CHURCH HISTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 16

CHURCH HISTORY

METHODIST CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION PROJECT SOUTH ISLAND MISSION [Br TELEGRAPH—PBF.SS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Wednesday A proposal to commemorate the centennial of Methodism in the South Island, which is also the centennial of Christianity in the South Island, was described to the Methodist Conference to-day. Representatives from Dunedin pointed out that tho first mission in the South Island was a Methodist one at Otakou, near Dunedin. There was still a community of about 100 Maoris there, as well as 200 pakehas, and thousands visited Otakou for week-ends and on holidays. The old church was still standing and tho Methodist Church was still tho only one active in the district. The building was beyond repair, and it was proposed to erect a new church on the site. The Maoris had given an acre of ground on which the church stood and asked that a new one bo decorated inside in Maori style and that a "sanctuary museum," where they could place their tribal relics and photographs of early chiefs, bo included.^ It was hoped also to erect a cairn at least at Karitane, which was the site of early mission activities, but which had passed out of the hands of the Church. It was pointed out that the Maoris of the district were poor and unable to assist more in the erection of the proposed church. Certain donations had been received from of speakel -s were enthusiastically in favour of the P r °l®ct and the conference supported the proposal. It was decided that a retiring collection be taken up in Methodist churches throughout New Zealand in July to obtain funds. Several representatives commended the idea of usiiu, Maori interior decorations.

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS PEACE AND CHRISTIANITY [by telegraph—press association], WELLINGTON. Wednesday A resolution expressing appreciation of the utterances of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. .JJordan, at Geneva, m support of peace was carried by the Methodist Conference when the committee s report on peace was adopted. The committee remommended that Church members study the subject of peace in relation to Christianity, and presented lists of both non-pacifist and pacifist literature suitable for this The conference adopted a resolution, as a considered Christian conviction on the question of criminal abortion, that it was a vexed question that threatened the very life of the nation, and a further resolution urging the Government to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the whole problem. The effect of the shorter working week on the amount of trade done by hotels was discussed, and a resolution was carried urging further restriction of hotel bar hours. It was suggested that the Government should be asked to applv the five-day week to bars, but delegates said that such restriction would lead to a late night for bars, and the suggestion was rejected.

HOME MISSIONARIES DRAFT OF APPOINTMENTS [by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Tho Rev. G. I. Laurenson, actingsuperintendent of home missions, presented the first draft of appointments of home missionaries to the Methodist Conference. This is subject to confirmation at later stages. Alterations in appointments are as follows (names of men replaced being shown in parentheses): — Auckland District. —Bombay-Tuakau, 'supply (Mr. A. P. Dorrian); Kohukohu, Mr. 0. L. Christian (Mr. C. H. Bell;. South Auckland.—Ngaruawahia, Mr. W. J. Hughes (Mr. C. Te Puke, Mr. A. F. Attwood (Mr. W. J. Hughes); Coromandel, Mr. C. Aker (Mr. W. H. Wilson). Taranaki - Wanganui.—St. Aubyns and New Plymouth, Mr. H. Ashworth (Mr. T. W. Featherstone); RaetihiOhakune, supply (Mr. W. Trusttum); Wanganui North, supply, Mr. J. W. Bavlis (Mr. 11. W. Burley); Inglewood, Mr. C. Robinson (Mr. H. Ashworth); Ohura, Mr. W. J. Trusttum (Mr. R. T. Alexander); Manaia, Mr. W. H. Wilson (Mr. H. Cotton). Hawke's Bav-Manawatu. —Halcombe, Mr. R. Coombridge (Mr. C. Aker); Apiti, Mr. J. C. R. Ashworth (Mr. R Coombridge). Wellington District.—Paraparaumu, Mr. R. T. Alexander (Mr. H. Whitfield); Kuripuni, supply (Mr. G. V Thomas). Nelson District—Havelock, supply (Mr. R. C. Johansen). North Canterbury.—Wainoni, supply (Mr. J. Featherstone); Woolston, second supply (Mr. A. Liversedge); Hawarden, Mr. A. Collins (Mr. A. K. Brown). Otago-Southland.—Waikouaiti-Palm-erston, Mr. H. M. Brasel (Mr. H. It. Wright); North-east Valley, Dunedin, Mr. D. I. Robertson (supply); Mosgiel, Mr. P. C. Johanson (Mr. N. Challenger) ; Lawrence, Mr. N. Hendra (Mr. A. Collins); Cromwell, Mr. E. Densem (Mr. N. Hendra); Kaitangata, Mr. A. P. Dorrian (Mr. W. H. Gregory); Edendale, Mr. N. Challenger (Mr. J. 0. Ashworth); Otautau, Mr. F. O. Prosser (Mr. C. Robinson).