PRIMITIVE METHODISM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 8

PRIMITIVE METHODISM

♦ TWENTIETH CONFERENCE twentieth annual conference of the New Zealand Primitive Methodist Church opened "in the Webb-street Church this morning under the presi.dency of the Rev. G. Knowles Smith. This conference is a notable one, as being the last which will be held before the unioil with the Wesleyan Methodist Church is consummated. * > Tho delegates were ' officially received by the retiring president. The. Hon. C. iM. ,Luke, M.L.C., was elected president of the conference. In welcoming Mr. Luke to his position, the retiring president said that there was no one to whom he would sooner resign the dignities of the office. ■He believed that^Mr. Luke's election to the presidential" chair would be a happy augury of what was to follow, and that ho would^ be elected to the highest office in tho gift of the United Conference-^-tho office of first vice-president, In addressing'V-the conference, the newly-installed president said that ho would rather that the office had been Tilled by someone else. He felt the responsibility too great for him ; but with their assistance ne would endeavour to carry out tho work. They were entering now upon a great movement — one which he had been earnestly in favour of since its inception. Two sections of tho Christian Church of similar belief and polity could afford to sacrifice some small matters to secure unity. He thanked the conference fot electing him president, and took it that they honoured not only "him. but that great democratic principle which had always existed in the Church. The Rev. C. E. Ward (Wellington) was elected vice-president. The president said his election was particularly appropriate,' as he* was the son of the first missionary of the Primitive Methodist Church in New Zealand. Other officers elected included the following:—Secretary, Mr. T. Moore (Auckland) ; assistant-secrearies, Revs. J. Featherston (Timaru), T. B. Woolloxall (Ashburton), R. J. Liddell (New Plymouth) ; letter writers, Rev. R. R'aine (Auckland)' und li. Dudley (Blufi). RETIRING ADDRESSES. Tho Rev. O. Knowles Smith, in his retiring presidential address, said that he had had a very busy year and a very happy year. . It would always be a pleasure to him to have occupied this position prior to entering the great Methodist Church of New Zealand. He thank v ed them for the honour of a year's work. -iM,r. William* Leill, retiring vice-presi-dent, also delivered a brief letiring address. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. The report of church membership showed the following figures: — Taranaki 378, Wellington 697, Auckland 660', Otago and Southland 887, Canterbury 734; total, 3356. At Inglewood a practical * coalescence with the Methodist phurch had been brought about ; and the Primitive Methodist Church in Waihi having suffered a ■ decrease through 'the' industrial trouble, members now attended the Methodist Church. HISTORICAL RECORDS. The Rev. G. Knowles Smith moved : "That, we cordially express our hearty approval of the proposal to amend tho historical record of the ministers of the United Church by crediting every brother with the full number of -his years of feervice in either branch, and request tho General ' Conference delegate to leceivo any such alterations in the case of our brethren, such' added years shall, however, bear no financial implication." The motion was agreed to. REPORTS. The report of tho General Committee and Missionary Committee was read, and discussed in regard to various details. OTHER CONFERENCES. The Methodist -Conference will be held at the Tarannki-street Church this evening, and to-morrow afternoon the United Conference will meet, to be followed in tho evening by a meeting in thp Town Hall, His Excellency the (lovciuur piesiding. At tho evening biuiutf tho dtud of union will be sigileilj