A WORLD CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 71, 20 September 1930, Page 11

A WORLD CHURCH

METHODISTS CONFEE

THE LEEDS GATHERING

(From "The Post's'- Representative.) LONDON, 31sfc July.

Tho Eov. Dr. J. T. Pinfold, the Rev. J. E. Parsons, and the Rev. Arthuv Livcrsidgo were among overseas delegates to the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, which opened at Leeds on 23rd July.

Other delegates from abroad included: The Bow W. Moore, prcsidont of the Irish Conference; and the Revs. W. .11. Itassey, John England, and Mr. A. C. Marshall, from Ireland; Bishop Hughes and tho Revs. Jchn Watchcroft and Frederick Brown Harris, of tho Methodist Episcopal Church; the Rev. A. \V. Gray, ex-president of AVestern Australia: the Eov. Charles Doley, South Australia; the Rev. J. 11. Cain, ox-president of Victoria and Tasmania; the Rev. F, J. Jennings, ex-president of "Victoria arid Tasmania; Principal Bennett, Australia;-the Rev. O'Doughty, Victoria and Tasmania; the Rev. James E. Corey, Australia ;■ the Rev. Thomas Major and N, Paul Abraham, Mr. 11.I1. G. Hill, the Revs. Fred. Holmes, ex-presi-dent, and' J. Pendlebury, ex-president, from South, Africa; Dr. Otto Melle, Germany, and the Rev. A. N. Cole, West Africa.

The Rev. j. E. Parsons described the lure of England as something none but exiles could understand. New Zealand was a wonderful land, with natural features not to be equalled, but yet thwc was something, in the tender greonness of TEnglancl and in the warmth .'of its people which the colonists longed to feel. It was good to be in a Methodist Conference and to foel the glow of that eonferenco. He was glad to hear such good things 'about the coming Methodist Union, and could assure them that if in England they found union so great a success as they did in New Zealand then they would be happy indeed. In Now Zealand they" had what they claimed to be the finest young peoplo's work in the world. They . were keeping their hands on 90-per cent, of their young people—and that in a country 1200 miles long, and with a relatively sparse population. The system of classes -for young poople was a great success, and was providing all the candidates they needed for thoir ministry. Some of the most interesting missionary work iri the world was being done in the Solomon Islands, under the auspices of the New Zealand Methodist Church. He wished the eonferenco would read the sfcory of that mission. There was no colour problem in New Zealand. There were 60,000 Maoris, who were as happy with the colonists as the colonists were with them. The New Zealand Methodist Church was raising £25,000 a year for its foreign missionary work. They believed that the Methodist Church had a peculiar message for the age; and ho brought the greetings of the Church in Now Zealand to tho Mother Church, which they all loved, and for whose continued prosperity they continually prayed. STATES AND GERMANY. Bishop Hughes brought tho greetings of tho Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States; and in a great speech containing much humour, ho won the heart of the conference.

In pledging himself to pray for his English brethren and for the English nation, ho would ask.for a covenant of intercession.' In tho long period of -suspense:during the illness of King George ho novor went into a Methodist Episcopal" Church where they did not pray for his recovery —not simply ! because he was King, but because he was the Royal symbol of the nation's hearts. He almost felt now like doing an unconventional thing and asking that everyone would bow heart and head in carrying out this covenant of intercession, that the Union Jack and the Stars a and Stripes might be kept in company with the white banner of the Lord until the day when all men ] should hail Christ as King for ever land ever. Dr. Otto Mellc was a little proud of the fact that Methodists were the first persons who built bridges again after the Avar. The very first" Englishman who visited them was Dr. Tasker. Then there were tho visits of Dr. Howard and the Rev. Henry Carter. The Methodists in Germany would never forcet what they owed to England. Tho first messengers of the Gospel came from' England to Germany. The first Methodist preachers who took the Gospel to Germany were sent by the Weslcyans. There were once two branches of Methodism in. Germany—Wesleyan and Methodist Episcopal—but now they had a united Methodism, and unification had proved a blessing to their country. The seed they had sown had grown, and to-day, they had fifty thousand members in' Germany alone, as well as work in Switzerland, Russia, Austria, and Hungary. Their Methodist history sounded like new Acts of the Apostles. . They in Germany were not under the temptation-of riches that Bishop -Hughes had spoken ot. in America. They had becomo very poor, but sometimes in the history of the world God used the poor people to-do something for His kingdom. They, were, nearly as poor as the apostles of Jesus Christ, but God had strengthened their faith, and he hoped that in Germany they might soon have a revival, and tho time might come when streams o± blessing would,flow out from their nation over England,, over rich America, and the other nations of the. world, j That was his dream. .. . ' . { A GREAT INTERNATIONAL. Dr. Battenbury. said that he and Mr. T H Beekly were elected as Fraternal Delegates and attended the conference at Dallas. Mr. Beekly made a great impression. They had very rich experiences. They received the hearti- ! cst welcome and hospitality. Ho was convinced from his experiences m the United States that there was nothing more likely to make for good international relationships than the great international of Methodism. They must thank God'for the Methodism that bridged the Atlantic. . j Tho Rev A. Liversidge mentioned that twenty years ago he resigned his ministry under doctor's orders. He went, to New Zealand to take up poultry and dairy farming, recovered his health and was; enabled to enter the ministry there,.and for abont sixteen years he has served in the Methodist Church in New "Zealand, of which .ho was proud, "it-is.the-National Methodist Church o£ New Zealand, a triumph of union. It is a Church of missionary zeal its outstanding marks including a successful city mission and a wonderful work among the "Maoris. The president (Dr. Dinsdalo \oung), in eracious manner, sent greetings to the United Methodist Church m New Zealand. ' ________