METHODIST CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 21

METHODIST CONFERENCE

THE ANNUAL MEETING. The opening session of the annual conference of the Methodist Ohureh of Now Zealand was held in Trinity Ohureh on the 28th. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair (the retiring president), who occupied tho chair, was supported by tho Revs. A. 0. Lawry (an ex-president), J.' Veale (vice-president), and E. Drake (secretary to the conference), and there was a very largo attendance of representatives and visitors. The gathering was opened "with the hearty singing of the National Anthem, followed by brief devotional exercises. Tho roll-call was answered by just over 200 representatives. RETIBING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, in the course of his address, referred to the death of several persons, who, in past years, had taken a in the affairs of the Church. Amongst those he mentioned the Rev. P. W. Fairclough, the Rev Clias. Penny, Mr G. W. J. Spence, and Mr S. J. Garliok, and passing on he mad© sympathetic reference to the more recent death of Dr Bedford. Touching upon the war, he said that national character had revealed itself in tho heroic manner in which the people of our nation were enduring sorrow _ and Buffering. We were knit together in a royal fellowship of suffering—a companionship of sorrow. The bravery displayed has not all been on the part of the soldiers in battle. Tho bravery of the mothers of our boys had been superb.—(Applause.) Honours hadl come to many Methodist soldiers—officers and men. A Methodist Bible class member had gained the Victoria Cross —(applause),—whilst many, others had received the Military Cross and the Military Medal. But best of all was the testimony of the ohaplains that the religion of the Methodist boys had stood the terrible test well. The chaplains had continued to render magnificent service. Chaplain Blaxnires after three years of faithful service had returned home. Chaplain Neale had been severely wounded, and was now making a good recovery. Chaplain Sullivan, who had made himself such a power amongst the men, had been compelled through a serious throat affection to retire from the work. Their prayer would be that ho; might yet be permitted to render further service to his Church. They also welcomed Chaplain Walker. —(Applause.) _, Evidence had been accumulating during the year that there was a deepening flow yt spiritual life " in their churches and a quickened desire for the adoption of a more spiritual programme by the Church. They were able to report for the year an increase of 290 church members and 516 junior members. The most outstanding event of the year in the life of tho Church had been the splendid effort to raise the sum of £IO,OOO for their foreign missionary work. The closing of hotels at 6 p.m. was but the first instalment of other liquor reforms, which were bound to come in the near future Their goal was the utter destruction of that traffic. This year they anticipated that another opportunity would be given to pronounce with regard to the continued existence of the traffic in thia dominion. Ho trusted that with so many world objectlessons before the eyes of the people they would pronounce a verdict that would mean the death of this vilest fiend of all. But while endeavouring by political means to secure prohibition, they must not neglect the work of instructing the young people concerning the evil* of alcohol and intemperance. If Britain emerged triumphant from thia'war without mastering the liquor evil within, one did not need to be a prophet to predict what her future must be. All ardently desired to see her victorious over Germany, but we also desired to eee her victorious over the foes in'her own household. We had been enslaved by liquor. We had been worshipping at the golden shrine of wealth, and now we were burning our money at the rate of six millions a day. We had madly pursued pleasure and loved ease- and softness. Women had affected outrageousnes3 of dress and extravagance of conduct. They had ostentatiously fondled their pet dogs and regarded ohildren as an intolerable incumbrance. There had been a fierce bitterness in politics, a relentless sex war was being waged and oivil war threatened. It was a time of crisis. It was a day of judgment.. It was one of the days of the coming of the Son of Man. There must be no peace but a right peace that would make another such War as this impossible. Our brave men were fighting to free the world from war. to make a better world for our children and their children to live v in, and happier days were coming. A new age was being ushered in. We were even now feeling its birth pangs. The old order was changing before our eyes, yielding place to new, and soon the bells would ring in the day of peace, the gladdest day that we should ever See. —'(Applause.) Referring to the need for changed methods to meet the changed conditions that would arise with the advent of peace, the speaker asked: "Does the Church realise the vastness of the opportunity, the seriousness of the crisis, the solemnity of the responsibility? Is the Church to have no committee of investigation and reconstruction? Is she to be the only laggard? Is all well with the Church? There was not one of them bold enough to say all was well with the Church. They were all discontented with the conditioii of things and the measure of their discontent was the measure of our reality. Money could be raised in abundance for all projects of the Church, but tho spiritual pulse was low. Their impact on the world l was feeble. . He knew that much of the criticism to which the Church was subjected was foolish, unfair, and ignorant. It was the criticism of men who knew little of the real work and mission of the Church. The Church was not dead or dying. But there was abundant; room for improvement and reformation. God was speaking to the churches to-day in trumpet tones. If the church of to-day would not do the work- of Christ in His way then He would create another instrument through which He could work. If the Church failed in this great crisis of human'history its condemnation would be severe. Tho Church had weathered m"any a storm, and she would weather this, for infinite wisdom was at the holm. But tho Church was conservative and slow tp move. She must arouse terself and apply herself to v tho poluf-.ion of tho tremendous problems of the time. A no/v democracy wda arising, educnted by tho lessons and experiences of tho war.

