PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 12

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

DEPRESSING STATISTICS FROM THE CHURCHES. At tho opening sessiwis of the Primitive Methodist Conference in Wesley's Chapel, City Road, London, last month, nearly 300 delegates and representatives of denominational institutions were in attendance. Nominations having boon invited for tho presidency, tho Rev. S. S. Henshaw, of Nottingham, was proposed by the Rev, S. Horton; and the llev. James Pickett,: retiring missionary secretary, was proposed by tlie Rev. A. T. Guttery. Mr., Pickett was elected by a narrow majority. Mr. Mark Harrison, J.P., of West Hartlepool, was appointed -vice-president,- and the Rov. B. Feil, of Lancaster, conference secretary. In his official address, the president stated that thero'woio signs in their Churches, tho and tho world outsido tho Churches, which wero not exhilarating. Statistics wore not infallible, especially useu as expositors of moral and spiritual movements, but they wero worthy of attention. Tho great Wesleyan Methodist Church reported a dccreaso in membership of 7916; tho Calvinistio Methodist Church reported a decrease for tho first timo of GOO members; and tlie Presbyterian Church was safe, but only just safo, having added to its members by 19. Tho Congregational Church, one of the most influential in tho Empire, showed an increaso of 37 only, while their own Churoh could report an increase only of 531 members. Accompanied by this there were largo decreases in tho number of teachers and scholars in 'their schools. This gave room not for depression, but for humiliation. 'i'lioy were nil Socialists now, but it should bo their care not to bo secularised by Socialism, but to ovangeliso it. Primitive Methodists wore Imperialists, not in ecclesiastical iili'aira only, hut social and spiritual Imperialist's, They wero creators of national publiit ftH'linff. Tho Factory Acts would not have lioMt passed but for Primitive Methodism. Their Cluiroh had played a part- in bringing nbuilt national education,_ which, had been apniaudod _ by tlioso now in power, who. had Imtglili in tho ranks; but they found the part played by others was roinembered while | their own efforts wero forgotten. ,

SCOTTISH ASSEMBLIES. The proceedings of the General Assembly tho Free - Church (says the "Southern Oross') were characterised by. much bitterness of feeling. When the Assembly adjourned, _it was re-pledged lo abide by the old standards of belief'in their sternest interpretation. Hymns were to be banned, flowers must not obtrude in churches, and if by any chance they are put on the Communion Table, then woe betido the minister. Organs are not to bo tolerated. The impression was given to Edinburgh visitors that the of the Assembly wore conducted with portentous austerity, Graniteraced men from the Highlands, clad in • funeral black, guided tho destinies of the Church. One of tho features of the Assembly was the cry for economy in the working of the departments of tile Church's, activity. It was in pursuit of this that tho office of general secretary, held by Mr. Hay Fhornburn at a snlary of £500 per annum, ivas abolished. Mr. Thornburn was presented with an honorarium of £1000. ' Mr. Hay Thornburn followed np tho abolition of his office by resigning his office of deputo clerk of Assembly and bis connection with all tho committees of which ho was a member. There was a touch of pathos in his letter—which, however, fell upon deaf ears, whon ho said:."Since 1900 I have not spared myself, labouring night r.nd day to fulfil faithfully the many duties connected with the' position of 'trust and honour to which I was called. The welfare and best interests of the Free Church have over been my first and 'only ambition. I deeply regret to find niy official connection with her severed, now that the struggle is over, through no fault of my own." The Lcith Elder Memorial; Church case occupied attention, and orders were given that tho organ must forthwith by removed. On the question of Church Onion and Co-operation, the Free. Church idea ib that Presbyterian reunion is only possible on tho basis of Scotland without hymns or organs. ... In the United Free Church Assembly tho allocations by the Churches Commissioners came in for criticism. Indignation, was expressed that the Free Church had got £447,000, while the. United Free Church had to bo content with £913,000. This was regarded as being unfair, and no data of any account could be got to substantiate the allocations. A satisfactory statement was made regarding the provision of churches and manses for tho dispossessed congregations and ministers. Tho full amount of £150,000 required for this purpose has been practically assured. Regarding the" finances of the Church, Mr. John Nicholson, of Edinburgh, elicited cheers by 'declaring' tliat the ordinary incomo had reached fully £1,000.000, and a large increase had taken place from purely congregational • sources. Tho Emorgenoy Fund, which was not included in tho total, from the beginning was £103,000. The committee, hoped that< a-considerable sum would bo found due to tho United Freo-Church in the accounting now.in progress with the Free Church. Regarding the work of the Highlands and Islands Coinmitteo, a hopeful account was submitted, and it was mentioned that during the year tho work of reconciliation had been promoted in districts perplexed by controversy. Regarding tho provision of cuurclies and mantes for tho dispossessed congregations, ' it : was mentioned that the £ioU,UuO aimed at would be realised, and that tho work of building churches and manses would-.be set about as energetically as possible. ' .