WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 978, 28 November 1890, Page 12

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The sessions of the Wesleyan District meeting began in the vestry of the Wesley Church Schoolroom on Tuesday morning, at 10 o’clock. There were present—the Rgv 8 J. Berry, W. H. Beck, C. H. Laws (Wellington) ; W. Kirk (Butt) : W. MoNicofl (Napier) ; J. Ward (GUhorne) ; W. Rowse (Masterton) ; J. Dellow (Grejtown) :E. Ne lson (Scandinavian Mission), In the temporary absence of the Chairman (Rev W. J. Watkin), the Rev J, Berry was voted to the chair. The devotional exercises were led by the Rev Messrs Beok and Kirk. The Rev W. H. Beck was elected secretary and the Rev Messrs McNicoll and Laws to act as reporters. The hours of session were fixed at from 10 to 12 and from 2 to 5. The usual queg. tions regarding ministerial character and circuit schedule books were answered ii every case satisfactorily. A lengthened conversation took place concerning the need of greater aggressiveness in Church work, with special reference to the larger populations needing spiritual oversight in the bush districts of the VV ellington and Hawkes Bay provinces. It was decided to defer any definite action till the financial session, consisting of ministers and laymen, meets ■» to day. In regard to the proposed representation of the Colony at the Ecumenical Methodist Conference, to be held in Philadelphia next year, it was decided to make . no recommendation to Conference. At the afternoon session the Rev W. J. Watkin took the ohair. It was unanimously decided to recommend that the Rev C. H. Laws be ordained at tho next Conference, to be held in Auckland next March. An application was received from the Rev C- E. Beecroft, late of England, for admission into the ranks of the colonial ministry. On the motion of the Rev J. Berry, it was resolved unanimously to re'eommend Conference to accept Mr Beecroft into its ministry to be dealt with as liberally as possible, consistent with other claims. The Rev J. Berry made a statement of the various reasons that had induced him to accept an invitation to the Hawthorn cirouit, Melbeurne, and requested that the district meeting should agree to bis transfer. It was unanimously resolved, “ That Mr Berry, having preferred a reqnest for transfer to the Viotoriau Conference, this meeting admits the force and weight of his reasons, and most reluctantly recommends Conference to grant the request, and should Conference give effect to this recommendation we desire to place on record our appreciation of the valuable services he has rendered to New Zealand Methodism for the last 25 years.” The Rev E. Neilaep, Scandinavian missionary, applied for six months’ leave of absence in order to visit his countrymen In Australia next year. It was deoided to recommend that the request be granted. The report of the Principal of Wesley College, Auckland, was laid before the meeting, and adopted. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to preparation for the financial district meeting.