"A LOVE FEAST." PUBLIC MEETING OF METHODTSTS THE CHURCH AND THE NATIVE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 57, 9 March 1905, Page 5

"A LOVE FEAST." PUBLIC MEETING OF METHODTSTS THE CHURCH AND THE NATIVE.

A public meeting under tho auspices of tho Methodist Conference was hold in Wesley Church last night to diecuss "The Work'of Cod." Ihe chair was occupied by tho Rev. J. A. Luxford, who, in hia opening remarks, recnllod p'-wt memories of his early sojourns in Wellington and his experiences as a worshipper in tho old Methodist Church at Manners-street. It waa ninposrd at this meeting that "a lovo feast bi> held — a Methodta was of no groat merit if he could not testify to his experiences and hopes and uapirutions — and tho Chairman know that proof of that ability would be given that ovening. The following resolution waa thon moved by the Rev. Mr. Carr: "This Confcreuco rejoices that statistical returns reveul a total increiwio of 604 Europivini and Maori mombero; it notes tho objectlesson prmontod by the Welsh rovival of tho increased potency inhorent in our Hiblo claHses and endeavour societies ; it views with hopefulness recent progressive legislation and a deepening current of public opinion in relation to no-license, and confidently anticipates the practical sympathy of our peoplo at tho coming poll. It expresses gratitude to Almighty God for ro-opening :v door of usefulness in southern Maori mission work, and for tho interest in our foreign mission work, us evidenced by the increased contributions and tho appointment of n (list missionary sister. It deems it desirable to reaflirm the xacrediiess of tho day of rost, and above all, determine to provoke all our circuits to increanod nruycrfuliiesn tluvt there may descend still move copiously tho fnllnefu of tho Spirits of power and grace." Tho mover spoke in terms of satisfaction concerning the work dono by the present Conference, mid the unanimity on important subjects that had characterised its members. Testimonies concerning church work and kindred subjects wero then given by chnrrhmem amongst tho congregation. A delegate from Muuakau expressed his belief that No-license would almost cwt.iinly he carried this yoar. KfForts wero already being made to, onsuro that achievement, and an activo canvii«i of tho di.v jnct was being made with the object of getting on tho roll the assured temperance voters. It hud been found that fully one-fifth of that voting power had been off the 1011, but that was euro to bo romedicd. ( Disappointment was expressed that tho Homo j)»d Foreign Mission* meeting hail been placed at so lute a- date in tho agenda of the Conference, and a hope was expressed that it would be made ono of the first meetings under tho auspices of next year's Conference. Tho Rev. Mr. Peters, of Ashburtnn, bore testimony to the great benefit Unit Prohibition liad been to Anhburton. It w«s otto of tho imu*t prosperous towns in New Zealand, largely us a result of Prohibition. Mr. Cunnold, of Hastings, spoko of tho great advantage to bo got from a propaganda amongst tho young men and women. Ho believed tho church would bo justified in using a policy that was not always atrictly after the accepted religious modes. ' The Rev. Mr, Dew.sbury (Christchurch) was of wimilar opinion. Suflicicnt endeavour waa not inad^to gain converts from life at it* source. He thought that Ministers spread thcmsplvea too much in thoir administration*! ; ho had often regretted that ministers had to run around the country fulfilling ministrations when they. might bo spending their timo moro advantageously in the Sunday-schoola. lue Rev. Mr. Hammond (Maori Missioncr at Patea) spoko in terms of great satisfaction concerning a favourable report received from the Rev. Mr. Gittos concerning Maori misuion work in the Far North. Mr. Hammond expressed his very great satisfaction at the decision of Ihe current Conference to resume mission work in South Island. It was a shame that the Methodist Church liad neglected thoso peoplo who had joined the church in early cluys. Had tho Methodist Church been us loyal to them as they had beon to tho church, it would have bcon hotter for nil. In regard to his own district of Wangamu and Taranaki, Mr. Hammond spoko m terms of regrot tinctured with hope. There wils a big uphill fight in tho district, for thousands of acres of land luul been taken from them, and there was bitterness of ttpirit. The irreconcilitblo spirit wus kept nlive by tho natives of Paritiaka : it was a ciu>e of tho Church again.it Parihaka, and the church was fighting every inch of tho ground. Though the rev. geutleman'H work had evoked some depreciatory remarka from thoso who did not know its hard naturo arid the peculiar mtrroumlingK, ho wao not discouraged. He asked his hearers to remerfbor that no ono luul yet succeeded. Man after man had come, and gone away disopirited and broken-hearted. The people who were going to do tho most had gone soonest. Mr. Hammond whs still in the faith, and ho was going to stay if tlio church would let him stay. (Loud npnlaoac). Mr. J. Stead, of Invercargill, expressed his conviction that a spiritual rovival won imminent in the southern centre. Mr. G. Wataon (Eltham) said there had been no great spiritual developments in Kltham, but thero had been a lcveii working in the place. Men were becoming better. Men who never went to church before were now coming to tho Methodist services and taking part in them, and there wus a movement towards better things tlkit waa subject for thankfulness. The lie vii. C. Porter (Hawora) nnd W. S. Rowio (Woodville) spoko of the nocpsgity for exerciHing both faith and diligence in advancing tho spiritual work of tho church. Mr. 8. Ayers, of Rangiora, expressed his satisfaction, that the church was now awakening to the great power for good that could bo exercised by moro activo work amongst tho young men. Mr. W. A. Sinclair (Dunedin) voiced his pleasure at tlio decision of the Conference to appoint an organising agent for tho institution of a Wesleyun Forward Movement for Young Men. Ho was pleased to think tlmt the old Methodist ring was about to bo renewed in the utterances, and that the church was not to be satisfied by mere advantages in the miltter of increased valuea of church properties, etc. The Chairman having spoken of the gratitude that the church owed to its consecrated dioiis, the meeting was concluded with praise and prayer.