METHODIST SYNOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 14

METHODIST SYNOD

YOUTH WORK REVIEWED

PROGRESS IN, SOUTH AUCKLAND

[ I'IIO.M OCR OWN roniIKSPOMIKN l'l HAMILTON, Thurs il ny Reports dealing with work iu the interests of youth in (lie district were before the South Auckland Methodist Synod, which concluded its annual meeting iu Hamilton last evening. Satisfactory progress was recorded in the various depart mollis. In his annual report. Mr. A. Gordon, district secretary of the Young People's Department, said there had been encouraging advances iu every branch of the. work. The Rev. K. I*. I>la mi res, general secretary of the, Young People's Department, gave a brief address on the youth work of tho Church in the Dominion. He mentioned that lour years ago ho had slated 100,000 children were neglected as far as religion was concerned. To-day this number had been reduced to about 75,000, duo to the increase in tho number of young people who were being reached through the Nelson system of religious instruction in tho schools. A few years ago there were 10,000 receiving instruction under this system and at present there were 59,000.

It was decided to ask tho Churches to take steps to intensify tho work of temperance education in Bible classes, Sunday schools and day schools, and also to urge the Methodist Conference to approach the Education Department with the request (hat provision should be made for questions on temperance to bo set in connection with the. examination for the Standard VI. proficiency certificate.

Tho following officers were elected:— District and statistical secretary, tho Rev. J. Dennis (Hamilton East); stationing committee representative, tho Rev. IT." G. Brown (Morriusville) : deputy-rep-resentative, tho Rev. W. H. Speer (Rotoilia): district home mission committee, the Rev. .1. Richards (Cambridge), with the ministers of Hamilton. Hamilton East and To Awainutu, and Messrs. W. Harris. R. P. Kiiham, .1. C. Tietjins, J. T. Johnson, M. Butler. It was decided to hold tho next synod at Thames, tho date to bo fixed later.