METHODIST DISTRICT SYNOD.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 12975, 14 December 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

METHODIST DISTRICT SYNOD.

(From "The Colonits," Dec. 2.)

The Methodist Synod for the Nelson district met in pastoral session under tho chairmanship of the Rev J. J. Lewis, in St John's Methodist Church at ten o'clock yesterday morning. The following ministerial members were present: Revs J. J. Lewis (chairman), J. Crump, Wm Lee, T. N. Griffin, T. It. Richards, E. P." Blamires, R. Wilson, C. Eaton, H. Rauston, W. G. Maslin, and C. B. Jordan, B.A. Messrs H. Ford, J. Harris, E. H. Pain, and F. B. Lawrence, Home Missionaries employed in the district were also in attendance.

Prior to the official opening of the Synod a devotional service was held, when the Rev \Vm Lee delivered a stirring address to thai ministers present, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper being administered at the close.

After the opening of the Synod the following officers were elected :Secretary, Rev T. N. Griffin ; assistant secretary, Rev R. Wilson ; journal secretary, Rev W. G. Maslin; reporters Jo "Methodist Times" and press, llevs E. P. Blamires and 0. Eaton.

Tho. Chairman extended a welcome to the members of the Synod, especially to the newcomers into the district. , The morning's session was mainly given to routine business and to preparation for the financial session to take place to-day. An important matter engaging the attention of the Synod was that of the housing and training of the theological student's. After hearing the ; report, of the acting-governor of the training institution it was resolved that pending the erection of the Thoological and Training College the appointing of a principal be left in abeyance for. the ensuing year, and that the matter of making temporary arrangements for the training of tha students for 1911 be left in the hands of the Auckland committee. :

The Synod resumed in afternoon session at 2 o'clock. After examination Mx W. G. Maslin was recommended to the conference* for ordination, subject to his written examinations proving satisfactory. Mr C. B. Jordan, " 8. A. , was re-; commended to pass in his year. A candidate for the ministry, Mr F. : B- Lawrence, having . passed satisfactorily- through the usual tests,; was unanimously recommended, to: conference. Interesting reports were presented to the Synod from the home mission stations in the district. Mr J. Harris, labouring at Runanga (on the West Coast) in connection with the Grog-mouth circuit, related a story of work done under peculiar difficulties, but nevertheless giving encouragement and promise. The work at Havelock and the Sounds was reported to be flourishing under thercare, of Mr E.~ H. Pain, the good hews of the Gospel being carried in some cases to settlers for thirty or forty years out of touch with religious things. Mr F. B. Lawrence gave an account' of the work in the remoter parts of the Rich T mond circuit, services being regularly maintained in Tapawera, Sherry, i Whangapeka, Stanley Brook, and Motupiko, among a population; sparse but appreciative «nd responsive; After hearing the good account of the work accomplished by such seJf-sacrifieing i effort, the Synod placed on record its gratification. of the success achieved, and accorded its best thanks to the brethren so devotedly employed. The session closed at 5 o'clock, to •resume in financial session at 9,80 this morning.

SOCIAL.

A social wa>s held last night in the school room to welcome the. ministers and lay representatives to the Methodist District Synod. .There was .a good attendances. Mr James . Boon presided. After singing and prayer the Chairman extended a hearty welcome to the visiting brethren. The social H-as of a very enjoyable nature. Addroesesvwere given by the Rev T. N. Griffin, of Greymouth; the Rev T.- R. Richards, of Blenheim ; and the lev R. Wilson, of Reef ton. The first named gentleman spoke on the relationship betweeri'the children and the Church. He emphasised' that whatever the Church and the Sunday school might do, the children would receive their deepest \ and most lasting impressions in their,, homes, hence the importance of family worship, and the children being brought up in the atmosphere of prayer. The second speaker dealt 'with' the work of the ministers, treating the subject somewhat; humourously. He urged that ministers were much criticised, and whatever their defects it must be remembered that the ministers came from the -ranks of the laymen. The third speaker postponed his remarks on the subject set down for him to a .'.future occasion. Each speaker acknowledged that he was enjoying his visit to Nelson ,_ and was receiving the best of hospitality. Miss Lewis contributed a -violin solo., Songs were sung by Misses Grove, V. Smith, and Collier, andJVfessrs A. P. Lucas and Morand; Mr Webley junior, gave a recitation: Miss Cbote (piano), and Mr N. Williams (organ) supplied a couple of musical duetts which were thorpugily. enjoyed. . The ladies provided an abundance ot refreshments. , t, t t On the motion, of the Rev J. J. Lewis a vote of thanks was earned by acclamation to the speakers, to the •providers of the evening's musical treat, to the ladies, to the decorators of the schoolroom, and. to the ChairThe Benediction brought the gathering to a close. '"

