METHODIST CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17100, 4 March 1919, Page 8

METHODIST CHURCH.

BUSINESS OF CONFERENCE. THE PROPOSED UNION. [BY. TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCtAtIOK.] CERISTCHTJRCH, Monday. The sitting of: the Methodist Conference was continued to-day. The Stationing Committee recommended that favourable consideration be given to the appointment of ministers for the sixth year at the following places: Rev. Laws, Pitt Street, Auckland; Rev. Richards, Napier; Rev. Blamires, Wanganui; Rev. Chapman, Taranaki Street, Wellington; Rev. Knight, Christchurch; Rev. Lochore, Oamam. The conference adopted the ropovt of the Foreign Mission Committee, which re.commended that tho Foreign Mission secretary, Rev. W. A. Sinclair, be set apart from circuit work to undertake organisation and deputation work throughout the connexion.

The Rev. J. Napier Milne, of the British Weslcyan Church, was accepted as a minister of the New Zealand Methodist Church. Several members of tho confer(ence said that they heartily welcomed Mr. I Milne, end the president said the Church had received a most worthy'brother. On the secretary reading a communication from the Presbyterian General Assembly as to church unity, the Rev. E. P. Blamires moved that the following committee oe appointed to corifeider what action should be taken by the Church this year on the subject of union and co-opera-tion, the committee to report at an early stage to the conference: The president, the secretary (the Rev. E. Drake), the Revs. W. J. Wiliams, C. H. Laws, S Griffiths, S.' Lnwry, A. C. Lawry, W Ready, W. A. Sinclair, W. H. Hay, E. D. Patchett, T. G. Hammond, F. T. Read, E. P. Blamires. tho vice-president (Mr. J. W. Blackwell), Messrs. T B. Arthur, G. H. Gilling, T. P. Hughspn J. H. Oldham, C. E. Daniel, E. H. Penny, J. Lomas, J. J. Hayman, D. M. Miller, and A. T. Froggart. The Rev. T. G. Hammond, superintendent of Maori missions, protested against the steps being taken towards unity without consulting the Maori members of the Church.

The motion was carried unanimously. Tho Revs. W. S. Potter, T. F. Jones, G. Abernethy, J. J. Lewis, and F. W. Boys were allowed to become supernumeraries. Warm and hearty references were made to the work and cliaractors of these ministers.

Mr. E. Dixon, an ex-vice-president of the conference, stated that a minister on the West Coast, after an attack of influenza, had broken down, and he urged that every minister in the Church should be given four months' furlough every year. The minister referred to, who has been in the North Island for some time, was placed on the supernumary list for one year, inihe hope that he will be restored to health.