METHODIST SYNOD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 124, 21 November 1924, Page 3

METHODIST SYNOD

WELLINGTON DISTRICT

MEETING

RESOLUTIONS-REGARDING PROHIBITION AND GAMBLING.

Continuing its financial session during the- evening of Wednesday last, the Methodist Synod, sitting at Lower Hutt, dealt with home mission fund matters. It was agreed to still further substantially increase this income during the coming year. Several matters' relating to church extension in the district were discussed.

The appointment of an assistant to the general secreta-jg of home and Mattiri missions was; recommended. •

Hie Rev: D..J. M'Arthur was elected ' representative to conference, with the Rev. R. .p. "Keall.as deputy. )'-■'■ The Synod resumed its fitting on-" j Thursday morning. The report of the principal of the Theological Institute Al3 received and adopted, also of the Masterton Orphanage, together...with.:, the balance-sheet: ' .

Military-and naval matters were considered, the report of the District Cqmmrttee on these affairs being adopted. The Rev.. F. E. Harry was received as V deputation from the New Zealand Alliance. He tendered the good wishes of the Baptist Church. Continuing, ha congratulated ! Methodism on its past efforts for Prohibition. He urged that the appeal for votes be made from moral . standpoints. "We shall be attacked because of our principles. The liberty, of the individual ends where public safety begins. We must be united.' Unity of. command ended the war." Ha could .teach the Synod... nothing, but pleaded, for further efforts, with a united front. -

Mr. Harry was heartily thanked for nig presence and address .. . The. following recommendations'. were made:—(l) That we increasingly regard the New Zealand Alliance as the chief executive agent of the Christian churches and people for focusing' attention upon, and of carrying outthefighf against, one of the most terrible evils afflicting civilisation, and retarding the work of the Church. We therefore* again commend tne work of the alliance, and-urge, jwpn ministers and people alike the duty of closely associating themselves with the activities, and afford it both moral and material support. (2) . This Synod recommends conference to specially call the attention .of our people to the present position of the cause of Prohibition, •' and to point to the .danger of the work of the past 20 years or more being overthrown by the suggested legislation contamed in the report of ■ the ■ Licensing . Committee of the House of- Representatives, and is sure .that it will express • its indignation at the proposal to extend1 the period between the carrying of Prohibition and the bringing of it into effect to four years. -. (3) That this Synod deplores the evident increase in the practice of drinking wine ana other liquors ' among joung people at dances arid other social functions, and calls upon" parents and guardians, minister? ,and teachers, to warn -their ypung people against a practice so dangerous to the future of our people. Further, this Synod calls upon the young people associated with our churches to stand against drinking of intoxicants in all. places and at all^times Gambling.— ll) The Synod views the particvpatioa in healthy sport as eminently calculated to further the. bestdevelopnient of the race, but; looking at horse racing as it is carried on to-day, the Synod is forced to,a definite and emphatic condemnation of the " sport." So clearly, allied have horse racing and gambling become, so firm the stranglehold on the Government by the racing vested interests, and so wide the ramifi-. cations of the gambling evil, that a most serious menace to the community has arisen The Synod deplores the con-stantly-recurring evidence in • ihe law Courts of the fruits of gambling, and looks upon the extension of racing permits by 31 as an indication of the way in which ihe racing vested interests have gripped the Parliamentary machine..-.(2) In view of the widespread development of betting, the economic, social, and moral evils resulting therefrom, and the recent increase of ■ racing permits by Parliament,, this Synod respectfully requests conference to direct the Literature Committee to issue suitable literature to. our people.so that they may berightly educated In relation "to this subject, and to urge upon-the Minister of Education to issue a syllabus of instruction in all schools setting forth the evils of-gambling. - This Synod urges upon our people that they more'highly value the Lord;s Day as a great privilege for the development of spiritual life and power; that they should.by prayer and by ..public worship encourage and help one another in- the joy and efficiency of Christian life and service:

Foreign mission matters were fully dealt with. ■ The general secretary's report was received and adopted. The Synod expressed appreciation'of the visit of the Rev. Mr. G oldie and the two Solomon Islanders, Gina and Opeti. ' < Mr.' E. T. "Sayers is training as a medical-: missionary in Dunedin. His studies finish this year. He proceeds to Queensland-for special training in .tropical diseases, and thence to the Solomons to take charge'of hospital work. -> •; Other matters relating to ehureli welfare, arid policy were .dealt with. '.It was resolved to hold the next Synod at Wellington City. ' Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman, secretaries", and reporters, also to hosts and hostesses of those provided with accommodation at Lower .Hutt, and the Rev. Mr. Howe and trustees of Lower Hutt church. The. Press was thanked for publishing reports.