensating , advantages and gifts that are even of a higher order. Some have the eye and the heart of a poet. Others have the far reaching vision of a true seer. They are eminently teachers. They conceive noble t thoughts, and put them in inspiring words. i The path of such men—the most gifted i and conspicuous among us—is not always • the easiest. The itinerancy, which to those c of us who are only average men is a proi tection and a help, is to them a difficulty. • They cannot immediately adapt themselves 1 to new surroundings. They need to be ■ known and trusted to do their best work, f and to be surrounded by an atmosphere of s appreciation. Our ministry cannot afford - to lose such men. It would be enriched by ■ an increase of their number. To impose ■ upon them the miscellaneous duties of a s superintendent is not economy of talent. s But wise stewards will acknowledge their ? special gifts, and by their own diligence in i affairs, and by the selection of colleagues t of other excellencies, make their path - easier and their ministry more fruitful. 1 FOREIGN MISSIONS, j In the business to come before the Conr ference that which will claim from us our best thought and deepest sympathy is c '' The Imperial Cause of Foreign Missions." It has been our privilege to witness wonr derful triumphs of the Gospel in the isles c of the South Pacific. The evangelisation of Fiji, the Christianising of Tonga, the r excellent work done in Samoa, together j with the successes already achieved in our ' newer missions of New Britain and New c Guinea, make a record for which we a may well be thankful. With a staff c that, so far as Europeans are cons cerned, has never been large numerically, 1 and at a very moderate expenditure c we have seen whole communities transg formed; while licentious and ferocious t savages have not only become faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus, but earnest and ~ faithful preachers of His Gospel. With c such results it is not creditable to the 0 Church that there should be a debt, which 1 damps the energies of the workers, and a prevents the extension and development that are demanded. Most desirable is it not only that this incubus should be removed, but that by closer consideration of our duty towards the heathen, and a more c thorough and a better worked organisation, wc should provide an ampler revenue, I and one that would enable us to take ad--3 vantage of new openings in the fields we s already occupy. No one who is cognisant s of the changing conditions of life in the , South Seas, and the influences that are J now at work in the Islands, will be disi posed to think that this is a time when we ' can retrench by reducing the number of r our agents or diminish our expenditure. - Rather, if we are to do our duty, must Aye 3 contemplate an effort someAvhat commen--3 surate .Aith the need of the thousands of • Indian coolies in Fiji, and the necessary • outgrowth in NeAv Guinea. But is this all -at which we ought to aim ? In the year • 1820, the late Rev. Walter LaAvry—a man -of mark in his time, and Avhose name is t honourably preserved in our itinerant r ranks—reported, to the Rev. ijamuel.Leigh,, c the first Methodist minister in Australia i and the pioneer of our Maori Mission, in the | following terms':—" This is certainly one of f the most important spheres of labour under 1 the direction of the committee. From us ma l few years I expect to see missionaries sally- '> ing forth to those islands Avhieh spot the ; sea on eA'ery side of us—the Friendly Isles, '. the Feejees, Ncav Hebrides, Neav Galei donia, Noav Zealand, NeAv Georgia; and s then to the north again very contiguous to ius are the islands of New Guinea, Ncav : Ireland, Celebes, Timor, Borneo, Gilolo, - and a great cluster of thickly inhabited missionary fields ; but Aye Avant more misi sionaries." At the Australian district meeti ing held in Windsor in 1827, the assembled ' ministers committed themselves to a state- ■ ment on the subject Avhieh they affirm is ■■ "sound in its principles, correct in its facts, i and judicious in its suggestions." After adi verting to the beginning already made in New Zealand and the Friendly Islands they say, " From the stations .vhich you have there taken up may your labourers spread themselves over the whole of that large cluster ; and thence proceeding to the Navigators, the Feejees, NeAv Caledonia, the Ne.v Hebrides, the Solomon Isles, NeAv Britain, New Ireland, New Guinea, and numerous subordinate islands, they might reach the Carolines, the Ladrone, and PeleAv Isles, the Manillas, and the vast number of other populous islands Avhieh cro.vd the great Oriental Archipelago, and bring us to the frontiers of the great Chinese Empire." I That Avas 70 years ago. But our enterprise still lags far behind the faith and ; foresight of our Fathers, though the num- < ber and wealth of these colonial popula- : tions have increased to an extent ot Avhieh : they did not even dream. The particular : steps to' be taken ought to be carefully and ' Avisely planned, but I submit to