Methodist Conference

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1923, Page 4

Methodist Conference

HOME AND FOREIGN' MISSION'S DI'NKDIX. Feb 27. The president reported having i'<‘eeived a cheque for CltlO. to be divided equally between tin* Foreign and 1 lonic mission funds. Resuming flic debate upon Home mission a-diiiinrstration. the Rev. S. I .a wry advocated the amalgamation of the two oflices. but with two secretaries, thus co-ordinating the work. Tin- ex-president, the Rev. I)r l.aws urged the conservation of the spiritual interest of the Home Mission work, and omiendod that its efficiency would best he secured by continuing the oflices as ;iL present, nor would the tinaneinl charges press more heavily than under thu alternative proposed. [le outlined charges that would be advisible In view of the rapid increase in population ol the Dominion, which, m twenty-five years, would be ovei three million people. The work of the Rreshytcrian (.'liurcli was cited as an illustration of what might lie done in llio matter of Church extension. Speaking of tht' Maori side ol their missiouarv activities. Dr Raws stressed the need of separate siipcrvison at least for several vein's to come. It would make our missionary fathers turn in their graves to think that the last European agent was being withdrawn from Maori work m this centenary year. Mr 11 v Field, vice-president of the Conference. contended that. under present conditions, there was considerable over-hipping, the end of which lie wanted to see. This could best Ini secured by the amalgamation of the ollii -cs. In his judgment the work done le. the R"\ A. .1. Stonier brought about a change that was little less than a inir.vic, lie pressed lor the c. ordination of tin- N: ,l: 'c work with t hot "f the Europi an. I'll. Ret F. I*. Riainires stressed tin iinpori a nee ol unity of control. id' ll i ' lll l'l host he secured hv amalgamating the oflicUS. The Rev W A. Sinclair was also in favour of ainalganuiting the oflices. but with two agents, ft would In- iltipnsdbv" for any one minister to organise ami siinervifc tlui Ma :ri work, and also do justice to the Home mission stations and the weaker circuits. Mr D. C. Cameron contended that there wire 100 many departmental lands, and he welcomed the present o;>- ' e nmity of reducing these h.v one. \ lot of the deputation work now being hv the organising .set-rotary could In- done hv i he circuit agencies. Tli" Rnv AV. Crigg also urged the necessity for the union of the two ollii in the inetrests of unity of direction ami control. There had het.u all al inos! umininiou.s demand on tin- part of i the Cliurch for such unity. The Rev C. I!. Jordan argued that \ a solution of the difficulty wa- to lie found in the direction of if. enliak-a- : ti"n i :• t! 11 ■ r than of aiuulgaimi i ion. lie ; chairman of districts could lies I see to detail work and h ave the director frc< for nrpa ii i.sing do I ies. air E. Rosovear drew a! lent ion to; the way in wldcfi the iiiromo had in- I (Itarcd during the past few years. The j Chun h win now spending nvi r four | thoffsaud pounds on Maori work. and. i in vicu "I the.. I Imv i I'iihl not nil.ml i" ! In withdraw ilieir cue F.nrn ■ pea ii agent from this work. The Rev A. ,1. Seamer was appoint-; ed to the ofliei- of general superinteti- | dent of Home missions amidst warm : applause. '■ Mr Seamer was, on the motion ol tin Rev T. G. llrnoke. aceordtd the • cordial thanks of the* Conference for j his services during the war. At the evening scission, the Rev 11. J Reamer .Superintendent of Maori i Missions, presented the report on his 1 i 1 "artiiienl of tin* work. Ibis showed i that very considerable development had taken place, and encouraging pro-j gross was being made. The rapid mere'- , in;; of the native race with the Euro-j pean population treated grave econo- j mic problems for the natives and lor. the mission.. Air Reamer pleaded for j the warm-hearted co-operation ol Eure-j pi an Cliri'tians in the work of helping ; the nativtK. The present methods of j the Church were expensive and unjust i-| lied, and failed to ling up these people J with ih.ir church. The line work ol j deaconess sisters had been out-tand- j iUgly successful. Special, intercession j for the work among the Maoris was to lie included in the observance ol Hon..' Alis-sinn Sunday. The Rev Geo. Rond, treasurer of the Home Mission Fund, reported that the anticipated ddicicncy in the financial provi-ion was to he met by increased assessment- of In per cent, on all the circuits. Report- of Sunday School and Young People,s’ Department was presented by the secretary, the Rev E. P. THamirrv Special reference "'as made to children’s year, and tile well considered programme of a great forward mov, on behalf of the Sunday School and young peoples work and amongst the 7-i.lftß children attending no Sunday «■ nool. A national council of religious education was being foniuid, linking the churches of the Dominion in a world-wide movement. for the Christian training of the . i,g 11;’,.. The statistical returns showed there had been increase <d l->Of) Sunday School scholars, the presenttotal being 30.4011. Increases were reported in the young men’s and young women’s senior and junior Bible classes. All the districts had shared in the in- j crease. The work of the Rev P. R. Paris in connexion with the League ol Young Methodists was referred to with applause. Throe thousand four hundred children were included in this order. Afr Paris was accorded the hearty thanks of the Conference. DUNEDIN. Feb 28. The .Methodist Coiil'erencu carried a resolution urging on its people the | dutv of strengthening public opinion in j support of the League of Nations, and j urging on individual members the duty, of definitely associating themselves tyith - some branch of the League of Nations j I'll ion. , I ft, was agreed that the Hoard of Ex- | amiiicrs should consider the establish- \ un nt of a course of study ol interna- ; tioual problems, and that- the Sunday j before Armistice Day should he obsert-j ed as Peace Sunday. ] SPIRITUAL REVIVAL. i ; A conversation on the work of God | was introduced by Rev Dr Raws. uho. gave an account of his presidential visitation to various parts of tile Do- . minion last year. The young men’s ’ camp at Fppor Mutt had been one of > th,. highest experiences of his spiritual; experience. A similar experience had been his at the young women’s camp at Dunedin last venr. He had discovered that ministers in many circuits were endeavouring to adopt methods likely to main a mark for good on the community ns a whole, though in some places' there were evidences of content with'things as they were. Ho folt that there should Ire a Divine passion for the welfare of the church and its work. A deepening of the inner heart "f the Church which came through fellowship was the tiling most needed. Flic problem of the week-night prayer meeting was before them. This could he redeemed and made a centre ot fellowship in the Cliurch. There was. he felt sure, a larger body than ever of those who were eager to devote themselves to Christian service, yet. more than this even, he believed that they were waiting for the spirit of revival, j

