PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 9

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

CONFERENCE AT BRADFORD, For the' fourth time in' tho annals of Primitive Methodism tho Conference met in Bradford in June. It is twenty-two years sinco its last visit to the city. At die meeting held there in 1832 Hugh Bourne and Willicm Clowes, the founders of the Church, were present, and preached at the great camp meeting, which was the event of the gathering. Fifteen thousand people aro said to havo been present. Tho Conference met on Monday, Juno 12, with a good report. The year closed with a decrease- of members and Sunday scholars, but' iii all other respects prosperity abounds. Homo eighty new churches have been opened sinco tho last conference, and' the' centenary fund has reached the splendid total of .£300,000— .£50,000 above the lixed sum. Over JJ200.009 of this has beeir used to provide improved church and school accommodation and reduce existing trust debt's, and some ,£70,(100 wilt be used for purely denominational purposes. The ministerial training coiiege, tUe aged local preachers, Sunday school workers and' tho missions will secure certain amounts.

A great crowd attended tho formal opening of tho Conference. Tho Rev. S. S. Hcushaw, Che retiring president, conducted tho proceedings. After (he rollcall the president-designate, tho Rev. Edwin Dal ton, of Hull, was called to tho chair amid great applause. Ho has won the distinction by sturdy qualities and untiring service. Some hvonty strenuous years of his many-sided ministry wore spent in the neighbouring city of Leeds, and in its many-sided lil'o ho was a prominent iigure. The Kov. Edwin Dalton, in his presidential address pleaded that the church should cherish her denominational ideals nnd spirit, and assiduously cultivate her peculiar gifts. Ho was jealous of the broad-mindedness that'spoke of all denominations as being alike. Such liberality led to rambling, rambling to laxity, and laxity to religious ruin. But while they wero loyal to their own Church the spirit of unity should bo cultivated, and the mind kept; open for advanco when the Spirit of (jood opened tho door for organic union. Turning to statistics, tho president took Hie hopeful view. Ho deeply regretted the diminution of members they had been , compelled to report tor two. or throe years pas!, an experience shared by Mini, other churches. But lie firmly believed that, notwithstanding ilipso fluctuations, the world had its face towards Calvary. In (he century just oi/nn, y ~ l n<l S'lUinrcrt a community of members, with upwards of lialf a million children in the schools, Evcrv' '.Sunday worship was conducted in MOO churches, and to this ,-orvico they had called 17,000 ministerial and lav preachers. '

The Connexion is fortunate in having no dearth of candidates for the ministry. This year eighty-three young men were rcconiiuendcel, and' thirty-cight of llic-o passed.

I'or (lie .second time (ho Conferonce designated its president a vcar in advance. The l\'evs. ,1. ]', Lau"ham (Tim -stall), T. Jackhon (Whiieehapol), J. Wat kin, and J. Kitsoii were nominated, und Iho choice of the Conference fell on Ilio licv. Thomas .lackson. Mr. Jackson's election marks the- sympathy of Hie Conference 'with Home. Mission work. ]t was felt that the time hnd conio for recognising 'the Jong list of homo missionaries, during the last 100 years. Of this worthy host' Thomas .lack'son stands first. For thirty-two years* hu has rendered distinguished service lo the poor of Ea.«t London. Ue has founded four missions and received constant recognition from the Jjord Mayor and civic authorities. Mr. Jackson heartily thanked the Conference.