your ; earnest consideration, Avhether the Grace i and Providence of God do not call us, i before the end of the century conies, to i commence a mission among the great i Asiatic populations, .vhich are so near us, j and daily coming nearer. i SUPERNUMERARY FUND, | Scarcely second in interest to the Foreign Missions is the Supernumerary and Minis- ] ters'Widows'Fund. While the one arouses our Christian heroism, the other power- J fully appeals to our sympathies. _brom a very early period in its history the Methodist Cchurch has made determined and gallant efforts to provide for the needs of • those who spent their strength in its service. The Australasian connection has \ cheerfully recognised this duty, and the fund established by our Fathers in or • about 1857 has been the pride of our Church. But its stability has Avithin the last few years been seriously menaced. The rapid decline in the rate of interest and the . losses during the financial crisis which all t the. colonies passed through, and Avhieh c were unavoidable, have rendered necessary s a thorough examination of the state of the c fund, and a proposal for a revision of the r scale of alloAvances and payments. For I many years the full pressure likely to come s upon a fund of this kind Avas not felt. As a the ministers grew older, necessarily claims . have multiplied, and Aye cannot expect g much relief in that direction. All, I sup- <. pose, will now be agreed that the one thing a to be done, and to be done at any cost, a is to insure its soundness. If in doing 1 this any provision can be made for les- a. sening the strain upon the widows, r Avhose income must be seriously re- f duced, it should cheerfully be clone. In t other lands in addition to the prescribed c payments made by ministers and churches, s such funds have been strengthened by s legacies and donations. If such help can tl be given here it would be .veil bestowed, a and the declining days of our veterans and p their AvidoAvs be brightened thereby, and f; "a word to the wise is enough." We a shall miss in this investigation the clear- k headedness of the Rev. John Cope, avlio n for 25 years_ has made the affairs of the a fund a special^ study, and by hip patient h and able Avork in connection there.vith has ii made us all his debtors. Nothing but the t greatest thoroughness will noAv be satis- r

factory, and it will probably be found desirable to remit the whole matter to a thoroughly representative committee for examination and report.

MINISTERIAL INTERCHANGES, i Among other questions Avhieh will come before us there is one which is of consider- ° able importance, and to Avhieh my own '' thoughts have been necessarily directed, l viz., that of ministerial interchange between the several annual Conferences. The c Conference in Adelaide appointed a come mittee to arrange for and carry out such c interchanges as might be found necessary \ during the interval between the General . Conferences. By an oversight no means ' Avere appointed to give effect thereto, I nor was a secretary or convener appointed. j Satisfied that this omission was accidental, after consulting Avith brethren lin various colonies, I arranged f for a method of procedure. But it " has been practically inoperative. Mean'j time the interest in the question has not diminished. Not a few of our most ' thoughtful ministers and laymen believe * that for lack of a freer interchange our !" power of usefulness is being lessened, and ' that shut up' in our annual Conferences some of us are in danger of taking a narrow . parochial vieAv, instead of that broad out-" i look which those should cultivate .vhose _ jurisdiction extends over the whole of Australasia. 1 know what the difficulties g are, and what strong arguments can be , adduced against the removal of ministers Avho have made their mark in their respec--1 tive colonies. But the Avhole is greater than . its part and I should be unfaithful to my convictions Avere I not to avow that it is my deliberate judgment that in the highest interests of the Church, to preserve oneness of feeling and aim, and to strengthen the connexional bonds, such removals are absolutely necessary. Particularly desirable r do they seem to be in the .case of the s younger men Avho are growing up amongst " us, and who are either natives of _ the - colony Avhere they exercise their ministry s or spent their boyhood there. Removal to a another colony Avould in such a case Aviden c their field of observation, give them opr portunities of seeing more than one type r of Methodism, and so render them capable v of better service. The General Confere ence has undoubtedly the power to effect T such interchanges. We enter the minis- ■ try, not of this or that colony, but of the , Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church, c and the man among us Avho can devise a - plan for giving effect to what so many s in our Church desire will deserve our - thanks. 