TEE WESLEYAN SYNOD.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 129, 27 November 1901, Page 5

TEE WESLEYAN SYNOD.

m The annual meeting of the Wellington District Synod continued its ministerial session in the schoolroom of Wesley Church yesterday, "afternoon. Messrs. E. P. Blamires, A. N. Scotter, and G. S. Cook were recommended to be passed in their year as probationers. The report of the Theological Institution was received as exceedingly satisfactory. The financial session of Synod opened this morning. The following laymen were present, besides th& ministerial members : — Messrs. H. Field and O. D. Mackintosh (Wellington), W. H. Green (Newtown), W. Boutley (Hutt), R. Fennell (Woodville), A. B. Gibson (Napier), R. Prouse (GtaM), A. Anderson (Greytown), and C..W. Benbow (Secretary of Church Property). The session was opened by the Rev. W. C. Oliver in an interesting and stirring speech, in which, after reference to the General Conference, held -within the past year in Brisbane, he went on to refer to the prospects of Methodist union throughout tile world, an omen vof which might be seen in the gift of £5000 by a Primitive Methodist in England to the Wesleyan Century Fund of a million guineas. The speaker took an even wider outlook, and hoped to see the outward unity of the Christian Church brought about by such preliminaries as the closer association of Methodists and Presbyterians an 3of Baptists and Congregationalists. In regard to the churches work in the district, there was cause of thankfulness for the blessing of God upon its various departments, especially in connection with the children. Several circuits were congratulated upon their successful financial efforts, in which direct giving took the place of indirect. In all parts, and especially in the cities, the degradation of the Sabbath to a holiday from its true position as a day holy to God, was a thing to be deplored. One reason for the modern atheism might perhaps be found, in the material prosperity of the colony turning attention away from the spiritual needs of the human heart and life. The report on the property in the district was presented by Mr. Benbow in a lucid and interesting manner giving details of trust funds and the position of debts and interest. The Rev. ,W. B. Marten gave the details of the church property, with new buildings, gifts of sites, and alterations to .existing structures. The reports from the custodian of deeds and from the Connexional Fire Insurance Fund ;were also received. The question of the extension of church work in inland districts occupied a considerable amount of time. The conversation on the spiritual work t of tie district was of an interesting and profitable nature. Several speakers declared that the secularisation of the Sabbath and the neglect of family religion and of the Bible, were bearing, evil effects upon the spiritual life of the community.