METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 135, 3 March 1919, Page 4

METHODIST CONFERENCE

c By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 1. At the Methodist Conference to-day it was announced that the Rev. Arthur Ashorott (Palmerston North) had been •appointed secretary-elect for 1920. ' A deputation from the North Canterhurv Prohibition Council wnited on the conference, accompanied by Mr. W. D. Bayley. The Rev. J. Cocker, who headed the deputation, said that as everyone present waa a prohibitionist, it was not the intention of members of the deputation to address the conference. They would allow Mr. Bayley to do this. Mr. Bayley delivered the : same address as. he delivered to the Presbyterian General Assembly on Tuesday night. In this address Mr. Bayley spoke chiefly on the relation betwoen the churches and Socialism. Tho president thanked Mr. Bayley for his address, and nssured him of the sympathy of the Methodist Church with the legitimate rights of Labour. The Circuits Committee recommended that Takapiino, (Auckland) bo constituted a separate circuit. The recommendation was agreed to.

' On tho recommendation of tho committee it was agreed to amalgamate the two Tirooru circuits, and to appoint two ordained ministers and a probationer. It was arranged to place home missionaries at Te Puke, Putaruru, Murchison, Dovodnle (Nelson), and Mokau. It was decided that probationers should be appointed to Wanganui and Karori (Wellinsfton), and that a rural mission be established in North Taranold, with an ordained -minister as superintendent. It was further decided to appoint an agent to copo with Native work in the Patea district.