THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 8 March 1909, Page 3

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

ORDINATION OF MINISTERS.

[Unites -Pbess Association.]

WELLINGTON, Sunday.

The ordination, service in connection with the Methodis{ Conference was held n Wesley Church, Taranaki street, this afternoon, when three young ministers, the' Revs. O. F. Copeland, of Eltham; A. C. Randerson, M.A., of Mosgiel; and R. Richards, of Malvern, who have finished their probation, were ordained into the Ministry of tho Methodist Church. The service was conducted by the President, c tho Rev. Thomas Fee, assisted by several ..ox-Presidents. The- Rev. C. E. Beecroft, tho last year's President, delivered tho ordination charge. (Mr Eandersen is to be stationed at Motueka.) ■ Mon lay. To-day the Methodist Conference discussed the following motion, moved by the Rev. Mr Elamires: — "That J the Conference expresses its sympathy ' with the employable unemployed in the Dominion, and urges the Government to take steps to discourage undue importations of such classes of immigrants asvwill be calculated to throw out of employment those who are already at work," Objection was taken by somo of the speakers to keeping New Zealand closed to outsiders. Eventually the motion was amended expressing sympathy with the unemployed, and asking tho Government to find employment for all- who required it. The amendment was carried. The Conference passed a series of resolutions in regard to the no-license question as follows: — That the Conference rejoiced in the continued growth of the no-license movement, as indicated by the substantial increase in the vote at tho recent poll, and congratulated the electorates in which no-license had previously obtained upon the fact that not one of them had voted for restoration; the Conference recorded its opinion that sixty per cent, of the valid votes cast is too high a proportion, and expressed the hope that in the near future the law may be amended so that nolicense may be secured at least by a less proportion than is at present required.

The Rev. John J. Lewis, who has been appointed as minister of St. John '9 Methodist Church, was born in South Wales. After some years' ex, perience of business in London wholesale warehouses, he was trained for the ministry at Richmond Theological Institution. He began his New Zoaland ministry at Auckland. Was President of Conference in the Jubilee year, 1890. Has been superintendent of Durham-street, Cnristchurch; Tara-naki-street, Wellington, aud Trinity Church Dunedin, circuuits, and Chairman of Canterbury and Wellington Districts, Home Mission Secretary, and Lecturer to Theological Students at Prince Albert College.

Speaking at the Foreign Missions meeting held in connection with the Methodist Conference, says the "Post," Mr Yung-liang Hwang, Chinese Consul, outlined the progress of the movement in China to suppress the opium traffic, and said the object was to suppress it in twenty years. Much had already been done in the way of forcible suppression, for the country was in earnest; but he would liko to' see the spiritual force represented by Christianity, which already had done so much for (he country, attain greater power. For spiritual and moral force wero far more powerful than lhe physical. After an absence of sis yeari from his native city, he had seen wonderful changes wrought. The ancient Chinese city hurl been transformed into one of modern type — modern lighting, modern police, modern modes of transit. No good thing in modern civilisation was beyond the reach of China, hut material progress without spiritual was "vanity of vanieties. " China was os-wntially afild would always be a peaceful nation, and he saw prospects of her making vast progress; but unless there were uplifting spiritual forces behind the the progress, she would find that, with the best things, she would also get many of the curses of the West.