METHODIST SYNOD ENDS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1926, Page 9

METHODIST SYNOD ENDS

NEXT MEETING IN HAWERA. THE MASTERTON ORPHANAGE. The annual representative session of the Taranaki-Wanganui district Synod of the Methodist Church was continued at New Plymouth yesterday morning under the chairmanship of the Rev. W. J. Oxbrow. The business was completed by noon, when the Synod disbanded after the chairman had pronounced Benediction. The report of the fire insurance fund stated that the losses incurred during the year amounted to £l7 10s, of which £l2 10s was covered by re insurance. The Rev. J. Cocker, secretary of the Masterton Orphanage, said the home had been open five years, during which there had been 74 admissions. Thirteen children had gone out last year, and homes and positions had been found for them. Nine fresh admissions had been made this year, so that there was room for several more. Claims were given priority according to the degree of need. The orphanage received its best support from Mastertoil, where it was known best. Recently a man walked in and, after remarking on the good work 1 being done, deposited a cheque for £5OO. A lady gave £5O similarly. Neither of them was a Methodist. Masterton had given £BB6 last year, besides donations of food and clothing. Mr. Cocker appealed for the creation of interest among Sunday schools and young people’s organisations. Help for Christmas was needed. Last year only two circuits had not helped in this, connection. In reply to a question Mr. Cocker said the orphanage account had got behind last year by £2BO. He asked that live orphanage agents should be appointed in each circuit. The Rev. G. P. Hunt moved, and Mr. E. Dixon seconded, a motion of thanks to Mr. Cocker and extended invitations to visit Stratford and Hawera respectively. They paid a tribute to the excellent work Mr. Cocker was doing. It was decided to hold the next Synod in Hawera, the date to be arranged by the chairman and secretary. On the motion of the Rev. E. T. Cox, seconded by the Rev. G. P. Hunt, it was decided to send greetings to the Methodist missionary, Gipsy Smith, who was about to commence a mission in Wanganui. Mr. Hunt considered Methodists should not take too much notice of the remarks that had appeared in a certain section of the Press. He thought the Press had been ill-advised in making a great deal of the matter. He had heard Gipsy Smith in Auckland and considered he was a remarkable man. He strongly recommended church members and others to hear the missioner. A resolution on these lines was carried. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman, hosts and hostesses, the ministers and officials of Whiteley Church, tlie Synod Secretarial staff, the Rev. W. W. Avery, to the Press of the town, and to Mr. R. Lauric Cooper, the choirs and the artists who provided the festival at the church on Wednesday evening.