METHODIST CHURCH.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 15469, 12 March 1919, Page 4

METHODIST CHURCH.

annual conference. The annual Conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand was continued vesterdav morning, the president (the Rev. H. E. Bellliouse) presiding. The balanec-sheet of the Mission Property Trust showed receipts £708 Us (including & balance of £28 4s brought down from the previous year), and expenditure £~C'J '-s -W. rri.p Enislv Theological Endowment showed receipts £122 10s 9d and expenditure £ICO IBs 6d. i*i The balance-sheets wore adop..ed. The following Clirstchurch committer n-ic unpointed in connexion with higher education :-Ord»ined ministers in the Christchurch and Kmapoi circui s the vice-president cf the Conference (Mr J. H Black well). Miss Chaplin, and Messrs J. E. Purclias, J. Sinclair, A. 1«. Barrel T Lomas. C. E. iSaltcv, E. C. Brown," G. Bowron, L. M. Jsitt, M.P., S R Wehlv, F. Thompson. A. F. Drajton W H". Seed, -T. C. Prucihoc, and T\ 'C. Andrews. Drs. Orchard and Whetter, Colonel G. J. Smith, with power to add to their number. The Conference approved the constitution of the Local PrcacheiV Assowas decided to send to the Samuel Knight, who is in poor health, a letter conveying the Conference s re-

spect and esteem, and its prayeis on ins. behalf. Mr Knight, who is at present residing in Christchurch, 's -u distinrniished member of the Methodist Church in Australia, and cx-president of the South Australian Conference. THE CONSTITUTION. The committee appointed for the purpose, expressed the opinion tnat the business of the Conference comd be facilitated and time saved by modifysome of the methods of procedure, without any alteration of the constituTlii? was endorsed by the Conference, and certain recommendations formulated by the committee, were agreed to, whilst others were objected to The committee also recommended the following:—"ln the opinion of the committee one of the most effective ways of extending the powers of the Synods so as to relieve the work of the Conference would be to adopt the general principle of the scheme drawn up by the committee appointed ny the Cometenco of 1917. providing for a_ material reduction in the membership of the Gcnference, with election by the Synods. "With some modification the scheme is endorsed bv this committee, and in its modified form is embodied in this report. The modification is in the direction of reducing the number of ex officio members, and eliminating the election bv the a number of the members of the succeeding Conference. The president ruled this clause out of order owing to the proposal having been rejected at the previous Conference and the committee not having bsea authorised to deal with th© • matter. This resulted in the committee's recommendations regarding a proposed _ constitution of the Conference being jettisoned. The proposed constitution provided for an equal number of ministers and laymen, limited, unless otherwise determined, to 150 European and two Maori members. DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES. The Conference approved the principle of resolutions adopted by the North Canterbury District Synod recommending the Conference to pass legislation providing for the appointment of district executive committees, providing for each annual district synodi having the right to nominate "the members of the committee for its district, though the appointment shall be by resolution of the Conference, which shall have the power to substitute other names, the committee to exercise the functions now discharged by (a) the District Foreign Mission Committee, fb) District Home Mission Advisory Committee, (c) the District Loan Fund Advisory Committee, (d) such other committees as Conference might determine, the committee to meet at least once a quarter to review the work of the Church in the district and to do such other work as might be necessary. Upon the motion of the Rev. W. A. Sinclairthe matter was referred to a committee to report to the next Conference. CONCLUSION. The usual votes of thanks and the reading of tho Journal concluded the Conference.