METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2764, 6 March 1907, Page 48

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 1. I Tho thirty-fourth annual conference of tho Australasian Methodist Church in New Zealand met in the Durham Street Church, Christchurch, on Friday evening. There was i a very large attendance of ministers and lay repres9ntatives from all parts of the colony, members of the various Methodist congregations in the cilv, visitors,- and others. I The chair was taken by the Rev. T. G. Brooke, the retiring president, who was ! supported by the R-sv. J. N. Buttle (ex- . president) and the Rev. C. H. Laws, B.A. j (secretary of conference). The proceedings were opened with the hymn ''And are we • ' yet alive to see each other's face." The roll was then called, and was responded to by 82 ministers and 89 laymen. ! PRESIDENT'S RETIRING ADDRESS. j Tho President, in the course of his address, dealt with a somewhat wide range of topics. Referring to the English Education Bill, he declared that tho House of Lor'ls and tha bench of bishops must learn the lovson ihat was taught their predecessor in the days of the Common wealth. Sympathy we*? expressed with the French Government in its struggle against the } Papacy. The new theology of the minister ( of tho City Temple was referred to briefly, ! tho opinion being expressed that there 1 was no need for alarm over such criticism. Slight reference was made to the state of affairs in Russia, to tho passing away of j Mr Seddon, the appointments to the Legisj lative Council— three out of the 13 being lojal' sons of tho Methodist Church, — the No-liconso vote, the results of the census. In conclusion, the President urged a policy of aggro-jion r for which purpose he urged j that the Home Mission Fund must bo inI creased by £1000 a year. A magnificent pa-t laid upon them a heayy responsibility. A gloriou> future invited them to still greater conquests. THE NEW PRESIDENT. * The election of the president for the coming year then took place. This was done by "ballot, and resulted in the election of tlic Rev. Wm. Siade by a very decisive ■vote. The president-elect was born in Stafford- ' .sb ire, of Methodist parents, in the year ' 1859. In 1878, through the instrumentality of the Rev. J. Bullcr, he was induced .to I ' come to New Zealand. He landed in ! Lytlolton in August of thai year, and was employed for a tew months in home mission wod: at Masiertcn iiiklt the late Rev. J. j B. Richardson. At tho Auckland Conferj <>n<;o of 1879 Io was accepted as a candidate, ami sent to Tbrc<* Kings Colkge. In August, 18S0, on t ! ie death of tha Raw C 11. S.clinackcnberg-. he was called out by the president and sont a^ supply to Raglan. j Tho following conference appointed him to I that circuit, and there ho remained for the , ensuing ihrco years. By the Conference of j 1884- he was appointed to Tauranga. There ! Mr Slade enjoyed a year of signal blessing | in his work. He waa ordained at the Dun- ! odnr ConfoieiHN} of 1885, and appointed to Poit Chalmers. During this year he offered for foreign mission work, and was appointed by the New South Wales Conferj enco of 1686 to tlie Cakan drove circuit m Fiji. Tins circuit has been devastated by a humcano, and the exig»ucies of a wrecked station .