METHODIST CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 15 February 1913, Page 9

METHODIST CHURCH.

THE CONFERENCE. . HOME MISSION WORK. The deliberations of tho Now Zealand Methodist Church wero continued yesterday, tho Rev. S. Lawry presiding. _ TEE HOME MISSION. ' Tho report of tho Homo Mission Exoctl« tiro was submitted to tho conference by tho Eev, T. G. Brooke. Tho report 6tatod that tho businots of tho year had been of an especially trying' nature owing to somo extent to tho inadequacy of funds to meet the pressing and ever-growing claims of the work. This fact had compelled tho executive to refuse soma special grants, where they were badly needed. .Then tho labour unrest seriously increased its difficulties. Two, of our - circuits for scv. oral months had been practically without local income, and the president, by the exigencies of the case, was compelled to appeal to., tho circuits instead of to the executive.'- The staffing of mission stations-created a further'diffir. culty. It is glad to-bo able to report there has been considerable activity in. the matter, of church buildings. Churches lmvo been erected at Waima, Hokianga, Waikare, Bay of Islands,, and Moeraugi, in tho Waikato.,

Tho 6chedulo showing the income and expenditure of tho Homo Mission Fund, was submitted to the Confercnco by Mr. J. Vcalc, trensurcr. Tlio schedule snowed that tho estimated revenue was .£5090 lis,, and tho grants asked for involved an estimated expenditure of JJ5596 16s. fid.,- with tho approximate deficit for 1912 of J!210, Rnd this brought tho estimated expenditure up to >55806 IGsi Cd. After somo discussion tho schedule was referred back to the committeo for further consideration. .•.'.- Tho appointment of an executive re-, suited as follows:—The homo mission organising secretary, the Rev. S. Lawry (corresponding secretary), tho ministers of the Auckland and Onehunga circuits, and Messrs. S, W. Shackelford, T. M'Mastor, T. W. Jones. P. Crowe, J. C. Allen, J. Vcale, T. Caley, A. Read, J. Purnell, J. ■C: Trounsbn, J. E. Astlcy, W. Hothorington, H. E. Paccy, J. Tyler, J. E. Wheeler, W. Amburg, J. W. Court, Dr. Wright. J liobblns.J. Watkinson. V. Moore, D« Goldic, A. Trenwith, E. Dixon, and Pi J. White. Tho. Conference deeided that no homo missionary bo allowed to marry during his year, without tho consent of tho Homo Mission Executive Tho Eev. Ti-E; -Brooke (secretary) and c '\, ■ - ale (treasurer), wero thanked for their: services, and wero both, reappointed for a-further term. '■••-

, • STIPENDS COMMITTEE. Tho following resolutions from the' Stipends Committee wero adopted:—"That the Conferenco urges tho establishment of .the envelope system in all our circuits." : that while recognising tho liberty and right of our members and adherents to contribute to tho support of the Church in any way they think fit, and not wishing to force upon'any. individual any special method, tho Conferenco is of opinion that tho most probablo solution of the financial difficulty that faces ns will be found in tho general establishment of systematic giving. , It' is for this reason it directs that iix all our circuits the opportunity at'least shall, bo given to thoso who wish to adopt the envelope system to do so.

'The Conference dooidod to raise a sum of .£3OOO in order to increase nil, married ministers' stipends to a minimum of .£2OO, anxPall probationers' to £W. , It was dooided that the present Christchurch District Stipend Coiuniitteo bo constituted the Central Comuiittco..It ..was also resolved, to set up a Stipend Committee in each of the districts. '. •:. Tho' Conferenco decided that this year 'the whole of tho collections in. all" tho churches and preaching places on a date to be fixed by the General Committee be donated to a supplemented stipend'fund.

OTIM'BUSINESS.''' "";'•■■ ■'

The Hon. CM; Luke resigned' from the position of joint treasurer to the ChildrenVFund, to which ho Tvas elected yesterday. Mr; E.: Kellow, the former,. joint treasurer, was reelected to the vacancy. The- committee of tho Mission of Inspiration and Appeal reported-Hint the Rev. Mr. ~and Mrs, Vallnnco Cook aro leaving London on April 21, for Now Zealand, in conncotion with tho work. They commence their work at Invercargijl on May 0, and.will work their way northwards, concluding at Auckland on November 3.

The Rev. J. Dawson moved". "That -GIOOO of tho ex-Primitivo Methodist (Ire insurance fund bo voted to the ex-Primi-tive Methodist superannuation fund, as agreed upon by the Methodist Union Joint Committee and by the Primitive Methodist Conference." The motion was carried. ; /.

Tho Conference will resume ltn worK this morning.

There were many Christmas trag*dlc« i in England. , Mr. Edward Potre, the air. man,, woa killed at M&vkc-by-the-Sea, Tortehire, whilo on a' flight from Brooklands to Edinburgh. At Wellingborough a woman singing carols round her firesdda f«ll back dead. She suffered from heart disease. A Todmorden youth who had just kissed his Bister under tho mistletoe pointed a pistol at her in fnn, not knowing it was loaded. Tho pistol wont.off, and tho girl was shot dead. Three littlo girls scrambling for loou?t beans thrown from n. vessel nt Bristol, fell into thti harbour, but were rescued by a bargoman, who baa eaved about forty Uvea alto, gcthcr. .