METHODIST CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18032, 6 March 1922, Page 8

METHODIST CHURCH.

THE SUPERNUMERARY FUND.

CONFEBENOE CLOSES TO-DAY

Further business in connection with the Methodist Conference was considered on Saturday morning.

The Rev. S. Lawry presented the report of the Supernumerary Fund Board of Management, which showed accumulated funds amounting to £113,460. The total annuities paid during the year amounted to £6637, and furniture grants to £240- Expenses of management amounted to £315. During 1921 the fund bad been increased by £2500. Tlie report of the Home Missionaries Retiring Fund, also presented by Mr. Lawry, showed that during the year £85 had been paid to retiring home missionaries, _ Contributions had been received with fair regularity and as the result of investme.its made during the year there would be a very considerable increase in the interest to be received in the future. The accumulated funds amounted to £1313.

A conference farewell to the overseas representatives will be tendered this morning in the Pitt Street Church. A largely-attended garden party was held at Rahiri, the residence of Mr. A. C. Caughey, Mount Albert, on Saturday afternoon.

The final business session of the conference will be held this morning, when the final draft of the stationing sheet will be read.

The overauaa delegates will be the guests of tho Mayor and Mayoress at a conversazione to be held at tfw concert chamber of the Town Hall from three to five o'clock this afternoon. Owing to the two recent s.bsences of the Mayor from the city on official business it was cot possible to hold this- function at an earlier date.

Members cf the conference will leave at l 0 o'clock to-night for* Whangaroa, where the centenary celebrations will be continued. Meetings will be held at Kaeo and Whangaroa to-morrow evening. On Wednesday the memorial cairn will be unveiled by the Rev. Grainger Hargreaves, of England, and the foundation stone of the memorial chapel to the Rev. Samuel Leigh will be laid by the president of the conference, the Rev. C. H. Laws. The Maoris of the district will entertain the visitors at a luncheon in native style at the Maori camp.

PROHIBITION RALLY.

MOVEMENT IN UNITED STATES.

A prohibition rally in connection with the conference was held at the Tivoli Theatre yesterday afternoon. The building proved too small to accommodate the number of people desiring admission, every available seat being taken before the time announced for the meeting to begin. Mr. h. M. Isitt, M.P., presided. The first speaker was Bishop 0. E. Locke, of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America. In the course of his address he traced the history of the prohibition movement in the United States from its inception to the time when, in 1920, the (Wintry finally " went dry.". • He desj.ibedthe political side of the campaign, the activities of the Anti-Saloon League, and the years of strumous work which preceded the final ratification of the eighteenth smendraent to the Constitution. He disputed the statements made from time to time that prohibition was not proving a success, and that liquor was as readily obtainable at present as under the old system. The liquor trade, he averred, would never again be legalised in the Unitei States.

The Rev. John Dawson, secretary to the Ne» Zealand Alliance, was the other speiker. The proceedings were of an enthusiastic character throughout.