METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 644, 1 March 1923, Page 6

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

' OFFICIAL REPORT. DUNEDIN, Feb. 23. The Rev, George Frost presented to the conference in his usual lucid style the report .of the committee dealing with circuits. The following recommeiidatious were carried: — No alteration in tire status of the Paeroa and Hauraki Plains circuit; the suggested alterations of boundaries in the Wanganui circuits be agreed to; that the Kaponga circuit remain as at present; that a. married .probationer be. appointed, to Inglewood;, that the Dovedalo Tapawera Home Mission station be. transferred to the Richmond circuit; that an ordained minister be appointed to the Mahurangi circuit;/ that'the East Street Mission, Auckland, be left without a minister for 12 months and placed under the direction of the superintendent of the Auckland Central circuit;that Hamilton be divided into two circuits with three ministers; .that a probationer be appointed as a third agent in the New Plymouth circuit; that a probationer be appointed to assist the president at Masterton with the idea of remaining as the second agent in the circuit; that probationers be appointed to Pieton and Woolston circuits as additional agents; that a single probationer be appointed to the St. Kilda circuit to work the Peninsula. Some of these recommendations raised considerable discussions, but in the majority of cases the decisions of the committee were honoured by the conference. It was also decided that Whangaroa be .constituted a circuit with a married probationer. The conference granted Dr. Laws permission to visit England and accredited bim to all the conferences that he will attend. Permission was also given to the Revs. H. L. Blamires and H. Ford to rest for a year and visit England. The resignation of the Rev. F. W. Boys, who has been a supernumerary for some years, was accepted with regret. Friday night was wet and this in conjunction with the late night affected the attendance at the New Century demonstration. Still, Trinity Church was three parts filled. The speakers were the Revs. F N. Knight, 8.A., A. C. Lawry and E. Drake, Rev. P. N. Knight opened m humorous vein and summed up his subject in the well-known phase, Back to Christ.” The Church was never so strong as when it had to fight to live. The- Church’s peril grows with prosperity and ease The need of the crowd was spiritual good. They were satisfying their appetites with material things and unconsciously to themselves were dying spiritually. The world has no meaning and no purpose without God and the sooner this was realised the sooner would Christ s Kingdom come. j The Rev. E. Drake dealt with Methodism’s evangelistic message for the New Century. He said \hcre would have been no Methodism but for evangelism. \\ esJey’s message was: “Wherever there is an open door, enter in.” Evangelism belongs to the very life of Methodism. lhe_ Cambridge Modern History says, referring to Wesley’s conversion, "that from even dates a new era in English history. Bu Methodism .has its part to play m the evangelisation of this post war age. Methodist evangel was suitable to the new age because of the sanity of its theology, the breadth of its sympathy and its doctrine of assurance. It is our message that man may be made anew. Rev. A. C; Lawry spoke upon the social message of the new age and Methodism s response to it. The new ago must be taught that we are one great family each giving a “square deal’ to the other, the speaker gave several striking illustration of what was meant by a Christian square deal ” There will then be cessation of indolence and slackness, on the one hand and of greed and grasping upon the other We want a larger tolerance, a love that was practical,.that was the carrying out of 1 Corinthians,- XIII. Ifc 18 l n tha spirit we can meet the difficulties and problems of the hour. , During the evening three, promises totalling £l9O were handed in, m addition to the ordinary oflering. The total amount received was £223.

