WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5360, 21 January 1879, Page 3

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

The Conference yesterday morning re-as-Btuibled at 10 o'clock. After ihe tiug'og oj a hymn, the Secretary read 1 Cor. xni., aud prayer was offered by Iltfvs. A. Heid sind J Law. A telegram was then lead from the Rev. Mr. Tiusley thaukiug the Conference for having so kindly and unanimously entertained his application for admission into the Wealeyau ministry. _ . , The cotumittee appointed to consider tbe application of Kev. tid. Best, of Irclau l, I bruuyht up their report, and, after du» de i liberation, the following resolution was unanimously p;iss d : — i% That the application ot the Rev E. Best, of the Irish Cou ference, be received, and chat lie he oti-red a place in our ministry. The relation of his children to our children's fund, as also hia connection with the preachers fund, must be left for adjustment to theGen«ial Conference, and Mr. Best be informed that iu all former application of a similar kind no claim* on our counexioual fucds have beeu granted." . . , , Tue report of the committee appoint-d to examine tbe students of the Ihree lustitutiou was submitted, which shewed that the students during the year had acquitted themselves well. Tho foilowiug were the results F. W. Martin, for scveu sub- I iects, 91 p-r cent.; VV. L. Salter, for live | subjects, S9 per cent.; P. Wiils, for seven j subj cts, SO per cent.; J. Dellow, for eight subjects, 7*l per cent. The report of the j Principal, aud that of the Classictl lutor, Dr. Kidd. gave evidence ou the part of tbe students of great proHciency iu their studies U't.ier the question, " What stodctiis are to continue to have theological training ? it was resolved that Air. F. W. Alartiu remain in the institution auother year, and that Meisis. Dellow, Salter, and Wills be appointed to circuits. i he Conference decided to rcceivc on trial for the native ministry Hori te lvuri and Wairema Wareua. A favourable report of the form-r was read from the Rev. Mr Hammond, and the priucipal of the Three Kings bore testimony to the pkty and a'c.io ot the latter. The quo-tion was then asked, " What ministers do we receivo from other Con ferenees?" and ihe following answer given : •* Xue Llev. li. Day, previously referred to. and also Rev. Mr. Siaudage, of the Vic tori.iu Conference, wli-j exchanges with ihe liev. Mr. Shaw." The question of ministerial supplies fmm England was deferred until the united s-ssion of the Conference. I'lie Kev. Mr. Isitt asked to be placed on the supernumerary list, on tile ground of ill health, wliieii was agrenl to. Tnu President then addressed to Mr. I.sitt a few vioids i>f sympathy, which endorsed by the brethren. Tho llev. G. S. Harper applied for another year's rest, which was granted. I'he Conference then adjourned to the aftei noon. The i (inference re-assembled at 2.30 p.m. Rev. J. Berry, who is at present m ling land, applied through the Kev. A. Keid for his name to be placed on the supernumerary list lor another year, when it was resolved, " I hat Mr. Beiry have permission to real for the year." To tho quction, " What preachers rein.in ou trial?" the answer was, "The Uevs. Baumbcr, Luxford, and Carlick, as having passed their third year of probation ; Kins, Fee, S. Lawry, and Nielsnn, as having cumplcted their second year of piobation ; aud J. Buttle and J. H. Gray, as having completed tneir first year." The President then proceeded, with his kuotvn ability, to examine, vtea vocc, tho following caudidat':B for tho ministry, on the evidences and doctrini s of Christianity, aceordi.ig to the Methodist standard, viz., Messrs. C. Abcruotby, T. G. Brooke, O. Dean, L. Isitt, F. l\»rkes, J. T. Pinfold, aiul W. Slade. Mr. L. Hudson, was also to have been examined, but was not present. A committee, consisting of the Revs. Keid, Buddlo, and Lee was appointed to examine Mr. Hudson. j Under the question, "What ministers have died since last Conferencean obitmry notice of the Itov. Karawini Witi, which had been prepared by tho Rev. Mr. Gittos, was read, approved, and adopted. The question of the moral, religious, and intellectual fitness of the brethren for the work of the ministry was next considered, and with a favourable result, as it was found that there was no objection to any of the ministers. Under the next quesfion, " What persons who were in full connection with the Conference have noiv ceased to bo recognised as miuidters among us ?" Rev. Mr. Kitchelt's resignation was read, aud the correspondence between himself aud the President was laid before the Conference, and the following resolution passed : —" The Conference accepts with regret the resignation of the Rev. A. I\. Fuchett. It desires to bear teslimony to the valuable services rendered by lnui while a miuister o£ tho Wesleyao Church, aud wishes him in the future a loug career of public usefulness." The benedict.on was pronounced by tho President, and the Conference adjourned. Iu the evening, a fellowship meeting—a meeting peculiar to the Methodist Churches, was held in tne church, when ministers and members celebrated the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, after which several testified to the value of th- Christian religion, to tho happiness experienced in a life of devotion to God, and to the joy of anticipating the felicity that awaited the faithful. The meeting was a thoroughly enjoyable one.