CHURCHES JOINED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1913, Page 8

CHURCHES JOINED

1 ■" *i i RESOLUTIONS OF UNION METHODIST CONFERENCE. The union of the Methodist Chuvcb of New Zealand and the Primitive Methodist Connexion will be completed this evening at a public meeting to be held in the Town Hall, His Excellency the Governor presiding. At the Methodist Conference in Tara-naki-street Church this morning, under the presidency of the Rev. S. Lawry, formal resolutions approving the union were agreed to. The following is the text of the formal resolution of approval moved by Mr. J. A. Flesher: — "A basis having been prepared for the Union of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, formerly designated the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand, with the Primitive Methodist connexion, commonly known as the Primitive Methodist Chruch in New Zealand, by a joint committee representing such churches, and approved by the annual conferences and circuit quarterly meetings thereof, and by the members of the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand, and the British Conference of the Primitive Methodist Connexion having given its consent to such union, it is resolved that the Methodist Church of New Zealand -unite with the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand upon the terms and conditions set forth and embodied 1 in and incorporated with the basis of union appearing in the printed report of such 'committee, and published in the printed minutes of the annual conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand, held at Auckland in February and March, 1912, and that such union shall take effect on and from the sixth day of February, 1913." DECLARATION OF UNION. The following is the text of the Declaration of Union between the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand :-— Whereas, at the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, held in the City of Wellington, in the Dominion of New Zealand, this 6th day of February. 1913, it was resolved and agreed that the Methodist Church of New Zealand unite with the Primitive Methodist Connexion, commonly known as Primitive Methodist Church, in New Zealand, upon the terms and conditions set forth and embodied in and incorporated with the basis of union prepared by a joint committee representing the said Churches and approved by the annual conferences and circuit quarterly meetings thereof, and by the members of the said Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand, and duly consented to by the British Conference of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, a printed copy whereof is attached hereto and ako published in the printed minutes of the anhual conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand, held in the City of Auckland, in the said Dominion, in the months of February and March, 1912; And whereas^ at the annual conference of the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand, also held m the City of Wellington aforesaid, this 6th day of February, 1913, it having also been resolved and agreed that the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand unite with, the Method ist Church of New Zealand, upon the terms and conditions set forth and embodied in and incorporated with the said basis of union ; And whereas, it has been agreed by and between the said Churches that such union as aforesaid shall take effect in and from the said 6th day of February," 1913 ; And whereas it is advisable that these presents should be executed for the purpose of evidencing the fact of such union as aforesaid : Now, therefore, it is hereby agreed and declared that the Methodist Church of New Zealand and tho Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealand shall enter into an organic union as one Church, with a common name, common laws, common funds, and equal rights, upon the terms and conditions 6et forth and embodied in and incorporated with the basis of union aforesaid ; And, farther, that the eaid union shall take effect on and from the 6th day of February, 1913. Signed for and. on behalf of the said Churches this 6th % day of February, 1913. OFFICERS TO SIGN. The declaration was approved, and the following were empowered to sign and execute the same this everting on behalf of the conference :— The president (Rev. S. Lawry), secretary (Rev. C. H. Laws), ex-president (Rev, W. Ready), Rev. W. Gittos (representing the Maori race), and Mr. J. A. Flesher. The deed will be witnessed by His Excellency, Dr. I Youngman, and Dr. Morley. | The Metjiodist Conference further vestI ed in the United Conference the powers it had hitherto exercised itself. The making of alterations and amendments to the laws to bring them into agreement with the Bans of Union was "also authorised. VOTES OF THANKS. Votes of thanks were accorded the members of tho legal committee, with special mention of Mr. J. A. Flesher, the ex-prpsident and ex-secretary, the Australasian Conference for sending delegates, Dr. Youngman and Dr. Morley for their addresses last night.