1 ENGLISH METHODIST LAWS. c I venture with some diffidence the sug--1 gestion that Aye might Avith advantage mll corporate in our book of laws some recent t legislation of the British Conference. We k are an absolutely independent Church. In . some respects our surroundings differ from f those of the fatherland. But there are c common needs of Methodism all the Avorld _ over, and Aye shoAv our wisdom in adopting regulations the practical 3character of which ! has commended them to the leaders of the 3 Church in England. Various additional k interests Avhieh should be represented in c our Synods, and some provision for the c trial of those holding official positions . among us (should such unhappily become c necessary) may be taken as illustrations f of Avhat I mean. Should it be thought Avise to take the matter up, it will probably be j found desirable, instead of doing it hastily .in the present session, to appoint a com- { mittee Avho Avould examine and report. , Whether such a committee might not im--1 prove the phraseology of some of our . present rules, and also reduce their bulk, j they too will determine, s USE OF THE PRESS. t We all rejoice in the excellent Avork i being put into our connexional papers, i " The Methodist," "The Spectator,* " The - Christian Weekly," "The Advocate," f " The Methodist Leader," and " The Goldr fields Methodist" are indispensable to the 1 efficient Avorking of the Church and we ' should be glad to bespeak for them a much b larger subscription list. But Australasian i Methodism has at present no intercolonial ' medium of communication. In these t papers, which are chiefly for the circulation of news, it Avould be impossible to find space for lengthy articles. ■ Yet there are subjects that ' ought to be discussed, and on which a healthy public opinion should be created. Politi-cal-ecclesiastical questions crop up from ■ time, theological and doctrinal subjects call for remark. The trend of thought in ■ philosophy has a close bearing on religion. We should keep ourselves in touch with scientific research. Social questions require thought and demand expression. We ■ have men among us avlio can discuss them with ability and moderation. They Avield facile pens and have the poAver of expression. Whether the time has come for an Australasian Methodist Review, and if so lioav it should be established, are points worthy of consideration. CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR SOCIETIES. Looking beyond our denominational boundaries there are tAvo great movements which enlist our warmest sympathies, and Avili secure from us cordial support. The I Christian Endeavour organisation is preeminently one of the times. That in 16 years over 50,000 societies have been established, that it moves among 40 different denominations, prints its pledge in 40 different languages, and has three . millions of members enrolled, are facts ! which shoAv that it has both vitality : and popularity. A very pleasing fea- i ture of its working is the AA'ay in AA'hich ' it has brought all the Protestant Churches . into line. In some it has been dis- . tinetly fostered, and the societies, Avhile \ gladly claiming comradeship Avith allies ' from all other Churches, appear as a solid denominational phalanx. In others, .vith scanty official recognition, it has become a potent factor in the Church life. As '< Methodists Aye rejoice in it because it em- j phasises the need for Christian fellowship, 1 and distinctly provides for the expression < of religious experience, Avhile many of its _ methods of service are but the formulated i embodiment of .vhat has been done in- j formally in our best churches from the be- i ginning. Its uses are only' in the initial j stage, but meantime Aye rejoice that in the . number of societies of Australasia, Method- < ism is in the van. _ THE STUDENTS' CHRISTIAN < UNION. The World's Student Christian Federa- ] tion, the associated form which the Stu- ] dents' Christian Union of various lands and different languages has taken, is an- ( other and most hopeful outcome of the J past feAV years. That the students of col- . leges and high schools the Avorld over ] should unite in any form of Christian ■ activity is a sign that is full of promise. 1 The motto of the Federation, " The Rvan- x gelisation of the Avorld in 'the present l generation," is a noble one, and one which c all Avho believe in evangelical Arminianism 5 will heartily endorse. No class of persons I knoAV better what this involves than the young men and women who constitute its € membership. Their rules compel them to c familiarise themselves .vith the difficulties of 8 the problem, and the training they receive r constrains them to put into this Avork the same thoroughness that they do into £ secular studies. The dense populations of non-Christian lands, the forms of thought a and philosophy that prevail there, and the ? points of contact and repulsion Avhieh false religions have with Christianity are ? all included in their programme. They knoAv that the work to be undertaken is k not child's play—that it means toil of brain a and travail of soul—that it iiwolves risk of ° health, and may mean the sacrifice of lite ° itself. They are aAvare that devotion to s this taskAvill neither bring the pecuniary reward nor the scholastic honours which 11

