METHODIST SYNOD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17502, 19 December 1918, Page 8

METHODIST SYNOD

SECOND DAY. Tho sittings of tho Otago Methodist Synod were resumed yesterday in tho Trinity Methodist Schoolroom. Tho Rov. S. Griffith presided. The President referred' to tho deaths of three ministers during the year—tho Rov. J. B. Suckling, who died from influenza at the foreign mission station in Fiji; Chaplain Aleck Allan, formerly of the Caver-' sham circuit; and the Rev. A. R. Gordon, who was a probationer in tho Dundos street circuit, at tho time of his enlistment. All wero earnest men and attractive personalities, who had won tho highest esteem and regard of the soldiers, as they had dono previously among tho people of theii' circuits. Tho Chairman and tho Rev. W. A. Hay wero appointed a committee to inquire into the possibility or otherwise of a homo missionary being reappointed to Palmorston, which at present is worked in conjunction with Waikouaiti by one agent. Very satisfactory reports wero received on tho evangelistic missions conducted by tho Rev. Val Trigg, and gratification was expressed at tho spiritual stimulus afforded to tho Church by them. STATISTICAL. The financial returns presented by the statistical secretary (Rov. S. H. D. Porymanj showed that nine circuits returned credit balances totalling £201 5s 2d, and eight had debits amounting to £157. The total adult membership in.the district was 2073 (a decreaso of two); junior membership, 640 (an increase of 33); communicants, 1574 (an - increase of 161); ministers, probationers, and home missionaries, 20; local preachers, 63; preaching places, 53 (a decrease of one). Wesley guilds had increased by one society and 24 members, and senior endeavour societies by one society and 16 members. Members of Wesley guilds and genior endeavour societies totalled 128 members (an increase of 40); junior endeavour societies, 363 members (it decrease of 113); band' of hope members, 250 (a decrease of 106); other young people's societies,, 184 (a decrease of 13). The total attendance at public worship was 7471 (a deerwise of 56). The iSunday School statistics' showed a staff of teachers totalling 301 (a decrease of 13); scholars, 2376 (a decrease of 38); young men,'s Bible classes, 143 members; y° un ,f women's Bible classes, 210 , (an increase oT 24); young worshippers' league, 468. rhe Sunday School children had; contributed £63 2s 6d to foreign missions, and £47 7s 4d to home missions. DEPORTS. The Connexional Sunday School and Young People's Board reported that Mr H. Chapman (Dunedin) had been appointed editor of the Sunday School column in the Methodist Times, and that the appointment of a dominion organiser for Sunday School and young people's work after the war, at a stipend of £250 per annum, exclusive of travelling expenses ' and homo allowance, was under consideration. The estimated annual expenditure under this head was £480, and it was proposed to nieet it by contributions from Sunday schools, Bible" classes, home mission fund, and' v the contingent fund. Regret was expressed at tho small number of teachers taking advantage of the teachers' training classes. _ Discussion arose as to the age at which it was suitable for children to receive communion, and also over the problem of retaining young people for the church after they had outgrown the Sunday schooL Lack of home training- and family worship, and the want of religious instruction in the schools were afeo debated.—The report was adopted. Tfaereport of the committee of the Auckland .Theological College deplored the death of the principal (the Rev. C. H. Garland) and stated that this event .had created a difficult situation regarding tho carrying out of the objects of the institution. An extension of the lease of Dunholme for five years had been granted by Mr A. C. Caughey In view of the few students likely to be resident m the college next year, it was not proposed to designate a principal for 1919, and the Rev. G. T. Marshall had been appointed temporary principal It was recommended that inquiry be made into the character of the theological training given to the students, as compared -»'ith that given in similar institutions in America with a view to ascertaining whether the training now given is calculated' to fit the young men for the exacting demands of the modern ministry. A resolution moved by tho Rev. H 1. loat, a.returned chaplain, was carried expressing