METHODIST CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1927, Page 3

METHODIST CONFERENCE

[». ■n:i,r.(:iiAPii--i*ER rituss association.] AEGKEAXD. March 8. At the Methodist Conference it tv ! s reported that one. ol the most promising signs in connection with the Church extension was the increasing number of young men who wore beginning to assist in services. Tit snob a country as New Zealand, with its scattered population, it was quite impossible to obtain ministers to fill every pulpit so that encouragement of young pro ichors should he fostered. The financial statement of the Home Mission and Church Extension Department stated that the expenditure had totalled £12.390 and receipts were £11,038, leaving a debit balance of £1357. The estim'ited income for 1027 was £IIXO3. which would leave an estimated deficiency of £IGOO.

Increased activity owing to the .substantial increase in the number of immigrants was reported in a review on immigration work. Methodist immigrants arrived by every l.onQand painstaking effort was made to meet them on arrival. The e nlerenee passed a resolution expressing appreciation ol the services of Rev C. 11. Bridgenian. uho had been connected wit h Home Mission work fur 39 years. Rev. E. T. Olds was iTSippointed for a further term as assistant superintendent of the Home Mission Department. In a brief iaddress to the conference Miss E. Hodder of Palmerston North. Secretary of the Young Women’s Bible Class rition said that 21 camps were to he held throughout the Dominion this year, and it was hoped to enlist the support of many young women who bad hitherto not been reached by the Church. It was hoped to start a special church membership campaign after the camps and she did not see why young people could not lie admitted at a service similar to the Church of England. Confirmation of a grant of £IOO was made to the Y.M.C.A. for its work in military camps on which it has a deficit of £9OO.

The following appointments were made by chaplains in command. Messrs R. W. Buttle, W. S. Stone. I\. Dellow 11. C. Mutton. Major F. C. Soar and Chaplains of the district. A. proposal to hold a national conference on religious education in 1929 was

•approved. A resolution was passed urging the ministers and members of the Metho-

dist Church to do all in their power to secure the passing of tho Religious Exercises in School Bills during the next session of Parliament. Hon L. M. Isitt, M.L.C., (proposer of the Bill) moved the resolution to this of feet. He said that the Christian de nominations in New Zealand, with the exception of the Roman Qitholic Church, wore behind his movement and that a majority in the House of Representatives favoured his measure, but he said that the majority in the Legislative Council Was uncertain. Mr Isitt deplored the Ckt that there were thousands of children living in homes where the name of Jesus was never heard.

He said it was impossible for the ministers to reach all the young people of the Dominion. He declared that unless Parliament realised that the secular education is a menace, the outlook for the religious progress of this country was not bright.