METHODIST CENTENARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18022, 22 February 1922, Page 8

METHODIST CENTENARY.

CONFERENCE OPENS TO-DAY.

COMMEMORATIVE FEATURES.

FUNCTIONS ON PROGRAMME.

The annual conference pf the New Zealand Methodist Church, which opens this evening in the Pitt Street Church, has a special interest attached tto it, as it is the centenary conference of the Church. It is just 100 years ago since the arrival of tho Rev. Samuel Leigh, the first Methodist missionary to labour in New Zealand. Mr. Leigh established his mission among the Maoris at Whangaroa, at a spot he called Wesley Dale, and at this place commemorative celebrations will take flace in connectiop with tho centenary.

Tho delegates, who come from all parts of Now Zealand, number 325, and include ministers and laymen. The opening session this evening will be presided over by the retiring president, the Rev. W. Grigg, of Wanganui, while the presidential address will be given by the pre-uident-olect, the Eev. C. H. Laws, principal of the Methodist Theological College.

A thanksgiving service will be held on Thursday evening to recognise the manifold blessings on the work of the Church during tho past 100 years,

A feature of the conference will be the presence of three overseas representatives, and a welcome to these delegates will be tendered on Friday evening. Tho visitors are the Rev. Grainger Hargreaves, of Oxford, the representative of the Methodist Church of England; Bishop C. E. Locko. of Manila, of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America j and the Rev. A. McCallum, president of the General Methodist Conference of Australia. Other gatherings during the course of the conference include a conference tea, a garden party, a festival gathering in the Town Hall next Tuesday, at wnich the Prime Minister has been asked w preside, and a conference,luncheon on tho following day. The conference closes on Monday, March 6, and on the same ovening the delegates and others will leave for Whangaroa by the steamer Ngapuhi. The laying of the foundution-stono of a memorial chapel to the Rev. Samuel Loigb will be ono of the chief events there. A Maori welcome, and the unveiling of a memorial cairn aro the other functions which will conclude the most important conference of New Zealand Methodism held so far. In connection with the commemoration a Dominion centenary camp of the Youeg Men's Bible-class Union will bo held at Maidstono Park, Wellington, at Easter. Five hundred delegates from all parts of New Zealand aro expected to attend.