THE METHODIST CHURCH

Evening Star, Issue 21570, 16 November 1933, Page 13

THE METHODIST CHURCH

WORK AT HOME AND ABROAD REV. H. E. BELLHOUSE ADDRESSES SYNOD Tho open session of the annual synod of the Methodist Church in Otago and Southland was commenced in Slade Hall yesterday morning, when the chairman (the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse) gave a warmly-received address on tho work of the church and also on some aspects of world affairs. In his opening remarks Mr Bellhouse said that in his considered judgment the work of their church in Otago and Southland compared more than favourably, generally speaking, with the condition of things when he assumed the chairmanship in 1922. . Knowing the district as he did, and with his finger on the pulse of things continually, it was his deliberate conviction that they had more than held their own in that period. Several circuits and home mission stations in the district were much stronger than they were eleven years ago; advance had been registered now and then, and, while other circuits and stations might, give occasion for a little disquietude, they had much reason to thank God for success enjoyed., for blessing experienced, and for the measure in which they had been enabled to do their part in prosecuting the work of the Kingdom. The work of their church, as a whole, was, he believed, in a healthy condition, especially in view of .the difficulties and handicaps under which they laboured in these economically depressing days. “ Th 6 suggestion has been made to me by a recent arrival in our district from the north that we suffer too much, as a denomination, from an * inferiority complex' here in OtagoSouthland,” added the speaker. “It is true we do not bulk so largely as a church here as ive do in some other parts of -the dominion, and wo are somewhat overshadowed, in common with other branches of the church, by the dominance in these two provinces of a respected sister-communion. But wo have no need to cherish anything in the way of an ‘ inferiority complex.’ Whatever" our strength in Otago-South-Jand. we belong to a great communion, numbering in the Old Land alone oyer a million members, with forty million members and adherents throughout the world. We have our witness to bear, we possess our own ethics, our own genius, and we have our own destiny to accomplish. YOUTH DEPARTMENT. “The reports to be presented to the Synod will call for your attentive consideration. As is fitting in these days of the dominance of youth, the longest report by far is that of the youth department. That circumstance is syptomatic. Unquestionably the youth work of the church is its most vital work. Upon fidelity in that work depends absolutely the future of the church. It is good to know that we have such a live youth department, splendidly officered and led. Wo have reason to thank God for the virility of our Bible class movement. Here in our own district splendid work has been accomplished by our Bible class unions. . , “ The report of the Public Questions Committee is an important one this year, particularly its pronouncement on the problem of unemployment. That pronouncement gives food for serious thought. Wo shall agree that the unemployment problem has its real spiritual aspects, but fundamentally it is surely economic, and only by economic methods can it be solved. The practical recommendations of the committea may give rise to some divergence of opinion, but on tho whole they should, 1 feel, commend themselves to your sympathetic consideration. “There is no need to touch upon tho reports emanating from the connexional office. Varied as they are, they are an indication of the comprehensive nature of the work done by our conuexional secretary’s department. The reports of Trinity Theological College and Wesley Training College show what efficient work is being done by both institutions. HOME MISSIONS. “ The home mission department’s report reveals much encouraging activity during the year, especially in the direction of evangelistic effort. Very good it is to hear of the striking developments in connection with the men’s fellowship movement and of the various missions conducted by our theological students. But the financial resources of our H.M. fund arc terribly straitened just now, and we must not recommend a shilling more in the way of grants than we feel is absolutely. required.”-

WORLD AFFAIRS. After referring to the work of the foreign missions department, the funds of which were causing anxiety, the sepaker went on to deal with world affairs, stating that the economic darkness was so dense and confused that it seemed sometimes as though a way out would never be discovered. What a heart-breaking disappointment was the World Economic Conference of July last. It was more or less comforting to be assured that it has its value in giving opportunity for mutual consultation, arriving at mutual understanding, and discovering mutual points of view. But for practical purposes was it not a terrific failure? “ What message has the church in view of the economic darkness and confusion?” asked Mr Bellhouse. “Has she any message? Economically I do not think she has. She is riot an economic teacher, qualified to prescribe economic panaceas for economic ills. It is not her function to play the role of economic physician. But she has a message for all that—a human _ message, an ethical _ message, a spiritual message. _ She is here to proclaim the dignity of human ■ personality, the rights of the human equation, to emphasise that man is more than an economic unit, that ho is primarily a spiritual being, and as such must be dealt with. She is hero to breathe a spirit or kindle a fire—the fire of human brotherhood, the spirit of mutual devotion and self-sacrifice, the atmosphere of creative force. The mechanical is in the ascendant to-day; wo are being bullied by the mechanical. The work of the church is to antagonise the mechanical, to hinder, the truth with every variation she has at her command, that ‘ man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God.’ “ What a monument of melancholy futility so far has been the World Disarmament Conference. We have every confidence in its president, Mr Arthur Henderson, and admire the efforts he has made to promote the cause he has so much at heart. But how hopeless it seems to get anything effective done, how progress towards disarmament seems dogged by evil fate at every turn. “ Look at the portentous phenomenon of Hitlerism in Germany, with its relentless emphasis on Nationalism, its bitter hatred of pacifism, its appalling treatment of the Jews, its attempts to dominate the church, and its bellowing insistence on the right of Germany to rearm. What a plague spot in Europe Hitlerism is. How dangerous is its poison! “ Look at the comparative impotence of the League of Nations! 1 know the achievements the League has to its credit —noble achievements. But how helpless it seems to be when downright authority is required. Look at the insolent flouting of the League by Japan in the earlv months of this year ! How Japan laughed in the League’s lace! OXFORD MOVEMENT. “Is there aught to encourage?' Of course there is. What about the Oxford Group movement in the Old Country, just beginning? Whatever wc may think of certain aspects of the movement, it would seem emphatically to be of God. I By their fruits you shall know them.’ And when the results of a movement ai\: changed lives, transformed character, souls set on fire with spiritual devotion, its Divine origin would appear to he unimpeachable. This movement is surely symptomatic. It is an inspiring fact that when the spiritual fires are burning low in a period or a land God asserts Himself in unexpected ways, and His Spirit flames forth in quarters least looked for. “ There is much to cause disquiet in these days. And there is no easy solution of our problems. There are no short cuts to the millenium. There is a lust for the dramatic on the part of many nowadays, a demand for some theatrical, sensational, Divine intervention. And God does not normally work by the dramatic, the sensational, the theatrical. 1 do not exclude the possibility of dramatic intervention on the part of God. But normally, 1 say, God does not work by the dramatic, tbo theatrical. He works, I believe, mainly by human fidelity, human witness, human loyalty and devotion.” The speaker was accorded a very warm vote of thanks for his address*