WESLEYAN DISTRICT SITTINGS. Auckland, Nov. 21.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 319, 24 November 1888, Page 5

WESLEYAN DISTRICT SITTINGS. Auckland, Nov. 21.

The District Meeting, in its representative session, met at half-past two, Mr S. J. Ambury (Mayor of Newton) conducting the devotional exercises.

Report of Principal Reid. The following is the report- of the Rev. A. Reid, of the Three Kings Wesley College :— " The history of the past year of our College lifs presents few features of special interest, yet none the less do we feel constrained * here to raise our Ebenezer in grateful recognition of the Divine favour vouchsafed to the least of the schools of the prophets. We havebeen graciously permitted to pursue the even tenor of our way in the acquisition of knowledge, the formation of habits, and discbarge of duties by which we trust the aim and expectation of our Church, in regard to her rising ministry, will be largely realised, as men go forth from our seminary qualified successfully to live and preach the Gospel of salvation from sin. Three students for the ministry and fourteen Maori youths have, during the past year, enjoyed the advantages of our institution. With tho exception of one Maori lad, who came to us an invalid, and who is still under medical treatment, the health of all in residence has been good — hardly any interruption to study having been caused by sickness. Owing to the partially disabled condition of the principal, the students have had to bear an increased measure of the responsibilities of home rule, which though not always joyous for the present, yet have served to develop the promise and potency of fitness for future service. As in preceding years, so in this, the rule has been for each student to spend one hour a day in teaching the Maori boys. Intellectually this arrangement benefits our men by affording opportunity to cultivate aptness in teaching ; spiritually it profits by conferring the privilege of ministering to some of Christ's • little ones,' even while in the comparative seclusion of student life. The preaching services of our men have averaged three appointments on each alternate Sunday, and gratifying reports have reached us respecting the esteem in which they are held by the people for their work's sake. In compliance with Conference rule, they have in turn preached and conducted services in the presence of their fellows and the principal. At the close of such services ample opportunity has been given for criticism, in which it has been our aim to blend kindness to the preacher with fidelity to the cause, and all have been stimulated to aim at the highest attainable excellence as heralds of the croEs. The classical and mathematical tutor, together with the ministers appointed by Conference as lecturers, all bear favourable testimony respecting the intelligent and painstaking interest manifested by our men in the several subjects of study. Appended is a syllabus of the subjects taken and the amount of work done under the several lecturers. Mr Nott, in consideration of his being a third year's undergraduate of the New Zealand University, has been excused takiner Ecclesiastical History and Methodist Polity ; while in subjects common to both institutions he has attended the lectures of the Auckland University College. Our senior student, Mr Chapman, has not been permitted quite to complete his three years' course, the president having on the 16th of October called him out to serve as a supply for Hawera circuit, rendered vacant by the lamented death of Bro. Barley. Our Maorischolars are, on the average, more youthful than those of past years. All had reached the fourth standard in the district schools before coming to us. Their progress in school lessons has been satisfactory, their behaviour good, and in field and garden work they have developed more industry and heartiness than had characterised their predecessors. The Bible lesson is always welcome ; several of them take part in our prayer-meetings, and we are hopeful that God may yet call some of them to serve as Christian pastors among their people. It is again our pleasing duty to record our obligations to Dr. Lawry for medical advice and treatment kindly and gratuitously afforded ; also to recognise the liberality of the 'New Zealand Herald 3 in retaining our College on their free list. Ex-, penditure on College account for the year has been £870. Last year it amounted to £971. Knowing the principles of rigid economy on which this establishment has been conducted, the genius of retrenchment was slow to interfere with our finance. But he came at last. We are now in full fellowship with the New Zealand depression, and not altogether indisposed to add to our course of study the consideration of the question, ' Has not the Gospel a mission to arrest the selfishness by which our country's progress is blighted?' We crave an interest in the prayers of the Methodist Churches throughout the colony, that by God's blessing, our College may be rendered equal to the task of training men who shall be mighty in the Scripture and wise to win souls.— (Signed) Alexander Reid, Principal."

