METHODIST CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 44, 21 February 1930, Page 14

METHODIST CHURCH

CONFERENCE OPENED

NEW PKESIEUNT INDUCTED

There was a large attendance at the Wesley Church,.Turanaki street, last night for the opening cession of the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand,' in" connection with which some 300 laymen and ministers are at present in Wellington. . The retiring president (the Key. .0.- P. Uoldie, chairman of .the Solomon Islands district) presided, declared the conference opeu, arid formally inducted the presidentelect (the Rev. A. N. Scotter, 8.A., of Christehurch). In doing so he referred in high terms to the thirty years of service rendered by Mr. Scotter to the Methodist Church as minister and as officebearer, arid more especially to the energy and tact he had.always displayed during his several years 'of work as secretary to the conference. The knowledge Mr. Scotter had thereby gained of the idiosyncrasies of the brethren should, he said, stand him in good stead as president during the coming year. (Laughter and applause.) . The Key., Mr. Scotter suitably and feelingly replied, and, the Rev. J. H. Haslam (Richmond Church, Nelson) was then inducted as secretary. ■

Tho inaugural address of the new president is reported in another column.

Mr. A. Peak (solicitor,* Auckland) was declared elected unopposed as vice-presi-dent for the present year, and he was duly inductod. - ■ ■.'■.">■■ A ballot being taken, the Ecv. W. Greenslade (Ghristehureh) was elected president for 1931, and the Key. J. H. Haslum secretary for that year. The Rev. J. D. M'Arthur was. appointed assistantsecretary; the Key. F. J. Parker corresponding ■ secretary, and the Rev. J. R. Nelson Press secretary, for the present conference; : ■ -, .

The Rev. H. Ryiiu, on his return from the Old. Couutry, brought greetings from the English Primitive Methodist Conference, which he had attended.