PRIMITIVE METHODIST STATIS' TICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 9

PRIMITIVE METHODIST STATIS' TICS.

Tlio Connoxional memberthip returns of tlio English Primitive Methodist Church show a decrease for the year of over 1000. Tlio total membership is about 208,300. The following districts show increases:—Tunstall and South Wales, 5 each; Devon and Cornwall, 10; Leeds, Salisbary, and Southampton, 33 each ; Manchester, 4i ; Liverpool, G5; West Midland, 69; Bradford and Halifax, 103. Districts reporting decreases are: North British. 5; Brinkworth an J Swindon, 10; Shrewsbury, 16; Bristol, Carlisle, and Whiteliavcn, 19 each; Xottinghim, 22; Darlington and Stockton, 31; Homo Missions, 79; London First, 82; Simdcrland and Newcastle, 86; York and Scarborough, 89; Sheffield, 90; London Second, 112; Hull, 137; Lynn and Cambridge, 152; Norwich, 201; Grimsby and Lincoln, 213. The largest circuit increases are Bradford Second and Birmingham Mission, with 50 each. ELECTION OP A BISHOP. Tho Synod of the United Dioceso of Down and Connor and Dromoio lias cliusi-n i: Bishop to fill .tho vacancy caused by tlie elevation of Dr. Crozier to tho Primacy, the Bishop of Ossory being declared elected. Ho received 201 clerical and 265 lay votes. Tho Dean of St. Patrick's received 16 clerical and 20 lay votes. Dr. Charles Fredcrick D'Arcy, tho now Bishop, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was first Science Scholar and Gold Medallist in Mental ami Moral Philosophy. After a curacy in Belfast ho was rccioi 6f two import-in* countrj j>«r ishes, returning to Boltast in 1900 aG Dean of St. Amio's Cathedral. In the early part of 1903 he was appointed Bishop of Clogher, and in 1907 was translated to Ossory. Ho has beer. Select Preacher at Oxford and Cambridge. THE REV. R. BRUCE TAYLOR. Tho Rev. R. Bruce Taylor, of St. John's Wood Presbyterian Church, has accepted a call to St. Paul's Presbyterian Cliiirch, Montreal. London Presbyterians will deeply regret tho departure of Mr. Bruce Taylor, who ha:s done such admirable work as colleague to Dr. Monro Gibson. Ho has already taken an important and influential position in tho ranks of London Free Church leaders, and his remarkable' pulpit gifts have been generally admired. In its annual statistical table, made up to January 15, 1911, tho World's Committeo of'the World's Y.M.C.A.'s reports a total of 8348 affiliated associations, with a gross membership of 506.747. Some 1293 of the associations own their own buildings, which are valued at £15,397,733. Germany still maintains the load in the number of centres with 2290, compared with North America's total of 2017; but tho German membership , is 128,100, while that of the United States and Canada reaches Wie largo total of '193.591. Including affiliated unions, Groat Britain and Ireland show a total of 116,866 members. Tho World's Committeo states that thero exist in eleven countries (which are mentioned) 2552 additional associations, with 106,980 members not yet affiliated to tho World's Alliance. Tho praiseworthy proposal to form a pension fund for retired ministers of the Church of Scotland ought to receive a considerable impetus from an offer made by Lord Mount Stephen to give £10,000 to tho scbemo on the condition of a certain sum being raised otherwise. Meanwhile, the matter is under the consideration of tho Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund Committee and of the Pensions Fund Committee. Probably £100,000 would bo required as a satisfactory basis for the I'und,