WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4302, 11 March 1901, Page 7

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

NINTH DAY. The conference resumed its sittings on Saturday morning.:. The Committee of Privileges, was appointed, also a Committee of Exigency, hoth on the motion of Dr -norlcy, seconded by Mr T. Allen, with a view to securing, among other things, the rights of the church and its representatives at public functions. The matter of the chaplaincies of all public institutions was also committed to the last named committee’s care.

It was also resolved that a. special committee be appointed to secure the rights of the men and officers in connection with the Permanent Force and 'Volunteers ef the colony in the matter of religious services. Tho Revs Dr Money and W. Baumber, with Captains G. J. Smith and Drayton, of Christchurch, form the committee. It was also rc-soivcd that tho names of tho superintendent ministers iu the ports of the colony visited by his 51ajesty’s ships of war be reported annually to Rev W. A. Allen, secretary of tho Army and Navy Committee, in England, in order that f'ho Naval authorities may he notified of the chaplaincies in those places. _ . . • Iu connection with the Tararua Kelior Fund report, adopted in committee, the appointment of trustees was held over until to-day. Balance - shoots relating to various trust properties in the colony—mission, educational and general —wore adopted. The Rev J. N. Buttle brought np the report of the Committee of Foreign Missions. It was recommended that the Rev J. A. Crump act as deputation to the Wellington district and tho Blenheim circuit ; tho Wellington district to be worked and Blenheim in February by arrangement with the supermd’ent. That tho Rev ,T. J. Walla co he the deputation . for the North Island district, other than Wellington : that the Rev S. P. Fellowes ha the deputation for Otago, Canterbury, Westland and Nelson; that tho Rev C. Griffin draw np tho plan of work for the colony. Tho receipts for 1899 wore £1045, and for 1900, £1235. Tho committee recommended that tho thanks of tho conference be given tc an anonymous donor of £IOO in the Cargill road circuit, and to the Rovs C 4. G. Williams, and Josoplia for their work during tho year._ Dr Alorley urged that they should utilise enthusiasm engendered by deputations in order to assure permanent hene-. fits to the Foreign MHsidn Fund. Certain remissions 011 the part of the Board of Foreign,Missions complained of were noted. The report was adopted. The Rev J. J, Lewis referred to the action of Bishop Neville in granting a license to Air Shirley Baker, empowering him to represent the Anglican Church in the Tongan mission field. He then moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :—“That this- conference heartily reciprocates the catholic expression of opinion on the part of the General Synod of the Anglican Synod recently held in Napier in relation to' the Foreign Mission work of tho churches, and agrees with.that Synod that it will bo for the best interests cf .Christ’s Kingdom that where heathen territory is being adequately ministered to by a Christian church, no other church should enter into rivalry with it.” THE FIJI MISSION FIELD. Dr Alorley referred to 4lie report of a deputation appointed by the Board of Alissions (Sydney) to visit Fiji. Ho said that tho development of independent character among tho native Christians was too slow at present to allow of the withdrawal of any of the missionaries. The number of white workers should he increased rather than reduced. Ho also referred to the Missionary Slade’s manly stand against an act of oppression by a Government official. The native population of Fiji amounted to 90,000. In addition to this there were 20,000 coolies imported from China and India, who by their degraded characters constituted a serious menace to the welfare of the mission field. Although the coolies formed but onofiftL of the native population,, they were responsible for four-fifths of the crime. The necessity for increased vigour in the church’s work, under these circumstances, was pointed out. The prospects of the mission field in Fiji were never brighter, bilt that more enthusiasm should be imparted into the work was essential at the present time. . The Conference passed a resolution expressing thankfulness at the nature of the work being done in the South Seas where the prospects in tho mission field never looked happier. THREE KINGS TRAINING COLLEGE. The report of the principal of Three Kings training institution, Auckland, preseaited by the Rev J. H. Simmonds, was adopted. Particulars of the erection of new college buildings on a complete scale were referred to. by Mr Simmonds, and their erection was approved of by the conference, in support of the claim for aid in this scheme it was shown that the conditions under which the institution was begun had been faithfully carried out by giving the Alaori hoys a Christian training. Air Simmonds was re-appointed principal of tho college. PRINCE ALBERT COLLEGE. The report of tho Prince Albert College, presented by Air T. Allen, was adopted. Tho thanks of tho conference were given to tho Board of Governors for their past services. It was resolved that the Revs Dr Alorley and H. Bull ho recommended for reappointment as tho New Zealand Committee on early church records; also tho conference learned with great pleasure of the! completion of Dr Morley’s History of Methodism in New Zealand, and commended that work to Methodist readers.

The conference adjourned at five o’clock until 9.30 this morning. 7