THE METHODIST CHURCH.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20089, 19 November 1930, Page 13

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

ANNUAL SYNOD. ministerial committee meets A sitting of the District Ministerial Committer at Durham Street Methodist Church yesterday morning inaugurated the sessions of the annual Synod of the North Canterbury District of ibe Methodist Cliurcb. The Rev. A. N. Scotter (president of the conference and chairman of district) presided over an attendance of about 40 ministers. The secretarial duties were discharged by the Rev. A. H. Fowles. assisted by Revs. E. W. Harues, and H. Fallows (journal secretary). The Revs. J. It. Nelson. T. J. Wallis, and L. C. Horwood were appointed Press reporters. After preaching trial sermons and undergoing oral examination in theology and literature, the Revs. H. tallows, L. C. Horwood, and W. Parker, advanced a year in their probation. The president, in a brief address, (tressed the importance of the ministers fostering the devotional spirit m their circuits, by holding regular meetings for fellowship among their congregations. . Letters of sympathy were dnected to be sent to several ministers in whose families there is sickness. Afternoon Session. At the afternoon session of the Ministerial Committee, two candidate for the ministry—Messrs C. Duder and J L. Woodhouse —were nominated by the Revs. J. F. Jack and E. W. Hames - rispectively, and after reports on their trial sermons, and an oral examination Vn theologv, were recommended to m received at the ensuing conference for ttraiuig in the Auckland Theological Crffegt. The oral examiner for probftiUNiers and candidates was the liov.

VF . T. Blight. Jtpects and methods' of evangelism *ere under consideration durinz the afternoon, following upon addresses by the Be vs. E. W. Hames and E. P. Blamires (Dominion Organiser of Tooth Work). _ . It was emphasised by Mr Hames ■ that one of the difficulties of presentday evangelism was that the emphasis had shifted within the last fears from the mass to the group. The day of mass missions appeared to he past. The group method of evangelistic appeal was of great potential raloe, if it eould avoid the peril or argument, and keep to lines or fellowship aud experience. The evolutionary doctrine had also somewhat accentuated the problem, interpreting religious experience in terms of growth rather than of cataclysm, which teemed rather to weaken the force or the appeal for conversion. But perhaps it was one of the gains of the | new spirit and method that at least there was a more ethical note in the modern presentation of the gospel, for some of the earlier evangelistic appeals had" certainly repelled thoughtful Bearers by their violently unethical interpretations of the truth. He urged that while the work among young 1 people was of increasing value, they most not forget to cultivate the < *®"" site evangelistic note, and not let nurture take the place of conquest. Tile need for humility, clarity, and sympathy was stressed by M r «' Blamires as essential to the preacher s message and work. He urged that ministers should avoid in their work tite dangers of professionalism, mstitationalism, and the too superior tt 1tude, and cultivate a true, sympathy sad fellowship with their hearers. ? Plea for Friendliness. In the evening a social was held in the Durham street Schoolroom, at which the Bev. A. N. Scotter, president of the. Dominion Conference, and chairman ot the North Canterbury District, presided. Brief addresses were given by the Bev. F. T. Harris and the Rev. O. Burnet. The Bev. F. T. Harris (Tai Tapu) »sid that the secret for a successful social was also the secret for a successful church. Many ministers felt sad at heart that the number who would turn out for a social would not be present at a prayer meeting. The social offered free, informal, and disinterested friendliness, and whenever people co'ild be appealed to in that way thev would be drawn. Had the difference anything to do with the architectural design of the churches! It Beemed to him sometimes that the church design gave undue prominence to the august aud exclusive of the Deity, and not enough to the aspect of loving our neighbours as "twelves. Paul had spoken of the jjurch as a family, a fellowship. If we ehurches could be built, furnished, a ®d conducted 60 that there was always atmosphere of friendliness and welw ®e about them, then they would- be ofteii filled - T!le instant appeal v social, the fact that the human eart immediately.responded to friendless, showed that there was to it an JJ® n , °°. o r! or a door to which we had the key if We would use it> that the evils of society ■J.«. over come better by frieudlithan by invective. "Good Old Days." tj,. t e ® ev - O. Burnet (Kaiapoi) said lootir. ?°°? Tnan y people were still *heu p to the good old days action in the world was in- th definite, and were lamentiav kv.. e 8 state of thiugs. Some *ould . w ' 10 . looked back to our day 'fiumoh,^ 0 8e ? in !t the swift and act,on of God. Even in aad there had been difficulties . and disputes that nearly

spilt the Church asunder. Even in Wesley's day, that looked so bright to us, there had been bitterness and opposition. God's spirit was working even to-day, and if people went ahead with optimism the work would go on. He was pleased to note in science today a change, a statement that science and religion were both important. The duty of preachers was to help to a full understanding of science. A musical programme was presented, consisting of part songs, "A Spring Song,'' "The Ouckoo," "The Lost Chord," and "The Slieplierd.'s Sabbath Day," by the St. Albans Choir; songs, "Not Understood," by Miss Joyce Wilkinson; "The Old Countree," by Mrs W. D. Stallard; and "The Happy Song," byMrs J. Colthart.