METHODIST CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14930, 1 March 1912, Page 9

METHODIST CONFERENCE

SITTING IN AUCKLAND..

PRESIDENT'S -ADDRESS-

THE CHURCH AND LABOUR.

The annual Conference 01 the New Zealand Methodist Church was opened at the Pitt-street Church last evening, under the presidency of the Rev. G. W. .J. Spence. There was a very large attendance. When the roLl was called it was found that very few members of the Conference failed.to answer to their names, and in respect of most of those who were not present .it was intimated that they were.."coming," and would be able to take their places in the council of the Church long before the sittings of the Conference closed.' It was a pleasing incident that when Mrs. J. Dellow, the representative of the Auckland West circuit,, and who is the first lady to tako her seat in Conference in Now Zealand, ; entered the church, and, accompanied by the Rev. George Bond, walked up tho aisle, to a pew near the platform, that the large audience present, oven at that early hour, rose and cheered her cordially.

The procedings were opened with a voluntary, " Lemaro's " Adantino in D Flat," played by Mr. E. H. Nicholas, the church organist.

Tho retiring president. (Rev. G. W. J. Spence) delivered the opening address. He referred in terms of deep feeling, to the decease if the Rev. George S. Harper (Palmerston), Mr. John Manchester (Waimate), Mr. William B. Parker (Blenheim), Mr. John Sanson (Sandon), Mr. , James A'Court (Rongotea), Mr. George 0. Waby (Southbridge), Mr. Samuel Stone (Canterbury), E. C. Somm'erville (Palmerston South), and Mr. Charles Palk, all of whom had passed to their reward during the last 12 months. '"'.'• '" '" Referring in detail to the tercentenary celebrations in connection with the translation of tlio Authorised Version, of the Scriptures, Mr. Spence said signs were not wanting that this great commemoration had tended to quicken interest in Bible-study. (Applause.) International Peace. Referring to the Anglo-American Peace Alliance, ho said the reckless race on the part of the leading European Powers to gain supremacy in warlike preparations on sea and land filled large numbers of the more thoughtful people in every country with concern, and even with dread. ; But this wise and most ..Christian' step had in somo degre revived confidence, that peace principles would yet prevail over those hateful rivalries and jealousies which seemed ever to threaten to plunge the civilised world in disastrous and savage strife. (Cheers.) The great Labour world had already reached the conclusion . that war hurts no : class of, the community more than the

labouring class-—(hear, hear)—and, since that class comprisedßs per cent, of the population of the world, its advocacy of peace ensured an enthusiastic endorsement of the policy proposed by President Taf and accepted by Sir Edward Grey. ; Was it too much to hope that the Christian sentiment whjch exists in th distant dependency of the British Crown would contribute something ' towards hastening tho,day when our own and every other nation would be appalled at the taking of any human life, and would strive to raise all questions to the level of settlement by reason and not by force? (Cheers.) v " Ne Temere Degree. After a reference to the Coronation of King George, Mr. Spence referred to the Congress of Methodists, : known as the Ecumenical Conference, which ; assembled last October in the city of Toronto. This Conference meant .the cementing together, of world-wide Methodism in more complete fashion than had ever before been possible, so that the outlook for Methodist union all over the world was never quite so ! bright as it; was to-day. That conference, as representing world-wide Methodism, spoke out: strongly on the : action of the 1 Roman Catholic Church in promulgating the Decree of the: Council of Trent, now so widely known in the British [Dominions as " Ne Temere." 1 Female Representatives. ; The admission of women as representatives to Conference marked a new and very important departure in the _ history of the Mother Church in Britain, which would not bo without its influence on the constitution of similar courts in other parts of the world.' It had not been universally accepted that Wesleyan Methodism stood for the most liberal ideas .in; regard to Church polity, but it : must ; be' allowed that, in this "matter, she had taken a step in advance of, most, if not all, the younger i branches of the one great family. It was the pleasure of the president, at the; last British Conference, 'to welcome for the first time some 16 women, who had been duly; elected by their respective synods as Conference representatives. Thus, after many years of quiet, dignified agitation, • the women of British Wesleyan Methodism! had won a privilege which, it would appear, could ; not logically be denied them in the Christian Church. (Applause.); .; : Need for Theological Hall. ' Having referred to the question of church . union (as reported in '■ another column), Mr. Spence ; passed _ on to the scheme ] for , the purchase of ; a site, whereon to erect a theological hall. He> regarded the matter of providing suitable' premises for the training of students as one demand-' ing the • immediate and sympathetic ; support of the entire Church. - For a long time the education of,the men called on to fill their pulpits had been seriously handicapped. Makeshift arrangements had proved. most ■ unsatisfactory, and, while the Church had been spending a considerable sum annually in seeking to secure the equipment of its students for their great life work, the results had not been what they should have been, or would have been, under fairer conditions.-■ ■ ; This was a serious matter, and it was high time that it was generally recognised by their people that the standard of training which had obtained in the past would not suffice for the future, and that, unless they , strove earnestly and effectually to cope : with the' situation, they would presently find ; themselves hopelessly out of touch; with the mands of the age. No better service could be rendered to New Zealand Methodism at the present juncture than a liberal dedication of the wealth of her; adherents to this object. A splendid lead had already been given by a few of the laity who were deeply convinced of the urgency of; the case, and realised what this scheme *' meant to the future of the Church's work in this Dominion. This was in a very special sense the laymen's problem, and upon them must rest the responsibility of solving it. Position of the' Methodist Church.; .-. ; The returns of the religious census, as published by the Government, proved disappointing so ; far as the Methodist Church was concerned. ; They . represented '* that during the quinquennial period they had ; made practically ; no progress. Those who knew the true position saw at once that someone had blundered in compiling the returns. This had since come ; to ; bo known. For example, in his, own borough | of Palmerston North, where the Primitive Methodist ; Church was ' not represented \ at all, and never;had been, the Government statistician gave : that; denomination credit for over 400 adherents: A similar; mistake appeared in connection with the returns for Lyttelton,' where 4 some ; 130 v> Primitive Mefe'iodists weresupposed ;ito*vbe found. Several circuits in Wellington, district fur-, nished evidence of the , same confusion! These were examples of errors which must have:been made all over, the Dominion 4 and

