METHODIST UNION IN AUSTRALIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 306, 28 December 1898, Page 5

METHODIST UNION IN AUSTRALIA.

RESOLUTIONS OF THE FEDERAI: COUNCIL OF NEW SOUTH WALES,

■'■ Several meetings of the Methodist' Federal Council have recently beeri>* ; : held at: the Centenary Hall, Sydney, (for the purpose of considering- in dei tail the. report of a sub-committee . which had been appointed for the purI pose, of collecting- data; in order, to , place-before the next conferences SS a guide to them in the matter of fix-: [ing a date for union. Last conference affirmed the expediency of union, and ; I the next will be asked to fix a definite date for its consummation. I The sub-committee in its report presented information from all the cir- ! cults where overlapping occurs, con-' sisting of tabulated returns, as on. j June 30, 1898, showing the number of members, adherents, circuit income. ; ! present value of church, parsonage. | and other properties, and ..present. j debts bnthe same. ■ . In. considering' the subject of pos- ! sible '.-, amalgamations;,.-, the sub-com~ j mittee kept in mind the fact •that; it is i ript proposed to make any redistribu- ■ tion of places and circuits immediately upon the consummation of union, but that thereafter all amalgamations shall take place gradually, as circumstances, may permit. The amalgamations suggested-, would employ in the city and suburbs 15 ministers and one probationer on the ground now; occupied by. 18 ministers, one minister being taken away from each; of the following "localities, viz., Surry-hill.s, v Glebe,:and Balmain.'". In' the country 13 ministers aiid three .probationers; would 'be employed where 'IS ministers now are, Crookwell Mudgee, Wollongpng, Morpeth, ancl Macleay River being relieved. Thus there would be a surplus of eight ministers, less an additional minister:to be sent to the Camden district, leaving a net sxtrpiiis of se^Ten ministers. ■ The cost" of four probationers, nowever, is p\o-,. vided for in trlie plan %vliere mimisters are now stationed. The amalgama.- . tions suggested' Avould also free the \ Wesleyan Sustentation Society from the grants now paid to the Mount Xachlan, Glebe, Cleveland-street, Balmain (West End), Crookwell, and;. Gladstone circuits, amounting in IS9S to £170. . .

The Federal "■;. Council went very carefully through the. reports and schedules submitted; a.nd -ultimately passed .unanimousl3 r the following resolution.: ■•'■ ; ■ : •. • . ' -

'That the. returns .-.submitted by. the sub-committee .-show that in; the proposed . amalgamations : the .trust affairs will not-be injuriously affected; tha-t in dealing with the. surplus properties no financial difficulties will bp. created,; ■ but that, in some cases, trust liabilities will- be relieved,; and; that in each case.where a ptoperty" would have to .be sold ther.e is-a reasonable expectation of, .a surplus after the mortgage" and other debts have .been paid. "In view .of the fact that in all the other colonies union has been decided npon, the faythest- date for consummating "it -in any colonj r ';,being 1902, this Federal Council recommends the several conferences to fix the date of union in New' South Wales not later than 1902.'