AUSTRALIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1328, 2 March 1859, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Tnis body has just. terminated its sittings in York-street Church, Sydney, and wo have been obligingly-furnished by the General Secretary of Missions with the following abstract of the proceedings. ■ ~ • This is the fifth annual Conference since the separation of the Australian VVesleyan Churches from the British Conference into an affiliated

conference. It has jurisdiction over all the Wesleyan Methodist Churches in Australia and Polynesia. The missiun branches are iow largo and flourishing, and arc becoming a source of perplexity on account of their extint and success. A reinforcement of Ministers has been sent from England to euable the Austulasian Conlerenci to sustain their growing suejcesj, and the funds for their support are supplemented by the parent society with liberal grants. We proceed to give a brief summary of the proceedings of the Conference, as far as we are enabled to collect information : —The Conference was opened in York-street church, Sydney, on January 20th, at 10 a.m. The expresident, the Rev. W. Butters, gave out the 5261h hymn, which was suns:, when the Revs. N. Turner and W. Sehofield engaged in prayeri The ex-president th'en announced that, the Biitish Conference had, in accordance with the request of the last Conference, appointed thu Rev. D./f. Draper to be the presidcu of this Conference, he therefore handed ovei to him the Conference seal and journal,- and introduced him to the Conference. The Presi. dent having delivered a suitable address, the business of the Conference was proceeded with, The Rev. S. Eabone was elected by bullot to fill the office of secretary to the Conference and the Rev. H. H. Gaud and J. Buddie were; appointed sub-secretaries and took their seats on the platform. The president culled over the names of those Ministers who were expected to attend the Conference, who took their places according to seniority. Most of them were ,pre«ent. The hours of attendance were fixed as follows: morning sitting, 9J- to 12$ ; afternoon sitting, from 2J- to 5.

The address of. the British Conference to the Australasian Conference was then read by the secretary, and a reply was directed to be prepared. .

A vote of thanks was presented to the Rev. W. Butters,.ex-President, for the faithful and efficient discharge of the duties which devolved upon him during the period of bis presidency. This vote was suitably acknowledged. A rote of thanks was accorded to the Rev. D. J. Draper for the efficient discharge of his duties as secretary' to the Conference during the past year, and was acknowledged by the President. • ■

Two young preachers, who had fulfilled their probation, and had been cordially recommended by their district meetings, wore received into full connection as ministers of the body, and their ordination in their respective districts was arranged for. These ministers were the Revs. C. Colwell and W. D. Lelean. The remainder of the day was occupied in fixing the status and detetmining the continued employment uf thirty-two preachers, who are in the different stages ef probation, for the full work of the ministry.

Friday morning, 9£. —After the usual devotional exercises of singing, reading the Scriptures, and prayer, the question was answered, What preachers are now received on trial ? After careful inquiry eleven candidates were received by votes of the Conference as probationers,—Thomas Baker, John Clifton, Edwin J. Watkin, Jesse Carey, Edward B. Burns, Richard Cook, Thomas Skewes, Henry Bath, Henry T. Burgess, Charles H. Goldsmith, and Robert S. ; Casely. Three native assistant missionaries who had satisfactorily completed their probation were received into full connection. . Nine remain on trial, and three were admitted as probationers by the conference.

The next question—" What ministers and preachers on trial have died since the last Conference ?" was introduced by a short period of devotional exercises of a solemnising character, the 717 th hymn was snug, and the Rev \V. A. Quick and the President engaged in prayer. Three of the ministers had departed this life, of whom obituaiius were read and adopted, indicating that a life of ardent service had been crowned with a triumphant departure two were in the mission field, the llev. Mr. Woon of New Zealand, and the Rev. John Crawford of Fiji—the other in Victoria, the Rev. Theophilus Taylor. Saturday, morning, after devotional exercises .was devoted to the usual examinations of ministerial character, every name being read with enquiries' as to continued fitness fur ministerial position and work; at eleven the Conference adjourned until a little past twelve to allow the Stationing Committee (composed of the chairman and a representative from each district) to complete the draft of stations. When the Conference reassembled, the draft was read without remark, and the Conference adjourned until Monday morning. A plan of appointment had been printed, and tiie various churches were well attended on the Sabbath.

Monday .Morning, . 24th.—The ordination service, which was to take place that evening was arranged for. Seven ministers who had previously been admitted in full connexion, bat who had not been in circumstances to receive ordination, were to be ordained, and the arrangements were agreed upon. The second reading of the stations was then entered upon, and va rious alterations suggested. This buisness was suspended for the consideration of a request from the New South Wales District for permission to form a Wesleyan Church Susleutation and Extension Society fur their own district. A long dircussion ensued, the plan was considered, and eventually permission was granted, and the plan of the Society receive the sanction of the Conference. The Conference adjourned at the usual hour.