There would be a demand in the name of justice for a greater equalisation of opportunities. The signs of industrial and social unrest were looming large upon the world's horizon. Changes in the direction of tho socialising of tho things of life were being forced upon tho world by this mighty struggle, and wore being calmly accepted. But no place was found for religion in the programmes of many of the Socialist leaders. Materialism was challenging the Church, and tho Church must boldly take up tho challenge. What was the supremo need of the Church in view of the present and prospective demands upon it? It was not better methods that was required, but more religion; not more organisation, but more of the Spirit of Christ; not more complex machinery, but more spiritual power. Nothing but the Spirit of God could produce a quickened life.- It sometimes seemed to him as if they must almost . begin to build anew and to lay the foundations broad and strong, not on orthodoxy merely, but in a deep and vital religious experience like that which was possessed by the early Church, and which was the cause of its vigour and aggressiveness and success. There were hopeful signs in the outlook. We were not witnessing the breakdown of the Christian faith, but the breakdown of materialism, the utter bankruptcy of materialism and of a religion that was a caricature of that of Jesus Christ. We needed more . reality in our religion, more brotherliness and cheerfulness, less pessimism and gloom, less Pharisaism, and more of the Spirit of Jesus; less t.mphasis on orthodoxy of belief and more upon orthodoxy of life; more sympathy with the sorrowing and the sinning, a'holy, healthful, cheerful, tolerant, charityfull religion, that would make men better and society sweeter and cleaner. We needed to" rediscover the religion of Jesus Christ. Tho Church of tho futura must devote more and yet more attention to the young people and the children. That was the finest recruiting ground of the Church. Eighty per cent, of the scholars of their Sunday schools, were lost to the membership of the church, and they were content to have it so. There is a golden harvest to be reaped in these fields. After the war he should like to see one or more of the young ohaplains, fresh from contact with the soldiers and the world of reality, appointed to call their young peoplo to definite decision for Christ, to bring them into church membership, and to assist in re-establishing their young men's Bibla classes, which had been broken up through the war. He trusted that such appointments, would be made.—(Applause.) But a policy of reconstruction might have to bo preceded by a policy of destruction. They might have to jettison some of their theological cargo and scrap some of their ecclesiastical machinery. The war was forcing certain questions afresh upon, the attention of the Church, and was constituting them living issues. One of the most urgent of these was that of tho union of the churches. Their divisions were the scandal of our Christianity. - They were weakening instead of strengthening the cause of religion by attempting to maintain so many churches in small centres. If organic unity was there seemed to them little real possibility of this at present, —it was vital to the very existence of the Church that there should be a spirit of unity that would lead to common action being taken against the enemies of religion and all that was good. In England the war had brought appreciably nearer the day when complete Methodist union would be consummated. Canada led the way with an agreement for the union of Presbyterian, Methodist, and Congregational churches after the war. . In the Old Land proposals were being considered for the federation of what were known as the Free churches. A large section of the Church of England desired union with the Protestant Free churches. There were many indications that this question of union would be one of the living issues of the near future.; but organio union must come from within by the creation of a right spirit there, and the various churches co'uld only be welded .together in the white heat o.f the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They must meet the needs and conditions of the now age with a new spirit. That must reveal itself in more friendliness an'l brotherliness, lees stiffness and conventionality, less artificiality and more reality. There was a wonderful spirit of brotherhood and comradeship among the men in the trenches. Should there be less of thia brotherliness and comradeship in the churches than in the trenches? Why did we tolerate in the Church those who would maintain class distinctions? We must drive from the Church the last remains of snobbishness, and become a band of brothers and sisters.