METHODIST SYNOD.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 280, 25 November 1912, Page 3

METHODIST SYNOD.

LAY SESSION

At the lay session on Friday afternoon it was resolved that the Rev. T. G. Hammond be appointed Home Mission deputation to the Nelson district next year. It was agreed that it he a recommendation to Conference to pay the removal expenses of the minister to Motueka; also that the Synod regrets that the Home Missionary was removed from the Motueka circuit and a probationer appointed without the circuit officials being consulted, but points out that the Conference _ has the power to remove any of its ministers and home missionaries at the end of the connexional year. A report re the Methodist Times was read and received. The Synod expressed satisfaction with the editing of the paper, but expressed regret that there were so many defaulting subscribers.

The report of the Foreign Mission Committee was read and adopted; also the Home Mission report. Satisfaction was expressed with the work j accomplished by the organising secretary (the Rev. TV G. Brooke). The Synod endorsed the recommendations of the executive with regard to the Maori work, and recommended to Conference the reappointment of the Rev. T. G. Brooke.

A report from the committee ap- j goiixted to consider the welfare of the j hurch was read and adopted. The report of the Mission of Inspiration i and Appeal was also read. It was ; stated that the Rev. Vallance Cook j was visiting New Zealand next year j together with two or three evangelists from the Victorian and New South Wales Conference. The suggestions confirmed in the report were heartily approved of. A recommendation to the committee was carried that a selection of hymns be madei or as an alteration that a few books be printed for the evangelists to take with them from place to place. A report from the Deaconesses' Institute was read, and the Synod expressed satisfaction with the work accomplished by the sisterhood. A report was submitted to the Synod on the proposed orphanage institution. The Synod was in full sympathy with the proposal to provide an orphanage in each island, and cordially endorsed the recommendation of the committee to establish an orphanage in the South Island at the earliest opportunity. The report of the Sunday School Advisory Board was read and adopted. The attention of the Synod was called to Conference legislation on | Sunday-School work, and to the advisability of putting it into practice. The Synod congratulated the Bible in State Schools League upon securing the services^ cf Canon D. J. Garland. It was ,in full sympathy with the New South Wales system of. Bible in schools, and pledged itself to assist the League in securing its adoption throughout the Dominion. The report of the Rev. T. R. Richards, statistical secretary, was read and adopted. It showed that the number of church'members was 1320,-, junior, members 184; scholars on roll 1685; on cradle roll 403; attendants) at public worship 5318. The Rev. T. R. Richards was elected ministerial representative to Conference, and .the Rev. Mr Wilson substitute representative. Mr Ai A. Lucas moved that the best thanks of the visiting delegates be given to the people of Blenheim f<sr their kind hospitality.—Seconded by Mr Grove and carried?

It was decided that the next Synod should' he held at Nelson; the time to be fixed by the chairman.

The, reading of the minutes brought to a close a very successful Synod.