METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13371, 12 January 1907, Page 7

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

•ONTINUATION OF FRIDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The Children's Fund Investment Account stood 'at £142. The: report of "the Committee re theN.Z.S.M.W. awl 0. Fund was received and adopted. An interesting discussion took, place re African Missions, and it was unanimously resolved «frhat with a view to providing funds for a native teacher for African mission work, the Q.E. Societies and Sunday School* 1»e recommended , to arrange . for ar African Missions evening-, and: that the Book Steward be requested to arrange for a set of African 'Massaon slides to be used in connection with these meetings. The Publishing Committee's report showed an income of £376 11/1, and fetfpera&ture, aWau^itiing tio £24jff 12/11, leaving a balance imhand of £129 IS/2. The profits for. 1906 were £72 6/7, and the assets £154 12/2. I—This1 — This was considered satisfactory, and was received and adopted. The 'Rev. A. Harding was accepted vice the Rev. R. Half, transferred to England. The. Equalisation Farad bala/nce-slheet was received and adopted, showing an income) of £312, and an expenctitifre of £21« 17/8. The "balance was <££3 2/4, and it was ' decided to transfer this sum to Waikato Mission. The Contingent Fund bala'noei-sheert. showed an income of £50, and expenditure of £4C I§/11, living a balance in hand of £3 1/1. CITIZENS' MEETING. I On Friday night, a citizens' meating was held in . connection with the Conference, which the Mayor (Mr E. Dockrill) presided over. There was a good attendance of townspeople „_. After the usual devotional exercises, the President introduced th© Mayor, •bssrvihg that he was glad to Jfcarn that his Worship was m Dull sympathy with all matters/tha^ were, for' :ithe. betterment of -Society,' fodfibk't: "w^h appealed for wh-at jta&Jbe&t ac.<cl truest ln> character, (^pplauae.) Thte Mayor, afyer expressing his' pleasure at being present, said he a; greed with the views that had. been expressed by the President that the Chief Magistrate' of any towii should takfcani^xrtive interest" in*, all that was. for the public good" 'ttis' first <duty on that occasion wa^ to w^conie^he Cbnr, ference^ on behalf c£ tnfe people 1 of this district, I—the1 — the cracflfefijf Methodism. JBfe trusted the work of the Conference' would! b» pi the greatest ad-, vantagf '^o^o%^^^ 'feat their wise deKib&atibns would; ultimately be carried into effect. Vte hoped the members of the Conference would be able to carry away the tnost pleasing reminiscences and recollections otf New "Plymouth. ('Applause.) The Rev. E. Drati3 delivered an eloquent addiress on the gambling evil. He observed that in spite o* all th a t had been said in condemnation of gambling it was still prevalent. In spite of all legislation it was a veritable epidemic in their midst and in this new oolony it was ea'bmg into the life of the people. Gambling had been described as a kind at game by which one man gained pleasulre at the pain of another, Roughly speaking-, they had four kinds of gambling »4 their colony. They had it in connection with business. Speculation, of course, was necessary in every business, for without this it could not succeed. There were business men who would still move iii' The old grooves, and! finally they were left behind in the imarch of progress, arm tnelr business failed, but there vere men who stepped over the line whiteh divided legitimate speculation, from gambling, really before they .were aware of the fact. Then there was card playing for money. They were informed by a Bishop of the Anglican Church in this colony that gambling in private homes was on the increase. If this was the case, it was a serious m'enaoe to> their social life. It was a pity that the people of this colony. with 1 their bbasted education systfem, eowld fincl no higher pleasure in life than gambling for money in their, ofm homes, instead of joining in those pleasures which would help to foster true social relationship. He wias afraid thiat in the back districts many* bf Jbheir ywtafng men iwqra indulging in this so-called pleasure, as well as others, during holiday seasons. But there wias one form of gambling whic& In spite of its innocent iap(pearance was most dangerous*. *He referred to the art union. It sprang from the same desire to get things easily. He sifpposed the art union was established by 'the Government with a view to giving- artiets . and others an opportunity of dfepqslng o f thf#r work to advantage, but, some other way niigh-t be fotm3 is&an %his which begets an/ unnatural ani3 feverish excitement as the ; time of the draw approaches, and wKicK undermined the love of Honest labour. The art union aimed a. Wow at that self-respect which was so necessary to a progressive people. Tf' fostereV! 6 dpsire to ff^t. ihinKr* easily. Tlyn tli^re wps the efambVnic in conneetim \\iih\-stnv<. ,Hp. spjwposefl cricket w-'s nn,P of Abe rlPnTifst ernmes in n Znalflmi.' but tJien when it'e^vp io rrprp^cni ni\yo Fames the rambli^" n-frii kvpk in evidenrf. t Al'o y 1 roWintr o^TnHKn<r ' o^mrred. and •" in rr,nn«?ctir>n wWh'.^h"- 9 rpcent matcl[ -*■ Wanganut one <'<^ " *he papets s a^