were, of course, sufficient :to account'for the untrue position in which the Methodist Church was placed before the country. Progress During the Year. Unusual activity ... had . marked tlio Church-building enterprise during the year. Mr. Spenco believed that their achievements in this direction constituted a record. ' 1 '/V •" • The • returns showed that ■? 13 new churches had been erected, while nine additional places of worship had been sanctioned by the Church Building and Loan Fund Committee. Some of these were now ,in course of erection. Five commodious parsonages had been built, and schemes for four more had been approved. ' Some Needed Amendments. ■ After commenting upon the result of the liquor vote at the last general election the president went on to deal with some needed amendments with regard to, the well-being of the Church. There was a dearth of conversions. They were not gripping the consciences of men as they should. To be sure, they were itble'to report an increase in Church membership, but what was that increase when spread over a connexion such as this? How small, how inadequate, how disappointing! ' ; Nor did the attendance at public worship indicate a more hopeful state of affairs. As for the social means of grace, these had, to a large extent, fallen into disuse. There was a want of religious enthusiasm. There was. a lack of general interest in spiritual things, and .of readiness to lend a helping hand in seeking to save the. lost. The religious instruction of children was next referred to, and also the need of attaching the scholars in Sunday-school to the service of the Church. He was persuaded that they had been making the mistake of conducting the ~ Church and the school on parallel . lines, rather than along converging planes. Parallel lines never met. The tendency of the school should be towards the Church, and those who attended the classes should be trained to attend public worship as well. The Church and Labour. After urging upon laymen to-work hand-in-hand with the ministry in : spirtiual matters, Mr. Spbnce went on to' refer to social politics. Methodists, ho said, had always had a peculiar sympathy for the problems of the masses. They should, then, be particularly . anxious to understand the motives and ideals of the Labour movement, as it had developed within th© last decade. ■ The fret and fume so apparent in the industrial world to-day was forcing upon the attention of the Christian Church a problem which had a religious, as well as an economic significance. Were it solely a question of wages, hours of labour, the regulation -of manufacturing output, and kindred matters, this would be neither the place nor the time to .discuss the subject. In its ideals, however, the movement was on a higher plane than these concerns. In its essence and root principle, the Labour question was a religious one. It stood for the betterment of men 1 morally as well as socially and materially. In its moral influence world-embracing." This being so, business of the Church to cndffljfiM'|i understand the day,, and co-oper-ate with it so • far as it stood for equity, justice, and a good conscience. , Labour-Socialism; has been : defined as applied Christianity. Why was it, then, tliat the forces of Labour to such; a regrettable extent regarded the Church with suspicion and even with: aversion? Their objects being so largely identical— the ultimate saving of men—why should there be such a gulf existing betwixt the two? The causo was largely attributable to a misunderstanding on both sides. The modern Church had not understood- the aims and ideals of Labour, nor correctly interpreted its spirit. Perhaps she had not. been at pains to do so. On the other hand, Labour had' certainly misunderstood the attitude of the Church. It was, therefore, the serious' business of the Church to remove the misconceptions which existed regarding the attitude towards the Labour movement. This would not bo done by beginning a hostile criticism of what we may regard as mistaken means employed to secure the righteous demands of working men, but by the display of a great idealistic and open sympathy with those ends for which Labour was striving. (Loud applause.) Election of President.'' The Rev. W. Ready (pastor of the Pittstreet Church) was elected to the position of president of Conference by a large jority, and was immediately inducted by the ex-president (the Rev. G. W. J., Spenee). Mr. Spenee said it gave him the greatest pleasure to induct Mr. Really into the position of president of Conference on account of his excellent work during his long connection with the Church, -which had brought him into the high position he was now called upon to occupy, and he congratulated him upon .the mark of esteem that had been bestowed upon him by Conference. * The ' congregation, standing, cordially applauded the new president as he received the seals of office from his predecessor.' ' '1 • >• ' . ' .I- ---• Mr. Ready made a feeling reply. Ho returned thanks for his election, and for the kindly way in which Mr. Spenco had spoken of him and Conference had welcomed him to the high position, to which he had been elected. He felt that his election was not duo in any way to his personal qualities or attainments, but mainly' because Conference desired to bestow honour upon the beloved'and sacred Church of -which it was his pride that'he ! was pastora church and congregation lof which was composed of some of the purest, most unselfish, and noblest members of the Methodist community. (Applause.) He trusted he would be enabled, to carry out the; duties of his new office to the" satisfaction of Conference, and the benefit of the Church: generally. (Cheers.) " Election of Secretary. The Ilev. Samuel Lawry was , re-elected secretary of . Conference by an absolute majority, and in returning thanks he expressed his intention of doing his best to justify his re-election. A vote of thanks was passed to the retiring president on. the motion of the Rev. C. H. Laws, seconded by Mr. E. Dixon, and suitably responded to. . The proceedings were brought to a close | with he singing of the Doxology and pronunciation of' the Benediction. The Conference will resume at 10 a.m. to-day, and during the session will sit from that hour until 12.30 p.m., and from two' o'clock until; five. The evening sittings will commence at 7.30, . and continue until the adjournment is moved.