METHODISM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 3

METHODISM.

SEPARATION OF NEW ZEALANO DISCUSSED BY VICTORIAN, ' CONFERENCE.

The annual conference of the Methodist Church of Victoria and Tasmania continued its sittings on March 2 under the presidency of tho llov. A. M'C'allum. The Rev. t)r. Morley brought forward the report of a committee 011 tho separation o| New Zealand from the Australian ChurJi; and'moved a motion that ttie conference agrees to the resolution of the general conference in Adelaide approving of the constitution of New Zealand as an independent confcrcncc on the plan set out in the minutes of tho general conference, and authorises the president to sign the necessary documents, lie dealt at length with tho history of lie movement. An important reason for the separation was the distance between Australia and New Zealand—l2oo miles— which made it difficult for the ministerial ami lay representatives to spare the necessary time to attend the general conferences. Then there was a feeling which was growing stronger as timo advanced that New Zealand had a distinct destiny and must bo loft to manage her own affairs. Dealing with the statistics of the New Zealand Church, he pointed out that its loan'capital was ,£12,000, and it was tho iirst conference to .start an 111surancc fund. H had aiv endowment hequest of .£12,000 for its theological institutions, and proposed to raise .£BOOO for' the erection of a theological building. Its homo, mission fund .income last year was <£5100. Seeing that the general eon* ferenee had .unanimously agreed to the separation, he thought it was desirable that it should be clTectcd_ as soon as possible, inasmuch tho Now Zealand Church was now negotiating with the. Primitive Methodist Church there for union.

Mr. J. W. Eggleston seconded the motion. He said, that had not the question of property been involved New Zealand could havo set up a separate conference long ago; whether Australia liked it or not; but owing to the model deed a reference to Parliament was necessary. The liev. Dr. Fitchelt said the gentlemen who. had spoken woro really preaching to the converted. They were all prepared to, vote for the resolution. There was one practical point tho speakers had left alone, which lie thought was scarcely frank. The practical point was how the separation was to bo effected. Sir Samuel Way, giving a legal opinion ou the resolution, said the annual conference had no more power to give consent to it without consulting its quarterly meeting than could the general conference without consulting tho annual conferences. Dr. Morley: I question that.

Dr. Fitchett: You may clialleugo Sir Samuel Way's law; but that is a risky thing to do. (Laughter.) Tho question must be referred to tho quarterly meeting, and were it not dono Parliament might not pass the Bill. He moved an amendment to the effect that the resolution should bo referred to tlie quarterly meeting during the present month, and that on the return of tho remit tho prcsidnt be empowered to sign tho documents necessary to secure tho passage of tho Bill through Parliament. (Applause.) Mr. Eggleston rose to make a personal explanation. 110 and Dr. Morley had not suppressed any point. lie had consulted Dr. Fitchett and knew ho would bring the point ho referred to forward.

Dr. Fitchett: If I did seem to bo unfair, I will apologise.

Mr. A. n. Woodfull seconded tho amendment. Australia was bound to dominate the Pacific, and oven if Now Zealand separated now there would yet be a general confercnco presided over by Dr. Morley. (Laughter.)

The Rev. W. Williams said Sir Samuel Way no.whcro said it was necessary to refer the question to tho quarterly meetings; ho nowhere denied that the annual conferences had tho power without the quarterly meeting. There were other matters beside legal considerations. Was the' High Colirt' of' tho Church in Victoria to leave iinal decision in this matter to tho lowest? To' refer tho matter.to tho quarterly meeting meant a delay of a .year.

Mr. J. J. Cunningham: I differ with \fr. Williams. Tho quarterly meeting is :he highest court in our connexion. [Laughter.)

The Rev." T. Copeland, Mr. R. Bcekett, and Mr. K. C. lie Garis supported tho motion. The las'-nanied asked what sort of document was it going to bo when tho president signed it. It would require to be a book. (Laughter.)

The Rev. E. 0. Knoo.moved that the motion 130 now put, and that motiou. was carried. ;

Dr. Morley having replied, tho amendment was put and negatived by a large majority. '

Tho'motion was then carried , unanimously,, amidst.applause.- •••_

SIB SAMUEL WAY'S MEMORANDA. At the Methodist Conference at Adelaide on March 3 consideration was given to a motion, notice of which had been given by the Rev. C. H. I::p;amcl!s, with referonce tfl, the request of the New Zealand Conference lb bo constituted an independent coiifctencc. Members of the conference also had 1 before them topics of two important memoranda on the question prepared by Sir Samuel Way. Tho latter was requested to address the conference before the motion was dealt with. Ho said he believed they were all substantially of opinion that independence should be given to their brethren in New Zealand. They were anxious to ascertain the best and safest way of, hccomplishing the object. The union of the New Zealand Church .was dear to them because of the sacred history that clustered around that union, 110 emphasised the importance of recognising the. practice of consulting the quarterly meetings, which had the right to be consulted an such a momentous matter, just as was done in connection with' Methodist Union. He thought that the right course would he to refer the matter to the quarterly meetings, and obtain their opinion on it. That opinion could be reported to the annual conferences of 1012, when the final decision could be arrived at..

Mr. A. Landfoid, in movin;? that certain words be struck out, said Mr. Coltan had requested him to put tho other side before the. conference. The general eonfcrcuce had decided by 10.1 votes to in that the matter was not to be referred to the quarterly meetings. The Victorian and New South Wales conferences had agreed to the proposal without consulting tho quarterly meetings. Loyalty to the general ccnferenco compelled him to move the amendment. What did the riunrt»rly meetings know or care about. the New Zealand conference? Voices: Nothing. The debate was adjourned.