WESLEY AIT DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9217, 21 November 1888, Page 6

WESLEY AIT DISTRICT MEETING.

The district meeting, in its representative session, met yesterday morning, at ten o'clock. The Rev. R. Bavin presided, and devotional exercises were conducted by Revs. Garland and Hore te Kurei, and Mr. F. A. White. In addition to the ministers, the following laymen were present:—Messrs. J. Edson, F. A. White, E. Pheasant, J. Burton, T. McMaster, C. C. Fleming, W. Thome, S. J. Ambury, F. L. Prime, W. Hetherington, H. Eraser, J. Parata, P. Moeta-ara. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion were handed in :— Re transfer of'ministers, "Whereas the recent General Conference passed a resolution requiring at least two ministers to be transferred nolens volant from each annual conference to some other, during each interval of the General Conference, this meeting desires respectfully to submit that such resolution is a violation of the constitutional rights of the annual conferences ; that it demands from the ministers an unreasonable surrender of personal liberty; and that in its practical working it can hardly fail to produce irritation and discontent among the churches. We, therefore, recommend the conference to adopt such measures as may be necessary to secure the setting aside of the legislation referred to." Re Removal Expenses.—"That in the opinion of this meeting the time has come when the removal expenses of ministers to circuits should be made a charge on the Contingent Fund." Re Foreign Mission Deputations.—" That this meeting, while thanking the General Committee for the visit of the Rev. George Brown, recommends to the District Meeting that it is highly desirable a special deputation be sent every year to the various circuits for the purpose of increasing the interest in the Foreign Mission Fund." Re Home Mission Agents. —"That the support of agents now employed be a primary charge on the Home Mission Funds." The Chairman expressed his gratification at meeting the laymen, and trusted that the sessions would be productive of great blessing. FRATERNAL GREETINGS. The following reply was received from Archdeacon Dudley, President of the Diocese of Auckland —"Cathedral Library, Parnell, Auckland, November 19th, 1888. The Rev. Rainsford Bavin. Chairman of Wesleyan Church District Meeting, Auckland. Reverend and Dear Sir, —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th instant, and I have much pleasure in forwarding to you the subjoined resolution, carried unanimously by the Synod of the Diocese of Auckland at its session this afternoon : ' This (Synod cordially reciprocates the kindly and fraternal greeting of the Wesleyan Church District Meeting, and earnestly trusts that increasingly fraternal conduct may be manifested by all who have received the spirit of adoption, and, in Christ, are brethren.' —With kind regards, believe me, reverend and dear sir, yours very faithfully, B. T. Dudley, President of the Synod of the Diocese of Auckland. P.S. — above resolution was moved by myself, as President, and seconded by Archdeacon Clarke." CHURCH PROPERTIES. The following additional properties were acquired during the year :—North Shore: A new parsonage of ten rooms; cost, £544. Manukau : (1) Two new vestries to Onehunga Church ; cost, £70 los; no debt. (3) Mangere Church enlarged and new vestry built cost, £75; no debt. Upper Thames: Improvements, £50. Hamilton: A new church, Ngaruawania, seating 140, costiu" with site ,£'295. Paparoa : Now church at .Nlareretu ; cost with site l'l2O. SANCTION GIVEN TO PURCHASE AND FOR ERECTION. Upper Thames : Request granted to build parsonage at. Te Aroha. Mauukau : Request granted to build cliurch at Papakura. Franklin ■ Request granted to erect a small church at Wellwood. Te Awamutu : Permission to build parsonage. Coromandel: Permission to erect new church. Northern Wairoa* Request grunted to erect church at Red Hill. SALES OF PROPERTY RECOMMENDED. Pitt-street: Granted application to sell church and site at Kingland. Manukau : Permission granted to sell three acres of land at Papakura, proceeds to be applied in building a school. Hamilton: Permission to sell a site at Ngaruawahia. Coromandel: Granted request to sell present site of the Coromandel church, proceeds to be applied to purchase of a new site and erection of a new church. DISTRICT SECRETARY'S REPORT ON CHURCH PROPERTIES. Mr. F. A. White presented his annual report on church properties, which showed the total receipts for trust purposes to be £3302 12s 10d, of which sum '477 lls lid has been expended on improvements and repairs, and £1178 Ms 7d in reduction of church and parsonage debts. The total debts on connexional properties now stand as under : —To Connexional Loan Fund, ±'18S'2 4s '2d ; other securities, £9273 Us Bd. The Secretary stated that, notwithstanding the depression, a larger percentage has been paid off than in the previous year. The Rev. J. A. Taylor moved and the Rev. E. Best seconded that the report be received and forwarded to the Conference, and that Bro. White receive the heartiest thanks of the meeting for his faithful and painstaking services, and that his re-appointment be recommended to Conference. The Chairman and others having spoken in terms of highest praise of Mr. White's labours, tin: motion was put and carried unanimously. wksi.kV college balance-sheet. Mr. T. McMaster presented the annual balauce-shwi of the Wesley College. The expenditure tor ISSB was less by £100 than the previous year. The ropori was received and Mr. McMaster was iiiiurtily thanked. AFiV.itNOON SESSION. The di.