METHODISTS CONFER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 273, 17 November 1922, Page 6

METHODISTS CONFER.

I 1 ■ WORK OP THE SYNOD. CHURCH'S SPHERE EXTETSTS<ED. The Methodist Synod was continued resterday, Rev. Dr. C. H. Laws P«"*.n*. Reporting on the transfer of the theological college to Grafton Road it was stated that this would involve new college buildings and a hostel, also the I appointment of a second tutor the Rev. H. Ranston, M.A. The Rev. E. P. Blamirea addressed the synod on the encouraging progress of work of the young people's department. At a meeting of the Ministerial Committee, five candidates for the ministry were recommended for reception to the conference—Messrs. A. Blakemore, 1. G. Brown, H. C. Orchard, H- Spencer, and ] C. R. Taylor. The Rev. H. Ford was j recommended to be ordained, and the Rev. J. H. Allen was to be passed in his first year as a probationer. Mr. E. W. Hames was recommended to conference to be received on probation. The reports and recommendations of the Home Mission and Church Extension Committee were presented by the Rev. T. G. Brooke, general secretary of home mieeions, and Rev. A. J. Seamer, super- j intendent of Maori missions. The j home missions income of the district | for 1923 was estimated to reach £3300. . The proposed expenditure for the year was agreed to; for Maori work £3253, European work £"90; total, £4043. The Revs. T. G. Brooke and G. Bond, treasurers of the fund, were recommended to conference for reappointment. Mr. J. Neale, lay treasurer, was also recommended to conference for reappointment. Rev. T. G- Brooke gave notice of his intention of seeking superannuation at the conference of 1924, as he will have been in the active work of the ministry for 44 years. For 15 years he has been the general secretary of home missions, and during that period the work of the home mission department had doubled and the income risen j from over £2000 to nearly £7000. j The following resolution in to , the liquor poll was carried:—"This synod calls upon the Methodist people of Auckland district to use every endeavour, by prayer and service, to I secure the victory for national pro- j hibition, and so rid the Dominion of the grievous evils always attendant upon the sale of liquor. The synod also desires to point out the danger of voting for the middle issue on the ballot paper— State purchase and control —since every vote cast for it counts also for continuance, and in any case it is almost impossible for this issue to succeed." Mr. J. W. Shackelford presented the I report of the district properties, showing income £14,671, expenditure £13,576, debts £191,107, insurance £99,875. The report of the District Foreign Mission Committee showed an income of £2,258. The two mission papers showed a circulation of 1000 each in the district during the year. Bougainville, a large heathen island in the Solomons, has been occupied, and other new ground covered. Two Maori ministers had volunteered for work in the Solomons. A layman of Auckland had donated a lighting plant, which has been installed at Kokengoto. ———^ —^^