THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10600, 8 March 1895, Page 5

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

METHODIST UNION. [Feb Pebss Association.] NELSON, Mabch 7. ■ At the Wesleyan Conference a motion to accept the offer of the United Free Methodist Church and Bible Christian Church, in regard to Methodist union, was carried by 54 to 11, and this afternoon the following resolutions regarding union were so-reed to (1) “ That the district meetings of the United Methodist Free Church and of the Bible Christian Church of New Zealand having, by resolutions sent to us, intimated their desire for Methodist union in this colony, and their acceptance of the basis adopted by the General Conference for that purpose, and having further informed us that their circuit quarterly meetings by large majorities concur in the proposal, believing it will be for the advancement of the cause of Christ and prevent unnecessary strife and waste of labour, the Conference expresses its gratification at the action taken by those Churches, and hereby declares its preparedness to enter into such union as speedily as possible, and remits the further consideration and arrangement of details to a committee hereafter to he named.” (2) "That the following be the committee in accordance with the resolutions on Methodist union in the minutes of General Conference, page 52, section (B),who shall also be our representatives for the year on the Federal Methodist Council: The President and Secretary of the Conference, the Eeva W. Morley, H. E. Dewsbury, P. W. Fairclough and W. G. Parsoneon, with Messrs Harris, Blackwell, J. T. Smith, Pmdhoe, G. J. Smith and Salter; the following to bo corresponding members —Kevs W. Lee, H. Bull, W. Baumber and J. J. Lewis, with Messrs T. Buddie, Stephens and Moxham; the Eev W. G. Paraonson convener; the members of the committee in and near Christchurch shall be the members of the Federal Council.” (3) “That the committee be instructed to further consider the schedules now submitted, to confer with the representatives of the other Churches on any case of difficulty, and to obtain any further information necessary; also to consider and recommend any adjustment of circuit or district boundaries that may be desirable in the working of the United Church, and, further, to arrange for the terms of payment on which ministers of the United Methodist Free Church and Bible Christiba Church may become members of the Supernumerary and Ministers’ Widows’ Fund; to take the necessary steps to provide for the secure possession of the properties of the three Churches, and generally in and about the premises bo to°oct in all things as in the opinion of the committee may best carry out the arrangements for the union.” (4) “ That on receiving proper notice of the consent of the Bible Christian Conference in England to their Churches entering into the union, and on the committee reporting that all necessary details have been satisfactorily arranged, and the President of the General Conference having bean duly notified, it is hereby resolved that the union shall take place as from the second Monday in April, 1896.” (5) “That for the purpose of carrying out the resolution the members of the committee in Christchurch, after having conferred with the corresponding members, shall forward the whole plan to the President of the annual conference for his signature.” (6) “ That if the plan referred to in the preceding resolutions bo agreed to by the three Churches concerned, the United Methodist Free Church and the Bible Christian district meeting shall ba invited to send representatives to the "Wesleyan Conference of 1896 to confer with it as to any adjustments necessary to be carried into effect for that year.” (7) “ That the committee be instructed to arrange with the other members of the Federal Council for the holding of conventions and in other ways to prepare for the union by cultivating the union sentiment.” (8) “That any expense incurred by the committee shall be a charge on the contingent fund.” (9) “ The committee shall report to the next Conference.”