PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1338, 16 January 1912, Page 4

PRIMITIVE METHODISTS.

* ' UNION QUESTION. AND NO-LICENSE MATTERS. ' IBy Tolesraph--Press Association.! Christchurch, January 15. The Primitive Methodist Conference resumed this morning, tlis Ilev. G. Knowles ymith presiding. A deputation from the Canterbury N<vLicense League, consisting of Messrs. L. M. Isitt, M.P., J. M'Combs, and A. Colo, was introduced to the conference. Mr. Isitt deliveretl a Prohibition address, ami urged further efforts iu tho battle against the licjuor traffic. Mr. M.'Cumbs rejoiced at the magnificent vote [lolled til is year for National Prohibition, and a 1: the remarks of tho ex-pi-csident of tho coßfcix-ncc on the subject They must, next time, bring 45,000 fresh voters _to tho poll. T'liey were thirty years off. the goal if the threefifths majority continued. Jlr. Isitt: it will not, Replying on behalf of tho conference. Mr. 0. E. Hellringoi - stated that ho ana his church rejoiced with tho deputation 011 tho strong 'voto for National XoLicen.'o nt the last poll. ' Ho thought that they wero all agreed as to, tho iniquity of Vha throe-fifths majority, and, as a Church, the Alliance tuighv rely upon their United support. 110 recognisod the prospect of union, bcenuto it helped Ilia prospect of tho other reform more than' when they were divided. A deputation from tho Methodist Church of Australasia, consisting of tho ltevs. C. H, Laws, S. Lawry, and A. Peters, and Messrs. C. E. Salter, J. A. Flesher, ami James M'Cullough, was introduced by tho l'ov. S. Henderson. The Rev, C. 11. Laws said that they met that morning under peculiarly lmppy circumstance?. Proposals for Iho union of the two churches had been_ going backward and forward, but things were now in a very happy condition. Ha referred to the excellent results of the meeting of the Union Committee, if, aa many of tlipm liope<l, this union wero consummated, it would be a true union of iwo rigorous churches—not ail absorption'. . Jlr. .T. A. Fleslicr referred to the lack of church attendance, and the lack of religion l ! ins!ruction which parents imparted to their children. Not more than 20 per cent, of their people attended tho. two church services on a Sunday, and not: more than half the children in it received religious instruction. These, ho considered, were two grave evils, which, in the interest of tho Dominion, would have to 1* remedied. The Kev. S. Lawry, secretary of the Methodist Conference. said that he had often thought that if was not a good thing that two churches, so lnuch alike, should be in conflict, however, harmlessly, when (hey could do so intieli more for the Kingdom of God by muting their forces. The union would mark a newera. Roidying on behalf of fln* l conferenrc, the Hev. J. Guv stilted that he realised that they can Id not live on love. They u-ni-e one" great household, and this mar-vi.-ure which they had in view was ono bet ween very close relations. lie hoped that it was not within the forbidden decree. The Primitive Methodist Church had wished for missions, like the Methodists. amongst (he .Maoris, and in (he is. lands, and they looked forward to assisting in (he>c works when united with the Methodists.