DISTRICT METHODIST SYNOD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 November 1935, Page 8

DISTRICT METHODIST SYNOD.

CIVIC KECEPTIGN TO VISITING CLERGY. A public welcome to the ministers and lay. representative?, attending the annual Synod of the Wellington District Methodist Church of New Zealand, and which is being held in Levin this year, took place in the Century Hall last evening. The President of the Conference, Rev. J. H. Haslam, to whom a welcome was extended by Rev. W. G. Blade, M.A., presided and there was a large attendance of members of the Congregation of the Levin Circuit. The proceedings opened with the hymn, "Oh for a Thousand Tongue?, to Sing," after which Rev. G. F. Stoekwell (Ma&terton) lead in prayer. His Worship the Mayor, Mr P. W. Goldsmith, said it gave hirn very great pleasure to be present and from a eivie standpoint welcome the members of the Bynod to the town. Citizens were proud of their town and were glad to see visitors come to it. The speaker expressed the hope that in the Bynod the members would have a good time and go away with pleasant memories of the town, which fifty-two years ago did not exist. He welcomed the visitors and trusted that they would go away with happy recollections of the treatment they had received. Mr F. H. Hudson, circuit steward, on behalf of the Levin Church welcomed the various representatives of the churches in the Wellington district to their midst. It was eight years since the last Bynod had been held in Levin and he would like to say that the people apreciated the fact that they were aide to convey to Mr and Mrs. Haslam their congratulations on the various offices held since they left Levin. Amidst kindly fellowship, Mr Hudson said he hoped, the representatives would be able to lay aside besetting eares and await the inspiration which came to such gatherings. If the cares which seemed general to each one could be laid aside, then the spirit which could emanate from a Synod gathering would be enjoyed. He hoped the gathering would experience a season of re-, freshment and that representatives would return to their circuits aglow with the stimulus which came from a zeal for those things which were good and holy. Rev. Mr Haslam 3aid it gave him great joy that the one . Synod over which he should preside had taken place in Levin where he had spent two I years. It was true that the business was only being learnt when the time of ministry was reaching a close. He recognised that the encouragement and friendship which he had met with when he was in Levin had been of great j value in the stress of subsequent j years. It was a very great joy to be I present. During the year Rev. Mr Has- ] lam said he had visited a large number j of the circuits and was grateful for the receptions accorded him, the officers of the church having a warm place in I their hearts. While the faith was un- ; dergoing the greatest stress there were clear evidences that it would emerge victorious from the test. The Church was the great hope of the world and though signs of a revival had not been seen, there were evidences of what the Gospel could do to those to whom it was ministered. He would be thrilled to the end of his days with the effect j it had had in Fiji where there had been a wonderful transformation of conditions as a result of preaching. The problem facing the world was to put man straight and then other things would come right. The speaker thanked Mr. Goldsmith for his welcome adding that in ISSS that gentleman was a representative to the South Ireland Synod and he was proud to think that he now held the highest civic position in the town. He also thanked Mr. Hudson for his greetings and concluded by saying that it was a pleasure to be working in the beautiful town of Levin.

Addressing the gathering Rev. E. E. Sage, of Petone, said that the representatives were met together to face up to some of the problems of the present day. He believed that if the !<ynod did not give some spiritual stimulus for those present to take back iwith them it would then be a failure. Touching on the need of prayer from which that stimulus would come, the speaker asked why prayer was so vital? He said that prayer gave God a chance to reveal himself as Father, .Saviour and Friend. It led to the place of communion. Face to face contact with God was needed and it could only be found in the place of prayer. Prayer gave God a chance to speak. Amidst the rush of life there were so many sounds that the still small voice was often missed. Prayer allowed God to work in and through his people and in silence God had the opportunity to mould. It was only as the people learned to depend on God that answer to prayer would be given.

During the evening the church choir rendered the anthems "And the Glory" (from the Messiah) and "The Lord is My Shepherd," while Miss C. Nation contributed a 'cello solo and, Mrs. Nicholson a vocal item. The gathering concluded with the hymn, "All Hail the Power" and the pronouncing of the Benediction. REPRESENTATIVE SESSION THIS MORNING. The representative session of the annual Synod of the Wellington District of the :Methodist Church opened this morning in the Century Hall, Levin. The Rev. J. H. Haslam (President of the Conference and Chairman of the District) presided over a goad attendance of the ministry and laity of the Church. The proceedings were inaugurated by a Communion service, in the conduct

of which the Bev. J. H. Haslam had the assistance of severaL ministers. A pre-cornmunion address was given by the Rev. E. P. Blamires (Presidentelect of the Conference).

fn introducing the business otf the session, the Chairman extended a welcome to the representatives. Referring to contemporary events, and trends in religion and world affairs, the President of the Conference said his tour of the Dominion during a portion, of his year of office had impressed him with the 'fact that notwithstanding the difficul'ties of the challenging age in which | they were now living there were many | reasons for encouragement in the work I of the church in the various circuits. There were causes sufficient, it was true, in the circumstances of the times, for these inclined to pessimism to take a gloomy view of the religious situa- ; tion. Yet, with an earnest desire to see things steadily and to see them whole, there was every reason, he was convinced, for the church to take heart of grace in its work. Let them remember the resources and the strength available in Jesus Christ Who l had called His church into being, and that He who began the work of redemption fvas able, with the continued and earnest fidelity of His servants, to earry that work to its glorious consummation. The President specially referred to many heartening signs of progress in 'Methodist mission fields like Fiji—in whose church centenary celebrations he had participated this year—and the 'Solomon Islands. The following were appointed the official staff of Bynod:—Rev. W. G. Slade, secretary; Rev. E. E. Sage, as-sistant-seeretry; Rev. A. R. Witheford, journal secretary; Rev. J. F. Martin, corresponding secretary; Revs. J. R. Nelson and H. White, Press secretaries. Tributes of appreciation were paid by several representatives to the worth and work of the Revs. J. Cocker and W. B. Scott, ministers of the district who had died during the year. CIRCUIT ADJUSTMENTS. Considerable discussion took plaee as to the working of a number of circuits in the West Coast district of the North Island, and it was decided that a committee be set up to confer with representatives of the Home Mission] Board as to possibilities of fuller cooperation for economic and effective working of circuits and home mission stations from Paekaltariki to Foxton-| Shannon, and to report to Conference of 193i6. I Proposals are to be made to Conference regarding the status and working of the districts from Plimmerton to Porirua, as from 1&37.