WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7264, 25 January 1889, Page 5

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(press association tklegram.l

DUNEDIN, January 24. The ministerial session of the Weeleyan Conference was resumed this morning. The Eev. Mr Morley expressed, on behalf of the Eev. Mr Dewsbury, thanks for the permission of the Conference to. visit England last year. The Eev. Mr Lawry was excused on account of sickness. Greetings were received from the Victorian Wesleyan Conference, the Primitive Methodist Conference, N.Z., and the TJ.M.F. Conference of N.Z., and replies were ordered to be sent. Matters relating to the ministerial character were then considered.

The afternoon session of the "Wesleyan Conference was occupied principally with a discussion of the intercolonial exchanges of ministers ordered by the last General Conference.

. The Eev E. Bavin made a statement respecting hie exchange with New South Wales, in which he said that he had not sought to sever his connection with New Zealand, but that he was transferred by the General Conference, and whilst he felt it his duty to obey that supreme authority, he had not taken the initiation in his transfer.

The Rev. J. H. Simmonda stated that he did not now desire, nor had he ever desired, to sever his connection with New Zealand, and that he wished the New Zealand Conference to take such steps a* would secure the continuance of his connection with the Church here.

Letters were read from Bey. B. Edgar, Victoria, asking that his proposed transfer to New Zealand. might not be insisted upon, as he did not desire each a change on personal grounds. V

After a long and thorough discuesidn, the following resolutions were agreed to on the motion of the Eev. W. Moriey:-* " That the New South Wales Conference be telegraphed to, that Bey. B. Bavin was left open for an appointment within its bounds, in accordance with the decision of the General Conference as to transfers?' " That a telegram be sent to the South Aue • tralian Conference asking them to transfer Bey. J. H. Simmonda to New Zealand with a view to this Conference re transferring Bey. A. B. Edgar to Victoria, thus meeting the wishes of both, and that a telegram-*be sent to Victoria statin g the proposal." The Beys. D. McNicoll and Q. Bond received th'e permission of the Conference to visit England during the year. The obituary record of the late Eere. George Stannard and C. E. Barley -irece read and spoken to by many tninietera. •