—(Applause.) INDUCTION O! NEW PRESIDENT. The brief and simple ceremony of the induction of the now president (the Rev. T. A. Joughin, of Timaru) was then proceeded with, the president-elect being introduced by the Rev. A. O. Lawry. He was then handed the various insignia of office by the retiring president. EJECTION OF VICE-PRESIDENT. Two nominations were received for the position of vice-president of the conference—those of Messrs E. Dixon (Hawera) and J. H. Blackwell (Kaiapoi)—and the voting resulted in favour of Mr Dixon by 104 votes to 57. The incoming vice-president was then introduced to the conference by Mr J. Veale, who retired from that office. PRESIDENT FOR 1919. The voting for the president for 1919 resulted as follows:—The Rev. H. E. Bellhouse (Auckland), 84; S. Griffith (Dunedin), 19- E. Drake (Wellington), 17; B. F. Rothwell (Blenheim), 9. SECOND DAY. The annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand was continued on Friday. The Rev. A. H. Scriver (New Guinea), who was present, was associated with the conferenoe, and was made a ( member of the Foreign Missionary Committee. The convener of the Committee on Circuits (the Rev. W. J. Elliott) presented his report, with tho following results: —Kaikoho district was separated from the Bay of Islands Home Mission Station; Helensville Some Mission Station was divided into two parts, with a suitable grant in each. case; Opoiiki circuit is to continue to have a minister with a suitable grant, and the Whakatane Home Mission Station \yas oreated a circuit. It was decided to give relief to Reefton by appointing a probationer for a year. Cashmere Hills was transferred from the Sydenham to the Durham street circuit. It was decided to rename tho Aromoho circuit Wanganui North and to appoint a home missionary with a suitable grant to assist the minister; that tho second minister in Broad street, Palmerston North, be a probationer; that a second agent bo appointed to the Green-

dale-Malvern circuit, a home missionary to Temuka and a second minister to Ashburton. It was decided to appoint a suitable homo missionary for Mokau as soon as possible. The following was adopted as the order of circuits in the taking of married instead of single ministers:—Manaia, Invercargill (Toviot street), Rotorua, Tauranga, It was decided to relieve the following circuits for another year from the responsibility of taking a married in place of a single minister :—Auckland East, Otahuhu, Paeroa, Opotiki, St. Albans, Timaru. It was reported that Manaia would fulfil its obligations with a suitable grant. In the case of special appointments beyond the fifth year it was decided that the Rev. J. G. Chapman be appointed to Taranaki Street. Wellington, for an eighth year, and the Rev. F. W. Boys to Broad Street, Palmcrston North, for a sixth year. The Rev. J. B. Suckling was transferred to the New South Wales Conference for Forcm Mission work, it being understood that lie would be appointed to Fiji. The resignation of the Rev. H. Daniels was accepted, he having gone into Y.M.C.A. secretarial work. The action of the president in granting permission to the Revs. R. B. Gosnell and C. A. Sim to go abroad as YMOA. field secretaries, the latter under the Australian Y.M.C.A. was approved. The Rev. J. Wilson was transferred to the New South Wales Conference. It was decided to request that the Rev. W. R. Poole, of Fiji, be transferred from the New South Wales Conference to the New Zealand Conference in 1919. The action of the ex-president in granting permission to the Rev. C. H. Hudson to° enlist was approved. Permission was granted to the Rev. A. M. Costain to enlist. .The following ministers, received permission to retire from active work and become permanent supernumeraries:—Revs. W. Baumber, L. Hudson, J. Blight, and T. N. Griffin. The Rev. G. T. Marshall was granted permission to continue as a supernumerary for another year. § The conference extended its hearty congratulations to the Revs. D. M'Nicpll, H. Bull, and J. B- Smalley on attaining their jubilee in the ministry of the Methodist Church. The Rev. D. M'NicolT, who was present, was very cordially applauded. The following candidates were received as probationers:—Messrs Wallace S. Neal, John William Parker, and Thomas Skuse.