(From "The Colonist,'.' Dec. 5.) The financial session of the 'Methodist District Synod was held on Friday, whan there were present, in addition to the ministers^ the following lay representatives : Nelson, Messrs A. A. Lucas and V. Tiller; Richmond, Messrs E. W. Smith and W. H. Hodson; Blenheim, Messrs W. B. Parker and W. Pike; Motueka, Mr J. W. Win; Reefton, Mr D. M. Anderson ; district secretary of church property, Mr James Boon. . * ■_ „ ■ In his address the chairman or the district, the Rev J. J. Lewis; spoke of -j;he virility of the Nelson minister^, in view of the many break downs which were occurring in other parts. The-presetot was an historic year in the history of the Church in New Zealand, for the legislative independence 'gained at the General Australasian : -Conference was now in force. Thci Chairman referred to the indefatigable efforts made by the home mission secretary, the Rev. T. G. Brooke, in the district, which had resulted in an incren.se of 71 per cent in donations to the home mission fund. There were many' signs of progress within the New churches had been erected at Picton and Springlands, a hew parsoriagei at Tuamarina, and a move had been made in the direction of building a new parsonage, at Blenheim, .whilst two sections bad been acquired at Reefton.' Greymouth" .had in hand tlie building of a neiv church, and NcJson was the possessor of £1000 towards a new Siinday school." He was pleased to say that the home mission executive had acceded to his request to have the Rev Lawrence stationed at Murchison. No step had been taken until Bishop Mules had been consulted regarding the English -Church services which had hitherto been conducted there and he) hoped the Murchison settlers realised how much they owed to the conciliatory and catholic spiril of Bishop Mules, Ever since coming, to" Nelson he had felt that they should not be satisfied simply with the services, held within St John's Church, and recently arra'ngemtflits had been made for seri vices to be* conducted in tlie HaThodeu street school, in the vicinity of Waimea road, oh Sunday afternoons. Tjooking into statistics regarding memberships, etc., he found an increase. of 44 members, but ..there was i*v decrease of 92 in^the •attendance jat church. -There was a decrease of four Sunday schools," but an increase of 38 Sunday scholars.' IThere were v two more Junior Endeavour Societies than' last- "year, whilst the membership had increased bt 40. In regard to public worship, there* was an. increase of three "clrar.fi:

dies and nine other preaching placer,. But the.ro was a matter of deep concern. There had been three resignations from the ministry of the Church in New Zealand, and they should look very carefully into the causes. Whilst the itinerary system in connection with the. Church had many obvious advantages, it was responsible for much unrest — a craving for novelty on the part of some people and often hnart burning on the part of the minister. The more ministers and laymen could work together thei better it would be for the spiritual life of the Church. Looking generally at the relations of the Church with society, he could not but regret the extent of Sabbath desecration to bo. seen. They all believed in recreation ; but with' the weekly half holiday and shorter hours ample time was provided for these things without encroaching on the Lord's Day. Recently thoy had narrowly escaped having Sunday picture shows at the ' Theatre. This sad state of affairs Jiad only been saved by the casting voto of a man of God, who was Mayor of the city. T.t was their duty to endeavour to place men of this stamp in public offioec. In dealing with matters of wider public -interest, the Rev J. J. Lewis said the Government pf the Dominion -should be commended for legislation recently placed oii "the Statute Book, which would tend. in the direction' of decreasing the evils of intemperance and gambling. Whilst they might - not consider enough had been done thsy should give, full credit for what had been accomplished. All over the world- there was a fooling of impatience and feverish uniest— r a trend towards a universal brotherhood, .which jvas, he believed, in some" measure man's craving for Christ. All sympathised with the Anglican missiofl now in progress, and earnestly hoped that the same good results as secured elsewhere would be' achieved in Nelson;. They should all go forth hopefully;_arid confidently in the great work which they had to perform. The business of the session was then proceeded with. After some discussion it was agreed to relieve Westport and Motueka from" obligation to receive married ministers for- another year. c Murchison and Fjaxbpurne > were constituted separate home mission stations. Thet district secretary of church properties,- Mr Jas.. Boon,, presented the report on church property, disclosing a satisfactory financial position, there being apresent liability of £1764 only on property valued at £25,000. The report was received and adopted, and the following resolution was carried, unaniniously: "That the Synod expresses ■its satisfaction witk the report submitted, and records its hearty appreciation of Mr J. Boon's painstaking services, and recommends that he be re-appointed to thci office." The reports of: the secretary of the church building and loan fund, and of the acting, principal of the Three Kings Native Institution^ were- also received. The Chairman stated that the Rev J. G. Whein, of Sydney., secretar.v to the Australasian Methodist Missionary Society, was likely to visit Nelson and Blenheim as foreign mission deputation next year. The Synod expressed its satisfaction thereat, and resolved that if' possible the visit ba so extended so as to include the West Coast.