Connexional Trust Properties. 1. Native and Destitute Children's Education Trust ; Mr John Edson, treasurer. The balance-sheet was read and adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to Conference. 2. General Connexional Mission Properties Trust ; Mr Prime, treasurer. The balancesheet was read and adopted, and ordered to be sent to the Conference. 3. Theological Institution Endowment Trust ; Mr Prime, treasurer. The balance-sheet was read and adopted, and ordered to be forwarded to Conference. 4. Higher Education (Wesley College) Trust. Mr Hobbs, treasurer being absent, the balance-sheet was read by Mr Prime, and adopted by the meeting and ordered to be forwarded to Conference. A vote of thanks to the auditors of the various connexional funds was unanimously and heartily agreed upon.

Auckland Book Association. Mr Ed&on forwarded a statement of bhe above Association, which was received. A resolution was passed expressing the thanks of the meeting to Mr Edson for his services. It was also resolved to request Mr Edson to meet the committee at an early date and review the whole matter and report to the next meeting.

■ Home Mission Fund. Amount raised in the district :— From circuits : Auckland, Pitt-street, £215 ; Devonport, £40 ; Grafton Road, £90 ; Mahurangi, £10 ; Thames, £38 15s 4d ; Upper Thames, £12 16s ; Manukau, £61 3s 2d ; Franklin, £25 ; Cambridge, £12 10s ; Hamilton, £8 17e 4d ; Te Awamutu, £8 j Raglan, £4 5s - 6d ; Paparoa, £11 5d ; Northern Wairoa, £10 19s 2d j Hokianga, £12 5s ; Bay of Islands, £6 4s 6d ; Whangarei, £16 ; Tauranga, £6 ; Whangaroa, £1 13a 7d<; Goromandel, £6 ; Wade, £2 ; jtjelensville, £1 12 a 3d ; Kaipara (English), £2 j2s 9d ; Kaipara (Maori), £75 13s ; connexiorial property, £126 10s 8d ; interest on investments, £112; Maori service book *old, £7 7s : fco,fcal,, £924 Bd. It is very gratifying'^' us to report that notwithstanding the s^v^re continued depression, fche income to ibhe Hpme .Mission, fund is exactly the same aslasfc year. Much tjhankfulness wa« expressed for t^ JJbewlity of

our people. The amount expended was £914.

Amended Report of the Secretary of Church Property.

During the year the following amounts have been raised for trust purposes :—: — New erections, £336 2s 6d ; improvements, etc., £389 9s 2d*. towards reduction of debts, £1,781 Is 2d ; lands sold, £685 19s 3d.

Dunedik Conference. The Rev. J. A. Taylor was elected a ro presentative to the Dunedin Conference. The meeting adjourned at 5.15 to 7 p.m.

EVENING SESSION. The District Meeting re-assembled at 7 p.m., when the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered. This was a most impressive and inspiring service.

Statistical Returns. Under the question, " What are the statistical returns?" the Chairman remarked that it was desirable to consider how to make our services more attractive and effective. The Rev. S. Lawry presented the statistics. The report is as follows :— Statistical Report Auckland District, 1888. — The general returns for 18SS show the following increases and decreases as compared with 1887 : Increase in the European work— 3 churches, 4 other preaching places, 1 Home Missionary, 21 Sundayschool teachers, 48 me'Tibers on trial, 52 communicants, 29 catechumens and members of juvenile classes, 129 attendants on public worship. In the Maori work— l church, 7 Sunday-school teachers, 27 local preachers, 4 class leaders, 25 communicants, 3 Sunday - schools, 81 Sunday - school scholars. Decreases in the European work — 1 minister, 6 local preachers, 2 class leaders, 52 fully-accredited Church members, 1 Sunday-school, 64 Sunday-school scholars. In the Maori work — 9 preaching places, 31 fully - accredited Church members, 1 on trial, 186 attendants on public worship. The detailed examination of the returns shows that several of the circuits have suffered through the exodus of population which has occurred during the past year, especially in the town circuits. At the same time there is nob wanting evidence that good progressive work has been done. The increased number of churches and other preaching places shows that we are still doing our part in endeavouring to ' ' spread Scriptual holiness throughout the land." In spite of the exodus, and the falling off in the number of Sunday-school scholars, we still record an addition of 129 attendants on public worship, while the total of all grades of membership is 79 above that of last year. The increase in the number of local preachers and class leaders among obe Maoris shows a gratifying revival of zeal in the cause of Christ, from which we may reasonably look for good results in time to come— Samuel Lawry, Statistical Secretary.

