METHODIST MISSIONAY SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14029, 28 April 1911, Page 8

METHODIST MISSIONAY SOCIETY.

A missionary convention under tho auspices of the Methodist Missionary Society of Australa-sia, was held yesterday in the Durham street Methodist Church, commencing at 10 a.m. Tho Rev. C. 11. Laws presided. At the morning session tho Rev. S. Griffith spoko on "The Central Place of Missions in the Life of the Church." He dealt with tho essentially missionary character of the Bible, not in isolated texts, but in tho very texture of the Scripture, and also emphasised the world consciousness of Jesus Christ, and showed how the Christian Church was, in a sense, to be the incarnation of the living, working Christ for the evangelisation of the world. The Rev. C H. Laws, in congratulating Mr Griffith on his thoughtful address, expressed the opinion that the appeals made for tho financial support of missions were too spasmodic, and required to be made moro constant. Moreover, there was not enough instruction in regard to missions, especially instruction of young people. He urged tho need lor bringing into tho Sunday schools some instructional method whereby tho importance of missionary labour oouid be impressed on tho scholars. Tho Rev. J. G. Wheen, general secretary of the Australasian Methodist Foreign Mission Society, stated that an endeavour was being mado to draw up a map of missions; but as they had to depend on the missionaries for making it, it was a matter requiring time. At tho after neon session the Rev. J. N. Buttlo presided, and tho Rev. C. H. Garland delivered an address on "The Missionary Problems of tho Far East." The speaker said ho had never been in tho Far East, and knew nothing of its problems, so would confine himself to consideration of tho question whether tho East would over receive Christianity. Lord Curzon recently declared that Christianity would not bo accepted in tho East, because the Oriental had a religion which satisfied him, and because Christianity did not tcaoh reincarnation. The speaker did not believe that to bo true. Sir Andrew Fraser, for many years Governor of -Bengal, had declared his convictions were the reverse of those of Lord Curzon. Tho speaker believed in the truth of the words in Revelation, "Every eye shall see him." The great problem was to get some Western State so imbued with Christianity that tho East would bo impressed by the spectacle of its devotion and consistency. Tho Rev. H. E. Bellhouso read a paper'on "The Awakening of Mohammedanism," in which ho stated that in Mohammedanism would be found the vital missionary problem of tho future. The address and paper provoked an interesting discussion. In the evening a public meeting was held iv tho church, Mx C. E. Salter presiding. The Rev. J. N. Buttle read a report on the South Sea missions. This showed that there are over 900 churches and over 700 other preaching pLoces. There aro 1426 Sunday schools, with 34,800 pupils, and 1411 day schools, with 29,000 pupils. There are 41,000 church members and 143,518 adherents in the Islands. There aro 39 European and a large number of native ministers at work there, besides a large number of European women workers, many of whom come from New Zealand. The inccme of tho mission last year was £35,316, of which £12,505 was subscribed by the native churches and £2350 by the. New Zealand churches The expenditure was £34,356. Canterbury's contribution last year was £810, and this year's contributions aro coming in in "a very promising way. Tho report stated that tho Board of Missions asked tho New Zealand Church to contribute £3200 this year. The Rev. J. G. Wheen addressed the meeting on "Tho South Sea Islands for Jesus Christ." Ho referred to the increase of the missionary spirit visib'o in recent years, and to the rise of the laymen's mission movement. This latter movement* he stated, was in —its infancy, and when the laymen realised what it stood for, they would so rise that not only would they do spiendid work in the mission field, but they would affect the churches themselves for good. He expressed tho opinion that tho Methodist Church*in Fiji, by its missions, was doing very valuable work there, and he pleaded for a liberal response to tho request for more money for missions.