METHODIST CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 20130, 21 March 1929, Page 16

METHODIST CHURCH

CONFERENCE REPORT At a meeting of Cenlial Mission mciiiher.-. held last evening in Slade Hall. a report of the recent Methodist Conlcrenee wa* given by Mr D. C. Cameron, jnn The conference opened in Rift St reel Chnreh. Auckland, and (he opening session this year was nt special interest, owing to the induction into the presidential chair of the Rev. d. K. Goldie, of the Solomon islands Mission. It was the lirsi time in the history of the .New Zealand Church that a missionary in active work was cal led to be president. and this honour was conlcrred on Lite Rev. Mr (.'oldie as a mark ol appreciation of In’s magnificent work in the Solomon Islands, where lie was the pioneer missionary twenty-seven years ago. and lias remained in that held ol service ever since. The president s address was an evangelistic message spoken from a life-lime experience, and left; a deep impression on all hearers. The Rev. A. X. Sootier, 8.A.. ol Christchurch, was elected presidentelect, and Mr T. R. Idnghson. of Jtahotn. Taranaki, was elected vice-presi-dent. 'I he principal public fund ion was the opening of the. new Theological College in Grafton road. To the Rev. Dr Raws is due the credit ol making the erection of this beautiful college possible. and it is certainly a great, credit to the church. It is ideally shunted, near the Auckland I'nivcrdty. and the opening function was a great: success. The trip to Raernta to open and dedicate the chapel presented by Mrs Canghcy Smith, was a delightful journey' Ihrough the evergrowing and thickly populated Apekland suburbs. At Raerata (lie Methodist Church has an excellently appointed college, attended by IRQ lads, who learn fanning and subjects up to matriculation standard. The college cliajieh costing some thousands of pounds, was opened by Mrs Caughe.v Smith, and the dedication address was given by the president (Rev. .1. !•'. Goldie). Visitors from al' parts oi' the dominion were delighted with Ihe opportunity given of inspecting the 7Ull-acre. farm attached to the college, and the splendid condition of the gardens, farm lands, and stock called forth general admiration. The conference gave special attention to missionary affairs. both among the Maoris of the dominion and the special mission held in the Solomon Islands. Resides a staff of thirty Kuropean ministers, sisters, and teacher. there are two fully qualified medical missionaries at the Solomons, ant! very many tributes were paid to the excellent work being dune in the British Solomons, and also on the islands of Ronganville and Buka (in the Mandated 'Territory). It was decided to appeal to the New Zealand Church to contribute T20,00(l towards lire Solomon Islands Mission this year. The president. with Mrs Goldie, and Gina (a Solomon Island boy who is being trained at Raorafa for the ministry) will visit all parts of the dominion this year in the interests of (his fund. Many other items of considerable in iercst were tom bed upon by Mr Cameron. and his report "as very interesting to all present. So far as Otagc is concerned. Air Cameron mentioned that I he Rev. 11. It. Rellhon-c had been re-elected chairman of the Otago-Sonth-land district by an almost, unanimous vote of the conference. The conference was one of the he-t held, and all visitors greatly appreciated the finspilality and kindness shown towards them by the Auckland public. Tim next conference is lo he held in Welling! on. At the conclusion of the meeting Mr Cameron was thanked for his interesting report.