"very little money changed hand! during the day, but one man. 'gainec £300 fr o m the fact that Webb had wbo-thie race.'"' It was in oonnectioi with football more than in any othei game, with the exception 1 of hors< racing, that gambling was present : and while referring to football he re gxetied there was a tendency i n the detection of professionalism — (a[> itfause)— -for this to a very large extent encouraged the spirit of gaxnb ling. Gambling on horse-raoingi was Uhe most prevalent. In connection witK horse-racing, in time it seemed bb'.have in many instances ( a more or less degrading effect upon those svho had indulged in.it. It first took the form of a bet with individuals ; lihen the bookmaker came on the Scene, awl following came the totali-> sator for the expressed purpose <Si annihilating the bookmaker in time. In .this, however, it had failed, for they had _ never had so manjfc book-, maWrs in the colony than at the present time. The machine existed under false pretences. It was established to\put down the feooikm'a'ker * l>ui had failed, and therefore some other remedy should take its place. Last ypar. one -.and, a. Jurff .million .pounds was put through the totalisator. The spea'klet alsp submitted figures in connection 'with -the Audkland a*d Palmerston raWj meetings. iAt /tlhe highest it gave s *to the Government £40,000, and if it were ten times as mudh tne price w a s tool great. Gambling also had a serious effect physical^', and , lit was a menace to the moral character •a'nd-a crime against religion.'- He Purged' people to have nothing to do- with gaxrib]iisg at cards, and then the churches ISemselves .could do something very materially to- destroy the influence of the art union. Then, again, they might aim' at the conversion pt their press. | He admfired tifee higE position of the I press; in this colony, but" they gave a great deal of theif space to %Ke sporting news, whereas how; few columns were given to tlfa social, religious and other tjtiestions for ihe uplifting" of the people. If they could not cio any- > thing by oomjmunicating witE the proprietors then thtfrjr , must secure legislation for the purpose, ntid^'somefhiing cowSld' be done- in' the Kbraries, similar tq" wjr^t wa» ' - being done Jn' many pfatee^'M England, viz., blotting l y out all sporting ,n«w§. (Applause.^ The ptev, IJ- i^f^e spoke in. favour of prohrbition, f " /«pi submitted. sho^n^; thjat -tifern was a> decrease' of 236 iM.'tlie caiBe».of^drunk«B3ttess in the prdHibCtipn districts; "do,Trtt s^outiH and: of 213/ in cases ,'<*£ a seiaous nalture. This -was* proof •^a* ptonlbftion had' the effecti b'f imaniniifiingt -dtunkeniiess and o-t/Jyeir, <irvftias{ 'as T^oJl.UAppJause.) Mr Varney-, aeliveropt. a* earnesti. address/ In wMbfc he'plfea^e^^e cause of tha chil^en. Tq Ms mfca^, nVfcard, fdir the limf ones. The grarHeSer spent, the gtr«at«r part of Ms idme in at^fen^ing; tGe seedlings an 3 young plants, to protect them from Banger and the storm, atacl iihe greater the he feeBtowed^upon them the greater the result, and H was so with" tfie ©hkiiteh; the greater care "tiEey best'oweiJ upon their children 5n "the Sunday School, the grea/ter their usefulnesa in the days to com*. TJiej Sunday ScEooi was worthy a£ more recognition than it received to-day, and if ho might be allowed to say so he. regretted 1 that in ©otmectfon with' tEat Conference there wouM 1 <be.no servdee organised For the benefit of the children. Contirtuin'g, %6e speaker said iit was the tetidKer who iwasithe 1 key to successful Sunday School labour. He conduced by urging- parents noi onfy to send their children to tne Sunday Soßool but also io iefce /them to church.. Com© witfi them, an» sii with them. No matter how young Ih^y m<ay be, birin 1 ? th-em *rtt?u 7 «arly, brin/<r theimi often. Addressing the teachers, he Said they hiadmany discover affem'pnt^, but theirs was a glorious work. They werd mak<ingf *E» chtawh of tEo future, an 3 he appeailed to 'tihe preachers to Kelp thorn in the work. Diurrag th« evening severa" solo* were rendered vcSl «tf6 'the close the usual vofes of tWatoks were accorded. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Two candi'datcs, Meswrs D. B. F. Carlisle and J. F. Doherty, preached at 8.30. The iirst reading' of stations is as follows :—: — JNew Plymouth.— A. Ilarding, A. Armstrong, J. Nixon (bue yearns Vest) . Wellington 11., Webb -st.— J. Damson, H. A. Moorp, H.M. !] ' Auckland 1., Alexandra-si. —^WPotter, E. Warburton. Auckland 11., Franklin Road.— Geo. Clement, T. Coats worth. Auckland 111., Eden Terrace.— T. H. Lyon. In.vcrcargill 1., Don-st. —^Robt. Rainc. Invercaroill 11., Ellcs Roadj— T. A. Pybus. Thames, S. Henderson. Greend-ale.— P». Dudley.; v Christchureh.— James Guy, W. Harris, cm.. , • ■ ■ .-: Ashburton.— K. J. Uddeil, Feildin^.— P. J. Co9snm. H. Daniell, P. W. Jones (Supernumerary). Dunedin.— W. Laycock, v S. Bailey, C. A. Sim. , - Waikoua'iti-— J. Featherstone. Foxton. — J. Southern. Wellington 1., Sydncy-st.— C. E. Ward, B. Metson, .T. Puinbell (Supernumerary) . Wellington Tlf.-J. Cocker. Timaru.— J. Olphert. f»praldine.— Geo. Hj Mann. Temuka Branch.— .l. F. Dohertx (H.M.). ;•..-..'

