UNITED METHODIST FREE CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 777, 21 January 1887, Page 10

UNITED METHODIST FREE CONFERENCE.

On Monday the representatives of the abovebody commenced their annual meeting in this city, in the Free Methodist Church, Courtenay-place. There were twenty-seven ministerial and lay representatives present from different parts of ibe- Colony.. The proceedings opened with a prayer meeting at 9.30, led by the resident pastor, Rev JJ. Pendray, which was continued till: 10;30. when the district meeting proceeded to constitute itself. The Rev Si Macfarlane, of Auckland, who is the representative of theHome Conference, and: the Rev E. O; Perry, district secretary, examined the certificates: of the representatives. The following gentlemen took their seats : —For Auckland —Rev S. Macfarlane, Mr Chamberlain, and Mr J. Saunders ; Christchuroh—Rev H. B. Redstone; Messrs Leadley and Noble; Wellington Messrs J. Trevor, W. E. Redstone, J. Kesha w; Napier —Rev J. Edwards and Mr Rush ;, Addington—Rev J. Parkin and Mr P. Cuther j Richmond —Rev F. D. Dutton, Messrs W. Flesher and Walker ; Rangiora—Rev C. Peters and Mr W. F. Ward; Westport— Revs E, O. Perry and J. J. Pendray; Reefton —Rev C. Penny and Mr Parker ; Oxford —Rev J. W. Worboys and Mr R. Bryant ; Woodville —Rev J. Wrigley, and Messrs J. Sowry and W. Bowroa. The first business that they proceeded to was the election of District Chairman for the ensuing year. The Revs S. Macfarlane and J. Parkin were nominated for the office. The election was by ballot, and when taken showed that the Rev J. Parkin, of Addington, Christchurch, had received 15 votes, and Rev S. Macfarlane, of Auckland, 9. The rev gentleman, in taking the position, thanked them kindly for the honor conferred upon him, and hoped that they might have a profitable and successful meeting. The Conference then proceeded to the election of District Secretary. The Rev C. Peters, of Rangiora, and Mr Wm. Flesher, of Christchurch, were nominated, and Mr Flesher was elected by a majority of eight. Thanks were then tendered to the retiring Chairman, the Rev H. B. Redstone, and also to the Rev E. O. Perry, for his services as secretary for the last year. Messrs Saunders and Chamberlain were appointed assistant secretaries, and the Rev J. Wrigley and Mr R. Rush were elected press reporters. The minutes of the last district meeting were duly read, and matters arising out of them considered. The Rev S. Macfarlane reported that he had received the deed belonging to the Ormondvfi.le trust, and a discussion arose relative to the unsatisfactory state of the law respecting properties held on trust for religious bodies. The Rev. E. O. Perry stated that other denominations were feeling the same difficulties, and desired an improvement in this matter, ‘i he Committee appointed to conduct the examination of the Rev. J. Wrigley, a probationer, presented a satisfactory report. At 12,30 the meeting adjourned for lunch, which was provided in the schoolroom adjoining. At 2.30 they resumed their sittings, and cordial greetings and kindly welcomes were given tn the Revs. J. Edwards and F. D. Dutton, who have just recently arrived from the Old Country. Thanks were also tendered to the Home authorities who had, at great expense, sent out these two gentlemen to supply the wants of the churches out here. The Stationing and Finance Committee were then nominated,, the following gentlemen being elected Revs Perry, Penny, Wort lys, and Messrs. Bryant, Rush, Saunders, aD Chamberlain. An invitation for tbe dist et meeting, to, hold its next sittings at C aristchuiwh, at St Asaph-street Church, wus received' and accepted. The question of closer, union with the Australian District was brought forward, and a recommendation relative to the same submitted. The matter r «as fully discussed, it being felt that a wider r&ngq Csf circuits inight prove,

beneficial, while the expenses and other difficulties relative to exchanges made them afraid to accept the recommendation. It was finally resolved to refer the matter to the-following gentlemen, to bring up a report during the sittings Kevs S. Macfarlane, F. D. Dutton, J. Wrigley, and Messrs Chamberlain and Bowron. At 5.30 the sittings were adjourned,

Most of the afternoon at the session of the Methodist District meeting on Tuesday was occupied in consideration of ministerial character and status. It was decided that last year be considered as the Rev J. Wrigley a provisional year, and that ho now enter upon his first year of probation. The meeting was then declared to be an open one, and the list of stations, as submitted by the Stationing and Finance Committee was read as follows -.—Addington, J. Parkin ; Auckland, local supply; Christchurch, H. B. Redstone; Malvern, no appointment; Napier and Waipawa, J.Edwards; Reefton, J. W. Worboys; Richmond, F. B. Dutton ; Wooiville, J. Wrigley ; Wellington and Oxford to be considered by. the District Meeting, A long discussion ensued re the Oxford circuit, and it was finally decided that the Rev J. Parkin, H. B. Redstone, and Mr Flesher try to arrange for union with Rangiora, and also that the Canterbury circuits be asked to unite in supplying the pulpit. The meeting rose at 6 p.m. The Conference resumedits sittings on Wednesday. The following resolutions were adoDted:—(l) That it would be mutually beneficial that there should be occasional interchange of ministers between this district and other Australian districts, such interchange only to be carried out through the district meetings ; (2) that in order to encourage intercourse and to promote stronger connectional feeling, a delegate should be appointed by each district to the other, biennially. The following gentlemen were elected a Connectional Committee for the ensuing year, to hold their meetings in Auckland : Messrs Budgman, Parker, Withey, Chamberlain, Tatersal, Knott, Hatch, Platt. Mr Bowron was elected representative to the annual assembly, with Mr Holiday as alternative. In the afternoon there was a general discussion respecting an extract published in the New Zealand Methodist on the decline of the Free Methodist Churches. On the motion of the Rev E. O. Perry, the attention of the editor was called to the replies published in the Home Magazines. A committee was elected to report to the next district meeting on the establishment of Sustentation Fund in place of the Children s Fnnd. The matter of arranging for money at a lower rate of interest was delegated to the connectional committee. The third list of stations was read as follows Addington, J. Parken; Auckland, local supply; Christchurch, H. B. Redstone; Rangiora, A. Peters ; Richmond, F. B. Dutton ; Napier, Waipawa, J. Edwards ; Westport, E. O. Perry ; Reefton, W. Worboys ; Wellington, C. Penny ; Supernumanes, S. McFarlane, M. Baxter, J. J. Pendray ; The evening session was opened by the President giving out a hymn, after which he proceeded to deliver an address on the position and duty of the churches. He remarked that, considering tbedepression in trade in the Colony, they had much to be thankful for in the increase in church members. It had done Rim good to see the prosperous work that had bean going on in his own circuit, and he concluded by wishing for a prosperous year. Mr William Flesher presented the numerical aud spiritual reports, which showed the totals to be as follow :—ltinerant preachers, 11 ; supernumaries, 2; local preachers, 37; leaders, 35 ; members in society, 946; on trial, 63 ; removals, 85 ; withdrawals, 46; deaths, 7; net increase, 49 ; net decrease, 29 ; chapels, 21 ; other preaching places, 8; chapels built during the year, 2 ; chapels enlarged, 4; Sunday schools, 22 ; Sunday school scholars, 2443 ; Sunday school teachers, 367 ; chapels settled on model deed, 19 ; scholars who are Church members, 75. Eight circuits reported an increase, and four a decrease on the working of the year.