WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 67

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

REV. C. H. GARLAND, President of the New Zealand Wcsleyan Methodist Conference, opened at Wellington, March 2, 1901. The Rev. C. H Garland (w hose photo appeared in last ksue) has been a minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in New Zealand for 20 years. His father, ' now verging on his eighty-first year, has occupied the position of seamen's missionary , in London, under the direction of the Wesleyan Conference, for 46 years. He is the author of .come popular volumes full of . thrilling incidents, on his life-w ork among i British seamen. ; and no one is held in | higher esteem of those hardy makers of the Empire than is the venerable father of this sketch. The Rev. C. H. Garland received his college training for the ministry in England, and on his arrival in New Zea- ! land was placed in charge of the Northern j Wairoa circuit. The next year he was j selected by the Rev. W. Morley as hs ! locum tenens in the St. Albans circuit, i while Mr Morley Mir self travelled the colony in the interests of the church building and loan fund. Since that time Mr i Garland has received appointments to some ot the most important circuits in the colony. During his term at New Plymouth the building of the 'beautiful Whiteley Memorial Church was undertaken and brought to a successful completion. Mr Garland's pulpit utterances are of an attractive and popular character. They are marked by a bright and rational optimism, felicity of expression, beauty and aptness of illustration. Mr Garland was chosen by the conference of 1599 to fill the important position of general secretary of the Century I Commemoration fund. In the interests of this movement he has united the work of the circuits and churches in New Zealand, and has secured promises amounting to between £17,000 and £18,000. More than £11,000 of this sum has already 'been paid over to the general tieasuiers. The annual conference has conferred upon Mr Garland the highest honour at its disposal. By a practically unanimous vote he has been elevated to the presidency, and he has our best wishes for a bright and prosperous year of office. REV. D. J. MURRAY, Secietary of the New Zealand We.«leyan Methodist Conference, held at Wellington, March 2, 1901. The Rev. D. J. Munay ai rived in New Zealand in 1879. His ministry was exercised in England before leaving for this colony, Brighton being Ins last circuit in the Old -^and. Reaching Dunedin in time for the annual conference of 1880, he was received and appointed by that conference to a circuit. His talents is a careful and painstaking administrator were soon made manifest, and under h:s pastoral oversight and good management his several circuits have enjoyed a large measure of prosperity. His pulpit deliverances are instructive and edifying, giving evidence of wide reading and studioiio pieparation. On removing from Lyttelton, lie took charge of the Thames circuit, where he is now stationed. Mr Murray s business aptitude was early taken advantage of in synod and conference, and he has rendeied most acceptable service by the part he has taken in the procedure of those church courts. On six occasions Mr Murray has 'been elected to the important office of secretary of the conference, and the prompt and efficient manner in which he has discharged the onerous duties of this office has won from time to time the warm thanks of his lav and ministerial brethren. Mr Murray is regarded as one of the coming men," for whom in due time still higher honour.? are in store. THE REV. ROBERT HADDEX, T-ahupotiki, is a young half-caste clergyman, and is one of the most zealous workers the Wesleyans have amongst the Maoris in Taranaki. Mr Hadden speaks English fluently, having been educated at the Three Kings College, and he has powers of description that many an Englishman might envy. His mother was a pure Maori of high iineage, who was brought up 'by the old missionaries. She was a Wesleyan, and married a white man at Hokianga. She brought up her children well, and tried to keep them away from the bushmen and sailors, who made Hokianga in the old kauri timber trading days a pandemonium, with their constant fighting and drunkenness. On his mothei's death, he and his two .young bi others were set adnft. They wandered away to his mother's people, who received them gladly. The recollection of what his mother had taught him made life at Pari-

haka revolting to Mr Hadden. Subsequently he met 'Mr Hammond, the missionary, who conceived a great affection for him and caused him to be educated. Mr Hadden, on hi* mother's side, is a grand nephew of the celebrated warrior, Titokowaru.