METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 4 March 1907, Page 3

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

the retiring President, Rev T G Rrooke, of New Plymouth, delivered hs annual presidential address, on Driuay evening, of which 'the followiii" is a summary;—

Never before in the history of the -New Zealand Church had they been called upon to mourn so many bereavements in Ministerial families. Most sympathetic reference was made to the removal by death of Rev. George Uounsell, the patriarchal Father Lawry, Rev. John and Mrs Orchard. Three other ladies of the parsonage had foilowejd Mrs Orchard—Mrs Kirk, Mrs AberiKithy and Mrs R. F. Williams, of New Plymouth, the latter "a voung wife who gave much promise of usefulness, but her sun never reached the meridian." Revs. Keali, W. Dawson, and W. B. Marten had also been called away. Of the last named, who recently laboured in the Opunakc circuit, the President said, "like Mr Real I. he retired from active service at the last conference ,and his eventide has been almost as brief. A man of deep spiritual sensibilities and a close student of Divine things, he was ever an able minister of the New Testament. His poetic and musical gifts were above the ordinary, and some of his musical compositions have been widely used." The ranks of membership hail also suffered depletion, "and in hundreds of homes loved ones arc not:' The address touched oa the principal topics of the year, at home and abroad, The most important of the year so far as the Methodist Church was concerned, was the publication of the census returns, and it was safe to say the facts brought out in them was a surprise and a shock to all Methodists. The Church had held on the even tenor of its way, of atrophy. Pulpits had been manned and the work vigorous. Membership had increased. Adopting any possible test apart from the census it was impossible to find any serious leakage. The church's own figures were in marked contrast to tho.-e of the Registrar-General, and they could not think they were wrong. They were prepared by a long-tried formula, and only once before had they been above those of the Government, and then the difference was only eleven. Now they were 9024 higher than the census, and the census itself was 7431, lower than five years ago. Diligent enquiry by circular in all parts of the colony had sustained the Conference figures, and the only explanation was that people had declined to write the new long name, "The Methodist Church of Australasia in New Zealand."

They had been used to "Wesleyan Methodists" and "Primitive Methodists," and it seemed to him that the figures of the census contained a silent protest against .this) mew thing in the land," in place of the name "Wesleyan" in whose faith they were brought tip. The remedy was lo make definite and .sustained effort to get the people saved—there must he a revival of that evangelism which

had been the very breath of Methodist church life, and by which means tin.' church was built up. There must be more deuoniinationalism, for under the sped of a possible union this chorea seemed to have shrunk from anything like competition. They were, however, alone in this sensitiveness. There was need for a policy oi aggre-<dvoness In some circuits there was claimant need for enterprise, re-organisation, and greater financial assistance, 'town ami country alike needed a vigorous policy to overtake the work. In numberless hack settlements, with the evolution of a city in progress, there came the Macedonian cry. Altogether apart from census consider.! 1 ions Methodism must go up and possess the land. Two months ago a gentleman had offered him £SO, if he would put an agent in an area of unoccupied country in which he was interested, but he bad been unable to accede to the request. To carry out an aggressive policy they must have the sinews of war. In other words the income of the Home Mission and Church Extension Fund must be largely increased.

This was the one fund in the church that had lagged behind. The Foreign Mis.-ion Fund had increased by leaps and bounds, and he hoped its present rate of progression would continue. But whatever the cause of languished Interest in home missions, the fund must have an increase in it- income to the extent of CIOOO a year. How this Wi's to be done the Conference, in its wisdom must decide, but, 110 widely ag-gre-sive policy was possible without it. i'h y ba.l forne to the parliivj of the ways. A ir.agnilleciit past laid on ihem

a heiiyy responsibili.y. A glorious •In: are'invited them to still "creator

cunipiests. "From tin 1 temple hci.e'il. ■slid the Pre-id nl. •■c„mc. tin- empi'.ry, Whom ssall v.'e «end, win. will

;;o for us? Uuv father.- ah» heard | tliiu voice, ami their response ma.!" | them heroes. 'Thnu"li fuiili. ili-.y ' subdued k.ngdrmis. wrought righl"u;i--iiess. obtained i>ronii-es. Mopped Ilia mouths of iinns. quenched I lie pnwrr of fire, escaped the edge of the -w-oid. from -weakness were, made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens! We are the'r children. Shall we be unworthy of such an ancestry? A sinful world, an evpeetant church, and a loving Ooil stretch out their hands to us. May our response be equal to our opportunity, and our sacrifice commensurate with, our blessings. Cricket. ___________