METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 221, 6 February 1913, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. (Per Press Association). Wellington, Wednesday. The twentieth annual conference of the New Zealand Primitive Methodists was opened to-day. It is the last to beheld before the union with the Wesleyan Methodist Church is consummated. The Hon. C. M. Luke was elected president and Mr. C. E. Ward vice-president. When Mr. Luke was being welcomed the outgoing -president indikted, that Mr. Luke would probably be elected the fiist vice-president of the united conference. The Methodist Conference report of church membership showed: Tarihmki 378, Wellington 097, Auckland 660, Ota go and Southland 887, Canterbury /34, total 3350. At Tnglewood a, practical coalescence with the Methodist Churchhad been brought about, and at Waihi the Church having suffered a decrease through industrial A?troubles, members now attended the Methodist Church. THE OPENING SESSION. Wellington, Last Night. The Methodist Conference opened this evening, the Rev. W. Ready (Auckland) presiding. With him on the platform were Dr. 11. Youngman, president of the General Conference of the Methodist Church of Australasia, and Dr. W. Morley, another General Conference representative. The retiring president congratulated the church on the approaching union of two kindred bodies in New Zealand, and the generosity of the Australian body in setting the New Zealand section free, with legislative as well as administrative power. The Rev. S. La wrev was elected president of the conference, and the Rev, C. H. Laws secretary. Mr. J. A. Plesher, convener of the Legal Committee;, submitted a formal report upon the steps taken to secure a constitution for the New Zealand Conference as an independent conference. He moved a resolution expressing gratitude at the methods of the -church of New Zealand, at the successful termination of the long-continued efforts to secure independent legislative powers; and the hope that under the new constitution the church would attain increased public influence and spiritual power. The Rev. W. J. Willi mis seconded this, and the motion was carried. Dr. Youngman and Dr. Morlev addressed the conference, conveying the .goodwill of the Methodist Church of , Australasia, and the conference ad- ) journed till to-morrow.