WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8628, 14 November 1889, Page 2

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

DISTRICT MEETING.

(Continued from yesterday.') On Wednesday afternoon the meeting was j resumed, when, after devotional services, prayer being led by Mr J. R. Clark, the district property returns were read by the district secretary, Mr J. Stevenson. Messrs George, Beaven, and Stevenson were heartily thanked for their past services, I and the Conference will be asked to reappoint them. The foreign mission returns wore then rendered, and in one circuit, where the annual meeting had not been held, it was resolved that the superintendent minister's attention be called to the fact, and he be requested to hold the meeting as soon as possible. The Supernumerary, Children's, and Contingent Fund report was read by the secretary. The church returns were read by the Rev. W. Tinsley, and showed an increase of : Churches, 3 ; ministers, 1 ; local preachers, 6 ; members, 83 ; on trial, 2 ; catechumens, 17 ; Sunday School returns, 168 ; attendants on public worship, 651. He made special mention of the success which had attended the labours of the Rev. T. G. Hammond among the Maoris of the West Coast. It was resolved, "That, in considering the statistical returns for the district, the meeting desires to express its devout gratitude to God for the measure of success realised during the past year. Especially are they thankful for the increase in our Sunday School Department. While the increases in the general work are not so large as might be expected, this meeting rejoices in the assurance that the great Head of the Church is blessing us with His presence. And the members hero present would re-consecrate themselves to their future work, believing that the coming year will be one of great spiritual success." The Sunday School returns were | presented by the Rev W. Cannell. They showed an increase of : Number of scholars, 167 ; average attendance of scholars, 125 ; volumes in the library, 173. The temporance returns were as fol- [ lows : — Connexional Bands of Hope, 10 ; number of members, 1295, and three adult societies with 133 members. It was resolved that the Hawera circuit be divided, and that Manaia, Kaponga, Otakeho, Pihama, Opunake, and Oanui be constituted a new circuit, to be called the Opunake circuit. The Rev W. Tinsley was elected representative to the Conference. In the evening the session was open to the public, and there was a good attendance. After devotional exercises, the question of minimum stipends was introduced by Rev. T. Fee. After Messrs Clark, Stevenson, White, Hawken, and Revs. Hammond, Tinsley, Dewsbury, and Pinfold had taken part in the conversation which followed, it was resolved, "That the Church Extension part of the Home Mission Fund be constituted the nucleus of a Sustentation Fund, and that a strenuous effort be put forth to popularise this fund so that the special efforts put forth by needy circuits be supplemented 80 as to bring the total amount raised towards the minister's stipend up to at least £200 for married men, and £130 f ot single men. The following resolution was passed, " That the annual conference be bo altered in its constitution and the order of business so arranged that the President and secretaries may be elected by the Conference in its repesentative session." The Rev H. R. Dewsbury proposed, and Mr Stevenson seconded, "That this meeting affirms its conviction that the New Zealand Conference should be constituted an independent and legislative Conference, and requests that the Conference use all legitimate constitutional means to secure that tho wishes of the majority of the Methodists in this colony be given effect to." Rev. T. Fee proposed, and Rev J. T. Pinfold seconded, an amendment as follows: "That this meeting is of opinion that the time has not yet come for the New Zealand Conference to be constituted a separate and independent conference." The following besides the persons already mentioned, took part in the discussion — Revs. Hammond and Tinsley, Messrs George, White, Harvey, and Clark. The resolution was passed, 7 voting for it, and 6 against. The following resolution was passed, " That members of the Australasian Wosleyan Methodist church have their names enrolled in the class books, and are strongly advised to meet in class."