THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5372, 15 June 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

(From the Sydney Echo.) The second General Conference of the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church, which has just concluded its sessions in Sydney, is an event of more than merely denominational interest. The growth of this Church since its establishment in these lands is sufficient proof that it possesses some vigorous elements. It was in March, 1814, that the Wesleyan authorities iu London received a letter from Messrs. Thomas, Bowden and John Hoaking, asking for the appointment of a Methodist minister to Sydney. In urging their plea these gentlemen described the moral character of the infant community in words which are more than a little suggestive of rhetorical exaggeration. In general terms the lower orders were declared to be “the filth and offacouring of the earth in point of wickedness 1" In particular terms it was asserted that “ drunkenness, adultery. Sabbathbreaking, and blasphemy are no longer considered even as indecencies!” Wealth only afforded means for greater indulgence in vice ! Nevertheless, the policy of the Government was said to he “ just, mild, humane, and encouraging.” If society was in such a dreadful condition in 1814 we may be thankful that we are breathing in 1878 ; for certainly a wonderful moral transition has been accomplished. In response to the above-mentioned application, the Rev. S. Leigh was sent to Sydney. The colony then was estimated to contain about 20,000 people, half of whom resided in this city. At that time there were only four Protestant clergymen in New South Wales, all of whom belonged to the Church of England. Immediately after his arrival In this city, Mr. Leigh waited on the Governor, who tried to damp his ardor as a missionary, but kindly added, “If you will take office under Government, I will find yon a situation in which you may become rich, and one in which you will be much more comfortable than in going about preaching in such a colony as this.” The generous offer was declined, and the Wesleyan Methodist Church was estabblished in Australia, Mr. Leigh being also the pioneer of his denomination in New Zealand. From the beginning made in this city sixtyfour years ago, the Wesleyan Church has spread its operations over New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. To a much larger extent than any other single Church, it has endeavored to Christianize and civilize the native races in the southern world. In this direction its most remarkable achievement is the compact little kingdom of Tonga, where idolatry is as unknown, and society as pure, as in Australia. Next to that comes the work accomplished in Fiji, which may be said to have added another colony to the British Empire. Much less successful have been the miaioris among the Maoris and the Samoans. The last extension of this branch of Wesleyan labor is the planting of Christianity in the group of islands, of wliioh the best known are New Britain, New Ireland, and tbe Duke of York Island—a fcrusade against paganism which is specially associated with the name of the Rev. George Brown, F.G.S. The Wesleyan Church has also a mission among the Chinese in Victoria ; and one of the acts of the recent Conference was to sanction the se n cling of a young minister, a native of this colony, to Canton, that he may learn the language, and fit himself to take the oversight of this mission. It is a somewhat curious fact that Methodism has thriven in Victoria, South Australia, and New Zealand more than in the colony in which it was originally established. Without making any unnecessary or invidious comparisons with other Churches, it may be simply stated that the denomination in question . occupies one of the foremost places among the Protestant communions in Australasia.

Methodism prides itself on its unity—a unity of polity and administration as well as of i doctrine ; and in altering its . methods of goyernmentto suit its rapid expansion in the colonies, its first great object has been to conserve this principle. At first the Church here was one of tbe missions of the parent British Conference, and was generously subsidised with both men and money. In the year 1855, an Australasian Conference, holding its : annual sessions successively in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Hobarton, was established, this Intercolonial Conference being affiliated to the British Conference. Before twenty years had passed this plan was becoming cumbrous and unworkable, and in 1873 became obsolete. At the; Church is divided into four annual conferences : New South Wales, Victoria,; South Australia, and New Zealand. Additional Conferences can be created as required ; but meanwhile Queensland and the South Sea missions are attached to New South Wales; Tasmania to Victoria ; and Western Australia to South Australia. These conferences are i endowed only with administrative functions, and with the right of discussing desirable legislation. The General Conference is endowed with legislative powers, though it is not absolutely independent of the parent English Complete separation, however, is sure to come about at some date in tbe future. This legislative conference aits triennially. The first sitting was held in 1875, at Melbourne ; the second has just been held in Sydney ; the third will be held in 1881, at Adelaide. A few of its members attend ex officio, but the great majority are elected, and it is composed equally of ministers and laymen. Representing the Church throughout the colonies, it counteracts the tendency to isolation. Tho federal unity which Australian politicians sigh after is, as a matter of fact, realised by this denomination. There are local differences of a non-essential kind ; but in all important matters absolute unity is attained.