WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10620, 16 March 1896, Page 2

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(PER United Phess Association.)

Auckland, March U,

The Wesleyan Conference resumed to-daj in ministerial session. On the motion of the Eev. W. Morley it was resolved that ministers in the cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, *nd the suburbs of those cities be directed to hold monthly meetings for the promotion of brotherly intercourse, and for the consideration of matters affecting the church as a whole in those cities. On the motion of the Rev. S. Lawry it was resolved that the question of providing for the examination of candidates for the ministry and ordination prior to the conference ba referred to 'the district synods of 1896 to report to the next conference It was resolved tbxt if no other suitable arrangement can be made with'n a month Mr D. Weatharall be appointed to assist the principal of Wesley College (Three Kings) during the year. This completed the work oi the ministerial conference.

, The conference met iv representative (session. The children's fund showed the total receipts to be £1681, sud the expenditure £1680, leaving a credit balance. Tile report was adopted. The assessment for the ensuing year was fired nb 17 per cent. It was resolved—" That while thanking the New Plymouth circuit for their offer the 1897 conference bo held at Wellington." The bakuca sheet for the contingent iuud showed the receipts to ba £1027 and the expenditure £763 9s, leaving a credit balance of £24*. The balance.sheet was adopted. The Prioce Albert College balance sheet was read and adopted. The receipts amouuted to £1007 8s and the payments to £1111 Is Bd, leaving a debit balance of £i 3. The supernumeraries and widows" fund balance sheet showed the receipts to be : Circuit contributions, £772; ministers' subscriptions, £522; arrears, paid, £85 15a ;—total, £1385. During the ptsfc year, it was explained by one gentleman, there had been a loss of somathing like £36,000—partly through the bursting of the boom in Victoria, and partly because of a too great readiness to make supernumeraries. On the motion of the Rev. W; Morley, it was resolved—" That in order to pro-: vide for the deficiency referred to the conference recommends that the allowance to supernumeraries and widows be reduced by 1 per cent.' during the next two years (pending the approval of the General Conference) and that minister* in foil work pay Bgs pel anonm during the years 1896 and 1897, and so do their share in meeting the present difficulty. (2) That the special payment of an extra guinea be not required from the ministers coming from the United Methodist Free Churches and Bible Chrittian Church, as these have not hitherto been members. That fntther consideration of the report be remitted to the Boatd of Advice (with whom shall be associated for this purpose tho Rev.'W. P. Fairelongh and Mr F. Prudhos), and that the board correspond with the general treasurer in Melbourne wjtti reference to the present etate of the fund. That in view of the large deficiency now reported, and considerable «mm written off, the Board of Treasurers be, requested to consider whether it is not desirable to have an independent valuation of the fund ; also, that in terms oi Mr Cope's report the working expenses should be examined, and, if possible, redaeed." The receipts Probert trust amounted to £1091-, a/id the expenditure to £105114s Zd, leaving a credit balance of £42. The report was adopted. It was resolved—" That the conference be advised to recommend the Probett trustees to vote (if in accordanoe with the testator's will) eueh sum of money as they may think fit to cover the costs of training and maintenance of Te Tuhi as a theological student for the period of two years during, which he was at the Theological College, Three Kings." This was adopted. Tho jubiko thanksgiving . fund balance sheet and other statements as pointed out in the agenda were adopted. It was resolved that the cordial thanks of the conference be presented to the Eev. W. Morley, general secretary, for his services during the year.. The thanks oi the conference were also presented to tho Geaeral Committee for services daring last year, oad the committee was reappointsd with the exception of the mace of the Rev. D. M'Nieoil, in which instance the name of the Rev. H. E. Dewsbnry was substituted. The following report and balance sheets were read and adopted :—Theological endowment trust, Native education trust (withtha addition of a footnote stating that £150 wai, still owing to the Book Association), general connexional mission, Gray Institute and Kai-iwi mission estate, Wellington Native and destitute cbildrena' trust (cash account, revenue acctiunt, a*ad balance sheet), and Canterbury home mission fund, Sunday schools and foreign missione. Resolutions in favour of temperance Sunday sermons, arid in favour of the prohibition of the liquor trofflo were carried. The bands of hope report showed that there were 86 with, a membership of 9440. A resolution for the suppression of gambling waß carried. A resolution was carried in favour of Scripture., text: book being introduced into the public schools, but was strongly opposed by some members as weakening a splendid system of national education, and likely to lead to denominational education. ' All the members who spoke in the debate expressed opposition to denominational education, lie coDnexion&l fire insurance it was decided that nothing bo done at present in the,matter. The statistics submitted showed an increase of 801 church meraberf, 18 Sunday schools, 849 scholars, and 104 teachers. Dt Hosking (United Free Methodist) and the Eev. Mr Orchard (Bible CnrisUan) thanked the conference for the courtesy shown their people and themselves during the conference. Tito usual votes of thanks were then passed, and the conference closed at 6 p.m. All that rtttuins to be done is the reading of the journal on Monday morning.