METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18016, 7 March 1924, Page 14

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

* YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS.

The annual Methodist Conference was continued in the Durham street Methodist Church yesterday, the president, the Eev. A. Ashcroft, presiding. It was decided that the Stationing Committee should meet that night to consider the second draft of stations. It was reported that an anonymous contribution of £IOO had been received for home and foreign missions. The contribution is an annual one over £IOOO having already been received from the same source.

Young People's Work. The Eev. E. P. Blamires, general secretary of the Sunday School and Young People's Department, presented the report on the work carried out during the year. The report stated that the chief feature of the year had been "Children's Year" propaganda. In every district some part of the programme had bjeen translated into deeds. The Sunijlav school recruiting scheme initiated 'by the department was adopted by the Presbyterian and other churches, so that in many areas a co-operative campaign resulted. In a score of circuits more than a thousand new scholars were recruited. It was regrettable that this gain was more than counterbalanced by the losses from a large number of schools. The demand for more teachers had been accentuated, and the Bible classes were the chief sources of recruiting. There was considerable revival in Sunday school building schemes, in connexion with which the counsel of the department had been sought. In places where one building only was erected for all church purposes, there was more regard now paid to Sunday school requirements. On July Ist a correspondence Sunday school was opened. This was designed to reach children who were living in remote places. Sister Mabel Morley was the superintendent, and there was a small staff of teachers, but more were needed. The initial correspondence had confirmed the impression of the great need for the work, and though they had begun in a small way there was promise of considerable development. The League of Young Methodists was gaining in popularity, and was climbing near to its goal of 5000 membership. Beferring to the Bible class movement, the report stated that the young men's and young women's Bible class movements were consolidating their work. Proceeding, the report stated: —"The tragic loss by the Church in the past of two-thirds of her youth in the early teen years was ample challenge to the Church to establish a special department to grapple with the problem. Some progress is being made. The growth of junior Bible classes continues, ' and we now draw attention to another development in intermediate classes, which are springing in many places. As the Church learns to conserve its young life in the adolescent years, we may anticipate that the Bible class membership will be as large as that of the main school of to-day. The Church will be invincible when she learns how to enrol and discipline the armies of her youth."

The financial statement showed that a year ago the debit balance was £258. The department received £l5O from contingent fund, reducing the debit balance to £IOB 19s'3d. On ordinary current account the department had gone back during 1923, £l2l. Wheri interest, £lB, and special Children's Year expenditure, £SO, were added, the debit on the year amounted to £IBO lis lid. The total accumulated debt now stood at £289 lis 2d. Circuit organisation was improving. The income from circuits had risen during the year from £334 (1922) to £5lO (1923). The estimated expenditure for 1924 was £724, and the Board asked for assistance from connexional funds for three years. The principal increases reported were: Teachers, 101; Bible class members, 457; Scouts, 243; schools using Australian graded lessons, 42. Among the decreases are: Scholars, 1625; Band of Hope members, 893. Although the junior Bible classes were conserving a goodly numbor of our youth, th,e schools report 390 scholars of thirteen to fifteen years of' age as having "ceased to attend." The Eev. F. Copeland, on behalf of the department, spoke appreciatively of the work of Mr Blamires, and moved that he be reappointed.

A discussion on the work of the department followed, several members expressing the opinion that the office of secretary should not be continued. The Eev. J. A. Lochore (Epsom, Auckland) characterised the department as utterly extravagant. Other speakers contended that the department was doing excellent work and had justified its existence by the results obtained.

The motion was carried, Conference affirming unanimously that a continuation of the office was necessary.

