METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 757, 4 March 1910, Page 3

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(By Telegraph.—Press ;i Association.). '.•,Dunedin, March. 3. At the-sittings of, tho Methodist. Conference to-day tho \ president. announced that the-New,, South Wales Conference, had', accepted, the-Roy. :W. W' Aveny for foreign: mission work', probably in New UU'-1.'.J.',. ';'..>■<■■' ~-"•

■ At . tne - close of.:th'e, morning,, session,, which had .been, carried' oh; in; committee,! a , deputation from.. tie - Presbyterian Churdn.ivaited uppn ; the conference/and the Keys. : D. '.-K. -Fisher,,, moderator, B. It. Davis, and ; W. • Scorgid; addressed tho assemblage in ■ complimentary terms. The' Rev. J: J': 'Lewis;'and' Mr. :C.S.-'Howard responded'on, behalf ;of the .conference in felicitous terms. '■ ' ■■ . '

The; following'.'were; elected.representa; fives to ' the. General. Conference, which meets, in .Adelaide, next' May., (the Revs!' C'J H.;Laws,'.S. Xaury,"\V. baumber, and llr.-'G.'.'Hi- Blackwell, being members- ex officio):—Revs.'.Messrs., Fairclough,Lewis, Brooke, Garland,' .Williams, Slade, Sinclair; Ready, Buttle,'arid .'Messrs. Pleshcr, Rosevear, : Stephens,' -J.. H.'Blackwell,', Prudhoe, Bassett,-; Dixon;' Penny, ■ Veale, Lucas,'- and Tiller'..: Substitute represen-tatives'-'were-also'elected.'-- "".,'

The' afternoon' was' chiefly occupied with business in committee and, when the conference 'resumed, it was reported that it had been decided to establish a fortnight.ly.connexional. journal as from July next.. AX'hrisfchurch committee wa3 appointee! to carry. thJß'iresolution into effect. Mr.E...8;' Rosevear, manager for many years of- the "Methodist Outlook," and. the Rev.. J.- Ward were enthusiastically thanked for their services. The Rev. S. Lawry received permission to visit England in. 1911 providing suitable arrangements;could be made. , At the: evening; session the general returns' were presented' and, showed that there were 335 churches, 414 other preaching places,; 136 ministers and probationers, and' 15,988 church members (an increase of 516),.22,690 Sunday-school scholars (an increase of 531), and a total attendance upon public worship of 71,695. In', the Maori work'there were .14; churches] 148. other-preaching place's, 8. ministers and probationers'' 1803. membere, 839- Sunday ■ school scholars, and 7870 attendants upon public worship: The discussion' on these matters was: introduced by the Rev. .W. J. Williams, Wellington. ■ ,