THE METHODIST CHURCH

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 31

THE METHODIST CHURCH

ADELAIDE, May 25. The Rev. Mr Williams (the retiring president of the Methodist Conference) stated in his valedictory address that during the past three years the membership of the Australasian Methodist Church had increased by over 10,000, and the attendance by nearly 40,000. These figures represented a much larger increase than the ratio of increased population. May 27. The Rev. Mr Youngman, of Queensland, was elected president of the Australasian Methodist Conference. The retiring president's address, while congratulatory on the substantial increase in church membership and attendance, deplored the falling off in Sunday schools. On the three years' period there was &, loss of scholars, though there was some comfort in the fact that every conference for the last year reported an increase, the total being 2327. He referred to the growing tendency to deal with social evils by legislative acts. On the whole, the laws were the expression of the people's thought, but Acts of Parliament had little hope of enforcement unless the people were behind them. The retiring president stated that during the past three yeans there had been an increase in the membership of the home churches of 8251. nnd among the native churches of 2320. The attendance had grown by 14,723 in the home churches, and by 23,378 in the Island churches. May 30. The Methodist Conference has agreed to the transfer of the Rev. Mr Keck, of ..New Zealand, to Victoria.