METHODIST SYNOD

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9825, 23 November 1917, Page 2

METHODIST SYNOD

THE CLOSING DAY FINANCIAL AND ORDINARY f 'BUSINESS. Press Association. ; LEVIN, November 22. Tho Wellington District Synod of the Methodist Church continued its sessions to-day in the Century Hall, Levin, the Rev. E,,Drake, district chairman, presiding. Mr T. Fathers was appointed in the place of-Mr E. Dawson to be district secretary of church properties and Mr MeUuiish in thcr place of Mr Truman on "the home mission advisory committee,,.' ■ o The,, following . were -appointed a district advisory committee to assist the church building and loan fund oommunee, wiiicn later has its headquarters in Christchurch; —Revs. E. Drake, D J. Murray. J. G. Chip-win and Messrs F. Fathers, E. Dawson and W. H. Bennetr. It was decided to endorse tho proposal of the foreign mission committee that the allocation of a separate foreign mission field to New Zealand be postponed until after the war, also that the appointment of the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, as foreign mission secretary, he postponed till 1920. It was decided, on the recommendation of a special committee of the Synod appointed tho previous day, that £BOOO bo the amount of foreign fission ’ money New Zealand should aim at for 1918, and that of this amount £ISOO be a working capital fund.

i Tho report of the deaconess committee was considered by the Synod, and tho proposal to abolish or make optional tho £2O contribution paid by young, women students towards the cost of their training as deaconesses was heartily approved . by tho Synod. . Tho Rev. F. Rands proposed and the Rev. C. B. Jordan seconded a motion that conference be asked to consider seriously tho establishment of one or more Methodist colleges in the Dominion for the promotion of Christian secondary education. The Rev. G. Knowles Smith opposed the motion, but it was carried after discussion. ■ ; In the discussion of the report of the literature committee it was decided to recommend the printing and circulation of suitable literature for, the education of young people on the principles of Methodism. ; -1116. Rev. H, White brought under the- Synod’s -notice the need for the erection-of a church at Raekakariki. The Rev. G. Knowles Smith moved that the matter be referred to the .home mission committee, and this was carried. ~ ' Tlie Otaki circuit also was given permission to court the aid of other circuits in the district on this matter.

The Rev. W. H. E. Abbey was elected district representative to the stationing committee of the conference, and the Rev. A. Mcßean as substitute.

: The following were the amounts reported as having been contributed to the foreign mission fund by the various circuits in the -district —Taranaki wtreev £344; Central- Mission; £l2; Thorndon, £53; Wellington South, £120;. JohnsonyiLle, ..£36; Hutt, £49; .Retone, £37 .South .Wairarapa, , £lB ; £o3j -Masterton, £lO3-; Eketahnna £3O; Levin, £73: Otaki, £53. • The following were the homo mission amounts recommended to be granted to the aided circuits of the district next year iT-Jbhnsonville, £4O; South Wairarapa;.- ~£so ; .('Eketah.una, £4O; Otakk’’'£69,'’.,,‘lt’'was recommended also that grant of pound for pound ,be . continued to the Otaki circuit for the ihcrease of its ministers’ stipend by the’ distress secretary of the social service union.

A motion was brought forward, urging the Government. to take further action with jeg'afd to the housing problem and the’ cost of living question, special mention being made of the meat and shipping trusts. There was not time, however, for the Synod members to make an adequate study of such weighty matters; -and the motions were not carried. ■ • • Tlip.,Synod closed with the customary votes of thanks to hosts and hostesses, tho Synod officers, and the press.