THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12444, 6 March 1906, Page 6

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The annual 'Assembly of tho Metliodieb Church of New Zealand has just concluded its sessions. About 140 delegates attended, making, one would think, a somewhat unwieldy machine for the government of a church. But the Methodists are intensely democratic, and place great emphasis on the rights of the laity. Seeing that the Conference every year stations thirty or forty ministers, it is hardly to bo wondered at that both the laity and the ministers tako a lively intrrest in the annual meeting which is to determine, for the one the quality of tho preaching, and for the other the grade of circuit to be enjoyed or suffered for some years to come. It is a principle with the Methodists to have no vacancies. They set themselves the task of finding a station for every minister and a minister for every station. Hence it is a kind of "fifteen puzzle" to so move, say, thirty men among thirty stations as to secure the maximum of satisfaction on both sides. Needless to say the task is never carried out with complete satisfaction. Somewhere in the list there is sure to be a square man in a Tound hole, for practical working shows that it is impossible to secure exactly the same number of square holes as of square men. In spite of all this, | a largo measure of fitness and efficiency is secured. The itinerant system is believed, especially by the laity, to have great advantages, but this probably becomes less and less as the work of the ministry gradually develops from pure ovangelism to pastoral care, which depends much upon knowing and being known. The shy and diffident minister, however excellent, is at a disadvantage, and the frequent changes lessens the hold of the ministry over the families of the congregations. The elder ministers also feel that the system is hard on declining adaptability. A tree may be too old to transplant long before it is too old to bear apples. This system, however, will no doubt be slowly modified as the years pass and changing conditions force themselves into recognition. It may appear strange that of the four chief centres of the colony,- Presbyterian Dunedin shows much the laraest' increase of Methodism in recent years. This is in part due to the great Central Mission conducted in the Garrison Hall. The building is crowded on Sunday nights with one of the largest congregations in New Zealand. Outside of this movement, however, there is rapid development. There is in Dunedin a religious atmosphere . which appears favourable to Methodist intensity. The chief debate of the session took place on the question of separation from, the Australasian General Conference, with wliich New-Zealand is at present federated. Tho union with Australia is a historical development. The first missionaries came from Sydney, and when tho British Conference granted Home Rulo to the Australasian Church, ' New Zealand was included in the charter, and has continued in the legislative union. Thero seems to be a consensus of opinion that independence must-come | sooner or later. Tho only question is, when? To some the moment is never opportune. To others it is always prosent and urgent, and between these extremes there is a great mass of indifference. A non-official member of the Church might pass all his life without being made conscious of tho Australian connection in any other way than by the occasional absence of some leading ministers and laymen at tho general conference, and consequently there is no strong demand for separation from the mass of the congregations. On tho other hand, there seems to be no reason why a church, 80,000 strong, led by 130 ministers, many of whom are experienced and able, should not-bo perfectly independent of all outsida control. The difficult ins of separation appear to lie in two directions. The Church is united with Australia in an Aged Ministers' Fund, the stability of which is increased by its hroad basis. In the event of separation New Zealand has to consider whether sho could invest and manago her share of the fund as economically as at present. Again, Methodists are zealous in foreign missions, and united Australasian Methodism is able to spend about £22,000 a year in that behalf. In the event of separation there would be difficulty in securing for the New Zealand Church a suitable field, and thero aro also doubts as to the possibility of keeping up tho interest in a narrow sphere of operations, j and of working that sphere economic-' ally. No final decision has yet been reached as to the course to be pursued.