•Hakombe.— J . Clover. Stratford.— D. Campbell. Ellham.— J . Uenning. Wawnate and Oamaru.— J. Harris. West Coast Mission. — J. Sharp, I B. F. Carlisle (candidate). tnglewood. — Hedley White. ', Bluff.— G. P., Hunt. .Waihi.-T. R. B. Woolloxall. Wanganui. — K. Drake. East Eganont Mission. — A. Davi (candidate). "Sdendale Branch:— F." A. Thompsoj (candidate) . Wailcato Mission.— P. J. Mairs (H.M.). RETIRING PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS The retiring President, OVfe C. E Bellringer, delivered his address, ant remarked that the year which hac just passed from them haki in sojik respects been fraught with matters of vital interest to . the whole Church', of God, none more deeply touching her t however, than theunaoc of her varioais 'branches. ,Tl*e passing aw a y of everything that savours o' the spirit of intolerance, the growing feeling of brotherhood in Christ, the wider and fuller recognition of their oneness in the Father, had broken down prejudices, overcome restraints, and bronig'ht them nearer /to each other and to Gofcl. He rejoiced in this. WBen they came* to 'look, around, they totind that drilling the year there had 'been a marvellous spirit of desire for wiity moving throughout the world. : In the Old Land the union of the Methodist Fre* Church,' the Methodist New Connexion and : the Bible Christians had been most happily consummated amid general rejoicings in which their awn church 'had joined. ' Many of their leading men voiced their felicitation's, and from Home papers <they learned "that the Rev. H. YodLl, P.M. Connectional Editor, assured the ,late Methodist New Connexion Conference of the deep interest of bis! church on the approaching union of the. tikcee negotiating bodies and pleaded for the accentuation of' those elements which ma f de for 'spiritual ; and organic union." Mr T. Lawrence/ ■ and the Rpvs. J. Travis, J. Pickett M.S., E. DaKon had all emphasised - th« need of limited action. In America there had been a union of two branches of the Presbyterian Church,, and Canada, too liad felt the influence o£' this spirit. En their own colony the Presbyterian GKaieral/ Assemfo-ly had reaiplpointed the committee to confer with their own md the sister evangelical churches to iiscuss matters affecting the welfare oi the churches with a view to ultimate reunion. 'Pbat . ihmr | church (in this colony possessed as strong virility was • evudenccd by the lewly published census' returns showng an increase of 11,653 'withins^ the ast five years, being' some 114 per :ent. Their total alelKerents were ►1,796. But the thought would obruSJe itself, ere these who call themselves by their name hsk\g won for Christ, are they doing, all they might !o to bring th«m to His feet? The vrork thaifi lay before them in this fair lome of theirs was supreme in its nagnificent possibilities. But tKere urere foes to, combat"; the spirit oJ inlatiable m'aterJalism which loved jeltEer Ood norj man was atJro'acl! on ;he eajrtb. They hearH laaH> night of >he priceless value ol tKe child life of i people. Odd forbi3 tHa^ tHe spirit >f an ever craving greed that sacrifices little children to tihat moloch of jain- should exert it« baneful power ipon tncm. When one heard of the lepths to which: mciv Said descertcled in America in" tEe sacrificing of the little Dues to the golden -calf every, feeling yt fatherhood rose witk hot rebellious protest and demtan'ded in the name of the God who made them, of the Christ ivho gave Himself for tfiem, and who said "that it were betoter for a mten that a millstone be hung, around his neck, .and tfia* he be cast into the depths of the sea ratlier tHan that he should offend ons of these little ones, tfiat 1 never itf this favoured home of theirs should lik« tfiingw be. The great curse of -tfcat gambling evj|,eve n now lX ca3ts a dark shadow upon us, tbreateniiQg our very nugftest awf best Ideal*. Tie 'drink traffic still reared its Wdeous heatl devouring its victims day by day. The sins of impurity threatened to poison tKe very fountains of thrrir .voun-g mat*icmail life. Earnest, unswerving, persistent effort must be made to dispel these evils. A public meeting was held at Inglew od o on Friday night, the VicePresident of the Conference presiding. i \ The work of curing a cough or cold begins with the first dose of Baxter's Lung Preserver because the delicate tissue. 5 ? are impregnated by the valuable healing properties. -Advt.