ordinary employment offers. But the attraction of Christ's cross is so powerful that the most vigorous and attractive part of the Union is seen in " the student volunteer movement for Foreign Missions." Since its organisation this has already been taken up in 600 American colleges, Avhere 4,000 volunteers have been enrolled, and of these one-fourth are already in the field. In Great Britain, in the older universities and the new, and in tbe theological colleges, it has also taken root 1,300 have joined the membership, and 300 of these have already commenced actual work.. Each of these, 5,000 and more, be it remembered, has signed this declaration: "Itis my purpose, if God permit, to become a.foreign missionary. What mighty spiritual force is in all this we hardly yet fully realise, but certainly it AAdll co a long'way to fulfil their own purpose "and "make Jesus King." That the movement is an active one in these colonies I for one am heartily glad. The wisdom shown by its promoters in not seeking toAveaken denominational attachments, but to leave each member free to accept the service which his own Church offers is a further element of strength, and worthy of commendation. The outcome of it surely ought to be a large increase of the missionary spirit in the churches generally. When young men and young .vonien whose minds are disciplined by study, and Avho have counted the cost, are thus offering to go any .vhere to preach the Gospel, .ye may Ave'll expect that those who cannot go themselves, but have the means at disposal, will freely place it in the hands of the missionary committees, that these as their representatives may be sent forth. It does seem that the Pentecostal blessing is coming upon us. Our '' young men (and young Avomen) dream dreams" of a regenerated earth, and of the universal reign of righteousness, and as they go forth to aid in its realisation, saying, " One is our ; Master, even Christ, and all we are brethren," they will have the prayers and benison of all who pray "Thy kingdom come." ACTIVITIES OF THE ENGLISH CHURCHES. In our fatherland the most notable feature during the past three years has been the manner in Avhieh the Free Churches have been drawn together. Moved by the spirit of union Avhieh is in the air, impelled also by the deep spiritual necessities of the vast populations of the large cities and industrial towns, they have met for mutual counsel and prayer. In doing so they have become conscious of their OAVn strength. The statistics shoAv not only that the Free Churches to-day supply more accommodation than the State Church, but that they are increasing in a much higher ratio. In England and Wales, at the beginning ' of. the century, there were only 881,240 sittings supplied by the Free Churches. In 1896 there were 7,624,600. The Anglican Church had at the beginning of that period 4,289,883 sittings; to-day there are 6,718,228. In other words, the increase in the 95 years was in the Church of England between 50 and 60 per cent., in the Free Churches nearly 900 per cent. These figures indicate a reserve of strength which -will have much to do in the shaping of " the England that is to be " in the 20th century. And if the prudent and practical methods adopted by the leaders are maintained in the future, it seems likely that the reproaches levelled against the Free Churches in the past —the lack of cohesion, and want of strength in corporate action — will be wiped aAvay. Probably also the systematic visitation inaugurated in several towns may lead to some form of territorial missions, Avhieh in these dense populations is sorely needed, and which will economise service and expenditure. The Pan-Anglican, Conference has also been held at Lambeth, and Avas doubtless the largest gathering of Bishops of that communion ever held. The detailed results of their deliberations have not yet been given to the world, but the pronouncement made respecting foreign missions Avas timely and reassuring. Two or three . movements in connection with Church life are not so hopeful as those to which I have adverted. The efforts of the extreme party in the Church of England to obtain from the Pope of Rome a recognition of the validity of Anglican orders, and the rebuff it met with, makes one doubt whether most to regret the Aveakness that led to the request being made, or the blindness of .hose Avho expected any other ansAver. Its .nterest to us as Methodists is that these _ager sacerdotalists who promoted the appeal have been beaten with the same staff >vith which they have so often belaboured ithers. Wise men among the Episcopalians themselves are noAv pointing out Avhat we ong ago insisted upon, that the true marks )f "Apostolic succession are apostolic zeal, ipostolic purity, apostolic devotion, and ipo^tolic success. Efforts made by the same .arty in connection Avith recent educational novements in England are not without t lesson. They slioav plainly that they tre not satisfied with Bible-reading in ;he public schools. They are determined o insist on their OAvn dogmas being ineul.ated, and are still anxious for clerical .ontrol. And the issue indicates that so ar they have still sufficient political inluence to largely gain their end. The esson thus given to the colonies seems to >c that Avhile Aye are solicitous that Holy Scripture shall not be banned in our public chools, and that from its teaching the Divine Government and the laws of moralty should be learned, and I for one propose o do my utmost to secure this ; that Aye nust also be careful not to favour or even Alow denominational tenets being taught, lenorainational grants given, or denominaional government permitted. 