■ In the afternoon session homo mission affair.s ' received considerable attention. The report of the work of the E*v T. G. Brooke, the home, mission secretary, disclosed a- marked increase in the" support given to this fupd throughout the Dominion. 80 per cent being the increase in* income for the Nelson district. Tha Synod expressed its gratification at the general increase, and particularly at the progress, of the Nelson district, and recommended the re-appoihtment of Mr Brooka. Grants from the fund were recommended for the following cirsnits and home mission stations: Richmond, Blenheim, Hokitika and Greymouth, £0 each ; Havelock, £25 ; Murchison, £30; and Flaxbourne £40. The report of the work of the Deaconesses' Home, at Christchurch received sympathetic consideration, the present progress of the institution and the splendid possibilities of future usefulness gratifying the Synod. During tho.year a connexion al journal, "!Die New Zealand Methodist Times," has been established', and a satisf actory re- I port concerning, the progress of the paper was received, and the editor, the Rev L. Hudson, was recommended for re-appaintment: The ' recommendations of tho General Conference on the ] subject of ministerial allowances was sejit on to the annual conference for careful consideration.' After discussion on the question of the alteration of district boundaries, it was resolved J to recommend the alteration of the .Wellington and Taranaki districts into throe, viz., Wellington, Hawke's Bay arid Taranaki. The- proposal to alter conference procedure to provide for two instead of three v readings of stations was not entertained. k Resolutions on questions 'touching : public morals were passed as follows : "This Synod rejoices in- the -evidence of in-, creasing .temperance throughout Jhe Dominion, and the marked decrease ! in convictions for drunkcmne_ss in the areas that have carried no license. It; j recognises -with' satisfaction the oppoj-- | tunity the Government's new Bill. gives for the electors to vote on iia- : tional prohibition ,'but^ records its conviction that the law which requires a sixty per cent majority of valid votes is lindemocratic in principle, imposing ■an unfair disadvantage upon the temperance causel For the sake of the moral and material prosperity of the Dominion we -resolve to devote oiirselVes more; earnestly to- the campaign for the abolition: of -the liquor traffic." "This Synod '.hails with-, gratification the- recent action of' the Government in abolishing the licenses to bookmakers and limiting the number of race days. But as the gambling evil is stfll fostered by the tQtalisator, we urge our people to continue agitation for further legislation until all public forms of gambling are made illegal." The final session began at 7-30 p.m. with the consideration of the statistical returns. The chief features in thfe connection have already been made public; The report of the Connexional Sunday School Board occasioned but it was finally j decided to' forward the proposals re Sunday School organisation to the Conference for earnest consideration, with a view to remedying some' weaknesses of the present ibonstitution *of the Sunday School^? Tie Rev: T. R. Richards was elected district representative to the ensuing Cohference, with the Rev. T. N. Griffin iis substitute representative. The invitation of the Greymouth circuit to the Synod to meet next year at Greymouth was accepted with thanks. _ Hearty votes of thanks to the hosts and hostesses for generous hospitality"; to the Synod secretaries and reporters; to the press; and last, but not least, to the chairman, the Rev; J. J. Lewis, brought to a cloeo .a pleasant aiid profitable Synod.

. The salp of work held in the Wood Sunday school yesterday afternoon and evening passed off very succesßfully. The stallholders and assistants were:— Work stall, Misses Scaly, Stewart, and Dayman -produce stall, Mrs Parmenter and . Miss Hams; doll stall,- Mrs L. Dixon, and Miss Edith Dayman'; sweet- stall!, Mrs G. Estcourt and. Mrs East ; tea kiosk,. Mrs Dayman-, Misses Bishop, Thomas, and C. Estcourt;^ bran pie, Misses. Ethel- and Ivy Estcourt ; Christmas trO3, Misses C. Newport and C. Dayman. Miss Elsie Moore judged the JbuttoTJ holes, the prize winners being ; ■pioroace Bartlett I, Cliv^ Newport 1. In the evening a short musical pro* grammfewas givesaiby members of the j Cathedral choir; : rt

On Saturday afternoon last the members of the Presbyterian Young Women's Bible class, following their custom, entertained the children of : St. "Andrew's Orphanage at tea at the" •Church hall. After tea the children were amused with games, and each child was the recipient of a present beifore^ejiving. _ : i • .\ : ; ■■:-' ■ •:.■"•'■•■"'