=or\ed to discover and develop in the young misionary a latent genius for mechanics, which made him. ; from the standpoint of the artisan, one of ihe mo-t competent and useful missionaries, iho district has ever known. For nine j years Mi Slac'e- laboured in this extensive j circuit — a eiicuit containing some of the j most Ijemghtod tubes in Fiii, and involving ( hundreds of miles of va travelling in some • <,f the most treacherous waters of the group. j In 1895 t!'o important circuit of Ba was , I formed, ?r.d Mr Slade was selected to c«- ' tablish the station. He designed and erected tho Mission House, and laboured in i | this circuit for the following seven years. J During his long term of 16 years in Fiji . Mr Slade proved himse 7 f a most successful j missionary. His «ane and practical expoei- i tion of Christianity, his able administration, his fearless championship of the natives commanded alike the respect of the

European and the confidence of the Fijian, and were the admiration of even those who opposed him. In 1902 Mr Slade retired from the foreign mission field. For one year he was employed by the Mission Beard as foreign mission deputation ia Victoria and New Zealand, and in 1903 he was transferred again to this colony, and appointed by the last Christchurch Conference to the Manukau circuit. During his j four years there Mr Slade has carried out | extensive church renovation, and built a ■ large and up-to-date parsonpge. The new President is one of the ablest men in the ' New Zealand Conference. He is a nan ; with a wide knowledge of everyday affairs, and a statesmanlike outlook. There is' no j littleness about him. He is large of Vi'n j and large of heart — a man of sound judgJ ment, " great in council," and with more i than the average of " saving common i sense." He has a commAndJuig personality, i is a natural leader of men — one who i« ! conceded a front seat as a matter of course, I and whose strength and optimism are in- • fectious. As a preacher the President is forceful, fresh, and thoroughly up to date. , He makes no attempt at the ornate, but in strong, compressed, incisive language he : knows how to drive a message home. . Under the leadership of the new President , i a year of prosperity for the Church is coni fidently expected. I OFFICERS APPOINTED. The Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., was reelected secretary by an overwh-alming majority, and the following officers were also ' appointed: — Assistant secretaries, Revs. S. Griffith and A. B. Chappell, M.A. ; journal secretary, Rev. A. Ashcroft ; corresponding secretary, Rev. T. A. Joughin. TOTES OF THANKS. "Votes of thanks were unanimously passed! to the retiring President (the Rev. T. G. '■ ' Brooke) and" the secretary (the Rev. C. H. , Laws, 8.A.) for their services in tho past , year. , FIRST DRAFT OF STATIONS. 1 ; The first draft of stations was read by the secretary as follows: — Auckland District. — Auckland (Pitt Street) : Rev. J. A. Luxford, Rev. J. Blight, Rev. W. Tinsley. Auckland (West): Rev. G Bond. Auckland (East): Rev. G. W. Spence, Rev. W. R. Tuck, 8.A. ; one wanted. Wesley College, Three Kings, and governor of Theological Institution: Rev. J. H. Simmonds. Auckland Methodist Mission : Rev. J. Wilson. Auckland (North Shore): Rev. S. Griffith. Auckland (Birkenhead): Rev. G. S. Cook. Maori Mission (Auckland): Rev. W. Gittos, Rev. A. J. Seamer. Manukau : Rev. R. Taylor, a home missionary. Maburangi : Rev. J. D. Jory, a home missionary. Thames : Rev. T. Fee. Upper Thames: Rev. J. ' Dukes, Rev. T. W. Newbold, Rev. G. Snadden, a home missionary. Franklin : Rev. J. J. Mather; ono wanted. Cambridge : Rev. W. H. Beck, a home missionary. Hamilton : Rev. B. F. Rothwell. Huntly : Rev. •W. W. Avery. Paparoa : Rev. R. P. Keall. Northern Wairoa: Rev. , W. Wills, a home missionary. WhangaTei: Rev. J. G. W. Ellis. Rotorua: Rev. G. . F. Stockwell. Tauranga, Coromandel, Helensville, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Wbangaroa : Home missionaries. Wangsnui District. — New Plymouth : - Rev. T. G. Brooke, Rev. R. F. Williams* I a home missionary. Waitara: Rev. F. F. ' Read. Inglewood: Rev. E. D. Patohett. I Stratford: Rev. A. N. Scotter, B.A. Eltham : Rev. A.