WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4303, 12 March 1901, Page 3

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

TENTH DAY. The Wesleyan Conference resumed i'siltinvs in representative session yestu'dav when the c|UOf>tion of the ,Jonic Mission and Church Extension Fund wa., dv.ilt with at home length. The balaneiv sheet was presented by Mr F. L. Prime, the treasurer. Receipts—Auckland district £537 2» Bd, Wanganui £l9O Gs 3d, Wellington £219 3s, Nelson £lO4 17s 7d, Canterbury £427 7s lOd, Otago £3OG 3s Id ; Birthday League, £BS Gs lOd; rents of donnoxional properties, £4to; interest on investments, £132 10s ; sale of .Maori Service books, £3 14s ; loan from Century Fund, £250. Total receipts for the vear, £2786 Us 3d. ExpenditureDebit balance, ln*t year, £268 10s id; grants to Maori Missions, £lOls 2s Id; grants to Homo Mission stations, £353 14s 2d, to Home Mission circuits £975 : special expenditure, £215 8s sd; general expenditure. £205 8s lOd; repaid loan to Century Fund, £350. Total expenditure, £3283 3s 7d. Estimated receipts for the present year, £2590 9s 3d. Estimated expenditure—Debit balance, £496 12s 4d; grants to Maori Missions, £989 ; to Homo Mission stations, £335 ; to Home Mission circuits, £820; special expenditure, £2ll. Total estimated expenditure, £3026 12s 4d, leaving a deficiency of £436 9s Id. It was resolved that the committee bo recommended to vote the sum of £250 from the Century Fund dvring the year to this fund, thus leaving an estimated deficiency of £lB6 9s Id. A voto of thanks was accorded to Mr F. L. Prime, the treasurer, for hxs past services.'! and ho was- unanimously reappointed.

i The balance-sheet and estimates were adopted. It was resolved that the Rev D. ,Wcatlicrall bo appointed aS assistant to the Rev W. Dittos, in the work of Maori ■ Missions in the Auckland district, conditionally on the sum of £2OO per annum being guaranteed. I The report of the Supernumerary Fund ■ was received, showing receipts £l/21 118 s. which was remitted to the general treasurer, Melbourne. . . Mr Thomas Buddie and the minister of the Grafton road circuit, were re-ap-pointed. I The report of the Tararu Fund Committee was received. The trustees, Messrs R. W. Eneland and J. C. Prudhoc, were re-appointed, and instructed to inquire as to their power to cransiei the whole matter to the Public Trustee. The report of the Central Committee respecting Sunday schools was received. Tho general secretary of Sunday schools (Rev T. E. Thomas, M.A.), was reappointed. It was resolved that a number of inquiries be made by tho statistical secretaries relating to tho number of schools, scholars and other matters. Tho Rev T. G. Brooke presented the cmneral report relating to the temperlance returns, and tho following resoluItions were passed:—That the oonfer--1 ©nee respectfully protests against any ati tempt to legalise the sale of alcoholic drinks in the King Country, believing That such a step would be seriously detI rimentai to the welfare of the native race. It further protests against any attempt to deprive the people of this col- ! ony of any .of the power they_ now posi sees for dealing with the liquor traffic. That the conference urge the Government to take the proper steps to stop the scandalous "sly-grog” selling in tho King Country, which illicit selling was proved by the evidence given before a committee of representatives last session. The conference then adjourned until 9.30 this morning. AN EVENING SESSION. The evening session was devoted to a discussion on the work of tho church. There was a considerable attendance of the general public. The Rev J. J. Lewis (Nelson) opened tho discussion by frankly deploring the decrease in the attendance of scholars at the Sunday schools. He quoted certain returns in support of his statement. In 1899 tho churches increased by six:, and tho membership roll by 266, but there was a decrease of 205 in the scholars’ roll,, and a decrease in the mimbor of church attendants of 1066. In 1900. the churches had increased ny eight, but the membership showed a decrease of 172, the scholars’ roll a decrease of 596; and in the number of attendants the falling-off was 676. He expressed a hope that the overtures of the conference in the direction of a Methodist Union would soon be completed, so that their united energies could be concentrated on the spiritual work so dear to their hearts. It was to be noted that where there had been a decrease in the number of scholars there had been an increase of membership among scholars of 355. Tho condition of the Maori Mission called for thanksgiving. The increase in the number of Maori members equalled 100 per cent, during the last seven years. He advocated an extension of city missions' hall eflort, and said what a good thing it would'bo if the Opera House could be secured for popular Sunday night services. They would require to enlist the services of their most gifted preachers and best organisors,. but he felt sure the effort would be abundantly blessed. The president (the Rev C. H. Garland) admitted that there was a feeling of misgiving abroad because they were not used to that sort of thing. But it was not the beginning of the end, and such experiences had been passed through at Home, and wore invariably followed by a period of substantial progress.

Mr W. Harding (Willowby.' Canterbury), the Revs J. G. W. Ellis (Lawrence), C. E. Beeoroft, W. J. Williams J. G. Chapmab, H. R. Dewsbury, Josiah Ward (Oaraaru), T. G. Brooke :Dunedin), F Lawry (Palmerston North), J. J. Mather; Hamiora Kingi and Robert Hadden (Maori Mission); Messrs T. Francis Jones-, and J. T. Brown (Christchurch) followed, all of whom related some special features of the work of the church in their several circuits throughout the colony. After the president had spoken a resolution expressing hopefulness for the future was carried.

The meeting closed with the administration of the Holy Sacrament.