METHODIST CHURCH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8353, 13 February 1913, Page 10

METHODIST CHURCH

ITS MISSION POLICY SUGGESTIONS TO TAKE A SEPARATE FIELD. When tho Alethodist Conference resumed its deliberations yesterday morning, the Rev. S. Lawry presiding, attention was directed to the report upon foreign mission work. The report was presented by the Rev. J. N. Buttle. It was reported that the year s work gave further evidence of the growth of the missionary spirit in th© Alethodist Churches of the Dominion. The financial returns were again of a satisfactory. character in so far as they showed an advance on the returns of the previous year. For the tenth year in succession they made another record. It was, however, matter for consideration whether the amount raised corresponded with tho ability of tho people to help this great work. Methodists were sharing in the general prosperity at present pervading the Dominion, but -the income of the fund was for the most part contributed in small sums. The laymen’s missionary movement was still without active organisation. The material for developing a powerful auxiliary to aid foreign mission work was lying dormant in the churches. There had been repeated “calls” for labourers on the field. The ladies’ auxiliaries had continued their good work in supporting several missionary sisters. The work in the several groups had been greatly. hindered through the absence of means of more rapid communication. Every mission station should be supplied with a suitable motor launch. Several had already been provided, but more were urgently needed. Xne matter ot the future missionary policy of the church was remitted by the last conference to the consideration of the executive committee, with a view to secure the allotment to New Zealand of a portion of the present field now controlled by the Australasian Alissionary Society. The committee gave careful and earnest attention to the whole question, and on its behalf the Rev. Air Buddie submitted the followrecommendation: That this conference deems that the time has not yet arrived when our church in the Dominion should assume tho responsibility and management of a separate foreign mission field; it undertakes, however, to maintain such a number ot missionaries (or other agents) as may be agreed upon between the Australasian Mission Board and the conference; providing, nevertheless, that while under the jurisdiction of the Mission Board and of the several synods concerned, such missionaries shall remain attached to the New Zealand Conference, shall be available . for deputation work in the Dominion, and on their retirement from the field shall return to this conference. THE COST TOO GREAT. At the invitation of the president. Dr Alorley discussed the suggestion that New Zealand should confine its foreign mission work to ascertain area which it should wholly take over. This, he said, appeared to him to be altogether impracticable. The Fijian mission was now practically self-support-ing. The cost of the Indian work, about £SOOO, was in excess of New Zealand’s contribution. In two or three years the number of their agents to the Indiaps would have to be trebled, and tho expenditure would have to be at least double within that time. They were faced with the position that if they did not Christianise th© Indians the Indians would paganise the Fijians. The number of Indians in Fiji was now very large, and was increasing every year. Indians earned 9d and Is a day in Fiji, against 3d to 4d in their own country, so that they were not likely to leave the islands. Soon the number of Indians would exceed the Fijian population. Speaking of other missions, Dr Alorley said that Samoa was selfsupporting, but Papua was not being dealt with as it should be. The opening of the Panama Canal was going to make a very great difference to the islands, and especially to Fiji. If he were not mistaken, Americans would exploit Fiji as Australians had not done. Dr Yohngman said that what was now needed, even more than money, was the service of men and women who would give themselves wholly to mission work. He agreed with Dr Alorley that ministers devoted to mission work should be placed under the charge of the New South Wales Conference. A WRONG STEP. The Rev. C. H. Laws declared his opposition to any resolution which would indefinitely postpone New Zealand’s taking upon itself a definite field for mission work. If such a resolution were carried it would mean that New Zealand would have great difficulty in taking independent action at any time. He wished as soon as possible to see New Zealand undertake mission work in a field of its own. * A 3 an amendment he moved; That the present arrangements, whereby the New Zealand contributions are paid over to ‘the Alission Board in Sydney, be continued for a period of at least three years, during which time representatives of the New Zealand Conference, appointed according to the provisions of the working scheme of separation from Australia, shall attend such meetings of the Alission Board as the conference may direct, take part ' in tho preparation of the estimates of mission income and expenditure, and that after consultation with tho Alission Board advise the conference as to the future policy of our church in missionary matters. The Rev. W. Slade urged that New Zealand should work independently in mission work. It was urged by the Rev. J. W. Burton, sometime of the Indian mission in Fiji, that a wider idea of missions ought to bo encouraged. The president, the Rev. S. Lawry, said that he did not see that the missionary interest would be awakened if they scattered their representatives. Neither did he think it was necessary that they should have expensive management because they undertook work on their own account. A smaller church than their own in New Zealand did far more mission work. They sent out the missionaries and attended themselves to the supply of funds, ’lho missionaries were left to carry on the' work unfettered by an expensive mission board. In the Alethodist Church they interfered too much with their missionaries. The amendment was carried by an overwhelming majority. INCOAIE FOR MISSIONS. It was recorded that the income for the year had totalled £3625 8s Sd, which included the following district contributions; Auckland, £BO9 6s lid ;

