THE METHODIST CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14465, 6 March 1909, Page 10

THE METHODIST CHURCH

(Efiou Our Special Coriii!spondest.)

WELLINGTON, March 5. The conference met in representative session this morning. Naval and military affairs caino under review. R, was reported that tho spiritual .needs of Methodists on the warships visiting New Zealand had been attended to, also that several ministers held tho rank of chaplain captain of Volunteer Companies. The liev. J. A. Lnxford was recently promoted to the rank of major chaplain. The myisters in the four chief ports and the Superintendent of Trinity Church, Dunedin, were appointed chaplains tc Methodists on any warships visiting the Dominion. An interesting report was presented by Mr T. Allen, who, with the Rev. C. 11. Laws, was directed to confer with the authorities at the Mission House at Home for the purpose of getting information cone-crying early missionary work in New Zealand. It was discovered that tho original copies of letters from some of tho early missionaries were still carefully preserved, and it was thought that at an early date steps should be taken to publish in book form information that would be so interesting to Methodists in New Zealand.

It was decided that the bicentenary of Cbarles Wesley should be celebrated on Whit Sunday. 1909. and that the .March quarterly-meetings be circularised on the matter.

the main points in the report of the committee on temperance and morals dealt with the results of the recent noicense poll in New Zealand, the English Licensing _ Bill, Sabbath observance, Methodist immigrants, gambling, the demoralising influence of public pictures of the recent prize fight. It was thought that arrangement* should be made for obtaining complete information about MeUiodist immigrants to New Zealand by communication with tho Rev. C II -Kelly.

A deputation appointed by the conference is (o wait upon the Premier at an early date and urge that billiard saloms should be brought under the control of oca bod.es, and also that steps should be taken to prevent the public exhibion by ■kmematographs and pennv-in-the- * lot machmes of p,ctnres of the BurnsJohnson prize fight. IV Deaconesses' Training Home opened in Christchnrei, last year, "as shown to be progressing satisfactorily under S.ster Mabel, and during her absence m England Sister Ewe ,„, i„ ■"barge. In the matter of probationers there had been several disappointment* dnrmg the year. There were now vacancies for two candidates. The cour«e oi instruction included lectures „n diflerent subjects by Cbristchurch ministers as well as practical work in the city, such as is carried out by deaconesses. ' An interesting announcement was made )V 1 r H. SchofieM that a new mission tall had recently been opened in Auckland. It was a, brick buildinc, with a gallery all round, and bad seating rapacity for 1200 people. The cut of the hall, including .site and furuisliincr was £5465, towards which £2807 had been raised. The Key. J. 'Wilson, the nussioner, had shown great energy and ability in engineering the scheme", a.nd was assisted by a hearty band of workers. The opening services were highly successful, and conversions were recorded each night.

The question of an independent conference for New Zealand produced, an interesting and spirited debate, though itlasted but an hour, and the speakers wore limited to a few minutes. It showed that (lie question discussed for so many yearn was by no means dead. The Rev. S. Lawry moved that a plcbesc-ite should be taken at the next June quarterly meeting to find out how many members of the quarterly meeting were in favour of autonomy provided- that a satisfactory working scheme be provided, the replies to be presented to the Synods following. An amendment was moved by the Rev. H. Buil that the Synod's recommendations and oilier suggestions on the question shciiiiTl be referred to a special committee to report to the present Conference. The amendment was lost by 48 votes to 70,. and. finally, by means of .1 compromise, the following resolutions were, unanimously agreed to: — (1) That- the, following question be submitted to the next June quarterly meeting of each eircuit in the Dominion: — Are the members of this quarterly meeting in favour of an independent conference for New Zealand, subject to a satisfactory working scheme being submitted to the forthcoming district, synods and conferences? (2), That returns be furnished to the synods stating the'number present and the number voting in the. aflirmitive and negative; (3) that ;i committee, which was appointed, draw up a working 6chcme for submission to the .Tune quarterly meetings, and report their findings with any suggested amendments to the svnods (if 1909 and the conference of 1910.

It wns decided that the Stationing Committer should sil on Saturday evening, and that the third rending should he the first business on Monday morn-

In the eveninjr a monster missionary meeting was held in the Taranaki Street Church, preceded by a largely-attended lea in Wesley Hall. It was presided ovor by the president of the Conference, and addressed by Mr W. C. Francis, missionary from New Uuinea, Mr Yung Liang Hwang, the Consul-general for China in New Zealand, and a member of tiic Methodist Chureh, Sister Nellie (Deaconess among the Maori women in the weft coast of the North Island), and the .Rev. W. Slade. of Dimedin. formerly of Fiji.

The president announced the. receipt of a cheque for £100 from an anonymous donor—£so oaeh for the Foreign and Home Mission Funds,