METHODIST CHURCH CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 45, 21 February 1917, Page 2

METHODIST CHURCH CONFERENCE

A large number of ministers and laymen of the Methodist Church have already arrived in Wellington-.from various parts of New Zealand to attend, the annual conference of that denomination, which is to be opened in the Taranakistreet Church to-morrow/ - -

The first -united conference of the combined Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches met in this city four years ago,, and considerable interest .is therefore attached to the approaching conference as an, evidence of the -wisdomor otherwise • of. the step:' then taken. Judging from present reports there are no regrets,, but the union has proved so successful .that -,'somewhat keen; disappointment is ; manifest at the unlikelihood' of any steps, for' a etiU larger union being taken in the immediate ..future.. .'

Statistics, to be presented, to tie conference show thurt. there are 462 churches with- 643 other preaching . places, 159 parsonages, 188 .ministers, 62 home missionaries, 10 deaconesses, 924 lay preachers, 75 class leaders, '25,917 members, 87,782 adherents, 7102 junior members, 16,141 other communicants, '41S Sunday schools, 3128 teachers, 28,78S scholais, 1114 members of Young Men's Bible. classes^ 2141 young: lady Bible class attendants; 261 societies have been established to meet the 'intellectual, social, and moral needs of the young people, -whilst 77 others/expressly deal Temperance education^

Of much interest will, be the.record of the part taken by* this church in the great world crisis. . Statistics are not yet available as to the .number, of its members .and adherents who have' joined the colours, but. of the 175 ministers, home missionaries, and students eligible for the war .52 have already' enlisted. One has lost his life, whilst a number of others are ajnongßt the wounded. It is, tobj a; rare exception ..to find a Mothodist manse, where a.re. grown-up sons, not'represented on the field 1, whilst one at least has all four sons away. • The various public functions of the conference will' be found set ont in. ouradventising columns.