METHODIST SYNOD

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17922, 16 November 1923, Page 11

METHODIST SYNOD

ANNUAL MEETING. When the North Canterbury District Synod resumed yesterday morning tho discussion on the report of the Deaconess' Home, presented at the previous evening's session, was resumed, and the report was adopted. The Synod decided that grants similar to last year be requested from the, Home Mission Fund, Foreign Mission Board, Contingent Fund, and Fire Insurance Board in aid of the work of the House. Thanks were passed to Sister Buth, Miss Hawkins (house sister), the ladies of the House Committee, and the lecturers for the efficient manner in which they had carried out their duties. The following commituee was suggested for 1924:—The Chairman of the District, the Connexional Secretary and ' the superintendent ministers of the Christchurch Circuits, together with the ministers appointed to New Brighton and Linwood, and Messrs I>. M. Isitt, M.P., E. C. Brown, J. C. Prudhoe, A. Borrons, C. A. Newman, W. Dobbs, Geo. Bowron, and the five ladies of the House Committee. The Rev. J. Harris presented the report of the South Island Methodist Orphanage, which showed that ' there were 34 children in the home, exclusive of five older hoys who were hoarded in the Presb}'terian Boys' Home. Mr and Mrs F. J. Butler, of Linwood, had been appointed manager and matron respectively of the home. Long-needed renovations had been carried out in connexion with the home. Financial support was urgently needed, as there had been a serious falling-off in the revenue from the Circuits. The Christmas Cheer Fund was commended to the practical consideration of all Methodists. Dr. Orchard, Mr Sevicke Jones, members of the Ladies' House Committee, members of the staff, donors of gifts, Rev. J. Harris and Mr Geo. Bowron were heartily thanked for their services. The following were recommended to the conference as the Board of Management for 1924:—The Chairman of the District, the Connexional Secretary, the Superintendents of Durham street, Christchurch East, St. Albans, Papanui, Cambridge terrace, Sydenham, Addington, Woolston and Riccar- , ton; the Revs. W. J. Williams, G. Bowron, "W. H. Seed, T. A. Joughin, E. D. Patchett, and Sisters Mabel and Ruth; Messrs W. H. Seed, J. C. Frudhoe, J. A. Flesher, F. Thompson, L. M. Isitt, M.P., F. A. Sheat, J. Lomas, W.-T. Burley, F. Campion. M. Kershaw, W. H. Marshall and J. Gilmour. The balance-sheet in connexion with the orphanage showed an income of £1461 Os 6d and expenditure amounting to £1386 Os 7d>. From the income must be deducted the sum of £395 16s received on Endowment account, which is only being used temporarily. The ordinary income was short by £320 10a Id, brought about by a falling-off of £290 in donations and subscriptions, and £B9 on church and Sunday school collections as compared with the previous year. Special attention was drawn to the very welcome contribution of £4O from the Canterbury Rugby Union. In connexion with the Temperance and Public Morals report, the Rev. W, J. Williams moved .-—"That this' Synod re-affirms its whole-hearted support of Prohibition as the onlypraCf. ■ tical remedy for the evils caused by the liquor traffic. It notes the desperate efforts made bv the supporters of that traffic everywhere to maintain its existence, too,often by means that are wholly unscrupulous. In view of' its open antagonism to all that the Church of God stands for, this Synod regards a ceaseless -war upon the liquor trade as one- of the most sacred duties to which the Church is called and hereby pledges itself to renewed efforts to push the ...battle to the gate that leads to victory. In particular it commends the New Zealand Alliance as • worthy of the practical sympathy of all who-are concerned in the removal of the national curse of intemperance." The Eev. J. Harris presented the report on Home Missions. Certain recommendations dealing with the duties of the General Superintendent were refer- ; Ted to the District Home . Mission Advisory Committee for ; consideration) such committee to communicate with the \[ Conference .Committee and Home Mission Executive. i A good deal .of- time was spent in dealing with machinery clauses, recom : mended by the Dominion Home Mission Executive. An amendment that no appointment be made during 1924 of an assistant to the General Superintendent (Eev. .A'. J. Seamer) was. carried unanimously. ' It was also decided that the connexion-; al secretary (Eev. S. LawTy) be recommended for appointment as t a ; corresponding member of the executive. After a close division it was decided that the Synod agree to the Home MisDepartment taking steps to secure the completion- and publication of a Methodist Service Book, suitable for the use 'of readers in services, in localities where and on occasions when fully qualified lay preachers are not .available. • .■■ - Home Mission Fund income was reported to be £1240 16s ''ld, mfcde up as follows: Durham street, £160;. Christchurch . East, £170; Woolston, £54 12s 2d; Cambridge Terrace, £3l 7s 6d; St. Albans, £B4 18s; Papanui, £54 12 8 2d;.Lyttelton, £l6; Springston, £SO 2s lid; Tai Tapu, £45; Leeston, £SO; Kaiapoi, £4l 9s 7d; Ohoka, £49 12s id; Eangiora, £72; GreendaleMalvern, £45 15s 8d; Oxford, £l4. The following grants were recommended for 1924: Hawarden, £65; Eiccarton, £6O; Ohoka, £3O; GreendaleMalvern, £6O; Deaconess Institution, £75. Hearty votes of thanks were expressed to the chairman, secretary, assistant, secretaries, reporters and the Press by Mr F. Thompson and Eev. E. D. Pat-' chett. Special mention was made of the luncheon and afternoon teas provided by the ladies and they were heartily thanked. The election of the representative of the district to the Stationing Committee resulted in the election of Eev. W.B. Scott -with Eev. E. D. Patchett as substitute.

