CHURCH UNION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1336, 13 January 1912, Page 6

CHURCH UNION.

METHODISTS AND PRIMITIVE METHODISTS. ' CONFERENCE DISCUSSION. QJj Tolfcranh.—Press Association.! Christciuircil, January 12. Tho Primitive Mecliodist Conference met hero yesterday. The Rev. G. K. Smith was elected president, and tho Rev. ■J. Featherston secretary. . . To-day* tho basis of union with tho Methodist Church was discussed. Tho union seorotary (Mr C. 13. Bellringer)' reported on Ijehalf of tho committee 1 on Methodist Union, appointed by tho last conference, that tho committee approachcd the important subject, having in mind the very earnest and long-con-tinued consideration it had received at tho hands of tho conference as shown by tho many resolutions passed from timo to time. Tho Dunedin conference of 190S had passed a resolution, in favour of union, and tho Wellington conference of 1911 had reaffirmed it. Tho committee had met tho comniittco of tho sister church at Wellington on Juno 7 last. Tlio proceeding* all through the sessions were of tho most harmoiiious nature. Tho points of tbfj ferenoe wero discusscd fr&oly 2-nd tuuy» I ami' at tho end a basis of union was unanimously arrived at. The basis oi union was now laid bofoTC tho confer* ; cinco. The sac-rotary moved tho adoption of tli?- report, and that tho basis of union bo received, to be considered, seriatim, Tho principle of union, ho said, had been agroc.d to» and it was now for the conference to discuss the basts. Mr AV. Kin® (Dunedin), who seconded the report, said tho question had. lietm beforo the Methodist churches tor 28 years, and it was time it was settled. . Mr. D. Goklie (Auckland) opposed union on the ground that it had not been a success in Canada, or Australia. He quoted oxtracts in support of his remarks. He had been connected witn the Church for 49j years. Tho Hon. C. M. Luke (Wellington) apoko strongly in favour of puon. He answered many of Mr. Goldio s arguments against -union. • Tho Eev. J. Dawson (Wellington) considered thero were one hundred reasons why once more there should be °ne Methodist Church in New Zealand. Whatever reasons there might have been why the} should remain a separate Church, those reasons did not exist now. Union meant better work. In several places in New Zealand, whore thero were Primitiro Methodists there was no Primitive Methodist Chnrch, and tho result was tlieso Primitive Methodists attended tho Methodist Church. They were asked to join a Church Iwhicb had ?T)own ,ho way in • several of the largest branches of services. Mr. T. Moore (Auckland) said that ono hundred years ago, before the Church had secured'a more settled position, it had secured far better results. .He objected to tho basis of union. Their sister Church was at present not at all progressive, and they wanted to know why. Ho wanted to know whether they were going to improve themselves by joining the Methodist Church. . In the Auckland churches tho union spirit wns not very strong, i Thero was a big body of people in the Church whose desire was to seo tho Kingdom of God prosper, but still they did not desire union with tho sister Church. Mr. W. Dobbs (Chnstchnrch) advocated union. They would find a great many concossions had been mado by the other sido. , , The Eov. N. Hyde (Auckland) opposed union. The Primitive Methodist Church had not received assistance from the Government as the Methodist Church had, otherwise it might have dono as . much work. It was not a bit of good a minister coming to the conference and voting for union ami trying to shovo it upon his people without their desiring it. The President said he did not wish to interrupt their, young brother, but he was departing away from tho basis of union. In reply to. a question by Mr. J.'Pugh (Christchurch) as to whether tho basis should bo submitted to a referendum of members or mcrply to the quarterly meetings, tho President said it was to bo submitted to the quarterly meetings, me itov w. Spratt (Wellington) said that Methodism had increased 75' poT cent, in .13'yca/rs in Queensland, as a result of union. In view of this, they would hardly regard union as a failure. He felt confu&nt that the readjustment of forces consequent upon union would have a stimulating effcct upon Methodism. Tho Eov. C. E. Ward (Christchurch) considered that they, would lose much of tho cffect of their useful work by union'. Ho hoped that if union w;ere brought about it would not bo tho means of clos- ' ing up tho small churches. Personally he preferred to liye and die under tho Primitive Methodist Hag. The Rev. G.' Draka (Dunedin) advocated union. They wore not to bo absorbed, but wore to ba united to a great Church to make a greater Church. Tho' Eov. G. H. Mann (Geraldine) advocated union, which meant , increased efficiency. . The president said that he was, under no conditions, .prepared to enter, Wesleyan Methodism. He was also not prepared to enter' Wesleyan .Methodism with the autocracy of their ministry, which was greater than some of them desired, but they wero not discussing the question of joining Wesleyan Methodism, but tho creating of a new Chnrch from the two Churches of Methodism. It did not put on him the coat of Wesleyan Methodism, nor on his brother the coat of tho ranter, but it would havo'tho effect of creating a democratic Church. Mr. G. Froggart (Invercargill) was in favour of union. Mr. J. Hawkins (Auckland) was opposed to union. The Eev. J. Guy (Waimate) said that tho proposed basis of union was according to the New Testament teaching. The Rev. J. Benhing (Waikouaiti) and tho Eev. S. Henderson (Christchurch) believed, in union. i The Ilev..'J. Cocker (Wanganui) strongly upheld tho proposed basis. It would take the Church many years to recover from the blow if it threw out the basis agreed to after many conferences. The president said that there had been eighteen speeches—fonrtoen for and four against union. If any further nonunionists wished to speak, would they get up now? Otherwise, ho would call upon Mr. Bellringer to reply. There was no response. Mr. Bellringer, in reply, urged that the needs of the Dominion would be more fully considered by accepting the basis of union.' Ho had no doubt that it would be accepted, but ho hoped that it would be accepted in a wholehearted manner. The motion .was then put to tho meeting, and carried unanimously. The basis of union was then gono through seriatim, and tho various sections adopted. The conference then adjourned. Firs't Draft cf Stations, Tho first draft of stations was read as follows:—New Plymouth, Ealpli .1. Liddell and Harold A. Sharp; Inglewood, ono wanted; Stratford, Basil Metson; Eltham, G. Clements; Wans:anui, Samuel Bailey; EastEgmont, Fred. Frost; Saddle Bag Mission. ono wanted; Wellington (first), Percy .T. Cossum, Harold Cotton, and John Dumbell (sup.); Wellington (second), William S. Cotter, Archer 0. Harris, and .Tchn Dawson (without pastoral charge)Wellington (third), John Sothcru; Foxton, Tlios. Coates, Worth, and one wanted; l'eilding, Joseph Sham. Ernest T. Bliss (n.M.), and Peter W. Jones (sup.); Ilalcombc, Herbert Daniel; West Coast"Mission. Charles A. Sims and Peter J. Mairs (II.M.); Auckland (first), James Cocker and Hedley White; Auckland (second), Kolktl Kaino and John F. Dohorty (H.M.); Auckland (third), John Olfliort and Thos. U. Lyon; Thames Geo. T. Hunt; Waihi, Fred A. Thompson; Hamilton, Jos. Clover; Cambridge, Herman Foster (H.M.); Christchurch (first). Samuol Henderson, Charles E. Ward (sup.), and Walter narris (C.M.); Christchurch (socond), one wanted; Greendale. Arthur Harding; Ashburton, Thos. E. D. Woolloxall; Geraldine, Geo. H. Mann; Waimate and Ojunn.ru, Jas. Guy; Timani. Jacob Featlierslon; Tomuka, John Harris; Dnnodin (first), G. ICnowlesSrnith, J. D.. Suckling, and James Chorion's; Dnnedin (second), Edward Drake and Edward Bandy: Tnvercargill (first), William lay code: Tnvercanrill (sec"" 1 ' Arthur Pvbus; Bluff, Ben Dudley: Waikr.uaiti, J. Denning; Edendale, Norman Hyde. / BASIS OF UNION. ITS MAIN FEATURES. The two committees sot np by tho conferences met conjointly in Juno laet at thq Taranaid Street Methodist Chmrfti,