A great burning work of God through-i out the land was being waited for, aj revival of spiritual earnestness, ctuical fervour, and passion for souls. As Ministers we were responsible for power power to shake men to the- very cciitic uf their personalities—the power ol the Holv Ghost. Thu secretary of the conference, the. Rev A. Ashcroft, narrated a personal experience when a large number or | children had taken their stand tori Christ, and of the means taken to link ; thorn with the Cliurch lilc. and j how. starting from this, the whole -uirtual life of his congregation had been revived. The Rev E. Drake, chairman ol the Wellington district, boro striking testimony to the spiritual influences emanating from the young men’s Rihle class camps, and of the enrichment of the Church which had followed. Several othflr spcaiters gave encouraging reports of movements, evidencing the spiritual quickening that was abroad in the land. AUCKLAND DISTRICT. The president reported that the Rev I), Laws, who is about to leave on a visit to England, had, on that account, resigned the chairmanship of the Auckland district. He (the president) had therefore appointed the Rev Percy Knight to he chairman in plaee ot Dr Laws. y UENi; |»EOPI -KK’ liEPA RT-M I'.NT The balance-sheet of the Young People’s Department showed an aeriiniulaud deficit of £2(10. Ihe conleiclice was asked to grant this amount I'rnni the contingent fund, and that tor the future the' necessary income he ,-ai-fd h.v the circuits and Home mis-, sioii stations. ,1 1 1 was decided to make a grant ol j £ |.-,(1 .and to request the defaulting fir- j i nits to make up the amounts allocat-] ed ijo them, and that a levy of sixp. nee per member he made on all the circuits for current expenditure. Ai ih.- conclusion of the afternoon proceedings, the Conference fan welled j ilu- Rev l)r Laws on the eve of his de- l part lire for England. The president ex- J pressed the best wishes of the Cnn-j lon-m-c for a safe ami pleasant voyagei to the Home Land.