-. iiit'f-tiiu!, in its representative session, i>. .talf-past two, Mr. S. J. Ambury (-.J •■. Newton) conducting the devotional t ■-.•.. ses, Rlil'ui:: ::■■ PRINCIPAL REID. The follow:,:., is the report of the Rev. A. Reid, of tile Tiu'ue Kings Wesley College :— I " The history of the past vear of our College I life presents low features of special interest, j yet none the less do we feel constrained , here, to raise our Ebenezer ' in grateful re- j cognition of the Divine favour vouchsafed to ' i the least of the schools of the prophets. We j have been graciously permitted to pursue the I even tenor of our way in the acquisition of ' knowledge, the formation of habits, and discharge 01 duties by which we trust the aim and expectation of our Church, in regard to her rising ministry, will be largely realised, as men go forth from our seminary qualified successfully to live and preach the gospel of salvation from sin. Three students for the ministry and fourteen Maori youths have, during the past year, enjoyed the advantages of our institution. With the exception of ■ one Maori lad, who came to us an invalid, laud who is still under medical treatment, **"> With of all ia residence

has been good—hardly any interruption ! to study having been caused by sickness. Swing to the partially disabled condition of the principal, the students have had to bear j in increased measure of the responsibilities i :>f home rule.-which though not always joyous for the present, yet have served to deyelope I the promise and potency of fitness for future i service. As in preceding years, so in this, j the rule has been for each student to spend Mie hour a day in teaching the Maori boys. Intellectually this arrangement benefits our men by affording opportunity to cultivate iptness in teaching ; spiritually it profits, by conferring the privilege of ministering; to some of Christ's ' little ones,' even while in the comparative seclusion of student life. The preaching services of our men have averaged three appointments on each alternate Sunday, and gratifying reports have reached us respecting the esteem in which they are held by the people for their work's sake. In compliance with Conference rule, they have in turn preached and conducted services in the presence of their fellows and the principal. At the close of such services ample opportunity has been given for criticism, in which it has been our aim to blend kindness to the preacher with fidelity to the cause, and all nave been stimulated to aim at the highest attainable excellence as heralds of the cross. The classical and mathematical tutor, togegether with the ministers appointed by Conference as lecturers, all bear favourable testimony respecting the intelligent and painstaking interest manifested by our men in the several subjects of study. Appended is a syllabus of the subjects taken and the amount of work done under the several lecturers. Mr. Nott, in consideration of his being a third year's undergraduate of the New Zealand University, hi been excused taking Ecclesiastical History and Methodist Polity ; while in subjects common to both institutions he has attended the lectures of the Auckland University College. Our senior student, Mr. Chapman, has not been permitted quite to complete his three years' course, the president having on the 16th of October called him out to serve as a supply for Hawera circuit, rendered vacant by the lamented death of Bro. Barley. Our Maori scholars are, on the average, more youthful than those of past years. All had rcacned the fourth standard in the district schools before coming to us. Their progress in school lessons has been satisfactory, their behaviour good, and in field and garden worK they have developed more industry and heartiness than had characterised their predecessors. The Bible lesson is always welcome ; several of them take part in our prayer-meetings, and we are hopeful that God may yet call some of them to serve as Christian pastors among their people. It is again our pleasing duty to record our obligations to Dr. Lawry tor medical advice and treatment kindly and gratuitously afforded; also to recognise the liberality of the New Zealand Herald in retaining our College on their free list. Expenditure on College account for the year has been £870. Last year it amounted to £971. Knowing the principles of rigid economy on which this establishment has been conducted, the genius of retrenchment was slow to interfere with our finance. But he came at last. We are now in full fellowship with the New Zealand df iression, and not altogether indisposed to add to our course of'our study the consideration of the question, ' Has not the Gospel a mission to arrest the selfishness by which our country : s progress is blighted? . We crave an interest in the prayers of the Methodist Churches throughout the colony, that by God's blessing, our College may be rendered equal to the task of training men who shall be mighty in the Scripture and wise to win souls— (Signed) Alexander Reid, Principal." CONNEXIONAL TRUST PROPERTIES. 