WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4300, 8 March 1901, Page 6

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

SEVENTH DAY. . The Wesleyan Conference resumed its ministerial session yesterday morning, j when a vote of thanks was passed to the ex-president (the Rev J. S. Smalley) fori his ordination charge. An exchange between the Rev F. B. Oldham, at present stationed at Gisborne, and the Rev T. Testrail, of Port Augusta, South Australia, was, approved by the conference. The following candidates for the ministry wore passed : —Messrs C. / E. Godbehear and B. I. Japies. They will bo to Prince Albert College, Auckland, for a course of training forthwith. '

Messrs A. Mcßean, A. C. Raiidorson and A. J. Reid were also received and their names placed on the president’s reserve list. , It was resolved that the Rev L. M. Isitt remain a minister of the Wesleyan Church, but without pastoral charge.' In the afternoon a representative session was held. Resolved, That Homo missionaries be appointed to Eltham and Aparima; also, xnat the St Albans circuit be divided and that a grant of ,€3O be recommended for the Papauui oir. cuit.

The evening' session was/ devoted to the consideration of the Century Commemoration Fund. An exhaustive report was presented.

Dr Morley, in introducing the report of the General Committee, which was taken as read, shared the regret of the General Committee at the failure to realise more than the £17.075 17s promised of the desired amount (£60,0001. He pointed out that it was due to the faulty methods of canvass employed that many wealthy districts had failed to respond as generously as was anticipated. Hence they had the anomaly of poor districts giving returns out of all proportion in comparison to wealthy districts in which the canvass had not been sufficiently thorough. ‘ . The Rev Mr Smalley considered that they were under-estimating their rea. sons for expressing gratitude to God for the success which had already crowned their efforts. In England the amount raised per member was £1 18s; Wesleyans in New Zealand were not far behind with £1 10s per member. He moved that the expression of disappointment and dissatisfaction bo deleted from the committee’s report. Rev Mr Baumher deprecated any alteration of the committee’s, report. The matter being .put to tjie. vote, the Rev Mr Smalley’s'motion was carried b 49 to 36 votes. * -

It was decided to prosecute the canvass with renewed vigour till the ‘next conference.

The following were appointed the General Committee to arrange with the District Committee the necessary details oft the'year’s work in connection with a renewed ‘canvass in’ favour of' the. fund; -DRev D.D./ the, Superintendents of and Kaiapoi Circuits, Rev 0. H. Daws,’ 8.A., and Messrs G. H. Blackwell,'-,W. Harris, J. C. Prudhoe, G. J, Smith, G. -Bowron’ W. 'Ballantyne, J. T. Smith, C. W. Turner, C. E. Salter, A. C. Reid. A. K. England, and J. L. Scott.