METHODIST CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 March 1922, Page 5

METHODIST CHURCH.

MINISTERS’ IN CONFERENCE. YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Town Hall was crowded this evening for the centenary festival of the Methodist Conference. The chair was occupied by the Rev. C. H. Laws. The was to have presided, but important business prevented him, and he telegraphed cordial good wishes. The Revs. G. Hargreaves (England), A. McCallum (Australia) and Bishop Lock (America), in eloquent speeches, conveyed the good will and congratulations of their several churches. The conference met at luncheon at the Town Hall to-day, about 270 being I present. The Hon. C. J. Parr presided !in the absence of Mr. Massey, whose apologies and cordial greetings he tendered. Replying to the toast of the Dominion the Minister emphasised the debt owing to the early missionaries. He noted with interest the efforts being made by the church to secure Bible reading in schools, but he predicted that their efforts would not be very successful unless the various churches joined forces and spoke with one voice. The future of New Zealand would be greatly helped by the work of the Education Department. About 72 per cent., of the children passing through primary schools go on to secondary schools, medical and dental services, and to schools under the child welfare department, and were certain to be of great value in the future.

The conference passed a resolution declaring that the conference was so impressed with the magnitude and rapid growth of gambling that every Methodist Church should be urged to offer concerted and determined opposition to legislation in the interests of racing clubs. The conference further recorded its conviction that, the present anti-gambling laws are imperfectly administered, and desires to call the attention of the Government to this con viction.

The removal expenses committee recommended, and it was adopted, that, the cost of removals be borne by the whole church, which would divide the cost over a number of years, a separate fund to be established by means of a levy of one per cent, upon the amount paid in ministerial stipends by circuits. The fire insurance fund committee’s report was adopted. The treasurers were authorised to pay to the centenary fund £3OO, to the benevolent 'branch of the supernumary fund £lOO, and to the deaconnesses’ house committee £lOO, the .balance to be added to accumulated funds.

The Rev. Lawry was reappointed general secretary for a period of two years. This evening a memorial service for ministers who died during the year was held, the Rev. J. J. Lewis delivering an address.