THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15208, 20 February 1915, Page 2

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

MEETS IN CHRISTCHUKCH SEXT WEEK.

A SYNOPSIS OF THE BUSINESS.

On Thursday next the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand will open its sessions at a public gathering in th© Durham street Methodist Church. . Two hundred and fifty-six delegates have announced their intention to be present, co that it promises to be one of tho largest conferences erer held in New Zealand. At the first Methodist Conference in New Zealand, which was held in Christchurch in 1874, there were present 23 ministers and probationers.. No laymen were present,, because at that time laymen were not eligible for membership lin such a conference. Of those present jnt that conference there are ten survivors to-day, and of those .ten four will be present at the conference which opens next Thursday. i A distinguished visitor will be prosen ,, -it the conference, in the person of th' Rev. Dr. George Brown, F.R.G.S., th president of the General Conference o J the Methodist Church of Australasia. I is fifty-five years ago since J>r. Brows 'eft New Zealand as a young niissiotiai to enter upon such a career as a miV sionnry pioneer in the South Pacific .•>•• has secured for him a place of honoir among the churches of Australasia. Notwithstanding his advanced years, he still preaches and speaks with remark- : able vigour, and his sermons and ad dresses promise to bo some of tho chief : public attractions of the coming confer- j pnee.

In this conference proper the chief subject of debate is expected to be tho proposal to modify tho present law o f the itinerary in relation to the appoint ment of ministers. At present it is no* lojral to appoint minister to a circuit for a period' beyond five years. It

is now proposed that such a restrictio shall be abolished, so that where it i

thought desirable a minister's stay may be protracted without any limit whatever, always providing that the conference retains the right of an annual a,>pointment. This was the practice tbo* obtained in the Primitive Mcthodiet Church piior to the consummation ol Methodist Union in 1913. The matte* has been discussed in the ten District Synods, with tho result of bringing out a wido diversity of oninion. and givinjr promise of a keen dohato on the subject when it is brought before conference. .

The reports to he- laid before confer ence. as published in the Agenda, show a. gratifying increase in nearly all departments. Tho amounts collected for foreign missions exceed those of any previous year, it is expected that the receipts for Home Miesions will also establish a record.

Australian Methodism is celebrating its centenary this year, and the conference will bo asked to appoint a delecate, or delegates, to represent New Zealand at the centenary celebrations

Important action •will also have to be taken in connexion with the relation of the conference to Foreign Missions. At present, although the New Zealand Church is no lonper affiliated to the Church in Australia, it continues to maintain its interest in Foreign Missions through the Australasian Board of Missions. It has l>een decided, however, that a portion of the mission field in the South Sea Islands shall be allocated to New Zealand, as its special sphere of work, and the conference will bo called upon to face the obligations which such a prospective arrangement involves.

The Conference Agenda, of 200 pages, shows that there will be no lade of material to engage the very close attention of the delegates while the conference is , in session. In addition to business concerns, various public functions are announced, which promise to be of considerable interest.