WESLEYAN CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 256, 22 July 1908, Page 7

WESLEYAN CHURCH.

MEMBERSHIP. . A DEFINITION WANTED. DECISION OF THE CONFERENCE. (UV TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COriRIOUT.) (Reo. July 21, 9.5& p.m.) London, July 21. The Wesleyan Conferonco has decided that although tlio time had como for a moro definite statement of what constituted membership of thd Wesleyan Methodist Church, no further action should bo taken until tlio mind of Wesleyans generally , was ascertained. Tlio district synods wero requested to report to tlio noxt conference, A MUCH-DEBATED QUESTION. At present, membership of tlio .Wesleyan Methodist Church involves being a member of a. society class. Much discussion has taken place ns to whether such conditions of membership should not bo altered. The first London Synod suggested: "That the condition of church membership amongst us is so unsatisfactory that the Conference be requested to appoint a committee to sit during the.year to take the whole question into consideration with a view to a suitable Settlement.' '' ' ' Several committees have discussed tho matter. The Committee of 1906 was of opinion that "no better method of satisfying the requirement of Christian fellowship has been devised than the class meeting." At the same time it was "of opinion that provision should bo made for including in, our membership thoso devout persons amongst us who desire to become mombers of our Church, are prepared to observe oui rules and regulations, and to accept our discipline, but who for various reasons do not avail themselves of the form of Christian fellowship afforded by the class meeting." This recommendation was carried in committee by 30 to 3 and submitted to Conference. But tho Conference decided that "the time is not ripe for legislation on this great question," and appointed another committee " to consider how tho class meeting and tho Society meeting may be rendered moro effective and may ho better adapted to meet the needs of our people in the present day."