METHODIST CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14929, 29 February 1912, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

THE OPENING FUNCTION.

A YOUNG PEOPLE'S RALLY.

The public functions in connection* with the annual conference of the New Zealand Methodist Churches, which is being held this year in Auckland, were commenced last evening, when a Young People's Rally was held in the Pitt-street Church. „Jhero was a very large attendance, and an interesting programme was gone through. There were present representatives from each Sunday-school and from young men's and young women's Bible classes, all of whom, together with Sunday-school scholars over 14 years of age, gave the responses to tho roll call.

The meeting was presided over by the retiring president of the conference, the Rev. G. W. J. Spence (of Palmerston North), who delivered. the opening speech. An address was given by the Rev. C. E. Beecroft (who lias just" returned from a voyage round the world), his subject being " Young Methodists- of Other Lands." The Rev. J. W. Burton, who has been recently engaged in the Indian Fiji Mission, also spoke on " How India Prays." The hymns were chosen from the_ new Methodist hymnbook, and the singing was led by the Kingsland Trinity choir. The opening session of the conference will take place in the Pitt-street Church at 7.30 this evening, when the retiring president will deliver his address. The other business of the evening will include the election of officers. The conference will be resumed to-morrow, and to-morrow evening a banquet will be held. There will be a water excursion to Lake Takapuna on Saturday afternoon, and the same evening an open-air meeting will be held in Karangahape Road. "Special services will be held in tho churches on Sunday, and on Monday evening the united choirs from the Methodist and Primitive Methodist Churches, under the conductorship of Mr. E. J. Gatland, will produce the oratorio "Judas Maccabreus " at the Town Hall. The conference will be attended by some 200 ministerial and lay delegates.