WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1136, 8 December 1893, Page 20

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The annual meeting of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in the Wellington district was opened on the 6th inst. in the Taranaki street Wesleyan Schoolroom, the chairman of the district, the Rev J. J. Lewis, in the chair. There were also present —Revs W. Rowse, W. Beck, Jno. Dukes, S. J. Gibson, T. G. Carr and R. J. Murray, Messrs Randerson, Smith and Sussex. Owing to the serious floods in the Hawke’s Bay district several of the members were delayed en route. The Rev T. G. Carr was elected secretary, and the Rev R. J. Murray reporter to the daily papers and the New Zealand Methodist. The hours of session were fixed at from 10 to 12.30 and from 2 to 5.

The examination of Mr Smith, a candidate for the ministry, was fixed for 9 o’clock this morning, and the Rev J. Elliot, a first year’s probationer, was appointed to preach his trial sermon in Wesley Church on Friday morning at 7 o’clock. The evening session was held in the church at 7.30.

The Rev J. Dukes read the general and Sunday school returns, and the Rev S. J. Gibson read the temperance returns. The following resolutiom moved by the Rev J. Dukes, seconded by Rev T. G. Carr, and supported by the ministers and Home Missionaries, was unanimously agreed to : “ This district meeting desires to place on record its grateful acknowledgments to the Great Head of the Church for His manifested presence vouchsafed to His servants in the great work in which they have been engaged during the-past year. By His gracious favour we are enabled to report marked progress in many lines of church work. While there has been no great addition to membership in any one place, it is gratifying to find that Wellington, the Hutt, Masterton, Napier, Otaki and Hawko’s Bay . have- been sharers in the spiritual spoils, and,

after accounting for deaths and removals, we report an addition of 61 members. We recognise with joy the fact that God has given a spirit of hearing, and that 1008 additional attendants upon public worship are this year returned. At a time like this, when it is so loudly trumpeted that the masses are; turning away from the ordinances of’ religion, it is extremely gratifying to be able to record this addition. We are, however, far from being satisfied with the tabulated spiritual results, and we pray the Great Master to send upon all our ministers, local preachers and people the quickening energy of the Holy Ghost.”