WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2109, 26 November 1880, Page 3

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The financial session commenced at_ ton o’clock yesterday morning when, in addition to the Ministers of the circuits, the following laymen were present:—Messrs W. Harris, Mouldey, J. S. Smith, R. Orosswell, Bhierlaw, Christian, Christchurch ; J. W. Smith, Lyttelton ; W. Peryman, R. Wills, Springston j J. Little, A. Hodgson, Rangiora ; H. Overton, Lseston ; H, M. Jones, Ashburton. The Rev. J. Raploy, home missionary, Amberley, was also present. Mr J. Donald, Edinburgh, at present on a visit to New Zealand, was recognised and invited to a seat. The Rev. J. 8. Smalley preferred as a request from the Springston quarterly meeting, that it bo recommended that Malvern, at present a part of the Springston circuit be formed into a home mission station. The feeling of the church in the district was in opposition to the appointment of an additional minister, and that for a few years to come it would better serve their general interests that a home missionary, rather than a young minister, should be employed. Their own church had neglected the district, and the consequence had been that other churches had occupied ground which they might have successfully worked. Mr Peryman moved that the request be granted. Bather than an additional minister should be appointed, he would prefer seeing Malvern made into an independent circuit. The Rev. W. Worker seconded the motion. The Rev. A. Reid thought it undesirable to call into existence more home missionaries than it was absolutely necessary to employ. Further, he considered that in many circuits a second minister would be a great benefit, as furnishing an opportunity for training in the more practical work of the ministry, under the supervision of an experienced superintendent. Home missionaries were also liable to be dismissed in a few years, and have their places filled by regular ministers, which made their position very uncertain and unenviable. He hoped that the request of the Springston circuit would not be granted. The Chairman thought that great care should be exercised in increasing the number of home missionaries, and that such young men should be preferred as had a fair probability of entering the ministry. The amendment was carried. Mr Little reported that the Rangiora circuit had asked that that circuit should be divided, Woodend to be the head of the new circuit. The Rev. S. J. Garliok seconded the motion.

Mr J. W. Smith enquired what the financial probabilities of the new circuit were. Mr Little replied that the intention of the stewards was that the minister of the new circuit should receive £2O in excess of the stipend at present paid to the second minister of the Rangiora circuit. He thought the quarterly income and expenditure would balance each other. The motion was carried.

The Rev. W. H. Beck proposed, and Mr Harris seconded—“ That Christchurch circuit, having only had a probationer three years, be not required to take a married man next year.” Carried. Mi- Harris moved, and the Rev. A. Reid seconded—“ That a recommendation be forwarded to the Springston quarterly meeting asking it to take a second preacher, to work the Malvern district.” Carried. The Rev. W. H. Beck read the following statistics for the Canterbury district Number of churches, 45; other preaching places, 21; ministers and probationers, 16; catechist, 1; Sunday school teachers, 445 ; local preachers, 85 ; class leaders, 48 ; full and accredited church members, 1086; on trial for membership, 89; communicants, 306; catechumens, 176; deaths, Sunday, schools, 46 ; Sunday-school scholars, 4354; attendants on public worship 11,221. In connection with the above, the Rev. J. S. Smalley asked the meeting to dwell for a time on the memory of their departed members who had been eminent for piety. The holy life and zealous labors of Mr Fattrick were referred to by the chairman, the Rev. J. Aldred, and Mr Hodgson. The latter reminded the meeting that the late Mr Bradley had been associated with Mr Fattrick in the pioneer work of Canterbury Methodism, and that their names should not be dissociated now.

