METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 139, 6 March 1908, Page 4

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

BUILDING EXPENDITURE. THE HOME MISSIONS QUESTION. BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL CORBESPQKDENT.' Auckland, March 5. Tlie following figures showing the expenditure on erections sanctioned to December 31 in Wellington wore given at the Methodist Conference meeting Wellington District.— Wellington suburban, to erect church at' Island Bay of ferro-conc'rete; estimated cost, £10,000 to £12,000. Wellington South dircuit, to utilise tho preso.nt. parsonage, property by erecting . lour shops, • each containing residential quarters; estimated vcost,' £3000 to £3500; tlie. parsonage material, to be' usikl for Sunday school extension and class rooms. Hutt circuit, tp .ereot new parsonage : of wood at Petotie; estimated costj £650.-South Waira'rapa circuit, to- -.erect' at' Carterton'a parsonage of nino rodins;-' estimated cost.£800. -

The Special: Committee appointed to draw up a report on the Home mission policy stated at tho Methodist Conforonce' last night that the: circumstanccs . of ; the Dominion, and especially of the North Island, called lor a policy of vigorous aggression on the part of the Church. It..was not advisable to break new ground either in tho city or the country with tho newest recruits. Tho-.path.of'duty add wisdom in these mat-, 'ters. was obstructed by certain ever-growing difficulties, with- which the Church must, as', a. matter of iifo and death, grapplo effectively. , These difficulties were : (1) The want of suitable.agents ; (2) tho increasing number, of permanent home mission stations which gavo no promise and felt no desire to become circuits; (3), tho lack of buoyaiicy in tie' Home -ilissioh and Church Extension Fund. .The.difficulties.of,the' present situation practically resolved themselves into a shortage of men -■ and a • shortage !of money. In both cases . they needed to economise,, and at the same time to stimulate the supply. It was difficult to suggest how economies in money could be effected except in- two ways:- (I); The aband'onment of sorno of .the less 1 promising, fields liow occupie.dand (2) altering the stations of ■ some .circuits that how .require . large grants.' It was probable, that 'somesuch drastic steps were llecessary to convince subscribers of tlie. urgent need of fundsj and of tho determination of the Conference to do. aggressive 'work. The doing-, of something, out of the well-beaten track was'the-way to arouse attention'and interest. ~ • -

The Rev. P. W. Faircloiigh, of Wellington, -a member of the Committee, said that it, was 11S muck their duty to spread the Gospel as tojbeliore it. ,He aid not urge .that the Church should abandon; any ground, but asked-; whether it 'could endurethe responsibility of-looking ou.whilst, abandoning ground or/in. danger of, abandoning ./ground. (Cries: of;'? No.''}; iHe - moved-'."'• That ..this Conference, instructs the. Stationary Committer) to make. an rtppoiiitment' in every, case where a. probationer' has heeil. asked for .without . a grant, and; when ..the conditions; render ; an early fulfilment; of obligatiofis liairiirily'' cerShould this involve the withdrawal of probationers from other stations, the'Committeo is to. consider (1), where ;is ,the. prospect of • fulfilling obligations' most remote; (2) whdre have the greatest number of years of grace been',already" granted;/ (3) where will leasts spiritual destitution be caused , Any. such retrenched, circuit is' to stand first oil the list of new homo mission'stations." . Mr.. W. v : Harding seconded theV motion; which was carried., ; : ■'■/.,

The Rev. W. J. Williams moved the adop-" tion of tho final suggestion of the Committee.. The.: motion was seconded/' and ■' after sbmei - discussion, carried. ■.;''/' Tlie'Rev: W./ Slado thought, they should earnestly .draw : the prayerful attention of their people to the spiritual' destitution'nf the/great majority of the people of the Dominion. ..He moved.:- " That:/a:, committee, , consisting of the Revs. P; .W.. and Williams and the mover be appointed to draw lip a manifesto on the subject aiiS present it-to the Conference for approval;" : : ■; •' The Rev. P. W. Fairclough seconded tho motion, whioh .was carricd." : ! - •' : '''■ : : ' - '-The -Methodist Conference made the following appropriations for the ensuing year: .Church building' and loan -fund,, £175■ contingent fund, -£175; Home Mission l ' fund, 1 ' £55; fire insurance, £100; authorised: repre-sentatives'-.'office, £20. - ■ ~ Sove.ral, resolutions, in connection with' the furtherance of the Bible Class movement were reaffirmed. • - - /YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. v (Bi ASSOCIATION*.} Auckland, .March 5. iho conference ; went into Committee this • evening to'.consider/ the ' question as 'to whether it. should -continue its present connection with the 'Outlook" or go in for a separate;, paper ; under Methodist' control. After an animated discussion lasting sovorai hours, - a resolution was passed that,/ in the opinion of the conference, it-was inadvisable to make, any alteration in the-publishing of the; • connexional. organ; " but a Committee njas. appbint-ed. td arrange details in connection .with the renewal of the contracts : - _' Another resolution,carried\ at this evening s conference was that an aopeal bo made to • Methodist people , towards ' founding a Theological Hall, the Sum of £8000 to £10,000 being aimed at as 'an endowment in addition to the Probert Trust, direction being'given that ; no . steps be takeii towirds founding-the hall until funds have been contributed' for that purpose. ; ; - r ' ;