METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17702, 2 March 1923, Page 7

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

SITTINGS AT DUNEDIN; (IB«SS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN. March 1. Tho N.Z. Methodist Conference ro« sumed to-day. Tho report and >balance-shoet of tho contingent fund were presented by the treasurer (Mr E. Rosevear). The sum, of £3730 had been received and £2715 had been expended during tho year, tho credit balance being £lOls. Tho treasurer asked for a levy of 8 per cent, for tho next year, tho increased amount boing necessary owing to the larger grants passed by the conference. This was agreed to. Mr Rosevear stated that this was tho 49th annual report. He himself had been treasurer of tho fund for tho last twelve years. Interesting references were made to the earlier history of the fund. Mr Rosevear having expressed his wish to retire from office with the present conforonco, tho Rev. M. A. llugoy Pratt and tho president and secretary of tho conference expressed tho hope of members that Mr Rosevear could be persuaded to remain in office. Mr Rosevear agreed to'this on tho express stipulation that tho conference itself would without fail appoint a successor next year. Kenny applause greeted this announcement, and warm • acknowledgment was mado of the invaluable nature of the services ho hnd rendered to tho church and the fund. On the motion of tho Rev. W. A. Sini elair, a committeo was appointed to deal with tho matter of a successor tc Mr Rosevear. Foreign luissionß. | Foreign mission mutters were,introj duced by tho ltov. \V. A. Sinclair, who I presented tho report and balance-sheet. ] I'lio sum of £12,007 had 'moen received during the year, plus £WW in hand from last year. Tho expenses had amounted 10. £17,2-I*. There wag a deoreaso in tho income from tho Islands and from most of the districts in the Dominion. The plantations connected with the mission had suffered a. great loss through the drop in the price of copra. About 1300 acres. of plantations, valued at i»>j,*aj\j. were owned bv tlie mission. The sum of £2215 had been expended on these plantations, i against an income of £«7S. -There, wero indications of an early improvement of the financial position, The planations were necessary for the industrial--de-velopment of-the mission stations. The financial statement was adopted. Permission was given to the. foreign Mission Board to Dorrow on tho plantations a sum not exceeding £ouoo. borne £I6OO would be handed to them trom their portion of tneir centenary fund. This would be used for progressive work. A wireless ptant ami' sawmill had been installed and a print.ng , press was also to be given. ' Mr H. Field, in supporting tho proposals, stated that no mission -in c-ne-world had made tho progress "in olio year that the mission in the Solomons nad made. Ms Smol air ' presented tho estimates . t*he present year, lie expected •' that £13,000 would be ra'.sed by th« churches in tho Dominion, nud £2ooo by tho mission staUons m tho Islands. Tne estimates had been cut down to the low-eat, but £l3,uou would be required to work the mission stations, £1022 for expenses of administration in the Domiuioiis, and £930 for. ihe Alts- , t'ralasian Board. An every-member ! appcHi .would easily realise thc.amount of income necesearj*. ■■.'.■'• ' - \ Tins was agreed to. '■' At tho evening session the affairs of the Wellington City Mission were dealt with at length in committee. On re•',B'iiinin'g, the conference passed a hearty ' vote or thanks' to the- missioner, the Rev. 11. 'l'. i'eat and his officials for { their work during the past year. They were given permission to make an ap- ' peal to the Church throughout the ! Dominion in aid of their funds. The Auckland Central Mission report was ulbo presented and showed a, year of active social and spiritual work carried on under considerable difficulty; ' The report was adopted and the missioner, Rev. F. L. Frost, was. cordially thanked for his work. ■ • \ The Dunedin Central Mission report showed -that steady progress had been made in all departments. Efforts towards the reduction of the debt had been successful' to an encouraging degree. The Sunday evening people's service was the finest, opportunity in the Dominion for the carrying on of evangelistic work. The mission staff and morning congregation, suffered from, the trend of population to the suburbs. Social work had been.carried oh throughout the year, and Bible class work had made good progress. The report was adopted and the Rev. Clarence Eaton was congratulated .and . thanked for his successful work over the past eight years., t ' . Literature Committee. -, The Rev. E. J>. Patchett presented the report of the connexional literature committee, with particular reference Ito the "Methodist Times,'.' The paper had increased its circulation considerably, and came in for very favouraWo comment for its varied features.of ini terest. The editor, the Rev. J. JJapiei Milne and the associate-editor, the Rev. P. R. Paris, were heartily thanked for their able and efficient services. The business manager, the Rev. S. Lavyfy, was also thanked in this connexion. Temperance and Morals. The report of the committee on temperance and'morals was presented and adopted. During the year action had been taken to voice the protest of the church against Sabbath desecration, gambling, the liquor traffic, and other evils threatening the moral welfare of the community. The movement in favour of the Bible-in-Schools was'supported and the programme and principles of the League of Nations was endorsed as a practical expression of Christian love and brotherhood. The findings of_ the committee of health on the subject of venereal disease were commended, and a hope was expressed that Parliament will see its ' way to legislate in harmony with the suggestioas of the committee. The proposal to eliminate the State Control issue, from the ballot paper ; was opposed by the Rev. J. Napier Milne, "but was carried with only a single dissentient. The Rev. E. Drake was appointed to represent the conference on tho New Zealand Alliance.