METHODIST CHURCH.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15755, 23 November 1916, Page 11

METHODIST CHURCH.

NORTH CANTERBURY DISTRICT. annual synod. The Ministerial Committee of the Syaod met in the Durham street Church j Parlour on Tuesday, at 10 a.m. The President of the Conference (the Rev. A. C. Lawry) presided. There was a, good attendance of ministers aud home . missionaries. After the opening hymn'' prayers were offered up by the Revs. ( W. Leo and T. Fee. The Rev, A. N. Scotter was elected secretary, and the Rev. J. E. Parsons journal secretary. The' Rev. P. Battey was recommended for ordination at the next Conference. ■' Reports of his trial sermon and book lists were presented, and an oral examination in Bible knowledge and leology was conducted by the Rev. J. Guy. The Rev. Rakena Piripi, Maori probationer. -was recommended to be passed iu his year. Reports of his trial sermon and book list were received, and a full report of the Maori settlements recularly visited by him was considered vorv satisfactory. A report on th£ trial sermon of Mr J. Dennis, student supply at Lecston, r,TS received and assessed. Mr H. Spcncer's trial sermon and b'iok list were reported on and assessed. The matter of methods of training m'mstcrs in the Auckland Theological was discussed. The Liverpool minutes were then read bv the Rev.. J. R. Clark, and a profitable conversation on the work of the CW.?h followed. . The importance of keeping before the minds of the people tV need of spiritual, regeneration and definite attachment to the Church was emphasised, and ministers were urged to work with these objects in view. j REPRESENTATIVE SESSION. The general session of the Synod opened yesterday, at 10 a.m., in the Durham street Schoolroom, the Rev. A. C. Lawry The following ministers and probationers were _ present: Ikivs. W. Leo, Robert Taylor, W. C. Oliver, Hy. Bull,' C. E. Ward, W. J. Williams, P. W. Fairclough, J. Guy, J. Nixon, T. Fee, S. Lawry, A. Peters, W. Layeock, A. C. Lawry, J. Cocker, W. A. Sinclair, T. W. Vealie, A. N. Scotter, J. Harris, B. Metson, J. R. Clark. W. B. Scott, J. F. Martin, N. Turner, P E. Parsons, A. Liversedge, P. Battey, and Rakena Piripi, Missionaries W. T. Hooper, and H. Spencer. Dispensations of absence were granted to Revs. P. N. Knight and R. Wileon. Circuit- representatives: Durham street, Messrs E. C. Brown and C. Overton; Durham street South, Mr Stevens and Mrs Carr; Christchurch East, Messrs C. Strand, W. H. Seed, and F. Sheppard Green; Cambridge Terrace, Messrs H. Holland and C. H. Earwaker; Wooteton, Messrs Harold Buttle and T. T. W. Round; Sydenham, Mr IV. Dobbs and Sister Florence; Addington, Messrs W. Harris, W. T. Barley, and Sister Catherine; St. Albans, Messrs R. A. Tucker, S. IC. Webb, and W. Walker; Papanuij Messrs P. G. Clements and I. Itobinson; Lyttelton Messrs J. Oliver and J. T. Norton; bpringston, Messrs F. Campion and R. S. P." Battersby; Tai Tapu, Messrs T. O. Morgan and J. Gilmour; Leeston, Messrs J. Oliver ana B. Skinner; Kaiapoi, Messrs R. Evans and W. E. Parnham; Ohoka, Messrs R. Down and T. Sheat; Rangiora, Messrs J. Tull,. S. Ayers, and J. W. Rouse; Greendale, Messrs J. Jebson and H. J. Thompson; Amberley, Mr W. T. Lindsay; Oxford, Mr S. E. Footo. Connexional Secretary Committee, Messrs A. P. Drayton and G. Barrell; Supernumerary Fund, Mr J. C. Prudhoe; Church Loan Fund, Mr J. A. Flesher; Church Property Secretary, Mr C. E. Salter; Sunday School Union, Mr "W. C. Francis and Sister Annie Church literature Committee, Mr H. J. S.- Goodman. After the opening prayers were offered up bv the Rev. W. J. Williams, and Mr Hy. Buttle, and the Rev. A. N. Scotter read a Scripture lesson. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair, the last occupant of the Synodal chair, welcomed the new chairman in a short speech. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS;

