METHODIST SYNOD

Southland Times, Issue 19098, 16 November 1923, Page 6

METHODIST SYNOD

CHURCH MATTERS DISCUSSED. PROCEEDINGS AT SESSION. The Otago and Southland Methodist District Synod, was resumed with a full session in representative sitting yesterday morning i a the Leet Street church. CIRCUIT MATTERS. After devotional exercises, Rev. B. Metson jioved: “That having tried to work the Peninsula with one minister stationed at St. Kilda without success, we consider the only satisfactory way to overtake the full possibilities of the work there is to request Synod and Conference to separate the Peninsula from the St Kilda circuit, with a view to the appointment of a Home Missionary, under the superintendence of the Home Mission Executive.” Mr I. Winton, in seconding the motion, emphasised the urgency of this course in view of the developments of the district. Mr D. Cameron believed that the proposal held the key to the successful work of the church, both in St Kilda and on the Peninsula. Rev. Newbold urged the need for a wider application of the same principal.—The motion was carried unanimously. Rev. A. Hopper moved: “That a probationer be appointed to work the Maop Hill portion of the Roslyn Circuit, and thht the name of the circuit' be changed to ‘Roslyn and Maori Hill Circuit.’ ” After some discussion of a general nature the motion was carried. It was further resolved: “That in the event of an agent being appointed to Broad Bay, the Otakau Heads (‘Kafka’), be transferred from Port Chalmers to Broad Bay.” THE CHURCH WORK. The statistical returns of the church for the district were presented by the secretary, and were generally considered satisfactory. It revealed a slight increase in the number of local preachers. There were 2802 members of the church in the district, being a slight improvement, 763 junior members, another increase, while there was a slight decrease in the. number of communicants. In young people’s work there were some slight decreases. There were 25 active members of Wesley Guilds, 48 members of Senior Christian Endeavour Societies, and 330 members of Junior Societies. There were 888 members of other young people’s, and there were 644, members of connectional Bands of Hope. Sunday School work also revealed increases in many departments, with some decreases in others. There were 1691 attendants at Sunday School, with 259 teachers and 712 attendants of Young Worshippers’ League. Dealing with the welfare of the church the report of the committee was received. The report dealing with church literature was received. Regarding caucus meetings the recommendation of the committee, regarding the need for some conference guidance in the matter, was agreed to. The question of suburban settlement was considered and the recommendation of the committee was adopted. “BACK TO THE BIBLE.”

Under the heading of the “Ministry of Teaching,” some discussion ensued concerning the “Fundamental” movement and “Back to the Bible” campaign. Rev. H. Sharp said that the movement was calculated to disorganise and divide the church’s work. It led to much rancour and intolerance, and there was need for a wise, careful and loving approach of the question. There were several speakers, the question being thoughtfully discussed. Rev. E. V. Blamires also referred to similar experiences at Hamilton. Mr E. A. Roseveare suggested that in many cases the church services could be made more definitely instructive in Biblical and doctrinal truth. A resolution was passed recommending that each church have a copy of the Revised Version of the Bible placed in the pulpit. VARIOUS REPORTS. The Welfare of Church Committee as recommended was agreed to, with the addition of the name of Mr H. J. Malcolm. The report of Sunday Schools and Young People’s Societies was received. The report of the Otago Young Men’s Bible Class Union was received. It revealed that steady progress had been made with a membership of 230. Both in spiritual and in social life the Union had been very active and the annual Easter Camp at Vauxhall had been a means of ft- -t good.

The reports of the Methodist Young Men's Bible Class and Young Women’s Bible Class were received. A communication was received from the Otago Young Women’s Bible Class, requesting that all ministers hold a special service annually for the purpose of enlisting church members from Bible classes. SABBATH OBSERVANCE. The following motion was passed regarding Sabbath observance: “Recognising that Sunday as a day of rest and a day for worship is the very bulwark alike of the nation’s efficiency, and of its moral and spiritual life, we strongly protest against the growing tendency to indulge in sport on the Lord’s Day. Believing that in the things for which Sunday stands, the nation finds its moral foundations, and conscious that nations decline as they disregard their moral institutions, we call upon members of public bodies to resist the movement for the secularisation of the Lord’s Day.” MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. A vote of thanks was accorded the Sunday &hool and Young People’s Societies Committee for the work done during the year, and similar votes to the Young Men's and Y r oung Women’s Bible Class movements. It was resolved that Conference be asked to request from the management sufficient space in the Methodist Times for the reports of the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Bible Class Unions’ reports, and thus do away with the necessity for a separate Bible class paper. It was also resolved that, “In view of the appointments of Y.M. and Y.W.’ Bible Class travelling secretaries, appointments which deplete the financial resources, we recommend Conference to seriously consider the question of the continuance of the office of the Organising Secretary of the Young People’s movement.” FRATERNAL GREETINGS. During the afternoon a deputation from the Invercargill Ministers’ Association, consisting of the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson and Rev. J. Chisholm waited upon the Synod to convey the greetings of the Association to the Synod. Rev. J. L. Robinson expressed pleasure at the Synod’s presence in Invercargill. If corporate church union was not immediately feasible, there was at least a very evident unity in work and sympathy. He claimed to be evangelical and claimed that orthodoxy must be abreast of truth. Rev. H. L. Richards briefly replied on behalf of (he Synod, and commended the mutual efforts of the various churches to endeavour to appreciate each other’s viewpoint, and cordially reciprocated the greetings of the deputation.