Wesleyan Conference.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8610, 15 March 1897, Page 2

Wesleyan Conference.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, March 13. At the Wesleyan Conference, the Rev. Mr Simmonds was unanimously elected Principal of Three Kings' College at Auckland. The Conference passed, in their respective years of probation, two young Maori ministers, and the Rev. Warihi delivered an address, the President conveying to him the respect in which he is held by the Conference. A deputation from the Ministers' Association waited on the Conference, and delivered a congratulatory address, to which the Eevs. Luxford (Christchurch) and Stephens(Dunedin) replied. A greater portion of the morning sitting was held with closed doors, when the question of ministerial character was considered. No charge was made against any minister in the colony. The Conference agreed to furnish the British Conference with the required certificates concerning the Revs. Nelson and Turner, two supernumerary ministers of that Conference now residing in New Zealand. Regarding the insurance scheme, Mr Benbow (Wellington) reiterated the statement that £200 would have to be paid as a fee to the Government. A motion was earned that the list of marks obtained by the probationers ia various subjects of the Conference curriculum be inserted in the Conference journal. The Revs. W. Gittos,' Garland, Dewsbury, Lawry, Hosking, Marten, Laws, McNicoll, Pinfold, Smalley, Luxford, Dukes, and Simmonds were appointed a Board of Examiners, with the Rev. Marshall as Secretary. The Rev. Mr Simmonds was requested to prepare papers in general knowledge for candidates.

At the Wesleyan Conference Mr J. T. Smith, Christchurch, read the tem-pei-ance report and referred to the unsatisfactory mode of conducting the last general election. He urged that the Band of Hope be associated with every Sunday school, and pointed out that during the year there had been an increase of 32 of these institutions, with 2,261 members. He said there was special need for instructions of temperance principles in Bands .of Hope, and complained that too many experienced members of the church held aloof from this work. Rev. Morley moved to strike out the sentence in the report that it was expedient that prohibition be carried by a bare majority, and said in the interests of temperance itself he took this step. Rev. F. W. Isitt seconded the motion, and he did not think the Conference should commit itself to such a statement. The motion was then carried, and the old committee was reappointed. The Eev. F. W. Isitt moved that the Conference, while it regrets no license was not accepted in any districts, desires to place on record its satisfaction that so far as they can be relied on the returns show * that the vote for no license in 1896 more than doubled the votes obtained in 1894, and urged the methodists of the colony to make renewed activity in their attacks upon i the existence of the traffic which is subversive of all the best interests of humanity and a chief hindrance to the establishment of God's Kingdom on earth. It affectionately and earnestly advises that the consistency of the Church with its own rules and resolutions be maintained and that the support which any evil obtains when the church seems to countenance it, may be avoided in future by not electing to any office in Methodism, any man prominently identified with the liquor traffic or with the promotion of the twin evil of gambling. It further urges that all possible endeavors be made to remove from such

office any that are identified with either of these evils. Consideiable discussion ensued, some members giving a hearty support to the motion, while others thought its phraseology too drastic and that it aimed at certain churches. The Rev. Mr Morley was horrified at the ravages of the drink traffic, and although he did not want to hinder Mr Isitt's work, he thought it was un-

wise to be often talking as if their church failed to ad ranee the work. He moved that all words after " Kingdom on earth " be deleted. —Mr Isitt | obtained leave to amend the motion by the insertion of the following:— "It congratulates our people on the stand taken by them generally in relation to the evils of intemperance, and in order to emphasise its rules and regulations it re-affirms the principle that has actuated the church in the past, that no person prominently connected with the drink traffic or gambling evils should be elected to an office in this church."— Mr Morley.'s amendment was lost by 44 to 28, and Mr Isitt's amendment was carried.

An address congratulating the Queen on her record reign was adopted, and will be sent through the ActingGovernor.

The following were declared elected as representatives to the General Conference:—Ministerial: Rev. W. Morley, W. Baumber, S. Bull, C. H. Garland, J. Orchard, W. J. Williams, W. C. Oliver, G. Bond, and W. G. Parson. Laymen: Messrs W. Harris, J. 0. Stephens, G. H. Blackwell, J. A. Flesher, J. Manchester, F. L. Prime, J. Buddie, J. T. Smith, W. Shepherd Allen, M. A. W. G. Bassett and O. W. Benbow. The following were appointed ministerial substitutes to the General Conference:—Revs. J. S. Sinalley, Dewsbury, Keall, Simmonds, Isitt, Luxford, McNicoll, Hoskingand Prior. The following were appointed lay substitutes: — Messrs Harding, Gunson, Grace, Duke, Litchfield, Aubury, Jones, Jackson, Moxhaui and Simpson. ■

Showubs are frequent. Visit Court's Beehive Store?, and buy a rainproof cloak or mackintosh. Best value for money on the field.—[Advt.] Mr Thomas Hutchison, who was appointed from Palnierston North to Auckland in place of Mr Bush, S.M., commenced his new duties on Saturday.