Afternoon Session. Mr Sheppard Green presented the Foreign Mission report, which was incomplete, owing to the financial statement not being complete. Mr Green emphasised the excellence of the work of Foreign. Mission secretaries in Addington,: St. Albans, Springston, Kangiora, and Kaiapoi. It was agreed ■■ to close the accounts on the 15th December in future. The sum received for the fund during the year up to October 18th amounts to £4763. The sum of £ISOO had been received from the treasurer of the Centenary Fund. A legacy of £IOOO had been received from the estate of the late " Emily J. Martin, of Auckland. The Board has decided to place £SOO of this amount to working capital and £SOO to reserve for the hospital, which it is proposed to erect at the Solomons, when a medical man is available. The report stated —inter alia—that it was impossible to speak too highly of the work of the Women's Auxiliaries. Thev were proving a great educational force in the churches where they were established. It was worthy of - record that the whole of the Sisters' salaries were paid by this excellent organisation; The quarterly magazine, "The Open Door," had been. favourably received and had a circulation of 5100.

The Children's Missionary ' paper,, had*' considerably increased its circulation which stood at 5750. The general secretary (Eey. W. A. Sinclair) in addition to the .office and general work involved in the administration of the affairs of the Missionary Society, has-done deputation work in no ' fewer than 61 circuits arid Home Mission J stations this year. The "Board 'of Mis- ' sions has unanimously nominated the j Rev,' W. -A. Sinclair for appointment | for a second term as general secretary ' as from the Conference of 1925. 1 Mr Green was heartily thanked for , his services and recommended for reappointment. The Be v. 8.8. Tinsley presetted the report of the Times' *'" Literature Committee, in which it was stated that interest in the connexions! paper was well maintained. The Synod tendered its sincere thanks to the Editor and Associate Editor for their valued services and to the busir ness manager for painstaking care in which he has conducted his branch of the work. The Synod learned, with deep regret, of the retirement of the Editor (Rev. J. N: Milne) who.is returning to England. Opportunity was taken to express appreciation and thank him for his work. Mr Milne thanked the Synod, for its vote and expressed his. sorrow that circumstances compelled the breaking of his connexion with New Zealand Methodism. . ' The Synod' recommended to the Conference, that the Associate Editor (the Kev. P. B. Paris) "be appointed Connexional Editor. The Rev: E. D. Patchett presented the report of, the Centenary Fund, which showed that the total sum promised amounted to '£.43,405 4s 3d and . the sum unpaid to date totalled £10,336 3s 9d> which included one large promise of four figures. As far as North Canterbury was concerned the sum promised totalled £7247 13s 3d and the. amount unpaid £2539 16s. In connexion with, the Centenary Volume it was decided, to, recommend the advisability of calling upon the guarantors to make up' the deficiency resulting from the publication of the' volume. The Rev. B. Dudley .moved:—"That, we express ourselves as in hearty sympathy with' the Mission of Spiritual Healing being conducted in the Dominion by Hickson. We rejoice in the report of many authenticated eases of physical healing as a result of faith in the presence and power in our midst of the' Lord Jesus Christ and especially in the more directly spiritual effects of such Mission. We appreciate ; the spirit of brotherly courtesy shown by the authorities of the Anglican Church in inviting the co-operation of the nonepiscopal churches. We. pray that the Divine blessing may continue to rest upon the Mission shortly to be held in Christchurch, in a, gracious manifestation of the Divine power in the healing of many of their bodily and spiritual infirmities. '■' Several spoke to the motion which was carried unanimously. The : Rev. S. Lawry. introduced a motion having for its object the limitation of the size of conferences. After several had taken part in the debate the motion was voted' out. The Rev. J. R. Clark was placed on the supernumerary list for another year. The Rev. E. D. Patchett was elected aa secretary, of the Synod of ■ 1924.