RESOLUTIONS OF UNION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 3

RESOLUTIONS OF UNION.

METHODIST CONFERENCE

The union of the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Primitive Methodist Connexion will be completed this evening at a public meeting to be held in the Town Hall, his Excellency the Governor presiding (says Thursday's Wellington Post.)

At the Methodist Conference in Taranaki Street Church this morning, under the presidency of the Rev. S. La wry, formal resolutions approving the union were agreed to. The following is the text of the formal resolution of approval moved by Mr J. A. Flesher:—

"A basis having been prepared for the Union of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, formerly designated the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand, with the Primitive Methodist Connexion, commonly known as the Primitive Methodist Church in New Zealand, by a joint committee representing such churches, and approved by the annual conferences and circuit quai'terly meetings thereof,- and by the members of the Primitive Methodist Cc^exion in , New Zealand, and the British Conference of the Primitive Methodist Connexion having given its consent to such union it is resolved that the Methodist Church of New Zealand unite with the Primitive MethodistConnexion in New Zealand upon the terms and conditions set forth and embodied in and incorporated with the basis of union appearing in the printed report of such committee, and. published in the printed minutes of the annual conference of the Metho- | dist Church of Australasia in New i Zealand held at Auckland in February and March, 1912, and. that such ! union shall take effect oil and from j the sixth day of February, 1913." DECLARATION OF UNION. The following is the text of the Declaration of Union between the Methodist Church of New Zealand and the Primitive Methodist Connexion in New Zealandi: Whereas,' at the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, y held in the City of Wellington, in the Dominion of New Zealand, this 6th day of February, 1913, it was resolved and agreed that the Methodist Church of New Zealand unite with the Primitive Connexion, commonly known as Primitive Methodist Church, in New Zealand, upon the te-rms and conditions set forth and embodied in and incorporated with the basis of union, prepared by a joint committee representing the said Churches and approved by the annual conferences and circuit quarterly meetings thereof.,, -and, by the members of the said Primitive Methodist' Connexion in New Zealand, and duly consented to by the British Conference of the Primitive Methodist Connexion, a printed copy whereof is attached hereto and also published in the printed minutes of the annual conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand, held in the City of Auckland, in the said Dominion, in the months of February and March, 1912 ; And whereas, at the annual conference of the Primitive Methodist Connexion in. New Zealand, also held in the City of Wellington aforesaid; this 6th day of February, 1013, it having also been resolved and agreed that the Primitive Methodist Connexion, in New Zealand unite with the Methodist Church of New Zealand, upon 'the terms and conditions set forth and embodied in and incorporated with the said basis of union; And whereas, it has been agreed by and between the said Churches that such union as aforesaid shall ■ take effect in and from the said 6th day of February, 1913: And whereas it is advisable that these presents should be executed for the purpose- of evidencing the fact of such union as aforesaid ; Now, therefore, it is hereby agreed and declared that the Metho- j dist Church of New Zealand and the j Primitive Methodist Connexion in > New ; Zealand shall enter into an I organic union as one Church, with j a common name, common laws, com- j mon. funds, and equal rights,'upon j the terms and conditions set forth I and embodied in and incorporated with the basis of union aforesaid; And, further, that the said union shall take effect on and from the 6th day of February, 1913. Signed for and on behalf of the said Churches this 6th day of February, 1913. OFFICERS TO SIGN.

The declaration was approved, and the following were empowered io sign and execute the same this evening on behalf of the conferencec—The president (Rev. S. La wry), secretary (Rev. C. H. Laws), ex-president (Rev. "W". R-eady), Rev. W. dittos (representing the Maori race), and Mr J. A. Flesher. The deed will be witnessed by his Excellency,"Dr Youngman, and Dr Morley. The Methodist Conference further Vested in the United Conference the powers it had hitherto exercised itself. The making of alterations and amendments to the laws to bring them into agreement with tie Bans of Union was also authorised. VOTES OF THANKS. Votes of thanks were accorded the members of the legal committee, with special mention of Mr J. A. Flesher, the ex-president and ex-secretary, the Australasian Conference for sending delegates. Dr Youngman and Dr Morley for their addresses last night. PRIMITIVE METHODISTS. Similar formal resolutions were adopted by the Primitive Methodist Conference in Webb Street. The Hon. C. M. Luke (president), Rev. C. E. Ward (vice-president), Rev. G. Knowles Smith (ex-president), and Mr C. E. Bellinger (secretary of the Union Committee) were appointed to sign the declaration this evening. The Revs. John Dumbell, Peter Wright Jones, and Mr H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch) were nominated as witnesses to the deed. OTHER BUSINESS. Other business done had mainly to do with the preliminaries to the United Conference. Mr A. J. Luke was appointed honorary connexional solicitor. It was recommended that the new Methodist paper should be called the New Zealand Methodist.