METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 4

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

THE FIRST LADY MEMBER. (By ToleErapta-Pre63 Association.! Auckland, February 29. Tht annual conference of tho Xew Zealand Methodist Church opened to-night under the presidency of thn Rev. G. W. •f. Spciice. There was a very large attendance. When Mrs. ,T. Dellow, representative of Auckland West circuit, and the first lady to take seat in conference in the Dominion, eniored, thoso present rose and ohcorcd. The Row W. "Ready (Pitt Street) was elected president for tho ensuing year and the Kev. S. La wry was re-elected secretary. ; Tho retiring president, in iiis address, referred to the urgency for the provision of a new theological hall for training students, in which connection ho culled upon both clergy and laity to assist. Referring to tho religious census, ho mentioned (hat tho figures had been disappointing, but ho was inclined to think errors had been made all over the Dominion. During the year 13 new churches had been erected nnd nine others had been sanctioned by the- building committee. Five parsonage's had been built and four more approved. .Needed amendments in connection with church work were an increase in conversions, religious enthusiasm, instruction of Hiildi'&'i ill religious subjects, and tho need of nltractin , ; .Sunday-school scholars tii tho sorvin' ot tho Ciiurcdi. Ho also referred to the great disposition on the part o.f tho laily tu leave religious work exclusively (n tin- Ministers, and urged a reform in llii.» rrsprot. The Church, he thought, should endeavour In understand tho ideals of tin , labour movement.