METHODIST SYNOD

Southland Times, Issue 19097, 15 November 1923, Page 5

METHODIST SYNOD

MINISTERIAL SESSION. The Otago-Southland Annual District Synod, of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, met in ministerial session yesterday morning, in the Leet Street Methodist Church Invercargill. The following ministers were present:— Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, Chairman of District; Rev. L. A. G. Brooks (Trinity); Rev. W. Walker (Central Mission) ; Rev. E. ‘ O. Blamires (Dundas St.); Rev. R. Raine (Mornington); Rev. A. Hopper (Roslyn); Rev. H. L. Richards (Cargil Road) ; Rev. G. P. Hunt (Caversham) ; Rev. B. Metson (St. Kilda) ; Rev. C. B. Jordan (Port Chalmers) ; Rev. F. J. Parker (Waikouaiti) ; Rev. W. Gatman (Balclutha) ; Rev. T. Skuse (Milton) ; Rev. R. E. Fordyce (Roxburgh) ; Rev. Harold A. Sharp (Invercargill Central) ; Rev. J. H. Haslam (St. Peter’s (Invercargill); Rev. W. Hocking (Gore) ; Rev. R. Richards (Otautau); Rev. T. A. Pybus (Supernumerary) ; Rev. G. Clement (Supernumerary) ; Rev. Newbold (Supernumerary) ; Rev. N. Papakura (Supernumerary). The following Home Missionaries were also present:— Mr O. S. Pearne (Maori Hill) ; Mr C. W. Brown (Mosgiel) ; Mr G. H. Bridgman Edendale) ; Mr G. H. Marr (Lawrence) ; Mr R. H. McGregor (Cromwell) ; Mr H. Vo well (Riverton) ; Mr E. R. Alexander (Tuatapere); Mr C. Duncan (Nightcaps). After devotional exercises, Rev. J. H. Haslam was elected as secretary of the committee, and the hours of session were fixed. Sympathetic reference was made to the absence of Rev. V. S. Mercer, through serious illness. On account of the uncertain state of Mr Mercer’s health, he was unanimously recommended to the Conference to be received into full connection, subject to medical certificate. Rev. L. A. G. Brookes, after the usual oral examination, was recommended to conference to pass in his probationary year. The following candidates for the ministry were present, and were carefully examined as to their general and educational fitness and were severely recommended to the Conference to be received:— Messrs O. S. Pearn, W. Silvester, M. Paulger, E. R. Alexander, and R. McGregor. Messrs G. H. Marr and H. Yowell were also recommended to pass in their Home Missionary years. It was reported that Mr G. F. O. Whittlestone had been recently appointed as Home Missionary at Kaitangata. REPRESENTATIVE SESSION. The representative session of the OtagoSouthland Methodist District Synod opened at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon in the Leet Street Church, Invercargill. There were present, in addition to the ministers already mentioned, the following lay representatives:—Mr E. A. Roseveare, Treasurer of Contingent Fund; Mr A. S. Froggatt, District Secretary of Church Property; Mrs B. Metson, Sunday School District Representative; Mr E. Aslin (Trinity. Dunedin) ; Mr D. Cameron (Dunedin Central Mission) ! Mr H. Driver; Mr W. Roberts (Dundas Street) ; Mr E. Dowland (Cargill Road) ; Mr I. Winton (St. Kilda) ; Mr E. Newell (St. Kilda) ; Mr H. (Caversham) ; Miss M. Clyde (Roslynl; Mr M. Paulger (Roslyn) ; Mr G. Hughes (Mosgiel) ; Mr W. Guest (Balclutha) ; Mr P. A. Pearce (Invercargill Central) ; Mr F. W. Freddy (Invercargill Central) ; Mr C. Paton (St. Peter’s, Invercargill) ; Mr C. F. Roberts (St. Peter’s, Invercargill) ; Mr G. R. George (Bluff); Mr A. Campbell (Bluff); Mr R. W. McGrath (Gore) ; Mr C. Shepherd (Gore); Mrs E. Harrington; Mr A. H. Sheat (Edendale) ; Mr G. F. Writtiestone (Kaitangata) ; Mr R. Olds (Cromwell) ; no representative (Riverton) ; no representative (Tuatapere) ; Mr J. McLean (Nightcaps). The following officers of the Synod were appointed—Secretary, Rev. J. H. Haslam; assistant and journal secretary, Rev. W. H. Hocking; reporter to the press, Rev. R. Richards. The Chairman, Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, in welcoming the members of Synod, reported that the work of the Church generally throughout the district was in a healthy condition. This was especially so in the northern area. There >ere some disquieting signs and cause for anxiety in certain directions in the southern and south western districts. He emphasised the need for a new note of challenge and aggressiveness in the church’s work, the necessity of spiritual fellowship, and the supreme need for deep and personal religious experience

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 circuits south of Balclutha.” He urged the need for a more definite aggressive policy in Southland, and felt that the retrogression of recent years was largely to be attributed to the wide and somewhat incoherent district. Rev. J. H, Haslam opposed the proposal, for connectional reasons, and Mr E. A. Roseveare spoke adversely of the influence of a small synod, while Mr G. R. George, of Bluff, supported the motion, and urged the importance of Southland’s claims. The proposal was lost by 26 votes to 14.

Rev. H. L. Richards moved: “That conference be urged to station a suitable agent, with a substantial grant from the Home Mission Fund.” This was carried unanimously. It was further resolved that St. Clair be attached to Cargil Road circuit.

The Synod adjourned at 5.30 until 9.30 to-dav.