METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 4

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the Methodist Church will open its sessions in Auckland on the 21st inst., when the Rev. J. F. Goldie, the famous missionary of the Solomon Islands, will be called to the president’s chair. The conference of last year elected Mr Goldie to this honourable position as a tribute to the magnificent work he has carried on in the Solomons for close on 30 years. Dunedin-will be .represented in the conference by the Revs. H. E. Bellhouse, W. Wills, .T. A. Pybus, R. Richards, -W. B. Scott, W. Walker, and G, 11. Peterson, with whom will be associated Mesdames Allen and Harvey, Miss A, Cameron, Messrs D. C. Cameron, J, B, Shacklock, J. Christie, and G. Crosbic.

The most interesting function of the conference will be the opening of the new Theological College, which has? been erected at a cost of £40,000, and will be opened practically free of debt. There will also be opened at Paerata, where Wesley College is situated, a college chapel which is the gift of Mrs W. H. Smith in memory of her nephew. This chapel has been erected at a cost of £BOOO. Much committee work will take up the time of the members of conference, and the stationing of ministers will create a great deal of interest.,,, There are less removals than usual this; year,’but the position does-not, seem any easier of solution on , that account., The Diinejditi ministers due to remove after the conference has completed its sessions are the Revs W. Wills, W. B. Scott, W. Walker, GJ R. Peterson, and H. V. Utting. Mr Peterson,.having, completed his four years of pi’obation, will proceed to the conference for the purpose of beluga ordained !to the full work pf the ministry, .