MORLEY, WILLIAM (1842-1926) was born at Orston, Nottingham, and at the age of 21 was admitted to the Methodist ministry in England. He began his New Zealand ministry in 1864 at Manukau, and thereafter filled some of the most important pulpits in the Church. He was an outstanding preacher, a notable organiser and a capable ecclesiastical statesman. His literary gifts were exercised as editor of his church paper for several years. In 1887 he published a pamphlet, The Doctrinal and Ecclesiastical Position of the Methodist Church and in 1900 the voluminous History of Methodism in New Zealand. For 21 years he was chairman of various synods. In 1892 he was principal of Wesley Training College at Three Kings. When the position of connexional secretary was created (1893) he was appointed and held the office with distinction until his transfer to Australia (1902). He was president of the New Zealand conference in 1879 and 1884, and of the general conference of Australasia (1894-97). In 1888 he represented New Zealand at the British and Irish Methodist conferences and in 1891 at the Methodist Ecumenical Conference at Washington. In 1890-91 he was secretary of the Methodist jubilee thanksgiving fund. He was a founder, and for 20 years managing treasurer, of the Methodist church building and loan fund, and was an organiser and managing treasurer of the connexional fire insurance department (the first of its kind amongst New Zealand churches).

Morley was transferred to Victoria in 1902 as managing treasurer of the Australasian Methodist supernumerary fund, a position he held until being superannuated (1922). He was president of the council of Queen's College, University of Melbourne, for some years and a member of the board of missions. He received the honorary D.D. from a Virginia university in 1898. Morley married first Hannah Watson (d. 1878), daughter of the Rev G. Buttle. He died at Melbourne on 24 May 1926.

M.A.; R.P.

Reference: Volume 2, page 54

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