The ordination service in the eveuing was one of unusual interest. The spacious church in York-street was nrowded. Thenrranßeinents for the services were good. The testimony borne by the candidates for ordinaiiun indicated piety, gifts, and success. The charge delivered by the ex-President will not be forgotten.' It was ponted, practical, affectionate, .and weighty. -The whole service has been spoken of. by some who were t present as one of great interest a,nd profit. ■•-•■■< ■ ■■• ■ • i l^'- '- (Tuesday .Morning.—After devotional'oxer-' cises and reading former" ibinutcs,'th'c.ques-'. tipn, ■." What is'the'nuraber t>f Cliurcli .meinbqrs ?'•' was' considered. The folluiving is the ariswer. ■ • ■ ' ' '

."•■•■■• ■ ■ Members. Incrcnse. On trial, tfew South Wales District. 3158 114 336 ■ Victoria ditto 3I);)7 743 431) South Australia ditto .... 2177 274 2CD Western Australia ditto 74 .. 9 Tusmanin dilto 813 10 39 Auckland ditto 1814 107 170 Wellington ditto 814 .. S2 Friendly Islands ditto.... 0018 31 258 Fiji Islands ditto 8315 1208 3132 28,138 2085 5000 The Conference employed tlie rest of the day chiefly with the subjects of stations. The following day being the Anniversary of the colony, the Conference adjourned until Thursday morning Before the adjournment ii vote of thanks was accorded to the ex-President for his excellent address .to the young ministers at their ordination. In the evening , the official sermon was preached in the York-street chapel, by the President The text was taken from

Colos.-iians i., 27-20, and presented a rich fuud or appropriate remark. , . On Thursday injrning the Connexionalcommittees commenced their sittings. There were present: The President in the Chair,. Rev S. Rabone, secretary of the Conference ; J. leston, general secretary of missions; J. Watkin S. Ironside, W. A. Quick, B. Chapman, W. Hessel, J. Oram, J. G. Millard, with Messrs. M'Arthur, Caldwell, Love, G. W. Allen, Speer Cowlishaw, the hon G .\V. Allen Esq., and Rev. '11. Mansfield of New South Wales; the Rers. S. Williams, W. S. Binks, and J. C. Symons, from Vicloria; the ex-L'resident from South Australia; the Rev. S. B. Harris, from Tasmania ; the Rev. R. Amos, from the Friendly Islands; . and the Revs. John Malvern and Joseph Waterhpusc, from Fiji. The mission business was first called for. The minutes of the Executive committee were read by the general secretary and were received and adopted, with some modification. The affairs of New Zealand were fully considered, and much information was elicited. A resolution was adopted, expressive of satisfaction with the results of recent elTurts to promote an improved financial state in that mission. An arrangement was made to invest the mission brig in trustees for Cue society.

The incomeof the society for 1858 could not be distinctly ascertained, but was expected to be about £9501; the expenditure about £13,450, leaving a balance of nearly £4000 to be paid by the parent society.

The estimated revenue for 1859 was put down for £9835, and grants were sanctioned for appropriatioj by the Executive Committee to the amount 0f£15,160 6s. This includes provision for foir additional young men for New Zealaud, Uree additional married men for Fiji, and two forthe Friendly Islands, with houses, furniture, &., for new stations

Friday morning, 28th.—The casej of the Chinese in Victoria was considered. It appeared that a Chnese Weseleyan chapel was being erected and Ihat both in Victoria and New South Wales ihere was a call for effort It was resolved to grant £300 to Victoria and £150 to New South Wiles, for the support of evangelistic efforts amongst the Chinese. The thanks of the committee were tendered io Messrs G. W. Allen, J. Caldwtll, VV. Lovn. A. M'Arthur, and W. Speer, for the personal liabilities they have incurred in securing the necessary advances for the financial buisness of the Society. Thanks were offered also to the him G. Allen Esq., M. L.C., the Rev. S. Rabone, general secretary, for their services during the past year. A draft of the proposed laws and regulations of the Australasian Missionary Society was considered amended und recommended for adoption by the Conference. Alter the business of of the Missionary Committee was concluded the Children's Fund Committee sat. Tne balance sheet was read and approved.

The treasurer of the Worn-out Ministers and Ministers' Widows' Fund presented the balance sheetof the fund, which was received and approved. Tlie comrai&ee adjourned at a late hour to a future day.

Saturday Morning was occupied chiefly with the stations and some miscellaneous business. . :,

Monday was employed in considering the stations. The Wesley College Bill was agreed to by the Conference, and a resolution was passed expressive of a hope that the college would be established, and prove a blessing to the youth of the land, Tho division of circuits the adoption of addresses to the societies, and the British Conference, the final fixing of the appointments for the year occupied the attention of the Conference during the week. The Rev. John Eggleston the general secretary for missions, is recommended to the British Conference to be appointed President of the Australasian Conference next year. The conference concluded its sittings ou Monday, February ?th, at noon. . ". . ,

On the Anniversary of the. Colony, the members of the Conference, on the invitation of the olficers and teachers of the Wesleyan Sabbath Schools, accompanied them in a steamer down the Harbour to an appropriate landing place in Middle Harbour ;an interesting address was given by the presidentonthesubjectof Sabbath School institutions. In the evening of that day the Hon. George Allen, Esq., M.L.C.,entertaiued the members of the Conference, with many of the lay officers of the Church athis residence, Toxteth Park.—& M. Herald: