METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3912, 5 March 1929, Page 24

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

PROFESSOR FOR TRINITY COLLEGE. AUCKLAND, February 25. At the Methodist Conference the election of professor for Trinity College resulted in the Rev. W. T. Blight receiving 101 votes and the Rev. W. G. Slade 97 votes in the final ballot Mr Blight was then unanimously elected.

A resolution recording deep regret at tire death of Mr A. C. Caughey was carried.

The report of the Wesley Training College Trust Board stated that a pleasing feature of the year’s enrolment was that a large number of the boys came from Methodist homes, while it was also most satisfactory that there was an increasing number of boys who were keenly interested in, and desirous of, following agricultural, occupations. The past year had probably been the smoothest running year the college had experienced. The farm was looking. particularly well, and although' the long spell of dry weather caused a great deal of anxiety in the early part of the year, the year as a whole had been a good one. During the past ’ few months the farm had produced 800 tons of hay and 180 tons of ensilage while 600 fat lambs, 35 stud rams, and 40 stud ewes had been sold. Fifteen bales of wool were also marketed in 1928. Apiculture had been commenced and at present the college possessed 60 hives of bees.

A bequest of £5OO by the late Rev. W. S. Potter, of Ponsonby, for the establishment of_a rest home in the North Island for ministers and home missionaries, was announced.

The Conference re-affirmed its unfailing conviction that the only solution of the liquor question was prohibition. The Rev. C. H. Olds, of Upper Hutt, urged that a further report be made to increase the number of total abstainers. “ There is one direction in which we should move,” he said. “ I refer to the insidious custom of drinking toasts in alcoholic liquor. It is a deplorable thing that young people should take a glass of wine at weddings and other functions and not stand to their principles. We should stiffen up our activities, particularly among the young.” A resolution urging the establishment >f a Temperance Committee at every church was carried.

NEW COLLEGE OPENED. AUCKLAND, February 27. In the presence of nearly 1000 people, the new Methodist Theological College was officially opened by Mrs A. C. Caughey this afternoon. The president of the Dominion Conference of the Methodist Church (the Rev. J. F. Goldie) conducted the service, and the ex-presi-dent (the Rev. W. J. Elliott) gave an invocation address. The lesson was read by the conference secretary (the Rev. A. N. Scotter).

“ We Jo not forget that the conference has come specially to Auckland to share in our rejoicings at this opening, and we give the representatives of our church from all over the Dominion a most cordial welcome,” said the principal (the Rev. Dr Laws). “We acknowledge with gratitude the presence of many who represent the city of- Auckland and its educational life, and not jess the friends from sister churches who have come to offer us their good wishes.” We see today the consummation of the hopes and toil of many men. Trinity College is built on foundations laid by wise and far-«eeing servants of the church.

A short financial statement was presentod by the treasurer of the College Council (Mr A. Peak), who briefly ret viewed the circumstances leading up to -he opening of the college free of debt.

GENERAL BUSINESS. AUCKLAND, February 28. Inc alterations in the posting of ministers are:—New Plymouth, ° the fthirl C 'i ? ato ?l al ? d G ‘ S - Cook r *| an( l fourth ministers); Manaia, tho ‘ B ‘ c? udl ?y’ Wanganui North, *. . , , v ‘ „C. C. Harrison (first minister) ; Napier, the Rev. W. G. Slade-Dannevn-ke, the Rev. H. White; Pahia, A he w V n- W ; B ‘ P jekering; Taranaki to- t Wellington, the Rev. T. R, Richards; Wellington South, the Rev. C M. Roberts (second minister); Hutt, the Rev N. R. Gutry; Petone, the Rev. B, J. James; Richmond (Nelson), the Rev, xt- , -Haslani; Greymouth, the Rev. H. Noble; Westport, the Rev. C. A. Foston: Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch, the Rev, b. Fallows (first minister) ; Sydenham, the Key. B. Metson; Riccarton, the Rev, J. F. Jack; Lyttelton, the Rev. C. Blair; Kaiapoi, the Rev. O. Burnet; Rangiora. the Rev. S. Henderson; Greendale, the Rev. J. Featherston; Hawarden, the Rev, W. Parker; Waimate. the Rev W. B, Scott; Dunedin Central Mission, the Rev, C. B. Hinton; Cargill Road, the Revs, J. A. Loehore and A. R. Penn; Caversham. the Rev. H. Daniels; Balclutha, the Rev. H. C. Orchard; Roxburgh, the Rev. G. R. H. Peterson; Gore, the Rev, A. M. Costain. A reduction from 8 per cent, to 7 per cent, in the levy on circuits for the contingent fund was announced by the treasurer of the contingent fund. The levy for the past year amounted to £3263. A complimentary luncheon was given in honour of the president, who made an appeal on behalf of foreign missions in the Solomon Islands. In the evening a special missionary rally was held. The work done by the chaplains in the annual military camps was approved. All the chaplains who, during the year, had served the church in territorial camps had reported favourably on the conduct of the camps. Excellent opportunities had been afforded by the military authorities for religious work among the men.

The election of district chairmen resulted :—Auckland, the Rev. E. Drake; South Auckland, the Rev. W. A. Burley; Taranaki-Wanganui, the Rev. W. W. Avery; Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu, the Rev. F. Copeland; Wellington, the Rev. E. D. Patchett; Nelson, the Rev. P. N. Knight; North Canterbury, the Rev. A. N. Scotter; South Canterbury, the Rev. W. Grigg; Otago-Southland, the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse; Solomon Islands, the Rev. J. F. Goldie. The following were returned as synod secretaries:—Auckland, Mr F. E. Leadley ; South Auckland, the Rev. E. E. Sage; Taranaki-Wanganui, the Rev. R. B. Gosnell; Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu, the Rev. F. J. Parker; Wellington, the Rev. C. H. Olds; Nelson, the Rev. G. E. Brown; North Canterbury, the Rev. A. H. Fowles; South Canterbury, the Rev. R- B. Tinsley; Otago-Southland, the Rev. W. H. Hocking. The second draft of the appointment sheet for home missionaries was ratified without alteration. The changes in the posting of home missionaries outside the Auckland Province are:— Norsewood, Mr C. Dunean; Feilding, Mr T. Thornley; Porirua, Mr W. Trafford ; Masterton, Mr H. Dyson; Paraparaumu, Mr W. H. Wilson; Havelock (Nelson), Mr C. E. Roke; Picton, Mr S. Keen; North-East Valley, Dunedin, Mr L. C. Elmsley; Mosgiel, Mr J. W. Bayliss; Cromwell, Mr A. E. Orr. On the recommendation of the Circuit Committee, it was decided to station ordained ministers next year at Durham street, Christchurch (second- minister), Hamilton (second), and Woolston (second) in that order of urgency.