N.Z. PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14583, 6 February 1913, Page 9

N.Z. PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

LAST ANNUAL CONFERENCE

(PRES9 ASSOCIATION" TKLECKAM.)

"WELLINGTON, February 5. The twentieth annual conferenco of the Now Zealand Primitive Methodists opened to-day. This is the last to be held before tho union with the Wesleyan Methodist Church is consummated. The Hon. C. AI. Luke was elected president and Rev. C. E. Ward vice-presi-dent. When Air Luke was being welcomed, the outgoing president indicated that Mr Luke would probably be elected first vice-president of the United Conference.

Other officers for the conference were elected as follows:—Secretary, Mr T. Aloor (Auckland); assistant secretaries, the Revs. J. Fcatherston (Timaru). T. B. Woolloxall (Ashburton). and R. J. Liddell (New Plymouth): letter writers, the Revs. R." Kaincy (Auckland) and B. Dudley (Bluff). Tho Rev. Knowles-Smith moved:— "That we cordially express hearty approval of the proposal to amend the historical record of tho ministry of the United Church by crediting every brother with the full number of his years of service in either branch, and request the G.C.D. to receive any such alterations. Such added years shall, however, bear no financial implication." The motion was carried.

The report of the Church membership showed : —Taranaki 378, Wellington. 697, Auckland 660, Otago and Southland 837, Canterbury 734: total 3356. At I glrwood practical coalescence with tiie Methodist Church had been brought about, and at Waihi tho Church having suffered decrease through industrial trouble, tho members now attended the Methodist Church.

The Building Committee reported that the church property now consisted of 80 churches, 81 other preaching places, and 4G houses of a total value of £80.346, with a debt of £21,890 lis.

The fire insurance committee reported that during the past year it had suffered tho largest loss ever experienced by the destruction of the Foxton church. But for this firo the profits for the year would have been a record (£221). The actual profits wore £121. The valuo of tho assets of the fund, all interest earning, was £2275, as against £2153 last year.

Tho Publishing Committee reported that the income was £332 18s, and that a profit of about £15 had been made during the year. Tho report on the Superannuated Ministers' Widows and Orphans Fund showed that tho increase during the year was £553, and that the excess of assets over liabilities was £5-120.

It was reported that the income of tho Homo Alission Fnnd had been £7G3 14s Gd, and that tho income of tho. unified fund was £795 13s od. Tho Jubilee Loan Fund was reported aa standing at £1532 7s. The Examining Committee recommended, and it was agreed, that the following students be passed in their respective years:—Fourth year: Harry Cottom, 524 marks; Joseph B. Suckling. 529 marks; Edward Bandy, 531 marks. Third year: Archer Harris, 483 marks; Harold Sharp, 512 marks. Second year: Frederick Frost, 513 marks; James Charteris, 419 marks. Tho three students who passed in their fourth year were recommended for ordination.

The Stationing Committee recommended that the following cases of invitations to ministers bo deemed special eases, and referred as such" to tho Stationing Committee to be set up by the- United Conference: —Wellington district —Wellington I.: Rev. J. Cossum, fourth year. Wellington II.: Rev. W. S. Potter, fifth year. Feilding: Rev. J. Sharp, fourth year. Auckland district —Auckland II.: Rev. R. Raine, fifth year. Canterbury district —Geraldine: Rev. G. H>. Mann, ninth year. Otago and Southland district—Dunedin '.II.: Rev. E. Drake, fourth year. It was stated that the recommendation was necessary to prevent any difficulties being put later in the way of acceding to the wishes of the congregations concerned.