PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1667, 6 February 1913, Page 10

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

. THE LAST CONFERENCE. ■ ■ i ELECTION OP OFFICERS AND OTHER ■ , , BUSINESS. ■

I The delegates of the New Zealand Primitive Methodist Church opened their twentieth annuail conference in Webb Street Church yesterday morning. Tho Kev. G. linowles Smith Was president. This is the last conference! that is to bo the nnion of the two Methodist Churches, llr. linowles Smith, as retiring president, received tho delegates. The Hon. C. M. .Luke, M.L.C., was elected as president of the conference. In giving place to the new president, Mr. Knowles Smith said that there was no one to whom he would rather resign his scut. He hoped that Mr. Luko would be honoured still more by being elected tho first vice-president of tl\o United Conference. In returning thanks for his electron, Mr. Luke said he would rather havo seen someone else elected, as the responsibility was too great for him. However, ha would do his best to carry out the work. He pointed out that they were on tho threshold of a new era, and that he had always been in favour of the conjunction of two sections of the 1 Christian Church of similar belief and polity. Ho thought that thqy might well sacrifice some minor matters in order to secure the bond of U Tl?e Rev. C. E. Ward was elected vicepresident. The president, in announcing his election, said that since he was the son of the first Primitive Methodist missionary the election was particularly appropriate. ' '. Tho following were tho other officers elected :--Secretary, Mr. _T. Mooco (Auckland); assistant-secretaries, the Revs. J. Featherston (Timaru), T. B. Woolloxall (Ashbnrton), R. .T. Liddell (Now mouth) j letter writers, the Revs. B. Maine (Auckland), and B. Dudley (Bluff). . The retiring president (the Rer. G. Knowles Smith) said that lie had had- a. ousy and happy year and that it would renlain a permanent satisfaction for him that ho had held tho position of president at such a time—jujst. as they were about to enter the United Methodist Church of New Zealand. The following are the figures supplied from the report of tlie Church membership : —Wellington, G97; Aucklnnd, 660; Canterbury, 731; Otago and Southland, 887; Taranaki, 378; total, 3356. Regarding the historical rccords of ministers the' Rev. Knowles Smith moved: "That we cordially express our hearty nnprov.il of tho proposal to amend the historical record of ministers of the United Church by crediting every brother with tho full number of his years of service in cither. branch, and request. the Genoral Conference delegatee to receive any such alterations in the case of our brethren. Such added years shall, howover, bear no financial implication." The motion was carried. The report on the growth of the Church and Orphanage Committee was presented by Mr. M. !Pngh and wa3 on tne whole satisfactory, although in one or two departments tliero were decreases. Tho report of the Building Committco stated that tho Church owned 80 churches, 41 meeting houses, arid 46 'houses, with a ■ total valuo of JCBO,3IG. The debt of the Church was approximately .£20,000. The Fire Insurnnco Committee reported that had it not been for the destruction of tho Poxton Church they would have had a Tecord year.. As it was, the profits amounted to JC22I. Tho asset to tho fund this year amounted to .£2275, as against £2153 last year. After the adoption of tho Publishing Coinmitteo's report on the "N.Z. Primitive Methodist" it was decided that ft last issue bo published in order to embrace reports of this nnd the combined conference to-day. . • The report, on the superannuated ministers', widows', and orplians' fund showed an increase of the fund of J!sj3 Cs. 3d. since last year, the figures lieing-Last ve«r, -EISGG 13s. 10d.; this year, 3s. Id. The Examining Committee reported that the following students have nassed their fourth year, and are recommended For ordination Harry Cotton (521), Joseph B. Suokllng (#29), Edward Bnndy (531), . Archer O'Hartia and Harold 0,

Sharp pnssHl their third year, and Fred- rr oriclf frost and James Charteris their ill second yenr. . . ■ It The Stationing Committco recommended Q thai the following eases bo' decmcd specjnl fi cases, and referred to the Stationing Coni- ol mittee, to be set up by the United Conference:—Wellington district: I, tlie IJev. lii I'. J. Cossum, fourth year; 11, the Rev. W. S. Potter, fourth year. Feilding: Tho i'< Dev. J. Sharp, fourth year. Auckland district: 11, the Rev. li. Ra'ine,' fifth of year. Canterbury .district, Gornldine: the ni llev. G. 11. Maim, ninth-year., OtasD and w Southland district—Dunedin; 11, the Rev. d< K.. Drake, fourth year. w 'J'iie Rev. G. 11. Jtnnn gave his report al on the English Conference, at which he ti represented the New Zealand Primitive tl Methodists. He said;that lie had tried to C< watch over their interests at tho various .C. conferences and committee meetings at ei which lie was present. He was much tl struck with the ignorance of the English portion of their. Church regarding affairs g; in New Zealand.' In this respect lie had ft done his'b?st to enlighten them. He had ct lieen extended :i most cordial wclcomo in C England, "and,had been asked to extend H the good 'wishes of the English portion lo of their Church to New Zealand. ei The Rev. J. 1). Jackson was appointed ministerial delegate to the next English Conference of 1913. Mr. Watkinson was elected lay delegate to the same confer- . ence. The Rev. Henry Goo I was elected , v vice-ministerial delegate and Mr. Holmes, vice-lay delegate. ' n a