Wanganui, £4OO 13s 3d; Wellington, £SOO 12s sd; Nelson, £lB5 Is lOd; Canterbury, £9ol 19s lOd; Otago, £4ol 19s. The conference placed on record its appreciation joi the devotion of Methodist church people to the foreign mission cause. It was decided that until the future foreign mission policy of the church was settled, no action .be taken with regard to the proposal that the Maori mission should be worked as part of the foreign missionary enterprise. Votes of thanks were passed to the Rev. J. N. Buttle (secretary) and All Sherris (treasurer) for their work. It was also decided that tho Rev. All Buttle, on his retirement from the active work at next conference, be reappointed general treasurer, and that in view of his services to the fund, and his expressed desire to undertake some organising work, he be paid tho sum of £SO per annum during his continuance in the office. The president (the Rev. S. Lawry), vice-president (the Hon. C. M. Luke), and the Rev. J. W. Burton were elected delegates from the conference to the Foreign Mission Board. WORK IN PAPUA. An address upon the mission work in Papua was given by the Rev. Al. K. Oilmour, a missionary from the station. He said that they were greatly hampered by their inability to get the requisite assistance from the South Sea Islands. They were also hindered by the commercial expansion of the country. What they now specially required was efficiency, the result of a spe eial training. It was essential that missionaries should only take up the work for long terms, for life if possible. Alen could hardly make a proper start on the work in, say, three or four years. LIABILITIES FOR NEXT YEAR. It was agreed that the following circuits should be called upon to provide for married ministers next year in the order stated; Feilding, Timaru, Paeroa, Alanaia, Invercargill (Leet street), Taihape, Dunedin (Dundas street), also Wellington South, New’ Plymouth, and Rotorua. WELLINGTON EDUCATIONAL TRUST. On the recommendation of the Wellington Alethodist Educational Trust Board, Air J. Kellow was appointed as a trustee in succession to Mr J. Reid, who resigned. The revenue account of the trust showed that tho balance to credit had risen from £11,616 5s 6d to £11,682 16s 4d during the year. There was considerable discussion in committee in respect to the administration of the trust and the relations of tho trust board with the conference. The committee set up last year to go into the matter with the trust board was reappointed and authorised to make further investigations. On tho motion of the Rev. T. Hammond, seconded by Air Bassett, a special committee was set, up to inquire into the advisability of seeking legal authority to use the fund for the establishment of an institution where descendants of the native race could be given industrial training, either in connection with the Three Kings College or elsewhere. The conference will continue its deliberations this morning. AiSOCIAL GATHERING. I FUNCTION IN TOWN HALL. In the evening a conversazione was held in connection with the conference" at the Town Hall. There was an exceedingly large attendance, th© hall being thronged. Air C. E. Bellringer (of New Plymouth) presided. Th© function was mainly a social one, and tho musical programme was only interrupted once to permit of an address. The speaker was the Rev. C. H. Garland, who recounted some of his early experiences in New Zealand, and also alluded to some heroic figures of the times. His references under this head are separately reported. The concert programme was as follows: Song, “The King’s Aliqstrels,” the Rev. A. Alitchell; duologue, “A ' .iir of Lunatics,” Miss Betty Purdom and Air J. C. Bell; song, (a) “Summer in tho Country,” (b) “The Wood Pigeon,” Aliss Aluriel Bennett; violin solo, “Romance,” Miss J. M. Alathieson; part songs (a) “Remembrance,” (b) “Nightingale,” Wesley Choir; recitation, “Little Boy Bine,” Aliss Cecile Haines; quartette, “Stars of the Summer Night.” the Waiata quartette (Alessrs Evans, Dawson, Lunt, and Luke); recitation, “A Trip to Blackpool,” Aliss Cecile Haines; song, “Summer Time,” Air D. J. Evans; recitation. Air J. Culford Bell; part song, “Departure,” Wesley Choir. Tho accompanist was Air H. Wells. Refreshments were handed round at the conclusion.