WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5257, 29 January 1878, Page 2

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(Morning Session, January 28.) The President took the chair at 9.30. Prayer was offered by the Rev. W. Lee. On the motion of the Rev. R. Bavin, seconded by the Rev. W. Morley, it was resolved that the following ministers form the Board of Examiners for 1878 :—Probationers’ papers—The Revs, the President, A. R, I itchett, J. A. Taylor, and Simmonds. Candidates’ papers—The Revs. R. Bavin and H. Bull. Students’ Papers—The Revs. A Reid and J. W. Williams. The Rev. J. A. Taylor, secretary to the Board. The following are the Home Mission agents of the Conference ;—AucklandDistrict—John S. Hudson, Thomas J. Jaggar, James Redfern, John Osborne, and W. Stevenson. Taranaki and Wanganui District—Leonard S. Isitt. Otago District—Henry Flamauk, J. D. Leece, Joseph Gray, and J. Vanes. On the motion of (he Rev. W. Morley it was resolved, —That in view of the number of places now left without ministerial supply the President be requested to write to the Presidents of the Victorian and New South Wales Conferences with a view of securing the'services of two probationers from those colonies ; aud to the Rev. James Buffer, pressing the immediate sending out of two other yomm-raini.-ters from England; and that if such ministers be obtained they be appointed as follows, viz,, Motueka, Grey town, Waikato, and Milton. On the motion of the Rev. W. Morley, seconded by the Rev. J. A. Taylor, the following resolution was passed :—That it be an instruction to the Taranaki and Wahe-anui District Meeting that the annual and financial district meetings be held in New Plymouth once in three years. The Rev. H. Bull brought up the obituary notice of the late Mr. Purchon, which was adopted and ordered to be inserted in the printed minutes of Conference. W. Gray, a candidate for the ministry from Otago, was examined in theological doctrine by the President. The results of his literary examination papers were read by the Rev. R. Bavin, and on the motion of the Rev. A. R. Eitcheti the Conference agreed to receive Mr. Gray as a probationer for the ministry, the usual guarantees being given. The above concluded for the present the business of the Ministerial Conference. The United Conference then resumed at 11.30. On the motion of the Rev. W. Moelet, seconded by the Rev. W. Kirk, the cordial thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev. Thos. Buddie, Messrs. Price and Turner, treasurers of the Church Extension Association Fund, for their services during the past year. The thanks of the Ceuference were accorded to the committee of the Church Extension Association for the past year, and the following appointed members of the committee of management for 1878: —The ministers of the Auckland and Manukau circuits, with Messrs. Edson, R. Hobbs, Prime, C. J. Stone, W. Griffiths, J. L. Wilson, E. Allan, T. Buddie, W. Thorne, J. Gittos, J. Wiseman, T. McMasters, and J. Byeroft. On the motion of the Rev. T. Bubble, seconded by Mr. Harris, —The following laymen were appointed co-treasurers with the chairmen of districts for the Home Mission Fund: Auckland, W. L. Prime; Taranaki and Wanganui, J. Hurley ; Wellington, T. Ralph; Nelson, J. H. Cock; Canterbury, O. W. Turner; Otago, D. Borrows. The Rev. T. Buddie and Mr. Price, general treasurers. The Rev. T. Bdddle brought up the report of the Foreign Mission Fund, which was adopted. Income for the year, £l6B 6s. 6d. On the motion of the Rev. H. Bun, seconded by the Rev. Mr. Morley, the following resolution was adopted ;—The Conference having learned that in some circuits the collection of the connections! funds is not made till the end of the financial year, directs the attention of superintendents of circuits to the rule which requires one of the connections! collections to be made in each .quarter of the year, also that the amounts of the said collections be paid quarterly to the superintendent ministers of circuits. Resolved, on the motion of the Rev. R. Bavin, seconded by the Rev. W. Morley, that the liability of the Manawatu Circuit re the removal expenses of the Rev. J. T. Shaw should only be such as may be incurred in the journey from Wellington to Sandon. The report of the connectional book depot was read by the Rev. W. Morley, and the balance-sheet presented aud passed. The financial condition of the concern was shown to be in a healthy and progressive state. The thanks of the Conference were accorded to the committee for its past services, and the reappointment made. The report as read was adopted. The Secretary presented the report of the Weto Zealand Wesleyan, which, with the annual balance-sheet, was read and adopted. The Wesleyan was shown to be self-supporting. The circulation had steadily increased, and had how attained to a monthly issue of 1200 copies. On the motion of the Rev. A. R. Fitchett the following resolution was unanimously agreed to:—That the thanks of the Conference are due, and are hereby presented to the Rev. W. Morley for his valuable services as editor during the past year, and that he be reappointed to the office of editor for the ensuing year. Mr. Morley, in responding to the motion, paid a tribute to the literary merits of the late Rev. J. W. AVallis, from whom he had received subst intial aid in the editorial work. The afternoon session was commenced at 2.30, the Conference being led in prayer by Messrs. Hurley and Dawson. The Rev. T. Bubble, principal, presented the report of the Three Kings Collegiate Institution, and the Rev. W. Morley the financial statement. Both were considered satisfactory aud adopted. On the motion of the Rev. W. Morley, seconded by the Rev. A. Reid, the cordial thanks of the Conference were presented to the Rev. T. Buddie, who was reappointed Principal for the ensuing year. On the motion of Mr. W. Harris it was resolved to grant to each theological student an annual gratuity of £l2. Resolved, —That the thanks of the Conference be presented to the Executive Committee of the Three King’s Institution for its services during the past year, and that the following be the committee for the ensuing year :—The ministers of the Auckland and Manukau Circuits, with Messrs. Edsou, Hobbs, Prime, T. Buddie, B. Allen, Thorne, Gittos, Wiseman, J. Bycroft, jun., Griffiths, and T. MoMaster. On the motion of the Rev. T. Buddlb the Rev. W. Kirk was appointed Chairman of the Executive Committee. It was agreed that permission he given to the Principal to make application to have the college affiliated to the New Zealand University. On the motion of the Rev. T. Buddle, seconded by the Rev. H. Bull, the thanks of the Conference were presented to Dr. Kidd, the classical and mathematical tutor, for his efficient services during the past year. Tile Rev. R, Bavin moved tthat the Revs.

