THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 21 June 1907, Page 4

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE

I DISTRICT REPRESENTATION IN CHURCH COURTS. ! For many years one of the questions stirring the thought of New Zealand Methodists has been direct representation of the members of the Church in the official boads of the Church. At the recurring annual Conference before the General Conference this matter has found expression in recommendation, that have seemed like beating the air. It was a radical proposal from a radical people, and Australians looked upon it as an attempt of the tail to wag the dog. New Zealanders, however, are riot easily discouraged, so they have cheerfully kept pegging away. Water, they tell us, will wear away the hardest stone, and the constant appeal for reform must bear fruit. So the resolutions were again recast and sent forward, but when they came to be considered what happened? The committee charged with considering the recommendations brought in Its report and proposed that the reform so long urged must be conceded. Then a strange thing happened. There was a long pause, no one seemed disposed to speak, and the president rose to put it. Two or three then voiced some opposition, but it was without spirit, and when the proposition was put involving "the principle it was carried with practical unanimity. Members of the Church now have the right to elect one of their number for ever;,fifty as a member of the quarterly meeting.

FOREIGN MISSIONS. The great prominence given to the question of Foreign Missions in the Conference is the reason for returning to the subject. When the Conference is referred to in the years to come it will be known as the Foreign Missionary Conference. Day after day the details of the work have been under review, and many new ideas have been incorporated. 'The framing of-a new constitution for Fiji, by which it takes a long step forward in the art of self-government, has been reported. Another step in the same progress, and that will give an additional dignity to the new constitution, is to provide that henceforth the Chairman of the District of Fiji shall have an equal official standing in the Conference that governs the missions with every chairman of European work. It will come as a surprise to large numliers of Methodists that mission chair men have not all these rights and privileges. The Conference has only remedied this for Fiji, but it has also made it encumbent upon The New South Wales Conference to elect at least one of the ministers stationed in Fiji as a member of the Cieneral Conference, and also a layman from the same Islands, either a native or European. A large amount of interest centred round the election of second secretary. It was the opinion of a large section of the Conference that Mr Slade, president of the New Zealand Conference, ought to be in the Secretariat, and hid it not been for the votes of the- New Zealand representatives he would ertainly have lieen sent there. The New Zealanders feel their Church is already 'undermanned, and that they could not spare one strong man without an adequate supply. This they have not generally received. When they let Dr Morley go to fill the great office he occupies with such unique ability, they received no one from Australia as a return for its sacrifice. Before that, they gave up a popular and successful man in Riiinsfnrd Bavin, and for him, too, there was no supply] Naturally they saw the posisbility of a repitition. and felt their duty compelled them to support the nomination of Mr J. •!. Wheen, president of the Victoria Conference, for the position, and ft is frankly acknowledged their vote put him in. In the appointment now made there is no doubt the Conference has put its hands on one of the most successful administrators. The 'new secretary is prompt, progressive and masterful, and may be depended on to put the whole force of his personality linto his work. It is quite possible that the methods of the Mission Office will be very considerably reformed in the immediate future. New treasurers have been appointed, the Rev. W. 11. Beale replacing Dr Scllors, and Mr R. S. Callaghan succeeding the Hon. W. Robson. M.L.C.

A GREAT STEP FORWARD—STATIONING. A long contended-for reform has been secured after a lengthened discussion in regard to the methods of stationing ministers. On the motion of Rev. C. 11. (iarland, the Conference resolved that the question, "How are our ministers and preachers on trial stationed for the ensuing year?" lie placed under the head of ''Permissive Legislation." That is that each annual conference shall have the right, should it so determine, to transfer the consideration of the stationing of ministers from the Pastoral to the Representative Sessions. Now that Conference has conceded the principle there is no doubt what will be the course New Zealand will pursue. Dr Morley strongly emphasised this view when speaking to the question. It also decided thai the representative session of Conference should have the right to decide whether of not Che permissive legis lation on this subject should he brought into operation. The carrying through of this resolution removes one of file binning questions that has agitated New Zealand Methodism for a long series of years. What influence this will have upon the question of an Independent Confererce. when it is next discussed, it is impossible to forecast, but New Zealand will continue to agitate for separation is certain