I Wellington, to formulate a basis of union ' to bo recommended to Iho conference, which will assemble early next. year. The utmost harmony and good feeling prevailed throughout, mid the decisions wore ill every case finally adopted by a ■unanimous vote. Tho main features of tho basis of union agreed upon for submission to the courts' of tha respective churches arc as follow:— The Church is to be known as "Tho Methodist Church of Now Zealand." Members in good standing in cither of the uniting churc.hcs at tho dato of union shall hold the same status as they proviously held in their respective churches. The United Conference is to consist of ail equal number of ministers and laymen, with tho exorcise of powers similar to thoso now in operation in both churches, except that, in the United Church, it is proposed that thero should be a committee of ministers for the examination of candidates and probationers. There is also to be a mixed Committee of Complaints and Appeals, with a srfait committee, of ministers only, for inquiring into specific matters pertaining to ministerial character and efficiency. The officers of tho conference are to bo a president—who in all caws is to be a minister of the Church—a lay vice-preta-dont, and a secretary, who is also to bo a minister of the Church. In the event of the death or incapacity of tho president, liis duties aro to bo performed by the ex-president. Annual district synods will bo held as at present, tho representation to be substantially tho Bame as that now obtaining ill both churches. Provision is made for a Ministerial Committee at each Synod, to deal with all questions affecting ministerial character and efficiency, and the examination of candidates and probationers. Their reports and recommendations are to be sent direct to the conference. A District Committee of Emergency is provided for, to consist of the chairman of tho district and four other ministers; those concerned having the right of appeal to, the Supreme Court of tlio Church. Quarterly meetings will continue to be the highest courts in the circuits or stations, and will be representative of all departments of the Church; the superintendent minister to be tho. oliairiuan of this and all other official meetings in his circuit. Preachers' meetings and leaders' meeting will be continued, with tho same functions as at present in each Church. Church meetings, consisting of members in full standing, aro to be held as at present. These will elect the stewards i and other representatives to the quarterly meetings. Connexional funds of various churches are provided for. In regard to the supernumerary funds, a special com-' mittee has been appointed by each section of the committee to oonsider all matters relating thereto, and to report .to the next conference. The Children's Fund, Contingent Fund, I Home Mission and Church Extension Fund, Church Building and Loan Trust and the Fire Insurance Fund, will bo continued, the capital of tho existing funds to be amalgamated. . A' Foreign Mission Society will bo established as soon as possible. In the meantime, tho arrangement in Tegard to foreign missions by'the Methodist Church of Australasia, in connection with the formation of. an independent chnrch in New Zealand is to be adhered to. All church property will bo vested under a common Trust Act as soon as union is consummated. No property is to Jbe sold without the approval of the circuit quarterly meeting; and the committee of the Church Building and Loan Fund, or the conference. All matters relating to the organisasocieties are referred to a joint committo" representing the two churches. , The Stationing Committee is to confa'on of Sunday schools and young people's sist of tho president and secretary of the conference, the chairman of districts, nnd one minister elected from each district, and an equal number of laymen, one of ■whom shall be tho vice-president. No change shall be made in tho basis of union affecting constitutional questions or the rishts and privileges of tho ministry or laity except such changes shall have been previously submitted to the annual district synods and confirmed by a resolution of the succeeding conference, a 55 per cent majority being required.