PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11552, 16 January 1901, Page 6

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The Primitive Methodist Conference of NewZealand held a missionary breakfast in the Franklin Road schoolroom yesterday morning. The president, the Rev. W. S. Potter, presided, and there were on the platform: Messrs. R. Hobbs, T. Sharp, and J. Clement, Revs. A. H. Collins, W. Harris, and O.E.Ward.

After breakfast, Mr. Hobbs took the chair, and, in the course of a short address, congratulated the Rev. Mr. Potter, who was, ho said, an Auckland boy, on his election as president. The time might come when tho Primitive Methodist Church would absorb the Wesleyan Church, but that was not what should be aimed at. They should bond all their energies to promote righteousness in the country, and do all they could to extend God's kingdom. The Rev. C. E. Ward, in the course of his remarks, stated that the chairman and himself were links between the past and the present. Mr. Hobbs' father had come out to the colony with the Rev. Samuel Marsden and his (the speaker's) father, the Rev. R. Ward, who were missionaries together. Sir George Grey had said that if the early missionaries had been heeded the Maori war might have been prevented. He urged on the part of his hearers the same self-sacri-fice, loyalty, courage, enthusiasm, and industry as their fathers displayed. .The Rev. W. Harris said that the breakfast reminded him of the abundance of the store for men's needs which was to be found in tho Gospel. It also indicated the- duties and responsibilities of the Christian life and suggested that in Christan work they should begin early and begin well. Mr. J. Clement, who claimed to have been a. Primitive Methodist for over 60 years, referral to his acquaintance with Hugh Bourne and William Clowes, the founders of Primitive Methodism. He urged continued energy in their work. After a speech from a Samoan chief prosent (delivered in his native tongue), votes of thanks were accorded to tho ladies who had provided the breakfast, and to tho chairman.

The business session of the conference was resumed at half-past nine p.m., the Rev W. b. 1 otter presiding. The report of the treasurer of the Furnishing Fund, which was received and discussod, showed that the income for the year had been £120. The report of the Contingent Fund disclosed an income of £41 and a balance in hand of £13 16s. The Children's Equalisation Fund report showed an income of £344, and a balance in hand of £14. That of the Unified Jmnd showed an income of £477 Mid a small balance in hand. ' Tho report of the Publishing Committee was next dealt with. This was very satisfactory, the income being shown to have been £364, which left a profit of £66, of which £62 represented the year's profit on tho New Zealand Primitive Methodist, Ihe Missionary Fund report showed an income of £412, which compared very ' favourably with that of last year. rho report i!" 1, Church properties was adopted. his showed an income for the year of -43,6. and stated that there were 61 churches and 30 houses belonging to the Church, valued at £41,000. The debt upon the churches at the present time was £6583 The renorfc of the New Zealand Superannuated Ministers Widows and Orphans' I und showed a net profit of £164 for the £1811 ° SP Vah '° ° tlle fund was

m,T\° Con /. renCQ then adjourned until a quarter-pa.st two. The school reports were received and passed. . lh ° report of the jubilee loan fund ! Vr'u and , a<1 °P ted - showing income to be £304 15s, and outgo £126 12s 6d, leaving a balance in the bank of £178 2s 6d. This together with £934 8s owing by different C -,n h '? wed the valuo of the fund to be £1112 10s 6d.

Tho report of the District Committee was received and adopted. -The Rev. J. Southern, from England, was heartily welcomed to the colony. In the evening a temperance convention was held, and was presided over by the Rev. VV. 8. Potter. A deputation, consisting of tho Rev. W. 'J. Williams and Mr. W S Brown, representing the Prohibition League of Auckland, wis received. The Rev. W. ,T. Williams said that he felt pleased to wait upon a conference representing a, church with such a. splendid history. Iu had always been true upon the temperance question. The Primitive Methodist Church had boon born with ite eyes open, as far as tho tomperance question was concerned, and so zealously had they fought the traffic that the Church was too hot a place for a brewer or publican to be comfortable in. Other churches were learning from the Primitive Methodist Church, and falling into line with her. When all the churches fell in line and fought the traffic, victory would be near. Mi. W. S. Brown complimented the Church upon its attitude on the temperance question.

The Rev. J. Cocker, ex-president, in replying to the deputation, said that the church he represented had always been a temperance church. Hugh Bourne, the founder, said that ho never joined the temperance cause, the temperance cause joined him. In evry way possible the Church had helped temperance and prohibition, and all her ministers in this colony were urohibitionists. The members of the deputation wero welcomed as comrades in arms. The prohibition cause was winning. The reform was in harmony with the thrend of civilisation, towards an ideal state.

The Rev. J. Clover said the work of the Church was to educate (he people so that they would vote right. Politicians could understand votes.

The Rev. E. Drake, of the Thames, referred to two new books published at the end of last year, which should have a great influence noon our thinking, namely. " Psychology ot Religion," by Dr. Starbuck, dealing with the phenomena, of conversion, and " The Temperance Problem," by or well and Rowntree. For the first time in history these two subjects, as a whole, had been settled on scientific bases. " The Temperance Problem" gave an unbiased scientific statement of the temperance question. Along some such lines as the writers suggested in their book, the problem in England might have to be solved. Christ came to save the body, the soul, and the community, and whilst there might be signs or discouragement, there were also signs of hope, so that he trusted the problem in New Zealand was near its solution. To-night a conference soiree will be held from five o'clock till half-past seven, at which hour there will be a public meeting in the church. Mr. J. Watkinson will preside, and addresses will be delivered by the Revs. W. C. Woodward and R. Hall, and Mr. Boothroyd.