AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12607, 10 March 1903, Page 3

AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL NEW ZEAJAND CON- " FBRENCE, . ( Fboh Our Special Repoxteb.) ' ' CHBISTCHDICH, March 9. The. conference iesum<d on Monday tmorning. , . ■ Sunday school matters wis the first business under reviow, A nost encouraging report was; presented l>y, the Rev. C. H. Lawes. The gradual, decease of scholars has been arrested, and tie conference was pleased to know thero is now an upward tendency in' the attendant. The Rev. P. "W-. Fairclough urged the duty of "parents to bring their children: 1 to the ordinary services'of the Church. A lengthy discussion icok place on the notion' to make removal (xpenees a charge on the' Contingent Fund.A most voluminous report 'was and a resolution was ultimately oarried to rlceive the report, thank the convener, and duchargo the committee. The decision of tie conference is, thefbfore, against any change in the present system. Re -■ the question of church union,' the Rev. H. Bull was appointed convener of the Central Committee. Corresponding committees were appointed' in each of tho districts. The- Otago comnittee consists of the Revs. P. W. Fairclougl, Ward, Sinclair, and Brooke (convener), apd Messrs Rosevear,, Stephens, . Shacklook, Bedford, M.H.R., •Arnold, M.H.R., Cameroi, de Lantour, and . C.. Duke. The conference decidid to set up the Foreign Mission Comnittee at New Plymouth, and appointed tie Rev. J. N. Buttle the, secretary.' It was slso resolved that the Kev. W. Slade and, Mr C. Hicks bo appointed correspondinj members of the committee. . /.- The Bible-in-schools business was brought - oh by the Rev. W.' G. Parsonson, and the following committee was appointed:—The ' Revs, the President, W. Lee, H. Bull, W. Baumber, W. ■'£(. Parsonson, and 0. H. Laws, with Messrs W. Harris, J. A. Flesher, C.' S. Howard, J. C. Prudhoe, C. E. Salter, and R. H. Turner; Mr J. A. Flesher convener. Temperance matters evoked considerable discussion, and various alterations were determined in regard {o future methods of work. It was Resolved to incorporate it with the duties of tho Public Morals Com-, mittee. This committee is henceforth to be centred in Dunedin, and the Rev. W. A. Sinclair was appointed the convener. A strong protest, on the motion of Mr'W. G. Bassett, of Wanganui, was entered against the running l of special trains oh Sunday. The following is the text of the'resolution: "That this conference views with deep regret- the manifest disposition of the Minister of Railways to run Sunday nassenger trains during tho Christmas arid Now Year holidays, and expresses the opinion that the running of such trains is inimical to the' truest interest of the colony and en unwarranted trespass of the railway employees' day of Test;" Tho recommendation of the Otago Synod that in- future, in consideration of the station sheet, the, conference commence with the'district in .which for the time being tho conference meets was accepted. Ailarge and representative committee was appointed to ' take into consideration the advisability of securing ft suitable sits for the. erection of a large central hall in Dunedin for the Centra] Mission. A number of resolutions, dealing -with questions of much interest to both the publio and the Church, were passed, and the conference closed after-an evening session for the reading of the journal. A REVIEW. The Methodist- Conference which has just closed ite sittings, stands out marked by some sp'ecjal features of interest. Never before have so many Methodist ministers and laymen met together, to transact the business affairs of the Church. The increasing size of the conference is a. silent testimony to the growing power of the Methodist Church throughout this colony. On no previous occasion have the eyes of the' publio been fastened upon the conference with such eager interest. This ig due to the fact that never before has the' conference , received suoh distinguished honours in the matter of deputations. The deputation from the Ministers' Association was but- a repetition of a. most familiar experience. It is difficult to imagine, a conference without it. For the first time in it. history the conference was permitted' to wdcomo a- deputation representing the Church of England. Nothing could be more admirable than tho spirit of tho address submitted by the Dean of Christelmrch and supported by Canon Knowles. The approach of these representatives of the Church of England was a frank expression of fraternal friendship in Christian service, and as such, it was most cordially and gratefully reciprocated -by the members of the conference. Nothing but good can be the outeonv. of such a demonstration of brotherhood in all that is essential to' the highest service of humanity. But the crowning feature of interest in connection with the conference was undoubtedly the deputation that camo representing the General AssemUyof tho Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. That was something very much mora than a fraternal greeting. It was oharged with an overture that involved nothing less than a proposal for union between the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. If 10 years ago anyone bad ventured to hint at such an overture as being advisable it would have been scouted as an impossibility.' But the world of ideas moves with lightning speed in modern times, and the impossible has become the actual. With most; admirable tact and in exoellent spirit.did the Revs. J. Gibb and Dr Erwin discharge tho important commission with whioh they were intrusted. They.spoke as men who wore fully alive to the gravity of the issues at stake, and as men, too, who were inspired by an ideal that gave promise of largely increased powers of usefulness in' connection with the work of the church in this colony. The oonference could not do otherwise than respond most cordially to a proposal that .was prompted by such a praiseworthy, motive. There is therefore now presented the hopeful spectaole of three of the leading Evangelical Churches in New Zealand—the Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational—definitely committed to a serious consideration of how far it is possible for them to be welded together in organic union/ The slightest knowledge of the vast and varied interests involved will make it plain that such a union, if ever consummated at all, can only take place after somo yeare of careful preliminary negotiations. It js to the credit of New Zealand, however, that it is probably the first country in the world where tho idea of such a union has taken anything like a dofinite shape. Social questions obtrude themselves with increasing prominenoe on the attention of the conference year by year. It was inevitable that at the conference immediately following the local option poll of 1902 a clear note of thanksgiving should be struck concerning the victories gained in the direction of nolicense. The Methodist Church stands broadbrcasted against the liquor traffic, and will be more than ever a force to be recognised in the cause of temperance reform. The cause , of Bible in schools has no more enthusiastic advocates than in the Methodist conference. Educational reform as well as temperance reform cbmmands the earnest attention of this important' section of the . Churoh. In connection with tho directly spiritual work of the Church much grateful testimony was borne at the conference at the quickened energy that had resulted from the-various special missions that had been conducted in the colony during the past year. Methodism by its very constitution is made keenly sensitive to any clear call to .aggressive spiritual movement, and shares largely and gains largely in all enterprises that aim at spiritual conquest. It was made clear from what was laid before the conference that both in relation to living membership and church property the Methodist Church in this colony is sounding a distinct note of advance. It .is also becoming increasingly alive to the olaims of extending the Gospel into the'regions beyond. "Steps were taken at the conference to, ensure a deepened interest in the v cause of foreign missions. The well-informed addresses of the Rev. W. Slado. late of Fiji, made a.deep impression on the conference, and now that Ire is to labour in Now Zealand he will be in,a position to aid the Church to a wise leadership in relation to missionary cnterprise.Jln matters of constitutional reform, the New /. Zealand Conference is bound by the legislation adopted by the Australasian General Conference, -whicfc ,meets once in