METHODIST CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1925, Page 14

METHODIST CHURCH

WELLINGTON DISTRICT ' SYNOD .

The Wellington District Synod of the Methodist Church continued its sessions in the Taranaki Street Church yesterday morning. Mr. C. Edmond, Dominion organiser of the New Zealand Alliance, addressed the Synod on the results of the recent referendum on the liquor question.' Gratitude was expressed that the vote for Prohibition had shown a slight increase while the vote for Continuance had, shown a corresponding decrease. The Synod viewed with disfavour the insertion of the State Purchase and Control issue, and is prepared to renew its-demand for a two-issue ballot paper. The careful education of prospective voters was regarded as a valuable means towards securing a final victory for Prohibition. Che Synod pledged the New Zealand Alliance its continued confidence and support. The conference will be recommended to appoint a temperance secretary in each district. The Synod entered a very emphatic protest against the wholesale granting of Art Union permits. The country was, literally flooded with Art Union tickets, and it was difficult to avoid the conclusion that the Minister for Internal Affairs abused his powers in issuing such a large number of permits. The suggestion was put forward that the various churches unite and put the case before the Prime Minister at an early date. The Synod deplored the ever-increas-ing disregard for the sacredness of the Sabbath Day, and recommended that the churches of the Dominion meet in conference to formulate means of counteracting the tendency. The Synod regarded the, excessive craze for dancing, now so widely prevalent, as an unhealthy symptom; and will urge the conference to direct the attention of Ministers and members of the Church to the rules of the Church in this regard. The Synod placed on record its appreciation of the splendid and successful work being carried on in the Solomons by Methodist missionaries. Large number of natives were being reached, and the mission in the Islands represented a vast power for good. Missionaries on furlough, notably the Rev. and Mrs. Bruer, had done excellent deputational work, and made known the needs of the Solomons mission field to large sections of the-pub-lic.

The Rev. W. Rowe was elected Svnod representative to the conference. ’The Rev. E. Sc Emmitt, M.C., who came to New Zealand from England last May, made an interesting statement, reflecting on the state of opinion in the Old Country in relation to war. From the man in the street to the highly-placed naval and military officials, the sentiment was, he said, overwhelmingly against war, and under no circumstances would British forces take the field on a large scale unless compelled to do so under the direst necessity. Mr. Emmitt seemed confident of England’s ultimate recovery from the profound unsettlement of mind in which all classes were seemingly involved as an aftermath of war. The Synod made the recommendation that the conference meet on the first Sundav in March, or, a week later than the time usually set. An invitation to hold the next Synod at Masterton was accepted.