AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12603, 5 March 1903, Page 5

AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE. (From Our Special Beporter.) CHRISTCHURCH, Marcli 4. 'The Methodist Conference met this morning in representative session. After devotional exercises it was resolved, on the motion of the Kcv. Messrs Wills and ICeall (the two newly-ordained ministers), to thank Hie ex-prcsidenfc for the able and helpful charge delivered on the night of ordination, It was resolved to defer consideration of llie Prince Albert College report till Thursday morning. The balance sheet of the Children's Fund was submitted, and ordered to be printed in the minutes. The treasurers (the Rev. I'. 0. Oliver and Mr J. H. HoUiu'oll) were reappointed treasurer's, and the levy wa3 ' fixed at 15 per cent. The following resolution was unanimously ' passed:-—"That this conference expresses its deep regret that the Education Bill has passed through tho British Parliament, and , its entire sympathy with tho Nonconformists in the Home Country who are called upon, in tho interests of religious liberty, 1 to offer passive resistance to the operations ; of this unjust measure. That a copy of the 1 above resolution bo sent to the president ! of tho English Conference, Mr R. W. Parks, M.P. (editor of the British Weekly ' Mcthodift Ximos), and to the Rev. Dr Clifford." On the motion of tho Rev. 11. Bull, it was resolved—"That the conference has learned with great pleasuro of the expected ' visit to New Zealand of the Rev. F. W. MacDonnld in connection with the work of the British and Foreign Eible Society. The 1 conference takes advantage of the present opportunity to extend very hearty greetings to Mr Mac Donald on the occasion of his . visit to this colony, and also to assure him of Hie warm welcome with which his minis- , tralions in furtherance of the alms of tho Bible Society will bo received." Tho conference on ramming in" tho afternoon went into committee to consider the Supernumerary and Widows' Fund. The balance sheet showed: Income from circuits, £1181 15s; ministers. £761 2s; arrears, £66 ; 17s 4da total of £2009 14s 4(1, which lws been remitted to the general treasurers, Melbourne. The receipts were made by the . districts as follows:—Auckland, £'16l' 14s; . Wanganui, £284 4s; Wellington. £330 10s; [ Nelson, £144 12s; Canterbury, £466 9; 6d; Otago, £255 7s fid. After a lengthy discussion the following recommendation of tho ; Auckland Synod was adopted:—" Conference appoinls a committee to carefully investigate , the proposal to divide the Supernumerary . Fund into Annuitant and Auxiliary Funds, , and to report- to ihe next synods and conference as to whether such a proposal is practicable, and also to include in the rc- . port a clear statement of the meaning of the ' phrase 'actuarial principles' applied to the Supernumerary Fund." Committee: Tho president and secretary of the conference, tho Revs. C. H. Garland, J. J. Lewis, .T. G. Chapman, \V. Ready, and Messrs N. Allen, A. C. Caughey. T. iSuddle, (i. A. Rultli*. with the Revs. P. W. Fairclough, D. M'Nicoll, S. J. Gibson, and Mr T. E. Corkill as corresponding members. The Rev. J. J. Lewis and Mr T. Buddie' i were reappointed treasurers. The conference resinned its session in the evening. Tho Plampin Bequest Fund report and balance sheet were submitted and adopted. Tho Rev. H. R. Detrabury was appointed agent in Wanganui. _ The report from the Century Commemoration Fund was presented by the Rev. AVm. Loo. The 'amount received during the year from circuits on account of subscriptions baa been £1237 7s lOd. and tho amount paid by the treasurers to church trusts has been £2982. A sum 1 of £50 has also boon paid to tho Home Mission Funds. The total, amount of unpaid promises on February 1 was £2805 9s 2d. This fund reeeived considerable attention, and a resolution instructing the superintendents was adopted. The thanks of the conference were passed to the committee for their services during tho past year, and a new committee was apnointed. The foreign mission affairs wore introduced by the Rev. J. Newman Buttle, butconsideration was postponed until to-morrow morning.