PRIMITIVE METHODISM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 27, 15 January 1912, Page 5

PRIMITIVE METHODISM.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE CHURCH. . U-V ' BASIS OF UNION DISCUSSED. YPer Press Association.) • Christchurch, January 14/* , The Primitive Methodist Cliurdh Conference was resumed on Saturday, the Rev. T. Knowles-Smith presiding. The basis of unibn with the Methodist, Church was ,father considered seriatim, the only division being__ upon the following N.B. clause referring to the quarterly meeting of each circuit, “the superintendent; minister shall be the chairman of this and all other official meetings in the circuit, but in his unavoidable absence each meeting shall elect its own chairman. Should the superintendent or the elected chairman refuse to put any motion which, in the judgment'of the majority, ,of the meeting, is in accordance with the construction and rules of the church, the meeting by resolution niay be adjourned so that the ruling of the president of the conference may bo obtained thereon, provided that any. other business may be proceeded with in ordinary course.” Mr. D. Goldie moved, and Mr. P. J. Hawkins seconded, as an amendment, “That no member of any official meeting shall be chairman unless elected thereto.” A division resulted in the amendment being defeated by 59 votes to 21, and the motion was then declared carried on the voices, and the whole of the basis of union was agreed to seriatim. Mr. C. E. Bellringer then moved: “That the basis of miion recommended by the joint committee, and considered by the conference, be adopted.” ■ VThe motion, on being put to tlie meeting, was declared carried on the voices. A division was asked for, and the point was raised that according to an Act of Parliament admiss : on of ahy church to the Methodist Union previously made must be by a two-thirds majority of the church. The division resulted in G 5 voting for the motion and 16 against, with three delegates absent. Upon the motion of Mr. Bellringer, seconded by the Rev. J. Southern, the matter was referred to the Methodist Union Committee to recommend the manner in which the basis should he presented to quarterly meetings. In the afternoon a. garden party was held in Hagley Park. The conference resumes to-morrow.