THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10288, 5 March 1894, Page 2

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Saturday, March 8. The Conference resumed at 9.80 a.m. There was a full attendance of members. AN INVITATION. The Young Men's Christian Association wrote, offering the use of its rooms to members of the Conference. On the motion of the Bov H. E, Dewsj bury it wan resolved that a reply should : be sent thanking the Association for its hind invitation, j VOTES OR SYMPATHY. j It was decided, on the motion of the Seva H. Bull and D. J. Murray, that letters of sympathy should be sent to the Revs J. j Wallis, W. Worker, W. Kirk, W. Bouse, J. ; Crump, H. H, La wry, J. W. W&tkina and j Mrs Aldred; that to Mrs Aldred to refer to i the death of the Sev J. Aldred, and those to j tbe Revs W. Eouse aud J. W. Watkins to embody the resolutions drawn up by the ; committee appointed for the purpose. ! TRIAD SERMONS, j The Eevs W, Tinsley, 3?. S. Prior and I W. KeaJl (convener), were. appointed a j committee to hear Mr TJ, W. Harding i preach at the East Belt church on Monj day morning; and the Eevo W. 0. Oliver j (convener), T. Gt. Carr and S. Lawry to hear Mr J. Chappell preach at St Albans j church on Monday morning. THEOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS. j The Eev S. Lawry moved—“ That the I candidates bo examined in theology by a ' Committee of the Conference, who shall ■ report results with recommendations, the Conference reserving to itself the right to make any farther enquiry or examination and to finally dispose of the case of each candidate.” The motion was lost. NATIVE PROBATIONER. Upon the recommendation of the Auck- | land district meeting, Samuel William King, a native, was received on probation • for the native ministry. i HOME MISSION FUND. I Eule 11 of the Homo Miosion aud Church ' Extension Fund was altered to read—- “ That the chairman of the district, the ■ secretary of the Conference, and the , clerical secretary of the Home Mission Fund be ft committee to enquire into all ; matters relating to the condition and pros- • peota of the home mission work, partiouj larly as to what stations should become ; circuits, and confer as to appointments to : the home mission stations.” ! The Nelson distant applied for a young . native minister for appointment to the ! Wair&u Psb. The applicationwas referred i to the Stationing Committee. j TRANSFERS, An application was received from the South Australian Conference for the transfer of the Eev J. E. Bradbury, i The Esv W. Lee moved, and tbe Eev Q. | Bond seconded—“ That the Conference is . not in a position to receive the Eev J. E. 1 Biadfcury without exchange.” I Afcer some discussion the motion was j carried. j It was resolved that a cable message I should be sent to tbe Victorian Conference, ! slating that this Conference was willing to | transfer the Eev E. S. Bunn without exchange. j FOREIGN MISSION WORE. j The Eev. J. A. Luxford brought under j notice that Messrs Poole aud Featberstono | offered themselves ns lay agents for foreign | mission work. | The President said that the matter 1 rested with the chairmen of the respective districts, j ORAL EXAMINATION. The Eev T. W. New bold, a candidate for [ ordination, was orally examined by the Eev W. C. Oliver, and it was reported that the examination was highly successful, that ; Mr Newbeld would bo received as a minister | in full connexion, and would be presented for ordination on Monday evening. CONFERENCE LECTURES. In accordance with notice, the Eev H. Bull moved —“That, as some misapprehension appears to have obtained respecting the authority of the views expressed in the annual conference lecture, the Conference wishes it to be distinctly understood that the views rxpressed in connection with that lectureship have no official authority whatever, and are to be regarded as simply an expression of the i viewo of the lecturer for tbe time being.” He spoke very briefly on the eubject. Auckland, Otago and Nelson districts recommended that the lectures should be discontinued or be discussed in open Conference. The Rev W. Morley moved the previous question. There had, ho said, been some discussion on last year’s lecture. He thought no injury had been done by that discussion. It was not wise in these times to stifle discussion. Professor Davidson had alluded ia England to the subject. In the interest of all the motion should not be proceeded with. It would be inviting reflections on last year’s lecturer.

The Rev W. J. Williams seconded the motion.

Several members and the President very briefly spoke, and, on the amendment being put, it was declared csrriad. The Eev H, Bull moved—-“ That for the future all arrangements in connection with the Conference lectureship be deter* mined and made by the Conference in representative session.” The Eev W. Lee moved—“ That the lectures be dispensed with.” The motion was seconded by tbe Rev D. J. Murray.

The Eev j. J. Lewis thought it would be a retrograde step, and supported his views at some length. The Sov W. Git'coa did not sympathise with tbe continuance of the lectures. The Eev J. H, Simmonds considered that the discussion on last year’s lecture had done good. The Eev G. Bond thought the Conference should make the lecture an official utterance.

The Eev W, Baumber wanted to know j what member would deliver a lecture if it j was to be an official utterance. ; The Eev T. G. Brooke thought that the present plan burked discussion, there being no other moans than that of pamphlet. ; He was in sympathy with-the “forward j movement/' and believed that diocussicn should be full and free.

The Esv G. W. J. Spence did not think the leoturei did much good. The Rev L. M. Isitt thought they could not afford to dispense with the lectures at tbe present time. The Eev J. T. Pinfold hoped that the lecture would not be discontinued. The Eev H. E. Dewsbury thought that r if the lectures were now to be discon- | tinned it would be taken as a censure | on last year’s lecturer, j The Epvs W. J. Williams and S. Lawry addressed the Conference, the latter urging discussion after the lecture. The Eav 0. Griffin did not believe in j discussion, but hoped the lecture would be | continued. S The Eer W. B. Marten did not think | the lecture could be discussed by the Con--1 ferenos.

i The amendment that the Conference I lecture be discontinued was lost by a large f majority; the Eav H. Bull’s motion being I carried. 1 The Conference then adjourned until I Monday.