PRIMITIVE METHODIST

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1030, 20 January 1911, Page 2

PRIMITIVE METHODIST

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. TUB BUSINESS CONCLUDED.. Tho nnnunl conference of the Primitive Methodist Church resumed yesterday morning and concluded its final session at about 1.30 p.m. It was agreed that the stations be asked to raise <£GSO for home mission purposes, as was done- hi*l; yea;. A letter was received from the Rev. IT. Youniiman, president of the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australia, stating that sixteen representatives had been assigned to Australasia for the Ecumenical Conference—Methodist, to be held at Toronto, Canada, in October, 1911. One place at least would bo available for the Primitivo Methodists of New Zealand if they thought well to accent it.

Several delegates expressed themselves fully sensible of the importance of the matter and the courtesy "which had inspired tho invitation.

It was agreed that the letter be received and entered in the journal, and that tho writer be informed that the conference had appointed the Rev. Robert Raine, an ex-president, to represent it at the loronto Conference.

The cohferenco recorded its thanks to the.following donors of gifts-.— To Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Stvles for tho gift of a church at Foxton lieads. The church is situated in a growing seaside district. Its value is <£175.

Io Mr. W. King, and through him to his co-directors of tho Forbury Park Estate, Dunedin, for the gift of a section valued at <£100, and the further sale by Mr. King of the adjoining section at a price most advantageous to the trustees, so granting to them the opportunity of securing one cf the most valuable corner sites in the estate.

.To Mi. 1). Watkin, of Huiroa, for the gift of a nuarter-ncre section of land, value j£lo, situated at Huiroa; East Egmont, where there is a nopulation of one hundred within a radius of a milo from the scction.

The conference recorded its appreciation of the ninny generous gifts made by Mr. R. Kecnc to tho funds of tho Church, particularly to the Wellington 111 station, to which he has contributed ,£IOO per year for the past three years. It was decided that the thanks of the conference be conveyed to Mr. Koene by letter.

Beforo rising the conference expressed its gratitude to the young lady who had controlled the temporary postal and telephone station at tho Webb Street Church and to tho press.

TOPICS OF THE TIME. . RESOLUTIONS BY CONFERENCE. At its final session yesterday the Primitive Methodist Conference passed without discussion a number of resolutions .bearing on matters of public import. They are detailed below:— Licensing Law. ; That this conference expresses its gratification at the passing of the Licensing Act Amendment Act, containing as it dees long desired improvements in the law, in particular in the raising of-the age at which liqiior may be sold to .21 years, iu securing tho eventual abolition of barmaids, and of the locker system.

It rejoices that tho right of Dominion Prohibition lias been granted, biit it regrets that Parliament should again have refused to tho democracy its just rights iu this question. Tho confcrenco would call the atten- , tion of the members and adherents of the. Church to tho greatness of the opportunity which this, the election year, affords, and, it strongly urges upon all the importance of using all the power the new Act gives by striking out tho top line on both ballot papers. Regulation of Racing, ..That this conference' of tho Primitive Methodist Church views with gratitude the. action of Parliament in abolishing the licensing of bookmakers :'and in reducing the number of race meetings. We express our pleasure at the large vote recorded against tho totalisator, and pledge ourselves to make every possible effort to foster and strengthen tho growth of public opinion to secure the abolition of.tlw totalisator, and thus free the Dominion of its connection with the gambling evil. Sabbath Desecration. . , That the Primitive Methodist Church of this Dominion news with considerable alarm the widespread laxity in regard to the proper observance of (he Lord's Day. As a Church, we enter an emphatic protest against tho doing of unnecessary drill work iu the military camps of tho Dominion on the' Sabbath, especially in view of the fact that under tho present regulations so many cadets are to come under military training. Tho conference also brings the question of Sabbath observanco before our adherents throughout New Zealand, and urges them to refrain.from all that will interfere with'the Sabbath as a day for rest and worship, and reappoints the Public Questions Committee.

Opium. That this conference, believing that the growth and manufacture of onium in India for export to China, enforced by appeal to treaties, is morally indefensible and a serious hindrance to the'influence of Christianity in the East, and that the British name will not bo free from reproach, nor China bo free to purge* herself of this evil, so long as this policv is continued, urges upon his Majesty's (Soy-, eriimont that without delay— ("l) China be' formally released from-treaty obligations to admit onium ; (2) the connection of the Indian Government with the opium export trade be brought to an end; (3) tho financial difficulties created by the cessation of tho opium revenue bo mot,by the British Imperial and Indian Governments in a way that shall not increase the taxation of the mass of the people in India nor injure the feudatory "States concerned."

ORDAINING MINISTERS. A CLOSING SCENE. An ordination service, held in tho Conference Church, Wobb Street, last evening, attracted a large attendance of visiting delegates and others. The proceedings were opened by the Bev. G. H. Mann, president of tho conference, with n brief address. The Revs. I'\ A. Thompson and D. B. P. Carlisle eacli told the story of his conversion and call to tho Christian ministry. The Rev. E. Drake delivered the charge to tho candidates, and the I'ev. A. Pybus tho charge to the Churclics