PRIMITIVE METHODISM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 28, 16 January 1912, Page 5

PRIMITIVE METHODISM.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ; CHURCH, , ; ; y ! TWO DEPUTATIONSi . (Per Press Association ) Cm istchurch, January 15. The Primitive Methodist Conference was resumed this morning, the president (Rev. G. Knowles Smith) presiding. A deputation from the Canterbury No-license League, consisting of Messrs L. M. Isitt, M.P., J. McCombs and A. Cole, was introduced to the conference. Mr Isitt delivered a prohibition address, and urged further efforts in the battle against the liquor traffic.

Mr McCombs rejoiced at the magnificent vote polled this year for National Prohibition, and at the remarks of the ex-president of the conference on the subject. They must, he said, next time bring 48,000 fresh voters to the poll. They were thirty years off the goal if the three-fifths majority continued. Mr Isitt: “It will not!”

,Mr McCombs said if they wished success they must secure the elimination of the three-fifths majority.

Replying on' behalf of the conference, Mr 0. E. Bellringer said he and his church rejoiced with the deputation on the strong vote for national no-license at the last poll. He thought they were all agreed as to the iniquity of the three-fifths majority. As a church the Alliance might reply upon t’n-ir united support. Ho recognised the prospect of union because it helped the prospect of the other reform, more than were divided. A deputation from the Methodist Church of Australasia, consisting of the He vs. C. H. Laws, S. Lawry and A. Peters, and Messrs C. E. Salter, . A. Floshor and Jas. McCullogh, was introduced by the Rev. S. Henderson. The Rev. C. H. Laws said that they met that morning under peculiarly happy circumstances. The proposals for tho union of the two churches had been going backward and forward, and things were now in a very happy condition. Ho referred to the excellent results of the meeting of the union committee. If, as many of them hoped, this union would be consummated, it would be a true union' of two vigorous churches, not an absorption. * Mr. J. A. Elesber referred to the lack of church attendance and the lack of religions instruction parents imported to their children. Not more than 20 per cent, of their people attended the two church services on a Sunday, and not more than half the children in it received religious instruction. These lie considered were two grave evils, which, in the interest of the Dominion, would have to be remedied. The Rev. S. Lawry, secretary of the Methodist Conference, said he had often thought that it was not a good thing when two churches, so much alike, should be in conflict, however harmlessly, when they could do so much more for the Kingdom of God by uniting their forces. The union would mark a now era. Replying on behalf of the Conferonce, the Rev. J. Guy said be realised they could not live on love. They were one great household, and this marriage they had in view was one between very close relations. He hoped it was not within the forbidden decree. The Primitive Methodist Church had wished for missions like the Methodists amongst the Maoris, and in the Islands, and they looked forward to assisting in these works when united with the 'Methodists.