- J. Reed- Hawera : Rev. S. J. Gibson, Rev. R. Richards- Patea: A home missionary. Opunake: Rev- J. ' W. Worboys. Kaponga: Rev. W. B. ] Scott. Waniranui: Rev. J. G. Chapman. Aramoho : Roy. W. J. Oxbriow. Rangitikei: Rev. T. G. Carr. Sandon : Rev. C. 11. Standage. Feilding: Rev. C. Beecroft. Palmerston North: Rev. J. J. Lewis, Rev. H. Besjgs. Kimboiton: A homo missionary. Taihape: Rev. F. Copeland. Waimarino: One wanted. West Coast Maori ; Mission : Rev. T. G. Hammond, Rev. R. Haddon. Mokau: One wanted. Kaitieke: A home missionary. Wellington District.— Wellington (Tara- , naki street): Rev. P. W. Fairclough, Rev. C. Porter. 'Wellington Mission: One wanted. Organising secretary Young I Men's Movement: Rev. H. L. Blami^s. I Wellington (South) : Rev. W. J. Williams. i Johnsonville : Rev. E. P. Blamires. Hutt:. | Rev. S. J. Garlick (supply, Rev. J. i Richards), Rev. R. Wilson. Carterton: Rev. W. J. Elliott. South Wairarapa:' Rev. J. W. Griffin, a home missionary. Masterton: Rev. J. N. Buttle. Napier: Rev. A. C. Lawry. Hastings: Rev. L. Hudson. Gisborne: Rev. C. Griffin. Eketahuna: Rev. G. T. Marshall. Dannevirke: Rev. T. T. Thomas, B.A. Levin and Otaki: Rev. J. Wriglcy. Rev. P. R. Paris. Waipawa: Roy. G. Frost. Wcodville: Rev. B. H. Ginger. Pahiatua: Rev. T. F. Jones. Norsewood: A home missionary. j Nekon District. — Nolsen : Rev. C H. Garland. Richmond: Rev. S. H, D. Perymsn. Blenheim: Rev. C. Penney, Rev. H. Ranston. Hokitika: Rev. J. J. Pendray. Greymouth: Rev. T. W. Vealie. Motueka: Rev. C. Roberts. Reefton : Rev. IT. J. Wallis. Westport : Rev. M. A. R. ! Pratt. Kumara and Havelock: Hcmo missionaries. j Canterbury District. — Christchurch (Durham Street): Rev. H. R. Dewsburv, Rev. W. Roady, Rev. T. R, Richards, Rev. A. B. Chappell. M.A. Connexional secretary, and authorised rppreesntative : Roy. H. ' Bull. Christehu'-oh Methodist M.'isicn : Rev. W. Ba'umber. Christchurch (South): Rev. W. C. Oliver, Rev. J. A. Lochore. Christchurch (St. Albans): Rev. W. Plade-. Christchurch (Papanui) : Rev. D. M'NicolJ. Lyttelton: Rev. S. Lawry. Sprinjrsfon : Roy. C. Abernethy. Taitapu: Rev. B. F. Jainc. Leetston: Rev. T. E. Thomas, M.A. Kaiapoi: Rev T. Trestrail, Rev. E. O. Blamires. Ran^iora : Rev. J. T. Pinfold, Rev. A. Asheroft. Oxford and Malvern : Rev. J. R. Clark. Timaru : Rev. S. J. Sernoll. a homo missionary. Waimate : Rev. T. A. Joughin. Temuka : Rev. J. H. Haslam. Ashburton r Rev. A. Peters. Rev. C. Blair. WiUowby: Rev. W. S. Bowie. Amberley and Banks Peninsula : Home missionaries. Ofcaffo District. — Dunedin (Trinity): Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., one wanted. Southern Maori Mission: Rev. Neko Herai Papakakura. Dunedin (Central Mission): Rev. 1 W. A. Sinclair. Dunedin (Cargill Road): , Rev. W. Grifrg-, Roy. R. F. Wvlie. Dunedin (Moniinsrton) : Rev. D. J. Murray. j Dunedin (Roslyn): Rev. H. E. Bellhousej Mosgiel: Rev. A. C. Randerson, M.A. ! Port Chalmers: Rev. J. Ward. Balclutha: Rev. F. W. Boys. Milton: Rev. C. C. Harrison. Lawrence: Rev. C. Eaton. Invercargill : Rev. A. Mitchell, Rev. AY M'Bean. Oamaru: Rev. T. N. Griffin. Goro: Rev. J. A. Hosking. Otautau: Rev. W. Beckett. Roxburgh: Rev. W. Green-

slade. Cromwell: Rev. A. Reader. Riverton, Tapanui, Palmerston, and Win ton: Home missionaries.