METHODIST CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 16676, 7 March 1918, Page 4

METHODIST CONFERENCE

Seventh Day.—TinntsDAT. Tho Methodist Conference resumed at' 9 this morning, tho president (the Rev. 1. A. Joughin) in the* chair. APPEALS TO HOME MISSION COMMITTEE. The Rev. John Dawson (Wellington) moved that a resolution "that permission to make personal appeals to the Conference Homo Mission Committee bo given only to those members of tho conference* who are either representatives or circtiifc stewards, or ministers of tho circuit concerned." be rescinded or be not .applicable to this and succeeding. conferences. In moving this, Mr Dawson said that every split in Methodism had been caused by such conservatism. Tho Rev. C. H. Garland (Auckland) bm<s tnat already the whole conference could discuss the grant or anything in the report, and unless there'were some srauh limitation as that imposed last year the conference work would r reach finality. Tile motion was carri.*- jv 67 to 54. DEVOTED CHAPLAIN 'iNCAPACITATED. Conference received a cable from Chaplain Luxford announcing that Chaplain J. If. Sullivan had been declared perrnanentlv unfit, and that employment for him was uncertain. The- message asked conference to take some action, as Ins pension was held m abeyance. (Chaplain Sullivan enlisted as a combatant at Timara, went away with the main bodv, and on GalHpoli in the throat. Ho returned to New Zealand, and went later to France as a. chaplain, where lie suffered a. breakdown. Since then, until his'present collapse, he has been doing chaplain work at Home.) It was resolved to cablo to-day £SO from the contingent fund, CHURCH BUILDING. ETC Tho Connexional Secretary stated that tho war was having a. very manifest effecton church building activities. Building and la-rjre -alterations had nearly ceased, but debt reduction was being, a-ssiduouslv pursued. Tho Rev. s, Lawry, secretary of the church building and loan fund, presented the 1917 report. This stated that £1,285 had been loaned from the general fund and £659 17s 2d from the special fund. The report showed that, owing to the smallness ctf the capital, manv loans applied for could not. be granted, though trustees were prepared to observe all trie conditions. The loans were without interest unless the repayments were overdue. CHURCH PROPERTY. Tho report was presented by the Rev, S. Lawry. " The properties reported to have been, sold realised £2.555. New erections and purchases reported cost £6,560 10s. Enlargements and improvements reported cost £3,959 lis sd. " The enlargements and improvements reported were: Auckland £416 12s lad. South Auckland £246 10s sd. Tara-naki-Wangnnui £796 18s lid. Hawke's BavManawatu £l9l 10s Id. Wellinzton £si6 8s Bd, Nelson £lB 18s, North Canterbnrv £283 18s sd. South Canterbury £248 18s 9d. Otago £833 6s 3d. Southland nil. '"Hie total trust income reported, including credit balances brought "forward from the preceding year, amounts to £44.706 8s Id. This is more than £1,200 in excess of the amount reported last year. The total expenditure reported, including debit balances brought forward, is £550.920 18s 4d. Tho total indebtedness to the loan fund and on other securities is re ported as £111,745. behig a reduction during the year of £4.576. But to these debts must be added the net debit balances (£6.460). which makes the total debt £117,205." The report was adopted. SUNDAY TRADING- IN MARBLE BARS. Tho question of Sunday trading in marble bars was introduced, and some further interest was lent by the fact that a. letter was read from the assistant secretary of tho Hotel Employees' Union, ■Wellington, to a member of the conferonce, in. which the former said they would, try to arrange their protest, to the Minister so that any action by the conference coukl also bo brought at the time. The Rev. F. \Y. Bovs (of Palmerston North) moved—" That in view of the decision of the Chief Justice re Sunday trading in marble bars, this conference urge the Minister of Just-ice to see that the Act be so amended as to close these promises upon the Sabbath Day." The Rev. Mr Jordan (Wellington district) said ho thought the conference might also appoint a deputation. The E-ev. J. W. Ha.-dam (P.-Jmerston North) said that the marble bars were not a great menace from the health point of view, but as a matter of fair play ali : round the conference should offer their protest against a growinp evil, and see that these bars were closed as well as hotel bars. Mr J. Hayman (Waimate) said ho understood that in Dunedin young people wero in the habit of making pleasure parties on tho harbor on -Sundays, and owing to the fact that refreshment bars of this kind were open these young pooplo did not come home for meals, and were not seen from morning till night. The Rev. W. J. Eliiott (Devon-port) said that surely conference were not going to protest against persons who felt inclined to go out for fresh air, exercise, and a, little amusement on Sunday obtaining refreshments. Mr A. J. Williams (Christchureh) : Tho point in my opinion is tho curtailment of Sunday labor as far as possible. _ThoE.ev._T. G. Hammond (Maori missionary) said that people who wanted pleasure should not have it at tho expense of other people. The Rev. D. M'Nicholl (Auckland) said that in tho interests of the workers, who were appealing to them, conferonco ought to take a stand. Ho was shocked to hear the views of his friend Mr Elliott. If people went for pleasure on Sunday at tho expense of other people, conference ought to object. They must- object- to tho employment of hundreds of people to cart the.3e pleasure-seekers on Sunday picnics. The motion was carried, only the Rev. Mr Elliott voting against it. It was further resolved to make representations to the Minister per medium of a deputation. FINAL STATIONS SHEET. The final reading of the stations sheet, which fixes the location of ministers for 1918, look place lato in tho morning session. The following are the alterations from the first sheet (already published) : Auckland District.—Avo'ndala : Second, E. E. Sage. South Auckland District.—Hamilton : Second, J. D. M'Arthur. Taumarunui : R. E. Fordyce. Taranaki-Wanganui District.—Wanganni North : N. Turner. Taihape :W. H. Hocking. Hawke's Bay-Manawatu District.—Sanson and Rongc'tea. : B. J. James. Wellington District.—Kilbirnie- : F. T. Read. Nelson District.—Richmond: W. .Wills Eeefton : T. Dent, North Canterbury District.—Christchurch East : Second. W. Walker. Rangiora : Second, C. B. Jordan. South Canterbury District.—Timaru : President supply, G. W. Jackson. Otago District.—No alterations from first rending. Southland District.—No alterations from first reading.