METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 228, 14 February 1913, Page 8

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

\ I A THEOLOGICAL college... / Per Press Association. Wellington, February 115. I At the Primitive Methodist Conference to-day the report of the committee On the founding of a new theological college stated that there was nothing satisfactory to report. Thu committee was of opinion that a theological collide' ■ • should be as near as possible to a university college, and owing to recent de- , ' velopmcnts in the discussion conccrnim ■ the locality of the latter it was cxpedi- • ent to delay building until • the site of • the university was definitely settled. i Greatly as the committee chafed- under ' . this enforced delay it was compelled to ; advise the conference there was no hope , of prosecuting a successful canvass unr til the question of site was settled, MILITARY TRAINING. Wellington, Last Night. t The Methodist Conference to-night discussed the compulsory military training I question at some length and finally a" > resolution favouring arbitration for setJ tlement of international disputes and , protesting against' compulsory military I training as a serious reflection on the \ patriotism of the peole of the Dominion ' formed the basis of debate. Eventually it was put in two parts, the Irst relating to arbitration being adopted- and ' the second (against military training) 7 rejected. The Conference re-affirmed 3 last year's resolution, urging t.lie Govern- l f ment to insert a conscience cliiiire ip the— " > Defence Act. r _____ t THE BIBLE IX SCHOOLS.

1 _— ' Wellington, Last Night. I At the Methodist Conference to-night * a discussion arose on the Bible in f schools question. The Eev. J. J. Lewis moved, and the 1 Rev. G. H. Mann seconded, the follow- ' ing motion: "On the evidence of high ' authorities in States where it 'has been 1 adopted, as to the satisfactory and beneficial working of the Australian system of Bible-teaching in State schools, this J conference expresses its approval of the same, and resolves to co-operate with ' other religious bodies in securing these ) benefits to the children of the Dominion, 1 but holding that the people of New Zca- ' land should first say whether they de- v ' sire this or not, will support a*n appeal. ' to Parliament for a referendum to en- ' able them to give their decision." 1 The Eev. A. J. Seamer moved, and the . " Rev." J. H. Haslam seconded, the following amendment: That in the opinion of 1 this conference, the question of the Bible in schools should be distinctly s separated from that of sectarian inr, struction in schools, in the referendum advocated by the Bible in Schools League, in order that the electors who favor one only of these proposals may ' not be disfranchised." '' A long discussion followed, and the e amendment was defeated bv 115 rotes 8 to 26. a The motion was then carried on the. '" voices.