AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12618, 23 March 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

AUSTRALASIAN METHODIST CHURCH

! ANNUAL NEW ZEALAND CON- ■ 'FBRENOB.

j (From Our Special Reporter.) ; ' Matoh 2.. The Methoclisj, Conferquco resumed in representative session this morning, the Proaidont (Rev. J. A. Luxford) in the chair. Tho report on church property was presented by the Rev. H. Bull. The total debt on securities was shown to 'be now £25,660—a moderate sum upon ohurch, school, and parsonage buildings valued at £246,940, to which has to 'bo added sites at a reported original cost of £53,084. Altogether, tho current trust, finances of the Ohurch are, as sh,ownby the returns, in a : sound and encouraging condition, and j should exert a stimulating influence in connection with the Churoh's firfure work. There are 626 sites, 303 churches, with seating accommodation for 52,769, 83 schoolrooms, 93 parsonages, and 55 other buildings. • Tho C'onuexiohal Fire Insurance Fund report stated that tho increase during the past year was £7635; total present business, £91,175; total amount insurod, £151,630.' About 63 i>or cent, is insured in the, connexional office. The following resolution wae unanimously passed:—"That this conference expresses its deep regret that the ; Education ' Bill has passed through the British Parliament, and its entire sympathy with the Nonconformists in the Home Country who are called upon, in the interests of religious liberty, to offer passive, resistance to the operations of this unjust measure. That a copy, of the shove resolution bo sent to the president of the English Conference, Mr It. W,' Parks, M.P (editor . of - the ■ British. Weekly Methodist Times), and to the Rev. Dr Clifford." The cpnforence on resuming irj the-after-noon wont into committee to.consider the Supernumerary and Widows' Fund. The balance sheet showed: Income fnjm circuits, £1181 15s: ministers. £7bl 2s; arrears, £6!> 17s 4d ;-a total of £2009 14s 4d, which has been remitted to the general treasurers, .Melbourne. The report from the Century Commemoration Fund was presented hy the 'Rjfv. Wm. Lee. The amount reciwd during the year from circuits on account of subscriptions lias been £1237 7s 10(1.'and tho amount paid by the treasurers to church trusts has been £2982.' A sum of £50 has also been paid to the Home Mission Funds. The total amount of unpaid promises on February 1 f was £2805 9s 2d.

March 5. Tlie Methodist Conference resumed 11113

morning in representative session. Iho Rev. J.' N. Buttlo road an abstract of the minutes of tho Board of Missions and the balance sheet, which showed the total receipts to have been £1275; 19s ed, the Auckland district contributing. £306 Sβ 2d, Wanganui £127 17b 10d, Wellington £151 4s 4d, Nelson £85 15s Bd,,Canterbury'£39l 9s 9d, and Otago £213 6s .lid. It was rc-solvedr-" That the conference again commits the foreign mission enterprises of tho Church to tho prayerful consideration of its members. From many lands voices call for help. Most' of New Guinea is still without the Gospel. In those fiolds in which we have entered there is great need of extension,.and from distant India our hretliren repeat the old invitation, ' Come over and help us' to save the million.) of mankind. Without a large augmentation of means these-crios must be disregarded. The conference therefore urgns on all the members of ( the Church the) .needs of the millions who, whilst we are satisfied with overy good thing, look up and are not fed." " / '

The Home Mission balance sheet and report wore submitted, find tool: up the attention of the conference for a considerable time. The income amounted to £2720 19n 8d! The estimated expenditure for the present year was passed as follows:—For Maori' missions. £1037 3s 4d; Home Mission stations, £318 15s; aided circuits with home missionary, £200; aided circuits, £160;

special, £110; general, £211;— a total o£ £3030 10s, 4d. I Tho third deputation waited on tho conference this afternoon ' ropresenthig the Ministers' Association. It consisted of the

Revs. J. M'Kenzio (Presbyterian), D. Hird (Congregational), 0, E.. Ward (Primitive Methodist), and R. S.' Tlie greetings were eplicitous. Ths Rev. "W. A. Sinclair (Dunedin) and Mr E. fi. Penney (Blenheim) replied on behalf of the conference. '■' . March 6. On the motion of the Rev. J. J. hems, it was resolved—"That the copforenco expresses i its deep semo of thci'loß sustained by the i Christian Church through* the death of the Rev. Hiigli Price H\ighe«, as an carnc?fc evangelist, owned of God in the conversion of many souls, an ecclesiastical leader ji-hose wide outlook and stimulating pounsel resulted in a new life and fuller adoption to modern needs in Mctlioilism. jVs head of the

