METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 55, 5 March 1914, Page 7

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

PITT STREETS NEW MINISTER. A KEEN DEBATE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") DUNEDIN, Wednesday. A very keen debate took place on the question of stationing the Rev. C. il. Laws, 8.A., at Pitt Street, Auckland. The Christchureh Durham Street Church memorialised the conference that it be converted into a central mission, with a view to Mr Laws being retained there. This was strongly opposed by the Revs. G. Bond, W. Ready, Mr T. Hodgson. Mr J. Stanton, and Mr J. Veale. who made a strong plea on behalf of Pitt Street, A telegram received from Mr D. Goldie also carried considerable weight in Pitt Street's favour. The cause of Durham Street was championed by tbe Rev. S. Laury, the Hon. G. J. Smith, and Mr J. A. Flesker. The claims of Auckland and Christchureh were well balanced, and caused great interest. The vote was taken, the result being 52 in favour of Christchureh and 98 in favour of Auckland, and the Rev. C. H. Laws, B_A., was nppointed to Pitt Street. It is possible tbat a change may be made in the secoid reading of stations, but it is not probable. In the Auckland central circuit there are to be fenr, instead of five, minister? next year. The Rev. Percy Knight, M.A., of Australia, is in tbe first reading of stations placed at Durham Street. The Rev. J. Olphert, of Eden Terrace, is placed at Te Awamutu; the Rev. W. Hay, of Mount Eden, at Trinity Church, Dunedin; the Rev. R. Raine, of Franklin Road, Auckland, at Gisborne; the Rev. A. B. Chappell, of Wanganui), is transferred to Mount Albert; the Rev. E. P. Blamires is to be stationed at Mouut Eden; the Rev. W. P. Potter, at Papakura ; the Rev. .1. E. Parsons, at Otahuhu; the Rev. G. Frost, at Franklin; the Rev. W. Avery, at Paparoa; the Rev. W. Speer, at Northern Wairoa; the Rev. T. R. Woolloxall. at Whangari: and the Rev. .1. Peet, at Rotorua.

At the conference social gathering tonight the Garrison Hall was crowded, the speakers being the Rev. G. Bond and the Hon. C. M. Luke. The latter made an appeal for a return to the old time passion and fervour which marked Methodism in its early days. Sister Grace Crump, the newly-appointed matron of the Deaconess Home in Christchureh, addressed the conference, and made a ve.rv favourable impression. She has been a Wesley deaconess for 1"> years in England. Sbe is to train the deaconesses, supervise hospital visitation, and help to distribute municipal charities.

The Minister of Railways is to be asked not to give special facilities for holding Sunday excursions. Parliament is to he petitioned to raise tho age of consent to 18 years, and that the present majority required upon the licensing question be reduced. At an impressive evening session eulogistic references were made to the character and work of the late Revs. C. E. Beecroft. Barton. H. (linger, and W. Tinsley.

Du-ing the meeting a telejrrani was read, statin? that Mr D- Collison, of Hastings, had died, and left £1,000 for extension of work of the Methodist Church in Hastings.

A report upon Mr Vallance Cook's mission showed that hundreds had professed conversion at the meetings held in the Dominion. Mr T. Hodgson described the successful mission in Pitt Street. The missions conducted by the Rev. Vallance Trigg and Sister Francis bad also been vcrv successful.