METHODIST FIGURES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 5

METHODIST FIGURES.

CHURCH INCREASES.

A FALLING-OFF IN SUNDAY

SCHOOLS,

REFORMING POWER OF ACTS IS LIMITED. By Teleeranh—Press Assaciation-Copyriirlit (B«c. May 28. 1 a.m.) Adelaide, May 27. At tho Australian Mothodist Conference, the retiring president, the Rev. W. Williams, of Hawthorne, Melbourne,, in his address, stated that during tho past three years there had been an increase in the membership, of home churches of 8251, and among native cliurches of 2320. The attendance had grown by 14,723 in homo churches, and 23,378 in island churches.

While congratulatory with respect to the substantial increase in church membership and attendance, he deplored tho falling-off of the Sunday Schools. On the last three years' period there was a loss of scholars, but there was some comfort in the fact that every State conference for the last year had reported an increase, the total being 2327.

Ho referred to the growing tendency to deal with the social evils by legislative Acts. On the whole, tho laws were the expression of the peoplo's thought and Acts of Parliament had little hopo of enforcement unless tho people were behind them. [In a portion of his speech, cabled yesterday, the retiring president stated that during the past three years the membership of the Australasian Methodist Church had increased hy over 10,000. The attendance was now nearly 40,000. These figures represented a much larger increase than the ratio of increased population.] The Rev. Dr. Henry Youngman, of Queensland, was elected President of tho Australasian Methodist Conference. [Tho liev. Dr. Youngman has lwen secretary of the Australasian Methodist Conference for tho past three years. He has close ou forty years' standing in the ministry, and is regarded as a strong and able man.]