CHURCH WORK

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 48, 25 February 1921, Page 10

CHURCH WORK

METHODIST CONFERENCE

OPENS

NEARING A CENTUItY

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT.

One of the most important conferences in .the history of Methodism in New Zealand—the ninth annual and the la6t of the first century's work in this land— was officially opened at the Taranakistreet Methodist Cluuroh last evening in the presence of a very large assemblage of ' Dominion repr<isenta.tives, church members, and others. The retiring president (Rev. E. Drake, Wellington South), occupied tho chair until the induction of the President-elect. Rev. W. ftrigg, Christ-church, by the Kovs. W. Ready and T. A. Joughin, ex-presidents of the conference. The induction, aud welcome were carried; out by the Rev. E. Drake. The ceremony over, the new president delivered his inaugural address. "My finsfc words from the chair of this conference," said the Rev. Mr. Grigg, "must be of grateful acknowlegment of the gerat honour you have conferred upon me in electing me to this higii position. I accept the responsibilities of this high office- with a. deep sense of limitation, it is true, but with an absolute assurance of the loyalty and prayerful co-operation of this conference, and the Methodist Church of this Dominion. Next to' my dependence upon. Divinegrace, will be my reliance upon' the cooperation of my brother ministers, the conference representatives, and our .whole Church." The president then made feeling reference to brethren who had passed through affliction and sorrow, aoid also made mention of the visit of the Rev. S. F. Colljer, of Manchester, accompanied by Mrs. Collier and son, the Bey. Frank Collier. "Among social questions," he said,, "one of paramount importance is the progress of temperance among the people, and legislation with regard to the sal© of strong drink. . . . We never had openly and aggressively with us such a preponderance of the brain, heart, and conscience of our nation as at the last election. Though, we came just short of a complete success, on that occasion (according to the count), it was such a rising of the' tide, which at the next election, if taken at the flood, will lead on to victory. CHURCH UNION. . "Church Union will come before us in a new, a' clearer, and more hopeful light. Several Synods make recommendations on the subject, and we expect leading from' the Committee on Church Union, and from our representatives to the Conference on Faith and Order. We have practically all read reports of the Conference of Anglican Bishops, held at Lambeth last year, and rejoice in the truly fraternal spirit of their utterance. Especially we note with devout thankfulness tho frank recognition of the spiritual equality of all Christian people. This certainly lifts all consideration of this vital subject to a, higher piano, and into a puTer atmosphere. It gives us a r.«w beginning, and a new outlook. Beyond doubt- the. best preparation for this larger union will be the union of the Evangelical Communions which are most nearly allied in methods, spii-it, and life. , MISSIONARY WORK. "An -inspiring feature of our Church life is our missionary -enterprise, both honje.and foreign. Whatever difficulties we ■"may find. ourselves" up*-against, our people . are constantly/ increasing their benefactions to these funds. It is a matter for congratulation that so much has .been done to help so many Homo Mission stations and aided Circuits to pay an increased minimum stipend. The problems of our Maori work are being bravely and wisely faced by the- new general superintendent. TheTe is gratifying evidence,. too, that our; Church is: becoming keenly alive to the importance of -educating the Maori-girl to become an intelligent and capable wife and mother. It is largely through the womanhood of any race or people that moral and spiritual uplift comes. Our Foreign Mission work is rapidly' deveU oping. For some years we have been steadily working towards a mission field of our own, and now in little more than ten months w-e expect to assume that responsibility.' . :. CHURCH LIFE AND WORK. "This conference," Mr. Grigg continued, "will be called upon not only to look very'thoroughly into pur statistical returns, but, what is more- important, into the life and work of our Church. The Church has met the full force of the disintegrating influences of the crisis through which we are passing. But we must beware of falling into the habit of. passively attributing every-kind and degree of decline and failure to the war and its consequences. . ." . Not only has the Church of' God survived the ordeal, but if faithful will be all the purer and stronger for the fiery trial. It is ours with high, hopeful resolve, and determination born of faith in God to strengthen the things that remain. THE FIRST CENTURY. "We; meet as a conference for the last time in the first century of our history in this land. The next eleven months will be but a span between two centuries. We stand' to-day where the searchlights of Heaven, play 'upon us. The double task is ours,* to finish the old well, to begin the new better. How keenly at this time we study and appraise- the work of our pioneer fathers. In this epochal period of our history will we make an equal showing ii> the light of a century hence?"' Neither bur mills, nor the mills of God, can grind with the water that is past, but we have with us the flowing tide of almost another year of opportunity to complete tbe century. If we realise the 'days are evil,' let us be found 'redeeming the time.' By the mercy of God we have, another year in which to make good. We are called upon to make advance in two salients. The first is in the spiritual life of tho. Church The call is to intercession, and prayerful stuoy of our history, constitution and aims. The second salient is financial; to provide the moans to carry oi> efficiently in the ,new cerftury, our God-given work. The objective, if realised,' will transform our prospects for fnture usefulness. Much as wo need money, the spiritual renewal is felt, by every one of us to be of infinitely greater importance. To this work we seek to link our whole forces —our members, adherents, Sunday School'scholars* Young Women's' and Young Men's Bible Classes, indeed our Young People's department in its entirety. And we must have our Maori people heart and soul with us, for it was for them tho Methodist Church first came, to New Zealand. Preeminently it is their centenary. With the- intenaest interest we are looking forward to our Centenary Conference next year. Distinguished visitors are expected from our Mother Conference; and the Sister Conferences of America and Australia. ' VISION ESSENTIAL. "An essential, to-day,'.', -he said, "is vision. To fulfil our ministry we must bring home the'full meaning of Christ's evangel to all sorts and conditions of people, but it is at the grave.st peril to the causo we represent if we fail to enliet the young manhood and womanhood, ii.nd I "will add the childhood of our home!, for Christ and His Church. The

best reinforcements we can have are the young, with their wakeful, active, daylight visions. They need our sympathetic understanding and guidance. The present is ours, the future is theirs and ours. Brethren, we stand between the old and the new. Change, drastic, swift, in all around we see. Such swift transition, sudden and' sweeping, means difficulty and peril, -but it means great opportunity too. It is, after all, a great time in which to live and serve.

"The Gospol is still the Wisdom of ,God," he concluded, "and the power of 'God. Seeing that vision, realising that power, 'in quietness and in oojindeaic© shall be your strength.' United, before the challenge of the century,' from the North Oape- to the Bluff, may there be upon us such a spirit of service andl sacrifice, that when we again assemble, it shall be to 'bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings of grace, grace, unto it.' " (.Applause.) ' ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers* was them- proceeded wth. The R.sv. 0. H. ■ Laws (principal of the Theological Institute, Auckland) was chosen as president for 1922. Mr. W. Dobbs (Cbristchurch) was appointed vice-president •of the conference, the highest position to which a layman can be elected, and was duly inducted and welcomed. The Rev. A. Ashcroft (Palmeraton North) was reelected secretary for,the ensuing year.