METHODIST CHURCH OF AUSTRALASIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12519, 11 March 1904, Page 6

METHODIST CHURCH OF AUSTRALASIA.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. The Methodist Conforence resumed in representative session at nine o'clock yesterday morning. The Rev. S. Lawry (president) was in the chair, and there was a good attendance of delegates. GREY INSTITUTE TRUST. The President explained that the Grey trust (Wanganui district) was purchased by the Church with mission funds for mission purposes. This fact, he thought, made, the action of the Government in questioning the right of the Church to the title of the property, involving heavy legal expenses, all tho more unjust. * APPRECIATION. On the motion of the Rev. J. N. Buttle a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. E. J. Gatland (conductor) and the soloists who took part in the production of the oratorio " Creation" at the Choral Hall on the previous night. , HOME MISSION MATTERS. On the recommendation of the Wanganui Synod it was decided that home mission deputations bo arranged by the chairman in connection with the superintendents' of circuits, and that they bo asked to associate laymen in this work, and also to arrange for one of the Northern native ministers to visit the district. The Canterbury Synod recommended, and it was carried, " That there be printed a four-page pamphlet dealing with homo mission affairs, and that this be circulated in all the churches on the Sunday before the homo mission anniversary." It was decided that the Rev. R. Hadden (Ropata Talm Fotilci), of the West Coast Main mission, bo sent to tho Nelson and I Canterbury districts as a deputation on Maori mission affairs. 1 The Rev". H. Bull thought that special ati tention of superintendents should be directed ! to tho importance of adopting systematic methods in all circuits with a view of deepening the interest in and increasing tho income of the home mission.fund. He moved, " That the conference recommends — (1) ■That'wherever practicable homo missionary prayer meetings be held; (2) that interesting facts relating to,the progress of Christian ,vork in home mission circuits as well as in home mission stations be'*. published in the Outlook; (3) that homo mission boxes be introduced more freely into the homes of the people; (4) that the Blake system be brought more extensively into use; (5) and in par-' ticular that the services •of lady collectors be employed in each •of , our, circuits and home mission stations to secure personal subscriptions and thus augment the income of the fund." The motion was carried. HOME MISSIONARIES. The Homo Mission Executive reported on retiring allowances for home missionaries, recommending that a fund be formed in April, 1904, to be called the Methodist home missionary benefit fund, the capital to consist of an annual sum of £5 for each homo missionary, to be paid out of the home mission fund the capital to be deposited in the Auckland Savings Bank and on other approved securities at interest, and the Home Mission Executive bo constituted a board of management. In the event of a home missionary retiring from tho work with the approval of the Executive Committee, he shall receive the amount paid to his credit that is, £5 per year, plus interest, for each year he has been in the work. If at any time a home missionary be compelled to leave his station through misconduct, he shall forfeit the whole amount provided by the committee for his benefit. Should any home missionary on his own account leave the work before the end of tho oonnexional year, he shall not be entitled to receive anything from the fund for the said year. In the event of a, home missionary being removed by death, the sum duo to him from the Board shall be paid to his widow or. heirs, etc. ■ '■'.'•,",'■'.'.;'■■■'

Tho Auckland District Synod recommended in regard to the report that eyery home missionary retiring from the work with the- full approval of the Executive Committee, and on the recommendation of the synod of his district, shall be entitled to an allowance on the following scale For five years of service, £25 for each additional year of service, £5. up to 10 years, after ■'which 5 per cent, shall bo added to* the £5 for each year of service; these payments to be a charge "upon the home mission fund. If compelled to leave the work through misconduct the home missionary shall not be entitled to claim any allowance! and that on the death of a home missionary the amount due to him be paid to his widow or heirs. . ; The Nelson Synod recommended that an additional sum of not less than £3 per annum be paid to the fund by each home mission station.

