THE RECENT WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3843, 18 June 1875, Page 2

THE RECENT WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

The Rev. Mr Moriey, of Wellington, on his return frun the conference lately held at Melbourne, gave to his congregation a very interesting resunU of the proceedings of that body; and from the ‘N. Z Times’ report we make the following extracts. The conference recently held was the terminal one, and. as each Colony was represented in the proportion of one in. eight, it was constituted thus : —7 here were in all 43 ministers entitled to be present, 14 from New South Wales, 16 from Victoria, 7 from South Australia, and 6 from New Zealand ; but actually there were only 38 present, 4 from New South Wales and 1 from South Australia having from various causes failed to attend The first question discussed was what is known as the Children’s Fund, which made itinerary possible by providing for those ministers who might have large families without imposin'? any additional burden upon the circuits. matter remained much as it was before. Then they discussed questions relating to the funds for the support of aged ministers and their wives, who were maintained on a principal somewhat similar to the mutual insurance system. The Conference decided that ministera in the position of Mr Lewis, who was recently in Wellington, should have sufficient to live upon in case of ill-health. According to the new code a minister retiring would receive L4B a-year after five years’ service, and the rate in-, creased to L2OO upon retiring after 44 years’ service. Then came the subject of foreign missions, for which they raised L 14,554, their expenditure being within Ll5O of that amount. The mew mission to the Duke of York’s Island was now fairly started, so that there was evidence that they did not intend to let the missionary spirit die out. The subject of lay representation was the next topic taken up. From the beginning of the Wesleyan Church the annual Conference was composed wholly of ministers, but it had been felt for some time past that the lay officebearers should take part in the discussion of financial matters, and also in other questions affecting Church government. The subject had been agitated by ministers as well as laymen; and two years ago the Conference approved of the principle of lay representation, but left the details to be decided at-the last Conference. They affirmed two principles—first of all that the annual Conference fhould be composed of an equal number of ministers and laymen; and secondly, that each circuit should have the privilege of electing at least one representative, and then, supposing the number of lay representatives did not equal the number of ministers, that the larger circuits should elect two or three more laymen, as the case might be. It was also determined that lay representatives must be Church members of four years’ standing, and that they must live in the circuit they represented. Then came the question of stationing ministers—as to whether this should be left to the decision of the ministers alone or be decided upon by the ministera and laymen conjointly—and the prevailing opinion being that the laymen would notunderstand thedifficulties of the case, it was determined that for the present the decision should rest with the ministers alone. But that would not remain so for more than a year or two, for the laymen would be permitted to take their share in the deliberations of the Conference from first to last. The proposal to permit laymen to take part in the Conference had been forwarded to England for the sanction of the Home authorities, but whether it would reach its destination in time for the session of the British Conference was somewhat doubtful, but if it next year would see the plan in operation. Then came the subject of temperance. Some of the members were staunch Good Templars ; others were Recabites; while there were others for freedom of action uuon such a subject. The result was something in these terms: “That we, believing the Christian Church in itself to be the foe of all kinds of evil, including the drinking customs pf the day, regard the agency of the Church as the best agency that can be used. That we regard the members of these societies as doing a special work, and that although we cannot go the full length they desire, we wish them God speed.” The question of expense to ministera attending the Conference was also touched upon, and an agreement come to that each Colony should pay an equitable share, which showed that the Australian Colonies were anxious for unity, and willing to pay for it, otherwise the cost would have been greater to New Zealand. Then there was the settlement of the model deed under the new constitution. They considered that a large question, and consequently thought it prudent to take the counsel of the annual Conlerehces which meet in the respective Colonies. That-.,, therefore, was remitted to those bodies, and will be finally settled when the General Conference next meets. A reso-

lution was passedonthe subjects hymn-book* for use in the<3hurch. The Conference wu given to understand that a inew bookwab being arranged for InEngland, atuHt was decidedto bring into ÜBe here, 'and ft supply was ordered, which might be expected to tend: the Colonies about three montM after Re order arrived. Amongst the questions left over for future consideration was that of Methodist he m ? ve “tot sought"■■to unite all Methodists,- whether Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive, Methodists, or Bible Christians, but it had to be left over for the present. Other questions left over were the proposal to extend a minister s time of residence in a circuit from three to five years, and the relation in which baptised children should stand to the Church. There was one graceful act performed by the Conference which would be heard of with gi-eat pleasure by the different churches in New Zealand. It was reported that the Rev. Mr Buffer intended at the close of the present year to become a supernumerary, and obtain leave to visit England, and the Conference therefore decided to honor him by sending him to represent the Church in these Colonies, and passed a resolution, to forward Home, expressing the pleasure which his fellow-workers out here had iu sending him to be their representative at the annual gathering of thoir fathers and brethren in the old country, and assuring them of the high place he oocupiedjin the ranks of Colonial ministers. * uext meeting would be in Sydney, in May, lo7Be