Methodist Church.

Hastings Standard, Volume XIII, Issue 4203, 9 July 1909, Page 5

Methodist Church.

QUARTERLY MEETING. The quarterly meeting of the managing board of the Hastings Methodist Church was held last evening at the residence of Mr C. G. Cunnold. The Rev. W. Tinsley occupied ihe chair and there was a good attendance. It was reported that there was a slight decrease in the membership. Owing to removals from the district, the finances also showed that there was a slight deficit and a committee was set to deal with the matter. The Sunday School report showed a satisfactory state of affairs, in each centre good work was being done, while the Young Men's Bible Class showed a membership of 41, and the ladies 19. The Hastings School had v 109 on the roll, Mahora 24, and JMangateretere 24. The average attendance of teachers showed a decided improvement. The bereavement of the President of the Conference, and also Mr Fee's collapse, was referred to by the chairman, and he was instructed to express the sympathy of the members of the quarterly meeting. The services rendered to the circuit by Mr S. E. Hulbert, late founder and leader of the Bible Class, was referred to, and it was resolved to place on record an aporeciation of his services. The early departure for England of Mr R. E. Barnes was also mentioned; and several members of the Board spoke of the valuable service that Mr Barnes had rendered to the church, and wished him every success and happiness, and expressed the desire that he would return to the Dominion. Mr Barnes replied, thanking the members for their kind remarks. Messrs Gibbs, Doubleday and Crapp were appointed to vacancies in the Society Stewards' list. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Ross, Mahora, for his attention to church matters. A long discussion and interchange of views took place on the question "should an independent Conference be formed for New Zealand," and when the vote took place nine voted in the affirmative, two in the negative, and eight remained neutral. The Rev. Tinsley, Messrs Hurley, Cunnold, Blazey, Bayliss, Venables, Gibbs and Taylor were appointed a committee to go into church finance and the consideration of the nomination of a minister at the September quarterly meeting. The meeting then terminated.