FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20238, 23 February 1934, Page 5

FOREIGN MISSIONS.

Concern at State of Finances. METHODIST CONFERENCE. , Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 22. A grave financial crisis in the affairs of the Foreign Mission Department of the New Zealand Methodist Church was referred to at to-day’s session of the Methodist Conference, the hope being expressed on behalf of the Board of Missions that the Church would be shocked into some sense of the seriousness of the position on learning of the need that had been forced on the board for still further retrenchment. Owing to shrinkage of personal incomes allocations to the mission field totalling £12,000 had had to be reduced to £9OOO. It was stated that no missionary could be sent to replace the Rev V. Le C. Binet, who for health reasons was unable to return to the field, no nurse to replace Nurse Lilian Berry, and no doctor to replace Dr E. T. Sayers. The board stated that this tragic position had been created by the withholding by the Church of the means necessary for the work. The board emphasised the urgency and extent of the work still to be done in the Solomon Islands, and stressed the greatness of the Church’s opportunity there. Deep regret was expressed by several members of the conference that the grave position of finance necessitated the withdrawal from the field of the one remaining medical missionary, Dr Sayers. The contribution of the Women’s Missionary Auxiliary to the work totalled £2450. At the Methodist Conference resolutions were adopted pledging the Church to more effective support of the aims of the New Zealand Alliance and to strenuous resistance of any attempts to restore licenses in no-license areas. It was resolved: “(a) Conference re-

iterates the declared belief of the Methodist Church that resort to war is i?ot in harmony with the spirit of Christ and is a crime against humanity. We express pyr abhorrence of the increasing output of armaments by private firms and corporations, which create and play upon racial fears, suspicions and jealousies to reap dividends from increasing national mistrust, (c) We urge all Christian people and men and women of goodwill to assist in every way the efforts of those who are striving, especially among our children and young people, to maintain the ideals of peace and to achieve disarmament and fellowship among the nations.” Other resolutions had to do with Sunday observance and gambling. 'Mr W. J. Bardsley, of Dunedin, president of the Baptist Union, waited on the conference and expressed the appreciation of the Baptist Church of the magnificent work the Methodist Church was doing. The conference adopted a resolution reaftirmirtg the necessity for having the Bible brought, into the schools of the Dominion as soon as possible. It was decided to set up a commission. consisting of an equal number of ministers and lay preachers, to inquire into the relationship of lay preachers tc the Church’s work of the pulpit ministry. The Lay Preachers’ Association was granted the right of direct representation by its president at conferences.