METHODIST CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 11

METHODIST CHURCH.

CONFERENCE WORK EDUCATIONAL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS. Tho deliberations of the Methodist Conference wore continued at Wesley Church, Taranaki street, throughout yesterday. Tho chair at the morning session was occupied by the Hon. C. M Luke, M.L.C. (vice-president), and in tho afternoon by tho Rev. S. Lawry (president). THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTION. Tho Rev. E. Drake presented tho rcpart on the work of the Theological Institution. This mentioned that soon after tho year opened tho institution was removed from Ponsonby to more convenient promises and congenial surroundings. In order, however, to accommodate comfortably tho full number of ten students, tho committee found it necessary to .build two additional rooms. Tho students, wore kept busy on tho Sunday in the Auckland and adjacent circuit's, and wero well received by tho congregations. Tho nine students in residence had taken more than 800 services during tho six months (May to October). Tho principal was of the opinion that it was not to the advantage of the students to preach so frequently, and that the number of appointments next year should bo reduced. It was specially mentioned that the loyalty of the men to the spirit of tho college life had been nil that could bo desired, and made tho college a delightful homo. Thanks were passed to the principal, the Rev. C. H. Garland, and Mrs Garland for their efficient services. Mr Garland was reappointed for tho ensuing year. . It was decided to make the following appropriations for the year 1913: (1) Prober t Trust, £600; (2) Contingent Fund, £130; (3) Home Mission Fund, £150; (4) Prince Albert College Trust, £150; (5) Emsly Trust, £9O; (6) Primitive Methodist Education Fund, £l2O, and that tho amounts named in (1), (2), (3), (4), bo paid in quarterly instalments in January. April, July and October. The conference resolved that students be not required to preach more than thirteen times in 1 any quarter. PROPOSED NEW COLLEGE. The committee charged to consider the foundation of a new theological college stated that it had, unfortunately, nothing of a satisfactory nature to report. It was of opinion that it was necessary for the Theological College to bo as near as possible to the University College, and owing to recent developments in tho discussion concerning tho locality of the latter, resolved that it was expedient to delay building until the site of the university is definitely fixed. This decision had been approved by the district committees. Since then, though there had boon much controversy in the public press, no further light had been thrown on tho problem of the university site, and the committee could do nothing more than wait. Greatly as tho committee chafed under this enforced delay. It was compelled to advise the conference that there was no hope of prosecuting a successful canvass until the question of sit© was settled. Meanwhile the purchase of the site at Epsom/ to which the committee was pledged before tho last conference, had been completed. The cost was £SOOO, and of this £3OOO was left on mortgage. Tho property was bringing in an income of £75, but the interest and rates wero a little more than double that amount. This liability would cease as subscriptions already promised were paid in. The contingency of a possible change of site need not occasion subscribers any anxiety concerning tile Epsom section, for the committee anticipated tbat the sale of it would involve no financial loss. On behalf of the treasurer, Mr J. A. Flesber reported that promises of donations to tho building fund totalled £7669 4s. Of this £1390 15s had been received, leaving £6178 9s outstanding. The promises, however, covered a period of years. The delay in tho matter was due to the, fact that tho site for the university in Auckland kad not yet been settled by the Government. Mr A. C. Caughey, the treasurer of the building fund, was reappointed and the Canterbury district was empowered to appoint a treasurer for tho South Island if deemed necessary. WESLEY TRAINING COLLEGE. The principal of Wesley Training College, the Rev. J. H. Simmonds, reported that the year just closed had been one of the best in the history of tho institution. In the ordinary school work the students had made steady progress, while the numerous industrial duties required of all students and scholars had been carried out cheerfully and intelligently. Dealing with tho trust estate, it was stated that considerable increases in revenue .could bo anticipated shortly when a portion of the Waikowhai profierty was disposed of and a number of oases on the Grafton road property tail in and were renewed. During the past year there had been an excess of expenditure over income of about £SOO, but tho anticipated increases of revenue would, within a couple of years, greatly reduce or wholly extinguish the present overdraft. In pursuance of the decision to acquire » new site for the future operations of the college in a rural district, a block of 600 acres adjacent to tho main smith railway, twenty-seven miles from Auckland, had been selected. The total cost would be between £12,000 and £13.000. To acquire the property it would be necessary to sell an area of equivalent value at Three Kings. It was estimated that 40 to 50 acres of the land nearest to tho Mount Eden tramway teaainus would realise a snfficient sum to complete the purchase of the 600 acres. In looking at this as a business proposition, it must ho remembered that the removal of tho college would set free its present reserve of 100 acres, so that tho practical effect of tho transaction would bo not to decrease hut to increase the suburban area available for leasing, and at the same time to give tho college 600 acres instead of 100 acres for its operations. Conference was asked to sanction tho scheme as a whole, and io leave to tho board tho necessary discretion for carrying out the details in the manner that shall be found best and most advantageous to the trust. To establish the college on the new site and add thereto an orphanage branch, could not cost much less than £6OOO. The present fund for new buildings amounts to only £3OOO. A farther £3OOO would therefore ho required. The conference placed on record its gratification:at the continued progress of the institution, thanked the Rev,.