THIRD DAY. The Methodist Conference resumed its sittings on Saturday morning, the Rev. J. Dawson (an ex-president) in the chair, the president (the Rev. T. A. Joughin) being engaged with the Stationing Committee. A number of probationers were passed in their years. A motion was passed recognising the great and valuable work done by Dr H. D. Bedford and sympathising with the bereaved family. • TEMPERANCE. The following recommendations,from the Auckland Synod were adopted by the Conference: —"That this Conference (1) deplores the fact that, during this time of the Empire's peril, the efficiency of our dominion should continue to be impaired by the results of the sin of intemperance, those results being partly evidenced by the conviction, since the war began, of 37,290 persons for drunkenness, 22,392 of these being first offenders; (2) expresses its thankfulness for the measure of reform included In recent legislation for anti-treating and early closing; (3) declares its profound conviction that the total prohibition of the liquor traffic offers the only effective means of finally ridding, the dominion from the evils caused by strong drink; (4) urges the Government to give the people a speedy opportunity of voting on the national option issue." The following resolutions were also agreed to, the Conference purposely omitting any reference to compensation: " That this Conference recognises the splendid' uplift to the temperance cause that was furnished by the report of the National Efficiency Board on the liquor question. Its declaration in favour of total prohibition in the interests of national efficiency, based, as it was, on the examination of evidence from all sources, the Conference regards as of very great value." '"The Conference calls upon the Government to submit the question of prohibition to the vote of the people without any further delay." CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. It was resolved: —"This Conference, having heard details of the sufferings of conscientious objectors to military service, urges on the Government that all conscientious objectors of whose bona fides they are satisfied should be offered absolutely non-military service of a type useful to the State, and at the military rate of pay to a private." The Rev. F. W. Boys (Palmerston North) moved —"That, in viow of the report concerning the treatment of the men who have been deported, the Conference calls upon the Government to appoint a Commission of - Inquiry."—After some discussion the Conference went into committee on the subject, but eventually it was /decided to pass on to 'the next business. GENERAL. The following resolution on Sabbath observance was carried :—" That we deplore the amount of Sunday labour needlessly carried on, both in publio and in private, which is not only dishonouring to God. but cuts at the root of the provisions made for physical rest from toil one day in seven. We call upon all our people to use every endeavour to prevent as tar as possible all work on the Sabbath Day." A resolution on social . hygiene was adopted as follows; —"That, in view of the revelations made during this war concerning the ravages and dangers of diseases due to sexual immorality, this Synod expresses its appreciation of the persistent and earnest efforts on the part of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. "W. Russell) to introduce legislation to N combat this evil, and sincerely trusts that success will ultimately crown the courageous efforts being made to abate this physical and social evil." _ A report and discussion on the Methodist Times, tho connexional paper, showed that the paper was in a sound financial position, and that .the circulation was slowly increasing.—lt was decided that various pamphlets should be published op church membership, especially in tho interests of the young people. The Rev. S. J. Warren (Wanganui), the Rev. C. A. Foston (Waipawa), and the Rev. Rakena Piripl (southern Maori missionary) were welcomed by the president into full connection. It was intimated that Mr H. B. Pickering, home missionary at_ Palmerston, had passed his examination with credit.

