METHODIST CONFERENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14931, 2 March 1912, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY'S SITTING. : ' THE STATIONING COMMITTEE. The annual Conference of th© Methodist Churches of New Zealand, which was 1 opened on Thursday evening, was con- 1 tinued in the Pitt-street Church yesterday. The newly-elected president '{the | Rev. W. Ready) presided, and there _ were \ about 180 ministerial and lay delegates present. V, ~... '',-.>. ' . '• ~' '.. ..... . The Rev. T. S. , Testrail .(Thames) moved :— " That this . Conference views with regret the use of, the public railways on Sundays for military' purposes in connection with the training camps, and enters its . most emphatic protest against such unnecessary and wanton, desecration of. the Sabbath." The mover tmid that ; the authorities had started to run military trains quite unnecessarily.' A case in point had happened at Thames on Sunday last. The Thames Ministers' Association had forwarded a protest to the 'Department, and it wished the Conference to support them in • the: matter. The" motion; was carried without dissent. '' ''

." Mr. E. N. L. Okey (New Plymouth); moved:..',' That a_, committee-, to -consider naval and military affairs y. bo appointed, ' such committee to consist of all chaplains of the forces attending ' the Conference, with Messrs. T. .W. Jones, G. W. Bennett, J. G. Harkncss, G. W.. Spence, G. Sheat, A. F. Hawke, Hon. "G. J. Smith, and the Rev. J. A., Luxford (convener). ; • The motion was carried. ■■>' ' ':' ■'""' ''■"': < The . president, secretary, Rev. ; , W. • J. . Williams, Messrs. J. Veale, R. H. Turner, E. Roseveary and Barton were appointed a committee to deal with applications to the children's l fund.,.-. ;;'■'. 'a';'.':'? '■ •'.'.'-''•'

The Rev., W. A.- Sinclair moved :,'' That a committee bo set t up to consider all matters -in connection with the new Theological College, to /report, to" the Gonferenco at ah early stage of its proceedings, the committee to consist, of the president-, secretary, chairman of I district, Revs. - Q. H. Garland, W. J. Williams, J. H.. Simmonds, A. 8.',. Chapped, Messrs. A. C. Caughey, T. W. Jones, G. A. Buttle, J. A. Flesher, C. S. Howard, G. H. 1 Blockwell, Rdsevear, E. ; Aslin, E. Dixon, G. H. Bennett," G. M. : Spence, Hon. G. J. Smith, L. J. Clark, J. G. Harkness, A. F. Hawke, J.. W. Shackelford, the Rev. C. H. Garland to be convener." ".. - '■'■

The motion was carried. It was decided to forward expressions Of sympathy to Mr., W. ; H.,, Judkinsii..of Melbourne ■•; (formerly a minister of' the Church) and Mr. W. Moxham, of Wellington (an old member of th© Church), both of whom are at present seriously ill It-was also resolved to send a letter of condolence to the family. of. the late Jte v*?.G. S. Harper, who died . recently at Palinerston North.

The Stationing Committee was set up as follows:—Auckland district: Revs. G. Bond and W. A. Sinclair, and Messrs. J. Veale, T. W. Jones, and J. E. "Wheeler. Wanganui district: Revs. G. W. J. Spence and C. Griffin, and Messrs. E. Dixon and G. H. Bennett., Wellington district: Revs. S. J. Serpell and J. A. Lochore, and Messrs. L. J. Clark and Tillett. Nelson district: Revs. J. J. Lewis and T. N. priffin, and Messrs. F. Gorman and G. M. Spence. Canterbury district: Revs. C. H. Laws and A. Ashcroft, and Messrs. R. H. Turner, C. S. Howard and J. A. Flesher. Otago district: Revs. P:' W. Fairclough and W. Grecnslade, . and Messrs. E. Rosevear and E. Aslin. j The Conference then adjourned till 10 j o'clock this morning. ; j ;;'•:> * THEOLOGICAL .:; COLLEGE. >; r ■:: A CAMPAIGN FOR FUNDS, i j " The attendance of delegates at the banquet, • held in the Town Hall last ovenirig, was large, and a good deal of enthusiasm was shown in connection with a proposal to establish a fully-equipped theological college at Epsom. Mr. A. C. _ Caughey, a member of the College Committee, and one who has been very prominent in bringing forward the scheme, occupied the chair. An enjoyable dinner ' was" provided, and subsequently speeches were delivered urging • generous assistance in the matter of collecting the. necessary funds. -'.■- ;' Mr. , Caughey : said the purpose of .the meeting was to .consider ways and means for the training of those young men of the Church who had decided to go in for the ministry. It was felt that facilities for that special training had long been necessary, and hence a proposal had been brought forward, "the success of which would depend upon the measure of sympathy and support it received. There had been a theological department for 19 years at tho Three Kings College, and later on the students had been transferred to the Prince Albert College in Upper, Queenstreet. When that institution closed down tho students were practically left homeless, and their tuition had "to go on under conditions quite unsatisfactory -from a college point of " view. : The whole question was discussed at length by the Conference in 1910, when the Rev, H. Garland was appointed principal: v Now an -almost perfect site, for , the erection of a new (theological college had been secured at •Epsom. It. was close to the church and handy ; to tho tram line. It was estimated that .the initial cost would bo from £15,000 to £20,000; and- the committee had. Set Out to collect that amount. There were also endowments for fche college, and it was hoped that the scheme would soon be underway. ; (Applause,-) -- : '" "" - "\"'.~, ' The necessity for, such a. college in ■ con nectioft' with the work' of the. Church •'; was referred:to" by-other speakers;': r :> -■-.-' • Generous response , has already ; beengiven to the call for assistance, though no organised collection ta-s been " taken' iipi A total amount of ' £6420 .has. been,' subscribed,, of which £3960. is. ; from the Auckland ". district, including; ■ £2000 from - .Mr. Caughey. Thirty-one persons in- thej< Canterbury district have i given ; a total of £2450. Promises of financial aid from gentlemen present, readily ■ forthcom- . ing. ■':,;., ':■..■:■:■''. ■"/ yi^.%&h-?:>t£^