'HE CHURCH'S PRESENT OPPORTUNITY. )ur territory as represented in this Conerence is immense, and the populations in he midst of Avhieh Aye Avork are rapidly inreasing. The Methodists of eight coloiies in the Southern Avorld look to us for nspiration and guidance, and the successul missions in four groups' of islands are nterested in our discussions. Since the rst Australasian Conference was held in 855, the population of the colonies has inreased more than sevenfold, and their posessions have multiplied even faster. With ur rapidly-groAAdng cities, and the everridening spread of our rural settlers, prolems of Church life confront us of , rhich our fathers kneAv very little. !areful observers knoAv that Avork among ity populations is the most difficult f all. Our cities are the Sebastopol .rtresses which the Christian armies must lvest. They cannot be taken with a rush. low rightly to do the social Avork that it i the province of the Christian Church to ndertake, and at the same time maintain nimpaired the spirituality of our dfforts, re questions Avhieh press for solution. In ur country districts there are evidences aat the wide circuits of English Rural lethodism cannot be reproduced in their atirety in these Southern lands. What ranges in our economy are necessary to ccomplish Avhat is requisite and urgent in .ty and country it is our duty thoughtilly to consider. We have an ecclesiastical institution Avhieh is of the freest. Elected v our brethren, there is in this Conference bsolutely. no question as betAveen the ates of ministers and laymen. Each have le same right to propound their vie_vs, ich the same privilege of voting. While ie great responsibility suggests caution, le opportunity ought to inspire boldness; id if Aye are convinced that any part of lr Church machinery needs to beset aside •replaced, Aye should resolutely set cursives to the adaptation. THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE, rejoice in the success of the Jubilee

te celebrations in connection with Her r- Majesty's Record Reign, and I feel sure s- that I may again give expressions of our ie renewed loyalty to our most Gracious Ti Majesty .Queen Victoria. We have all * is witnessed with intense pleasure and intern est the enthusiasm of the' proceeding :n which transpired throughout the empire " 1- during June last. May God preserve her ji and permit her to reign over a loyal and n devoted people. n CONFERENCE PROCEDURE, -V h May I say one word as to our procedure j in the Conference itself. We know no . party in this supreme court of our Church. l? The work _ye have in hand is too sacred for „ party consideration. I trust we shall not - . allow mere colonial boundaries to influence ' 1S us to much in our deliberations. There is y an ever present danger in free Parliaments ? like our own, and in a church assembly the danger is intensified. We have most of us ie strong and definite convictions on the sub'f jects that come before us. Holding I" these with tenacity, there is a pos3 ' sibility that in the ardour of debate we c should sometimes cast doubt on the % sincerity of our opponents, or in our }t eagerness to carry a measui'e we think dey sirable that we should be unduly insistent i l" Is not the remedy for this to be found in a n constant recognition of the presence of the 18 I Gread Head of the Church ? Shall not we ' c i do well also distinctly to seek the guidance 0 of the Holy Spirit, Avho is promised "to y guide into all the truth ?" In our personal. 0 prayers we shall seek that guidance. If X the first half-hour of the morning session 11 could also be devoted to united pleading, s it would be of benefit to us all. May God,. v our own God, send.us His blessings so that ? in the days to come this Conference may . _ ! be distinguished in our Church history as '* i one that inaugurated a ne.v era of spiritual. a j power, leading to greater triumphs of the 0 ! Gospel than any that we have yet knoato. c WELCOME TO THE VISITORS. • 1 The Rev. W. J. Williams (Auckland) tendered a hearty .velcorae to the visiting delegates. He said he had found on the ' part of Auckland friends the utmost -willmgness to accommodate the visitors. Arrangements had been made for the brethren i to lunch together each day in the Wesley s Hall, and as they were not expected to be s working all the time, no doubt the