METHODIST SYNOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17503, 20 December 1918, Page 3

METHODIST SYNOD.

CLOSING SESSION.

Yesterday morning's session brought the Methodist Synod in Dunedin to a close.

METHODIST CENTENARY. The approaching centenary of New Zealand Methodism provided matter for discussion. On February 22, 1822, the fiev. Samuel Leigh landed at the Bay of Islands, and _on June 8, 1822, the first Methodist service was conducted yat Whangaroa. A conference committee otters a number of suggestions for the fitting celebration of the centenary in June, 1522. These include (1) suitable religious services and public _ gatherings of thanksgiving, and (2) the raising of a thanksgiving fund. Under the first head it is recommended that the conference of 1922 be held in Auckland, at such a date that a great thanksgiving service may be ield on February 22; that a suitable monument bo erected at Whangaroa; and that a visitor from England or America be asked to take part in the Tho financial proposals relate to the raising,- of a thanksgiving fund of £35,000, to be allocated as follows:—£10,000 for a new theological college, £10,000 to increase the capital of the church building and loan fund, £10,000 for higher education, and £5000 for a new Wesley Training College. .; *. .. <' There was a division of opinion in the Synod as to the advisability of establishing denominational schools. It was. decided to recommend to the conference that the allocation of the thanksgiving fund be reconsidered. aHUECH XTNIOIT. The Conference Committee of Privileges having considered the question of union witb certain of the non-Episcopal churches of the dominion, asked/the Synod to giro special attention to the resolution of conference, and take into serious consideration the overtures of the various presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church mfavour of a committee beinp appointed by the General Assembly to investigate the subject of L| chorea union. The committee recognised the difficulty of making a pronouncement on the matter until tho General Aseembly had met, as the question depends entirely upon its action. On the motion of . Rev. C. Eaton seconded by Kov. R. Raino, the following motion was adopted: —"Having given earnest consideration to the important proposal union of the Methodist Church of New Zealand with the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches of tho dominion tfais Synod expresses its conviction thpt such a v union would bo in tho best interests of the Kingdom of God, and trusts that too formation of a great United Churob may ere long be an accompb'shed fact." CONFERENCE HEPHESENTATIO;;. A Christchurch committee, appointed by conference to report to next conference on desirable amendments to tho constitution whereby the size of conference might be reduced, sent forward certain proposals to the Synods, the principal purport of which was that, instead of each circuit being directly represented at conference, the bynod elect a certain number -of representatives for each district.—There was an animated discussion on this proposal which was eventually rejected on the voices the opponents of. the suggestion being of opinio-i that the time was inopportune. LOCAL PEEACIIEr.S. Regarding a proposal for the establishment of a Methodist Local Preachers , ' Association it was decided to recommend to the conference that, instead of multiplying machinery m this way, the suggested constitution of the proposed association be merged with that of the Local Pre ac h ers < Mutual Aid Association, so as to make one effective organisation. The Synod closed with various motions of thanks, including one to the press At a special meeting of the Ministerial Committee m the morning Mr W B Pickering, Waikouaiti, was recommended to conference to bo received as a candidate for the ministry. -.