WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5996, 4 February 1881, Page 6

WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Nelson, Thursday.' Yesterday, after devotional exercises, and the reading of the roll, the President announced that the Rev. W. C. Boyce had presented each minister of the Conference with a copy of his book, entitled "Higher Criticism." The gift was accepted with thanks. The election of representatives to the Triennial General Conference then took place. The President explained that the President and Secretary would attend the Conference ex officio, and that New Zealand was entitled to send over other ministers, every minister in full connections being eligible for nomination. Plumping was ruled informal. Twelve names were put in nomination, and the balloting resulted as follows : —The Revs. Messrs. Morley, Williams, . Lee, Buddie, Armitage, and Bull. These seven were elected, the last-named by the casting-vote of the President, as the Rev. J. S. Smalley also polled 21. The election of nine laymembers of the General Conference was then proceeded with. There were 21 nominations. The following is the result of the ballot :— Messrs. J. Manchester, Cock, Connell, Buddie, Prime, Hobbs,.. Turner, Moxham, and Mitchell. A lengthy report of the proceedings of the General Executive Committee of Missions at Sydney was read. The whole report was taken up by an account of the difficulties which have arisen between the Board of Missions and the Rev. Mr. Baker, of Tonga. Mr. Baker is practically Premier of the Island of Tonga, and in some parts his conduct was deemed by the Board to have been guilty of insubordination. Serious complications arose between the King of Tonga and the Board. The Rev. Mr. Morley moved, "That, in the opinion of this. Conference, the Board of Missions has exceeded its powers in placing the Rev. S. Baker on his trial, as he was not placed under the direction . of the Board." Mr. Morley ably argued the constitutional question.. The Rev. Messrs. Brooks and Buddie seconded the motion, and clearly put forth the facts of the case. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Morley read two or three resolutions which he would move after

dinner. The following resolution >. as also read and passed:—"That this Conference declares itself to be in cordial sympathy with the object arrived at by the various temperance organisations existing in New Zealand, and expressed the hope that the provisions that have been made for the formation of temperance societies and Bauds of Hope in connection with our own Church will be everywhere carried into effect, so that all classes of persons who come within the range of our influence, and espeeially our young people, may be instructed in the principles and encouraged to the practice of temperance." Upon resuming in the afternoon, Mr. Alorley moved, " That the General Conference be requested to place the different mission fields under the charge of the several annual Conferences instead of all being under the direction of the New South Wales and Queensland Conferences." This was carried by 21 to 20 votes. A third resolution on the .subject of missions Air. Alorley withdrew. Aloved by the Rev. J. Bull, and carried, "That the thanks of the Conference be presented to the Sunday scholars who raised £100 16s 9d for the-purchase of the mission vessel the John Hunt." The report of the Wesleyan book depot, Christchurch, of the New Zealand Wesleyan, was received. The book concern was shown to be in a sound condition. It was felt that there was an undesirably large mass of arrears in the matter of subscription. The circulation was stated to be i3OO. The editor's salary was nil. It was not proposed to issue the paper more frequently than at present, once a month. The Rev. J. Armitage was heartily thanked for his services as editor, and very nattering testimony was borne to the excellence of his work. He was unanimously re-appointed. The report of the Auckland book depot and the theological institution of Kings were read and adopted, aud the principal, the Rev. Thos. Buddie was thanked for his able services, and re-appointed. Dr. Kidd, classical and mathematical tutor at Three Kings, was thanked and re-appointed.

The recommendations of the district meetings .with regard to the children's fund were then taken. An independent fund for New Zealand was determined upon. The old name was retained. It was also resolved that the children's fund and the education fund be. amalgamated; that the annual collection and the ministers' subscriptions be dispensed. with; that the levy in future upon circuit income with untaxed minister of £120 for each, married minister, and £80 for each single minister; that an uniform payment be riiade to each claimant for fifteen years. . ' . The Conference adjourned at 5.30 \mtil 7 o'clock in the evening. After the usual form of opening, the question of the itinerary was discussed at length. The Secretary moved that all limit to the term of ministerial residence in a circuit be abolished. The question was discussed from many points of view, and finally an amendment, retaining a limitation of the term was carried. It was then determined by 26 to 17, that the General Conference be recommended to extend the term from three years to five years. The Rev. W. Morley moved, and it was carried, that the General Conference be recommended to associate laymen with the ministers on the stationing committee. ; The annual '.' Conversation" on the state of the work of God followed. It was opened by the reading of the statistics of church-membership for the year. A lengthy conversation then ensued in which the Revs. Kirk, Alorley, Best, Crump, and Messrs. Whyte, Mycroft, and others took part. The resolution in -which the mind of the Conference was embodied is as follows : 1. The Conference records its gratitude to Almighty God for the measure of spiritual prosperity vouchsafed to our churches during the past year, and for the praiseworthy efforts made by our congregations in those times of severe financial depression to maintain in efficiency our various Church funds. Symptoms of an improved state of feeling in regard to our social means of grace have begun to manifest themselves in some of our circuits, and the Conference resolves to do all in its power to foster this feeling, and to render its gratification-helpful to the promotion of holiness. Our trust in God is strong. We renew our self-consecration to Christ, and, depending on the help of His Spirit, address ourselves afresh to our welcome duties as ministers of His gospel and stewards of the manifold gifts of God.