STATIONING COMMITTSE. The first reading of stations was agreed to as follows : Auckland District.—Auckland Central: Charles H. Laws, John J. Lewis, Harrj Ranston, Percy R, Paris, Arthur J. Seamer (C.F.). Auckland West: Harold E. Bellhouse, W. H. Speer. Auckland East: Jas. Wrigley, Charles H. Garland, Alfred M. Costain, one wanted. Wesley Training College, Three Kings: Joseph H. Simmons (principal). Home. • Mission Fund : Thomas G. Brooke (general secretary). Auckland (Avondale): W. A. Burlev, Tom Dent. Auckland Methodist Mission: E. T. Cox. Auckland (North Shore): W. J. Elliott, one wanted. Auckland' (Birkenhead): Harold Sharp, John D. Jory (sup.). Unehunga: Colin C. Harrison. Otahuhu: One wanted. Papakura: Thomas F. Jones. Pukekohei J. Frederick Martin, a home missionary./ Waiuku i Wm. S. Potter. Mahurangi': One wanted. Paparoa: Chas. Roberts. Northern Wairba: J. Southern, a home missionary. WSiangarei: James R. Clark. Northern Maori Mission: Thomas G. Hammond (general superintendent of Maori missions). South Auckland District.—Thames: Samuel J. Serpell, a home missionary. Te Aroha; John Dukes. Morririsville: T. R. B. Wooloxall. Waihi: John Olphert. Paeroa: One wanted. Cambridge: George S. Cook, a home missionary. Hamilton: E. O. Blamiree, one wanted. Huntly: One wanted. Rotorua: One wanted, Harold T. Peat (OF.), John Nixon (supply). Tauranga : One wanted. -oJDpotiki: One wanted. Taumarunui: W. H. Hocking. Te Awamutu: S. Henderson. Whakatane: One wanted. Taranaki-Wellington District. —New Plymouth : William A. Sinclair, Horace L Richards. Waitara: George B. Hiriton, a home missionary. Inglewood: Raymond Richards. Stratford: Robert B. Tinsley, one wanted. Eltham: Archer O. Harris. Hawera: A. Liversedge. Manaia: Fredk. J. Parker. Cape Egmont: O. B. Jordan, a home missionary. Kaponga: Charles Blair. Wanganni: Henry L. Blamires, a home missionarv. Wanganui North: W. Walker. Rangitikei: Percy vJ. Cossum. Taihape:

Robert E. Fordyce. Waimarino: A. J. Lester Minifie. West Coast Missions— Normanby : Robert T.! P. Haddoii, Hawko's Bay - Manawatu District.— Napier: Thomas R. Richards, a homo misaionary. Hastings: M. A. Rugby Pratt. Gisborne; W. H. E. Abbey, one wanted. Waipawa: Charles A. Foston. Dannevirke: James Richards, Nicholas Turner (supply). Woodvillei R. P. Keal. Pahiatua: Harry Cottom. Palmerston North (Broad Street)': F. W. Boye, W. Neal. Palmerston ISTorth (Cuba Street): A. Ashcroft. Feilding: Geo. F. Stockwoll, P. Jones (supply). Sanson and Rongotea: N. Turner. Foxton: Arthur Harding. Wellington \Taranaki Street): J. G. Chapman, a home missionary. Wellington Central Mission: G. Knowles Smith. Wellington (Thorndon): Amos Reader, one wanted, John Dumbell, Charles H. Standage (sup.). Wellington South: E. Drake, Dr Pinfold, a home missionary John Dawson, -W. H. Beck (sup.). Kilbirnio: B. J. James.- Johnsonville: • Wm. Rowe, one wanted. Hr.tt: Daniel J. Murray, Frederick Rands (C.F.). Petone: Angus M'Bean. South Wairarapa: William J. finticott. Carterton : Josiah Ward. Masterton: James A. Hosking. one wanted;. Eketahuna: J. W. Parker. Levin, J. 11. Haslam, Otakit Hedlov White, a homo' missionary. Nelson District.— Nelson: E. D. Patchctt. Richmond: Arthur Ashcroft. a heme missionary. Blenheim: Benjamin F. Rothwell, 11. Ryan, a home missionary. Hok-tikat One wanted. Greymouth: TV J. Wallis. / Motueka: One wanted. Rcefton: E. E. Sage. Westport: B. Dudley. North Canterbury District.—Christchurch (Durham Street):' P. N. Knight. Connextional secretary and authorised representa- - tive: Samuel Lawry. Christchurch (Durham Street South): One wanted. Christchurch East: E. P. Blamiros. J. D. M'Arthur, a home missionary, A. Mitchell (C.F.). • Christchurch (Cambridge Terrace) t James Cocker. Charles E Ward (sup). Christchurch (Woolston): Fred Copeiand, William J. Williams (sup.). Christchurch (Sydenham): William Beckett. Christchurch (Aldington): Thomas W. Veale, a hom«

Captain P. Baldwin, military representa- I tive, told the Third Wellington Military j Swvico Board on the 15th that at least one

bank in Palmcrston North was carrying on its operations entirely with women, with the exception oi o manager and. one teller.

