METHODISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 960, 28 February 1911, Page 4

METHODISM.

At the Methodist Conference now sitting at Christchurch, the late president, in his retiring address, luruished the following details marking the progress of Methodism in New Zealand during the last decade. He said : Since the Conlerence of 1901 we have acquired 163 new freehold sites, being an increase of 20 per cent. ; we have erected 86 new churches, an increase of 30 per cent., and al the same time effected considerable enlargements in 25 others; we have built 45 parsonages, an increase of 48 per cent: and 25 Sunday schools, an increase of 32 per cent. The additional sittings provided by the new churches built are 12,800, an increase of 25 per cent. The original value of the freehold laud held by our church stands at .£73,271, of which ,£20,819 represents land acquired during the past decade. The estimated value of the buildings erected upon this land is an increase of 18,383, or 50 per cent, since the century began. In addition to all this, we have over ,£1,250 invested for the establishment of an orphanage, and ,£2,500 invested for new buildings at Three Kings, all of which has been raised within the time with which lam dealing. Our Church Fire Insurance Fund was established in 1899, and its development falls almost entirely within che last decade. It is an assured success. Ido not think there is any Church Fund in New Zealand that can show such a fine expansion as our Foreign Mission Fund. Fifteen years ago the income from the free-will offerings of the people was ,£609. Ten years ago it had risen to ,£1235. To-day it is ,£2,852. Year alter year the fund has mounted up. We have ,£436 this year above the record of any past year, and there has been an increase of 130 per cent, in the past ten years, A like vigorous development in every branch of the Christian Church would secure the fulfilment of the great ideal — the evangelisation of the world in the present generation. From the Home Mission Fund the income in 1901 was ,£IB7O ; to-day it is ,£4OOO ; and if you take the last five years there has been an increase of 58 per cent. These facts mean vitality in the Church, a spirit of devotion and liberty among the people, the presence of God among us. The ministers and home missionaries employed by our church have increased during the past ten years from 148 to 202 —that is, by 44 per cent., and we are to-day training more students than at any previous time. The membership of the church has grown from 13,000 to 18,500 —that is, by 43 per cent., and it is fourteen years since we reported such a large increase as our figures show this year. The adherents of the Church were estimated at 70,400 ten years ago; to-day they are 81,700, an increase of x 6 per cent. Looking at these facts, I say that I do not know of any period in the history of New Zealand Methodism when our people could more confidently take up the historic words, “The best of all is, God is with us.”