FIRST READING OF STATIONS. Auckland Central, P. N. Knight 8.A., A. Reader, F Copeland; Aucklnad West: C. H. Olds, 8.A., T. Coatsworth; AuckEast: J. A. Lochere, J. Richards, W. G. Slade, M.A.; Maori Missions: A. J. Seainer; Foreign Mission Department: W. A. Sinclair; Home Mission Department; 1. G! Erooke; Theological College: C. H. Laws, 8.A., D.D., 11. Ran s'on, M.A. Litt. D. ; Avondale: A. Liversedge; W. 1. Blight, 8.A.; Devonport: J. E. Parson; Takapuna: T. R. B. Woolloxall; Birkenhead: W. Walker; Onehunga: G. S. Cook,; Otahuhu: J. A. Hoslung; Papakura; J. W. Griffin; Pukekohe: J. 01phert; Waiuku: J. Southern; Paparoa: J. H. Allen; Northern Wairoa: R, B. Gosnell; Whangarei: W. H. Speer; Thames: A. Ashcroft; Te Aroha: S. Henderson; Morrinsville: F. Greenwood; Waihi: H. Cottom; Paeroa: A. E. Jefferson; Cambridge: J. D. McArthur; Hamilton: J. Wrigley, F. E. Leadley; Rotorua: W. Abbey; Opotiki: W. Cuming; Te Kuiti: J. Dennis; King Country; W. J. EnticottjTe Aniamutu: 11. White; Matamata: T. I. Cooke; Tauranga: F. L. Frost; New Plymouth: W. J. Elliott, P. Battey; Waitara: W. W. Avery; Inglewood: 11. C. Orchard; Stratford: L. B. Neale; Eltham: G. K. Smith; Hawera: W. J. Oxbrow; Manaia; E. T. Olds; Cape Egmont: E. S. Harkness; Kaponga: C. H, Kendon; Wanganui: W. Grigg; Wanganui North: W. Lea; Marton: H. Daniel; Taihapc; E. B. Chambers; Waimarino; W. B. Pickering; Napier: T. R. Richards; Hastings; A. Mcßean; Gisborne: E. T. Cox, M.A,; Waipawa: W. S. Neal; Dannovirke: E. E. Sage; Woodville: P. J. Cossum; Pahintua: T A. Tybus; Palmerston North (Broad street): M. A. R.‘ Pratt; Palmerston North (Cuba street): H. T. Peat; Feilding; A. Mitchell; Sanson: W. Wills; Foxton: A. J. Minilie; Wellington .(Taranaki street): C. Eaton; Wellington Central Mission: JI. Spencer; Thorndon: C. C. Harrison, G. E. Brown; Wellington South: E. Drake; Kilbirnie: W. A. Burley, M.A.; Johnsonville; S. J. Werren;. HutL; W. Rowe; Petone: C Blair; South Wairarapa: A. M. Costain; Carterton: S. H D. Peryman; Masterton: D. F. Rothwell; Eketahuna: S. S. Green; Levin: G. Frost; Otakl: R. P.-Keall; Nelson: H. L. Blamires (E. W. Hames, 8.A., supply); Richmond; J. R. Nelson; Blenheim: W. Greenslado,-F. B. Lawrence; Hokitika; J. F. Jack; Greymouth: B. James; Reefton: 11. Benny; Westport: R. E. Fordyce; Christchurch (Durham street): W. A. Hay; Connexional Secretary: S. Lawry; Sunday School Department: E. P. Blamires; Christchurch East: E. D. Patchett. F T. Reade, B. Dudley; Christchurch (Cambridge Terrace): J. Harris; Woolston: T. J. Wallis; Sydenham: P. R. Paris; Addington: R. B. Tinsley; Riccarton: A. H. Fowles; St. Albans: J Napier Milne, T. H. Buxton; Papanui: "H. Ryan; Lyttelton: S. Bailey; Springston: J. W. Parker; Taitapu: W. Laycock; Leiston; A. O. Harris; Kaiapoi: W. B. Scott; Ohoka: F. T. Harris; Rangiora: A. N. Scotter, 8.A., C. A. Foston; Greendale: O. Burnet; Timaru: A. C. Lawry, A. Blakcmore; Wairnate: W: Beckett; Terauka; A. Hopper; Geraldine: J. Featherston; Ashburton: T. W. Yealie; Willowby: R. J. Liddell; Oamaru: G F. Stockwell; Dunedin (Trinity); H. E.’ Bellhouse; Dunedin (Central Mission): W. Ready; Dunedin (Dundas street): J, F. Martin; * Cargill road: H. L, Richards; St Kilda: B. Metson; Caversham: G. P. Hunt; Mornington; R. Raine; Roslyn: E Q Blamires; Port Chalmers: C. B. Tnrdah M.A,; Waikouaiti: W. Gatman; Balclutlia: C. Roberts; Milton; T. Skuse; Roxburgh; F. J. Parker; Invercargill Central: H. A. Sharp; Invercargill (St. Peters)’ J. H Haslam; Bluff: V. S. Mercer; Gore: ‘W. H. Hocking; Otautau: R. Richards.

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Feb. 28. The Methodist Conference carried a resolution Urging on its people the duty, of strengthening public opinion in support of the League of. Nations and urging on the individual members the duty of definitely associating themselves with some branch of the league’s union. T was agreed that the Board of Examiners consider the _ establishment ofa rourse of study of problems and that the Sunday before Armistice Day j* observed u Peace Sunday.,