CHURCH LEADERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 12

CHURCH LEADERS

DOMINION METHODISTS THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 'INDUCTION OF PRESIDENT' : The 'induction of the president-elect, the Rev. F. Copeland, of New Plymouth, and the election of officers occupied .the' first evening in the sessions of the annual Dominion Methodist Conference, which commenced yesterday. For * the opening service in the Pitt Street Church thero was a congregation of about 500 people, the officiating minister being the retiring president, the Rev. E. 0. Blamires, of Devonport. J • Mr. Copeland was formally, ; introduced by the Rev. W. ,W. Avery, who referred to the new -president's 32 years' service in the Church. He had gained a thorough knowledge of circuit work both in New Zealand and Samoa, and his efforts on behalf of the Church following the earthquake devastation in Hawke's Bay, would not readily .be forgotten. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr. C. E. Taylor, of Feilding, on behalf of the laity. Easy Optimism Challenged "Methodism is as. ready to-day as ever to.co-operato to the fullest extent with every other section of, the Christian Church for the promotion of the Kingdom of Go.d among men," -Mr. Copeland stated, in his presidential address. ''The ..Church, whose founder claimed the world as his parish, can never be limited in its outlook or selfcentred in its sympathies." The international situation, Mr. Copeland considered, challenged any easy optimism. With the resurgence of fierce and narrow nationalisms, with the widespread promulgation of antagonistic ideals of statesmanship, frankly accepting the-use of force, not reason, to attain. national ends,, with, as great a number of men under arms in 1937 as in 1914,/ many, even the most pacific minded and including tho New Zealand Government, had accepted the necessity of rearmament on a scale which a couple of years ago would have seemed incredible. What nil this implied for the Christian Church was yet to be fullv explored and this work must be continued with courage and patience. Mr. Copeland said that an instrument of pence had been forged in the League of Nations, but it would seem as if some deeper change were needed in the heart of man before it could be effective. The events of the past year had sadly discredited the League as an effective means of collective security. Limits to Social Security

Discussing social and industrial legislation, Mr. Copeland said' that one of the elementary problems of any Government was the provision of some measure of social security for its people. Old things were passing away and they were witnessing a growing application; of social idealism that was surely ill-] spired by the spirit of Christ. It must bo recognised, however, that in a dynamic world there were limits to the degree of social security that was good for any normal able-bodied citizen. . "While there must be no stinting of public or private effort to meet the needs of the times, let it also be frankly recognised that there are'definite limits, to the degree of social security conducive to' the growth of strong and virile character," Mr. Copeland added. Security might be the source of an. abundant life, of grateful service, but it might also be a source of moral and spiritual disintegration. President-Elect Appointed Mr: H. R. French, of Hastings, was elected vice-president "of the conference* for 1937, while the secretary, the Rev. W. A. Burley. of Christchurch, was also formally introduced. The Rev. P. R. Paris, of the Taranaki Street Church, Wellington, and a former editor of the Methodist Times, was elected president': for 1938. Under the direction of the organist and choirmaster, Mr. Albert Bryant, the Auckland central circuit choir sang "The Heavens Are Telling," from Haydn's "Creation," during the ovening. _ . » , • The conference will be in full session to-day, when a start is to be. made in .the addresses and discussions and the -presentation of departmental reports.