METHODIST CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16157, 19 February 1916, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

OPENING NEXT THURSDAY.

PATRIOTIC SERVICE.

MEMORY OF THE FALLEN.

One of the most important functions connected with the fourth annual Methodist Conference, which is to he opened in the Pitt Street Church on Thursday evening next, will be the patriotic service for general intercession and in memory of the fallen soldiers. This will bo held in the Town Hall on Sunday afternoon, February 27, The chairman will be the new president of the conference, who has yet to be appointed, and he will be assisted by the ex-presi-dent, the Rev. John Dawson, the Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., chairman of the Auckland district, and Chaplain-Captain J. R. Sullivan. The chief address will be given by the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, secretary of the conference.

The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. W. F. Massey, and the Hon. A. M. Myers, Minister for Munitions, have promised to attend the service if their duties permit, and among the other visitors will be the Hon. G. Fowlds, Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. Hume, officer commanding the Auckland military district, the Auckland district members of Parliament, and representatives of the leading local and public bodies. The singing will be a particular feature of the service, and will be led by the oratorio choir, which is composed of members of the Auckland Methodist Church choirs. Mr. Edgar Randal will preside at the organ, and Mr. E. J. Gatland will be conductor. The " Dead j March in Saul " will be played, and a bugler will sound the " Last Post." Some interest will be attached to the presence at the conference of ChaplainCaptain J. R. Sullivan. At the outbreak of war Mr. Sullivan was attached to a Timtfru church. Failing to secure an appointment as chaplain, he enlisted as a private. He saw a great deal of service on Gallipoli, and had what is regarded as a miraculous escape from death. He was shot through the mouth and the bullet went down his throat and came out of his shoulder. He was invalided home to New Zealand, and has recently received an appointment as chaplain. He is to speak at the opening publio meeting of the conference on Wednesday evening next on "The Call From Anzac." The oratorio choir, which is _to give Haydn's oratorio, " The Creation," in the"Town Hall on Saturday evening next, has been practising assiduously, and a good performance is anticipated. Ministers and delegates to the conference are already beginning to arrive in Auckland.