WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10216, 9 December 1893, Page 6

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETINGS.

CANTERBURY. The business of the district meeting at Ashburton was resumed yesterday at 9.30 a.m. in ministerial session. Attention was given to the work of the several probationers ia their studies -and general work. Reports of trial sermons, book lists and circuit work were given. The Revs J. T. Nott, G. Frost and C. C. Harrison were passed in their several years, tubjeefc to the resultsi of the examination papers being satisfactory. In tho case o£ the Rev J. W. Smith, who is absent ia Victoria through illness, it was resolved that on account of affliction he should he excused from examination, the question of status to ho afterwards decided. . The resolutions on pastoral work were then road by order of the conference, and a discussion ensued on the general work in the churches. A suitable resolution dealing with the various aspects of Christian effort and experience was presented by the Rov C. E. Beaoroft, and adopted by the meeting. Cordial votes of thanks were accorded to those who had entertained the members of tho meeting; to the Superintendent of the circuit for the local arrangements j to the reporters; to the Secretary and his assistant j and to the Chairman for his courtesy and ability in presiding over tho sessions of the meeting. The business of the meeting was then brought to a conclusion with devotional exercises. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. At tho Wesleyan district meeting to-day it was unanimously resolved —“ That this meeting, while recognising the fact that the Liquor Control Bill of last session embodies the principle of direct control of the liquor traffic by the people, urges the repeal or alteration of those clauses which render it unworkable in the interests of temperance reform, especially those conferring three years’ vested interest in licenses, demanding that half of tho electors on the roil shall vote, and that there shall be a three-fifths majority of those voting before all licenses lapse in an electorate, and enlarging the licensing districts.” It was also resolved —" That this meeting recommends that, while opposing any interference with our present educational system, we are of opinion that a Scripture text-book, such as is now in use in New South Wales, subject to a conscience clause, could be introduced without affecting in any way our national system of education, and strongly supports the movement to introduce such book.”