METHODIST SYNOD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 304, 21 November 1935, Page 10

METHODIST SYNOD

HAWKE’S BAY-MANAWATU DISTRICT.

The representative • sessions of the Hawke’s Bay-Manawatu Methodist Synod commenced yesterday morning in the Feilding Methodist Church with a Communion service conducted by Rev. A. N. Scotter, B.A. (chairman of the district), assisted by Revs. A. Ashcroft, C. A. Boston and It. B. Gosnell. The pre-Communion address was delivered by Mr Boston, who stated that this service should not be a time for talking but a tune for meditation. He based his address on the words, “Ye proclaim the Lord’s death until He come.’’ “In this service.” he said, “we ase telling the world the story of the greatest thing in the world. This service is one of thanksgiving. In it we feel by faith the presence of Jesus, and pledge allegiance. At the first Communion service there were no costly vestments; it was just a family meal. We keep the Sacrament to remind us of the great love of God in Christ Jesus. Wc do show the Lord's death until He come. The remembrance of His death bound the Disciples together more closely than did His teachings, or anything else. The past is not enough to live on. The Communion Service is not just a remembrance of the Christ of other days. It is a reminder of the living ever-present Christ. We believe that by faith Christ is near to us in this service, which is a pledge of Christ’s abiding presence. The value of this service is conditioned by faith in the heart of the believer. We proclaim the fact of the Lord’s death till He come. Calvary was not the end. We look forward to His return, -and this service assures us of His return. To whom de we proclaim the truth in this service? To our own hearts, and to the world at large. We draw near the Lord’s table in faith and love to be reminded of the Love of God in Christ Jesus.”

After the Communion service, the ordinary business of the session was commenced. Representatives were present from Napier, Wairoa, Gisborne, Hastings, Dannevirke, Pahiatua, Woodville, Ash hurst, Palmerston North, Feilding, Haleombe, Sandon,_ Rongotea, Apiti, Waipawa and Norsewood. Mr Ashcroft welcomed Mr Scotter as chairman of the synod, and thanked Mr Boston for his helpful pre-Com-munion address. Mr Gosnell (secretary) nominated as his assistants Rev. H. J. Odell ant-secretary), Rev. J. A. Dalglish* (journal secretary), Revs. 0. M. Roberts and R. E. Fordyce (Press reporters). Dispensations from attendance were granted to Revs. H. L. Richards and R. J. Liddell. The chairman, in his opening remarks, reminded the synod that they were facing similar problems to those of Wesley’s day, caused by lack of faith in God and lack of love for Jesus Christ. “We have to continue the great fight against materialistic tendencies,” lie said. “We have to continue to arouse our fellows to the fact and worth of spiritual realities. We stand, for righteousness and must maintain our struggle after it. We could say truly that the Ten Commandments were more necessary to-day than ever. The conditions of modern society demand the cultivation of righteousness. We must learn to share with our fellows the blessing and power which communion with God has brought to us. We must! continue our fight against the liquor evil! and give careful consideration toj the great moral problems which are affecting ofir world. Many problems require for their solution the winning of key-men and key-women to influence society and the nation.” The routine business of the synod was then proceeded with. Letters of sympathy are to be sent to Rev. Id. L. Richards and Rev. R. J. Liddell. Rev. D. C. Alley again offered for foreign mission work. The chairman conveyed the synod’s welcome to Revs. H. J. Odell (Napier), 11. J. Liddell (Dannevirke), J. H. Allen (Feilding) and to Rev. C. W. Brown (home missionary at Foxton), and Ilev. A. Ashcroft (supernumerary), who has settled in Palmerston North. These are all newcomers to this district. The financial position of the district revealed that debit balances totalled £IOO9 9s 6:1 and credit balances totalled £8 19s 4d. The statistical returns were presented by Rev. R. B. Gosnell. There are 39 churches, 28 other preaching places, 16 schoolrooms, 16 parsonages, 14 ministers and probationers, 5 home missionaries, 81 local preachers, 2634 senior members, 732 junior members, 686 infant members, 14 members on probation, and 2005 communicants in the district. .Rev. C. M. Roberts brought before the synod the Welfare of the Church Committee’s report, which called forth 1 considerable discussion which emphasised the need for the prosecution of I an educational policy on the part of! the Church with regard to what the Church has done, with a view to convincing the world of what Christianity can do with regard to the spiritual and physical-problems of our race. Rev. H. Daniel brought forward the report of the Public Questions Com-, ■mittee. The report re-affirmed the ! Methodist Church’s conviction that the | liquor traffic was a cause of moral j waste, domestic misery and industrial disturbance. The synod urged the instituting of a vigorous educative campaign in Sunday schools and Bible classes with regard to the evil effects of alcohol as a beverage. Appreciation of the work of the New Zealand Alliance was expressed and members were again urged to support its efforts. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. The synod placed on record its hearty appreciation of the efforts of the Bible-in-Sehools League, and urged the Government to facilitate tiie passing of the Enabling Bill. Every circuit and home mission station reported that work was being done in the schools under the Nelson system, and the synod placed on record its appreciation of the permission for the use of schools granted by the Education Boards and the school committees. In view of the widespread and increasing prevalence of the gambling mania, and the evils attendant upon such, the synod counselled its people to abstain from participation in any form of gambling. The synod urged that instruction in the evils of gambling be given by youth workers in the churches with a view to combating it. As a Christian church, the synod resolved, it could not accept the philosophy of materialistic Communism nor could it associate itself wtih any organisation advocating methods that conflicted with the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. CHURCH PROPERTY.