The President then delivered his inaugural address. After referring to the liquor ring, the gambling circle, and other quarters from -whicn. the Church expected opposition, the speaker referred to tlie unholy and unhealthy rivalry from quarters we scarcely expected to find such a spirit, especially itt times such as the present. He stated that the Methodist Church had oobly done its duty in the time of the Empire's need. From eighty per cent, to ninety per of the eligible young men had gone to the front, and not leas' than nine per cent, of the ttea who had volunteered -were Metho®stß. From enquiries it had been ascertained that on tho varioug transports the percentage of Methodist ffoung men were" 5, 9, 7i, 9J, BJ, 11, and 13} per cent. He had made enfninefc from the Government Departments, but they stated that no reliable records had been kept of the Churches to which the men belonged. He had discovered that men belonging to the Methodist Church had boon recorded, as belonging to other Churches. MethodistChaplain Sullivan had even been, entered as an Anglican. 'In all charity to other branches of the Christian Church," he continued, '*we entirely disagree with the dictum that only through Episcopal channels can the grace of God be communicated. We believe with the ancient bishop, that where Christ is there is the Church, and from our Divine Lord we leant that where two or three gather in His name there is He. As well teach that only through the pipes of one firm will Canterbury artesian waters flow, or that only through the telescopes of on© mater will the glory of the sun and planets shine, as expect us to believe that- only throuch Episcopal channels will God «end His grace. It

% true that in 1745 John "Wesley be.jjwed in the three Orders of Bishop, §|" Priest, and Deacon. In 1756 he beatifcv". Eeved the Episcopacy Scriptural, but necessary. In 1784 ha declared

'Apostolic Succession is a fablo.' We hold with Dr. Fairbairn, that 'the best church is not that which adheres most rigidly to anciont custom, but that which, saves from sin the largest number of people, and makes best use of thom in saving others.' ' 1 He strongly deprecated religknis bigotry at any time, but in "war time it was specially regrettable. Instead of new barriers being erected old ones should be broken down. The war was producing changes; already there was a deeper note of seriousness in some quarters, and almost everywhere a new scale or generosity and a truer assessment of moral values. ~ ~ Mr Hy. Buttle moved and Mr S. Ayers seconded a resolution of hearty thanks to the chairman for his address. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The Synod then elected the followjppr officers: —Secretary, the Itev. A. N. Sootter, 8.A.; assistant, the Rev. JE. Parsons; journal secretary the Rev. B. Metson; reporters, the RevsJ. Cocker, J. F. Martin, and 1". Battey. * greetings. Greetings were ordered to be sent to Chaplains J. A. Luxford, W. Grigg, and A. Mitchell, ministers of tins Synod, two of whom have been wounded on the battlefield. . . The secretary reported that no minister was applying to be made a superuumerary, and that no supernumerary wa a applying to be received again into active work. The Synod adjourned at 12 30 "The afternoon session was opened at 2 p.m. The Rev. C. G. Ward and Mr C. H. EarwaEer offered prayer. CHURCH PROPERTY Mr C. E. Salter, district secretary of Church property, presented his report, "which, stated, inter ana that gilts of land had been made to the Cnurcn during the year as follows: (1) Mr A. E. Craddock, of a valuable corner section at Shirley, as a site tor a new church. The area exceeds a quarter of an acre, and is f most. eligible situation for a church. (2) wit bv Mr R. Johnston, of half an acre> ot land at Aylesbury, for a church site. The ljite Mr 3\ Sowton, of Dunsandel, bequeathed a legacy of £350 to the trustees towards* erecting a church on this site. The thanks of the Synod was ordered to be conveyed to these donors. A site had been purchased at Greendale, and a parsonage erected at a cost of £817, and the parsonage at Darfield and the St. Asaph street church had been sold. The total current income for the year was Eoooo *-s 6d and the expenditure £6285 Is od. The Lower High street church and parsonage had been renovated at a cost or £108; and the St. Albans parsonage renovated and re-furnished at a cost of £200. A deot of £200 on the Opawa Church had been liquidated, and the Springston Church renovated, and new stained glass windows —one an Anzac Memorial" window—put in at a cost of £119. FOREIGN MISSIONS. Foreign Mission matters were introduced by Mr F. Sheppard Green, district secretary. An income of ±.wK) 14s 8d was reported for the district. The Rev. W. A. Sinclair moved that the secretary be thanked for his report and be reappointed. It was also resolved that tary have an ex officio seat in the Synod, also that in the_ interests of foreign missions, an advisory board be appointed for each district. _ The Synod adjourned at 0.30 p.m. until 10 a.m. to-day.