■ London West find Mission', and an eloquent advocate of the reunion of Christendom, Mr Hughes rendered invaluable servioe not only to his own Ohurch but to the whole worid. The conference thanked God for such a man, and expressed sympathy with Mrs Hughes and her family, as well as with the English Conference, under their heavy bereavement, and prays that the mantle of our departed brother may rest upon all our ministera, and that his example may lead the entire Church to fuller' consecration to God and more fruitful labour for tho good of humanity." 1 It was resolved that the conference expresses ite appreciation.of the work done by Sister Eleanor and Jlise I/ayton, and wishes them God-speed in the future. , Tho return |of members of tho various churches working under the oon/orenoo, as given at the end of : Soptomb'er, 1902, shows:—Auckland district, 2950, an increase of 104; Wanjranui, i 767, an inc-reWof 14; Wellington, 17E9, an increase of 119; Nelson, 994, an increase of 34; Canterbury, 3291, a deorease of 46; (Stago, 2007, an i orease of 59; Maori members, 1196, nn increase of 20. The attendants on publio worship, including. Sunday school-scholars, are given as under: Auckland district, 17,218; Wanganui, 9027; ■Wellington, 10,612; Nelson, 5162; Canterbury, ' 16,542; Otago, 9995; Maori work, 5175. This shows a total increase of • 775 Europeans and SO Maoris; the grand total being"73,72l. The evening session of the conference was devoted to a public mootiiig on Foreign and Home Missions. Tho president occu- | pied tlio chair. There was a crowded church, amongst Fhe congregation being a large number of ministers "of other churches. Addresses wore delivered bv tho Revs. William Slado (late missionary of Fiji), William Ready (Auckland), and Mr J. F. Arnold, (H.H.R., Dunedin). Tho addresses by the two latter speakers' were on Home Missions. Jfaroh 7. The Methodist Conference opened this morning in ministerial session to receive the third and final draft of stations from the Stationing Committee. The third draft adopted was the same as that of. the second, an event that has never happened before in the history of the Church in New Zealand. This is not to be understood that ro lime was devoted to tho consideration of the third she«t, for fully three hours were spent

in discussing the various stations. Tho following are the appointmentstin the O'ago <iMlrict:— Otago District.—Dunedin—Trinity, P. W. Fairelouglr, Dunedin Central Mission, W. A. Sinclair; Oargill road, Josiah Ward;

Hostel, home missionary; Peninsula, home missionary; Mrirnington, T. 6. Brooke (editor Methodist Outlook); Port ' Chalmers, T. E. Thomas; Balolutha. A. Mitchell; Milton, C. ; H. Stahdage; Lawrence, B. H. Ginger;' Invercargill. S. F. Prior; Orimaru, D. Sf'Ntolioll ? Gore, H. L. Blamires; Otautau, P. W. Boj-s: Riverton, home missionary; Roxburgh, William Beckett; Cromwell, J. A. Hoiking; Tapnnni! home missionary; Palinerston, home missionary. The election of chairman of district veeulteel in the Rev. C. H-. Garland being fleeted for Auckland district, Rev. H. R, Dewslmry for Wanganui, Rev. W. 0. Oliver, for Weliin S ton, Rev. W. .T. Willianis for Nelson, the president for Canterbury, and the Bev. P. W. PnircloiiKh for Otajro. The Rev. C. H. Garland was anpointad lecturer on systematic theology and elocution. Rev. J. .T. Lmvis ecclesinstioFil history and Methodist polity, and the Rev. J. H. Simmomls homiletics and Bible exegeses. Ma'ch 9. The conference resumed on Monday morning, but the business was largely of a forma' nature. Sunday school matters was Hie firat business under review. A moet encouraging J report was presented. by. the Rev; 0 E. Lawes, The gradual decrease of scholars

has been arrested, and the conference was pleased to fe'nonr "there' is now an" upward tendency in the attendance. The Rev. P. W. Fairolpugh urged the duty of parents So bring their children to the ordinary services of the Church. A lengthy discussion took place on the motion to majro. removaj exposes a charge, an the Contingent Fund.- A niost volumiloiia report/was, presented, and'a resolution was ultimately o&rried to, receive tho rejiort, thank the convener, and discharge, the committee. The. decision of the ooriferen<x> is, therefore, against any change in the present system. Ro the question of church union, the Rss-.E. Bijll «:ee. aßßoiatatLcofliCDiir-ot tie. central Committee. Corresponding com-