PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3424, 16 January 1912, Page 3

PRIMITIVE METHODIST CONFERENCE

[ VARIOUS DEPUTATIONS I RECEIVED. UNION WITH SISTER' CHURCHES. h’Tvn press association.! CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 13. The Primitive Methodist Conference ; resumed this morning. The president, Rev, G. Knowles Smith, presiding. A deputation front the Canterbury No-License League, consisting of Messrs L. M. Isitt, M.P., J. McCombs, and A. Cole, was introduced to the Conference by Mr Isitt. Mr Isitt delivered a prohibition address, and urged that further efforts he made in the battle against tile liquor traffic. . ~ Mr McCombs rejoiced at the magnificent vote polled this year for National Prohibition, and at the remarks of the ex-president of t ie Conference on the subject. They must next time bring 48,000 fresh voters to the poll. _ They were thirty years off the goal if the three-fifths'’ majority continued. Mr Isitt: It will not. Mr McCombs said if they wished success they must secure the elimination of the three-fifths majority. Replying on behalf of the Conference Mr C. E. Bellringer said he and his church rejoiced with the deputation on the strong vote for National No-license at the last poll. He thought they were all agreed as to the iniquity of the three-fifths majority, and as a church the Alliance might rely upon their united support. He recognised the prospects of union because it helped the prospect of the other reform more than when they were divided. A deputation from the Methodist Church of Australasia consisting of the Revs. -C. H. Laws, L. Lawry and A. Peters, and Messrs C. E. Salter, J. A. Flesher and James McCullough, was introduced by the Rev. S. Henderson. The RcV. C. H. Laws said that they met that morning under peculiarly happy circumstances. Proposals for the union of the two churches .had been going backward and forward and things wore now in a very happy condition. Ho referred to the excellent results of the meeting of the Union Committee, and if, as many of them hoped, this union would he consummated, it would be a true union of two vigorous churches, not an absorption. Mr J. A. Flesher referred to the lack of church attendance and the lack of religious instruction parents imparted to their children. Not more than 20 per cent, of their people attended the two church services on a Sunday, and not more than half the children in it received religious instruction. These, he considered, were two grave evils which, in the interest of the Dominion, would have to lie remedied. The Rev. S. Lawry, secretary of the Methodist Conference, said he had often thought that it was not a good thing when two churches so much alike, should be in conflict, however harmlessly, when they could do so much more for the Kingdom of God by uniting their forces. The union would mark a new era. Replying on behalf of the Conference, the Rev. J. Guy said he realised they could not live on love. They were one great household, and this marriage they had in view was one between very close relatives. He Imped it was not within the forbidden decree. The Primitive Methodist Clmrch had wished for missions like the Methodists among the Maoris and in the Islands, and they looked forward to assisting in these works when united with the Methodists.