kind , , invitation of the Auckland Bowling Club - to make use of their lawns would be taken f advantage of. . He announced that a de- , putation from the Auckland Ministers' 1 Association would be pleased to wait upon 3 the Conference at sucn time as .vould be - convenient. . ELECTION OF PRESIDENT. r The Revs. W. W. Rutledge and G. E. • Rowe, and Messrs W. Coltman and W. H. " Barnes were appointed as scrutineers for J the election of the President for the en--5 suing three years. The voting washy i ballot, and the Rev. Mr Morley announced t the result as follows: Rev. H. T. Burgess " (South Australia), 74 votes; Rev. Geo. r Lave (N.S.W.), S3 votes; Rev. W. Clarke i (N.S.W.), 2; and Revs. J. Berry (South. ) Australia), W. H. Fitchett (Victoria), and.. ) W. Williams (Victoria), one vote each. 5 The retiring President therefore declared J the Rev. Mr Burgess to be duly elected President for the ensuing'term, amidst 6 general applause. J The retiring President said the Confer-1 • 'J ence were simply carrying out what he I had expected, and what he believed the "' majority of those present had expected ' Addressing the new President, Mr Morley %- said : " You have served our Church in ' South Australia signally and well for 38 . ' years, andhave also helped us in our General ■ Conferences, not only as a member, but as . ' an officer, especillay during the last two,, t Conferences. lam very glad to welcome ■ you as the President of the Conference," - IHe then presented Mr Burgess with: ; the symbols of office: The seal'" : of the Australasian Methodist Church, • and a copy of the Holy Scripture E resented to the Australasian Conference y the Rev. W. L. Binks. The President, in reply, said he thought any man Avho stood in the position he was 1 noAv occupying Avould think it his first duty ; to thank his God, and his second to thank \ his brethren for electing him. It would of '■_ course be affectation to say he was nnpre-. Eared for the honour. They had not left im unprepared—if they had he might ha. re been more comfortable. (Laughter.) Some 1 of the brethern had even provided him with : speeches for the occasion. (Laughter.) He was not, hoAvever, expected to give ■ an address that evening, especially after the comprehensive and ex- ,- haustive address they had just heard. There came to his mind the Avords, " What am I, 0, Lord God, that Thou has brought me hither ?" and his gratitude _vas all the greater because in Methodism he had no father's house. He had given himself to Christ mainly through the influence of a pious father and a mother whose angelic temperament he feared he had not inherited. He had not entered the Method-. ist Church in the regular .\'ay. He was, for instance, recommended to the ministry before he had passed his examination as local preacher. But he (the speaker), who had been brought up in another Church and prejudiced, came to see that the theology of the Methodist Church was a harmonious, logical,consistentwhole,in en tire accord with the spirit and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, as given us in the New Testament (applause.) He came to the conclusion also that the policy of the Church Avas distinctly in harmony Avith the policy of the early Church, as laid down in the Acts of the Apostles, and from those two principles he had never SAverved. He believed Avith all his heart in the doctrine of the Methodist Church, so far as he understood it, and he had, and he thanked that he was led to join that OJhurch. He was not so egotistical as to think that in his election he alone Avas in their minds. They desired to 'do honour to the colony he represented (hear, hear). The Conference had not been precipitate, at any rate, in giving South Australia the honour (laughter.) He pointed out that the South Australian Conference Avas territorially the largest Methodist Conference in the colonies, and some of their distances were magnificent distances. South and West Australia together represented a very big territory. South Australia Avas a country of great possibilities. When he told them that the Wesleyan Methodists numbered about 1 in 6 of the population they Avould see that Methodism in that colony had taken a strong hold. South Australia Avas not the child of any of the other colonies, and in like manner the Methodism of South Australia came direct from the Old Country. The first Methodists came Avith the first immigrants, and they had continued to carry on the Avork that Avas so nobly begun there. The first minister ever sent to South Australia Avas sent apparently by Providence, being shipwrecked on the coast. From these 1 beginnings the Church he represented had gone on until noAv it Avas as rail of the life and spirit and power of its Master as it Avas at any time in its history (applause). In conclusion, he earnestly hoped that they Avould have the blessing of God resting upon them at this Conference, and prayed that they might realise the responsibilities of their position and do all tilings as hi • His immediate presence. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. After the President had taken the chair, the election of a Secretary was proceeded with. The balloting resulted: Rev. G. Lane (N.S.W.) 69 votes, Rev. W. Williams (Victoria) 19 votes, several others obtaining smaller totals. The Rev. G. Lane Avas, therefore, declared elected. . The Rev. Henry Bull (New Zealand) and the Rev. W. Halse Rogers (N.S.W.) Avere appointed assistant secretaries and Mr Thomas LockAvood (Vie

