THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 52, 2 March 1871, Page 2

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

_ o The following remarks on the recent Conference held in Tasmania, are copied from the Mercury, January 28, published at Hobarton. Many Conferences have assembled since John and Charles Wesley met two or three clergymen and a few preachers iv 1744, for "conversation upon matters of importance to the Society," More than a century 1 and a quarter have passed siuce that time, and the name of reproach then given to a few obscure college students at Oxford has now become known and honored iv every part of the world; a nag»e' moreover which is gladly borne by- "millions of our enlightened fellow-creatures. The principal object for which John Wesley seceded from the church of his fathers, to which he was, and continued till the close of his long aud eventful life to be, so much attached, has been realised, and that on a scale of magnitude of which he could not have formed the most distant conception. Throughout the length and "breadth of Great Britain the emissaries of this religious denomination are to be found promulgating the truths of religion; and in the "dark places of the earth" its missionaries are engaged in christianising and civilising the cannibal aud the savage. A just conception of the extent of its operations cannot be formed by mere numerical calculation of the number of its churches, or of those who attend its places of worship. The ramifications of tho Methodist system go far deeper aud extend much wider than a statement in figures in these particulars would lead us to suppose. The mission of Methodism, as stated by its gifted and energetic founder, was to attend

to tho spiritual welfare of the middle and lower classes. This it lias effecfually done; and the most numerous part of the attendants at Wesleyuii places nf worship belong to those classes. In lato years however its sphere of operations has not been confined to those sections of the general population, for in many places of Great Britain and elsewhere persons of high rank and eminence are rekoued amongst the members and attendants at places of worship belonging to that part of the Christiau church. In the roll of Methodist ministers, omitting those names which stand out cou- / spicuously iv connection with historic I records of achievements in philosophy, science, and general learning, are men whose names are synonymous with eloquence and Christian philanthropy, and who will long be remembered for the good which thej 7, have accomplished. True it is that "great events from small beginnings rise," and the assemblage of soniuuy representatives of Wesleyan circuits f\om the various Australian colonies in our city at the present time forcibly impresses uswiih Ihe belief that the outcome of the zeal of Wesley and his fellow-workers, which has already assumed such gigantic proportions, may in the fuluro attain n greatness as astLunding to those who witness it, as its prjLeut state would be to its founders were thH' permitted to behold it. / The Wesleyaus in these colonies have accomplished a great amount of good, and the numbers of members and attendants at their places of worship, form no inconsiderable portion of the general population. By the returns furnished at the Conference, it appears that there are 27,750 members of the Wesleyan denomination in the Australian colonies; but these form a small proportion to those who attend the services conducted by ministers. Partly dependent on the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist connection is an extensive and highly successful missionary enterprise in the islands of tho Pacific. In Fiji alone there are reported 22,799 church members, with 5318 on trial; and throughout the whole missionary field in connection with the Society there were 649 churches, 396 other places of worship, 37 missionaries aud assis'aut-missionaries/ 851 catechists, 2390 day-school teachers, 1168 local preachers, 3431 class-leaders, 29,011 member?, 9115 on trial, 4706 catechumens, 1077 Sunday-schools, 57,768 Sunday-school scholars, and 129,765 attendants on public worship. In addition to this there is a special mission to (he Maoris, and also one amsng the Chinese in Victoria. Whether the Wesleyaus remain strong in their own strength, or by amalgamation with the English Church form an unconquerable bulwark against modern scepticism and infidelity now so rife in Europe, we have every hope that they will continue to be what they have been so long, a means for the accomplishment of great good by disseminating religious truths, and the inculcation of all that is pure and noVr..\ calculated to ameliorate and raise/ man in the social and moral scale of ac<^ countable beiugs. y