WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1801, 28 November 1879, Page 4

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

THtmSDAY, NOVEMBBB 26. The morning session opened at 10 o'clock. The usual devotional services were observed. In addition to the Ministers in the district ■who had been present on the provious days, the following laymon were present:—Christchurch (Durham street), Messrs O. W. Turner and W. Harris. Ohristcl u:oh (Colombo road) Mr Shierlaw. Christchuroh (Bt. Albans), Mr W. T. Smith. Lyttelton, Mr J. W. Smith. Springston, Mr J. W. Peryman. Rangiora, Messrs J. Thompson and little. Temuka, Mr Buxton. Ashburton, Mr H. Jones. Waimate, Mr G-. Manchester. The Chairman roported that the Rangiora circuit was duo to tako a second married Minister. Mr Thompson presented the following resolution passed at the Rangiora quarterly meeting—" That as this meeting sees no possibility of supporting a second married minister in this circuit, owing to financial depression, it urges tlio Conference to relieve us of the responsibility to do so for the present." . Mr Little supported the quarterly meeting s resolution. Their present circuit income ■was altogether inadequate to tho support of a second married minister, and ho feared would be so for sometime to como. Mr Manchester inquired how many members and hearers tho Rangiora circuit had. The Chairman stated that the circuit had 1000 adherents, 109 mombers, 30 communicants, and was tho second largest in tho district. . Mr Thompson thought that in forming an opinion of the ability of a circuit to sustain its ministry mere numbers should not bo taken into account, but wealth also. After further discussion, the request of tho Rangiora circuit was declined. It was reported that a gallery had been erected in tha Colombo road (O'uristchurch) church, at a cost of £560, of which £360 had been raised. Tho remaining £2OO was expected to be raised during tho forthcoming year. A section of land for the erection of a church had been acquired in Lincaln road. An organ Cad been erected in tho Kaiapoi church, costing £2OO, for which part payment had been made, and tho whole to be raised within two years. A lengthy discussion took place respecting the .present depressed financial condition of the Ashburton church properties. Tho Rev. W. K«all made a statement, and asked for an expression of opinion as to what was best to be dono under the circumstances. Tho position was a very grave one, and he had serious doubts as to thoir ability to retain the property much longer unless something was devised. Mr Turner hoped they would not yield to a feeling of panic in this case, as had been tho case in other instances in times of prevalent commercial depression. He believed that after next harvest Ashburton and the surrounding districts would bo in a prosperous condition, and if arrangements could be made in the meantime, he had no doubt that the difficulties would be removed. Mr J. W. Smith thought that the circuits in the district should bo appealed to for assistance by collections and contributions, and he had no doubt that a ready rosponso would be made to such an appoal. Expressions o£ sympithy with the Ashburton minister and people wero made by several of the ministers and laymon, and it was ultimately resolved to leave further discussion till tho subject of homo mißßions came before the meeting. On a ballot being taken, the Rev. J. B. Richardson was elected as district representa-

tive to Conference. The Rev. J. B. Richardson was sensible of the honor done him, but felt it incumbent upon him to ask the mooting to relieve him from the position in which .they had placed Mm.

The meeting acceded to Mr Richardson's roquest, and ehcted the Rav. W. Cannell, who stood next on the list. The Rev. W. Cannell acknowledged the honor conferred upon him, which was certainly unexpected. He would be glad to represent his district meoting to tho best of bis ability. The afternoon session began at two o'clock, and, after singing and prayer, the accounts of the respective Connexional funds were read. A discussion arose as to the basis of assessment for the children's fund, which is at present that of the number of membora in each circuit. The Rev. W. Keall believed that the present basis was not the best, and would like to see it altered to that of circuit income. Mr Manchester thought with Mr Keall that a much fairer basis would be that of circuit income. He had no doubt that tho tendenoy of the prcEent basis of membership was to a reduction of their members, and might account for some instances in which the membership had appeared to decrease. The Chairman pointed out there were thres bases of levy possible, viz., those of membership, circuit incomes, and attendance upon public worship. It might also be thought desirable that General Conference should de-

