WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2784, 5 March 1895, Page 4

WESLEYAN CONFERENCE.

Nkison, ‘February 28. At the Wesleyan General Conference, which opened here to-day, the Rev, J. H. Simmonda was elected president for th current year on a second ballot, and the Rev. D. J. Murray secretary, A resolution congratulating the Rev.'H. Lawry on bis ministerial jubilee was carried. The Rev. D. McNicoll delivered an address in which he spoke of the good results of the year. There were 383 more members returned this year than last, and 2280 more hearers. There are now in connection with the five annual Conferences 645 ministers, 84,164 members, and 459,671 attendants. Thus in four years there had been an increase of 27 ministers, 10,796 members, 383,996 adherents. He spoke on the subject of Methodist Union, the Supernumeraries fund, foreign mis sions, home missions, Maori missions, higher education, 1 he Advocate, the liquor traffic, gambling, and the future of the church, urging that the future would be what they made it. At the Wesleyan Conference to-day the resignation of the Rev. J. T. Knott, of Canterbury, was accepted with regret. Congratulatory telegrams from the Vic- ‘ torian and New South Wales Conferences were read; also from the U.M.F.C. district meeting at Christchurch. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair was received into full connection ; the Rev. J. S. Rishworth as one year supernumerary. The Rev. J. Crump was received again into full work. The Rev. S. Griffiths was given a year’s leave to visit England. March 2 The Rev. R. S. Bunn, residing in New South Wales, was continued a. a supernumerary on account of ill-health. The request of the Ashburton Circuit for division was granted. The Blackball District, West Coast, is to be occupied as a new station, and Cheviot was made a home mission station. Otaki was constituted a circuit.

The Rev. W. Morely read correspondence and placed before the Conference a large number of documents in connection with the subject of Methodist Union. Discussion on this question will be taken next Tuesday. The connexional secretary (Rev. W. Morley), presented a very full report of his work during the past year. After discussion Mr Morley's re-appointment was carried by 39 votes to nil.