METHODIST SYNOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19020, 16 November 1923, Page 7

METHODIST SYNOD.

The Otago-Southland annual District Synod of the Methodist Church .of New Zealand met in ministerial session on Wednesday morning in the Leet Street Methodist Church, Invercargill. There were present: The Revs. H. E. Bellhouso (chairman of : the distriet), L. A. G. Brooks, WL Walker, ■ E. O. Blamires, R. Raine, A, Hopper, U. L. Richards, G. P. Hunt, B. Metson, C. B. Jordan, F. J. Parker, W. Gatman, T, Skuse, R. E. Fordyce, H. A. Sharp, -;J»' H. Haslam, W. Hosting, R. Richards, -T, A. Pybus, G. Clement, W. Newbold; together with tile following home missionaries : Messrs O- S. Pearne, C. ML Brown, G. H. Bridgeman. G. H. Marr, B. H. • M‘Gregor, H. Vowell, E. R. Alexander, and C. Duncan. After devotional exercises, the Rev. J. H. Haslam was elected as secretary, and * the hours of session were fixed. Sympathetic reference was made to the absence of the Rev. V. S. Mercer through: serious illness. On account of the uncertain state of Mr Mercer’s health, he was unanimously recommended into full connect tion, subject to a medical certificate. The Rev. L. A. G. Brooks, after the usual oral examination, was recommended to the conference to pass in his second year. The following candidates for the ministry were present and were carefully examined as to their fitness both generally and educationally, and were recommended to the conference to be received—viz.: Messrs O." S. Learn, W. Silvester, M. Paulzer, E. .R. Alexander, and R. M'Gregor. Messrs G. H. Marr and H. Vowell were also recommended to pass in their years as home missionaries. It was reported -that Mr G. F. O. Whifctlestone , had been recently appointed aa home missionary at Kaitangata. The usual questions of ministerial character ’were dealt with, and the session closed with devotional exercises. The representative session of the OtagoSouthland Methodist District Synod opened at 3 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon in the Leet Street Church. There were, present, in addition to the ministers already mentioned, the following lay representatives ; Messrs E. A. Rosevear© (treasurer of Contingent Fund), A. . S.. Froggatt (district secretary of Church : Property), Mrs B. Metson (Sunday school district representative), E., Aslin (Trinity. Dunedin), T. Smith (Trinity, Dunedin), D. Cameron (Dunedin Central Mission), H. ! Driver, W. Roberts (Dundaa street), E. Dowland (Cargill road), I. Winton (St. Kilda), E. Newell (St. Kilda), HWilson (Caversham), Miss M. Clvde (RosIvn). Messrs M. Paulger (Roslya), G. Hughes (Mosgiel), Miss E. Broadley (Mosgiel), Messrs W. Guest (Balclutha), P. A. Pearce (Invercargill Central), F. W. Freddy (Invercargill Central), C. Baton (St. Peter a, Invercargill), G. F. Roberts (St. Peter’s, Invercargill), G. R. George (Bluff), A. Campbell (Bluff), R. W. M’Creath (Gore!, C. Shepherd (Gore), Mrs E. Harrington, Messrs A. H. Sheat (Edendale), G. F. Whit tie s tone (Kaitangata), R. Olds (Cromwell). and J. M’Lean (Nightcaps). After devotional exercises, the hoars of session were fixed as follows: 9.50 to 12.30, 2, to 5, and 7.30 to time of rising. . The following 'were appointed as officers of the synod: The Rev. J. H. Haslam, sec-, retary; the Rev. W. H. Hosldng, assistant and journal secretary; the Rev. R-: Richards, reporter to the press. The Rev. H. E. Bellhousc, in welcoming the members of synod, reported that the work of the church generally through* out the district \vas in c. healthy condition. This was especially so in the northern area. There was cause for anxiety in some directions in the southern and south-western district. He emphasised the need for a new challenge and aggressiveness in our church; work, the necessity of spiritual fellowship,; and the necessity for deep personal ' religious experience. L The Rev. H. Sharp moved— That in the interests of Southland Methodism and the highest efficiency of the separate circuits, we urge that conference shall re-establish the Southland district, comprising all the circuits south of Balclutha.” He urged the need for more definite aggressix eness _l® Southland, and felt that any retrogression--in recent years was largely attributable^ to, the wide and somewhat incoherent united synod Rev. J. H. Haslam opposed the motion for connexional reasons. Mr G R. George (of Bluff) supported the motion, inging the importance of Southland claims. Mr E A Roseveare snoke adversely of the influence of a small synod, and the motion being nut, was lost bv 26 votes to WThe Rev H. L. Richards moved— That conference be urged to station a suitable agent in the Cargill road circuit, with a substantial grant from the Home Mission Fund. This was unanimously carried, « was further resolved that St. Clair be attached to the Cargiill road circuit The synod adjourned at 5.30 till 9.30 next morning. . .