WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9887, 18 November 1897, Page 6

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(rKtas association tklkor.-m.)

AUCKLAND, November 17. The Wealeyan Methodist Conference resumed this morning. The special report and balance-sheet of the Treasurers of the Supernumerary Ministers' and Ministers' Widows' Fund were read, together with the recommendations of the Supernumerary Fund Committee. The balance-sheet showed the income fund to have been in 1894 £25,895 15s 9d, in 1895 £28,897 13s lid. in 1896 £29,385 13s Bd, total £84,179 3s 4d. The expenditure for the same period left a balance in Bank and cash in hand on December 3lst, 1896, amounting to £7682 138 Bd, while loans on mortgage totalled £8259 14s Id. The capital account for the year ending December 31st, 18%, was £199,204 13s 9d, showing a reduction during the three yean of £13,137 12s 6d. In view of the continued shrinkage in value of real estate, the Board of Treasurers had set aside £23,927 13s lid, making in all £4\927 13s lid reserved since last general Conference (1894). The sum of £7756 had been invested in New South Wales, and £600 in Queensland. Practical difficulties had prevented investments in New Zealand and South Australia. The numbers of supernumeraries and widows in 1894 were 68 and 56 respectively, and in 1896 they numbered 71 and 62. The amounts paid to annuities for the three years had been £35,356 7s Bd. In view of the valuation report made by the Rev. John Cope, the Board were of opinion that allowances to annuities should be reduced for the next two years by 12i per cent, from the scale of allowances as fixed by the General Conference of 1881, such reduction to take effect frou, March, 1896, to March, 1898, pending the action of the next General Conference. The annual Conferences of 1896, with exception of the New Zealand Conference, having approved the proposal, the reduction in annuities took effect from March, 1896. Consideration of the special Committee's recommendations occupied the whole morning session. The following recommendations were adopted :—Arrears of ministers' subscriptions were ordered to be -paid up at the rate of 20 per cent, fines to be strictly enforced ; allowances after a minister's second marriage, matters relating |to the positions of ministers of minor Methodist Churches coming on to the fnud [ after the union, were, after a long discussion, referred to a special Committee for further | consideration. It was decided that a Committee of medical gentlemen be requested to consider the regulations for the medical examination of candidates and probationers jin the ministry. The discussion was ad- | journed till Thursday morning. The Rev. W. Morley moved that the Conference express its concurrence with the following :—" The Committee, after due enquiry, are satisfied that every care has been taken by the Board of Treasurers to I obtain reliable information as to the 1 securities of the fund." The Rev. W. H. Fitchett said there was no reason to question the prudence and fidelity of the Board, but some better method of administering the fund miyht be employed. They had £74,000 worth of surrendered properties on their hands, and these ought to be treated as a separate acc-unt, which had not been done by the Board. He hoped the Treasurers would adopt the suggestion for the future. After discussion the motion was carried. The New Zealandahmial Conference was directed to appoint the Rev. F. W. Isitt to circuit work, and also to consider tbe position of the Rev. L. M. Isitt. A Cong, egational Union deputation, consisting of the Rev. Geo. Burgess and Geo. Fowlds, was introduced this afternoon to the Conference. They presented the cordial greetings of their Union, expressing the great pleasure they had in common with all other churches in welcoming the Conference to Auckland. They recognised also the great work done by the Methodist Church throughout the colony, and wished them every success. The Rev. Mr Fitchett, at the call of tlie President, replied to the deputation iv a very felicitous speech. A greeting was received from the Primitive Methoffist Church, and a suitable reply was ordered to be sent.

The amalgamated Wesleyan choirs, 250 strong, with an orchestra of sixty, performed the oratorio " Elijah " to-night, at the Choral Hall, under the directorship of Professor Schmidt, in the presence of the members of the General Conference and friends. The Rev. A. Mitchell took the part of Elijah, and Madame Chambers took the soprano solos.