After the luncheon adjournment Mr G. E. Taylor (district secretary for church property) presented the reports of the church building and loan fund, and the fire insurance fund, and was thanked for his efficient services and recommended lor reappointment by the forthcoming conference. The church property report was on the whole encouraging and showed commendable zeal on the part of the trustees in the endeavour to meet their obligations. The fire insurance fund report showed that fire losses had amounted to but a mere trifle during the year. The Foreign Mission report was presented by Mr C. E. Taylor. It showed that the income was £4994 Is 2d, and

the expenditure £6SO6JLos 6d, leaving a debit balance of £1572 14s 4d. This district had raised £679 16s 6d. Of this amount Feildinfc circuit raised I £268. Mr Tavlor was thanked for his | faithful and efficient service as district foreign mission secretary, and was recommended for reappointment by the forthcoming conference. Miss J. Darragh presented the report of the Methodist Women s Missionary Union. There are 2843 mem- ! bars throughout New Zealand. Since ‘ the union was formed over £34,UUU i h;i6 been, raised. The work at the } Ivurahuna Maori Girls’ School was leported on as being very encoui aging, the girls seeking to practise the teachings given to them, while at the school, after they return to their homes. Y\ ltn regard to the returns of church membership the need for the careful tiainiug of young people prior to their admission into membership was stiessed bv several speakers. ‘Rev. J. H. Allen (district home mission secretary) presented the report of the Home Mission Board. He stressed the fact that the- were stewards of God’s bounties in order to help. Mis work both at home and abroad. Good work had been done in many places with regard to spiritual advance. The ballot for the representative to the stationing committee resulted m Mr Foston being appointed, with Rev. IT Daniel as substitute representative. ' THE YOUTH DEPARTMENT. When the synod resumed in session in the evening the first business dealt with was that of the "Youth Department This was introduced by Mr J. H. Oldham (district youth committee secretary). One of the vivid impressions left by Dr Kagawa was that of the Christian life in action. the Youth Board had, during the year, sought to prepare for such action along the ‘lines of evangelism, peace and leadership. The ablest thinkers of tins age told us that our present civilisation was dying. What hope was there then for youth? the secretary asked. Youth as well as age was looking with hopeful eves for the signposts of its future. The paganism of to-day must first he out-thought and then out-jived, and the challenge came to the whole Church, but especially to its youth. Pleasure was expressed that in many parts European Sunday schools wore taking more definite interest in Maori schools. Correspondence Sunday schools were increasing in numbers and interest,, there being 31 teachers and" 80 scholars on the rolls. Mrs H. J. Odell presented the report of the Young Women’s Bible Class Union. There had been a decrease in the members of classes during the year, mainly owing to members marrying or taking up some form oi church work. High appreciation of the work of Miss Dora Sheat (travelling

secretary) was expressed. There was much cause for thankfulness in various phases of the work. There was a great need ior competent leadership training y ie ' v . of . "the needs of both the present and future. rnn™ J; H \P ld lV lm dealt with matters roncmmng the Hawke’s Bay branch of , Young Men’s Bible Class -Union such ’°- causes , tor encouragement, • ml WD, increased number of classes 1185 attendance at the‘camps; The il ,?e r S h 2 d 15 camps, showed Vn' Ct Sunday school returns tl c i r*; 11 "}°st branches of id ace “with CoUsl<^ er j l ble discussion took the Tout n" a, ' C t 0 t] l e support of tne Youth Department bv the circuits m the district. It was ‘felt that the larger circuits should do more to meet partineit C nUla ° bligations *<>« dfwol 1 ? mai A e V°| llo,ne mission m-„nts was brought before the synod by Rev. ' ' H. Allen. Grants totallimr £195 were recommended. ** tia