WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 441, 12 November 1875, Page 2

WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING.

The first session of the annual meeting of the Wesleyan ministers of the Canterbury District, was held in the Durham street Church at ten o'clock on Wednesday morning. The ministers present were : —Rev J. Buller, president of the conference ; Revds J. Aldred, W. Cannell, A. R. Fitchett, W. Lee, J. Berry, W. C. Oliver, H. Bull, G. Bond, W. S. Harper, and P. W. Fairclough. After the singing of a hymn, prayer was offered by Revds J. Aldred and W. Cannell. An address was then delivered by the president, in the course of which he reviewed the position of the church in Canterbury, and referred to hio peroonal attendance at forty aunual district meetings in this colony. In all probability this would be the last he would attend in New Zealand for some time, as he contemplated an early visit to England, where he might remain for some two < r three years. The progress and present prosperity of the church in New Zealand, afforded ground for thankfulness, and he trusted the prosperity which had marked the past would be continued in a yet larger measure.

The meeting then proceeded to elect a secretary by ballot, the choice of the meeting falling upon the Rev J. Aldred. The secretary was requested to forward a letter of sympathy to the Rev W. H. Beck, who was prevented from attending the meeting through bodily affliction. The meeting also expressed its deep sympathy with the Rev W. C. Oliver in the painful bereavement through which he has been called to pass. The Rev A. R. Fitchett announced that the quarterly meeting of his circuit had recommended a young man as a candidate for the ministry. It was decided that he should preach a trial sermon at Waltham, and that the Revs J. Berry, W. Oliver, and H. Bull should report thereon to the next session of the district meeting. The candidate himself was requested to be present on Thursday, for literary and theological examination. It was resolved—" That Mr John Luxford, a studeut for the ministry, preach a trial sermon at St Albans, to be reported upon by the Revs A. R. Fitchett, W. Lee, G. Bond, and that the pro bationer be heard by the President, the Rev J. Aldred, and W. Cannell. The following ministers were appointed a deputation to advocate the interests of the Home Mission Fund :—To Lyttelfcon, on Monday next, the Revs A. R. Fitchett, J. Berry, H. Bull, G. Bond. To Crescent road on Tuesday—The Revs J. Berry, H. Bull, G. Bond, P. W. Fairclough. To Tai Tapu, on the same day —The President, W. Lee, W. Oliver, W. S. Harper.

Under the question, "Do we recommend that any of our ministers be made supernumeraries at the ensuing Conference ?" the rev the president expressed his wish to retire from the active work of the ministry, in the ranks of which he had moved more than forty years. He desired to visit England and had been appointed by the Australasian Conference representative to the English Conference. Although he retired from full circuit ministrations, he expressed the hope that he should be able to assist the Colonial Church while in England, and to further engage in her service, should he be permitted to return to New Zealand. The Rev A, R. Fitchett regretted the contemplated absence of the president from the colony, where he had rendered such valuable service, and where his service was still required. In compliance, however, with the president's expressed wish, he would move a resolution that the Conference be [recommended to grant the same, and that the secretary frame a note to the resolution expressive of the high esteem in which the Rev J. Buller is held. Carried unanimously.

The following resolution, movel by the Rev H. Bull and seconded by the Rev W. C. Oliver, was carried :—" That the Conference be recommended to allow Mr Fairclough one year of the ordinary four years' probation in consideration of the time passed in the Theological Institution as an accepted candidate for the Ministry, during which time he shared largely in the Sunday services of the circuit."

A requisition from the officials of the Christchurch circuit was received, requesting the division of the present circuit. The consideration of this request was deferred .

The circuit stewards of the Selwyn circuit presented a request, through the Rev W. S. Harper, that the name of the circuit be changed to the Leeston circuit. This was complied with. A requisition was presented from Timaru, requesting the division of that circuit, the following places to form the new circuit : Temuka. Geraldine, and Waitohi.