Next Conference,

It was decided that the Conference for 1925 meet at the Taranaki street Methodist Church, Wellington, in the last week of February. Mr E. A. Eoseveare (Dunedin) notified Conference that in all probability Dunedin might request that the Conference for 1926 be held in Dunedin. It was Auckland's turn for the Conference that year, but as Dunedin was holding its Exhibition in 1925-1926 it might make the request outlined. He wished the Auckland members, however, to be aware of the fact that Dunedin would probably ask for the 1926 Conference. Foreign Missions. Mr W. S. McKay (Auckland), reporting on the receipts and expenditure of the Foreign Missions, stated that receipts totalled £13,999 Is 7d," while the total expenditure was £16,827 15s 2d, leaving a deficit of £2828 13s 7d. Of the receipts, Solomon Island contributions totalled £2591 5s 6d, the total assets of the island plantations being £35,920. The Eev. W. A. Sinclair, secretary of the Foreign Mission Board, reporting on behalf of the Board, stated that the New Zealand income amounted to £11,407 16s Id, an increase of £637 18s 7d upon the income of last year, but a deficiency of £1592 3s lid upon the estimated income for the year. On the other hand the Mission District showed an increase of £1203 13s 6d on last year's income, and a surplus of £546 17s 6d on the estimated income for the year. The sum of £750 had been paid off the Australasian deficiency, which now stood at £2250. In accordance with the resolution of last Conference, the Banga Plantation account had been separated from the ordinary Mission account. The Conference empowered the Board of Missions to deal with the Centenary Fund as it deemed best. The Board has allocated £SOO for the purchase of a launch, has resolved to place £ISOO to reserve for a hospital in the Solomons, and proposed to use the remainder, which was estimated at not less than £2OOO, for the building of a Sisters' Home and Mission houses, to be used in subsidising the cost of such building up to 75 per cent. Estimates of income for 1924 were: New Zealand £13,000, and Solo-

mon" Islands £3OOO. With regard to the medical mission policy, Mr Sinclair reported that it was the aim of the Missionary Society to establish a well-equipped hospital in the Solomon Islands with a medical man in charge for the treatment of native cases and the training of native and other medical helpers. The name of the institution was to be the "Helena Goldio" Hospital, and it should contain a men's ward, a women's ward, with a small ward for Europeans. In the event of Mr E. T. Savers, who was preparing for the medical officership of the hospital, completing his course in 1924, he will spend the following year in gaining experience in New Zealand. During 1926 he will spend sufficient time in the School of Tropical Medicine in Townsville, Queensland, to acquire a knowledge of tropical diseases and their treatment, nis first year on the mission field will be devoted to investigating conditions, gaining experience and learning the language. No definite steps will be taken towards the erection of a permanent hospital until the doctor has had sufficient experience of conditions and needs on the mission field to enable him, in consultation with the chairman of the district, to make definite recommendations to the Mission Synod and Board of Missions. In the meantime, buildings of a temporary character might be erected for use until the permanent hospital is built. Mr Sinclair stated that there had been an increase in the Board's income, although this had not been so large as had been requested. During the two years that New Zealand had been in charge of the field there had been some remarkable work carried out. The staff had been increased by three missionaries, two missionary sisters, three nurses, and two contingents of Samoan teachers. Three electric lighting plants had been installed, in addition to _ a wireless plant and a portable sawmill. The valuable plantations were just coming into bearing, and altogether it was the most up-to-date mission station in the Pacific. The report was adopted, the Bev. W. A. Sinclair being appointed general secretary of the Board for a further period of six years. The Bev. G. T. Marshall was appointed acting-general secretary during the Eev. W. A. Sinclair's absence in England. ' The treasurers, the Eev. G. T. Marshall and Mr J. W. Court, were reappointed. It was announced that deputations from the Solomon Islands this year would be the Bevs. John F. Goldie and A A. Bensley. Mr Goldie will arrive in the North Island shortly, while Mr Bensley will visit the South Island in August. The president extended a hearty welcome to three volunteers for work in the Solomon Islands—Miss L. Jones, and the Bevs. G. Brown and. 0. Haddon. Mr Haddon is the first member of the Maori race to leave New Zealand shores on foreign mission work.. , Each of the volunteers briefly responded. m> Mesdames G. Bowron and F. Thompson waited on the Conference, representing the Women's Auxiliary Union, and outlined to members the activity of their Union. Their report was adopted. The Conference decided that a,week of prayer and sacrifice be arranged in each circuit and home mission stations with regard to Foreign Missions.

Supernumerary Fund. The report and statement of accounts in connexion with the supernumerary fund were considered. The balance-sheet showed/that the fund had grown from £114,832 2s 8d on January Ist, 1923, to £118,343 Is Id on December 31st, 1923. : Conference adjourned at 5 p.m. until 10 a.m. to-day.