WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1850, 7 February 1889, Page 4

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Dunedin, February 4. At the Wesleyan Conference the report of the Jubilee committee was read, and the recommendations from the district committees considered. After a lengthy discussion the following resolutions wore agraed to:—“That in view of the numerous and great blessings God has bestowed upon our Church in this colony during the last fifty years, it is incumbent upon us, and would be eminently appropriate, to express our deep gratitude for the same by special religious services and by a thank-offering to be devoted to the promotion of the work of God : That the Conference therefore endorses the proposal of the central committee to celebrate the jubilm of the Church in 1890, and give a general approval, to the proposal to raise a sum of £25,000 as a thanksgiving fund, to be devoted in a proportion to be hereafter determined— (a) to the extinction of trust debt in places where the work of the Church is impaired by heavy liabilities ; (b) to the formation of the higher education and theological training of Ministerial students; (c) to an increase of the capita! of the loan fund and the formation of a branch to be devoted to the purchase of new sites, it being understood that gifts for any special object ahull be donated in accordance with the wishes of the donor; for the furtherance of these objects a central committee be appointed for the present your with instructions to correspond with other sub-committees in other parts of the colony, and that ibis committee draw up a plan for jubilee, services in (bo various circuits of the colony, and for an appeal for the objects referred to, to be submitted to the GonfereP.ce of 1890, at an early period of its session ; that this comrnitiee fix tha dale during ihe Conference session when the celebration shall commence, and that the president be requested to preach a sermon appropriate to the occasion.” A resolution testifying to the estimation in which the Rev. R. Bavin is held by the Conference was passed, in view; of his removal to New South Wales. The following resolution was passed by i26to 17 “ That this Conference record upon its minutes its strong feeling of regret caused by the refusal of the list General Conference to grant the request of Now Zealand for a separation, and view with alarm the consequences likely lo ensue.” The final draft of stations gives—Timatu, W. B. Marten ; Waimate, W. G. Thomas; Temnku, R. S. Bunn ; Ashburton, J. N, Buttle, and J. T. Burrows. Tho Rev. W. Morley was appointed chairman of the Canterbury district. Feb. 5. At tho Conference a conversation on the work of God elicited much encouraging information as to ihe npiritual revival in many circuits. The Conference expressed sympathy with the proposed Methodist Eeumencial Conference. District meetings were instructed to report to the aejt Conference as lo tho possibility of an equitable minimum stipend for ministers being guaranteed by the Home Mission Fund, Resolutions condemning (he sweating system, and requesting municipal councils to forbid the use of licensed Lulls for pugilistic encounters, were unanimously passed. It was decided to call the attention of Government in obscene literature being sold and circulated in the colony. The matter of an independent Conference for this colony was remitted to the quarterly meetings. It was resolved lo hold the next Conference ai Christchurch. It was agreed that baptismal certificates be printed.