• The Otago Synod agreed that a fund should be established, but recommended a scheme differing from that formulated by the committee, in the matter of income. The scheme provided for the home mission fund contributing £5 annually per home missionary employed, and each home missionary and each station contributing £2 10s annually. There is also a provision for retiring allowances, which are to bo made according to scale, for the purpose of rewardins length and faithfulness of service. On the suggestion of the Rev. W. G. Williams it was resolved to refer the scheme to the Home Mission Executive, to report to next conference. It was generally agreed that very careful consideration should bo given to the scheme before finally adopting it. AUCKLAND MISSIONS. On the motion of the Rev. 0. H. Garland it was decided to separate the mission conducted in the Foresters' Hall from the Pittstreet circuit, 1 and to name it the Newton Methodist Mission. Mr. Garland stated that the object was to confer during tho year with a view to amalgamating the two Auckland missions. It was recommended by the conference that the superintendent of the Pitt-street circuit, Helping Hand Mission and the Newton Methodist Mission confer during the year, the object being the amalgamation of the two missions. EVANGELISTIC MISSION. The Rev. C. # Abernethy introduced the question of inviting the Rev. Thomas Waugh,_ one of the most successful evangelists in tho British Conference, to visit New Zealand next year and conduct an evangelistic mission. The matter was referred to a special committee for consideration. .•■'■■ FRATERNAL GREETINGS. Deputations representing the Auckland Ministers' Association and the' Presbyterian Church waited on the conference to extend fraternal greetings from the association and the Church. The President (the Rev. S. Lawry) extended a warm welcome to the deputations, which were comprised of the following:—Ministers' Association: Revs. v W. Day (president), A. North (vice-president), R.'T. Walker, M.A. (treasurer), C. Worboys(secretary). W. S. Potter. Presbyterian Church: Revs. W. Watt, (Moderator), W. Gray Dixon, M.A., H. E. Gray, M.A., and. R. Sommorville. The Rev. W. Day conveyed hearty 'greetings from his association. Ho remarked that the characteristic of the Methodist Church in that it was an aggressive evangelistic Church still remained, and there were still the old-fashioned sane men amongst them. He congratulated the Church on its pronounced fighting attitude against the evils of the day. The action of the Church in regard to the drink traffic was commendable, differing from the Anglican Church, and it gave encouragement to the Ministers' Association. The Rev. A. North, in the course of a few remarks, complimented the Church on its prosperity. He trusted that whether the proposed union of the Churches was consummated or not the local preachers' agency would be fully maintained and employed more and more. The Rev. W. Watt (Moderator) extended a cordial fraternal greeting on behalf of his Church. He said no doubt the conference would in some way deal with the coming union, for assuredly it would come. His opinion was that the Methodists and Presbyterians would work in harmony and do far more beneficial work than the two Churches have done separately in the past. Union had been decried in some quarters in favour of closer co-operation, but there was considerable overlapping in some districts, which would be obviated under union.

The Rev. H. B. Gray conveyed hearty congratulations to the conference. He also indulged the hoped that the union of the Churches would eventually be brought about. While recognising that _ the Methodist Church was aggressive he said other Churches were also aggressive, but the aggression in cases unfortunately created unpleasantness and friction. He paid a tribute to the founder and leader of the Methodist Church, John Wesley. The Rev. W. C. Oliver responded on behalf of the conference. While they would cherish the remarks of the deputations he hoped capital would be made of them in the future. He believed that the millennium would come as surely as the union of the Churches, but ho coulr" not say when. He hoped to see the day when the Churches were" organically one, as they were at present one in spirit. Mi. E. Rosevear replied on behalf of the lay members ot the conference. The members of the deputations were entertained at luncheon by the conference. ■■:... .■;

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. n he Canterbury Synod reported that the Church was, practically speaking, a Church without a test o£ membership, because a very large proportion of church members did not meet in class, nor in the monthly fellowship meeting. It, therefore, recommended that all members be urged to attend class meeting, and. that the General Conference be recommended to constitute regular attendance at the Lord's Table as the only outward and formal tost of membership on the part of those desirous of joining the Church, and of whoso Christian character the leaders' meeting was satisfied.' The Rev. J. J. Lewis moved an amendment, recommended by the Auckland Synod, "That attendance at the Lord's Table and Church enrolment constitute the only conditions of Church membership." The amendment was agreed to. The conference discussed the question of the issue of cards of membership. The Canterbury Synod recommended that the quarterly tickets of membership be discontinued, and that in their place there be issued an entrance card of membership to those joining for the first time, and an annual renewal ticket. The Auckland Synod recommended that the roll be revised and tickets given and renewed according to the present provision of the Church. The amendment was carried. NUMBER OF CHURCH MEMBERS. An interesting table showing the membership of the Church in the various districts, as well as the individual circuits, with the increases for the past year, was given. In the Auckland district the membership in 1902 was 2950, and in 1903 2991, increase 41; Wanganui district, 1767 and 1847, increase 80; Wellington district, 1769 and 1915, increase 126; Nelson district, 974 and 1036, increase 62; Canterbury district, 3291 and 3501, increase 210; Ota go district, 2007 and 2140, increase 133. The total membership of the Church in 1903 was 14,675, "against 13,974 in 1902, the total increase being 701. The- membership includes 1245 natives, there being an increase of 49 members in the year mentioned. Christchurcb (Durham-street) circuit has the largest membership roll, it being 853; and Auckland (Pitt-street) is 1 second on the list with 645. members. Other | important circuits are:—Wellington (Tara-naki-street), 496; Dunedin (Central Mission), 331; Christchurcb (south), 328; Palmerston North, 323; Dunedin (Cargill Road), 314; and Dunedin (Trinity), 300. RIGHTS OF LAYMEN. The special committee, set up recommended that section X. relating to the election of laymen on the Stationing Committee, be so altered as to provide for the election of the lay members- of the Stationing Committee at the annual conference, as at present, and to allow of this being done, that the first reading of stations take place after the election of laymen by the conference, in order to enable them to take part in the first station sheet. Mr. J. A. Flesher remarked that in connection with the three drafts of stations now hold only the two latter, when the laymen took part, were effective. He thought that they would next have to consider the expediency of making only two draffs. The recommendation was agreed to. The Auckland Synod recommended that laymen have equal rights with the ministers in dealing with every question in the annual conference, that of ministerial character alone being excepted. The recommendation was carried. QUARTERLY MEETING. On the recommendation of' the Canterbury Synod it was resolved that the constitution of tho quarterly meeting be so altered as to provide for a proportion of its members being elected by the members of the Church. It was further recommended to General Conference- that quarterly meetings of church members be held and officers be elected annually at the December meeting. GRAFTON ROAD CIRCUIT. Tho committee appointed to report upon the Grafton Road circuit difficulties presented the result- of its deliberations yesterday afternoon. The committee recommended that the trustees of the educational trust extend the lease of the church section for anothci term of five years at an increased ground rental of £40; that next year the circuit be relieved of a second married minister; that the rent of the. parsonage be banked; that the church be removed to a more central position; and that Grafton Road authorities have permission to appeal to the connexion for financial aid. The recommendations were considered in committee, and after much discission were adopted. CHURCH WORK.

