METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12991, 4 June 1904, Page 7

METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE.

——— —S> ' THE MELBOURNE GATHERING. (By Our' Special Corbkspoxden't.) . MELBOURNE, May 27. The. General Conference of tho Methodist Church of Australasia assembled in , a. great G'olljic cliurcli- whoso spira is one of the landmarks of Melbourne. This Wesley Church was built a generation ago at a '[ co:-t. of £10..000, but has been for some i years the headquarters of tlio Central Mission, conducted foy the Rev. - Sir Edgar and his stall. The building, though lofty ami commodious, is not mi ideal piaoe for ii deliberative assembly owing to the massive columns obstructing the view. The Conference- consisted of 164- members, naif of whom, are laymen. New South Wales sends 44 members, Victoria and Tasmania 58, South Australia 26, New Zealand 30, Queensland 14, and West Australia 8. The basis of representation in the General or Legislative Conference is one minister out of 10, elected from the annual or aciminis- : trntivo conference's, with an equal number j of laymen.'

The Melbourne Reception Committee displayed great' energy and courtesy. Trains and steamers were, met, and guests were speedily at home. Tho president of the Victorian Conference held a. reception and a welcome in the Athemenm. Hall. Here members and their host? met at i p.m. on Thursday, 26th, and sal down with a liberal menu before thorn. The repast was. followed by a number of bright speeches of welcome and reply. .JiYoni tho hall wo wont to Wesley Church to open tho Conference. There was a large attendance of the public, and proceedings were hearty and animated; Tho Rev. J. Wabford, a minister of 55 years' standing, engaged in prayer, and appears to be still, in fine voieo and' vigour. A peculiar episode intervened before tho roll-call. A number of members had, through tho change of the naino of the church and other complications arising out of Methodist union, conceived tho idea, that tho retiring president and secretary vcro not legally members of the present Conference, not having been elected by' ballot. Tho retiring president was in. no doubt as to tho legality of his position, but not wishing to rule iu his own causo ho has asked Sir Samuel Way, Chief Justice of South Australia, to look into the question and givo a ruling. The judge came upon tho platform with a bundle of "minutes" and whatnot, and in (ho course of half an hour summed up very clearly in favour oL tho president. This novel digression ill a long programme ttwsptl some, anxiety as to when the .busine-s of tho evening would conclude. President Lane was, however, equal to the occasion, and compressed his address. The address dealt with tho necessity of a high standard of ministerial education, a review of tho past three years of church history, and tho business to be considered. The president then called for a ballot for his successor. The result was 98 voles for Dr W. 11. Fitehett, the wellkixwn author and editor, and 66 for tho retiring secretary, the Rev. W. Williams, P.L.S. Dr Rtehelt,. on taking the chair, asked there pre-ent to givo him tho first proof of their loyalty by believing him when he said' that his election had come ii 3 a surprise to him. Ho did not take it lightly, although this was tho fourth time he had been elected to the chairmanship of a Methodist Conference. Such con- j foroncea were the most perfect instruments for the government of a church. He profoundly mistrusted the impulse which had manifested itself in tho direction of an attempt to water down Methodism into some insipid thing that would bo tasteless to the palate.—("Hear, hear.") Absurdities had manifested themselves in religion, from the conception of Papal infallibility to that latest human absurdity which recently passed through this Continent—the Rev. J. A. Dowie.—(Laughter.) But there were also wonderful developments in modem religion. Oi:e,of them, was the: Salvation Army. The closest reproduction of John Wesley in modern terms was William Booth.—(Applause.) Methodism had ceased to visit tho prisons, and had .given up the streets, and had lost tlfo aggressive note. At this juncture God 1 called a. mm who, outside the boundary of Methodism, did this particular work. Ths other groat development in modern society was Christian Endeavour.— (Applause.)- It was ,the Methodist class meeting, adapted to present-day terras, and made-to sorvo a. now office. He had a kindling, exultant confidence in God's purpose, about tho Church. They had not reached the last sample of it. God was going to break out in new relovatiooi of purpose for them ami of work by them. They should plan great things, and not bo men of small expectations, The greatest heresy of to-day was the. heresy that believed that God would rather do a little- thing than ,

a.great thing for them. Hβ (Dr FitclteU) hail been called to things * outside"-of Methodism, but he had not' betrayed' tho trtist reposed in him, niut there ivas not , gold enough in all tho mines in tho.world to tempt liim from what ho thought was God's place for him in tho Church of his conversion. Those who knew him best' lavew that whatever position for influence he had gained outside of Methodism he had brought' into Methodism r.s> far as he coukl I to serve it.—("Hear, hear.") Ho thanked them for the trust they had reposed in : him, and would try to be loyal to it.— j ! (Prolonged applause.) , ! I For tho secretaryship the vote re-elected Mr Williams by 115, to 18 for Dr Younginaa ami 9 for the ltei\ H. Bull. Tho ' lievs. C. H. Laws and , H. Bull were among tho assista-nt secretaries: Tho preliminary committees had been sitting for two clays, and tho report of tho Committee on the Supernumerary Fund recommended that this burning question be tho first order of business for Monday; that there bo a clearcut question of actuarial or non-actuarial basis; that Dr Morley movo tho first motion, and have half an hour to sum up at tho closo; Mr Carrutliers to move the anumd- : ineiit, and also to have the right to half ian hour to aim up. No amendment not ' 1 tmMM3n!B,^^

touching tho main question of policy will bo psrmittcd during the principal debate, and after the main question is decided, all details, recommendations, KTid ame-ndments arc to be referred to the committee- to" be codified.. This arrangemcait was unanimously agreed to,