METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 33, 7 February 1913, Page 2

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

the questiox of uxrox. EXTHUSIASTIC SPEECHES, (Per Press Association.) "Wellington, February 6. The first United Conference having assembled, the Rev. Dr. Youngman, President of the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia, was elected to open the United Conference. In addressing the delc-o-ates, Dr. Youngman said that he would be thankful if this was indeed the completion of Methodist Union in Australasia, but, unTortunately, it was not. They would all hail with joy the coming of the day when once again there would be a United Methodist Church in the Commonwealth, and then Methodist union under the Southern Cross would indeed bo complete. The bringing about of the union had been a great work, but some of them might find that the greatest work was yet to come. It was one thing to advocate union, and quite another to make it a success. This was what had to be done in Xew Zealand. They would need a great deal of tact, patience and wisdom, for many difficulties not lying on the surface would have to be surmounted. There would bo need for self-effacement, devotion and hard work. He could assure the Conference that Methodists in Australia recognised that there was that day taking place in connection with the Methodist Church an event of which they would earnestly pray that it would be the beginning of an era of a very true, very widespread and very permanent revival and success. Dr. Morley, the other representative of the Australian General Conference, spoke of the evils and bitterness which had accompanied disunion, and said that he was indeed glad to see union actually brought about in Xew Zealand. He recalled the old simple times, and wished that, they could return. There was reed for more simplicity now. There had been a number of transfers of ministers from the smaller section of the Church the other, and it said a good deal for both sides that there had been no bitterness. In any case he noted with satisfaction that there had been a great advance made in Xew Zealand in organisation. Until the coping stone was put upon it by the present union, though there was a severance legally between Australia and Xew Zealand, he hoped that there would still bo union in spirit. Occasional changes of ministers between Australia and Xew Zealand would be exceedingly beneficial on both sides. Ho was convinced that the great work of Methodism lay in the cities, and that the day of big circuits was past. The first officers of the new Conference were chosen by ballot. The Rev. S. Lawry was elected president by an overwhelming majority, receiving 218 of the 226 votes cast. The Hon. C. M. Luke was elected vicepresident by unanimous vote, and the Rev. C. H. Laws was elected secretary, practically unanimously. Dr. Youngman inducted the newlyelected officers. To the president he handed as his insignia of office the two “President’s Bibles” which had previously been used in the old Confer-

enco. The Rev. S. Lawry said that he accepted the vote of the Conference as an expression of their confidence in him, and the position to which he had been elevated as the highest honour of his life. He did not think that the union could bo anything other than an unqualified success though there certainly remained a great deal of work to be done. They must not ho surprised if the mingling of the two bodies was not immediately completed, but he trusted that soon it would he so fully accomplished that they would never ask from which source any came. After transacting formal business the Conference adjourned until tomorrow.