AFTERNOON SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5165, 21 November 1884, Page 4

AFTERNOON SITTING.

At half-past one Mr E. Trist Searell gave an organ recital in the church, and the selections he played showed his good taste and skilful execution. APPOINTMENTS FOE SUNDAY. The Eev W. Morley read the list of appointments for Sunday. — _ OBIS. Mr Te Kooti addressed the Conference. The Eev George Brown reminded the Conference that, since they began their meeting, intelligence had been received of the death of a Maori whose services to Methodism they well knew, and suggested that the Eev A. Eeid should be asked to write a letter of condolence to the surviving relatives of William Barton. The Eev J. E. Moulton seconded the suggestion, and the President requested Mr Eeid to comply with it. BOOK OF DISCIPLINE. The revision of the Book of Discipline was resumed, and continued to 3 o'clock. DIVISION OF CIRCUITS. The Eev J. Haslani moved—" That, after the word ''meeting/ on the fourth line, paragraph 2, page 56, Symons' Handbook, the following insertion be made, viz. : 'In the event of the district meeting recom-' mending a division differing from that" proposed by the September quarterly meeting, a copy of such recommendation shall be remitted to the December quarterly meeting, and, in the event of the quarterly meeting objecting to such district meeting recommendation, the Conference shall not give effect thereto.' " Tlie resolution was seconded. An amendment was moved to omit the words after "December quarterly meeting," and to substitute " next " for December, but both amendment and motion were lost. LOCAL PREACHERS. Mr F. W. Holder moved — '• That recognising the value to the connexion of local preachers as the source from which the candidates for the mi nistry are drawn, and as assisting in other ways to add to the influence of our Church, and with a view to fully employing lay preachers, our circuits are recommended, in suitable cases where local preachers able to supply the pulpits are available, instead of appointing additional ministers to employ Bible men and women, or other such agents, to assist the nii nisters in their pastoral work." He deprecated the spirit of sacerdotalism which was growing in Australasia, and would in time he feared keep the lay preachers altogether out of the pulpit. He was advocating nothing new, but something well worthy of adoption. The motion was seconded. Mr William Eobaon moved as an amendment — " That recognising the value to the connexion of local preachers, this Conference resolves that it is desirable to aim at improving their status and increasing their efficiency ; and in order to do this recommends each Annual Conference to adopt a literary and theological course of study which local preachers on trial shall be required to obs3rve." The amendment was seconded. Considerable discussion ensued, and eventually the amendment was carried. FODETH YEAE IN CIEOUIT. The Eev W. Lee moved— "That while recognising the importance of retaining our itinerant system, this Conference, nevertheless, thinks that provision should be made for a minister receiving a unanimous invitation from his quarterly meeting remaining a fourth year in his circuit under exceptional circumstances." _ The Eev W. Clarke objected to a resolution contrary to the law being discussed. The President ruled that it could be discussed, though, if carried, he did not think the fourth year would be adopted. A considerable discussion on the question of order was closed by the President ruling that the discussion should continue. The Eev W. Lee mentioned that in New Zealand several cases had occurred, where it had been found most desirable that ministers should, under exceptional circumstances, be allowed to remain a " fourth year in his circuit." Mr Moxham seconded the motion, which, after some discussion, was lost by 27 to 16 voles. probationers' course of reading. The Eev J. E. Moulton moved— ••' That each Annual Conference, at the session preceding the General Conference, nominate a member of the Committee to report upon the course of reading of probationers." The motion was seconded and carried unanimously without discussion. TEIAL OF CHURCH MEMBERS. The Eev W. L. Blnuiires moved—" That on the trial of a Church member at a leaders' meeting, the Superintendent of the circuit shall have .the option of enlarging that leaders' meeting by the addition of six persons taken from the quarterly meeting of the circuit, who do not otherwise belong to that leaders' meeting. If he elect so to proceed, then two of such persons shall be chosen by him, two by the persons bringing the charge, and • the other twj by the accused, and these six persons shall act with the other members of that leaders' meeting for the purpose of such trial." The Eev J. W. Crisp seconded the motion. The Eev W. P. Wells moved the addition of some words to a rule in the Book of j Discipline, which, he thought, would meet the case. The addition was after the words " where no leaders* meeting exists/

the following: "And where the leaders' meeting is composed of less than six members." The amendment was seconded and carried. PERSONAL CONSECRATION. The Eev A. Eeid moved — ' That this Conference bo requested to declare whether, according to Wesleyan theology, personal consecration is antecedent or subsequent to the believer's justification." The resolution provoked a theological discussion, in which many members took part. The Conference adjourned at 5 o'clock till 9.30 a.m. to-morrow (Friday).