N.Z. METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 7 March 1912, Page 6

N.Z. METHODIST CONFERENCE.

TO-DAYS PROCEEDINGS. (Continued from page 8.) The annual conference of the New Zea. land Methodist Church was continued to-day, the President, the Rev ttf Ready presiding. ' ™* POREJOX MISSION'S. • • The Rev. J. N. Rmtle, foreign Missio* secretary, on hehalf of the Foreign Missions Committee, moved further resolutions dealing with Foreign Missions. The first wa* commending the Uymen'a Missionary Movement to the sympathetic consideration of the officials and mills members of the Church. The second motion expressed tln> conference's cordial approval of the Progressive poliev outlined by the Iwird. which provided for the appointment of .five additional Tnisßionarie.s ami eight missionary sister* to various positions in the field. TH« conference recognised the financial obligations involved therein, and pledged itself to use its utmost endeavours to raise during the ensuing year the amount a.-ked for by the Board of Missions vii. £3600. ' The resolutions were carried without dissent. Mr. Buttle nnnonnced that the Rev. J. T. Field, late of \> w Guinea, who is this year's deputation from the ForeignMissions Board, would arrive from Sydney on Sunday next, and would com. mence his itinerary at Auckland immediately. The Rev. A. B ( happell moved that, the thanks of the conference he presented to the general secretary and treasurer, the Rev. J. X. Buttle, and to the lay treasurer, Mr. A. R. Sherrts, for their services during the Tear, and that, they be appointed. The vote was carried by aeclamaHot. A VOTE OF TrtAXKS. . f| The ex-president flic T!ev. C. XT. -.4.' Spence) was accorded a hearty vote ot thanks for his address t<s the. ae»lfordained ministers the evenfg before. TRAINrXO or DEACOXFSSES. '" The report of the committee on tnt training of deaconesses, which was presented by the Rpv. J. \V. Burton, state* that at Deaconess House three probationers had been in training, and the half-yearly examinations -rare pvidenes , of diligence and progress. The St. John Ambulance course hail al'-o been take* with creditable results. The committee gratefully acknowledged the unabated ; zeal and ability of Sister Mabel as Wr Superintendent, and also the kind'services rendered by the Ladies' House Committee. The committee recommended the amendment of the rules to provide that all those who have been employed continuously three years in Deaconess work, and whose names are reported oa favourab.'y by the superintendents of circuits, be recognised as Deaconesses of the church, and that in future all Det«?;s eonesses, prior to being recognised by 1 the conference, shall be approved by the • Central Deaconess Committee. The cotamittec further recommended that on th»: j completion of three years' probation, probationers be admitted as fully an Ii credited Deaconesses of the church at a special gen-ire of dedication. The committee finally recommended that the ■ ministers of the church be urged to en- ,-■ courage, by all means in their power, suitable young women to avail then* selves of the training offered by the Con- - nexional Deaconesses' House, and tbt the conference should urge that no &■•■ ; cnit should seek an appointment Of a deacon Without first ascertaining whether a trained agent was available.

The report, with the recommendation! contained therein, waa adopted, and t motion was passed expressing the conference's appreciation of the work of tftft institution. DEPUTATION FROM MINISTER'S'! ASSOCIATION". A deputation from the Auckland Mia-» isters' Association headed liy the Rev.; •T. Cocker, the President, waited upoa,'the conferens* to exchange fraternal 1 '* greetings and was heartily welconted Bjf-.-f the President. The Rev. Mr. Cocker stated that th», Auckland Ministers' Association wa» probably the strongest association of it» kind in New Zealand, having no !*£;* than 47 menVbers. The Association welcorned the conference to Auckland and hoped that 'the matocaci and spiritual prosprity of the Methodist church would increase. The record of Methodttto; ibuilding thirteen churches and Jive PM* sonages in one year was one of which, they might well feel proud. He «>*•* gratulated them upon the missionary enterprise of the Methodist Church and said he noticed that the amount raise* for this work last year was £430 il excess of the previous year. Also, hi congratulated them upon having so nntßf candidates for the ministry and he sin- ; cerely hoped the young men offering themselves were of the right starp. H* was also delighted that they had raised the sum of £BOO for the new Theological College and that their membership had increased by «Hi. It pave him piaijure to learn that the Methodist OhuMfc intended to be even more aggressive ii the future than in the past. The ptu gospel of all the churches must «If win men for .lesus Christ. Newer *J§ there a time *hen the Church of G» was more badly needed than it W*» ■» the present day. (Applause), The Rev. J. VV. Burton spoke eloquently and optimistically of the Church" prospects and the growing need Wf Crristaanity. .^ The Rev. S. Ijawry then moved ina* this conference desires to eK P appreciation of the goodwill and «*&■ nel feeling manifested toy the deputation, and heartily reciprocates their <»«•"- ments and trusts that they, in ««* several spheres, may enjoy the ncMW blessings of <Jod." The ™t\°»*"* seconded by the Rev. W. J. WiJhtt* and carried amid acclamation. The conference adjourned until ww afternoon when the second reading or stations will be presented.