METHODIST CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 142, 11 March 1919, Page 6

METHODIST CHURCH

DECISIONS OF CONFERENCE THE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, March 10. At the Methodist Conference the report of the Temperance and Public Morals Committee recommended an emphatic protest against the granting.by the Government of permits for gambling in connection with efforts to assist patriotic funds. It also recommended'that the conference should record its pleasure at the passing of the Licensing Act, and urge the necessity to bring about Prohibition, and warning the community that if the liquor traffic is not voted out at the next poll, State purchase and control would become the issue, and conditions might make it difficult to carry Prohibition. The recommendations were adopted, and the last Sunday in March set aside ns a special day of prayer for Prohibition. It was resolved to protest against the holding of secular Sunday evening concerts and picture shows. The conference made the following alterations to stations approved:—Auckland: Birkenhead, Rev. P. I. Cook; Morrinsville, Rev. H. Cotton; Eltham: Rev. •T. A. Hosking; South Wairarapa: Rev. R. B. Gusnell; Wcstport: Rev. W. A. Watson; Temuka: Rev. F. T. Harris. The final readings of home mission stations for 1919 included the following:— Wellington District.—Wellington, Taranaki Street (Brooklyn), J. 11. White; Johnsonviile (Porirua), J. Boothroyd; Masterton (Kuripuni) one wanted; Otaki (Paraparaumu), W. Alexander. Taranaki-Wanganui District—Waitara (Uriti), one wanted;-Stratford (Midhirstt, one wanted; Cape Egmont tOpunake), C. Strand; Cape Egmont (Okato), E. D. M. King (supply); East Egmont (Douglas), G. H. Cule; Patea, W. Watson; Mokau, one wanted; Pariroa (Native), one wanted; Toanui (Native), Wi Kaitara., Hawke's Bny-Mnnawatu District.—Napier (Greenmeadows), one wanted;' Gisborne (Te Hapara), one wanted; Apiti, J. Richards: Norsewood, V. S. Mercer. • It was resolved that the next conference should be held at Auckland. The Rev. C. H. Laws, on behalf the Church Union Committee, moved-."That this conference cordially receives the communication from the Baptist Union | 'on church union, and heartily.reciprocates the fraternal greetings therein con- ! tained. It realises how much the Baptist and the ■ Methodist Churches have in common,- both in evangelical doctrine and in church ideals, and rejoices in the cordial relations which obtain throughout the Dominion between the ministers 1 and- people of the two churches; it is, however, unable to accept the view of the sacrament of baptism which is suggested to it in the communication now acknowledged, and believes that for the present a movement for the corporate union of the two churches must be delayed. It trusts, However, that, the cperations of the two churches may continue to be carried on in "brotherly good feeling and in a spirit of mutual consideration and cooperation, and that in the near future it. may be possible to commence negotiations for union more hopefully than could be done to-day. Tho motion was "arried, The motion from the North Canterbury district that sums paid under the Widows' Pensions Act should be increased in order that a widow and her children should be able to live on the sums granted, and that the fact of her receiving pay from some other pension or superannuation fund should not make her ineligible for help from the Widows' Pensions Fund, was approved. Appreciation was expressed of the Government's action towards widows and or- . phans made destitute by the recent influenza epidemic.

A motion from South Canterbury to anpoinf a committee to establish a lien's Methodist League jn connection with each church or flircnit in the Dominion was referred to ihe Welfare of the Cburcft Committee, A proposal to (-stablish. an equalisation fund for ministers' removal ex-_ penses was. Teferred to the quarterly meetings and to synods. A ' motion vftis passed endorsing the principle of a I&ngue of Nations. It was decided to express regret that the Rev, S. J. MacFarlane could not see his way his history of Methodism in New Zealand, as one way of celebrating the centenary of the church in'l922. In response to a letter from Colonel Cossgrove, it was decided to urge that heli) ehould be given to the Boy Scouts and Girl Pee.ce Scouts. I Permissiou was given to the Revs. P. | Battey, H. Leo. 11. Marshall, S. J. Mogridge, W. S. Smith, and W. T. Blight to rest for a year. It was decided that the Superannuation Fund Board be requested to ascertain from an actuary the sum necessary to promote an increased allowance of, say, 15 per 'cont. on previous allowances and the increase in contribution sary to meet the increased allowance; tho' board to report at next annual conference. A tribute was paid to tho excellent and faithful work of the connectional secretary (the Rev.'S. Lawry). The .board's trustees were requested to consider the advisablencss of abolishing pew rents. The .Rev. 11. J. Williams was reappointed editor of the ."Methodist Times," and the Rev. A. C. Lawry was appointed associate* editor. Tho Rev. W. Grigg, Chaplain to the Forces, who has just returned to New Zealand, was warmly welcomed to the conference.' He said that if they could get down into the hearts of ,the soldiers they would find there was something worth praying for and'worth fighting, for.

To-night the committee set up in connection with the centenary of the Methodist Church in New Zealand recommended that the centenary of the introduction of Methodism into New Zealand should be celebrated by suitable religious services and public gatherings, and by raising a 'suitable thanksgiving fund. Among the recommendations were that a conference be held in Auckland in 1922, with a great thanksgiving service on February 22, and that conference consider the advisability of establishing a Methodist museum ■in New Zealand. Conference decided to celebrate the centenary in Auckland in 1022, and adopted the various suggestions made by the committee in its report. The committee Was recommended to secure tlw famous Gipsy Smith to • attend the centenary conference and to take part in the subsequent gatherings. Dealing with the financial aspect of the centenary, the committee 'recommended that an effort be made to raise a thanksgiving fund of .£35,000, to be allocated as follows:—.£10,000 to a new theological college, ,£IO.OOO to increase the capital of the Church Building and Loan Fund, ,£IO,OOO for higher education, and .£SOOO to the new Wfsley Training College. After considerable discussion it was decided that the whole matter of the sum to be raised and of tho allocations be referred back to the committee, the payments tn be completed by the conference of 1923. The committee appointed ~to consider the establishment of Methodist colleges in New Zealand recommended: "(1) That it is ndvisnble that at the earliest possible date a secondary school under the auspices of the Methodist Church, either solely or in conjunction with the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches, or either of them, should bo established in each island of the Dominion; (2) that a committee be set up in Auckland and Christchurcb lo consider the best means by which such schools might be established, such committees to have power to act, provided that conference was involved in no financial liability; these committees to have power to consult with the representatives of the above-mentioned churches, with a view to joint action being taken in establishment of such secondary school." The report, was adopted.