THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 61, 13 March 1906, Page 1

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

AN ACCOUNT BY THE BLENHEIM REPRESENTATIVE.

On Sunday morning, at the Methodist Church, Mr E. H. PeW "™ was the representative of the .Blenheim circuit at the recent Conference held in Dunedin, gave an interesting account of the proceedings. - He prefaced his remarks by stating that, while the Methodist Church was not the predominating church in New Zealand, it was the largest seqtion of the Protestant Church m the Englishspeaking world, numbering at the present time considerably over thirty million* of adherents. Passing on to his subiect, he described the procedure in connection with the opening of the .Conference and the election ot the President. This year the honour was conferred on the Rev. T. G. Brooke a minister who has a successful record in circuit work, and who for the past fivV years has held the position ot editor of the Methodist section of the Church paper called the 'Outlook. Following the election or the officials, various committees were set \vp, the most important of these being the Stationing and the Home Missioiv and Church Extension Committees, lhe&e Committees have on. them an equal number of ministers and laymen, lhe work of appointing the ministers to fresh circuits whose term in their respective charges has expired is a delicate task, and, in some cases attended with considerable difficulty. The system, however, on the whole,^ works well, and-members of the Methodist Church are strongly attached to . the itinerary. A large number of promising young men were received as candictates for the ministry and have been passed on to college for theological training. 'It was reported that the income for the Home arid Foreign Mission funds respectively, tor the past year constituted a record, Blenheim taking an honourable place among the contributing circuits; .Several animated debates took place during the sessions of Conference, the most important being on the question ot an independent legislative Conference ot New Zealand. The Rev. S. Lawry, of Christchureh ,in an exceedingly able speech, introduced the subject, which was taken up with keen interest by a number of ministers knd laymen. Much emphasis was laid on the tact that as New Zealand was working pwt her political destiny independently ot the Australian States, so the Methodist Church should accept the full responsibility of legislative freedom ,as well -as administrative power. Owing to this question being taken at a late stage and in their Conference, it was ultimately shelved for another year. The Young Men's Forward Movement claimed a considerable amount of attention. The Rev. H. L. Blamires, of Wellington, succeeds the • Rey. £. Porter as Organising Secretary ot this important branch of work. Reference was made to the two ministers who are appointed to follow the present ministers in Blenheim circuit. The Rev. C Penney, the new superintendent, was described as a most brotherly and faithful pastor who should -succeed well, while his colleague ,the iiev. H. Ransom, is a young man who has a good reputation as a preacher, and who takes ft special interest m young men. The more serious business ot the Conference: was relieved by two or three social functions, which passed ott in a highly satisfactory manner.