missionary, a homo missionary. Christchurch (St. Albans): Albert C. Lawxy, one wanted, Thomas Fee (sup.) Christchurch (Papanui): Christopher Abcrnethy. Lyttelton: J. Ernest Parsons. Maori mission: South Island—Rakena Piripi. Springfcton : J. Harris. Tai Tapu: Basil Metson. Leeston: William Layoock, William Grigg (C.F.). Kaiapoi: W. Ready. Ohoka: William W. Avery. Rangiora: James Guy, one wanted Grecndalo and Malvern: John Harris, a home missionary, South Canterbury District.—Timaru (Banks Street) : Thomas A. Joughin and supply, John Dennis, Joseph R. Sullivan (C.F.). Timaru (Woodlands Street): Ralph J. Liddell. Waimate: Adolplrus N. Scotter. Temuka: John W. Griffin, a home missionary. Geraldine: George P. Hunt. Ashburton : G. Frost, ono wanted. Willowby: S. Bailey. Oamaru : J. A. Lodhore. Otago District.—Dunedin (Trinity): W. Arthur Hay, J. R. Nelson, Thomas W. Newbold (sup.) Dunedin (Central Mission): Clarence Eaton. Dunedin (Dundas Street): W. J. Oxbrow. Dunedin (Cargill Road): Robert Raine. Dunedin (St. Kilda): Arthur Hooper. Dunedin (Caversham) :• S. Griffith, A. Allen (C.F.), a home missionary. Dunedin (Mornington): William Greenslade. Dunodin (Roslyn): T. Arthur Pybus, Frederick T. Road (C.F.). Mosgiel; O. Burnet. Port Chalmers: Samuel H. D. Peryman. Waikouaiti and Palmerston: One wa-nted, a homo missionary. Balclutha: F. Greenwood. Milton: J. Featherston. Roxburgh: One wanted. Southland District.— Invercargill (Lcet Street) : Alfred Peters. InvercargiO (Teviot Street): One wanted. Invercargill (Don Street): Charles H Olds, W. Slade (supplv). Bluff: T. Skuse. Gore: G. H. Mann. Otautau: T. Coatsworth. Edendale: One wanted'.' Tlie following ministers are serving as Y.M.C.A. secretaries: —C. A. Sfms, R. B. Gosnell, P. Battcy. The following probationers are engaged in military duties:—Frederick B. Lawrence, W. A Watson. A. A. Bensley. F. J. Harris, R. B." Spiers, J. R. Sullivan. P. J. Cooke, A. R. Gordon, H. H. Marshall. 11. J. OdeU, E R. Warburton, G. E. Brown. C.F. represents "chaplain of the forces. •<* OPEN-AIR SERVICE. The open-air evangelistic servico held on Saturday night in connection with the Methodist Conference attracted a large crowd to the Town Hall steps. The singing of the combined choir was . quito_ a feature of the service, whether it was giving special musical items or leading those who composed the crowd. The servico was led by the Rev. Clarence Eaton, who was followed by the Rev. E. R. Blamires, of Christchurch, and the Rev. A. Reader, of Wellington. ORDINATION SERVICE. Trinity Church was crowded on Sunday afternoon, the occasion being the ordination of three ministers" of the Methodist Church—Messrs C. A. Foston (Waipawa), Corporal S. J. Werren (who is about to proceed on active service), and Mr Rakena Piripi (Rapaki). The Rev. Mr Joughin (Timaru) conducted the ceremony, which was of an impressive nature. FOURTH DAY. The annual conference of the Methodist Churoh of Ne* Zealand was continued in Trinity Church on Monday morning, the president (the Rev. T. A. Joughin) presiding. ORPHANAGES. The report of the North . and South Island Orphanages Committee showed that there were 37 children in residence in the Auckland Orphanage and 44 in the Christchurch Orphanage. The reports recommended the establishment of a hostel for boys in ono of the principal cities of the dominion, so that the lads might be in residence under the control of the Church while they were learning a craft or profession. It is intended