METHODIST UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8349, 8 February 1913, Page 8

METHODIST UNION

BEGINNING WORK PROCEEDINGS AT CONFERENCE YESTERDAY. The actual business sessions of the Methodist Conference were begun yes; torday in Wesley Church, Taranaki street. The president, the Rev. S. Lawry, was in the chair. An announcement was made by the president that he had received a letter from the Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly conveying good wishes to the united conference. It was decided to send a fitting reply. Greetings were received from the Foreign Missions Allocation Board of New South tVales and the general secretary of Missions. The Newtown and Thorndon Bowling Clubs invited members of the conference to make use of their greens, and the offers were accepted with thanks. It was resolved that a loyal address be presented to his Excellency the Governor. It was also decided that addresses be sent to the Wesleyan Methodist, Primitive Methodist, and United Methodist conferences of England. The conference by resolution expressed its heartiest thanks to Dr Youngman and Dr Morley for their presence and inspiring addresses. Letters of greeting were ordered to be sent to the aged sup'ernumeraries who wore unable to ho present, to Mr James Taylor, of Tawa Flat, and Mr J. Gordon, of Carterton; also a gram of sympathy to Mr D. Goldie, of Auckland. THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE. In response to a request Mr Alexander, representing the Society of Friends in England, was granted permission to address the conference. He said that ho came as a deputation from the Friends’ Conference held recently in Manchester. In considering the great subject of international peace it was felt that they were not doing enough uo Christianise the policy of the nations, so that the,, ideal of universal peace might be realised. Peace was possible, as they could see in the long peace that aad been maintained between Canada and the United States. They hoped that when the church aroused the conscience jf the people war would bo as extinct is duelling. The president expressed the sympathy ,1 the conference with Mr Alexander’s mission, and said that the subject would be considered in due course. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES SET UP. A number of sessional committees were set up to deal with various questions and report to the conference. VARIOUS MATTERS DEALT WITH. When the report of the joint committee on union was being discussed, it was decided, on the motion of Mr J. A. Flesher, that the Declaration oi Union be placed in the charge of the Custodian of Deeds, and that a suitable portfolio be secured for its preservation. To a committee was referred the question of issuing a souvenir of the union in the form of an illustrated uooklet. Among the recommendations of the joint committee which were adopted was one that the departmental offices of the Methodist Church be continued in the United Church, viz., the offices of connoxional secretary, or organising secretary of home missions, and of prin-. cipal of the Theological Institution. It wtis also agreed that at the ordination service the charge to the newlyirdained ministers bo delivered by the Rev. W. Beady and the address to the ohurch by the Rev. G. Knowles Smith; die order of the service to be arranged >y the two retiring presidents named ind the Bev. S. Lawry. AEBANGEMENTS FOB STATIONING. The stationing committees appointed jy the two former churches were appointed to form the first stationing committee of the united conference. The first reading of stations was do ferred until after the conference had aad an opportunity of discussing a number of questions relative to the reconstitution of stations, etc. It was decided, after some discussion, that for che present conference there bo only two readings of stations, provided that the second reading be not taken until the day following that on which it is presented by the committee. It was agreed that ministers should bo expected to be m their new circuits by the third Sunday in April, and that all circuit and station authorities close their accounts as and for March 31st. On the motion of Mr J. A. Flesher the sjjecial legal committee was authorised to deal with all 'matters that might arise in connection with the consummation of union and which might necessitate further legislative powers being sought. The conference will continue its deliberations this morning at 9.45 o’clock. SUNDAY SCHOOLS’ “BALLY.” A Sunday schools’ “ rally ” was held at the Wesley Church last evening. There was a very large attendance, and during the evening addresses were delivered by the Revs. G. KnowlesSmith, B. Metson, and W. A. Hay. A number of appropriate hymns were sung, and a solo was contributed by Miss Eunice Wyatt.