METHODIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 10 April 1907, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH.

DELEGATES' CttSKBKKSCB KKI'OKT. Mr C. Carter, one of the delegates to the Methodist Conference, in delivering a verbal report oil the outstanding features of the discussion at the Conference, stated that the first morning was devoted to the consideration of tile census returns, which iiavl caused some commotion in Methodist circles, showing a decrease of "Methodists" that couid not be made to coincide with the figures obtained by the ministers of churches. The Home Mission Fund was another subject of much discussion. The Wanganui District Synod, which included the whole of Taranaki, recently initiated a movement to wipe out the £7OO debt 011 the Now Zealand Ilome Mission Fund. This was being done by means of a shilling subscription. No very great importance seemed to be attached to this movement until the Wanganui delegates handed in a cheque for upwards of £BO towards the extinction of this debt. This stimulated others to action, and a conference breakfast was initiated, the delegates spending three hours there, during which time they were treated to some very earnest speeches from different workers in the New Zealand field. As an outcome of the fervent enthusiasm aroused £3OOO was guaranteed for the Ilome Mission and Church Extension Fund, apart from the £7OO which the different circuits throughout the colony had undertaken 'to raise. And when this £3OOO was promised the Methodists in Conference applied themselves to the allocation of this amount so as to open up new ground and extend the operations of the church. A new agent was appointed in AVellington to have charge of a mission at Bay's Bay, where people were now settling in large numbers. Taranaki received a good deal of attention, the Conference recognising the rapid extension of settlement and the consequent need for tlie opening up of new ground. Conference rocognised that there was greater need for the church to establish agencies in eountry where as yet no one had been than any other part of the colony, and therefore the Conference not only grant?d ail that the delegates asked but went >ven further, and placed men in entirely lew districts. A "saddle-back" misnonarv had been placed to work the ■ Main Trunk Line, a home missionary vas appointed at Tongaporutu, and a lome missionary at Taumaranui; heiides which there had been a re-adjust-nent of circuit boundaries right round lie Mountain. The debate on the motion to establish 1 separate conference, for New Zealand jrodnced a brilliant meeting. It was a ■ignifieant fact that out of those who .'otod for 'the proposal fully three-quar-:ers were laymen, and the Conference .Ms so impressed by this vote that every notion for the improvement of the statis 'of the laymen was carried and sent forward to the Australasian Conference, t'he bone of contention was, principally, the status of laymen, for whilst in New Zealand they were willing and anxious to give laymen extended rights, the Australasian Conference denied them the privileges asked. The motion for Septra t ion was carried, but by so small a majority that it was not acted upon. The Conference also dealt with the need for a mission to Maori women. Itwas mentioned that excellent work was being done amongst the "Maori boys and young men. who attended the "Methodist folleges anil learned industry, thrift, cleanliness, and the need for obeying the laws of hygiene. Unfortunately, when these lads returned to kaingas, and married into the 'tribes, and the wives had had no European training, ( Che tendency was for the young men to fall back into native ways and customs, instead of raising the wives to the status attained by them in their college training. The opinion seemed to prevail that if the church would do' work amongst the native women and (rirls, there was much more chance of improving the conditions of Maori life. NEW CIRCUITS. The following resolutions, taken from the records of the Conference, give clearly the boundaries of the new Taranaki circuits:— Cape Egmont Circuit: That the places now worked as the West Coast Mission, together with Opunake, TMhama, Oaonui, and Eltham road, be a new circuit, to be called the Cape Egmout circuit, such circuit to have a married minister at Opunake, and a home missionary at Hahotu. Knponga circuit: Tll.lt a new circuit !>.■ formed to be called the Kaponga circuit, and that it include. Kaponga, Riv-et-lea, Maugawhero road, Kapmii, and Rowan from the Opunake circuit, to-\ gether with Mahoe from the Eltham circuit. Oiakcho was transferred from the Opunake circuit to the Tlawera circuit, and Stanley road and Salisbury road from the Waitara circuit to 'the Stratford circuit. Waitara Circuit: That the Waitara circuit be divided, and that Tnglewood he the head of a new circuit to consist of ln«lewood, Midhirst, Lincoln road, Tarata. TCaiinata, Purangl and Waipukn. The Waitara circuit to consist of Waitara, Leppertou, Tikorangi, Tfuirangi and Vrenui.