METHODIST CHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16492, 6 March 1914, Page 9

METHODIST CHURCH.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, March 5

At tho Methodist Conference today the following resolution was passed: “That tho Rev W. Slade bo the representative of the Conference to the British Wesleyan Methodist, British Primitive Methodist, and British United Methodist Conferences, and also to the Irish Mcthrdist ConJt was also resolved: “ That tho Rev S. Griffith be associated with t ic Rev W. Slade as representative to the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference and receive special letters ot communication to that body.” The Conference resolved that .the officials' and members of various • circuits should ho urged to make such arrangements as would enable vanous ministers to have, at least tno v.ccks rest- in each year.

home mission* report. Mr J. Yenlo, treasurer, presented the report, of tho Home Mission Com-miu-eo; which stntcd that much diriVeultv had to be faced in f lic early part of the year through the lack of suitable men to fill home mission stations. It had been found impossible to secure an adequate supply «> unmarried men, and several important

places were vacant in consequence. Had it been possible on these stations to make provision for the support of married men tho difficulties would have vanished, as tho church had.to decline dozens ot applications from such men. Tho statement showed the income of districts ns follows:Auckland. £1221 13s Sd; South Auckland. £202 7s Gel; Toranaki-W angnnm, £346 (3s 2d: Hawke’s Rav-Monawatu, £389 16s 4d; Wellington, £366 2s od; Nelson, £209 3 S 9d; Canterbury, £661 oa 4d: South Canterbury, £302 las 9rl: Otago. £276 3s Id;. Southland. £2Ol Is GdJ Total of district's, £4156 18s fid. Tho income front other sources, connexiohal properties, interest on .investments, etc:, made £1704 17s 4d, ami total income amounted to £586115s 104. The estimate of tho total income for next year was £5982. and tho estimated expenditure was £5923 14s. leaving a balance of £'5S 6s to bo carried forward. The president said bo thought it a unique experience to have tho Home Mission Fund with a credit balance. Mr Yenlo replied that there was something to he said by way . of explanation. Tho Conference sat last year about a month-earlier than usual and about £3OO of the income would in the ordinary way have been included in last, year’s statement. There was about £BO more from connexions properties than had been expected, owing to the lightness of expenditure and certain grants not being-expend-ed. and there was £123 of donations which could not be calculated on. There had never before been a statement of the caoital account of the Home Mission Fund. It now stood at £6288 10s, and there was £6OO ndd awaiting investment in' Auckland. Most of the money was invested _ m splendid mortgages on properties, some hearing as high a rate of interest as 6J per cent, and he thought it safe to say that the averago rate of interest was 51 per • cent. The money awaiting investment in Auckland'was not 'wholly unproductive, because it stood against tho overdraft and saved about 1 per cent. As to tho expenditure for the current year tlm total grants asked for came to £6214 4s; "nncl the adjustment of tho committee brought this down to £5923 14s. Manv of the items were made subjects of debate, and- it was agreed on the motion of Hie Conference score-

torv that the disputed items bo set down and handed to tho committee with suggestiolis which might- be reported upon. This afternoon consideration ot Homo Mission matters was resumed. It was resolved that the treasurers ol tho fund be cx-oflieio members ol tho Conference. It was decided that Maori agents should be urged to-secure more adequate support of the work by the Native people. The Conference deprecated establishing a separate fund for Maori work. Thanks were tendered to the Ror T. G. Brooke, organising secretary of Home Missions, and Mr J. Vealc, treasurer, and both were unanimously reappointed. Tho matter of equipping a gospel van was referred to the executive for favourable consideration. A committee was appointed to consider the establishment of a Homo Missionaries' Provident Fund. MAORI MISSION WORK.

A life honorarium of £OO per annum was granted to the Rev \\. Dittos, of Auckland, late superintendent of Maori missions. The continuance and development ot the Maori Deaconesses' Homo at Okaiawa, Taranaki, was referred to tho executive committee. A special committee was appointed to supervise’. the work ,of tho West Coast Maori mission. A policy of extension regarding tho Native work in Waikato was presented, and was cordially approved. ft was resolved 10 appoint a probationer to Taumarunui, with a grant of £IOO, a saddlebag missionary for Taranaki if a suitable agent is available, and a home missionary at Uruti. An appeal was made to circuits to increase the income to enable the. committee to prosecute a more vigorous policy of extension, and. it was resolved to issue an annual Home Mission leaflet for general distribution. The Rev TV G. . Hammond was appointed a deputation for the "Wellington district tor 1914 and the Rev N. H. Papakakura a deputation tor booth Canterbury if available. FOREIGN MISSIONS.

The Foreign' Missions, report was adopted.. It was resolved that no organising secretary for the dominion be appointed ponding a decision as to New Zealand’s special sphere ol foreign mission activity. Organising secretaries, however, wore appointed tor each, of the ten districts of the dominion. Resolutions were adopted with a view to ensuring increased interest in foreign mission. A resolution was approved relating to the union of the Methodist churches of Tonga and the union of those churches with the Now Zealand Methodist Church.

The Rev J. N. Buttle, secretary for foreign mission, was cordially thanked for Ids work during liis eleven rears of service, and many members bore testimony to the worth of his work. Deep regret was expressed at his retirement owing to failing health, Tlie report of the New Zealand members of the Board of Missions was .received. It dealt with finance and with staffing, ncl ministration and organisation. in the boiith Sea mission field as well'as in India. It also offered three alternative suggestions of a separate field for foreign mission work. Tho proposals were: (1) Fiji, including Indian work; (2) Indian work in Fiji: (3) Solomon Islands, Tonga and Samoa. The matter will ho considered by a special committee duriug the year and a report will be presented to the Conference of 1915. The third suggestion will probably be adopted ultimately, because (a) it is within the financial compass of the Church, (b) the necessary staff would lie available, (e) the virgin character of the work in the Solomons would arouse enthusiasm, and (d) Tonga and Samoa could be relied upon as old fields to assist in providing both men and money for newer areas. Representatives to the next .meeting' of the.. Board wore appointed. OTHER. BUSINESS. A deputation from the Council of Churches waited upon the Conference and tho Rev G. Heigh way conveyed greetings. The Rev ,1. Guy and the Hon C. M. Luko responded on behalf of tho conference. Unofficial intimation was received of a bequest by Mr C’-ollison, of Hastings, of £IOOO to various purposes of the church. It. was resolved that an effort he made to secure from the Victorian Conference a visit to New Zealand from the Rev Yalmont Triggo in 1915. The Conference agreed to forego the grant of £IOO from the Foreign .Mission Board in Sydney due on uccouni of the transfer of the Rev IV. IV. Avery to New. Zealand. This action, however, is not to be regarded as a precedent. .... A special committee was set up in regard- to the Probert Trust ami the Alexandra Street trustees, to effect an adjustment of matters in which these two bodies aro concerned. The Book of Laws revision committee presented a report, and certain amendments suggested were agree*., to and a number of verbal alterations wero approved. Tho Book of Laws n« altered and amended was approved, and a resolution was adopted accepting it as legally adopted by tho Conference. A committee was set up to publish it and to incorporate any amendments adopted by the Conference.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR REUNION. (From a CoRREsroxDEXT.i DUNEDIN, March 5. At the afternoon adjournment to-day many members :of the Conference repaired to the First Church hall, where a. social was held, under the auspices of the New Zealand Christian Endeavour Union. There was a large number of local endeavourers present. The Rev IT. B. Gray welcomed the Conference delegates, A very pleasant time was spent together iu fellowship.