METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3016, 1 March 1917, Page 6

METHODIST CONFERENCE

The Methodist Conference, with the president, the- Rev. W. A. Sinclair, in the chair, was continued yesterday. Two'lengthy sessions were held to consider the spiritual advance for the year 1917. A series of resolutions recommended by the Welfare of the Church Committee were adopted. The speakers stressed the point that the resolutions must be carried into effect in overy circuit and homo mission station.

The question of Sunday Schools and the handling of the youth of the Church were discussed at groat length, and sonie interesting experiences of organising Sunday Schools in rural districts were given. The shrinkage in the number of Sunday School scholars, which was becoming marked ■with all the Churches, was deplored, and some speakers wore inclined to attribute it to lack of parental control, while others maintained that if the Sunday; Schools were organised on.more modern lines, and iu keeping with the present trend of affairs,' better results would be obtained. The formation of boy scouts and boy brigades and similar organisations was suggested, and conference adopted the suggestion. . . A tea meeting was held in the Wesley Hall from o to 7 p.m., and was.largely attended, most of the delegates being present.

The tea meeting was followed by a missionary demonstration, in Wesley Church. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided. The speakers wore the Rov, F.i Copeland, from Samoa, and the Rev. AV; A. Hay, of Dunedin.

Mr. H. Temple "White provided organ music in the church, in the interval between the tea and missionary meeting.