1. Native and Destitute Children's Education Trust; Mr. Jonn Edson, treasurer. The balance-sheet was read and adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to Conference. 2. General Connexional Mission Properties Trust; Mr. Prime, treasurer. The balancesheet was read and adopted, and ordered to be sent to the Conference, o. Theological Institution Endowment Trust; Mr. Prime, treasurer. The balance-sheet was read and adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to Conference. 4. Higher Education (Wesley College) Trust. Mr. Hobbs, treasurer, being absent, the balance-sheet was read by Mr. Prime, and adopted by the meeting and ordered to be forwarded to Conference. A vote of thanks to the auditors of the various connexional funds was unanimously and heartily agreed upon. AUCKLAND BOOK ASSOCIATION. Mr. Edson forwarded a statement of the above Association, which was received. A resolution was passed expressing the thanks of the meeting to Mr. Euson for his services. It was also resolved to request Mr. Edson to meet the committee at an early date and review the whole matter and report to the next meeting. HOME MISSION FUND. Amount raised in the district: —From circuits : Auckland, Pitt-street, £215: DevonGrafton Roud, £90 ; Mahurangi, i' 10; Thames, 38 15s 4d ; Upper Thames, £12 16s; Manukau, £61 3s 2d; Franklin, £25; Cambridge, £12 10s: Hamilton, £8 17s 4d ; Te Awamutu, £Sj Raglan, £4 5s 6d; Paparoa, £11 Us 5d ; Northern Wairoa, £10 19s'id; Hokianga, £12 ss: Bay of Islands, £6 4s 6d ; Whaugarei, £16; Tauranga, £6; Whangaroa, £1 13s 7d ; Coromandel, £b; Wade, £2; Heieusville. £1 12s 3d ; Kaipara (English), £2 "is lid ; Kaipara (Maori), £75 13s ; connexional property, £126 10s Sd ; interest on investments. £112 ; Maori service book sold, £7 7s : total, £924 0s Bd. It is very gratifying for us to report that, notwithstanding the severe continued depression, tiie income to the Home Mission fund is exactly tne same .s last year. Much thankfulness was expressed for the liberality of our people. The amount expended was £914. AMENDED REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF CHURCH TROPERTV. During the vear the following amounts have been raised for Trust purposes :—New erections, £330' 2s 6d; improvements, etc., £389 9s 2d; towards reduction of debts, £1781 Is 2d; lands sold, £685 19s 3d. DUNEDIN CONFERENCE. The Rev. J. A. Taylor was elected a representative to the Duuedin Conference. The meeting adjourned at 5.15 to 7 p.m. EVENING SESSION. The District Meeting reassembled at seven p.m., when the 6acrament of the Lord's Supper was administered. This was a most impressive and inspiring service. STATISTICAL RETURNS. Under the question, " What are th€ Statistical returns V the Chairman remarked that it was desirable to consider how to inaKt our services more attractive and etlective. The Rev. tj. Lawry presented the Statistics. The report is as follows :— Statistical Report Aucsland District, 18SS. —Trie general returns for J.BSS show the 10l lowing increases and decreases as compared with iBB7 : Increases in the European work —3 churches, four other preaching places 1 Home Missionary, 21 Sunday - school teachers, 48 memoers on trial, 52 communicants, 29 catechumens and members ol juvenile classes, 129 attendants on public worship. In the Maori work —1 church, ' Sunday-school teachers, 27 local preachers, i class leaders, 25 communicants, 3 Sunday schools, 81 Sunday-school scholars. JL>e creases in the European work —1 minister, ( local preachers, 2 class leaders, 52 fully-ac credited Churcii members, 1 Sunday-scnool 64 Sunday-school scholars. In the Maor work —9 preaching places, 31 fully-accreditet Church members, 1 on trial, 18b' attendant! on public worship. The detailed examination of the returns shows that severa. of the circuits have suffered through tlu exodus of population which has occurred during the past year, especially in the towr circuits. At tne same time there is not wanting evidence unit good progressive work has beer. done. The increased number of churches and other preaching places shows that we an still doing our part in endeavouring ti " spread Scriptural holiness throughout tlu land." In spite of the exodus, and tne falling oil'in the number of Sunday-school scholars we still record an addition of 129 attendant: on public worship, while the total of al gradea of membership is 79 above that of lasi year. The increase in the number of loca preachers and class leaders among the Maori; shows a, gratifying revival of zeal in thevaust of Christ, from which we may reasonably look for good results in time to come.