THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 134, 2 March 1921, Page 9

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

HOME MISSIONS , THE SCARCITY OF MINISTERS The Methodist Conference recommended 'that a grant be made from the Church Building and Loan Fund to secure a, church site at Miramar. The report of the Fire Insurance Fund presented by the Rev. S. Lawry showed that the year was the most successful in the history of the fund. The income for the-year wag £2105, and the expenses £560; the profit oh tho year’s working being £1545. The accumulated funds now stand at =612,771. New risks had been accepted during the year to the amount of £46,765; JI 100 of the year’s profits was allocated to the Benevolent . Fund, and .£2OO to the Centenary Fund, the Lalnnco to be added to the k accumulated funds. The report was adopted. The Rev. S. Lawry was heartily thanked for his able management of the fund and of the connexional office. The report of the Home Mission Fund ■was presented by tho treasurer, tho Rev. G. Bond. The capital account showed investments to the value of nearly £lO,OOO, the increase for *he year being £587. The balance-sheet showed the total income for the year, including the credit balance brought forward, £10.578, and tho expenditure £9555 10s., leaving a credit balance of £1023. The estimated income for the year is £10,850, including tho credit balance brought forward of £1023, and the expenditure ag voted to- , tailed £10,831. The Rev. T. G. Brooko was heartily thanked for his advocacy of the forward • movement by means of which a large number of circuits have increased their ministers’ stipends, tho amount of such increases being over £4OOO for the past year. Votes of thanks were also accorded to the general treasurer, Rev. G. Bond, and Mr. J. Wai, lay treasurer. It was decided by the conference that the thud had come for the young men of the church to take into consideration the claims of the ministry. The Rev. Brooke stated that for twenty years the Church had been under-manned, and the local churches and the connexion had suffered in consequence, besides which many young men had to be sent out without sufficient training, to their own and. the Church's loss. He appealed to the Church to provide men for the work of tho ministry. The Rev. C. H. Olds said there was no occasion for pessimism, as the Bible Class Union was paying special attention to this matter, and the young men were interested. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair eaid this was Vitally important, and he felt that the young men would respond to the call. The Rev. H. L. Blamires considered that financial difficulties often deterred men from entering the ministry. It was not just to ask young men to take up this work at so much less remuneration than was obtainable in other callings. The Rev. S. Lowry said the Church could not win men by the offer, of a good l salary. There was higher ground than this. They did not want men who took up the work for what .they could get out of it. Mr-. E. Hixon (Hawera) emphasised the need of making adequate remuneration for ministers. It was not right that ip many cases they should receive less than manual labourers. Mr. M. Ayrton supported thp proposal of a special appeal to young men to enter the ministry. He,, thought that ministers were frequently out of touch with practical -affairs, and. that a. knowledge of mon and affair's -was preferable to theological training. Mr. G. 11. Buttle advocated better provision for the ministry, especially in the nature of retiring allowances. The Rev. E. P. Blamires maintained that tho State now monopolised too much of the time of young people. with military duties and evening classes, and-the Church had no opportunity of securing young people on week evenings for training. The Rev. IV. A. Hay thought the secret of the problem was in the spiritual life of the people. Tho Rev. E. Drake pleaded, for a revival of loyalty and the team spirit in the; cburcljos. Mr 11. H- Brown (Tiraaru) also spoke. The Rev. Principal agreed to do what he could to place the claims of’ the • ministry before tho young men of the church. It was agreed that the Women’s. Missionary Union have power to elect a representative to each synod, and that district unions Ire formed to constitute elective bodies. The Rev. T. G. Brooke, in introducing the business of the Maori mission, eulogised the work of the new general superintendent, the Rev. A. J. Seamer, under whose charge the mission had made excellent progress during the year. A cordial vote of thanks was carried. A lengthy discussion ensued on the Maori work, an important feature of which was nn address by tho Rev. Robert Haddon. He. deprecated the settlement in certain districts of Indians, whose contact with 'the Natives was degrading to the Maori. He was strongly opposed to inter-marriage between the two races.. At the desire of the conference he spoke •X. of the work of Wirimu Ratana. He was a second cousin of his own, and his grandfather was a member of the Methodist Church, and had represented New Zealand at the Australian Commonwealth celebrations. Ratana’s work of healing was like that of the Apostles. It began by a period of seclusion and fasting, durin* which the new power came to him. and immediately by prayer and .laying on of hands he cured a sick cbild. !* IS teaching l was out-and-out Christianity. He opposes all that injures the Maori—tohungaism. drink, and other vices. Ji or the present he prefers to confine his work to his own people, for whom he has re' centlv built a church to seat 560 people, and paid for it himself. Later he will be I‘eady to work amongst pakehas. He did not claim to Ire- a God —he was merely a. man, a finger-post, pointing people to God, their Creator, and Christ, their Saviour. , , . » Conference dealt with the work of the Sunday school department, the business being 1 presented by the Bev. C. Fl. Olds, B.Ao organising secretary. Tho balance-sheet showed, the income to he £519 and the expenditure £559. leaving a debit on the year’s working of £4O. The report and balance-sheet were adonted. The recommendations agreed to I>v the conference included a proposal from the Bible Class Unions for the appointment of lay travelling secrotarie= for the young men’s and young women c unions. ' The chief objectmn urged against the proposal was the uncertain.! of finance. After a lengthy discussion the proposal was carried. ORDINATION SERVICE. The ordination service was held in the Taranaki Street Methodist Church last evening in the presence of a large congregation, when the following young ministers, having completed their probation, were solemnly set apart lor the work of the Christian urnistryßevs. W T Blight, T. Dent. J'. Dennis, J. LNelson. F. -I- Barker, Robert E. Fordyce, E B. Chambers, and W. S. Neal. . inc president conducted the service, assisted bv several senior ministers. A solemn 'and impressive charge to the newly-or-dained ministers was\delivered by the Rev. E. Drake, ex-president of the conference.