METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 143, 11 March 1908, Page 9

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

: TEMPERANCE;AND public, morals. THE GAMING ACT. . (BY TELEGRAPH—MESS 'ASSOCIATION.) rv: - , Auckland, March 10.' ■■■■■ The- Methodist-'- Conference decided ito cable-to tho. Victorian -Conference, asking it to sond two - accepted candidates to ,-Non Zealand ■ for- immediate uppointihent. Tho following were elected chairmen of '. districts: —! Alicklalip,-f Rev. G. ( i Bond, , TYan- . ganuiv presidentv .(BX.'tofficio) ;.v•: Wellington, Rev 1 W J 1 Wilhaftis, Nelson, Eov C H Garland ; Canterbury, Eov.. S. Lawry, Otago, Rev* W Slade ' ' ! TheMethodist;-Mission ; has , . >appomtcd . . homo missionaries as follows I :—South Wairarapa,l Mr. J. .T.- Batley; Norsewood, Mr., J. ■ Oliver; vacant.'i-. . '<•;*The' 1 Confererico^adopted' a• recommendatipn from Wangan,uiv to . the eftcct that an . at- . tempt should be mado " to. .constitute Maori work .into-:a. separate synod, to.:deal ;effectively. 'with tho West Coast Maori work. . Tho Comnnttco on Tomperanco and Public s Morals, m annual t roport; referred to tho ■ increased hopefulness ot 1 the moral outlook ' as. indicated-:espccia]ly--in' tlie' diminution of > ./. movement*'and suppression of/ gambling.lt viowod, however; f , withv/.'sorfiw:-/;thb '■ 'prevalent'!.passion!',: for ' pleasure v and-' the increasing .. jspint of . secularism.yijn : tho.-.connectional [Bands : of r Hopo' throughout>the.:;)Doiiiinion ,;-,thero; ihad beenJ a • net decrease'iofi-thirteon. • Tho ••com?, mittee regretted this/ and reoommended-.tho ' CoriferoncoSto urgo,their more general establishm'ent. :Tho committeo deplorod the pre-V//val€^XP^i^®;-:'.<!P^W6'Xl | a!ik'?s,Bpy!iaDy. • among yoling menj-and tirged'Methodists to do'riill.,inr their ipower .to- lessen''tho: tempta- :. tiona.'and' facilities -to strong drink.- }', ingv-.tho -.\new.'/ Gaming : ; Act;. / tho -committeo . :':rocommended.,that an.vexpression .of .hearty ■ appreciation be convoyed io tho. Government '../ : ;for.iits:passa'go;.:but, at.the same*'time';entered' /,- its 'emphatic. protest /against' tho legalisat-ion of tho totalisator, and against the provision . for- tho licensing..of bookmakers. -.TVhilo.de? plofing tho' widespread' and /growing; tendency the^Committee stated.-that they ibelievedithat

.* '.-''among other.-'existing dangers th'ere\w<>re' two ;;;outstanding >.eyils ;;„^hi(A^were-Winsidf^ußly : 'v'- irirfabing-; the. genera-. ;; f . V: -teDiptatioHS; . countered onj tho other,was tir ,■ ■ doubtful-character • of; much: of: the- dig!::. ■ literaturewlnch: comprised the staple mental >/ food'iof our ■ young .peoplo.. The- committee recommendedfho Conference to'again xommd . their' people of tho: importance of combating i ■: those _inmjences.--m{(.overyt manner ■ possible. Tho report was adopted r , ! The .Conference concluded 'to-night; -, A rer. - •'solution !,was .carried'affirming tho principle of>,Bible reading in schools,.-*). It .was , decided that,(tho nest; Conference should : meet in Wellington, , commencing on February 15, 19Q9. ■ ->Tho Rer.'J.' J/Lewis' moved" In' view of

££• the';;al!iTOihg'.{spjead ' ofj ''intempwan»»j'';.'ti>o'' Cpnfefence-jagain'rrecords -its'strong protest .against ?tho jexistenco .of -the liquor. traffic,, ' • and scalls upon .all our peoplo .tlirough tho { PqiSinibhH'oiunitb' in tho eridcavour- to sccurb. its»overthrow. < - With" the approach,. of"; tl . ' local-opt.ion' poll,iit- i is ,, hopGd: that thero wi l . ■ be an atfakening of • fresh-, enthusiasm v m' t.lv: holy crusadej so as fco'witlen as far as,possible thesno-licen'so areas. The good results-of nolicense in, the districts where lt-.prevailsjaro ■ 60 manifest as to constitute an overwhelming .... argument :m :its. favour. J !'r -!l'ho:-motion was carried. I • Jy.?--:■' ■' "'1 ml ; 1 i l >( ' 1 i ,i