THE WESLEYANS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 9120, 4 June 1890, Page 5

THE WESLEYANS.

EFFECTS OP THE GENERAL CONFERENCE. The following, from the Sydney Morning Herald, shows the changes made in the legislative powers of Annual Conferences by the series of resolutions passed on the motion of the Rev W. H. Pitchett. B.A.

1. Whereas the General Conference is a necessary part of our church system, and its maintenance essential to the unity of Methodism throughout Australasia, and to the successful discharge of that work among the heathen races of the South Seas which God has committed to us. 2. The General Conference, however, j recognising that diversity of circumstancer 1 justifies provision for diversity of methodf records its willingness to confer upon tb k Annual Conferences a discretionary pow. tr to deal within constitutional lines, accor fling to their own requirements, with sutcb . matters as are from time to time for t'hii j purpose specifically remitted to them ty f the said General Conference. 3. Tb/a.t the General Conference hereby empow< ej :s each of the Annual Conferences to fra ale for itself regulations dealing w th the following subjects : — (a) The Cil institution and operation of its static 1 fling committee; (b) the order and fon * in which the business of such conference t&all be'transacted; (c) the constitutionc t. the quarterly meeting; (d) the managi ament of its Sunday schools; (e) the term< luring which a minister may be appointed t o the same circuit, subject to the followii 1g; conditions:—(l) No minister shall bn appointed to the same circuit for more than five years in succession, and the tap pointment shall be made year by yeur as at present; (2) no annual conferen-ef > shall exercise the power thus conferred ■ upon it until it has taken, upon approv >e d legal advice, the steps necessary to m a’ ke such appointment legal; (3) each sucb, 1 Appointment beyond the present term of three years shall be made only upon tb «, request of a two-thirds majority of thf 1 September quarterly meeting preceding;, and by a two-thirds majority of th a annual conference; (4) any regulation b made in the exercise of these powers Isi lall be reported to the next succeeding General Conference. N.B.—Nothing iln the above shall prejudice any decision 1 1> which this General Conference may 01 rrive upon questions remitted by annua I conferences, or of which notice of moti of 1 may have been given. On the motion of the ltd 7 J. J. Lewis (New Zealand) it wasresolve/ I—“ That the restriction with regard tA the period of a minister’s stay in the I jamo city be abolished.” It was resolved—“ Tha'fi March 2 next being the centenary of ItS le death of the Rev John Wesley, it is r b commended tb&t the event should be comme a norated throughout the whole of Austral a sia in connection with the Wesleyan F< it :eign Missionary Society, and that the JLoard of Management be respectfully rwaked to give the recommendation its bef (t, consideration.” The following rf furesentatives were elected to represent t 1 1<& Conference at the Ecumenical Methodic ft, Council, to be held in America in f 1891: Rev Joseph Spem a 3 and Mr W. H. M'Clelland, New S auth Wales; the Rev W. H. Pitohett a *d Mr Henry Berry, Victoria; the Revs /W. Morley and Joseph Berry. New Zealar id. It was decided that six other repressn' titives should be selected by the Annual Co references. In the event of any gentleman j,selected being unable to go, power was g £'ven to the President to fill up any vacarnj;/ which might thereby occur.