METHODIST CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 135, 3 March 1922, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH

FOREIGN MISSION WORK OPERATIONS IN SOLOMON ISLANDS BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, March 2The Methodist Centenary Conference was continued to-day. The church property report showed that the trust income for the year amounted to £77,000, and the expenditure to £75,000. The debts had been substantially reduced. The fire insurance fund showed u profit ot £1429. Risks covered by the fund amounted to £340,507, of which £67,000 was covered uv reinsurance. New business during the year reached £32,340. I'rom the profits £3OO was voted to the centenary fund, £lOO to the supernumerary lund, and £lOO to the deaconess house committee. The first annual report ot the newly constituted Board of Missions was presented by the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, who expressed pleasure that during a year of financial stringency the missionary income again constituted record. The receipts totalled £12,19/, an increase of £523 over lust year. The Rev. T. Dent, who has been designated for foreign mission work in the Solomon Islands, addressed the conference. Mr. Dent is the first missionary to go out under the new arrangements in respect to these islands, the missionary control of which was recently taken over by New Zealand. A deputation from the Women s Missionary Union outlined the work of the union. . v The Bev. G. T. Marshall and Mr. J. W. Court were appointed treasurers for the foreign mission fund. It was reported that a medical mission fund had been established and was in credit to the amount of £57. The Maori Church, had become interested in foreign missions and had decided to make an annual contribution to the funds. Two Maori ministers were also prepared to go to the Solomon Islands with the same status as Samoan ministers. . , Grants from the foreign mission fund were made as follows£loo to the British and Foreign Bible Society ; £75 to the deaconess institution ; £250 to the Methodist Church in Tonga, in recognition of its services in supplying workers for the Solomon Islands mission. . It was resolved, as soon as sufncient money was available, to carry out a progressive policy in equipping the Solonion Island mission with a wireless plant, a portable sawmill, an up-to-date water supply, and sanitation and other improvements. It was anticipated that funds would be available in the near future and that in a few years the whole scheme would be in operation. Mr. E. Chivers is to go as wireless operator, and an engineer and trained hospital nurse will be sent. District secretaries were appointed as follow Auckland, J. IV. Shackelford; South Auckland, F. C. Daniell; Taranaki and Wanganui, R. Peperell; Hawke’s Bav and Mnnawatu, T. K. Hodder; Wellington, C. Swiney; Nelson, W. D. Pike; North Canterbury, Frank P. Thomson; South Canterbury, J. Watson; Otago and Southland, A. S. Froggatt. The Rev. S. Lawry was reappointed for a further two years as conncctional secretary. . Deputations were received from the Ministers’ Association (the president of which said, that if organic union were not possible a federation of churches might be accomplished), the New Zealand Alliance, Students’ Christian Union, and Russian Famine Belief Association.