METHODISTS ARE IN SESSION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18393, 20 February 1928, Page 5

METHODISTS ARE IN SESSION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONTINUED TO-DAY,

The annual conference of the Meth odist Church of New Zealand was continued in the Durham Street Church to-day, the president, the Rev W. J. Elliott, being in the chair. Further reports on the work of the Young People's Department were presented by the Rev E. P. Blamires. general secretary of the department. The report stated that the general secretary had visited 59 circuits and 10 home mission stations. An all-lines ticket in the North Island had made it possible to suit dates better to local circumstances. There was a proposal to extend this to the South Island this year. Almost universally the ministers .arranged the programme wisely, and hospitality abounded. Trip Opposed. , The World’s Sunday School Convention would meet at Los Angeles in July, 1928, and the Young People’s Board reported that it was arranging for the general secretary to attend. Dr Poole, president of the World’s Sunday School Association, would visit New Zealand in June, 1928. Mr D. C. Cameron, jun., expressed strong opposition to the proposal to send the general secretary to the convention. He declared that there was important work for Mr Blamires to do in New Zealand, and that it was unlikely that anything would be gained if he attended the convention. Mr P. W. Sharpe supported the board’s proposal, and expressed the opinion that the trip would do a considerable amount of good. The young people, he said, had already collected practically enough to finance the trip. The Rev E. T. Olds said he believed that the trip would be of inestimable benefit to the Church, but at the same time he thought it would lead to friction, especially amongst the smaller circuits. During the discussion it was stated that an appeal for contributions to defray the expenses of the trip was being made to the Sunday Schools. The Rev A. J. Seame-r said that the trip could be justified on every possible grounds. “ Too Much Organised." Mr H. J. Mourant opposed the proposal. He said he felt that they were getting too much organised. Their American friends were past masters at conventions and organisation, and he was afraid that it was going to be a huge advertising affair, of absolutely no value to the Church. The Rev A. Mitchell asked if it was an American convention or a world convention. The president replied that it was a world convention which was being held in the United States. The Rev E. D. Patchett opposed the proposal and stated that he had not referred the appeal to his Sundayschools. The Rev Angus M’Bean supported the proposal. In reply to a question Mr Blamires said that the conference committee had endorsed the recommendation of the Young People’s Board, but had not been unanimous regarding the matter. Willing to Withdraw from Trip. Mr Blamires asked that the whole proposal be withdrawn, but there were cries of dissent. He said that he was afraid that there would be a lack of unanimity but the Young People’s Board thought that there would be unanimity. He was prepared to ask the board to withdraw the proposal. The conference did not agree to this course. The Rev C. 11. Olds, convener of the committee which considered the matter, moved that the conference approve of the general secretary attending the World’s Sunday School Convention to be held at Los Angeles in July, provided the N Young People’s Board made satisfactory arrangements. The motion was carried. The Rev W. Baumber then moved that the request of the general secretary that he withdraw from the proposed trip to Los Angeles be acceded to. The suspension of standing orders was agreed to in order that the motion could be put. The motion was carried by a large majority. Deputation from Alliance. A deputation from the New Zealand Alliance was received by the conference in committee. The deputation consisted of the Rev J. F. Coursey (chairman of the North Canterbury Area Council), C. R. Edmond (general secretary of the Alliance), and J. M’Kenzie (North Canterbury Area organiser).