METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1917, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph —Press Assoclaijieifc-;

Wellington, MaWm J' v .' At the Methodist Conference the SrSfc port on the Wesley Training CoHtKfc Rtatcd that the progress of the Boheafr for its removal to the new site had been, delayed by the inability of the hoard to effect a satisfactory sale of Aucktai sn'mrbnn property. 'I lie Rev. C. 11. Garland was appoint' ed principal of the Theological College fo.r another term of six years to dato from 1018, when it is hoped the Collegs will re-open. INTEMPERANCE AMONG MAORBS. Wellington, Last Night. The Methodist Conference to-day resolved—"That the Native Minister's attention bo drawn to the growing evils ot intemperance amongst the young Maori people on the West Coast, as well as on that part of tho East Coast to which attention has recently been drawn, especially through the (convey-. an»o of liquor into native settlements, and that he be earnestly urged to have the law so amended and regulations enforced immediately so as to abolish thi« shameful and deplorable state of things/? A successful year of work was re< ported in connection with tho North and South Island orphanages. It ata<K ed that close on £4OOO had been eoh lected for the latter, mainly througa the efforts of Sister Mabel. Messw Percy Winstone and George Bowroa were reappointed the respective treai Mirers, and the secretaries, Mr. Vf. Artley and Rev. T. W. Veale, respectively, were also reappointed. " The conference received a deputation! from the New Zealand Alliance' e«*ut live and promised to give its hearty! support to the Alliance in dealing wftlt the liquor traffic. ' •, A ■ THE ENLISTMENT QUESTION. Wellington, Last Night. The question of the enlistment of ministers and home missionaries wag considered, in committee, by the Mei thodist conference, The following resok utions being submitted for adoption bj) the special committee. "Although the Methodist. Church of New Zealand has already given Borne 20 per cent, of its ministers and home missionaries to the service of the country* in connection with the war, and now) feels the extreme gravity of further de-i plctions of the ministry, yet in view of the serious need of the Empire and the present day, the conference resolves thas no appeal be made by the church" against any minister or homo mission* itry being called up for military service, under the Military Service Act, unless the necessities of our work and reli« gious needs of the district concerned make it impossible to release him. (2) That special attention he given to the demands of our work throughout' the Dominion and to the creligious needs of particular, districts with a view to determining what re-adjustments of staff can be made, so as to release tho greatest number of eligible men for tho service of the country. (M) That a small committee of minis* lers and laymen be appointed with whom the president of the conference may consult during the year as to the advisability of appealing in particular' cases. That in case of any minister or home missionary, called up, desiring for conscientious reasons to be employed' in non-combatant or non-military serves, the president of the conference be requested to certify to the. proper authori- : ties, that such person is, in his view, actuated by conscientious motives, and that his request should have favorable consideration. - , During a long discussion, it was pro« posed as an addition, "That a commit-; tee to be set up to consider these cases within one mori'th from this date inform each minister whether the church in-' tends to appeal for him or not, if he is called up." It was ultimately decided* to refer the matter back to 'the committ tee for further consideration.