Primitive Methodist Conference.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 176, 29 January 1896, Page 2

Primitive Methodist Conference.

(Communicated.) The above Conference was opened in Timaru on Friday, January 10th, and closed on Saturday, January 19th. Sixty representatives were expected to be present, but several were unable to attend. Tbe Rev. J. Clover, formerly of Feilding, was unanimously elected President, and this was a just reward for the bard plodding work he had done for the Church. The reports from tbe Stations were of a very encouraging nature, there being an increase in every department, new Cburcbes had been erectediu lnglewood and Halcombe, and tbe Feilding Church bad been enlarged. Sunday scbools and claas rooms in Auckland, and sites of land for building purposes bad been secured at New Plymouth and Waihi. A splendid parsonage had been built at Dunedin at a cost of £■500. The debt upon the Church property was only 19 per cent of the original cost, showing ,that the Trust Funds were in a very healthy state. There were 7503 hearers, an increase of 753 ; 3,000 abstainers, an increase of 222. There were 122 Churches and preaching places, 14 parsonages, 6000 Sabbath school scholars, and 500 teachers—an increase of 170, 1500 adult Church members (irrespective of the juvenile and catechumen members), 133 local preachers - increase 5, ministers 28, home missionaries 2— increase 2. The various funds were in a healthy state, especially the New Zealand Ministers' Superannuated Fund, which had 11020. The New Zealand Primitive Methodist had paid its way duriug the year, there being a credit balance of i'Bo. Of this sum jL2S was voted to the Mission Fund. The ministers on probations passed their examinations in their respective years, and the Revs. G. Grindley, J. W. Hay ward, and R. liaine, were ordained and received into tbe fnll ministry. Tho s-tationing of ministers occupied the time of the Conference for five hours, and numerous changes wore made during the discussion, but at last only three ministers were removed from their stations Most of the Ministers were doing remarkably well, and the Churches refused to part with them. Theßev. J. R. Hinds health hrvinggiven way and he had decided to go Home, it was decided his travelling expenses be paid by the stations, and he return to the Old Land at his earliest convenience. Public meetings were held each day. Most mornings there was a preaching service at 6 30 which was well attended and each eveniug a public meeting was held, all of which were also well attended, and true to the traditions of the Church a number of open air meetings were held, including a splendid camp and a Prohibition meeting. The most remarkable meeting- of all being the Lovefeast held on the last night of the Conference, and which was carried on with the greatest enthusiasm until midnight. Deputations welcoming the Conference to the town were received. Auckland, Christchnrch, Dunedin, New Plymouth, Invercargill and Feilding request ,'d that the Conference of 1897 be held in their respective towns. At the final voting it was found that Feilding had a majority of one, hence the Con- i ference of next year will be held here. Many were sceptical as to the wisdom I of the Conference being held in so small a town. It now remains for the Churches to prove that a Conference can be successfully run in Feilding as in other places.