METHODISTS' RELIGIOUS FREEMASONRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9435, 6 September 1907, Page 7

METHODISTS' RELIGIOUS FREEMASONRY.

M.P.'S GREAT SCHEME. A proposition, vital and 1 fascinating in human interest, has (says the London Daddy Mail) been made to .the leaders of Wesleyan Methodism —who had assembled from all parts of the world for their aaoiual ooonlereirboe. in London. It is an appeal, earnestly and forcefully made by Mr R. W. Perks, M.P., that the forces of Methodism throughout the •world —Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists, and other allied denomi'/iatione—should bind) themselves in one mighty, bond to grapple with the great economic and social questions of tbe day. Mr Perk's scheme embraces the establisttment of co-operative Methodist labor bureaux throughout the world, the forming of great Methodist employment agencies; the building up of a. practical loan society, with branches in every country; Goidi the gradual building up of other kindred institutions to weld Methodists together in a bond of self-help the world over. "BELIGIOUS FREEMASONRY." The question of emigration was his first objective, hie explained. Here the Methodist GhnuFoh, 'be said, could do vast things by the formation of a universal bureau, which would not only send a Methodist emigrant to far-off lands, but would guide andi imstaruct him even at the uttermost ends of €he earth. In this direction, he said, - Methodism had facilities which neither the Ghurah. Airmy nor fhe Salvation Army possessed. In every city in the 'colonies Methodists could be found in responsible official and mercantile posts. Referring to the problem of TWiemployment, Mr Perks appealed to \the business mien of Methodism to aid, poorer brethren, not by xmoxgiaaiised or undirected charity, ' but .by a practical baraeau,' with"" wddefking branches, which could trace and ■succour even the most "helpless, ihopelesa human being," and -give him yet another chance in life. 'We are not making use of our wonderful resources," Mr Perks exclaimed, with fervor; "Methodism is a vast ireJigions Freemasonry with, -worldwide 'numbers and) world-wide riches. Given only the machinery, we cain bind the Metthodi&t brotherhood throughout the world in one ; vast confederacy for mutual aid." Over £6000 was subscribed in less tEan an hour at the conference towards Mr Perks'e scheme. '