THE METHODIST CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 8

THE METHODIST CHURCH

♦—■ ' HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. MAORIS' PRACTICAL INTEREST. FIRST DRAFT OF STATIONS. The business sessions of the Methodist Conference were continued in the Pilt Street Church on Saturday, the president, the Rev. C H. Laws, presiding. Centenary greetings wore received from Rev. A. J. Small on behalf of the Fiji district, the Rev. A. H. Scriven, New Guinea, and the president of the New South Wales Methodist Conference. The report of the home mission executive, presented by the Rev. T. G. Brooke, showed that a new feature of the work had been the holding of special sessions of the committee for the consideration of Maori questions. At one of these meetings the general superintendent, the Rev. A. J. Seamer, submitted an encouraging report of what was being accomplished in connection with the Ratana movement, and of its influence upon the Methodist Native Church. A very important development of the work was the holding of a series of special evangelistic services at native centres in the Auckland, South Auckland, and Taranaki-Wanganui districts, at which large gatherings of native people were secured. For the first time in their history the Maori churches ha 4 manifested a practical intorest in the question of foreign missions. Collections had been taken up on behalf of the fund, and one young Maori minister had volunteered for service in the foreign field. The number of agents at present on the Btaff was 45, of whom 39 were married men. There were still 16 vacant sections, some of which were sorely in need of men. . A long discussion took place upon the question of tfie home missions and ] or ?'S" missions annual appeals. It was decided that the committee of these two bodies should confer at the earliest possible date with a view to arranging their respective appeals, in order that there be no clash of interest, this arrangement to take effect during the present year if possible. The report of the treasurer w the Theological Committee showed that the gross expenditure for the year amounted to £1494, less by £200 than the estimated sum. The report was adopted, also that of the Committee of Management, which showed feat the year had been a busy and successful one. The Stationing Committee-sat on Saturday afternoon, and will present the first draft of appointments this morning. SPECIAL SERVICES YESTERDAY. OVERSEA DELEGATES PREACH. The Methodist Centenary celebrations were continued yesterday, when special services were held in all the city and suburban churches, .the pttlpits being occupied by ministers attending the centenary conference. The three overseas delegates to the conference preached in the principal Methodist churches during the day. Bishop C. E. Locke, D.D., LL.D., representative of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America, preached during the morning at the Epsom Church. Jesus, said the speaker, valued the sajvation of mankind before His own life, and sacrifice, truth, the right, love, one's duty and one's convictions were all more valuable than life. In the evening Bishop Locke delivered the sermon at St. John's Church, Ponsonby. Both services were attended by crowded congregations. The Rev. Grainger Hargreaves, of Oxford, England, addressed a crowded congregation at the Mount Eden Methodist Church yesterday morning. He outlined the characteristics of the perfect Christian character and said that if every Christian believed in and acted upon the assertions in verses 22 and 23 of Galatians v., those who were outside the Churct would deal and associate only with Christians. Mr. Hargreavea preached before a large congregation at Pitt Street Church in the evening. The preacher at the morning service at Pitt Street Methodist Church was the Rev. A. McCallum, president of the General Conference of Australasia. He spoke of the need for a realisation that their Christ was a real, living Christ and said that no church could bo a living church that had not s living Christ. He dealt with the power of their Christ to open te way to forgiveness and immortality, and urged his congregation to pattern their lives on His, saying that with such a strong Leader they should all be strong Christians. _ ' The conference ordination service was held in Pitt Street Church in the afternoon, the ordination charge being delivered by the Rev. W. Grigg.