PRIMITIVE METHODIST

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1029, 19 January 1911, Page 3

PRIMITIVE METHODIST

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THE ALLOCATION OF STATIONS. PAST AND FUTURE. Tho Primitive JJethodist Conference resumed yestc.rdaV morning, the Rev. S. H. Mann presiding. , The Eev. G. Knowles-Smith, in announcing the allocation of stations, arranged by the Stationary Committee, stated that wherever possible circuit invitations had lieen honoured. Where this had not proved possible every effort had been made by the Stationing Committee to provide stations with a suitable supply.

.Mr. Smith emphasised tho desirability of passing tho -list as cbnipiled by the committee, but members ot the conference, during the reading, "ticked" sonic half-a-dozen appointments which is the Primitivo Metnodist 'way of holding matters back for discussion.

Til is drew a protest from the Rev. S. Henderson (ex-presidpnt of the Church). They had gone, ho said, from Dan tb Beersheba over this stationing business. If these "ticks" wore sustained, there would bo trouble, and they would never reach finality. The committee had spent not only hours, but days; in consideration, and could see no better way than had bsen embodied in the list of getting over the difficulties of the position. Concluding, llr. Heijdcrjon moved that the station sheet, as lead, be the second reading of the stations. A clerical member objected. The list, he claimed, had not been read in tho formal sense.

"I would like to'ask, Mr. Chairman," saiil Mr. Smith, "what I did the first timo I took that sheet up." "That. was simply for . information," argued the objector.

' •"Well, how did you get tho information?" asked. Mr. Smith. A little later Mr. Smith stated that members had doubtless "ticked" some appointments in view of problems th.it had been considered for hours by the committee. If these questions were opened again tho conference would not end that night, nor to-morrow. Tho Rev. ,G. 11. .Mann said full opportunity had been given to representatives of every circuit to come before the Stationing Committee.

The Iter. •J. Dawson expressed .appreciation of the manner in which the committee had carried out its duties, but contended that the conference should not bo asked to pass tho appointments in one resolution. Somo'of them, in the speaker's opinion, might have been better arranged. ;

"Is this to establish a precedent?" asked Mr. A. King. The President: "I"don't think so." It was not much use asking so many delegates to attend a.conference, Mr. King opined, if matters of this kind wore to be finally settled by a committee of ministers. The 'Rev. G. Knowles-Smith jaid the committee'was not one of ministers. It was fully representative of tho confer'cne'e. . • The Eon. C. M. Luke, while expressing full confidence- in the committee, contended that, on democratic' grounds, its findings, should be submitted to the scrutiny of all members.. . The motion to adopt tho recommendations in toto was defeated .on the Toices. LIST OF STATIONS.' ' On the motion of the Piev. G. luiowlesiS.mith, it .wa?/ agreed .that the recommendations of the Stationing Committee should be'discussed in committee. Ultimately the wcrt reported unaltered from the. conference in committee, and were adopted on the voice,i Following is the list: — Auckland I (Alexandra Street), - the llrivs. J. Cocker!. H'. White, R A. Faulkes; Auckland II (franklin Road), the Eev. R. Raine and Mr. J. Carlislo; Auckland 111 (E:leh .Terrace), the Revs.. J. Oliphcrt, iv. Hyde, T. 11. Lyon (without pastoral .charge); Thames, the Plcv. G. P. Hunt; Wailii, tho Rev. F.. A. Thompson; Hamilton, the lJev. J. Clover; Cambridge, Mr. H. Fostor; New Plymouth, the Rev. It. J. Liddell and.ll. A. Sharp; Inglewood, Mr. W. Gatmah; Stratford, the. Rev. B. Mctsou; Eltliam, the Rev. D.' B. F. Carlisle; Wanganui, the liev. 8. Bailey; .East . Egmont, the Rev. F.' Frost, (ono wanted); Wellington I (Sydney Street), the Revs. P. .T. Cossum, H. Cottam, and ,T. Du'mbeil II (Webb Street), the Revs. TV. S. Potter, A. C. Harris, John Dawson (without pastoral charge); Wellington 111 (Donald M'Lean Street), the Rev. C. A. Sims; Foxton. the Rev. T. Coatsworth (one wanted); Foildiug, tho Revs. J. Sharp, A. H. Fowles P. W. Jones (sup.); Halcombo, the Rev. H. Daniel; West Coast Mission (Dennistoil), the Rev. J. Southern, Mr. P. J. Mairs (ono wanted); ' Christchurch I (Cambridge Terr-ice), the JRev.< S. Hoiidersoii, C. E. Ward (sup.), Walter Harris (sup.); Christchurch .11 (Bnttersea Street), the Rev. G. Clement; Greendale, tho Rev. A. Harding; Ashburton, tho Rev. T. K. B. Woollnxall; Geraldine, the Rev. G. H. Maun; Timaru, the Rev. J. Featherston; Waimatc and Oamaru, the Rev. J. Guy; Teuiuka, tho Rev. J. Han-is; Dunedin I (Dundas Street), the Revs. G. KnowlesSmith, J; B. Suckling, and J.'Charteris; Dunedin II (ICow), the Revs. E, Drake, E. Bandy; Invercargill I (Don Street), the liev. W. Laycock: Invercargill II i(JJlles Road), the Rev. T. A. Pybus; Bluff, the liev. Ben- Dudley; Waikauaiti, the Rev. J. Benning; Edendale, Mr. J. F. Uohcrty. ■

