METHODIST CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 14307, 4 March 1910, Page 3

METHODIST CONFERENCE

I Till- CHURCH'S WORK. ; The nature of last night's meeting of tho Methodist Conference was best explained in the brief prefatory speech of the president. Earlier in the day the Rev. C. H. Laws had requested that committees (who arc hard pressed to find time for the transaction of business) should not meet that evening in view of its being set apart for the conversation on the work of God. In addressing the gathering last night MiLaws said that this was an immemorial part of the Conference business. So long as. theto had been a conference of .any Methodist church, when the governing body assembled a timo hat! been s.'t apart to think over the most essential interests of the Church. With Dr Scott Lidgett. president of the Home Conference which he had had the privilege <d attending, he thought this the most important Imd vital session of the Conference. At other sessions the Conference discussed machinery, ways and means, and deep ami important functions of church work: but in this session they came to the very heart of things. If this work of God went on nothing else mattered or counted. The speaker concluded by exhorting those present to realise the Diviuo presence, and to receive a message that should leave its mark upon their church life and their individual life. Rev. W. J. Williams dealt with the work of Gtid in the Methodist Church. In the course of an earnest address he said that in New Zealand the Methodist connexion had about 1,000 more peisons connected with them in membership than they had twelve months ago. When one remembered that at Home the Methodist Church, for the second year, had reported it. decrease in church membership, while the Baptist and Congregational Home Churches also reported a similar cxpc.ience, this increase in New Zealand Methodist membership was a matter for devout thankfulness. But one had also to remember that the Methodist connexion had 144 ministers and probationers preaching twice every Sunday in New Zealand. The increase cif 1,000 members, if divided among these 144 preachers, only worked out to an average of seven to each minister for the year. There were also 700 local preachei'3 and 2.300 Sunday school teachers. Thus, whilo there was a great deal to thank God for, there was also a great deal to lead to searching of heart. In view of all the Church's resources, of all that God put at their disposal, they could not regard tho success of the past year as being what, on the whole, it ought to be. As a church, they were failing rtcadily in tho impression they weie making on* the godlessuess of the* age. They were not making tho impression they should make. There was something wrong. There was nothing wrong with tho source of their power. There was power enough there- to lift tho whole world out of the amis of the wicked one, and make it pure and beautiful in the eyes of God and man. Was there, then, a leak in the transmission of tho current? Were they living sufficiently near to God to lie good conductors of spiritual energy? Was there not somewhere a failure to so keep in such touch with God as to enable them to convey to the great mass this vitalising (urrent —to bring people out of darkness into God's marvellous light? Did they, as ministers, give due prominence to tho spiritual aspect? Did they in their ordinary preaching strike with sufficient clearness and emphasis the evangelical note? Did office-bearers and congregations assist their ministers as they might do?

The Rev. AV. Slade and a number of other speakers dealt briefly with various sides of church and Sunday school work, and the following resolution was proposed liv Rev. Mr Williams and carried:

"That the Conference give thanks to God for the reported increase of 740 members with 244 on probation, and 531 Sunday scholars. The Conference ;t«copt this as a grateful sign of the Divine blessing on faithful effort in Christian homes find various departments of church service. In view, however, of the appalling spiritual needs of t.he times, the Conference realise the supreme importance of a fuller baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that the cvii.iigelieal mission of Methodism may be morefully accomplished." —Substitutes for Delegates.— The following were elected by ballot as substitute representatives to attend the (lenaral Conference in the event of any of the delegates being unable to make the journey :- Ministers.—Revs. C. E. Jieeeroft. (!. liond. A. 15. Chappell, Jes. Ward, If. Hull, and S. J. Serpell (in that order). Laymen.—Messrs W. Harding, C. S. Howard. ('. A. Fairbrother, J. J!. Shuckiock, R. H. Turner, J. 1,. Scott, J. Proline, J. W. Copithome, R. Evans. J. C. Allen, W. T. Bowater, .1. W. Shackleford. —Bunediu Central Mission.— On the motion of the Rev. Mr Slack', it was resolved that the following be appointed a, Committee of Management in connection with tiro Dunodin Central Mission:—All who aie at present members of the Quarterly Meeting, together with Messrs E. Roscvear, C. A. Piper, E. Aslin, D. C. Cameron, jun., W. Penrose, J. P.. Shaddock, W. C. Allnutt, A. Martin, and A. S. Wansbrough.