termine the amount each annual Conference

should raise, and leave it to the latter to adopt its own basis. But ia any fresh legislation, he thought the question of the possibility of the amalgamation of the children's fund and the education fund should be kept in mind. The Rev. W. H. Beck moved—" That it be a recommendation to the G-eEcral Conference that the children's fund and the education fund be amalgamated under some new name, and that the General Conference be requested to state what amounts towards the fund shall he raised by each Conference, leaving the latter to determine the mode of assessment." Mr •Thompson seconded the motion, and it was carried. The Bev. J. B. Richardson read the following returns-:—There are in the district 46 churches, 19 preaching places, 15 ministers and probationers, two catechists, Sunday school teachers, 419 ; local preachers, 68; class leaders, 52 ; full and accredited church members, 1026; on trial for membership, 41; communicants, 33.7 ; catechumens, 160; deaths, 8; Sunday schools, 46; Sunday school scholars, 3953; attendants on public worship, '10,310. The increase of members is 41, of communicants seven, of Sunday school scholars 335, of adherents 441. Two'home missionaries have been employed in the district. The returns gave rise to a longthy and unusually interesting discussion on the class meeting. The Bev. J. H. Simmonds asked for information as to the principle upon which the returns of members were made. He had deviated (from the usual method in making the returns for the Timaru circuit, and reported only those who actually mot in class. The Chairman replied that the superintendent minister must return such members only as meet in class. Bev. J. H. Simmonds expressed his willingness to correct his returns. Mr Buxton regretted the evident indisposition there was growing up in the colony to meet in class, and the more so because many, like himself, would never have been identified with the Methodist Church if they had not regarded the class meeting as its distinctive feature and privilege. Rev. W. Worker thought it should be made known by the ministers in their circuits that to be a member of the Methodist Church every person must actually meet m class. He also believed that too much discussion on the class meeting as a tost of membership in the " Now Zealand Wealeyan" and elsewhere had done injury to the class meeting. The Rev. J. H. Simmonds thought it should not be allowed to go forth from this meeting that 3D intelligent discussion of all questions belonging to their Church, and especially so important a subject as that of the class meoting, was not to be allowed ; on the contrary such discussion, aB he conceived, ought by all means to be enco. nra g ed » and WM neTer more necessary than now. „ .. , ~ . ~ The Rev. J. 8. regretted that the statistics did not reprcs^ nfc * m ?r? « latlf y in g state of progress, fcspec *»% dld h « re 6 the insufficient supply of 1a . 98 . leaders. It was to be deplored that m. imsterß ■ honld in some instances be called up ,<m *° B ? class leaders, and in one instance' n ® * ount * that the circuit minister did all / be olas ? meetings. He found, also, that thoro .' Taß . n ? t SO general an employment of ovangt > " a " c services as was desirable. After all, what . a * most needed throughout the entire Churc. * was a richer baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Chairman believed that what was desiderated was not any interference with their ohurch law respecting the class meeting, hut an improvement in the method of conducting it. He adduced an instance in which a large and well-attended class was conducted n so varied and interesting a manner, as secured a growing interest in its meeting from week to week, Seeing that other churches

were now looking with favor upon the class meeting, it ill became them for one moment to entertain any if e.» likely to loosen the hold it had hitherto had upon the mcmbtr-J of the Methodist Church. After further conversation, joined in by several ministers and laymen, The Rev. J. B. Richardson moved—" That as the Rev. J. H. Simmonds had made his circuit members' returns as fifteen'meeting in class,' instead of according to the schedule heading of 'full and accredited church members;' that at his own request the returns be referred to him for rectification." The Rev. W. H. Beck seconded the motion.

Aftor some discussion, in which it wbb stated that the General Conference had declined to rule on the subject of superintendents making their membership returns, the motion was lost. The session adjourned at 5 p.m. EVENING SESSION. The evening session commenced at 7.30. Mr Turner informed the meeting that the balance-sheet of tho book concern was in course of preparation, and would be presented to Conference. He might, however, stato that the concern was paying ; the assets were more than the liabilities. He had a proposition to lay before the meeting, which had reference to tho formation of a limited liability company, with a capital say of £2OOO, and believed there would be no difficulty in floating it. He would move—- " That the book committee be requested to consider what steps can be taken to improve and consolidate the business of the book concern, to report to conferonca." He was quito sure that their book concern had good in tho past, and was steadily growing in influence for good, not merely among Wesleyanß, but also among members of other churches. The American Methodist book concern, now so flourishing, had grown from much smaller proportions than their own had shown, and he looked forward to the time, not very fardis'ant, when theirs would bo great benefit to their church in this colony. Mr Manchester seconded the motion. The R9V. Messrs Smalley, Koall, and Cannell, and Messrs J. W. Smith, Harris, Peryman, and W. S. Smith supported tho motion. The Chairman hoped that if the proposed alteration in thoir book concern were made it would not be regarded merely as a local establishment, but as a colonial one, and accordingly have given to it the support of the whole colony, so far as possible. The motion was carried unanimously. The Home Mission accounts were gone through, and it was reportedthat £727 8s 8i had been raised in the district for the Home Mission funds. Considering tho very serious commercial depression of the last twelvemonths, it was deemed gratifying that the district had b. en able to raise the above sum. Totes were recommended from this fund for the next year as follows :—Temuka, £65 ; Ashburton, £100; Amberloy, £SO; Rakaia, £SO. A communication from the committee appointed by last Conference to consider the propriety of forming a connexional loan fund branch of the homo mission and church extension fund, was read, recommending that at present the proposal be not carried out, but that its inauguration tako place at tho Conference of 1881. It was further recommended that next Conference appoint some person to collect information as to the amount of present debts, rate of interest, and other information deomed necessary, to report to the Conference of 1881. The meeting approved the committee's recommendations. The meeting adjourned at 11.45 p.m.