i«. an a Rev. William Dinning (QueensSndl Journal secretaries. laD hi VOTES OF.THANKS. iph_» Rev. J- Wooldnough (President of a. New South Wales Conference) con♦.,kted the Rev. Burgess on his elec*ra avin- that he had the confidence of SV SSer of the Conference. He then pd "That the Conference records its «nf indebtedness to the ex-President, fter William Morley for the ser•l rendered to this body and the Jiplitv with which he has discharged the '.ties of his office since the last General n U „fprpnce. and also presents its 23?5 the Rev. Mr Morley for the able A timely address delivered by him at the a _Miin_. of this Conference, and requests Tt he will arrange for its publication in SeS fen-."" Mr W«_«|* m id jut the ex-President had exhibited a ISton-h knowledge of their polity, con- . itution and laws, and a great fidelity in dministrating them. He had by every ossible means rendered assistance to those _ office and in responsible positions in the various Conferences, and they had to Ltrratulate him as Avell as to thank him niioii the very successful way in which he had finished his term of office, with the excellent address they had listened to. Mr T. Vasey (Victoria) seconded, and the motion .vas carried by acclamation. The Rev. Mr Morley expressed his obligation to the meeting for the expression of thanks, and bore testimony to _ the unvarying kindness he had met .vith from the ministers and laymen of the Church throughout the whole of his term of office. He moved " That the cordial thanks of the Conference be presented to the retiring Secretary (Rev. H. T. Burgess) for the thorough and eminently satisfactory manner in which he has discharged the duties of lus office." JlrD. Nock (South Australia) seconded the motion, which Avas carried by acclamatlon* GENERAL. On the motion of the Rev. G. Lane, it iras resolved that the Standing Orders of the last General Conference be adopted. The hours of sitting were fixed as follows-.—From 9.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m., from 2 to 5 p.m., and from 7 to 9 p.m. The secretary of the last General Conference laid on the table a statement of the expenses of that Conference and of subsequent expenditure, and also ansAvers to the first twelve questions on the agenda paper, as compiled from the minutes of the several annual conferences. Messrs C. W. Priest (South Australia) and W. F. BroAvnell (Victoria) were appointed precentors. It was resolved " That the sessions of this Conference be open to the public, _vho may occupy a portion of this building to be indicated for that purpose by the President, except at such times as the Conference shall resolve to sit .vith closed doors." COMMITTEES. The folloAving Committees Avere appointed to consider the subjects to be brought before Conference and to bring up reports for discussion :— Recommendations from Annual Conferences.—Revs. W. H. Beale, W. W. Rutledge, W. H. Fitchett, 8.A., J. A. Marshland, W. Langsford, G. E. RoAve, C. H. Garland, G. Bond, J. Bowes, C. A. J. Hutchison, Messrs Stratford, McKeo.vn, A. Harkness, J. Callaghan, E. E. Mitchell, J. W. Langsford, J. A. Flesher, W. Harding, A. Gibson, W. H. Barnes. Rev. W. H. Beale, convener. Ministerial Interchanges.—Revs- J. A. K.lan, R. Bavin, T. Grove, T. Adamson, J. Berry, J. B. Stephenson, H. Bull, W. Baumber, C. A. J. Hutchinson, W. Dinning, Messrs W. S. Foxail, W. Kellett, F. J. Cato, W. F. Brownell, D. Nock, J. C. Haslam, G. H. BlackAvell, W. Gunson, B, Aland, H. Williams. Re*'. T. Grove, COnA"-!-.-. Cowree of Study for Probationers and ProvisionalT-ieologica! Institutions. —Revs. R. Sellors, 8.D., J. E. Moulton, E. W. Nye, J. Hasleni, R. S. Casely, H. H. Teague, W. C. Oliver, W, G. Parsonson, _V. Jeffries, H. Youngman. Rev. R. S. Casely, convener. Educational Institutions, Sunday Schools Book Depots, and Periodical Literature :—- Revs. J. E. Moulton, S. Knight, C. T. Newman, W.-J. Williams, H. Youngman, Messrs J. S. Larke, F. Buttle, J. W. langsford, T. Buddie, W. T. Reid. Rev. W. J. Williams convener. Sabbath Observance, Temperance, etc.— Revs. W. W. Rutledge, W. L. Blamires, J. Cowperthwaite, 8.A., D. J. Murray, W. Dinning, Messrs W. L. Dash, W. L. Coltman, D. Nock, W. S. Allen, R. Aland. Sev. Cowperth .vaite convener. BUSINESS ORDER. It was resolved, '' That the presidents and secretaries of the annual conferences, the gensral treasurers of the connexional funds, the general secretary of missions, together with the secretary of the general conference, he a committee to determine the general husiness order of the conference, and the order in which the recommendations irom annual conferences shall be considered."