METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 9

METHODIST CONFERENCE

The president-elect of the Methodist Conference is it returned chaplain, who did not pass through the experience unscathed, but shared not only the ordeal, but also the wounds of battle. He is clergy.man of over thirty years’ service, having 'reached Christchurch in 1833, and has previously held connexional office ns bunday School organiser and also chairman ot district. , The outstanding feature of the conference will doubtless bo the inauguration of tho centenary movement. January 1822, was the date of the landing of tho Hirst missionary, the Rev, S. Leigh. On Sunday, June 8, 1823, tho first Methodist service was held. In 1840 the Rev. J. Watkin was the .first Christian missionary to visit the South Island. In 1884 the Rev. R-. Ward opened services for the then Primitive Methodist Church at New Plymouth. T .h®U. M .F. Church started. at Rangiora in 1860, led by the Ret. G. Booth. In 1877, in Christchurch, the Rev E Reed commenced the work ot tne Bible Christian Church. In 1896 n[ Partial union was affected, and in the ranks were closed up and all branches united an unbroken Methodist Church of New Zealand. The aim of the Church m these celebrations, in addition to commemoration. and Rpiritual revival, is to raise a S4O.CCO thanksgiving fund to be distributed to the Supernumerary Fiind, Theological College, Church Building, foreign Missions, Wesley Training College, Deaconesses’ Memorial Church at Kaeo, Lav Preachers’ Association, and the development of the work amongst the Maoui B The statistics to bo presented show 1144 churches and schools. 240 ministers. 799 lay helpers. 27.552 adult and 6514 Junior members. 395 Sunday schools. 3183 teachers 27,346 scholars, 4919 Bible, class members. Two of the senior ministers are seeking retirement. Eight probationers arc to be ordained and another eight men are. seeking admission to the college for ministerial training.