THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 59, 11 March 1905, Page 9

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY'S PROOKRMNGS. After tho Post wont to prows yeMeiday tho thirl y-aecond ainm.U conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand was continued. NAVAL AND MILITARY MATTERS. It wa.s resolved to take st"ps to pci'iire Methodist chaplaincies in t ho New Zealand Volunteer foices, and to get permission to conduct divine service on boaid Ilia Majesty's vessel* of the navy when they wciv in New Zealand waters. NAVAL CIIAPLATN. Tt was resolved to ask tho Admiuilty to appoint the Rev. J. A. Luxford Naval Oliapliiiu for the wholo of New Zealand, in respect to visiting warships of His Majesty's navy. CONTINGENCIES, ETC. The toturn of circuit expenditure foi contingent, nnd children's fund puipo.Mtt was submitted by tho Rev. Mr. Lewis. It, showed for tho year 1901 iptcipts amounting to £2835 8s 4d. Expenditure exceeded tho nvnilublo nion^s liv iJisbb Is 2.1. Objection was taken to failures up lo priNViit dalo by Ualclutha and Rut'fton to pay into the fund moneys raised for it in those districts last year. The*e amounts wcro credited in tho balancufchoet, but tho treasurer had not received them. lialclutha's amount was handed in forthwith. CANTERBURY MAORIS.' It was urged by the Hoy. Mr. Lnwry that special steps should bo taken to secure missions to the Canterbury Maoris. There wn« a half-caste student in Canterbury — Manning Piper— who, during his college vacations, could with ndvnntngo to tho Maoris and himself make visits to tho Maori paa of Canterbury. The suggestion was referred to the Home Missions Committee, it being understood that this suggestion if adopted would in no way interfere with tho itinerary of tho mi&sioner who would work on account of tho Southern Maori Mission recently set up. SYNOD RECOMMENDATIONS. A recommendation by Wellington Synod that tho llcv. W. Dittos bo went ns Homo Mission deputation to Wellington this year was given effect lo by tho Conference. Tho Otago Conference forwarded the following recommendation : — "Thnt Conference be recommended to instruct the Home Mission Committee to prepare tho annual report in a more attractive form, omitting much of tho detailed statement of circuit returns, etc., illustrating it with portraits of Maori missionaries n;i,d others, churches, and other objects of interest and by reducing, tho sizo and cost to make it possible to placo a copy in every Method ifcfc homo." Tho ground of increased cxpenso was urged by tho Roy. Mr. Bull an n icanon for not adopting the suggestion. Others were of opinion that the suggested alteration, if effected, would mean increased revenue by reason of the greater circulation of the report that would rosuit. A lay brotlier, who had made research amongst hoculnr American nuthors, said that tho incroased advertisement thnt would bo gained t'roin tho alteration would agnin prove the truth of Jowh. Billings's dictum : "Ho who in his bi/, would' rise must cither 'bust' or advertise." The matter was referred to tho Executive .Committee, with .power to net, as thought best, HOME MT.SSTON AND CHURCn EXTENSION FOND. Oil. the abbvc-Gtatcd subject, tho exPresident of t|ie Conference, Rev. S. Lnvrry, moved tho following resolutions: — "1. That tho time linn come fur the Conference to adopt a more progressive church cxtonsion policy : both as regards tho raising of funds and the strengthening of our position throughout the colony. 2. That tho Homo Mission Executive consider nnd report to the noxt District Synod and Conference (n) ns to the best means of increasing tho interest of our peoplo in the Homo Mission and Church Extension Fund; (b) as to how the administration of its affairs can be made more efficient and belter adapted to the present requirement.* of tho church, (c) And specially as to the desirabloncss of the Executive Comroittco being invested with greater power of initiative, and tho appointment of district Committ<*es of ouvico." Tho motion was unanimously passed. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. f At tho evening sitting a report on tho Sunday Schools of the Methodist Church was mado by tho Row 0. W. J. Spenoo. It showed that thero had boon an incrpase in tho number of scholare in overy district but Canterbury. Thpro tho decreaso nnmborcd 100 pupils. Auckland nnd Wellington showed the greater numerical increase, whilo in proportion to population Wnnganui bad tho nest record, .with nn increaso of 160. In concluding his roport, tho Roy. Mr. Spcnce mnde tho following striking ob sorvations : — "As the timo posses, so fnr from the Sundays-school work of tho Chflrch boirtg loss important, it. really bncowics more importnnt. Wo nro romihdod thnt in this generation nil science is going away from tho bulky nnd tho ndult to tho microscopical and tho embryo. In tho old days scientists used to consider vegetation in tho full-grown tree, but to-day they sock to solvo tUo problem of vegetation in tho moss. So in relation to higlwr and more lasting ihings. 'Tho problem which in tho past it was songht to suttlo by tho statesman or tho ndult wo are coming to see will only be settled by the larger education of tho child) Reforms at the other end of society will bo moro and more discroditcd. and tho regeneration of tho world will bo sought with growing confidence in tho rogencrntion of tho boy and girl. In view of this, the responsibility incrcusos, and tho privilege of tho Sundayschool worker is enhanced. Ronieinlierinjj, like tho artist who said he was painting for oternity, thnt the teacher is moulding nnd forming soirls at tho most important period of their history foi ctornity, how vital it is that excellence should be aimed nt oven in tho smallest detail?" Tho report was adopted, nnd the Rev. Mr. Sponco was thanked for his labours. It was resolved that Conference nrge3 that in tho Sunday-schools the Ten Commandments bo recited nt least once a month. It was furthor resolved that preachers bo urged to mako the Sunday morning services attractive to children. C F.NT U It Y COM M EMOR ATION FUND. Tt was reported that on 3tst January, 1905, tho Century Commemoration Fund had n balnnqo of £770 18s 3d. Tho state of tho fund hns boon only relatively ascertained, for thero has been doIny m tho forwarding of amounts promised, either on tho part of Iho donors or of tho Circuit oflicinls. Tho amount of £770 18s 3d was apportioned ob dielected by tho donors. HOME MISSIONS. Amondetl regulations respecting retiring allowances for homo missionaries wore discussed nnfl adopt od "THE OUTLOOK." A Committee report concerning thn combined religions journnl (The Outlook) was considered, nnd tho editor of tho Mothodist section (Mr. Brook) was thanked for his services and voted an honoruriur ,

PROTESTANT PRINCIPLES. Mr. Rose yon r moved the following rohnlntinn .--"That in linrmony with Us resolution of last year, tho Conference agnin directs tho attention of its preach ers to the growing necj of emphasising the principles of tho Protestant Reformation, nnd suggests to them the orcdsional trcnttnenl in the pulpit of distinctly I'rotestnnl subjects. 11, would filso diTPcl the nttcntion of our peoplo to the grent e\ ii of sending the children of Protestnnt parents to Roman C'ntholic schools, niul it would counsel them to do their utmost to discountenance such n proceeding." The, motion wna unanimously adopted. DIVINITY DEGREE. The Uev. T. E. Thomas moved : "That the Conference lea rns with satisfaction thnt tho Senate of thn Now Zcnlnnd University proposes to introduce a divinity course into its curriculum, and strongly urges tho New Zealand Pnrlia? incut tn inaka such legislative provision as will enable this to ho done. The motion wns unanimously adopted, nnd at 9.35 p.m. the Conference roao until 10 o'clock ne.\t morning.