AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12601, 3 March 1903, Page 3

AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE. (From Our Special Rei-obteh.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 2. The Methodist Conference- resumed in representative session this morning, tho President (Rev. J. A. Luxford) in tho chair. It was detuled to receive a deputation from the Christelnirch Ministers' Association on Thursday afternoon. After considerable discussion as to which circuit should take a married minister—whether Motuoka or Coromandcl—the latter was carried by a- large majority, witli a crant of '£100. Danncvirte, Pahiatita, Motueka, Westport, Springston (2), Malvcrn, and Rivdrton were relieved of taking married ministers for another year. In the case of Kiwitea, a young married man to be appointed, with a grant of £50. Tho report on church properly was presented by tho Bey. H. Bull. There is a slight falling off in tho income from seat rents, but incrrascs from "trust collections, church anniversaries, and donations, amounting to over £375. Tho income from other sources, however, not reckoning loans, swells this sum into an increase, of more than £3300 on current trust income, as compared with last year. Loans over and above those current in 1901 have been during the year obtained, chiefly from the Church Building and Loan Fund, amounting to £2598, raising the total ■ income of the year for trust purpose* to £30,054. Tho current expenditure indicates considerable activity throughout the colony in tho matter of alteration and improvements nlTroted, chiefly on churches and parsonages, during; tho year. The sum exoended for these purposes amounts to £7779, being an increase of £3380 over that expended in 1901. One noteworthy matter revealed by tho balance sheets is the fact that tho amount paid by trustees for interest on loans is Ipfs as compared with 1901 by moro than £220. Debts to the Church Building and Loan Fund havo increased during the year, and now stand at about £10,000, but debts upon other securities show a net decreaso of over £4400. In two districts increases arc shown -Nolson (£80) and _Wanganni (£1088). In the other four c!i?tricts there, are decreases as follows:—Otago, £457; Wellington, £371; Auckland, £1659; and Canterbury, £2626. Tho total debt on securities is now £25.660—a moderate sum unon church, school, and parsonage buildings valued at £246,940, to which has to be added sites at a reported original cost of £53,084. Altogether, the current trust finances of the Church are. as shown by the returns, in a sound and encouraging condition, and should exert a stimulating influence in connection with the Church's future work. There arc 626 sites, 303 churches with seating accommodation for 52,769, 83 schoolrooms, 93 parsonages, and 55 other buildings. The thanks of tho Conference was extonded to the district secretaries /or their services during the past year, and they were reappointed as follows:—Mr W. D. Buttle, Auckland; Mr J. P. Leary, Palmorsfon North; Jfr/C. W. Benbow, Wellington; Mr J. Boon, Nelson; Mr G. J. Smith, Christelnirch; and Mr J. C. Stephens, Otago. It was resolved that the church property schedules bo sent by circuit superintendents to tho district secretaries not later than October 31; also that revisod schedules, with summaries and reports bo sent by district secretaries to tho general secretary not later than December 15. The custodian of deods gave his report, also tho authorised representative. The report of the Church Building and Loan Fund was submitted. Seventeen new loans from _ the general fund have been granted during the. year and nine from the special branch, representing a total sum of £2555. It was reported that tho amount of overdue instalments, although some £25 less than last year, is still unreasonably large. The amount at present is £730 17s Sd. Considerably more than half of this sum represents the overdue instalments of some half a dozen trusts. The following undertakings havo been approved by the committee during the year—viz.: Tho erection of new parsonages at Papanui and Woolston and the enlargement of the parsonage at Cambridge; parsonage improvements at Whangarei and Levin; the removal of the St. Albans parsonage to another part of the property, where it has undergone complete renovation;_ erection of new churches at Nganiawahia and Drummond: enlargement of churches at Midimrst, Stratford, and Roxburgh; additions and improvements to tho churches at Waitara, Palnierston North, Cuba street, Longburn, Petone, Oamaru, and Karori; the erection of new Sunday schools at Taihape, St. Albans, and East Belt, also the enlargement of the present school at Woolston, and additional class rooms at tho Ilutt; purchase of church sites at Eltham, Drummond, and Brightwater, also purchase of parsonage site at Woolston, and sanction given to the erection of a sisters' homo in connection with the Dunedin Central Mission. The sum of £1912 Ss Id has been received as loan instalments from trusts and £383 10s 3d through the Century lund, making tho total repayments during the year £2295 13s 4d. The committees were thanked for their careful attention to the business of the .fund during Ehe past year, and wore reapyointed. The Connexional Fire Insurance Fund report stated that the increase during the P*?' y«ar was £7635; total present business, t»1,175; total amount insured, £151,630. About 63 per cent, is insured in tho connexional office, made up as follows:—Wellington district, amounting to £26,559- in connexional office, £9644, or 36 per cent. Auckland district, £37,173; in connexional *\§W or 47 per cent. Nelson district, £9380; in connexional office, £5655, or 60 per cent. Wanganui district, £15,902in. connexional office, £9772, or 61 per cent. Canterbury district, £46,260; in connexional office, £34.166, or 73 per cent. Otago district, £16,725; in connexional office, £14,320, equal to 85 per cent. Appreciation was expressed to tho ministers and trustees for their co-operation, and a hope expressed that in a short time the whole church property shall find its way to a place on the connexional firo insurance register. The Rev. H. Bull was reappointed conncxional secretary, general secretary for church property, and authorised representative. The different connexional balance sheet 3 were submitted and received. In connection with the Native and Destitute Children s Education Trust, Wellington, it was resolved that the trustees take immediate steps (o enlarge the trust and to acquire a suitable site for an orphanage. The Contingent Fund balance sheet was given full consideration, and the levy was fixed at 4 per cent. The Rev. William Baumbor and Mr W. Harris wero reappointed trensnrers. The Conference then adjourned until tomorrow morning in pastoral session, when they receive the second reading of stations, and m the afternoon meet in representative session. ORDINATION SERVICE. At tho conference ordination service the Revs. R, P. Kcall and William Wills liav;tng passed all their examinations satisfactorily and the four years of wobation, wero ordained to the full ministry "this evening in the St. Albanr, Church. There was a crowded congregation, amongst them being a number of ministers of other churches, The president (Rev. J. A. Luxford) had charge- of the service. Thn ex-president (Rev. D. J. Murray) delivered tho charge, Itasing the same on the text from 2nd Timothj', 2nd chapter, 15th verso. The chaTgo was an impres.iive one. A large number of ministers, all ex-nresidemte, took part in the imposition of the laying on the hands.