thanks for tho termination of hghtrnp: acclaiming the Allied -victory as the triumph of right over wrong, and the surety of democracy; voicing appreciation of the sacrifices made bv men and women durwg the course of the war; nraying- for God s guidance at the -final settlement; and invoking Hi s consolation for the bereavedand affirming the Church's intention to show returned soldiers that it was fully cognisant ef what was owed to them. AFTERNOON SESSION. .On resuming in the afternoon foreign mission matters engaged the , attention of the eynod for a time. FOREIGN MISSIONS. The Conneional Committee on .ForeiErn Missions reported- that tho missionary income for 1918 has totalled £11,165 8s 7d which, while it did- not reach r the target aimed at (£15,000), was nevertheless a very satisfactory result, beins a considerable increase upon 1917, when the income—£lo,ooo —was double that of the previous year A donation of £100 had been made to'the JA-itish and Foreign Bible Society. The VVomen s Missionary Auxiliary's contribution to the missionary income was £476 17 S dd. Regarding the form that next year's effort shall take, tho Foreign Mission Jixecutive, alter careful consideration, recommended that instead of aiming to raise a definite sum largely in advance of last year, tho Church should concentrate on a policy of education and organisation By this means, it is hoped, there will accrue a .steadily increasing hind from year to year, and that, by aiming to secure contributions from a very much larger number of people the circle of missionary interest will bo greatly widened. For this reason the committee, after most careful review of all the iacts of the caso, recommended that the loreign mission secretary be set apart in 1319 instead of tho following year as decided by the last conference. It was highly desirable that this organising; work should bo completed before the effort for the CentonaryFund is completed, which will be in 1922.—The report, was adopted, with an expression of thanks to the Revs. J. W. Burton and A. H. Scriven for their inspiring deputation work and addresses. The amount raised for foreign rhissions in .the Ctago district during the year was £517 2s 6d —an increase of £sO, approximately. HOME MISSION ENTERPRISE. The report of the Home Mission Executive was considered satisfactory, and it was adopted. It whs decided to recommend to the Home Mission Committee that tho following be tho homo mission grants next year in the Otago district:—Homo mission stations: Kaitangata—£2o if a single man appointed, £70 if a married man; Lawrence, £22 10s; Cromwell, £60. Circuits with home missionaries: Palmerston, £35 if a- married man is appointed; Waikouaiti, £40. Aided circuits: Mornington, £12 10s, subject to stipend being raised to £225; St. Kilda fi'M; Pert Chalmers, £42 10s; Mosgiel, £25 if a single man appointed, £50 if a married man ; Milton, £36; Roxburgh, £20; Dundas iSi-oet and Roslyn, £12 10s each, if stipend is raised to £225. The District Home Mission Advisory Committee for next year is to consist of eight; city ministers and >a layman from each circuit, MISOBIiAXEO'GS. The reports of tho Wellington Military Committee and of the District Chaplain's Committee wero received and adopted reforence being made to the excellent work done by Methodist chaplains at the front and in New Zealand camps; also to the need on the Church's part for careful shopherding of the returning soldiers, for assisting them to find re-employment in civil lifo and otherwise catering for tho interests of those who have "dono their bit" for the dominion in the great war. -A very satisfactory report on the work being carried'on at tho Central Mission was presented by the Rev. C. Eaton, to whom and to the officials, the hearty congratulations of the Synod were tendered The report on the South Island Orphanage showed that 41 children are being cared for in that institution, and more could be admitted but for the limited staff, whioh it is hoped to increase. The hone was expressed from tho chair that tho Methodist public would do its share in providing Christian homes for those children who have been orphaned during the epidemic. Tho Rev. 0. Eaton was elected tho Synod representative to the Stationing Committee of next conference; substitute, Ilev R Raine.

Friendly geetings were directed to be sent to the Roy. A. Hopper (chaplain on tho hospital ship Mahono), who has just gone away on his second voyage.