Inquiries were made respecting the past contributions of these places towards carrying on the circuit work. The figures were thought to be unsatisfactory. The Rev G. Bond said one reason why the income had hitherto been so small was that the minister's services had not been exclusively devoted to these places, as they would be were the circuit divided. Were this done, he thought his expectations would not be disappointed in regard to the future. On the motion of the Rev W. Oliver, seconded by the Rev W. Lee, the request was granted, subject to the approval of the Conference. The second session of the district meeting commenced yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. All the ministers of the district were present. After singing a hymn, a portion of Scripture was read by the secretary, and prayer was offered by the Revs W. Lee and J. Berry. The record of the previous session was read and confirmed. The Rev W. Lee called attention to an inaccuracy in the press report of yesterday's proceedings respecting communicants' tickets. The resolution, as moved by the Rev J. Berry, and seconded by the Rev H. Bull, was as follows:—"That the attention of the Conference be called to the fact that in many of the circuits in this district the Conference rule in reference to communicants' tickets is lot observed." Examination papers were filled in by the probationer upon the following subjects : Trench on Greek synonyms, time allowed, two hours; the Ist Epistle of St John in th< Greek, two hours; and a selection from Wesley's sermons, one hour. Mr Luxford, a atudent for the ministry, filled in a paper based on the Greek grammar, also a paper on the Principia Latina; time allowed for each, two hours. The president was requested to address a letter to Professor Brown, desiring him to report upon Mr Luxford's progress in the classics during the time he has been under his tuition. Mr Fee, a candidate for the ministry from the St Alban's circuit. underwent an examination of literary and

theological character, the result of which will be reported to the Conference, which Mr Fee will be required to attend. The Rev J. Berry brought up the requisition from the lasl Christchurch quarterly meeting, requesting the division of the circuit. It was resolved, on the motion of the Rev J. Beiry. seconded by the Rev A. R. Fitchett, subject to the approval of the Conference :—" That the Christchurch circuit be divided, the new circuit to include the area now embraced by the Harper street, Waltham, and Woolston congregations. That the new circuit receive Ferry road property and grants from Durham street, as follows, viz, £75 first year. £SO second year, and £25 the third year. The ne ir circuit has three churches, three local preachers, eighty-five members, and 700 hearers, and is to be called Christchurch south."

A conversation took place relative to tr c appointment of a suitable home missionary for the outlying parts of the district. The Revs A. R. Fitchett, W. Lee, and G. Bond having addressed the meeting on this subject, the following resolution, moved by the Rev J. Berry, and seconded by the Rev H. Bull, was carried :—" The meeting, recognising the importance of attending to the spiritual wants of the outljing parts of the district, such as Ashburton, Malvern, and other places, for which the Wesleyan Church is now doing comparativel} little, recommends the appointment of a properly qualified itinerant evangelist, who shall labour under the direction of the chairman of the district."

The report of the committee appointed by the last Conference, to advise upon tion of a connexional Sunday School Umor>, was brought up by the Rev J. Berry, /the committee does not recommend the formation of a Union, but advises the Conference take such steps as shall secure uniform J lessons for all the Wesleyan Sunday schools in the colony. On the motion of the Rev A. R. Fitchett, seconded by the Rev H. Bull, the report was adopted. Under the question " Who shall be members of our connexional committee for the ensuing year?" it was resolved—" That all ministers in full connection with the Conference be members of these committees, together with an equal number of laj men, to be elected on Monday next." Permission was granted to all the ministers of the district to attend the Wellington Conference, but the election of the nnmber. whose travelling expenses are paid out of the fund for that purpose, was reserved for the financial district meeting, at which the lay representatives will be present. Under the question relating to the Provisional Theological Institution, a discussion took place, in which most of the ministers took part. The following resolution, moved by the Rev J. Berry and seconded by the Rev W. Lee, was carried unanimously—- " That the meeting considers the present system of training our candidates for the ministry unsatisfactory, and that the adoption of a more satisfactory system is imperative. The meeting recommends that there should be one common centre for New Zealand, where in future the training of candidates should be conducted." The Rev A. R. Fitchett called attention to the new model deed, a copy of which would be submitted to the next Conference.

A discussion took place on this subject, which resulted in the passing of the following resolution, on the motion of the Rev J. Berry, seconded by the Rev W. C. Oliver : " This meeting is of opinion that it is desirable in certain cases to appoint ministers for a longer term than three years ; and submits that whilst the present legal difficulty exists, special cases might be thus dealt with. That such extension of residence be granted providing the trustees in the circuit lodge a document with the Confeience signed by all of them, soliciting the re-appointment of the minister in question, and pledging themselves to support such minister in his administration of the circuit."

The character of the new parsonage at Temuka next engaged the consideration of the meeting. The plans of this house had not been submitted to the parsonage building committee, and the house itself was deemed a very unsuitable one for a minister's residence. The Revs A. R. Fitchett, W. Oliver, and G. Bond, having spoke upon the defectiveness of the building, the matter was referred to the financial meeting. The following resolution having been passed, the meeting adjourned till this morning at 10 o'clock :—" This meeting is of opinion that it is desirable for the Conference to secure if possible the services of a suitable Evangelist, to co-operate with the ministers in holding special services throughout the colony." The Benediction was then pronounced by the president.