THE METHODIST CHURCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 79, 3 April 1928, Page 11

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

ONEHUNGA CIRCUIT. YEAR'S WORK REVIEWED. A review of the year's work in the Onehunga Methodist circuit was m'ode at the quarterly meeting held last night at Onehunga. by the Rev. F. E. Leadley, who presided. He said he had been twelve months in the circuit, and he hhliwas thankful for the kind and hearty co-operation of all the officers and members. There had been an increase in all the congregations, and the Onehunga chairs had been requisitioned in the aisles at the morning service. This was very encouraging, and he wished he could say it was universal in the Methodist Church throughout New Zealand. But he could not, for at the conference held last February at Christchureli, many of his ministerial brethren deplored the dwindling congregations, in some cases almost to vanishing point, owing to the love of pleasure and other causes. There liad been an increase of 34 members in the cirucit during the year, after allowing for many removals and the purging of the church rolls. A pleasing feature wm the establishment of the intermediate Christian Endeavour, for young people between the ages of 14 and 18, on Sunday morning at Onehunga. This growth of Methodism in the Onehunga circuit made an imperative demand for increased accommodation at Onehunga for the Sunday School. Already they had £200 in hand for this purpose. The balance could be obtained from the Methodist building and loan fund without interest.

Mr. Leadley stressed the necessity for proceeding at once with the crcction of tiie new Methodist Church llall at Fuvana, Mangere .to take in the large number of children living in the vicinity and waiting to join a Sunday school. He hoped to see thin building materialised by the end of June next, and he asked all the men in the circuit to unite in giving one day's voluntary labour for that purpose. He looked to see the spiritual life of the church revived at the same time, and with that end in view a week's mission would be conducted during the winter by Mrs. Cribb at Onehunga, and also at Penrose. The finances of the circuit were buoyant. There was some dissent on. receipt of the conference demand for £8 11/9, as the amount levied on the circuit for the support of the Young People's Department. Mr. (J. E. Goode moved: "That the demand be not entertained." The chairman said he could not'accept the motion as the conference was the Parliament of Methodism and its legislation had to bo obeyed. Mr. J. Booth and others demurred. It' was finally decided to "receive" the demand. Young People's Dav will be celebrated on May 27.

Messrs. W.' Archer and R. Stacev were appointed to represent the cricuit on the Council of Christian Congregations.

The election of Mesdames A. Pople, R. G. Taking, T. H. Ash end T. Flag as representatives of the congregation to tho quarterly meeting was confirmed, and Mrs. Pople, in a graceful speech, returned thanks.