PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 1665, 19 January 1895, Page 3

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(By Telegraph.) * WELLINGTON, January 18, Yesterday's session of the Primitive Methodist Conference was taken up m considering various reports. The report on the book room showed . a balance of £200. Th e furnishing fund report showed an increase of '£01, witha balance m hand of £71.. From the report of the superannuated mihisters.widows, and orphans fund/ il was seen that the fund was m a flourishing state, having a balance m hand of > £863. The Primitive Methodist Magazine fund showed an incotne • of £258, . leaving a balance of £47 on the working of the year. The children's, equalisation fund showed ari iricbme for the year of £351 Os 3d; whichUef tit credit balance of £18 5s 7d on the year's transactions. The balance to credit of the fund is £224 16s '4d. The fire insurance reports showed that 63 separate risks had -been taken, to the extent of £10»200. The assets were very satisfactory." Replying to a deputation from the local Good Templars, the fiev. J. Cocker eaid that the Conference stood shoulder to shoulder with tempte'rahceiwork. In two years the greatest: struggle i which the colony had ever seen would be fotfght at the ballot box. In the meantime, the temperance party must educate, organise, and. agitate." Yesterday afternoon the Conference was engaged m making arrangements for missionary meetings, and the eleptipn of officers arid committees for the coming year. An appeal to the Conference for help on behalf of the jubilee loan funds, was made,. Promises were given amounting to about £300. ' '"'''■ , Legislation from different stations was considered. It was decided that the i Conference meet atTimaru on January i 10th, 1896. It was resolved — " That this Conference renews its oft repeated testimony m favour of local option by the direct vote of the people at the ballot box ; also, that the Conference, believing it to .be the duty of Christ's Church to bear its testimony against all unrighteousness, and recognising m the increase of gambling; a grave peril to the Church and nation, enters its solemn protest against the vice. The Conference trusts that ministers will denounce the evil from tho pulpit, and recommends members of the churches to discourage lotteries, and urges upon school officials the duty of safeguarding the young under their care by warning them of the sin and dangeif of gambling practices." At the Primitive Methodist Conference to-day moneys from different funds were preallocated to mission work, after which the following connexional Htatistics were giyen -.—Ministers, 30; local preachers, 128; class leaders, 46; Church members, 1466 ; ' Sabbath schools, 60; teachers, 508: scholars, 4421 ; churches, 52 (an increase,, of 5) ; preaching places, 74 (an increase of 2) : parsonages, 13; hearers, ,6750; v^rne of property, £30,412 (an iher.eas.e of £1844 for the year). After further " routine business the Conference closed.