METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 47, 25 February 1911, Page 9

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

UNITED PUBLIC MEETING. fBT TBLSGBAPH — KRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 24th February. The Methodist Conference resumed this morning. A committee was set up to frame a •suitable response to an appeal from the New Zealand Alliance for increased effort ■•in the temperance cause. A committee was appointed to report on the overture from the Presbyterian Church on the ' subject of combating Sabbath desecration. ■Conference committees were set up, and a committee was also set up to prepare loyal addresses in connection with the King's Coronation and the appointment of Lord Islington. ' Several lay members were appointed to the Stationing Committee. A letter was Tea-d from tho president, of the Primitive Methodist Conference on the subject of union, and the Rev. C. H. Laws gave notice of motion in connection therewith. The citizenship meeting in connection with the conference was held to-night in His Majesty's Theatre. It was very numerously attended, and the proceedings were enthusiastic throughout. His Exoellency the Governor presided, and in an eloquent speech referred to the growth of Methodism in New Zealand, and expressed tlie sincere hope that the unity of all Methodists in the Dominion would be accomplished. Bishop Julius gave a thoughtful ad>dress on "The Church and Our Social Destiny," in which he traced the influence" of Christianity upon civilisation, and indicated the direction in which the Church could reform and uplift society. The Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister for Education, spoke on "The Claims oft Local Citizenship," in which he deprecated the proneness of the people of the Dominion to rely on financial aid from ■the State, and advocated greater attention being paid to the beautifying of our cities. "Our -Imperial Citizenship and Responsibilities" was the subject of an eloquent and convincing address by the Rev. P. W. Fairclough, in which he pointed out the duties of the individual to the Empire. On the motion of the president of the conference, the audience, by acclamation, accorded its thanks to the Governor and to the other speakers.