METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 754, 1 March 1910, Page 8

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

CONNEXIONAL SECRETARY'S POSITION, MINISTEEOE'LAYMAN? (By Teleeraph.—Prees Association.) Dunedin, February 28. The garden party at "Tolcarne," the grounds of Mi. Peter Duncan, this afternoon, was a very successful function. The weather was ideal and the attendance large. ■ When the question of the appointment of a successor to the Boy. H. Bull, connexiona! secretary, to take effect in 1911, came up, the names of the Revs. S. Lawry, C. H. Garland, and W. Baumber were submitted to the conference by the committee. The two latter gentlemen declined the nomination. Later the names of Eevs. W. Slade and D. J. Murray were substituted by a special committee appointed by the conference earlier in the day.'; Prom this nomination the Sev. W. Slade was allowed to retire.

Before the voting took place Mr. J. A. Hesher moved as an amendment that a special committee be appointed to consider the advisability or otherwise of the office being continued in its .present, form, feeling that the clerical work might be done by a layman and at a less cost than is entailed by a ministerial, appointment. Hr. W. G. Bassett (Wanganui) seconded the motion. He felt that the prosent was an" opportune-time for reviewing the whole position, the appointment of an organising home mission secretary having considerably affected the.work of the connexional secretary. . : The Eev. T. Trestrail heartily supported the proposal. Mr. J. C. Stephens and tho Revs. J. J.' Lewis and T. Fee strenuously deprecated the abolition of the ministerial office, and held that in previous conferences, the. position had been deemed , necessary by practically unanimous votes. Mr. W. E. Dixon (Hawera) hoped; the committee would bo set up. /

Mr. J. N. Bultlc-suggested that a committee should be appointed to report 7to the synods and to the next conference. The Rev.'W. 'Slade held that the office required more than a knowledge of fi-. nance, such :an appointee was, an advisor practically to- every circuit in the Dominion. This counsel could'not possibly be given by other than a minister who had 'full knowlsdge and efficiency acquired by lengthy service in the ministry. Mr. G. H. Blackwoll, treasurer of the committee, said the suggestion had come as a great surprise. He held there was nothing to warrant tho proposal, and that twelve months of ,tho office would satisfy Mr. Flosher, the mover, of. the I necessity of the continuance of the office in its present form. The secretary was not to be a mere accountant, but to act as a general manager.. .Ho had been connected with the office from its commencement, and he thought that the amalgamation of this office with that of the home mission secretary was impossible. The office was so important that the very best man procurable was an ■ absolute necessity. He trusted, no retrograde movement would be taken, but that they would' go on. In reply, Mr. Flesher said.he thought there was nothing to lose by a committee being set up to deal with the whole question, the need for review being great.. On the vote being taken Mr. Flesber's amendment was lost by 41 to 62 votes. The voting for a successor to the Eev. H. Bull was then proceeded with, and resulted in the election of the Eev, S. Lawry by a practically unanimous vote. The vote was felicitously acknowledged by Mr. Lawry. . The report of the committee appointed by last conference to consider tho need of alteration of the district boundaries was submitted by the convoner, the Eev. S. Lawry. This suggested the constitution of a new district out of the Wanganni and Wellington ' districts, to bo called the. Tarauaki. district. The committee appointed to review this proposal endorsed the establishment of. a new district, but suggested amendment'in. the details. '

The Eev. T. G. Brooke heartily supported the amendment, and Mr. E. Eosevear hoped the motion would be adopted, as very full consideration'had been given to tho question, by the Conference Committee during its sessions at Wellington. Mr. Dixon, Hawera, said ho was not satisfied with either report, but preferred the amended form. Mr. W. G. Bassott, Wanganui, also preferred tho amendment, and suggested a slight alteration as to the names of the altered and new district. ■. . ■ The amendment was carried by a large majority. An amendment to the new motion was moved by Eev. E. T. Bead, Waitara, in the direction of slightly altering the details, but was negatived. The Eev. S.'Lawry moved, further that the whole question bo remitted for tho farther consideration of the synods, the synods to report to the conference. He thought the proposal would disturb the balance of power in Conference Committees, and that in tho Uorth Island especially tboro was farther need for consideration of the boundaries of districts.

Tho Rev. P. W. Fairdough thought Tarannki had laid mthless hands upon the Wellington districts. Historic association should not be lightly dealt with, and ho deprecated on the ground of cost the alteration of boundaries at present. Mr. Lawrv's amendment was carried, and adopted as the resolution of the conference. On the motion of the Eev. W. Slade, it was decided that the proposals suggested by the synods and those by the Conference Committee are to form tho basis of the consideration of tho synods. The Eev. G»rland, in the absence of the Eev. Bull, presented a report on church properties. During the year 23 freehold sites had he.exi secured, and nine churches, three halls, six parsonages, two Sunday School;., and three infant schools were erected. Sites had been presented to tile church at Manurewa, To Kowhai, Wollsford, Seatonn, Crofton, Tuamarina, and Lowcliffe. The ..current expenditure was reported as over .£38,000, and the income upwards of d£34.,000, which was regarded as indicating- a healthy condition.