J. H. Simmonds for his services, and reappointed him for another term. Proposals by tbo trust board for the leasing of about twelve acres of tlic Waikowhai property to tho Mount Roskill Road Board wero approved. Tho proposal for purchase of the 60U acres as a site for future college operations was approved, and tho board was authorised to sell such portions of the Three Kings property as might be found necessary to secure the required funds. NO PERPETUAL LEASE. On tho recommendation of a subcommittee, moved by Mr Fletcher, it was agreed: ‘‘That no layman holding an official position entitling him to a seat in conference or on the district synod shall hold tho same position for a longer period than six years in succession.” Another recommendation of tho same committee which was adopted was one requiring treasurers of connexional funds and ponflontioa to present a capital account as well as a statement of receipts and expenditure. SUNDAY SCHOOLS AND SYNODS. Representatives from tho Sunday schools on the synods were nominated as follow: Auckland, Mr T. E. Price; South Auckland, Mr J. H. Longe; Taranaki-Wanganui, Mr H. V. S. Griffiths; Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu, Mr R. H. Billens; Wellington, Mr I. Sims; Nelson, Mr G. M. Spence; Canterbury, Mr H. Chapman; South. Canterbury, Mr C. Dixon; Otago, Air A H. Reid; Southland, Air W. Dickson. AIISSION COMMITTEES. Tho following were elected the Wellington Central mission committee for 1913-14: Messrs J. Lomas, W. E. Howe, A. E. Moss, J. W. Carr, W. Moxham, W. Q. Burd, C. D. Macintosh, E. Tonks, R. G. Denton, W. J. Helyer, J. Raine, R. Keen, G. Kershaw, Petherick, E. Dawson, S. fa. Hoare, C. A. Piper, the Hon. C. Al. Luke, And the local officers of tho misaion. Cbmtchurcn Central mission committee was constituted as follows: The president and secretary of the conference, Rov. W. A. Sinclair, the : supermtendont of Cambridge terrace, Messrs J. A. Flesher, W. H. Seed, G. Scott, O. E. Salter, L. Al. Isitt, M.P., J. H. Fountain, E. Hall, J. O. Prudhoe, H. Holland, and the Hon. G. J. Smith. , „ Corresponding members of the faqnnexional, Board to deal with special matters were appointed as follow; Revs. C. H. Laws, H. L, Blamires, A. B.» Chappell, W. A. Sinclair, and 6. H. Mann, UNION SOUVENIRS. It was decided to publish a souvenir of the union in the form of an illustrated booklet. The Revs. J. Guy and J. W. Burton were appointed editors of the souvenir. It was also .decided to prepare a special ticket to be given to all church members and to junior members fifteen years of ago and upwards to commemorate tho consummation of the union. CONNEXIONAL FUNDS. Tho Rev. B. Ginger presented the report on the children’s fund; This showed a credit balance of £192 4s 6d. The receipts totalled £1716 17s. For the current year £1720 would bo required, which would ho met by a 12$ percentage the same as last year. Thanks were given to Mr Ginger tor his services and he was reappointed treasurer. The Hon. C. M. Luke was appointed joint treasurer with him. Tho report upon tho contingent fund was presented by Mr E. Rosevear. It showed that tho receipts for the year were £1964 7s 7d. After meeting expenses there was a credit balance (including amounts due) of £4Ol 16s lid. It was decided that tho levy for the year be 71 per cent., the same as last year. Tho Rev. P. W. Fairolough and Mr Rosevear were thanked for their .work and reappointed. CHURCH NEWSPAPER. Among the recommendations on the subject of connexional literature, which were submitted on behalf of the committee by the Rov. J. Cooker and agreed to, were the following: That tho two present papers be amalgamated; that the new paper, bo issued fortnightly, but that inquiries be made as to the possibility of a weekly issue; that the name of the paper be ‘‘The Now Zealand Methodist Times” ; that all further arrangements in connection with the issue of the paper be referred to a committee. MILITARY CHAPLAINS. Tho committee appointed to deal with tho position of military chaplains reported that it had considered several subjects affecting the interests of tho church and tho status of its ministers, and set up a sub-committee to wait upon General Godley to discuss them with him. Tho General met the subcommittee most courteously, and as a result of tho conference several questions had been cleared up. The committee felt sure that the work of the chaplains would go smoothly in future. On the recommendation of tho committee it was decided: (1) That the chairmen of districts should, in consultation with tho senior chaplains, nominate chaplains for the forces; (2) that the conference' strongly recommend to sister churches tho desirability of co-operating with the Y.AI.C.A. with a view to arranging for provision for the social as well as the spiritual needs of tho troops in camp. Other subjects discussed by tho conference are reported under separate headings. At 10 p.m, tho conference adjourned until this morning.