PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1093, 13 January 1912, Page 3

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Primitive Methodist Annual Conference was opened in Christchurch on Thursday morning. Delegates were present from all parts ox the Dominion. The Rev G. Knowles Smith, of Dunedin, was elected president, Mr W. T. Dill, ot Ashburton, vice-presi-dent, and Rev J. Featherston (Timaru) secretary. The president and vice-president elect were welcomed by the Rev G. H. Mann (retiring president) and Mr G. H. Stiles (retiring vice-presi-dent), who wished them a most prosperous and successful year of office. The statistics given ot the stations were : Ministers 46, increase 2 ; home missionaries 5, decrease 1 ; church members 3362, increase 98 ; local preachers 203. The following were the increases of members from the various districts : Taranaki 15, Wellington 14, Auckland 5, Canterbury 1, Otago and Southland 73. The report of the fire insurance was presented by Mr D. Goldie (Auckland), and showed a profit for the year of 13s 3d. The value of the fund now is ,£2,153 13s yd. The report of the Examining Committee showed that the Revs E. Bandy, J. 3. Suckling, Sharp, Charteris, Hyde, and Harris had passed in their respective years. Messrs S. B. Maiden and J. Cable (Dunedin) were received as ministers on probation. In the aiternoon the retiring president, Rev G. H. Mann, delivered his address. The address dealt with many important matters, including the subject ol Methodist Union, the hope being expressed that this matter would be approached in a prayerful spirit ; the relation of the church to the children and the duty of the parents was pointed out in the matter of the attendance of the children at the services of the church ; the No-License party was congratulated upon the success of the recent poll and the three-fifths majority now required was strongly condemned ; the compulsory clause in the Defence Act was strongly condemned ; the Nelson system lor the introduction ot the Bible in schools was advocated. The address closed with an appeal for more spirituality in the work of the church. Many victories had been won in the past and the future was full of hope. The retiring president was heartily thanked for his address. The report of the New Zealand Superannuated Ministers’ Fund was received, and showed the funds to be in a healthy condition. In the evening the Conference sermon was preached by the Rev J. Southern, there being a large audience present. The subject ol the sermon was “ The Richness ol Christ’s Poverty.”