METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1673, 13 February 1913, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH.

THE CONFERENCE;

FOREIGN MISSIONS DISCUSSED The Rev. S. Lawry presided at the Methodist Conference, which continued its eitting at the Wesley Church, Tnranaki Street, yesterday, The report on- the foreign missionary, work was rend by the Rev. J. Butler, and discussed nt-3>mc length. ' Dr. Moriey traversed the suggestion that New Zealand should confine its foreign mission work to ft certnin nren, which it should wholly take over. The speaker stated that in his opinion this plan would be quite impracticable. Continuing, ho remarked that the mission work in> Fiji was'just about self-supporting. The contributions from these islands wcro remarkable, and the figures last year showed an increase over those for the year 1911. Dr. Moriey then alluded to the large numbers of Indians which were swelling the population of the Fiji group, under the indentured system of labour on the sugar plantations. If an effort wns not macs fc Christianise these Indians, the outcome would be that they would paganise the Fijians. These Indians had gone to Fiji, and had taken with them their worship and their- priests,' and they had also erected temples. In the course of further remarks, the speaker eulogised the splendid work which had been done by Mr. Burton- at the Islands.' Large fields were still open for missionary effort in the Solomon Islands and elsewhere. ■ Dr. Youngman emphasised the point that men and wonien who would give themselves entirely tomission work were required even more thari money'.' The Rev. S.. Lawry,thought that the interest in, missionary work would not bo increased if their missionaries were scattered and expensive management was undesirable, especially wh,en they took the work upon themselves. The missionaries of smaller Churches carried out their work very creditably, and they were not interfered with ,by an expensive mission board. He considered that the Methodist Church interfered too much with their

missionaries. -•,-',- ■ ,I'he Eev. C. H. Laws strongly opposed the resolution,' which postponed New Zea-land's'action-,.in taking over • a definite held for-mission work. He considered that the conference ought, to have (as soon as possible) l , a definite field of their oiyn-ra.feW. in which their own men could concentrate . their efforts.' The speaker, added that on an, avera"e only ■one man"-was serit to the foreign mission fields each year. He was of opinion that three,- or even four, men per annum should be sent. ■ , .

,r Tl1 ?, f ?i, lowln g motion was submitted by •Mr. Buttle :--rhat this conference deems that time has not yet arrived when, ■the Methodist Church in the Dominion should assume the responsibility and management, of,a-separate 'foreign' mission heldut undertakes, however, to maintain such a number of missionaries (or other agents) us. may, be agreed upon bet ween the Australasian Board of Missions and the Aew Zealand conference." ; The Eev. C. H. Laws moved the following amendment.—"That the present arrangements whereby tho New Zealand contributions are paid over to the Mission Board in Sydney be continued for a period ot at. least three years, during which, tame, representatives of the New Zealand Conference, appointed according to the provisions of the working scheme of separation from Australia, shall attend such meetings'of the Mission Board as ,tho conlerence may direct, take part'in the preparation -51 tho estimates of mission income and expenditure, ' and 'after consultation, with the members of the Mission Board, advise the, conference as to the future policy of our Church in missionary matters." '. .

Ihe Eev. G. K. Gilmour spoke -briefly pn-mattersconuected with mission work in Papua: He thought that tho work of the -missionaries was seriously hampered by the commercial activity in tho islands... Ho also thought that-long and continuous-periods on mission work wero most desiraoie at the Islands. It was useless to appoint a missiouer, who,would only stay for.three or four years. The suealcer,;-m-' traversing other features' 'of mission work;rwent on, to state that'there were now about 70 Papuan teachers .who were engaged in instructing their fellow countrymen; Generally speaking, he was of .opinion that, although- mission w'ort was not so strong as it originally had been, nevertheless, with an efficient'-'and well-trained staff, the work would not take long to pick up again to a high standard. ... ;■■.

The chairman moved a hearty,' vote'.of welcome, to the Eev. W. Gilmour and Mrs Ulmour on the occasion-of their visit to Wellington. '■- '-. v.;..- . The Kev. - J.: N. ißhtler was . re-elected secretary of the Foreign Mission Fund, and.m view of.his retirement from circuit work, :aud his desire to undertake Amission organising work, was voted an honorarium of i.-

Tho president (Eev. S.-Lawry), tho vicePresident (Hon,,C. M-.Luke), and the Eev. J. W. Burton were'appointed to represent the cohference ;on the Foreign Mission Board. - . •.-■..'• . '.

It was decided that the following stations would bo required to provide for married ministers:—Feilding, Timar'u, Paoroa, Manaia,: Invercargill (Leith Street), Taihape, Wellington South, New Plymouth, Dunedin (Dundas Street), and Eotorua.. ■'■ .■'-,'■ -.-■.'> The recommendation of the Wellington Methodist Educational Trust Board that Mr. J. Kellow bo appointed a trustee in succession to Mr. J. Eeid. (resigned) was carried. • ...

The balance to credit was shown in the revenue .account of the trust as haying risen from'.£ll,6lG ss. 6d. to .£11,882 16s. id. "during-tho year. A rather lengthy discussion took place in comriiittee over the matter of the administration- of the trust, and the relations of the Trust Board witn..the conference. The committee which went into the matter with the board last year was reappointed,.and is to,'meet the board, and make further investigations. .The Eev. J. Hammond moved, and Mr. Bassett seconded: "That the committee set up in connection with the Wellington Educational' Trust be instructed, to consider the. advisability'of asking the Gov- , eminent for- authority to use .the trust for industrial education of descendants of the Native race, in connection with the Three Institution or elsewhere." The conference adjourned at 5.45 p.m., and will continue its sitting at the Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, to-day.

CONVERSAZIONE HELD. A conversazione was held at tho Town 'Ball last evening in connection with tho Methodist Conference. An enjoyable programme was presented. Little Cecils Haines, who figured so prominently at the Competition's in November last, seems to have lost none of her ponularity. She gave two most enjoyable recitations, both of which wero enthusiastically encored. Miss Betty Purdom and Mr. J. C. Bell played a comedietta, entitled "A Pair of Lunatics," which provided much amusement. Another item which proved very enjoyable was that given by tho Waiata Quartet party (Messrs. Evans, Dawson, Hunt, and Luke), entitled "Stars of the Summer Night." ' Mr. Dan Evans, a Cardiff tenor, gave a delightful rendering of the Welsh song,' "Summertime." During the evening tho Eev. Mr. Garland gave an addrces, in which he inado touch, ing reference to Captain Scott and his companions. Misses Muriel Bennett and J. Mathieson also contributed enjoyable items to the programme.