WESLETAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8112, 22 February 1888, Page 5 (Supplement)

WESLETAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

WEi.i.iNfiTO.v. January 27. I he debate on an independent eonfereiico \vns this morning resumed at the Wesleyan Conference.

Mr Cuff briefly seconded the Rev. W. 3lorley'.-» motion.

The Kcv. R. Bavin moved an amendment— That separation from Australia was not & .sirable ai present."

After a number; of speeches had been delivered the debate was adjourned till Saturday at JO o'clock in the snorning.

Wellington, January 29. The Wesieyan Methodist Conference, in its ministerial session, assembled at 9 o'clock ytsttrday. Messrs Bui-rows, Fellows, and Laws, of Wesley College, were admitted us probationers of the ministry. It was agreed to allow Mr Laws one year's status; Messrs Chapman, Nott. and Murray to continue residence at the collet-el An application from the Rev. Mr Stevens, "of Newfoundland Conference for admission was respectfully declined on the motion of the Rev. W. Morley. Coruial thanks were presented to the president lor his lecturrv

At 10 o'clock in its represeutation session tho conference resumed coniicieration of separation, trom Australia.

Shortly after noon the Rev. Wm. Morley was calltd upou to reply. Several points of objection to th.c motion were carefully and r.bly examined. Ho expressed his stroug disapprobation of. caucuses, as exceedingly injurious to the chi:r.;ts, and closed a brilliant speech by expressing the hope that tho motion would be carried.

The following is the result of voting:—lor separation, 39; against, 26. The tootion was carried by 13 votes. Tho nltim.ita decision remains with the General Conference, which meets next May in Melbourne.

Voting then proceeded {or representatives tothe General Conference. There were 21 nominations of ministers for an election of nine. The following ia tho result in numerical order:—Revs. We. Morley, J. Berry, W. C. Oliver, D. Id'Xicol, J. Lewis, J. A. Taylor, W. Lee, F. W. Isitt, and W. Baumber. For lay representatives there were 24 nominations for an election of 11. Tho following is the result of the voting:—llessirT. Buddie, H. W. Permau, W. Mochani, F. L. Prime, W. K. Harris, E. C. Brown, J. Knight. J. C. George, F. A. White, J. T. Smith, audit. Snodgrass.

The following are members of the General Conference ex ojpch ;—Revs. W. J. Williams, R. Bsvnn, H. Bull, and J. Lewison, of Auckland.

The conference- adjourned till Monday; thu third reading of appointments to be taken ou Wednesday.

January 31. At tho Weal cyan Conference, a conversation on the question of stipends occupied attention for an hour this morning. The discussion arose on tho presentation of .1 report as to the Australian usage on the subject of miuii-aura stipends. Several ministers and laj-meu spoke, snt one circuit iv South Canterbury tvp. described as a "flagraut case." Mr Suodgras'S (Nelson) spot- warmly iv support of a committee to consider the whole subject 1-viH.r M.ipointol, and affirmed tint iki'r;-. w.u tc:; tsger a ilispnsiti:>u on tho p;-.tl .: soi.-:." cu\.idtft io reduce s(:,)tr.;ls. In snac instances vL--i^ was k painful newc-sity, sutl ofliciuis ;,e>ed wit !. great rsluctancD; but iv mr.i.y olhut- cssrs there was no instiiication, and stewards acted too eagerly in saddling ministers with bmdciit. which should be more generally distributed. After f.ome further discussion, in which the Revs. J. J. Lewis, A. Reid, I). M'Nicol, Mr G. Winstoue, and others took part, tho motion mi withdrawn.

The Rev. Mr Morley, general secretary of. church property, presented the anuual repoi!;. The following additions to church property havebeen acquired during the year:—Auckland,. £2611; Waiignuui, £153; Canterbury, £.22.4 ;. Otago, £333. Reductions of church debts tc. tha amount of £4563 were also reported. Thanks were presented to Mr Moriey for valuable sei vices, and the Kcv. W. B. Harle'J, Timaru, was appointed general secretary for the. ensuing year.

Tiiu report oi the committee on transfer of church property was nest considered. During thy year a uesv model deed had been constructed and an act passed through the Geacrai AssjniWy. In recognition of the eminent service rendered by Mr Thomas Buddie and the Rev. W. Slorley iv connection with the new deed and act, it nrfs decided to present to each handsomely-bound volumes, suitably iuscrib^il j *• also that official letters of thanks be sent hi Sir Harry Atkinson aud Sir i\ Whitnkw. The Rev. William Lee was appoiuted authorised representative under the new act.

The Rev. W. Motley presented the renori and balance sheet oE tho-loan fuud. Excellent service had been rnmicred by th<j fuud during the year. The iv.pilul now stands at £5025 10sId. The report was adopted, irarl thanks presented to the committee, and the Rev. Mr Morley reappointed with authority to nomiuii'i-e it successor to act during his visit to England. The Rev. W. Lei; presented the balance sheet of the children's fund, and tbo Rev. A. l'cid of the supernumerary fuud. The annual income of the former was £1751311.:, and of tht> latter £1074 13s 3d. The Rev. J. Berry reported the income of tho contiugev.b fund to bo £725 17s 3d. The Rev. J. J. Lewis aud Mr Harris were appoiuted treasurers.

Ou account of the great benefits conferred upon the trusts of the colony by the new act, it was decided to make the cost of procuring it a. proportional charge upon trust boards.

Tha President of the conference referred in flittering terms to the valuable part taken by the Rev. R. Baviu in the service of soi)g at this conference und on previous occasions, and as sv memento of his services as precentor he (the president) had much pleasure in presenting Mr Baviu with an elegantly bound copy of Wesley's hymns.

