METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7975, 28 February 1906, Page 5

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

DUNEDIN, February 27.

At the Methodist Conference it was deoided to relieve the Hawera circuit from taking a second married Minister for another year. Prince Albert ' College matters were dealt with, so, also, those connected with the Supernumerary Fund. In couection with the latter fund several Ministers were reported to be in arrears in payment?, it was decided that in future all such cases be dealt with.. In connection with the Contingent Fund, there was reported an income of £l,lßl, and the balance left for future] contingencies was £352. Several.compassionate allowances to retiring Ministers were voted. There was considerable discussion over mission work in Fiji, and a resolution was passed recommending the New South Wales Conference to suspend the legislation of the last general Conference with" regard to Fiji, until the general Conference. The report of the oonuexional Sunday Schools was considered. The Rev. T. N. Griffin was appointed general Secretary for the coming year. The report in the "QutlooK" was adopted, and hearty thanks were given to the retiring Editor and President. A considerable portion of the afternoon was taken up with a consideration of the young men's forward movement. Gratification was expressed at the work done by the orsraniping secretary, and it was unanimously resolved to continue the bfficel. On naval and on military matters it was decided that the Minister of Defence be waited upon regarding chaplain's appointments to volunteers, and urged that in each battalion staff there be two chaplains, and that thev shall aot both be of the same denomination. A committee was set up to watch and foster the appointment of, deaconesses throughout the church in New Zealand. In future there is to be a term of two years' training before any sister is to be employed as at present. 'lhere are eight deaconesses working.for the Ohuroh'in the colony. A financial difficulty l at Coromandel was definitely dealt with, by (rne assistance of the Church Loan Fund., Provision wasmddeto enable the lay members of the standing committee to sit on that committee in future during all its sessions. A report on the Bible-ia-' schools was received, and a central committee was appointed. In the evening a missionary demonstration was held.