ANNUAL SESSION COMMENCED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 280, 24 November 1915, Page 7

ANNUAL SESSION COMMENCED.

1 CARNIVAL LOTTERIES. £ The annual sessions of the Auckland District Methodist Synod were opened yesterday m the Pitt Street Methodist schooh-oom, when a ministerial session was held, Rev. C. H. Laws, B.A. (chairman of the district), presiding. Revs. K. B. Gosnell and J. E. Parsons, having passed an oral examination, were recommended to conference for ordination to the -work of the ministry. Rev. S. J. Werren was recommended to pass in his year as a ministerial probationer. Messrs E. B. Chambers and AM. Coslain were recommended to Conference as candidates for the ministry. After consideration of reports on the work of the students in the Theological College, it was decided to recommend that Messrs. E. Sage and Kendon be appointed to circuit -work next year, and that the following receive further training:—Messrs Brown, Blight, Dennis, Fordyce, Parker and Warburton. It wa s reported that four students—Messrs. Mogridge, Olds, Sheridan, and Smith—were on service with the Expeditionary Forces. ' The official service was held last night in the Pitt Street Methodist Church, when a sermon was preached by Rev! Lewis Hudson, of Mount Albert. The ordinary sessions were opened this morning, Rev. C. H. Laws presiding. About ninety clerical and lay members were present. Rev. C. C. Harrison was elected secretary to the Synod, and Rev. J. B. Suckling assistant secretary. The following notice of motion was given by Rev. G. Bond:—"That this Synod,expresses its sympathy with the objects and motives of the Auckland Patriotic League in raising fundg for the sick and wounded soldiers and the dependents of those slain in battle, but the Synod deplores the fact that the gambling element, in the form of raffles, lotteries, and games of chance, has entered into, and is playing such a conspicuous part in the movement, and this for the following reasons:— (a) It is an appeal to the lowest foriaji oi selfishneai,

instead of the highest motive of sacrifice; (b) it i 3 calculated to foster in the young the gambling spirit, which is evil, only evil, and-always harmful in its moral effects; (c) it is out of harmony with the gravity of the situation and the solemn crisis of our Empire's history. The Synod therefore urges the Methodist people of Auckland to do their utmost to counteract this menace to the community by direct and liberal gifts to the fund."

Rev. C. H. Garland gave notice of a motion appointing a deputation to wait on the City Council to protest against the proposed running of trams during church hours on Sundays. Some time was devoted to dealing with ministerial and Home Mission returns, and to church property affairs. A conversazione and public welcome to the Synod will be held in the Pitt Street schoolroom this evening..