THE WORK OF THE CHURCH. , In the afternoon the conference, after lengthy discussion, passed two resolutions, one bearing on tho general work of the Church' and the other having particular reference to Sunday school work. The first resolution, proposed by tho Rev. S. Henderson (ox-president) and seconded by ill-. R. B. llorsley, runs as follows:— "That Ave rejoice in an increaso of 118 members for the year and also the immense amount of good accomplished through tile ministrations of our Church, but wo have to record the sad fact that we fail to reach the lapsed masses to aDj - appreeiablo- extent. SVe recommend our Church to- pay more attention to ths week evening and Sunday night prayer meetings, nlso open-air work, more to family religion and to the cultivation of personal pictv. We pledge ourselves to ui-o every endeavour through the coming year to bring about a revival of God's work." It was ordered that the above resolution . should be read in all Primitive Methodist' Churches in New Zealand. YOUNG PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS. Mr. J. Pugh proposed and Mr. A. Varney seconded tho following resolution bearing on tho Primitive Methodist young people's movement:— ."That we express our thanks-to Almighty God for the measure of success, spiritual, numerical, and financial, that has attended our efforts during tho year in conncction with the Young People's Movement of our Church. . "Wo are pleased to note that increases are shown in the numbers of Sunday School scholars and teachers, also of junior and senior Endeavour members, and further that a liberal response has been liitwla to our financial needs so that our working expenses are assured and our orphango subscription increased 116 per cent. ;. "By introducing Decision Day ana giving public opportunity to our scholars to show their allegiance to the Church, wo believe that a great impetus has been given to our spiritual work.' BUILDING STATISTICS. The Building Committee's report was presented and adopted. It showed that the number of churches in New Zealand was 81, the number of preaching places other than churches 70, total number of hearers, 10,485; houses, 48; total costs, ,£72,354 145.; present value: Churches, ,C5(,092 12s. 3d; houses, JC35.371 15s. 3d.; musical instruments, .£3172 12s. Gd.; land not, built upon,- .£1041; insured for .£38,320, debt at present .£21,910; ■ debt paid off during the year, .£1037; gross income, 438537 3s. 4d.; gross outgoings, .£794 Gs. 7d. NEARING THE END. The General Committee delegate'mentioned yesterday that' probably the book would be signed and tile last conference resolution passed at noon to-day. In a report of the Rev. G. KnowlesSmith's address at the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, he was made, by a tvpographical error, to say that two "banal" facts must be clearly understood. The word actually employed was basal,