Maori Mission. The following report was presented by the Rev. W. Gittos, general superintendent of the Maori Mission :— " Our Maori centres have been visited at regular intervals during the past year, and on the whole our report regarding our work, and success, may be considered satisfactory. In Waikato we have many loyal Wesleyanj?, who, in spite of their poverty, do what they can to aid our work. Our services are well-attended, and the spiritual condition of the people much improved. The Hauhaus are generally yielding to the influence of Divine truth, and we hope ere long many ot them will be gathered into the fold of Christ. In Hokianga we have a people Avho have been steadfast in the faith, and who remain so at the present time, and we are thankful to say there are signs of spiritual progress in many parts of the district, and the people are becoming more interested and active in the work of the church. The giving power of the natives is very limited; their chief means of making a little money is in the kauri gum trade, which fluctuates very much, and it is seldom that they can do much more than provide themselves with food and clothing; still we think they could do better, and we constantly urge them to do so. The Government schools in the district are doing a good work, and almost all the natives are temperate or ' blue ribbon.' In the Kaipara our people have maintained their former reputation for liberality to the cause of Christ. During the past year tlkey have built a new church at the Heads costing over £300 ; they have also paid the minister's stipend, £70, and now send £5 13s to the Home Mission Fund. We hope next year they will be able to do more than they have done in the past ; should the Lord prosper them I feel sure they will. Regarding their religious life we are glad to say there is a marked improvement aud higher spiritual tone. In the Kaipara as in the other districts, the Government schools have been carried on with some measure of success, and the young people have opportunities of fitting themselves for future usefulness. Our ' Blue Eibbon ' and ' Band of Hope ' meetings have been a great success, and we are thankful to say that with few exceptions our people have been true to their pledges. After watching with care the changes that are taking place in the social habits and condition of Maori life throughout the districts we have visited we are reluctantly forced to the conclusion that they are gradually decreasing in numbers and must ere long pass away. What we as a Church intend to do must be done quickly. Our motto is, ' The Maoris for Christ, and Christ for the Maoiis.' We ask the prayers and sympathies of all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. — (Signed) William Gittos."

Resolution on the State of the Wobk of God. The following resolution, moved by the Rev. J. Dukes, was passed: — "That in order to show all fidelity to Christ as exponents of His Word and shepherds of the flock, ' over which the Holy Ghost hath made us overseers,' we in this solemn hour of Church work, investigation and of self-examination, earnestly desire and pledge ourselves to seek such an unction from the Holy One that our ministry may prove a greater living power to the souls of men. We gratefully recognise the fact that the God of our fathers has been with us during the year, and that several of our circuits are enabled to report, 'Times of refreshing.' We are especially called upon to express our thankfulness to the great Head of the Church for the number of young people who have sought and found the Saviour. We, however, regret to find that the difficulty of suitable leaders to nourish and guide those found in Christ continues to be painfully felt. One of the distinguishing features and glories of Methodism has been the large employment of laymen who have faithfully discharged the functions of the God-honoured office of leader. We commend this work to the prayerful attention of our people, reminding them ' that next in point of importance to faiohful laborious preachers are lively active judicious class leaders for usefulness in the Methodist connexion.' We record with gratitude to.God that our people, with noble self-sacrificing zeal, have during a year of

severe depression contributed as much as last year to the Home Mission fund, and also considerably reduced the debts on church properties. As a section of the Church of Christ, and in view of the terrible evils of Sabbath desecration, impurity, gambling, drunkenness, and general ungodliness so alarmingly prevalent in our midst, we desire, and intend to have, a league, offensive and defensive, with every soldier of Christ. "

Church Attendance. An earnest convocation took place on the important question, " How is it that so few men attend our services?" It was shown ttiat this was not a feature of our country congregations, but it is a sad feature ot our town congregations. The Rev. J. Dukes expressed his conviction that much of this was due to two causes — (1) the absence of so many young men from our Sunday services is due to the excessive physical exercises on the Saturday, and (2) the moral effects of the press. The weakness of the pulpit has been exaggerated. Many of the newspaper articles have misrepresented facts.

Sunday-School Returns. The Sunday-school returns were read by the Rev. T. G. Carr.