WESLEYAN METHODIST SYNOD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6344, 25 November 1898, Page 2

WESLEYAN METHODIST SYNOD.

. — ♦- THtTHS»Avr, Nov. 24. FINANCIAL SESSION. The Chairman, took fche chair afe 10 a.m., and welcomed the laymen to the Synod, es- ' pecially those who took their seats for the first time. He referred to the great loss the Church had sustained by the death of Mr John Bruugliton. No great revival had come to the Church, during the year, but faithful and steady work had been done. In 74 churches and 54 preaching places, in addition to the ministers, 134 local preachers and 660 Sunday school teachers preached and taught the gospel to over 17,000 people in the Province of Canterbury. The Financial Synod would have to give careful consideration to the management of the home mission fund, the means to secure systematic and adequate support of the circuit income, the century commemmoration fund, and the Tliree Kings! College report. The returns for the home mission fund from the circuits were read. The estimated income for next' year for this fund is £469 10s, £75 coming from connexional properties. The estimated expenditure for next year is — for home mission stations. £80, and circuits £65. • The. report of tie supernumerary fund' showed the "arrears of "payments to be £sis 19s. The income of the children's fund is Hh6'l 11s, and the expenditure £427 2s 6d. Contingent fund income — From circuits £2lu 9s 6d, sale of minutes £2 2s 4d ; expenditure,. £29 18s lOd, plus Synod stationery. At the afternoon session the reports from the home mission stations were read, and the Synod passed a vote t>f thanks to Mr W. Christian for his valuable help in the Cheviot station. Mr G. J. Smith, M.H.R., reported on the church propertaes of the district. During the year the Durham Street parsonage had been sold for the amount of the mortgage, and a new church had been erected at Oxford. There was a reduction -of the total amount of insurance on the properties as compared with last year. The trust debts were about the same as last year. The income this year was £3922, as'agairisV £583 b last year. The expenditure this year-w as £4269. The debts were £13,034, as against £13,809 last year, .showing a reduction of £775. The report was adopted. The foreign missionary income for the year was reported as £394 Is. It was resolved — " That this Synod hears with areat pleasure of the effort to remove the debt of £4000 on the foreign mission fund, and requests all circuits within its bounds to do all in their power to secure this end. It also notices with unbounded pleasure Sir William. Macgregor's high testimony to t..c valuable work done by our inhsion.arics in the South Seas." At the evening session the. Rev W. Lee, St Albans, was elected district representative to the Conference. • The session was ; occupied mainly with a .discussion. on. the alteration of, circuit boundaries and -the century commeinmoration. fimd. It- \yas resolved--" Thai the report of tine committee on the century commemoration fund to raise £60,000 <- receive the cordial approval of the members of the Synod, and they further resolve to do their utmost in their several circuits and quarterly meeting* to cany tlie proposal to a successful issue." I The session closed at 9.30.