METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 136, 4 March 1919, Page 8

METHODIST CONFERENCE

COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO' REPORT" ON CHURCH UNITY.

By TeleEraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 3. At the Methodist Conference to-day the Stationing Committee was recommended to give favourable consideration to the appointment of ministers tor their sixth year to the following places-.-The Kevs. Laws, Pitt Street, Auckland; Richards, Napier; Blamires, Wanganui; Chapman, Tarauaki Street, Wellington; Knight, Christchurch; Lochbre, Oamaru. Conference adopted a report of the Foreign Mission' Committee, which recommended that the Foreign Mission secretary (the Rev. W. A. Sinclair) be set apart from circuit work to undertake organisation and deputation work throughout tho connection. The Eev. J. Napier Milne, of the British Wesleyan Church, was accepted as a minister of the New Zealand Methodist Church. Several members of conference said they heartily welcomed Mr. Milne, and the president said the Church had received a most worthy brother.

On the secretary reading a communication from the Presbyterian General Assembly as to church unity, tho Kev. E. P. Blamires moved that the following committee be appointed to consider what action should bo tnken by the Church this- year on the subjects of union and co-operation, the committee to report at an early stage to the conference:—The president, the secretary (the Kev. E. Brake), the Revs. W. J. Williams, C. H. Laws, S. Griffiths, S. Lawry, A. C. Lawry, W. Ready, W. A. Sinclair, W H. Hay, E. D. Paltchett T. G. Hammond, F. T. Head, E, P. Blamires, the vicepresident (Mr. J. H. Blackwell), and Messrs. T. B. Arthur, G. H. Gilliug, T. P. Hughson, J. H. Oldham, C. E. Daniel, E. If. Penny, J. Lamas, .1. J. Hayman, T). M. Miller, and A. T. Froggart. The Rev. T. G. Hammond superintendent of Maori Missions, protested against the steps being tnken towards unity without consulting the Mnori members; of the church. 'The motion was carried unanimously. ' _, . The Revs. W. S. Potter, T. F. .Tones, C. Abernetbv, .T. .T. Lewis and F. W. Bpy3 were allowed to become supernumeraries. Warm and hearty references were made to the work and the characters of these ministers. , ■ ' I Mr. E. .Dixon, ex vice-president.of the conference, stated that a minister on the West Coast, after an attack of influenaa, had broken down and ho urged that every minister in the church should be given four months' furlough erery-year. Tho minister referred to. who had been m the North Island for some time, was placed on the supernumerary list for one year m the hope that he will be restored to health.