METHODIST COHERENCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8832, 7 June 1907, Page 2

METHODIST COHERENCE.

Press Association-Copyright. Sidney, June 6. The Conference farther discussed the question of lay representation of Fiji. Rev. Garland, New Zealand, maintained that lay representation give a preponderance of power to the native vote. Rev. Woods Rutledge urged that it would be unwise to band over such great questions. If they granted that power the natives would probably desire to go stdl farther and might start a rebellion or secession.

Rev. Robson, New South Wales, said that granting representation was wanted, if they were not very careful they would lose the Fijian church altogether. Rev. Smale declared h'.mself absolutely on the side of lay representation. Hr Brown said the only way they could save the Fiji mission was to make the Church of Fiji a church of chiefs and people, not a church of missionaries. One of the greatest •.■•vb'tias the Rev. Small had in Fiji was tuc Free Church, and its influence was spreading. It only wanted the chief of some important place tc himself head tho discontented natives, and they .would have Tonga experience repeated in Fiji. No greater slur could bo cast on Fiji than to say its people among whom they had been laboring for 70 years, and from whom Government took civil servants, magistrates, and doctors, had not a solitary layman in each circuit fit to take a place in tho Financial District Synod and have a voice in dividing his own monoy. The talk of preponderance of the native vote was a bogey. Dr Brown’s motion that the principle of lay representation be put in operation at the Fiji Synod of 1908 was carried, with a few dissentients.

Theatre and Dancing Condemned. Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, Juno C. Tho Methodist 'Conference decided to insert in the hook of laws a resolution warning members and adherents of the Church to abstain entirely from dancing and theatre going and other questionable amusements in view of the groat moral and spiritual peril attaching thereto. The conference adopted tho recommendation of the New Zealand conference in favour" of authorising home missionaries or other persons of good standing and character to administer tho sacrament in homo mission__districts.