WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1064, 24 November 1877, Page 2

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The session on Thursday afternoon was ehietly occupied with matters affecting the constitution and rules of the Church.

A resolution from the Christchureh quarterly meeting, asking for the recognition of communicants as members of the Church, was after considerable discussion endorsed and remitted to conference.

The following tnlargements of church properly were omitted from the previous report— Lyttelton Church, supplying ninety additional sittings, at a cost of £200; Kaiapoi, supplying 120 additional sittings, at a cost of £370; Wooend Church, supplying fifty additional sittings at n, cost of £250; and the school at Southbrook, at a cost of £3O. The contributions of the district towards the Home Mission and Church ' Extension Fund should be stated as £4o6' ! 8s lid, instead of £3OB 8s lid, as previously reported. Mr C. W. Turner stated that a report of the book depot was not in readiness, and requested that the book committee be allowed to report direct to the conference. —Agreed. Mr Turner also stated that the "New Zealand Wesleyan" was increasing its circulation, and had now become self-supporting. The Eev. W. Morley was thanked for his editorship of the " Wesleyan," and the meeting placed on record its high estimation of the character of the deceased Mr Wallis, and also its appreciation of hit services as co-editor of the "Wesleyan." The desirability of a weekly or fortnightly issue of the " Wesleyan" was also affirmed. The following additional resolutions were passed : !. "That the meeting recommends that Sundar school superintendents, being also members of (he church, b? members of the leaders' meeting." 2. " That the names of all persons to ba admitted into full membership with the church shall be submitted to the leaders* meeting, and a vote taken." : 3. " That the meeting recQmmenda that all Sunday school superintendents, being members of the church, be also members of the quarterly meeting." 4. " That tins meeting endorses the recommendation of the Ashburlon quarterly meet* icg—' Xiiat in the matter of lay res>reeeot*«

tion the lay representatives of Conference should have a voice and vote on all matters brought before Conference, except the examination into ministerial character.' " 5. "'That the General Conference be requested to prepare a book of discipline which can be placed in the hands of all our members, and showing the rules now in operation, and that specimens be submitted to the quarterly meetings." A resolution from the Christchurch quarterly meeting, relating to the itinerancy of the ministers, was brought up. The resolution prayed the General Conference to rescind the rule which limits a minister's stay in one circuit to three years, while retaining the annual appointment. The meeting endorsed the resolution, with the addition " That the maximum limit of a minister's stay be six years." Friday's session opened with prayer by the Eev. J. A. Taylor. The only candidate for the ministry, Mr Wills, from Springston circuit, haying passed a satisfactory examination in theology, was cordially and unanimously recommended to be received as a probationer, on the condition that he be sent for further training to the Theological Institution. The Eev. P. W. Fairclough having passed his final examination in theology and classics satisfactorily, was recommended for ordination at the ensuing Conference. The Eevs. J. A. Luxford and Henry Ellis were continued on probation in their third and second years respectively. Several resolutions were passed on minor matters pertaining to the usages of the Church. An earnest discussion followed on the motion of the Eev. W. Morley, to revert to the custom of inviting ministers to circuits at the September quarterly meeting instead of at the December meeting as at present. The Eevs. J. S. Smalley, G. Bond, W. Marten, J. A. Taylor, and W. Oliver having spoken to the motion, an amendment moved by the Eev. "W. Oliver, and seconded by the Eev. G. Bond, " That the system of inviting ministers to circuits be abolished," was ultimately carried by a large majority. It was further agreed to petition the Conference to rescind the rule which prohibits a minister from returning to a circuit until after an absence of six years. The instructions to the preachers, and commonly known as "The Liverpool Minutes," were then solemnly read. A conversation ensued on the spiritual state of the churches in which several of the ministers took part.

The Eev. J. S. Smallcy then moved the following resolution :—" That, having heard " The Liverpool Minutes," we desire before closing our District meeting to place on record our devout thankfulness to Almighty G-od for the measure of success which has attended our agencies during the year ; our high appreciation of the continued liberality of our people generally ; our joy that no case of discipline has demanded our consideration ; our recognition of increasing interest in the Home Mission and Church Extension Fund, but also our deep conviction that our church must fail to fulfil its mission in the colony without a larger and immediate increase of men and money, so as to allow the occupation of the many new stations which are offering themselves ; and, further, having duly considered matters relating to our itinerant system, church-member-ship, the constitution of the leaders' meeting, the Sunday school committee, &c, and recommended one candidate for our ministry, we resolved to address ourselves more earnestly and prayerfully to the work of the pastorate of Christ's flock, and the conversion of the world to the faith of Christ, assured that the word of our ministry as set forth in Holy Scripture and interpreted by the standards of our Church remains ' the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.' " This was seconded by the Eev. W. Morley, and unanimously adopted us the closing record.

Cordial votes of thanks to the Christchurch stewards, the friends who had entertained the ministers, the reporters for the Press, the secretary, and the chairman (Eev. J. Crump), were passed. Suitable acknowledgements were made and the meeting, after confirming the minutes, closed with prayers by the Eev. W. Morley and the chairman.