the President and AY Morley, with Messrs. Harris and Smith, be a committee to prepare a form of schedule of Church property.—The motion was seconded by Mr. Dawson, and carried. Mr. .Tot in Manchester presented a report embodying valuable information 1 with regard to a proposal for the formation of a connectional fire insurance society. It was agreed (II that a board of directors be now appointed to take the necessary steps for the formation of such a society, the guarantee fund to be not less than £3OOO ; (2' that the following be the provisional board of directors : —The President and Secretary of the Conference, with Messrs. Manchester, Gould, Turner, Smith, Ballantyne. Blackwell, Jack-on, and Captain AVood ; (3) that the thanks of the Conference be given to Mr. Manchester for his arduous and important services in collecting information. The Conference next proceeded to elect the representatives to the Triennial General Conference, which sits in Sydney in May next The number elected is in proportion to the number of ministers in the colony. The New Zealand Conference sends eight ministers and eight laymen. A ballot was taken, resulting as follows 'The Be vs. the President and the Secretary, ex-officio, with Revs. Fitchett, Buddie, Bavin, Reid, Richardson, and Kirk. The following were elected lay representatives: Messrs, Borrows, C. AV. Turner, T. Bsddle, J. Manchester, Jackson, Hobbs, Harris, and Moxham. CONFERENCE OP 1879The Rev. Thomas Boodle moved that the next annual Conference be held in Auckland. The Rev. A. R. Fitchett moved, as an amendment, that it be held in Dnnedin. A vote was taken—l 7 voting for the motion, and 16 for the amendment. The original motion was then put and carried, Thursday, January 16 being fixed for the opening session. The evening session commenced at 7 o’clock, Mr. Gittos leading in prayer. In the event of any of the ministerial representatives already elected being unable to proceed to the General Conference, it was agreed to fill up such possible vacancies from those who have polled the next highest votes to the ministers elected. On the motion of the Rev. AV. Morley, the Conference recommended to the General Conference so to alter the present law as to allow any minister in full connection to become eligible for the offices of President and Secretary. The Rev. A. R. Fitohett’s resolution, as published yesterday, re-constituting the AVesleyan Church in New Zealand independent of the Australian Church, was. fully discussed, and by permission of the Conference withdrawn. The Conference agreed to recommend,to the General Conference to make such legislative alteration in the present constitution as will enable laymen to take a,fuller, share in the business of the Conference than’at present. The Rev. AV. Morley moved that it be a recommendation to .the General Conference that persons admitted to the Lord’s table shall be those who have been approved by the leaders’ meetings... Also, as to,the status of communicants, that communicants be declared. Church members, and be subject to the discipline of the leader s meetings. This subject evoked a very full discussion, in which several members of the Conference took part, the above resolution being carried by a large majority. Resolved,—That the General Conference be recommended to alter the time for circuits to invite ministers from the December to the September quarterly meetings. On the motion of the Rev, J. B. RichardBON it was agreed to recommend the General Conference so 'to alter the law of the itinerancy that a minister may remain five years instead of three in a circuit. Also, that the law which prohibits a minister’s return to a circuit until the lapse of six years absence from it be abolished. A temperance memorial, signed by AV. Fox, Esq., M.H.R., and other prominent leaders of the temperance movement, was read by the Secretary and received ; also one from the Waimate quarterly meeting. It was resolved that the regulations adopted by the British Conference for the promotion of temperance be adopted, and that the letter writer communicate with the memorialists, informing them of the above resolution, and assuring them of its hearty svmpathy with them in the work of temperance. The Conference adjourned at 11 o’clock.