METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 14001, 6 March 1909, Page 12

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

[Special to the Star.] WELLINGTON', March 6. Trie next General Conference will be held at Adelaide nest year. The first move in anticipation was made yesterday afternoon, when the matter of an independent conference for New Zealand was discussed at length. The following resolutions, proposed by the Rev. S. Lawry, were carried by a larae majority:— (1) That the following question be submitted to the next June quarterly 'neeting ot each circuit in the Douiuion : Arc the members of this (uarterly meeting in favor of an independent conference for New Zealand, subject to a satisfactory working scheme being submitted to the forthcoming district synods and conference ! J (-) That returns be furnished to the synods not later than the 31st .T.’y of July, 1909, stating (T) the numbers present, (2) the numbers voting in the affirmative, and (3) the lumbers voting in the negative. (3) That a committee shall draw •P a working scheme for submission to the nest June quarterly meetings, and shall report their findings to the district synods of 1909, which in turn shall report to the conference of 1910, the following to be the committee:— The president and secretary of the Conference, the conneximial secretary, ministers of the Durham Street, East Belt. Woolston, St. Albans, Papanui, Sydenham, Addington, and Lyttelton churches, Messrs A. P. Drayton, J. A. Plusher, W. S. Seed, C. E. Salter, J. C. Prndhoe, R. IL Turner, J. L. Scott, F. Thompson, W. Dailey. R. M. Cresswell, and the Hon. G. J. Smith; the Rev. - S. Lawry to be convener. Prize Fight Pictures.— A motion by the Rev. J. T. Pinfold to the effect that the exhibition of cinematographic pictures of the recent big prize-tight in Australia was greatly to be deprecated and should be suppressed, received the support of the Conference. Several delegates expressed their disgust at, and abhorrence of, such exhibitions, which had such a demoralising effect. * —Public Morals.— The report of the Temperance and Public Morals Committee was presented to the Conference by the Rev. T. N. Griffin. The report urged upon the people the importance of realising their tndu-idual responsibility in the matter of taking steps to secure full advantage of the franchise, and recorded thanks and congratulations for the continued giowth of tiie No-license movement. Sympathy was expressed witli the promoters of the English Licensin'' Bill in tho temporary check of their «-Torts at reform. The report viewed with concern tho continued widespread secularisation of the Sabbath, helieviu" it cultivated a spirit of religious indifiV. r . enee. —Military and Naval Affairs. Tho Rev. T. N. Griffin presented the •recommendation of the Military and Naval Affairs Committee to +b-‘> Conference. A recommendation in regard to the proposed retirement of the Rev. R. V/. Allen irom the office and position ho has held for many years in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in connection with the army and navy, placed on record the Committee’s high appreciation of the splendid service rendered by Mr Allen, and of the invariable courtesy displayed by him in his communication with the army and navy officials of the New Zealand church, and the interest he has shown in the welfare of tho department of the church’s work. Tho recommendation was carried. —Gipsy Smith.— Tho Rev. C. H. Laws reported to the Conference concerning his endeavor to

arrange tor a visit of the well-known evangelist Gipsy Smith to New Zealand. After communication with the evangelist and the Rev. T. Law (England). it was announced that there was no possibility of such a visit before 1910. —Deaconesses.— Tim Ri v. H. R. Dewsbury rend the report on the training institution for deaconesses. The report, inter alia, dwelt on the paucity of probationers and the necessity for supportand sympathy from church members, and relerred to the excellent administration of the matron sister. —Ordinations.— The following will he ordained to the Methodist ministry at Taranaki Street Methodist Church to-morrow ;—Messrs I'ted. Copeland (Eltham), Arthur C. Randersou, 31.A. (Mosgiel), and Raymond Richards (Malvern). The Rev. C. E. Reecroit, ex-president of the .Methodist Conference, xvili give au address.