PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8468, 20 January 1891, Page 6

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The Primitive Methodist Conference resumed its sittings yesterday at the Alex-andra-street Church, when the report of the Insurance Committee was received, showing that ten fresh policies had been taken up during the year.

The report of the New Zealand Superannuated Ministers' Fund was also received, showing £275 in hand. The pledges of Probationers W. C. Woodward, H. Williams, J. Cocker, W. Wood were received. The Revs. J. Olphert and G. Clemens were received into full ministry. They have creditably passed their four years' probation.

The report of the Book Steward, Rev. C. E. Ward, was received, showing a balance in favour of the book room of £145. A large number of hymnal and tune books had been sold during the year.

OPEN SESSION. An open session was held in the evening, in the Alexandra-street Church, which was largely attended. The first business was to receive a deputation of ladies, viz., Mesdames Schnackenberg, Main, and Holloway, who attended the Conference on behalf of the Women's Christian Temperance Union. The president welcomed the ladies to the meeting, and Mrs. Schnackenberg gave an interesting address. She spoke of the pleasure they felt in being present, and in a few appropriate words welcomed the Conference to this city. The members of the Union, she said, were anxious to bring the claims of their society before the Primitive Methodist Church. They were labouring for the bettering of humanity ; and one of their chief objects was the prohibition of the liquor traffic. Another department was to have temperance taught in the schools, and she impressed the members of the Conference to labour whereever they wers located to help the Union in its educational efforts. They were labouring also for the enfranchisement of women. Women were deeply interested in this question, and claimed their right to say who should represent them in Pal lament. Mrs. Schnackenberg also advocated prohibition amongst aborigines. She referred to the efforts made to suppress the drink traffic at tonga. The Union did not believe in tampering or regulating this traffic; they laboured for its entire prohibition. She also advocated Bible reading in schools, and deplored the Sabbath desecration by steamboat excursions. She also urged the advisability of uting iinfermented wine at the Lord's Supper. The aim of the Union not only presented local claims, but appealed to the whole colony, and she concluded by asking the Conference to show its sympathy and cooperation. (Applause.) Rev. C. IS. Ward and Mr. E. B. 'Jones replied to the deputation, and explained that the Primitive Methodist Church was one with the Union in every object named. Legislation from Invercargill was next discussed re the advisability of holding Scripture examinations among the school children. Rev. J. Guy moved and Mr. Jones seconded the adoption of the legislation. A lengthy discussion followed, in which Messrs. Goldie, Jebson, Bellringer, Booth, and Luke, and Revs. A. J. Smith, C. E. Ward, J. Sharp, and J. Olphert took part. The motion was ultimately lost on show of hands. The report of the J übilee Loan Fund was received, showing that £150 was in hand, Rev. W. Laycock gave an interesting account of the opening of the West Coast mission, and was attentively listened to. The usual soiree will be held to night, when the Rev. J. Chalmers, of New Guinea, will probably speak.