The motion of Mr J. Thompson to make removal expenses a charge upon the contiiigail: fund was withdrawn, aud the conference ad- : jouraed. February 2. The following is the third reading of the ministerial appointments decided at the XVcslcyau Conference: —

Auckland District.—Pitt street, ]!eve Edward Best ami C H Garland; Weslevau College, Key A Ksi<l; North Shore, Hoy J Dukes, liev If 1! Dew.-bury. supernumerary; Grafkm road, Uev« J A Tavlor and W L Suiter, lievs James Wallis, Henry H Lawry, and W Warker, supernumeraries; Maori mission,. Key W Gittos ; Jlahurangi, Ilev J J Mather; Thames, liev W Keaii; Upper Thames, Kov y Lawry andand home missionary; Paeroa, liev H Bavin; Franklyn, Key J Law; 'Cambridge, liev J S liisliworth; Hamilton, Bey T G Can-; To Awrnnutu, Key S Griffiths; liiglan, a home missiounry; Kiipara, Key II Paul; Paparoa, Key T P "Jones; Northern Wairoa, Key G T Marshall; Koklanga, Key T A Jou<-h.in; Taheke, Key H T Uiirie ; Maujjn:muka, Key P Kakena; Hay of Islands, a homo missionary ; Whangarei, Key j Thomas ; 7n.jr.mga. i(ov AOLiiwry; Wliangaroa, a home missionary ; Kiilo, HovWW l'ewa; Ooromamitl, a home niisslunarv ; llelensville, a homa missionary. Key it Daviu, thairnum oi Uie district.

Waujranui Dlitrict.—New Plymouth, Km' \V H Bed;;'U'aitara, Key h Hudson; l'.itea, Key T UIlnmmnnd; Ilawera, Key C ti I'iirlev; Wati^Aiiii:, Key W .1 Watkia, Key G Stauuard, supernumerary l lfcuißitlkci, Key W Council; Samlou, Key i :t Brilttn; Palmersfcon North, Key W I'imsley ; Opnnake, a homo missionary, Key W J Wat kin, chairraan of district.

Wellington. District.—Wellington, R-ys W Lee. Joseph Berry, and J T Walli3; Jlutt, Hey D J Slurray. W Dark, supe.mumer,iry ; Urevtown, Key J Dello-,v ; Mastortou, Key W liouse; Napier, Key D M'Nicoli; Glsborne, Key J Mini; Scandinavian Mission (Xorsewool), E Keiisan; Maurlooville, O Chrlslopheraon. liev. \V Lse, chairman of district.

Kelson Dlstrict.-Nelson, Key W C Olivor: Kichiuond, Key J Cramp; Blenheim, Kov IE Bull; Maori mission, Key II Warilii; llukitika. Key T & Brooke; Qreymouth, Key C Grillin; Motueka, a home missionary; Kuniara, a homo missionary; Havelock, a home missionary. Chairman of district.. Key W 0 Oliver.

Canterbury District. — Ciiristchurcli (DurJir.nj street), Kcv'W Morley, llov \Y J Williams (president, of the conference); KastJJelt, llcv C 11 Laws, Her Joint Aldiea, siimirniimerarv: Sydonliax. Uev I. Jt Isitt; St Allrans, llevs J J Lewis aiul 011 SfcHidagi-: editor of " »cw Zealand Jletltodist," r«'sident ni conference (Hey L M Isitt, assistant); Lyltellon. HevG r.oiul; M-iori mission, Xcv Te Kolo (Uau-li-aki); SpriiiKstou, liev J H Siinnioii.ls; l.eMlon, Key T A Limorcl; K:iiapoi, Uevs 1> W Fairclollgli and JT Pinfold- Iliiiiciorii, Key J H Rr»y; Tiinani, Key W Martin; Waimatß, Hcv W Ct T'iiom.'is; l'emuka. Key X S Dunn ; AsliburlMii. Hevs J X Buttle and J T Hnrr.iwa; Dalvcrn, a liume niisDiiinaiy. Ulmirman of Mbtrict, presliient oi onierunfee.

1)1 ago District.—lhmedin (Xriiiily Clnuvli), Jicvs W DiuimbM- and W Cr P.irsmsoii (Ciirgill roml); Moriiiimton, l!uv S J Garliek ; I'o:t. Chnlniers. Jicv TFw; Balcluiiia, iiev 0 Abernelhy; Milton, liw A Taylor; Duvrer.ce, Hey J Smith: liivcroari<il' ( Hi-vs> W Isitt ,rad S B Fdloivcs OV'esti'.rn ilist rift) ; Oamaru, HevOSpencc; Gore, ltov .1 Wight ; "iV:'li;tt:pu, Hey U F ltuthwell; Hyde ami PalWrtl.'M. a missionary; Roxburgh,a home missionary; I'n)>*.--nr.i, a home missionary. Chairman oi' district, l.'cv W Baumber. •

The final session was held to-daj'. In connection with the obituary records of two Moori ministers, the Rev. A. Reid was urj,red to prepare a history of tho early Maori ministers. Tho Rev. P. W. Fairclough was appointed conference lecturer. Tho board of examiners were reappointed, with the Rev. J. H. SimmouJs j;s general secretary. Arrangements were niado for the ordination of the Rev. \Y. Wareua at Auckland. A pastoral address was read by the Rev. W. Baumber and adopted. The cordial thanks of the conference were given to the assistant-secretary, hosts, precentor, ministers, the officials of circuit, and to tha editor of" New Zealand Methodist," the conference closing afs noon.