VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE WESLEYAN GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5117, 30 August 1895, Page 2

VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE WESLEYAN GENERAL CONFERENCE.

The Rev. William Morley, who is about visiting. Masterton, is—what the Americans would cal I—a" strong personality." He was born in Nottinghamshire in 1842, preached his first sermon in 1860, and was received by the English Conference as a Probationer in 1863. In tho same year lie came out to New Zealand. The Methodist Church is essentially democratic, and the poorest man in the ranks may rise to tho highest position by steadyplodding,indiistiy and ability. In his early ministry, Mr Morley gave evidence of a peerless capacity for work, be still retains that distinguishing feature, so that it is , commonly reported in the Oonnesjfm. that the does the work of Into' three men. He lias been stationed in thefollowingcircuits:—Manukau, Auckland (twice), Hutl, Wanganui, Lyttelton, Wellington, Christchurch (Durham-Street, twice), St, Albans, mid Dunedin. Four times has be served the Conference as its Secretary, and twice has lie been elected President of the N.Z, Church. At the General Conference held in ' Adelaide, May 1894, he was by a large majority, elected President, This is the bigbestposition aminister of the Wcsleyan Church can bold in the Southern Seas. His spiritual oversight covers the many agencies of the Wcsleyan Church on the Continent of Australia, in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Now Britain, Now Guinea, and New Zealand, Under his jurisdiction there arc 2717 churches; 2002 other preaching places; 5G4 minis- ( tors; 11 colleges; 17,647 Sunday school teachers; 5231 local preachers; 84,164 members; 3,414 Sunday schools ; 177,517 scholars; and

459,071 attendants upon public worship.

Mr Morley lias also filled tlionnition of Principal of Three lungl' College. He was appointed Representative to the British Conference of 1888, and a delegato to tho Ecumenical Conference, held in tho city of 'Washington in 1891. He is now ably serving the Church as Connexional Secretary and Organizing Secretary of Home Missions, As the organizer of the Church Building and Loan Fund, Mr Morley has conferred lasting benefits on N.Z. Methodism. This fund now amounting to £BOOO has been raised by his indefatigable exertions, and has been loaned 2} times over, i.e. £20,000 without interest has been advanced from this fund. Masterton has already had £550 without having to pay a penny of interest, The last great financial schemo earned out by Mr Morley was tho Jubilee Thanksgiving Fund, inaugurated in 1890. This has now reached the sum of £8,378, and tho help afforded by this fund to poor, struggling circuits, in thoir various enterprises is simply incalculable, In the Methodist Churchill-Morley's name is worthily honoured and loved, Tho visit of this distinguish minister, who lias given the im years of his lifo to the elevation of the Colony, ought to bind all the churches together in common Christian greeting, and the attondanco at his lecture to-night should bo very large. '