ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING WESLEYAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5196, 16 November 1877, Page 4

ANNUAL DISTRICT MEETING WESLEYAN CHURCH.

FINANCIAL COURT.

There were present in addition to the ministers attending the District Meeting, the following lay representatives : —Messrs. D. Lewis, W. Moxham, W. Clark (Wellington), and James Knight (Hutt). The Secretary read a portion of Scripture, and Mr, Delloe led in prayer. In reply to a question relating to Church properties acquired during the year, it was reported—(l.) That a new parsonage had been purchased in George-street, Thorndon, costing £650. (2.) That one acre of land in the township of Gladstone, Wairarapa, had been presented to the Conference by Hugh McMaster, Esq. The meeting regretted to learn that the trustees of Church property at Masterton are compelled to part with more land for purposes of street widening, and directed that any moneys received; in compensation shall be employed in acquiring other land in the immediate neighborhood. The Chairman read correspondence from the Napier trustees, renewing their request for power to sell building sites 200, 230, and 238 in Olive-square, and after an animated debate, the following resolution was passed,—That the meeting, having heard the memorial of the Napier trustees re land leases in Olive-square, fully realises that the trustees were in error in promising to sell the land in question ; but having done so, considers them clearly bound in honor to complete the sale, and would strongly urge the Conference to grant the prayer of the trustees. Letters were also read from the Gisborne Circuit, and it was resolved that the meeting having heard correspondence concerning Gisborne property, commends it to the attention of Conference, and endorses the request of the ministers that the chairman shall visit that district prior to next Conference. The amount received for the Home Mission Fund during the year from the different circuits throughout the district. Mr. Richardson applied on behalf of the Wairarapa Circuit for a grant in aid from the Home Mission Fund for £75, to assist in the support of a minister to be stationed at Masterton. The application was recommended to the favorable consideration of Conference, A recommendation was also forwarded to Conference to grant £SO to the Scandinavian Mission toward the erection of a parsonage at Norsewood. The district contributions to the Foreign Mission Fund for the year are £3O 15s. Id. The amount at which the district was assessed by the general treasurers of the Children’s Fund is £7O. The claims which the district makes upon the fund for this year are £136 6s. The contributions for educational purposes realise £25 4s. lOd. The moneys in connection with the Aged Ministers’ Fund were accounted for according to the usual allocation. The receipts of the Contingent Fund are £44 6a. 5d.; expenditure— travelling to district meetin"’ &c., £l2 145,; balance to treasurers, £3l X2s. 5d.; total, £44 6s. sd. The moneys aocruing from the Wellington Educational Reserve were reported as £223 3s. 6d. Of this there has been expended in support of the Dixon-street school. £ll3 11s. 3d.; and it was resolved to expend the balance (£lO6 12s. 3d.) in the education of the Maoris. The meeting balloted for the representative to the ensuing Conference, and the Rev. J. B. Richardson was elected unanimously. The following are the general returns of the district for the year ;—Churches, 15 ; other preaching places, 36 ; ministers and probationers, 7 ; Sabbath-schoolteachers, 170; local preachers, 29 ; members, 377 ; on trial, 20 ; communicants, 80 ; Sabbath scholars, 1408 ; attendants on public worship, 4309. _ A conversation took place on the foregoing statistics. It was felt by all present that the increase was not so great as it ought to be, considering the vast amount of labor that is being expended. The meeting deplored the coldness of the Church, and expressed the conviction that fresh consecration to God was necessary, in order that the divinely appointed agents may be rendered efficient. It was hinted by some present that the lack of power in the Church was largely referable to the inordinate craving for pleasure and amusement which was a leading characteristic of the age. The Chairman threw out some valuable hints on the wisdom of making the public services and prayer meetings more interesting, and better adapted to the pure and healthful craving for interest which is felt by many of our young people. It was resolved to ask Conference to alter the time for inviting preachers from the December to the September quarterly meetiog. On the motion of the Rev. J. B. Richardson, it was resolved that the Conference be asked to extend the term of ministerial residence in a circuit from three to five years. This change not to interfere with the customary annual appointment of ministers. It was also resolved to recommend that the basis of assessment now employed with reference to the Contingent Fund, be extended to the Children’s Fund. The suggestion was made that, with the view of bringing the Sunday-school into a more intimate relation to the Church, the Conference be requested to appoint superintendents of each school members of the quarterly meeting. The Chairman then pronounced the benediction.