WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4375, 20 November 1875, Page 5

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

FOURTH DAY.

It should have been stated in the report of Wednesday's proceedings, that a comparison of the number of Church members this year with that of last, revealed the fact that in the English work in the district there had been an increase of 42 full members, with 102 on trial, and in the Maori work an increase of 17. The financial district meeting also adopted a resolution, forwarded to it by the trustees of conuexional properties, to this effect:—" That the Conference be requested .to take into consideration the desirability of re-opening the Three Kings school, more especially with a view to the education of Maori youths who are likely to become teachers and preachers among their people." On this ' day (Friday), in the conversation on book affairs, the fact was elicited that the circulation of the New Zealand Wesleyan and Methodist literature generally was not so satisfactory as could be desired. An opinion was expressed that, in such an old and extensive Wesleyan constituency, the recognised organ of the New Zealand Conference should obtain a more liberal support. Under the question relating to the provision made for the theological training of students, the following resolution was considered and adopted :—" That, in order to provide for the efficient training of candidates for our ministry, both native and European, this meeting strongly urges upon the attention of the Conference the necessity for taking immediate steps "to establish a central institution, to which all young men recommended by the various annual district meetings shall be eligible." In the afternoon the beginning of the end of the session was intimated by the reading of the solemnly admonitory and exhortatory document familiar to Methodists by the name of the Liverpool Minutes. This was followed by a general conversation on the spiritual aspects of the work under consideration : the sentiments of the meeting being gathered up and expressed in the following resolutions : —lst. That this meeting in review of the year, see reason for gratitude to the Great Head of the Church for the grace bestowed by Him upon the various churches throughout the district, as shewn by the increase of members and of thos3 on trial for membership; for the general quickening of spiritual desire evidenced by the enlarged congregations j and for the generous contributions of the people, who give nobly ; and possessed by the assurance that the God of Salvation is waiting to pour out the fulness of His Spirit, the brethren resolve to give themselves anew to prayer and to the work allotted to them. 2nd. That after carefully reviewing our Maori Mission in thi3 district for the past year, this meeting recognises with gratitude indications of general progress in-the various departments of our work, and an improved tone of piety among our Maori people ; and we cannot but hope that the year upon which we are now entering will be characterised by spiritual and material success.

The question : What can be done towards the suppression of intemperance ? having been brought under the consideration of the meeting, the following resolution of the British Conference was cordially adopted :— The Conference regards intemperance as amongst the most serious moral and social evils now prevalent, and urges the Methodist people to discountenance those customs of society which foster this vice, and to promote all Legislative measures which aim at the restraint or extinction of the liquor traffic. Whilst asserting the Methodist Church to be itself a temperance society, the Conference cordially recognises the services rendered to public morals and to religion by independent temperance and total abstinence associations. The Conference recommends ' Methodists to co-operate heartily with such associations, guarding themselves, nevertheless, from the error of allowing their sympathies with efforts directed againat a special evil to weaken their relations with the Church, or divert their attention from those wider Christian enterprises which are designed to rescue mankind, not only from drunkenness, but from every form of sin. A cordial vote of thanks having been given to the friends who had so kindly entertained the ministers attending the meeting, the session of 1875 was brought to a close by singing and prayer.