METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 145, 8 March 1918, Page 6

METHODIST CONFERENCE

« ' FINAL SCHEDULE OF STATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, March 6. The Methodist conference decided to appeal to Methodists to raise the gruss annual income of the Home Mission Fund to £10)500. It was decided that all grants to aided circuits, city missions excepted, aim homo mission stations be made, with a view to assisting them to pay a minimum stipend of £225 to married ministors, £160 to married home missionaries, £140 to probationers; and ,-tlilO io unmarried home missionaries. . The question of the designation of a j successor to the Eev. T. G. Hammond, j goueral superintendent of Maori missions, was referred to the home mission executive,. with /instructions to consider the possibility A of amalgamating the position of principal o* the ! Three King's College with that of gen- ] eral superintendent of Maori missions. The question of Maori representation in synod and conference was remitted j to the home mission executive. j The young people's department report showed:—422 Sunday schools, '3162 teachers, 29,035 scholars —an increase of four schools, 34 teachers, and 252 scholars. ' The matter of celebrating the centenary of the Church's operations in New j Zealand was referred, to a large Auck-j land committee. Tho matter of church union or fed-cia-tion with other churches was referred to the committee of privileges stationed in Wellington. A scheme for giving aid during the \var to supernumerary ministers whoso incomes are exceedingly small was adopted. Mr. Stevenson (Wanganui) ■undertook to put the scheme in operation during the year. The final schedule of ministerial stations for 1918 was adopted with the following alterations from the first reading:—Hamilton, second, J. M'Arthur; Taumsirunui, R. Fordyce; AVar.gauui North, N. Turner; Tuihape, AY. Rocking; Sanson and Rongotea, ,B. ■Jamesj-Kilbirnie, F. Read; Richmond, AY. Wills; Reefton, T. Dent; Christchurch East, second, W. Walker; Rfingiora, second, C. Jordan; Timaru, president, Supply C Jackson. Otago and, Southland stations are altered from the fim reading. The final reading of home lnissiou stations was adopted. The Jist inciudes:—Opunako, C Stand; Okato, E. King; Gonville, J: Reid; Douglas, C. Atcer; Patoa, W. Watson; Taonui, W. Kaiara; J. Richards; Norsev.ood, W.'Gatinan; Hakombej M. Ayston; Brooklyn, J. White; Porirua, C. Kanvaker; Papaparauimi, AV. Alexander; Richmond, L. Brooks; Motueka, A. Nicholas. j The following chairmen of synodical districts were elected:—Auckland, Rev. Bellliouso; South Auckland, Rev. Dukes; Taranaki and Wanganui, Rev. Sinclair; Hawke's Bay and Manawatu, Rev. Richards; Wellington, Rev. Drake; Nelson, Rev. Rothwell; North Canterbury, Rev. A. C. Lswry; South Canterbury, Rev. Joughin; Otago, Rev. Griffith; Southland, Rev. Peters. Tho question of, sending regular monthly allowances to chaplains was referred to the AVellington Military Committee. The connexional secretary reported that debt reduction' Tiad hcen assiduously pursued during the year; £1285 had been lent from tlie general fund and £652 from.the special fund. The church property ronnrt showed that trust income amounted to ..C-14,706, the total expenditure was £50,920, and the total indebtedness to the loan fund and on other securities £111,745, being a reduction of £4576 during the year. Tho net debit balances brought tho debt to £117,205. It was decided to appoint a chaplain to returned soldiers in each of the chief centres, and that ministers, wherever possible, should get into touch with, returned men: Next conference will open in Christchurch on February 27.