Afternoon Session.

Southland Times, Issue 9383, 24 November 1886, Page 3

Afternoon Session.

Business was iesumed at 2 15, when a few verses of a hymn were sung, and the Rev. G, W. J. Spencc engaged in prayer. A conversation followed on matters affecting the training of ministerial students. Ultimately it was moved hy the Bey. G. VV. J. Spence, seconded by the Bey. VV r . B. Mai ten, and passed— (l) That this district meeting record its satisfaction with the report furnished by the principal of Wesley Colloge ; (2) that it be a recommendation to Conference that still greater facilities be afforded to our students to take advantage of tbe Auck and University College lectures ; (o) that it be a recommendation from this meetirg that no considerable expenditure be incurred in improving the institution buildings until it be settled where our Theological College is io be permanently located. The following notices cf motion were received and will be discussed at a later session :— tev, T. Fee, to move — (1) lhat the Conference be recommended to fix a minimum stipend for its ministers, and that in cases where circuits are unable to raise this amount the Conference make a grant from the djoie Mission Fund to bring up the amouQt raised to the minimum fixed. (2; That the preseat educational system, exclacl. iag, as it does, the reading of God's Word from our State echoes, is highly unsatisfactory, and that Conference be recommended to urge our people to use their influence boih private and political to bave the reading of the Bible rsiatroduced, — liev. W. B. Marien, to move— (l; That this district meeting kffirm its unaltered conviction that tbe union of the various Methodist churches in this colony is calculated to promote the glory of God aud the strengthening of the cause of Christ, and that therefore its con sideratiou should be sought with the lea<u possible delay. (2) That this meeting declare its deep conviction that tbe interests of our church in this colony urgently require that tbe New Zealand Conference be constituted iudepe.uaeat aad edf-goveraing. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to preparatory work for the financial senior, which opens to-morrow at 10 a.m. Circuit stewards and other lay officials are expected to be in attendance.