— Saaiukl Lawry, Statistical Secretary. MAORI MISSION. The following report was presented by th« Rev. W. Gittos, general superintendent o the--Maori r \iisaiou :—" Our Maori centre: have been visited at regular intervals duiiuj the paat year, and on the whole our repor regarding our work, and success, may be con sidered satisfactory. In Waikato we havt many loyal Wesleyans, who, in spite of thei poverty, do what they can to aid our work Our services are well-attended, and th< spiritual condition of the people much im proved. The Hauhaus are generally yieldinj to the influence of Divine truth, and we hop' ere loii' r many of them will be gathered iiit< the fold of Christ. In Hokianga we have ; I people who have been steadfast in the taith ! and who remain so at the present time, an< we are thankful to say there are signs o spiritual progress in many parts of the dis I trict, and the people are becoming more in I terested and active in the work of the church The giving power of the natives is yer; limited, their chief means of making a littli money is in the kauri gum trade, which tiuc tuates very much, and it is seldom that tiio; can do much more than provide themselves with food and clothing, still we think the: could do better, and we constantly urge then to do so. The Government schools in tin district are doing a good work, and almost al the natives are temperate or ' blue ribbons. In the Kaipara our people have maintainei their former reputation for liberality to tht cause of Christ. During the past year thej have built a new church at the Heads costiiii

over £300; they have also paid the minister's stipend, £70, and now send £5 13s to the Home Mission Fund. We hope next year they will be able to do more than thev have done in the past; should the Lord nroaner them I feel sure they will. Regarding their religious life we are glad to say there is a. marked improvement and higher spiritual tone. In the Kaipara as in the other die tnets, the Government schools have beeri carried on with some measure of success and the young people have opportunities of fi'ttin* themselves for future usefulness. Our ' Blu Ribbon' and ' Band of Hope' meetings have been a great success, and we are thankful to say that with few exceptions our people haw bjen true to their pledges. After watchiiw with care the enanges that are takhi" nla< 2 in the social habits and condition of Maori life throughout the districts we have visited we are reluctantly forced to the conclusion that they are gradually decreasing in num bers and must ere long pass away. What wp as a Church intend to do must be dene quickly. Our motto is, 'The Maoris for Christ, and Christ for the Maoris.' \V e -,l the prayers and sympathies of all who lovp the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.—(Signed! William Gittos." ' resolution on the state of the work of (301). The following resolution, moved he the Rev. J. Dukes, was passed :—" That i:i«, rt ler to show all fidelity to Christ as exponents of His Word and shepherds of the flock,'ovei the which the Holy Ghost hath madeusover seers,' we in this solemn hour of Church work investigation and of self-examination, far nestly desire and pledge ourselves ro' seek such an unction from the Holy One that out ministry may prove a greater living power to the souls of men. We gratefully recognise the fact that the God of our fathers has been with us during the year, and that several of our circuits are enabled tor eport. ' Times of refreshing.' We are especially called upon to express our thankfulness to the great Head of the Church for the number of voiui" people who have sought and found the Saviour. We, however, regret to find that the difficulty of suitable leaders to nourish and guide those found in Christ, continues to be painfully felt.- One of the distinguishing features and glories of Methodism has been the large employment of lavmen who have faithfully discharged the functions of the God-honoured office" of leader." W e commend this work to the prayerful atten tion of our people, reminding them ' that next in point of importance to faithful laborious preachers are lively active judicious class leaders for usefulness in the Metho. diet connexion. . We record with gra'ti tude to God that our people, with noble self-sacrificing zeal, have during a year of severe depression contributed as much as last year to the Home Mission fund and also considerably reduced the debts on church properties. As a section of the Cnurch of Christ, and in ttew of the terrible ovils of Sabbath desecration, impurity gambling, drunkenness, and general ungodliness so alarmingly prevalent in our midst we desire, and intend to have, a league' offensive and defensive, with every soldier of Christ. :, CHURCH ATTENDANCE. An earnest conversation took place on the important question, "How is it that so few men attend our services'.' ? ' It was shown that tnis was not a feature of our country congregations, but it is a sad feature of our town congregations. The Rev. J. Dukes expressed his conviction that much of this was due to two causes—(l) tiie absence of so many young men from our .Sunday services is due to the excessive physical exercises on the Saturday, and ("_') the moral effects of the press. T.he weakness of the pulpit has beea exaggerated. Many of the newspaper articles have misrepresented facts. SUNDAY-SCHOOL RETURNS. The Sunday-school returns were read by the Rev. T. G. Carr. The meeting adjourned at nine o'clock till ten o'clock next morning.