WORK OF THE MINISTRY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20813, 25 May 1939, Page 11

WORK OF THE MINISTRY

METHODIST CHURCH SYNOD SOUTH AUCKLAND DISTRICT Upwards of 20 Methodist ministers and home missionaries met at Waihi Beach on Tuesday and Wednesday for the May Synod of the South Auckland district of the New Zealand Methodist Church. The meetings, held in one of the beach residences, were presided over by the Rev. R. B. Tinsley, of Hamilton (chairman of the district), who was assisted by the Rev. G. 11. R. Peterson, of Taumarunui (district secretary). Social Principles In a series of papers, contributed by the Revs. R. Day, Wailii, R. W. Mayson, Waitoa, L. A. G. Brooks, Te Arolia, and G. H. Goodman, Cambridge, and in following discussions, various aspects of church life and work were reviewed. It was urged, inter alia, that there was need for a fuller application of the social principles and problems to the social principles of the teaching of Jesus Christ to world needs and problems to-day, though the Christian method of solving social problems was recognised as being based primarily on the individual recognition and acceptance of the claims of Christ in every department of human life and activity. It was further emphasised that only the religious motive and dynamic were capable of giving integration and unity to human personality. In a world in which there were many forces making for the exploitation and disintegration of personality, it was necessary that the Christian Church should more and more insist on the sacredness of that personality. A further point was the adequacy of the power of God, mediated through human instrumentality, for the solution of the most, desperate and baffling problems of the Church in a distracted and tormented world. When considering district business a resolution was adopted expressing the Synod’s appreciation of the attitude of the Prime Minister, and of the Labour Party’s Easter Conference, concerning the suggested State lottery in New Zealand, which the leaders of the Government and of the party, it was stated, regarded as likely, if introduced into their legislative programme, to cause disruption in their ranks.— The resolution is to be communicated to the Prime Minister. Public Meeting At a public meeting held in the Waihi Church on Tuesday evening, addresses of welcome to the Synod were given by the Mayor, Mr W. M. Wallnutt, the Rev. Canon J. L. A. Kayll (representing the Ministers’ Association), and Mr F. Paltridge (circuit steward of the church). —The Rev. A. N. Scotter, of Thames, replied on behklf of Synod members. An address was given by Rev. JI. Spencer, of Te Awamutu, who spoke of the individual church member’s part in the establishment of the Kingdom of God. Points stressed in the various addresses were that, in combatting intemperance, gambling, the totalitarian menace in certain countries, and the anti-Christian propaganda of other sections of society, at present thrpatening thr- social and spiritual welfare of mankind, the Christian Church needed to have something of the same spirit of aggressiveness that characterised the forces of evil; and that the one-time basis and inspiration of this Christian attack was utter personal surrender and consecration to Jesus Christ, and His service. A cantata was rendered by the o*»'**-

under the baton of Rev. R. Day (the minister of the Waihi Church), with Miss Saunders at the organ. Synod closed on Wednesday morning with a celebration of Holy Communion, further discussion of Church business, and a paper followed by dis»-