CHURCH MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 6

CHURCH MATTERS.

' METHODIST MINISTERS' PAY.. Ily Teles:r»Dh—l'ri!S3 Aasociition-Coartleil , , Adelaide, June 7.-, The Australian Methodist Conference * resolved, owing to the increased cost.,of. living, to recommend the district synods., to consider the.matter of rearrangement., of ministers' allowances, with a view .to ~ provido for the increased -expenses. ... It was agreed that tile Rev. J. S. Gib- ' son. should be transferred from New Zealand to New South Wales and the Rev. ;. Mr. Hay from Australia to New Zea .. land. _ . GIPSY SMITH INVITED. ■ (Rec. June 8, 0.30 a.m.) '. Adelaide, June 7. ' The Australasian Methodist"Conference resolved to invito Gipsy Smith, the evan- ; gelist, to conduct a mission in Australia .. and' New Zealand. lT . . ' . ' The nest conference will meet in Bria- ' bano in 1913. AN INTERLUDE. ; 1 " FEATHERED JOKERS ON THE ROOF. ' Melbourne, June 7. Service at the Coleraine Presbyterian | Church was brought, to a sudden close' owing to the continuous noise made by t laughing jackasses perched, on the Toof.. The preacher stopped his sermon and, : the reports adds, ''when tho birds had, exhausted themselves the.' congregation.' were not in a mood to receive, his further exhortations." .

[The most famous story of tliis- sort is-that told concerning St. Frances of Assisi, the Saint who loved every living creature. On one occasion, having set' out - with two of his' companions ■■ "taking' heed neither to road iior way," ho came to the little Italian town of Savurniano . where, as usual, the-'people crowded to listen to his words. The swallows oyer- t head, however, made such a twittering a that the people could not . hear. teh... preacher, and then St. Frances bade the: birds keep silent, and the swallows, it is related, "were obedient'to. his word.")