METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 13

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

YOUNG PEOPLE’S DEMONSTRATION. The first public function in connection with the, annual Methodist Conference was held last night, when a young people’s demonstration was presented ih the Town Hall Concert Chamber. The principal address of the evening was given by the Eev. E. P, Blarnires, the young people’s department general secretary, who stated that- the latest statistics of the work amongst the Sunday schools showed that there were at present 37,000.000 members, or an increase of 4,000,000 in four years. The Methodist Sunday school movement showed an enrolment of 12,500,000 throughout the world. As Professor Lawson had said, the modern day school had as its origin the Sunday school movement, and education needed a spiritual bias, otherwise the partial education of today would be as dangerous as the ignorance of earlier days. The co-operative work amongst the churches was developing in. religious education under the auspices of the Rew Zealand Council of Religious Education. The Anglican Church would hold a congress in 1932 and would make a special feature of youth work whilst the Presbyterian Church had decided to appoint an additional director for teacher and leader trainer. Twelve Christian youth movements had organised a youths’ committee, under the Council of Religious Education, and committee relied upon 30,000 of the youth of the country to come forward. During the demonstration, the first portion of which was presided over by Mr S. G. M'Farlane, and the latter part by Mr A. Peak, several hymns were sung by the congregation, and the Young People’s Choir, under the direction of Mr J. Simpson, _ sang “The Manx Fishermans Hymn'' and the anthem, “ Saviour, Thy Children Keep.” The Dundas Street Sunday School children presented a descriptive act, “Paul’s Farewell.” and a further descriptive scene, “The Runaway Slave,” was given with excellent effect by the Mornington Sunday School. A particularly appealing address to the children was given by the Rev. P. I. Cooke, of Timaru.