METHODIST MINISTERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1578, 5 March 1919, Page 2

METHODIST MINISTERS.

ORDINATION SERVICE. There, was an ordination service at' the Durham Street Methodist Church last evening, when six candidates for i the Methodist ministry were ordained, their names being: P. I. Cooke (Birken-! head), O. Burnet (Mosgiel), A. J. L. j Minifie (Waimarino), E. T. Olds (Christ: church), W. G. Slade (Invercargill), and | F. T. Harris (Gore). Messrs Burnet, j Cooke, Olds, and Harris are returned soldiers. Mr Olds, who is being attended to in hospital in Christchurch, was in uniform, and had one arm in ; a sling. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse, of Auckland, president of the Methodist Conference, now sitting jft Christchurch, assisted by the Rev. T. A. Joughin (Timaru), ex-president, Rev. S. Lawry (Christchurch), and Rev. W. A. Hay (Dunedin). Each of the candidates gave their testimony of faith, after which the president of the conference (the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse) then put to the candidates the questions prescribed by the Church. The candidates, having made the necessary responses, the ordination folkowcd. Tile ordination addrecs was delivered by the Rev. T. A. Joughin. Mr Joughin said that the candidates had been called to the noblest profession and most solemn responsibility on earth. The work of a physician was to save bodies, but that of the preacher was to save souls. He advised them to make their sermons, interesting. The movement for Church union must grow in strength and momentum, and it could no more be held back than the tides of the sea. The call to Ihe Churches to end these senseless divisions had been strengthened by the experiences of millions during the"war. The unreasonable obstinacy of implacable and irreconcilable Churches might drive the people to break away from Christianity 'as at present organised. The ministry of the candidates wo.uld bo exercised at a time .when religious unrest was never' more, acute, and the encouraging aspect about it was that the discontent existing was with the un-Christianlike aspect of modern life and thought. They must give unreality and insincerity iio quarter. The problem of industrial unrest must also be grappled with if their ministry was lo be effective. He welcomed the new ministers. The proceedings were concluded by the singing of the Doxology. ■