UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCHES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10594, 1 March 1895, Page 5

UNITED METHODIST FREE CHURCHES.

ANNUAL. DISTRICT MEETING, The meeting was resumed yesterday. The whole of the morning session was occupied with the completion of the ora] examination of the Rev J. Banning. At the close of the examinations, it was decided that the Revs A. W. Ashcroft and J. W. Griffin should pass on to probation, and the Rev S. Macfarlane by direction of the meeting conveyed to the candidates the decision arrived at.

The examiners for the past ycar. Raya S. Macfarlane, J,. Hosking and H. Peters, were thanked for their services and were reappointed.

The action of the a District Committee during the past year in the various matters dealt with by it since the last district meeting was ratified and its minutes wero r conflrmed. It was decided that the i cisn< mittee-should meet again ini Christchurch during-the ensuing year. The committee appointed; to .preparers resolution in reference to the state of affairs revealed by the numerical and spiritual: reports : fromicircuits, submitted a draft, which was by the meeting.

It was decided to forward a telegram, conveying fraternal greetings, to the Wesleyan Conference at Nelson. At 6.30 a public tea meeting was held at the St Asaph Street schoolroom, when a very large number partook of the tea pro* ( vided by the ladies of the Christchurch, ’ Addington and Richmond Churches. Mesdames Bowron, Flesher, Ford, Hannan, Hosting, Hounsoll, Landery and Sheppard, assisted by Misses Brown (two). Burns, Neill, Hadfield and Woolley, presided at the tables. After the tea an adjournment was made to the church, where a sacred concert was given. Songs were sung by Mrs A. Corrick, Miss A. Corrick, Messrs J. Fiiechell and H.de Msus, and instrumental numbers were played by the orchestra under the leadership of Mr A. Corrick. Pattison’s cantata, “The New Jerusalem,” was rendered by the united choirs of the Christchurch churches, assisted by friends. There were one hundred voices in the chorus, and the soloists were. Mrs Shierlaw, Misses Steel and Weston, Messrs J. Hughes, J. H. Jones, H. Ogier and G. E. Steere. Mr J. A. Flesher was conductor, and Miss M. Brown and Miss G. Corrick presided at the organ and piano respectively.