WESLEYAN CHURCH CIRCUIT, RANGIORA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2424, 29 December 1875, Page 3

WESLEYAN CHURCH CIRCUIT, RANGIORA.

The quarterly meeting Of the local proaohora Of this oirouit;, was hold in the vestry of tho Southbrook Churoh on Monday morning last. Tho Rev Henry Bull occupied the ohair. A letter was road from Mr Graham, re* questing to bo released from proaohing for twolvo mouths. Tho Chairman pointed out that no reason was assigned in the letter. Mr Sharplin said ho belioved ono reason for Mr Graham's dosirod withdrawal was because tho Chairman had not inoludod his name in tho programme of speakers on tho occasion of tho opening of tho now church. Mr 0. S. Howard said this was quito moor* root, as Mr Graham had deolared his intention to retire long before tho new ohuroh was opened. Eventually a deputation was appointed to sco Mr Graham, and report the result to tho Chairman. A conversation took plaoo respecting tho Fornside Sohoolroom as a preaching station, and it was resolved that an application bo mado for tho use of it for that purpose. Mr Sharplin said ho regretted toobsorvo that the oirouit ministers did not oooupy tho pulpits of tho country preaching places more frequently. Ho thought tho local preaohors should appear offcener before tho town oongrogations than they had hitherto boon pormittod to do. Messrs Little and Thompson objected to any alteration boing mado in the present arrange* monta. If tho local preachers were made so prominent as Mr Sharplin desired, the Cirouit would suffer. i Mr Joseph Thompson complained that the new building in Bangiora had been designated " Trinity" Uhuroh. As wo did not monopolise the Trinitarian dootrine, he entirely objected to that peouliar designation, and he moved — " That the trustees of tho ohuroh be requested to allow tho name to drop." Mr Sharplin sooonded tho resolution, which was carried. Mr Meredith said ho bad noticed that the Chairman, when ho read tho report at the opening of the new ohuroh had used tho word " Sacramental Steward" when speaking of Mr Mardon's appointment. Ho (Mr Meredith) was much pained at tho use of that term in a Methodist ohuroh, and trusted the uso of it was not intentional. The Chairman said ho had used the word designedly, as being in his opinion more expressive of the work of ono whoso business it was to provido tho materials for the Saoraments, than tho common term of " Poor Stoward." Mr Sharplin desired to ontor his most solemn protest against tho Chairman's inno« ration. If tho Chairman persisted in using suoh terms, which were quite unknown to Methodism, the local preachers would not work with him in the conoorns of tho Oirouit. This word " saoramental" was a clear advance in favour of Puseyism, and would induoo " war and revolution" in tho Oirouit so long as the Chairman remained in it. Tho Chairman said ho must refer tho Speaker to tho Eov Jamos Buller, President of tho Conference, to whom alone ho (tho Chairman) was amenable. Tho Bonodiotion was then pronounood. The quarterly meeting of the stewards and other oinoo'bearera was held in tho afternoon of the same day. The Rev H. Bull again occupied the chair, and thoro were twenty representatives presont. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Graham for bis servioes in proouring a oirouit hone. A letter of sympathy was directed to be sent to Mr Atkinson, of Wood end. The income for the

quarter was £145 10s lOd, and the expendi* ture £189 18s lOd. On the motion of the Circuit Stewards, a cordial vote of thanks was pasted to the Rev H. Bull for his ministerial services during the past year. This being the* third year of Mr Bull's residence in the Circuit, It was resolved to submit the names of two ministers to the Conference from whom to ohoose his successor as Superintendent of the Cirouit. These were the Beys G. S. Harper and David M'Nicoll. Mr Sharplin said he wished to repeat some remarks the Bey A. B. Fitohett had made with respect to a recent meeting at the Oresoenfc road Ohuroh. The Chairman ruled that Mr Sharplin was out of order. On the motion of the Circuit Stewards a oordial vote of thanks was passed to the Bey P, W. Fairolough for his past year's services, with a request that tho Conference re-appoint him to the Oirouifc next year. The Chairman moved a hearty vote of thanks to Messrs Little and Thompson, senr.,for their eflloiont servioes as Circuit Stewards during the past year. This was carried. Mr Joseph Thompson was elected Oirouit Steward for the next year. The Chairman asked if the meeting desired to send a representative to the Wellington Conference. Mr Meredith moved and Mr Sharplin seconded a resolution to the effect that on account of the illiberal polioy of the Conference no representative be sent. The motion was put and lost. Mr Thompson was proposed as representative. Mr Sharplin enquired whether, if elected, he would call a publio meeting before and at the close of the Conference session to discuss the Conference measures P Mr Thompson said he would most certainly not do so. A ballot was then taken, with the following result s Thompson, 11 $ Sharplin, 4. Mr Joseph Thompson was there* fore elected representative. Mr Meredith moved and Mr Sharplin seconded— " That the class-meeting still remain the test of membership in the Church." This recommendation was carried. Mr Meredith moved, and Mr Sharplin seconded— "That young people be not trained and prepared for the Communion as recommended Dy the Canterbury District Meeting." He remarked that in the Diatriot Meeting recommendation there were distinct traces of Puseyism. The resolution was carried by a majority of two. Mr Meredith moved, and Mr Sharplin seconded— " That Communion rails bo abolished, and that tho Sacrament be received in a sitting posture." Mr Thompson opposed the resolution. Mr Little, who also opposed the resolution, said he regretted that the valuable time of the meeting was so muoh taken up by two par* tioular mombors of it. This was not the first ! oooassion when the members' time had been so oocupied, and he trusted a word in season would be enough. Tho resolution was then put and lost. Mr Thompson moved a resolution in favour of temperance, whioh was carried. The Benediotion was then pronounced.