WESLEYAN SYNOD.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 16824, 1 December 1916, Page 6

WESLEYAN SYNOD.

The Synod resumed at 10 a,.m., and .alter devotional exercises, the report of the secretary;-of -church properties, Mr 11. Peppereil (New Plymouth) was presented/.showing-tliat-tliv.ee new sites had been acquired during the year, .two. by frea, gift aad one by purchase. One new church was erected at Douglas, and opened practically free of debt. The thanks of Synod- was accorded lo the'donors; of properties, Mr Skedgwed (Stratford), and Mr D. J.Williams, of Meremere. The property at Queen Street, New Plymouth, had been sold during the year. The statistical records indicated general progress, and it was resolved that the best thanks of this Synod be accorded to Mr Peppereil for his excellent work during the year, and that lie he recommended to Conference for re-appointment. The report of the Church Building and Loan Fund Committee was presented and received; also the report of the authorised representative and custodian of deads, was adopted. A' deputation of the Ministers' Association waited on the Synod conveying greetings. The Rev.'AViliiams referred to the Church Universal under the figure of a wheel. -All the spokes wore united together in the hub, thus making the perfect wheel The Church .Universal consisted of many de-ncmina-tions, yet all should be united uv spirit. The speaker pointed out that the preacher's supreme commission was to -preach the Word in its simplicity and entirety, and that ex-pository-preaching was the great essential of the present day. The Rev. Radfond, in speaking on the question of a closer union amongst , the churches,-based some helpful remarks on the motto "In essentials, unity'; in non-essentials, liberty: in all things, charity." ' The .Rev. C. H. Olds replied on behalf of the ministers. He said that while it may not be possible to have organic union at present, yet certain aspects of the question wers'most vital. Ihe war, said the speaker, was bringing the churches closer together; and the men of all denominations standing I as one hi a common cause were helping ! to bring about a spirit of unity; this ] was also true of the chaplains. Mr Bassott replied on behalf of the laymen, and spoke in a similar strain to that of the other speakers. The statistical secretary, the Rev. A B. Chappell (New Plymouth) presented his report, showing that after the purging of the rolls, .there was cause for deep gratification at the progress made during the -year, showing the number of churches at present being 06, ip increase of two, other preach in «■ plates 62, schoolrooms 16, parsonage's It; ministers and/ probationers 18, Home missionaries 6, deaconess 1. local preachers Bs, class leaders 2, members members' 642, infant members 360 on roll 2300, on probation 25, junior communicants 1731, societies of Wes-i«-y Guild 4, with -HO members senior1 C.E. Societies 6, with 12S active members, junior .C.E. Societies 9, with I7'l members, other societies 3, with 9-i members, conncxional hands of hope o haying 165 members, attendants on public worship, including Sunday •School 'Scholars 7727. .Following a general discussion, ,it was resolved :— Lliat we express our gratitude to God lor tho; evidences of progress in the spiritual work of the Church. x>^-° A°r pmt oi iho Temperance and 1 no lie ilorals Committee was then received, and after a most vigorous discussion respecting the necessity of fur tlier censorship of picture films, the following resolution was passed:— '•That we express satisfaction that the lemperance and Public Morals Committee have interviewed . Mr Joliffe j over, censorship of pictures, and that i they be recommended to get into effective, touch with the 'Social Questions Committee of the New South W ales Conference (Rev. A. Stephen, Convenor), with a, view to unity o t action, and that information regarding unsa t ts.fa c- Lory -pictures may be ob-ta-med before their arrival in New Zealand. "That-the Synod registers its opinion that,, notwithstanding the appomnien.t ol: a censor of picture films, there are frequently shown films that 3JJ subject- and treatment are morally unht for presentation, and/requests the Minister for Internal Affairs to investigate closely the operation, of the new departure made in the direction of censorship." Fua-ther resolved: "The laranaki Methodist Ministerial Council having brought under the notice of I the synod the running of a special race tram from AAanganui to Otaki on Sunday, Sept. 24th, 1916, for the convenI zeiice of ) racing people, and having also ; reported the reply of the Manager of Kail ways to their protest, this, Synod | oi'- the laranaki-Wanganui Districts council $i protest against this desecration ot the Sabbath Day, insisting that horse racing in this time of National U-isis is a practice that should in no case be encouraged, still less that for its convenience the sanctity of the Sabbath .Day should be encrouohed upon a>m the instance in question." ''That a-, copy of this resolution be sent to the Minister of Railways and the Acting. ! Premier." &