METHODISM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 11 June 1907, Page 2

METHODISM.

THE CONFhIGEXCU IN SYDNEY. The Kev. T. G. Brooke, who is attending the Australasian Methodist tieueral I Conference at Sydney, has kindly sent us the following notes eoncering his do-, lings: I Methodism everywhere is a highly-or-ganised ami complex eeelesiastical structure, and that branch of it which meets under the Southern Cross is no exception to the general rule. Throughout Australasia there are six annual conferences. Five of these are to be. found meeting in the Slates of the Commonwealth, and one in New Zealand. These conferences in turn are subjected to the rule of one general conference, which alone exercises legislative powers and which meets once in every three years. Though there is no law on the question, usage demands that it shall not meet twice in succession in the same city or Slate. In the return of the conference to Sydney it returns to the cradle of its origin, so far as Australasia is concerned, and it has in connection therewith a romance that bears re-telling. It was in the old days when Botany Bay was a penal settlement that there, lauded a young Irish convict from a convict ship. Vor some trifling offence in the Old Land ho narrowly escaped the hangman's rope, but a kindly judge and sympathetic friends' secured for him no greater punishment, or rather barbarity, than transportation for life. Before (lie sentence look effect a follower of Wesley, who had interested himself in the young man's favor, had the joy of leading him to a vital faith in Olirist. That kindly deed bore abundant fruit. Amid all the depression of the life, in a convict settlement, he held on His way. He first won the confidence of his fellow-prisoners by the character of his own life, and then strove to instruct them in the things that proved his own renewal. When free settlement began he had already organised a "Methodist Class," and was himself taking regular preaching services. To meet in Sydney, therefore, is to meet on classic ground.

The New Zealand contingent did not reach Australia without some troubles, but they were, only such as are incidental to going "down lo thq.sea in ships." They started in a storm from Wellington and steamed up the Sydney harbor"in rain and grey mist while the city slept. One thing for which every passenger was thankful was the slaiinch character of the shi|i in which ihey had crossed the Tasniiin Sea. The Alokoia muv not bo mi aquatic grevhoitnd, but she knows how In behave herself when the winds blow and the waves run high. Like the other boats belonging to ('ho V.S.S. Co., she was splendidly ollircred, unit everybody was satisfied. Mill all were, glad to get ashore. Sydney was seen under diiliculties. Tlie rain and (he mist meant mud and dis--1 fort for the pedestrian. A walk through the streets revealed the fact (luil in many places the city is being rebuilt. This is especially the case in (teorge street. There (he hoardings behind which the work is proceeding, project fur across the footways, and drive the people into single file in many places. This may be unavoidable, but it. tries the patience of the man in a hurry. Of course, (here are the trams, ami they run all the time, but it is impossible to view a city satisfactorily by (hat means. Concerning (he (rams themselves much might be written. One thing is quite certain, (he New Zealand systems need mil cross (o the Oommonwcnllh to learn low to ley down their lines or to uuina.'c ilcir lm.ii.rs-. The permanent wav'in Ceorge slrecl. seem sanvlliiic but permanent. All along the busii-d part of the street it looks as if it were in a chronic state of dimviir. in some places "eniinding one of a surface without, a foundation. It i< a -,.,.,1 thin.;- that, till Hie husine,.; doc. n.,1 omvcgv lo tln 1 »ue thorismlifuro. There are several

streets thai sevm to be c.piallv bn-v. liotali'lv fill street and <'asl lerea-'h street. York street also, whore Ihe Com tVreiiee is sill hit:, is another of these. bill its business is of a dill'oreiif character, ft is the slrcel of wholesale warehouses, and is therefore subject to much heavy tralllc. The fact of Ihis is painfully evident in tin- Conference itself. The Centenary Hall, where (he Conference is sitting—but concerning (hat I will sent you a few paragraphs by next wail.