WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 9

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The annual report of the Foreign Mis. sionary .Society of tho English Wesleyan Methodist Church has been issued in a volume of over 300 pages. A new feature is the specially-prepared maps showing tho area of the missionary districts and the position of all missionary stations under Che society. The advance of recent years was well maintained, the net increase in full membership being 3019, and 5157 adult baptisms toot place during the year. The full foreign membership stands at 123.000. vjith 29.000 on trial, ami a total adult baptised Christian community of o\'er 322,000. There aro also 20,000 junior members. As in tho previous year, tho largest net increase occurred on the West Coast of Africa, where 2700 adults were baptised, and an increase of 2137 full members is reported. The two South African districts camo next with an increase of 15GS members and over 1000 adult baptisms. Tho downward tendency in the receipts of the society, which began in 100S, was continu- 1 cd. tho income from tho Home Churelics being about ,£7OOO less than in 1907, of which "3.500 was accounted for by diminution of public collections, and ,£3200 in subscriptions. Whitby and Darlington headed the list 'of district increases with -£203; Portsmouth came second with ,£146; and Liverpool third with ,£139. Tho highest average per member was found in tho York district, the figure being Ss. 9jd.; tho next was Liverpool,' 7s. Hid.j followed by Manchester, 7s. -lid.; and third London, 7s. 2!d. Tho lov;est average per member is South Wales district. Is. lid. The general average for the whole "of tho Homo districts is ss. skl. In the previous year it worked out at a farthing per member more. The total deficiency carried forward to this year is .£7720. Tho highest private contribution is that of .Mr. JoWh Rank, of Tooting, who gives .CISOO for Uio maintenance of six missionaries. Next .'come the gifts of .£IOSO-from Messrs* W and 13. S. Lamplough, and of .ClOlO from Mr. J. K. Wo.ddilovo, of Bradford,'for work in Rhodesia.