METHODIST CHURCH OF AUSTRALASIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14380, 25 November 1908, Page 3

METHODIST CHURCH OF AUSTRALASIA

, OTAGO DISTRICT SYNOD.. PASTORAL SESSION. Tbo annual Synod of the above Church commenced its sessions in Trinity Methodist Schoolroom yesterday morning- The- Rev. W. Slado (chairman of the Otago district) presided, and there w ; ere present tho following ministers and home missionaries:— Dunedin—Trinity, Rev, E. 0, Blamires; North-East Valley, Rev. R. H. Wylio; Cargill Road, Rev. S. F.\W. Gniggand F. Rande; Monnkigton, Rev. D, J, Murray; Eoslyn, Rev. T. J. Wallis. Mosgiel, Rev. |A. C. Randerson, M.A.; Port Chalmers, Rsv. J. 'Ward; Balclutha, Rev. J. A. Hosking; Milton, Rev. J. W. Griffin; Lawrence, Rev. W. J. .Oxbrow; Invecttrgill, Rev 6. A, Mitchell and P. R. Paris; .Oamaru, Rov. T. N. Griffin; Gore, Rev, W.' Greenslade; Otautau, Rev. G. T. Marshall; Roxburgh, Rev. M. A'. R. Pratt; Cromwell, Rov. A Reader; Southorn Maori Mission, Neho Hem? Papakabura. Homo missionaries— Messrs W. T. Hooper (Winton), C. A. Foston (Riverton), S. J. Campbell (Palmerston South), and W. E. Sleep (Nightcaps).'' A devotional mooting ocoupiod the first hour, the Sacrament of the lord's Supper being partaken, of by all present, and a helpful address given bv tho Rev. G. T. Marshall, ~ . . Hours of session were fixed as follows:— 9.30 a,m. t0.12, and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m, Tho following.officers were appointed:—' Secretary, Rev. T. Ni Griffini; assistant, secretary, Rev, T. J. Waillis; reporter; to' daily press aiid Outlook, Revs. M. A. R.' Pratt, J. A. Hosking, and A. Reader. The usual questions regarding'ministerial character wcro answered' satisfactorily in every case/ '~■'•, probationers' EXAMINATION. ' Rev. A. C. Randerson, M.A., having been orally examined in a theological test, was Unanimously recommended to conference for ordination.. ' Revs. F.. Rands, P. R. Paris, and R. H. Wylie were also examined as to their qualifications, and it was deoidsd to rccommiejKl that each pass in. Jiis year subject to bis written examinations being satisfactory. STUDEN'TS FOP. THE MINISTRY. A report of the work done during the year by students in training for the ministry in Auckland was received from the Rov. J H. Sininionds, governor. It showed that all students, in addition to the prescribed course of study, were attending university olasscs. It also emphasised tho necessity for a theological hall, and for facilities for training an inoreaeed number of men. All ministers who could make satisfactory arrangements for circuit supply yvero given permission to attend the ensuing conference in Wellington. Reports wero received from tho home missionaries working at Rjverton; South, and Winton, which indicated steady progress, all along the lines. ~ The Synod .adjourned'at 5-p.m. to meet this . morning ,at 9.30 in respresontative session. '' . . . .PUBLIC MEETING., 7 ~ At Trinity Church, Moray place, a publip, [meetkigi' in conjunction with' the anniverj sary of the Trinity Helping Hand Mission, was held in the evening in celebration of the opening of the Synod.- The Rev. W. Sladp presided, and there was ( a good attendance of the public. The Ghairmai: congratulated Trinity Church and its. congregation on the work being done by tho Helping Hand Mission. A church's mission was not simply to build a church.and put into'it all the furniture and all conveniences for worship. It was- a. good thing—a necessary thing—that the life enjoyed should flow out and touch others, and 'so a church should look round and see if there were not opportunities for usefulness outside of its own walls. This congregation had found an outlet for' its life and energies in the Helping Hand Mission. In Sister Annie they had a very a-ble successor to Sister Olive.—(Applause.) He also congratulated the Church on its g'enerosity in liberating Sister Annie for a considerable time before the local option poll to'give herself specially to tho nolicense campaign.—(Applause.) He was surethat Sister Annie bore a distinguished part in securing the victory. The congregation set an example that all the churches might well follow on tho eve of a great fight like that ir freeing,.its sister to take a part in the campaign. As the Rev. Mr Slade had to leave at this stage for another meeting-, the chair was taken by the Rev. Mr Blamires. In a few remarks, Mr Blamires thanked, the gathering for their attendance, notwithstanding tho excitement of tho elections. He took that opportunity of saying, for the information of those who took an interest in the Dunedin North election, that Mr Thomson had been elected by 2 votes.— (Applause.) The Rot. A. Reader, of Cromwell, in' speaking on the subject of " Fitness for Service," expressed his gratification at the Tesult of the fight in Dunedin on Tuesday of last. week. It was a great victory that the- No-license party had gained. He also expressed tho hope that the influential daily napcrs in Dunedin would before long see 'their way to free themsslvcs from complicity with the accursed liquor traffic—(Applause.) After touching in warm terms on the work of their Church, he said he felt that what the Church wanted in this Dominion was a baptism of the Spirit of God, for when that came all things wero possible unto them. He hoped the "year upon which the Church was entering would be one of unexampled prosperity in church life, and that there would come upon it, not only on the officials but upon every member of it, a baptism of power, and that with renewed consecration they would endeavour to follow in the footsteps of. their Master and find new spheres of opportunities.—(Applause.) Sister Annie, of tho Trinity Helping Hand Mission, spoke about her work in the Bath Street Hall. The best work a sister could do was that which was unseen by the majority of the people. It was a joy to bring' a smile to the sad face, to see the little child who welcomed one's coming, and to know that the Master, Who came not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for manv, was looking on with approving eyes.—(Applause.) Some stories of her work were narrated by Sister Annie, who said that on one occasion her life was threatened by a man whose wife and young family she had befriended. Later or that man took out a prohibition order against himself. The drink taken from him, there was' a hungering in his heart for the one he had professed to love and for his children. It was the sister's joy to minister to those who needed help. She had been delighted in visiting tho factories —first the Phoenix and then Hudson's—to notice that week by week the girls had welcomed her coming. Through tho visitation of the factories they had been a.ble to form an ambulance class for the girls, and now, through the kindness of the St. John Ambulance Association, the factory girls, who bad little opportunity of learning those things that were so necessary to womanhood, were to bave that opportunity.—(Applause.) The Rev. Mr Pratt, of Roxburgh, also gave a brief address. During tho evening Trinity Church Choir contributed anthems, and the Rev. Mr Mitchell, of Invercargill, sang a solo.