SYNOD CONVERSAZIONE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1929, Page 13

SYNOD CONVERSAZIONE

FUNCTION AT NEW PLYMOUTH. A social evening was held last night in Whiteley Hall. The Rev. C. Eaton presided and was supported on the plat; form by the Mayor, Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, the vice-president of the conference, and other delegates to the Synod. The Mayor, in welcoming the representatives, congratulated the Synod upon its wisdom in selecting New Plymouth as its meeting place. New Plymouth, he said, was the capital of the most productive, most beautiful and wealthiest district in New Zealand. The speaker then went on to discuss the work of the church and emphasised the need for fuller co-operation between the churches. If the church was going to meet the need of the present age then it must present a united front in revealing . the ideals of Jesus Christ to the people. He concluded by expressing the hope that the present gathering of Methodists would achieve something in this direction. The Rev. W. W. Avery, chairman of the district, replying to the welcome, emphasised the need for the ministry of the churcii in the world. It might be true in some respects the church was inclined to lag behind in the progressive march of the age, but the fact remained that the church possessed the one message that could meet the deepest needs of the heart. The subject of Mr. T. P. Hughson’s address was “Working Together.” The true ideal for Christian service was to cultivate the team spirit, he said, each individual working harmoniously with the other for the successful issue of the task. The failure of one member of the team caused the failure of the whole. What was required was united effort in a common cause. The Rev. F. N. .Handy, Marton, in addressing the gathering, made an appeal for a better understanding of the modern youth. It was +he natural tendency of age to censure youth, but youth demanded more than censure. In its revolt against conventional ideas and institutions, youth could not avoid making mistakes; yet an attempt should be made to understand the ideals of modern youth, to appreciate its creative efforts, and to guide its actions. The speaker denied the theory that modern youth was decadent, and outlined the serious part present-day youth was playing in the social, political and religious work of the world. In spite of all apparent evidences to the contrary, it was true that there was more of t'he spirit of Christ behind all modern youth movements than at any other period in the world’s history. If the church desired to hold the interest of the young people of to-day, then it must adopt an attitude of sympathetic understanding and seek to co-operate with them in an earnest endeavour to present Christ in terms of modern thought and life. Darina the evening vocal items were contributed by Mrs, A. B. Macdonald, Miss F. Sutherland, the Misses Perrott, Mr. L. Higginson and Mr. R. L. Cooper. Miss G. Greenwood acted as accompanist’. Supper was provided by the ladies of Whiteley Church, and a most enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the singing of tho Doxology. The full .Synod will assemble for business this morning, and it is anticipated that deliberations will be concluded by noon.