WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2687, 17 November 1882, Page 3

WESLEYAN METHODIST CHURCH.

The financial district meeting opened on Wednesday. In addition to the ministers, there were present the following lay representatives :—Durham street, Messrs Martin and Mouldey; St. Albans, Smith and Cresswoll; Springston, Wills and Peryman ; Eangiora, Thomson and Graham ; Woodend, Little and Skeyington ; Colombo road, Shierlaw; Leoston, Withell ; Kaiapoi, Blackwell; Ashburton, Jones and Dixon; Lyttelton, Wood and Olliver; Waimate, Manchester. The Chairman expressed the very great gratification he experienced in meeting so many representatives from the churches in the district.' It was scarcely necessary for him to remind them that from their beginning as a church it had been the joy of the ministers to associate the laymen with them in work and counsel. There was no section of the Christian Church that had received so much help from the laity as the Methodist section. Services which could not be too highly appreciated had been rendered by the laity ; the present position of the Church in its power and far reaching influence was in great measure due to the laymen. The financial district meeting did not possess any legislative powers; its functions were to see that conference regulations were duly carried out. He was sure they would share with him in the regret expressed at the absence of Mr Harris, the treasurer of the contingent fund, who was that day leaving for England. They met yesterday to review the work of the past year. There had not been any very great activity displayed in the matter of church erection. They had, however, to report the building of a large and commodious eburch with parsonage on the East belt, a new church at Tai Tapu, and another at Willoughby, Schedules would bo brought before them in which the numerical strength of the

various churches would be reviewed. He hoped they would look carefully at these reports, especially where decreases are shown, and if possible to ascertain the causes; and in connection with the increases it would be well to ascertain if these were such as might be expected from the agencies in operation. Regarding theirwork prospectively they would have to ask; whether there be any new fields of labor. At present there is large district of country which is not yet touched. It is notable that there are two counties in which thereare no agents of the church. He would ask them to take into their deliberations the advisability of making some provisions by which a visit of inspection could be paid to those unoccupied districts to sec what are the prospects of church extension. They would have to determine on certain resolutions from quarterly meeting recommending the alteration or defining of circuit boundaries. It was also within their province to send forward any recommendations to Conference which they may resolve would be for the general good of the Church. He trusted that by close application to business, the work would be gone through in good time. In order to facilitate the transaction of business, he would ask that any notices of motion should be presented at this stage. Notices of motion were given by Eev, E. Best, S. Garlick, T. Fee, and Messrs ManPeryman. The reports of the children, supernumeraries, contingent, and foreign mission funds were received. On inquiry it was discovered that in, several circuits the Connexional law requiring that public meetings shall be held in behalf of the foreign mission fund had not been complied with. The Eev. W. Keall said that in the country districts it was very difficult to secure meetings ; the people in many cases had to travel long distances. The Eev. J. Smith and S. Garlick supported Mr Keall’f statements. The Chairman said it was imperative that something more should be done towards supporting foreign missions. The grant which for many years had bean given by the English Conference had been withdrawn, so that now the entire burden of support fell on the Colonial Churches. If they wished to maintain their mission agents there would have to be a large increase of income. The Eev. C. H. Standage thought that the circuits in New Zealand were placed at a disadvantage in comparison with theAustralian circuits. There the Churches are visited by the general secretary of missions, and as the result considerable interest in the missions is awakened, and liberal support obtained. Eev. Simmonds was of opinion that it would be a proper step, if it were possible, for the chairman to arrange for holdingthe meetings in each circuit, .and if practicable to personally attend the meetings. Mr Smith believed that it was impracticable to carry out Mr Simmonds’ suggestion. The chairman could not attend to such meetings in coni unction with his other duties. They ought not to neglect having these meetings—they educated the people on the question of missions, and tended to excite greater sympathy with the work. Eev. E. Best would like to see the adoption of the Episcopalian Methodist system, which sets apart a minister specially for the work. He was of opinion much might be done by enlisting the sympathies of the Sunday schools. The Durham street school was undertaking the maintenance of a missionary on the Duke of York Island. The Chairman said that he had been in communication with the Eev. G. Brown, of the Duke of York Island, and he hopecL that arrangements would soon be completed, so that Mr Brown may visit the district in the interests of missions. On the motion of the Eev. C. Standage, seconded by Eev. E. Best, it was resolved —“ That this meeting recommends Conference to arrange with, the Foreign Missionary Committee for a visit of a deputation to New Zealand.” “Mr Dawson, as district secretary of the Church, reported that the present debt on Church property was .£BOBS. The debt had been reduced by £571 during the year. The income of the trusts, £4064. He called attention to the fact that in many churches the regular letting of sittings was not adopted. Three new churches had been erected during the year and one parsons ce. The properties were insured for £25,150. Eesolved meeting he accorded to Mr Dawson for the efficient manner in which he has discharged the work of district secretary of Church property.” The Chairman presented a statement of trust deeds. lu many cases no declaration of trust had been made; it was necessary that this should be attended to. Home Mission Fund —The amount raised for this fund from circuit subscriptions, £650 12s 9d; by interest on loan, £6O; donation by Eev. J. Aldred, £7; being a total of £717 12s 9d. The expenditure during the year in Maori Missions, Home Missions, and English circuits, £390.