METHODIST SYNOD.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 277, 21 November 1919, Page 7

METHODIST SYNOD.

The Auckland District Methodist i Synod was continued last evening and I to-day. SUNDAY SCHOOL STATISTICS. The reports furnished to the Synod give statistics as follow: 77 Sunday schools, with 652 teachers and 6,576 scholars; the junior members total 1,124. The number of scholars received into the Church membership during the year was 176, and the cradle roll contains 894 : names. I Thea mount raised for foreign missions jwas £149 6/6, and for home missions £146 0/3. The Bible class members are: .Young women 489, young men 378, members of C.E. 957, worshipping children's league 712, members of Bands of Hope 1,558. General statistics: Churches 81, ; school buildings 29, parsonage 27, ministers and probationers 43, home missionaries 9, deaconesses 2, local preachers 119, class leaders 13, members 4,127, communicants 2,502, Young People's Society 56, members 1,229, attendant at worship 16,033. j The Synod resolved that the Rev. J. G. Hammond be asked to put on record his valuable knowledge of the Maori, people. THE LIQUOR POLLS. The following resolution was carried unanimously: K That this Synod recognising the evils of the liquor traffic, urges upon all the members and ad- i herents of our Ohurch the need for ! earnest effort and wort in the coming I prohibition polL In view of the danger of State purchase and control, it deplores the apparent lack of interest in this great question, and urges upon all our people the aeceaaitr for toting in favour of total prohibition and the abolition of this great evil." Some missions. The Rev. G. Bond reported that the home mission effort lor the district is expected to return £1,315. The grants recommended for 1920 amount to: Maori work £2,000, home mission stations £640. MINISTERS' STIPENDS. The matter of the higli cost of living and stipende of ministers was con- j sidered t and a resolution was carried j that in consequence of the increased cost of living the Quarterly Meetings and Connexional Committees be recom- | mended to' increase the stipends of • their ministers and probationers by at lcaet 25 per cent on the amount paid by them at the outbreak of war. . REAPPOINTMENTS. The Synod recommended to the conference of 1021 the reappointment for ! a further term of three years in the I cases of Rev. T. G. Brooke, organising ! secretary, Rev. G. Bond, "treasurer, and Mr. J. Veal, lay treasurer. CHURCH PROPERTIES. Mr. T. (B. Arthur presented the report of the district secretary of church properties, showing an income for the year of £8,170, an expenditure of £6,800, and a debt reduction of £1,203. The amount of insurance on buildings and furniture was £75,800. The balance-sheets of the various trusts, presented by Mr. G. A. Buttle, were adopted. Mr. Buttle was recommended for re-appointment. THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. The Rev. G. T. Marshall, acting-prin-cipal of the Theological College, presented the annual report. The Rev. H. Ranston was recommended to conference , for appointment as teacher in Bible lan- I guages and literature. It iras recommended that students ehould remain in ' ■the college for three before going on circuit work. FOREIGN MISSIONS REPORT. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair presented the report of the Foreign Missions, which J showed that when all the returns are ' available this year's income may be con- j fidently expected to equal l , if not exceed,- j the record income of £11,166 received ! last year. It was stated that £10,000 ■ had been forwarded "to the general j treasurers in Sydney, and £100 paid to the British and Foreign Bible Society in j accordance with the resolution of con- j ference. The remainder would be to tihe working capital fund. „ CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVES. The Rev. W. J. Elliott was elected district representative to the conference, I Rev. H. Ranston being substitute representative. M.T. ALBERT ORPHANAGE. The report of Mt. Albert Orphanage was submitted and the Rev. J. Blight and Mrs. Blight were heartily thanked for the success of the past year. I MILITARY TRAINING. The Synod resolved: "That while, not opposed to the efforts to maintain a reasonable scheme of military defence involving the holding of military camps, this Synod regards the proposal of camps for four months' continual train-1 ing with grave concern." INDENTURED LABOUR. It was agreed: "That recognising the gravity of the position created by the j maintenance of indentured labour in the j Pacific, this Synod requests the Foreign ' Mission Committee to (|b£aTn the fullest | possible information and present a | statement to the forthcoming conference." CHURCH CENTENARY. The Conference Committee of the Centenary of the Church recommended that, the Rev. S. Chadwick (accompanied by Mrs. Chadwick) be invited to take part in the celebrations in 1922, and, failing him, that the Rev. F. L. Wiseman be invited; that Gipsy Smith be invited to | conduct a series of Missions during 1923; that Prince-Consort Tugi, of Tonga, be invited to take part* in the! Centenary Celebrations; that two mm-! isters be appointed for a whole year each, one to work in each Island, and that the Conference make suitable arrangements for supply with the circuits, to which these ministers may be appointed. The committee unanimously suggests to Conference for this work the Revs. A. C. Lawry and W. Ready. TO RAISE A THANKSGIVING FUND The Supernumerary Fund Board re-; ported that, to enable, an increase of 15 per cent to be made in the annuities to supernumeraries and widows, the capital ; of the fund would have to be increased ! by £8000, in addition to increased pay-! ments by ministers and circuits. The committee finally recommends that the sum ■ aimed at for the Thanksgiving Fund be £35,000. It was recommended to increase the supernumeraries' allowances as from next conference, 1920. ; The Synod closed at noon to-day. I ' —■' '■ ■ i