STRATFORD

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD

(From Our Own Correspondent.) lAII cwa»un:eatl«as, letters, etc., laft with Mr H. J. HepkißS, bookseller, sill receive sroapi lUutiei.j METHODIST SYNOD Stratford, Dec. "20The Taranaki-Wanganui Synod of the Methodist Church continued its sessions on Thursday. The annual report ci the North Island Orphanage showed that 33 childi'en 4u'e in residence. Two acres of land have been donated to the. orphanage by Mr. A. C. Caughcy. Appreciation was expressed of the good work being done by the phanagesThe Synod affirmed as fundamental the principle of religious education in day schools, and expressed regret that the educational authorities have not been able to make a satisfactory endorsement of the principle in connection with national education, and that until a satisfactory settlement ot this matter has been reached the policy of denominational education be endorsed. Tho report of a special committee which sat during the year to consider how fittingly to celebrate the centenary of the introduction of Methodism, was received. Among other things, it was recommended that during the centenary year. 1922, a great forward movement be launched, that special thanksgiving services be held throughout the Dominion, and that "conventions of a religious nature be held in every possible centre. It was recommended that the conference of 1922 be held at Auckland, and that immediately afterwards a pilgrimage te made to Whangaroa and a suitable monument commemorating the establishment of the Methodist Mission there, be unveiled- In connection with these celebrations, visitors are to be invited from England and America. It was also recommended that a thanksgiving fund of £35,000 be raised to further the work of God in the Dominion. The Synod recorded its thankfulness to God for the cessation of hostilities, and with a view to securing the permanent peace of the world, welcome- the proposal to establish, a League of Naitons, believing that a. league on the lines suggested by President Wilson and Lord Gray is absolutely necessary, first, to permanently guarantee the political independence and integrity of small nations; secondly, to compel a universal resort to arbitration for the adjustment of international differences.

The Synod expressed its High appreciation of tho noble service rendered to the community by the nurses, and volunteer workers who, animated by the true spirit of sacrifice, were unsparing in their devotion to the needs of the nick. The Synod extended its sympathy to all who have been bereavedSatisfaction was expressed that Vbe recent legislation in connection with the liquor-trade affords an opportunity for the abolition of this traffic, and members and adherents of the church were urged to do their utmost to attain this end next April. On Wednesday evening the Rev. H. h. Bhimirea, C.F., 'introduced a discussion on : 'How to Prepare for the Home-com-ing of Our Soldiers." In this connection the following resolutions were adopted: 1. That the Synod expresses thanks to God for the victories gained, the peace assured, and the home-coming of jmr men, and places oil record its grateful appreciation of their work and of the sacrifices of those who have fallen in the noble cause of freedom.

2. That we express our heartfelt and prayerful sympathy with those bereaved families whose loved ones have made peace possible by their heroism and sacrifice. 3. That it be a recommendation to our ministers to show personal and social interest in our returning men. thus following up the influence tho ciiapjains have had upon them. (a) By meeting them immediately upon arrival and showing personal interest in their home-coming, inviting them to their homes for their own sokes and thai thus they may be introduced to Christian people and church life (b) By seeking to counteract the social influence of those who immediately oilVr consolation ill the fellowship of the pub-liQ-house.

(c) By co-operating with the Y.M.C A. wherever such organisations exist, thus linking the Y.MC.A. and returned soldiers with the cliureh, and where iio Y.M.C.A. exists co-operating with other churches in such social and institutional work as may be possible. This must be done in view of prohibition arid the need of places for the social life of msn. (d) By personal invitations to ohure'i services and by keeping in touch with Returned Soldiers T Associations ami arranging church parades. (e) By forming a commitleo of men and women of the church charged with these matters, care to be taken with Bible classes and returned soldiers already attending church have a definite place on these committeesIt was decided to hold the next Synod :it Mart'on. The Rev. A. O- Harris was elected district representative to conference.

Th? reading of the journal and prayer brought the Synod to a close.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH. The sale or work in order to raise ,funds for tils general work o' the church opened yesterday and resulted in £7O being raised.,- The day was ideal for moving out, and consequently the attendance of church adherents was very satisfactory. The sale was arranged by the Ladies' Guild, and the many stalls showed that the workers had been "busy as bees throughout the day preparing for the wants and desires of customers. The fair stall-holders were:—Children's bran tub, Mrs. Alger; tea rooms, Mesdamos ft. Martin and Frere;, work stall, Mesdameg Good and Ashton and Miss Middletonl>onl; stall, Mesdames Cirant, Pcnn, and Budge; flowers, Mis. Stanford and Miss Pcrriti. This cvenm;; the ,-;ale of work will conclude, at the close of which tno .church officials trust that iiw financial resuli.? wiit 'he commensurate Willi the efforts of vide ladies' Guild. It lian also been pointed «ui thai «?hilsi thi ehiircUra htvve dosed, owing to the epidemic, the expenses Jiave cuntmni'd, nenc-e the for tiympiitby wit'i •Was dmi:cii ben:s>. of u. jiiT.cliaU nature.

GENERAL. Mr. J- W. McMillan {Mayor) av,d the Fire Brigade sub-committee moj brigadesmen last evening. It had 'Ven reported that n little misunderstanding existed 'between members, but at> a result of the heart-o-lieart talE with the subcommittee the difficulty appears to have been overcome. Occasion was taken of this meeting to present Foreman W. Rowson and A. Moon, Firemen J. Henry land J. Pearce, and also tho secretary (W. fctftss), sjtb

donated :by tile Mayor, and the recipients won them through having attended all fires, the past year. Travellers by the east train on Tuesday will be pleased to learn that tile departure from Stratford that evening has been delayed till 7.2, and t%.-tfraiß will proceed as far as Kohuratahi, instead of Whan^amomona.

Soma people might find it hard to link the Kaiser with Hannah's boots, but readers of this column are invited to read the firm's advertisement under "Political Points" in another portion of this page. Now that the Christmas and New Year seasons are close at_hand, the mind naturally turns to the question of suitable gifts. This year the question will he more difficult than usual. Sentiment is very deep within us just now. Gffts are an expression of that sentiment, and such can only be preserved by possessing goods of lasting quality- (Make up your mind now to have the beet value "this year that money can buy, and then pay a profitable visit to the premises of Ben .•T. Peters, jeweller, Stratford, right next the Patriotic Mart.

_ Usually getting' in .early means getting the best. 'This does not apply to the great Christmas Fair now commencing in the premises of 0. E. .Tames, The shelves are crowded with innumerable articles tlmt will appeal to all fancies and fit all pockets. Mr. .James has been very fortunats in securing some novelties that will appeal to young and old. There is no need to pass his shop in looking for that Christmas gift. Personal inspection is invited, and there should be no difficulty in pleasing all. During the next fortnight Mr. James expects to be very busy, so take heed and shop early.—Advt.'