METHODISTS. 



499 



gave the number of members of society as 198,- 

 390, showing an increase for the year of 1,748; of 

 ministers, 1,102; of local preachers, 1(5,017; of 

 class leaders, 10,604; of Sunday schools, 4,341, 

 with 61,015 teachers and 467,884 pupils. Of the 

 50,000 raised by the Primitive Methodist Jubi- 

 lee fund, 28,600 had been handed over to the 

 treasurers of the various funds to be benefited 

 by the movement in the following proportions: 

 College fund, 10,550; Chapel Loan fund, 9,350; 

 Missionary fund, 9,350; and Superannuated 

 Preachers', Widows', and Orphans' fund, 9,350. 



The Itinerant Preachers' Friendly Society re- 

 ported an income of 12,827 and an expenditure 

 of 9,139. Its capital stood at 44,481, show- 

 ing an increase for the year of 1,652. It was 

 decided at the meeting of the society, regarding 

 the position of the Australian ministers after the 

 consummation of Methodist union in Australia, 

 that all members of the society of thirty-five 

 years' standing be retained, and that the inter- 

 ests of those of less than thirty-five years of mem- 

 bership be actuarily valued, while all the widows 

 and orphans annuitants shall be retained. 



The annual meeting of the Primitive Methodist 

 Missionary Society was held in London, May 16. 

 The report showed that receipts had been 18,395 

 for the general fund and the expenditure 14,- 

 783, the income being 1,724 more than that 

 of the previous year, and giving a balance to the 

 credit of the treasury of 3,611. The total re- 

 ceipts for the African fund had been 8,205 ad- 

 ditional, and the expenditure 5,280, leaving a 

 credit balance of 2,924. In addition to the 

 money which had passed through the hands of 

 the treasurers, 15,171 had been raised and ap- 

 propriated locally by the missions on the gen- 

 eral fund and 2,545 at the African missions, 

 making a total missionary revenue of 44,337, 

 or 2,677 more than that of the previous year. 

 It had been many years since so large an increase 

 of missionary revenue had been reported. The 

 33 home missions returned 107 connectional 

 chapels, 8,950 hearers, 45 ministers, 11 lay mis- 

 sionaries, 6 Bible women, 292 local preachers, 

 97 Sunday schools, with 850 teachers and 7,698 

 pupils, and 3,996 church members, an increase of 

 32. The reports from the African stations Ali- 

 wal North, Santa Isabel, San Carlos Bay, Bottle 

 Nose, Banni, and Archibongville showed good 

 conditions. 



The eightieth conference of the Primitive Meth- 

 odists met at Grimsby, June 14. The Rev. Wil- 

 liam Goodman was chosen president. The reports 

 presented showed that the Church had 198,915 

 members, with more than 600,000 hearers attend- 

 ing the services, 467,884 children in the Sunday 

 schools, and church property valued at 3,919,- 

 000, and that it raised nearly 350,000 a year 

 for its chapel property. The Connectional fund 

 had an income of 11,190; the book room had 

 enjoyed great prosperity, with an increase of 

 115 in its gross profits and a considerable ad- 

 vance in the circulation of the connectional maga- 

 zines, while 3,250 had been applied from the 

 profits for the* support of superannuated minis- 

 ters, widows, and orphans. The latter fund main- 

 tained out of its income 144 worn-out ministers, 

 149 widows, and 4 orphans. The Sunday School 

 Union reported progress in every department, 

 with a balance in hand of 394 and an increase 

 of 36 schools, with 2,878 pupils. The Chapel Aid 

 Association had loan accounts amounting to 

 216,323, and had during the few years of its 

 work seen debts lowered to the extent of more 

 than 63,000, while the general chapel fund had 

 made grants during the year of 1,045, to earn 



which the churches had raised locally 9,720. 

 The orphanage was full, and returned the highest 

 income in its history. Manchester, Klmficld, and 

 Bourne Colleges were in a flourishing condition. 

 Forty-eight thousand pounds sterling had been 

 raised toward the contemplated jubilee fund of 

 50,000. The Central Council of Christian En- 

 deavor returned 1,042 societies, with more than 

 35,000 members. The joint subcommittee on 

 union with the Bible Christians, which had been 

 sitting during the year, reported recommendations 

 dealing mainly with the principle of representa- 

 tion in the Conference. The whole question was 

 referred to the quarterly meetings of the circuits 

 and to the districts. A proposition for legislation 

 securing a seat in the Conference and a vote to 

 the heads of all the connectional departments re- 

 ceived no favor. Measures were adopted for 

 bringing the connectional organization of Chris- 

 tion Endeavor into closer touch with the na- 

 tional movement. The minimum to be aimed at 

 for the salary of ministers was ordered raised 

 from 88 to 100 a year. 



Methodist New Connection (British). The 

 report of the Beneficent Society, published just 

 previous to the Conference, showed a slightly in- 

 creased income, and provision was made for new 

 claimants. This society seeks, from its capital 

 of 29,000 and from circuit contributions and 

 the subscriptions of ministers, to provide annui- 

 ties for worn-out ministers and their widows and 

 orphans, and by means of its auxiliary fund to 

 help them in furnishing houses of their own when 

 they are obliged to retire from circuit manses. 



The one hundred and third Conference met in 

 Manchester, in the Wesleyan Central Hall, June 

 13. The Rev. John E. Radcliffe, of Batley, was 

 chosen president. A report on prolonged ap- 

 pointments of ministers to home-mission stations 

 was adopted, by the provisions of which the sta- 

 tion applying for a minister beyond five years 

 is required to manifest growing liberality to Con- 

 nectional institutions, encouraging increase in 

 congregations and church membership, tendency 

 to self-support, and actual progress in the reduc- 

 tion of debt or the founding of new churches. 

 The appointment will be made by the Conference 

 on the favorable report of the Home Missionary 

 Committee investigating the case. Under these 

 provisions one minister was appointed for a sixth 

 year to a station and another for a seventh year. 

 A system was further adopted for the visitation 

 of home-mission stations and aided circuits by 

 a minister and a layman, with a view of encour- 

 aging them in efforts toward self-support. In 

 cases where a station has only one minister an 

 occasional interchange with a minister of a neigh- 

 boring circuit was recommended. A representative 

 committee of sixteen members was appointed to 

 review the legislation affecting appointments to 

 Connectional departments (administration of mis- 

 sions, book room, etc.) during the last ten years, 

 with a view to securing increased efficiency and 

 economy, and to report to the next conference. 

 The report of the book room showed diminished 

 profits. The Conference resolved to afford ex- 

 ceptional help and counsel to the London asso- 

 ciation. 



United Methodist Free Churches. The 

 book room and the London Chapel Extension 

 fund of this body show continued advance. 



The Chapel Relief fund returned a somewhat 

 reduced income, but buildings had been erected 

 or enlarged at a cost of 39.000, toward which 

 21,500 had been subscribed, and chapel debts 

 had been reduced by 30.000. The Loan fund 

 continued to afford substantial help. 