that b ovs wfl o desire to learn farming should ultimately be sent to the Wesley Training College at Paerata, near Auckland. The reports were adopted. The conference resolved that the Orphanago Board take steps to secure endowments of land or money from sympathisers with the work. ministers' children. Owing to the abnormal conditions created by the war, it was decided that the levy for the fund for ministers' children should be incre-sed by raising the assessment to the circuits from 12 per cent, to 15 per cent. HOME MISSION STATIONS. The Rev. T. G. Brooke (general secretary of home missions) submitted the first draft of appointments to home mission stations. He stated that there were now 33 vacant stations on the station sheet. Eleven places that had an appointment last year were left vacant. CONSTITUTION OF CONFERENCE. In the afternoon the conference considered schemes brought drown by a special committee to alter 'the constitution and organisation of conference. After some debate an amendment, adopted to refer the matter to the September quarterly meeting, on being put as a substantive motion, was lost, and the matter dropped. The statement of income and expenditure of the Home Mission and Church Extension Fund was presented by the Rev. G. Bond, the general treasurer. The income from all sources amounted to £6544 12s lid, to which was added a credit balance brought forward of £975 lis lid. The expenditure totalled '£6421 Is 6d, and the credit balance on January. 31, 1918, amounted to £1099 3s 4d—a record credit balance.—The statement was adopted. The» Rev. T. G. Brooke, general secretary of homo missions, submitted recommendations from the Home Mission Executive on the question of grants to circuits paying less than the minimum salary and the best means of scouring payment of such minimum. His statement that it was proposed to make the minimum salary for married homo missionaries £l6O with a furnished house was cordially' applauded. The minimum salary for unmarried home missionaries was to bo £l2O. It was proposed eventually to raise the married ministers' salaries to £225 and the unmarried ministers to £l4O. Many circuits having failed to come up to the existing minimum stipend of £2OO, it was decided to give aid from the Homo and Church Extension Fund to enable them to do so. The committee further recommended a system of proportional grants, and Mr Brooke stated that the increased expenditure involved in raising the salaries as proposed was estimated at £426 10s for the homo missionaries and £155 for the ministers. The Rev. G. Bond presented the estimates for 1918. The total estimated homo mission and church extension, expenditure for the

yenr 1918 was £6847 19s 6d. Increased grants amounted to £IOO6, and £IOOO from last year's credit was placed to reserve account, making a total estimated expenditure of £8853 19s 6d. The total income, apart from the credit balance, was £7224, and the grand total with the credit balance was £8323, leaving a debit balance of £530 16s 2d. That might seem a large debit, he said, to go forth in the estimates, but it was anticipated that that amount would unfortunately be unappropriated through lack of men both in circuits and mission stations. It was decided to add 25 per cent, to the district levies. Complimentary minutes of appreciation were passed with reference to the work of the Rev. T. G. Brooke (general secretary), the Rev. G. Bond (general treasurer), and Mr J. Veal© (lay treasurer).