UNITED CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8348, 7 February 1913, Page 2

UNITED CONFERENCE

ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. On the proposition of the Her. S. Lawry, seconded by the Hon. G. M. Luke (the respective presidents of the sectional conferences), the Rev. Hr. Younginan, president of the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia, was elected to open the united conference. WORK YET TO BE DONE. In addressing the delegates, Hr. Youngman said that the general conference which lie represented would regard it as more even than a compliment bestowed upon it that he had been asked to preside upon so momentous an occasion. He personally would all his life esteem it as a very high distinction. He would to Cod that this was indeed the completion of Methodist Union in Australasia, but unfortunately it was not. They would all hail with joy the coming of the day when once again there would bo a united Methodist Church in the Commonwealth, and then Methodist union under the Southern Cross would indeed be complete. (Hear, hear.) The bringing about of union had been a great work, but some of them might find that the greatest work was yet to come. It was one thing to advocate union and quite another to make it a success. This, was what had to be done in New Zealand. Whitovcr had been the trial or difficulty in the way of union,

lie tow believed that it was- a thing done. (Hear, hoar.) They would need a great deal of tact, patience, and wisdom, for many difficulties not lying on the surface Mould have to be surmounted. If the union had not been brought about M’ith a desire to extend the Kingdom of God it would prove to have boon in vain, but n the extension of the Kingdom Mere its aim it M'ould prove to be quite safe. Xhcio would bo need for self-effacement, devotion, and hard work. He could assure the conference that the Methodists in Australia recognised that there Mas that day taking place in connection with the Methodist Church an event of which thev Mould earnestly pray that it M-ouid' bo the beginning of an era of very true, very uidespread, very permanent revival and success, (Hear, hear). THE COPING STONE. Dr Morley, the other rexiresentative of the Australasian General Conference, spoke of the evils and bitterness which had accompanied disunion, and said that ho Mas indeed glad to eeo union actually brought about in New Zealand. He recalled the old simple times, and wished that they could return. There Mas need for more simplicity mnv. There had been a number of transfers of ministers from the smaller section of the church to the other, and it said a good deal for both sides that there had been no tterness in any case, fie noted M-itb satisfaction that there had been a great advance made in Ncm- Zealand in organisation, until the coping stone M as put upon it by the present union. The ministers in Australia had watchad the movement closely and not ono .t them regretted that union had taken place. He ventured to predict that in a feu- years’ time the brethren here would hardly know that they had ever belonged to one section or the other, nd that they would all he thankful hat they belonged to the Methodist Church. (Hear, hear.) Though there M-as a severance legally between Australia and Ncm- Zjsaland, ihe hoped that there Mould still bo union in spirit. Occasional changes of ministers between Australia and New Zealand would he exceedingly beneficial on both sides. Ho M-as convinced that the great work of Methodism lay in the cities, and that the day of big circuits was past. FIRST OFFICERS CHOSEN. The officers M-ere chosen by ballot. The Rev. S. ha wry was elected president by an overwhelming majority, rc ceiving 218 of tho 226 votes cast. he Hon. 0. M. Luka, was elected vice-pre Bident by' unanimous vote, and tho Rev. C. H. Laws was elected secretary practically unanimously. Dr Youngmau inducted tho newly elected officers. To the president ho handed, as his insignia of office, the tM'o “president’s Bibles” which had previously been used in the old conferences. ! The Rev. S. Lawry said that he accepted the vote of tho conference as an expression of their confidence in him and tho position to which he had been elevated as tho highest honour of his life. He did not think that the union could be anything other than an unqualified success, though there certainly remained a great deal of M-ork to be done. Though for many years the two branches of the church had been moving within tho same outer limits, they had Only just really begun to mingle. They must not bo surprised if the mingling M-ere not immediately, complete, but ho trusted that soon it M-ould bo so fully accomplished that they would never ask from M-hich source any came. Ho thanked the conference dr the confidence reposed in him, and assured them that he would to tho best of his ability discharge the duties devolving upon him. The Hon. C. M. Luko acknowledged the high honour done to him. It was his belief that the union would make for the good of humanity and the extension of the Kingdom. , I The Rev. C. H. Laws also briefly returned thanks for his election. After transacting formal • business the conference adjourned until this morning. TEA MEETING. Before the large gathering in the evening there was a public tea at the Town Hall. The attendance was a record for Wellington, and the tables had to be re-set to accommodate all who participated. The tables themselves, twenty-six in number, Mere prettilydecorated with flowers and greenery for tho occasion, and the function vai highly successful.'