The Rev. A. Reid thought the meeting should be jubilant at the increase of sixty members, and the more so as a decrease had been reported in England. Mr Feryman thought that emigration might account for ooth the English decrease and the New Zealand increase. The Rev. W. Keall mentioned, in connection with the increase of one thousand hearers, that there was a growing disposition to hear plain, distinctive Methodist preaching. The Lyttelton circuit having reported seventeen junior members, for the return of which no provision existed in the schedule, the Rev. W. H. Beck moved, and the Rev. J. H. Simmonds seconded—“ That the Lyttelton quarterly meeting be requested for the future to return its junior members as full and accredited members.” The motion was lost. The Rev. A. Reid was elected district repreaentative to conference. The Rev. W. Baumber read the schedules of church properties for the various circuits, from which it appeared that there are in the district 12 parsonages, 45 churches, and 9 schools; that improvements Jiavo been effected thereon to the value of £526 14s, and debts paid amounting to £1242. The Chairman read a list of deeds of church properties in hia possession, and inquiries were instituted respecting others. In addition to those of the Canterbury district, the chairman reported that one deed of the Nelson district was in his possession. Mr Harris moved, and Mr Feryman seconded—“ That the chairman and the superintendent of the Ashburton circuit be requested to take the necessary steps for securing the property at Seafield.” It was reported that a new organ had been erected in the Lyttelton Church, and alterations made, coating £ooo, of which £4OO remained as a debt. On the motion of the Rev. J. H. Simmonds, seconded by Mr Harris, the meeting expressed its regret that the Lyttelton trustees did not build a parsonage before incurring liabilities for church enlargement and erection of

organ, and expressed its hope that the parsonage should be erected as soon as possible. In the Christchurch (Colombo road) circuit a parsonage was reported to have been erected, costing £650; no debt. Bangiora circuit, church at Horrelsville, costing £130; no debt. At Woodend, purchase of 2 acres of land, costing £66 ; no debt. At Horrelville, 1 rood of land had been presented by Mr Horrel, to whom the thanks of the meeting were presented. Land as a site for a church in Lincoln road having been found unsuitable, it was reported that it had been sold. The meeting approved the action of the trustees. . Mr Harris drew the attention of the Colombo road representatives to a resolution of 1877 “ That the proceeds should be devoted to the purchase of a more suitable site.** Permissions to sell or acquire property were given as follows :—To the Lyttelton circuit, to sell the present parsonage with the view of building another, also to sell the present site if necessary ; Springston, to build a church at Tai Tapu. On the motion of Mr J. W. Smith it was resolved —“ That a safe be purchased for the custody of church deeds, to replace the present one, deemed insecure, and that the trustees of the Durham street church be asked to allow it to be placed in one of their vestries.” The report of the oonnexional funds was as follows :—Children’s fund—income, £203 8s ; expenditure, £237 6s. Supernumerary and widows fund —income, £214 4s, Contingent fund—income, £146 4s lid; expenditure. £l7 16s 6d on district account, balance remitted to general treasury. Education fund —income, £67 10s 7d. Home mission fund—income, £586 18s ; district expenditure, £ls 12s 6d. It was resolved that, with a few exceptions, the assessments on the circuits on behalf of the home mission fund for the next year be the same as for last year; the amount is £602 10s. Applications for grants were received amounting to £365, and on the motion for a grant for the Temuka circuit it was resolved that a committee, consisting of the Eev. A. Reid and Mr J. W. Smith, be appointed to make inquiry into the condition of that circuit. On account of foreign missions the receipts , were reported as £79 12s 6d, and on account of the John Hunt, missionary ship, £36 1 9s „ , , , , An abstract of the report of the book committee was laid before the meeting. In the ■ temporary absence of the manager a detailed , statement of accounts was not presented, but > the transactions of the year have not been so 1/ large as for the previous one, though it was expected the general result would be about

the same. The required number of shares in the book concern has not yet been taken, and the following resolution, on the motion of Mr Harris, seconded by Mr Peryman, was carried—“ That an amended prospectus for the Book Concern Company be issued with the “New Zealand Wesleyan,” with a request that the prospectuses be returned before the end of December. That the terms of the issue of shares be: 5s per share on application, 6s on allotment, and the balance in payments of 20s per quarter.” The report of the book committee on the “New Zealand Wesleyan” was presented. The circulation for the year had increased, and though a large amount was yet due on unpaid subscriptions, more had been received for the past year than for any previous one. The thanks of the meeting were accorded to the Rev. J. Armitage, and conference was requested to re-appoint him editor. The remainder of the session was_ occupied with the discussion of recommendations from quarterly meetings.