IN THE CHURCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1936, Page 10

IN THE CHURCHES.

METHODIST SYNOD. L AUCKLAND GATHERING. : — I "flie annual synod of the Methodist [ Church of the Auckland district will bp held during this week ill the Pitt Street Church and schoolroom. The r official opening takes, place to-mor- , row morning, the first act being a service of Holy Communion at 9.30 a.m. ' This will be followed by the opening of the representative session and the ' inaugural address by the chairman of ; the district, the Rev. E. D. Patchett, the sessions continuing on Thursday and ■ Friday. About 160 representatives are expected to attend, embracing the district from the North Cape to Mercer, and a very full agenda awaits'the synod members. Important matters dealing with the extension work in the district, statistical returns, the Trinity Theological College and Wesley College, Paerata, the social service work of the Church, vital issues under "public questions," missionary work in the Dominion and overseas, as well as a great deal of business relative to Dominion-wide Methodism, will , claim the full time and attention of : representatives. A ministerial session will be held on Tuesday, when all matters relating to the examination of candidates for the ministry, theological students, probationer ministers and home missionaries will be dealt with. The chief executive officer of the synod will be the Rev. F. J. Parker, secretary of the district. A social gathering will be held on Tuesday evening in the Pitt Street schoolroom. PAPAKURA ANNIVERSARY. The Papakura Methodist Sunday School held successful services on Sunday, when large congregations assembled at three services. The scholars were addressed in the morning by the Rev. Percy Cooke, of Otahuhu, in the afternoon by the Rev. W. T. Blight, of Trinity Methodist Theological College, ' and by the Rev. I. M. Ravnor, their own minister, in the evening. A feature of the celebrations was the splendid singing of the children, among whom were several boys from the Masonic Boys' Home (Papakura). MOUNT EDEN FRATERNAL. The final meeting for the year of the Mount Eden Methodist Men's Fraternal was held last week, the president, Mr. V. Brooks, presiding. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted in the principal offices ' being held as follows: President, Mr. L. Joll; hon. president, the Rev. F. J. Parker; secretary, Mr. P. Crump; treasurer, Mr. S. Burton. The financial statement, presented by ; the treasurer, Mr. A. Woodiiam, showed the funds of the fraternal to be in a very satisfactory condition. i The principal feature of the evening.] was a discussion on "Problems of the h New Legislation," the subject being : opened by Mr. Joll and Mr. Howard,] Cooper, B.A. Various aspects of the i industrial legislation, particularly in re- i gard to its application to youths, and 1 the employment of leisure time, were discussed. A brief but enjoyable musical programme was rendered by the "Philhar- * monies," Mr. E. Clarke and Mr. T. Ellison. ! It was'decided that the first meeting , of the 1937 session be held on the second ' Thursday in April next. j