The Rev. B. F. Roth well, Gisborne, moved, "The work of the Church having been reviewed in its, various aspects, conference hereby places on record its profound gratitude 1 to God for the success indicated by the statistical returns, and for the spiritual advance, which cannot be tabulated. The allround increase of members and scholars, both in the Maori and European departments is accepted as an evidence of earnest spiritual work in connection with the ordinary means of grace. We thank God for the number of men of both races who presented themselves for ordination. Conference rejoices in the uncompromising attitude of our Church towards the liquor traffic, and the bold and unbroken front-which it presents to that and kindred evils. The success of the_ work amongst the Maoris under trying circumstances is a cause for special gratification. In the glad assurance that God is pledged to make effectual what we attempt'in His name, wo look now for a special baptism of the Holy Spirit that wc may be 'ready for all His perfect will.' " Tho Rev. Mr. Rothwell made mention of the encouraging results obtained in the Gisborne district. Mr. E. Dixon, Hawera, seconded the motion, and made a strong appeal for further teaching of the natives. The Rev. W. Gittos, superintendent of the Maori Mission, in an address on the work amongst the Maoris, stated that the liquor evil was disappearing very rapidly. Many of the districts had sworn off drink, and recognised that intemperance led to eternal ruin. The spiritual "teaching of the natives was difficult, but a good impression was being made. Several delegates spoke similarly of the progress of work, and the motion was finally carried. SUNDAY-SCHOOL WORK. The report on Sunday-schools stated that it is the first time for six years that an increase in schools, scholars, and teachers has to be recorded. Since 1890 the figures have shown a steady decline, but last year there Was an increase of five schools, 488 scholars, and 48 teachers. This, says the report, coming after so many lean years, indicates that the decline has been arrested. However, there are to-day over 2000 fewer scholars in the schools than in 1898. One-ninth of the children' are definitely attached to the Church either as full members or as junior members. The benefits of junior members' classes and junior Christian Endeavour societies were referred to, and it was urged that every attempt be made during the year to increase the number of these. Appreciation was oxpressed at the efforts; of the large number of Sunday-school workers, it being stated that many are labouring under conditions which ! no day-school teacher would tolerate. The j report was adopted. The committee recommended that since,' after lengthened trial, the Connexional Sun-day-school Union has failed to secure the general support of our schools throughout the colony it be discontinued. Carried. It was recommended that the Canterbury branch of the union continue its work as a provisional institution. The committee reported that it had given very careful consideration to the proposal to institute an annual examination for teachers and scholars, open to all Methodist schools, but having regard to the fact that examinations are arranged for by the various local unions, the committee is adverse to the proposal. Mr. J. C. Prudhoe moved an amendment, "That the examinations be continued," but it was pointed out that the work is being covered by the separate unions. The amendment was lost. The Rev. G. W. J. Spence was appointed general secretary of Sunday-schools. Tho conference adjourned till half-past nine o'clock this morning.