PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1095, 18 January 1912, Page 4

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

(Special Correspondent)

On Saturday morning the debate on Methodist Union took place and was of a very high order. The principal speakers lor Union were: Revs. S. K. Smith (president). E. Drake, J. Cocker and the Hon. C. M. Luke, m.1.c., and against Mr D. Goldie and Rev C. E. Ward. Altogether 22 speeches were given, of which eighteen were for union and four were against. The voting was : 66 in favour of union with the Methodist Church and 16 against. Ihe basis upon which the two churches propose to unite is one of the most democratic and the rights of the laymen are safeguarded. On Sunday the pulpits of all the Primitive Methodist Churches, and of other denominations were occupied by visiting delegates. On Monday morning the conference sessions were resumed, the Rev S. Knowles Smith occupying the chair. The conference sat in committee the greater part of the morning and afternoon to consider the various reports.

THE LIQUOR QUESTION. A deputation from the Canterbury No-License League consisting of Messrs L. M. Isitt M.P.. J. McCombs and H. Cole was introduced to the conference by the Rev S. Henderson.

Mr Isitt delivered a prohibition address and urged further efforts in the battle against the liquor traffic.

Mr McCombs rejoiced at the magnificent vote polled this year for National Prohibition, and at the remarks of the ex-president of the conference on the subject. They were thirty years off the goal if the three-fifths majority continued. Mr Isitt: It will not.

Mr McCombs said that if they wished success they must secure the elimination of the three-fifths majority. Replying on behalf of the conference, Mr C. E- Bellringer said he and his church rejoiced with the deputation on the strong vote for National No-License at the last poll. He thought they were all agreed as to the iniquity of the three-fifths majorit}. As a church the Alliance might rely upon their united support. He welcomed the prospect of union because it helped the prospects of the other reform more than when they were divided.

The Rev J. Dawson said that they looked to Mr Isitt in Parliament to see that the present handicap went. The last poll had given Mr Arthur Myers food tor thought, something for him to digest- The trade had polled all its dead votes, and some of its live ones several times; and yet with all their efforts they could not poll 46 per cent, of the total votes cast. There were 9 electorates at the last poll with majorities against National Prohibition, two in the North Island and seven in the South. The total vote in the nine electorates was 1145. In sixty-seven electorates there was a majority of 54,552 in favour of National Prohibition, and in the whole Dominion the net majority in favour of National Prohibition was 53,457. Twelve electorates actually carried the majority in favour of National Prohibition. They were, however, all the time winning over votes, and the prospects at the next election were excellent. But they must not put in close work lor five weeks before the poll, but for three years before. The Primitive Methodists pledged themselves to assist in “this great fight.” jttETHODIST UNION. A deputation from the Methodist Church of Australasia, consisting of the Revs. C. H. Laws, S. Lawry and A . Peters and Messrs C. E. Salter, J. A. Flesher and J. McCullough, was introduced by the Rev S. Henderson. The Rev C. H. Laws said that they met that morning under perculiarly happy circumstances. Proposals tor the union of the two churches had been going backward and forward and things were now in a very happy condition. He referred to the excellent results of the meeting of the Union Committee. If, as many of them hoped, this union would be consummated, it would be a true union of two vigorous churches, not an absorption. Under the providence of God they could make the united church, it it was to be a strong uplifting force for the benefit of this Dominion. The Rev A. Peters said a stranger attending a Primitive Methodist Church service and then a Methodist Church service would not know which church the

preacher belonged to at first, except perhaps that the preacher at the former might be more eloquent. The difference between the two churches seemed to be that the Primitive Methodist Church sent two laymen to one minister to its conference, whilst the Methodist Church sent only one. Mr J. A. Flesher referred to the lack of church attendance and the lack of the religious instruction that parents should impart to their children. Not more than 20 per cent, of their people attended the two church services on a Sunday, and not more than half the children in it received religious instruction. These, he considered, were two grave evils which in the interest of the Dominion would have to be remedied. The Rev S. Lawry, secretary of the Methodist Conference, said he had often thought that it was not a good thing when two churches, so much alike, should be in conflict, however harmlessly, when they could do so much more for the kingdom of God by uniting their forces. The union would mark a new era.

Replying on behalf on the conference, the Rev J. Guy said, he realised that they could not live on love. They were one great household, and this marriage they had in view was one between very close relations ; he hoped it was not within the forbidden decree. The Primitive Methodist Church had wishes for missions like the Methodists had amongst the Maoris and in the Islands, and they looked forward to assisting in these works when united with the Methodists.