CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

Press, Issue 14828, 20 November 1913, Page 10

CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

U the annual Synod oi the Methou--\. Church in th.- Ourb.ini .street Church ve.*-ierday, the Rev. C. H. Laws, IJ \ acting-prt.'.*.ident. delivered the presidential address, in the absence, through illness, of the Rev. A. x-«wi-y, ■incident oi' tiie Conioronee. ( After referring to the president s illness and the deaths oi numbers of the Church. Mr Laws went on to say ili.-u the Synod had a restricted jurisdiction an compared with year. "It is to be mentioned," continual Mr Laws, "that we meet to-day for Mio first time as a Synod ot the Methodist Church of New Zealand. During the vcar, both in this district ;ind throughout the Dominion the work of union, so happily consummated at the' last conference, has been quietly consolidated. It remains for us to fulfil the end for which separation from Australia and the accomplishment of Methodist union were sought for." . The business of the Synod this year involved no burning question. During the year steady progress had been maintained. The new Central Mission had been commenced, with good prospects of success, a new church had been opened at Papanui and another was under course of erection at New Brighton. The various funds of the Church had been well maintained, and the properties of the Connexion had been managed with discretion by the various Boards of Trustees. The outstanding feature of tlie year was the progress made towards the initiation of a South Island Methodist Orphanage. The coin.mittee had just effected the purchase of an ideal site and residence at Papanui, and Sister Mabel had consented to accept the position of sister-in-charge. Referring to the newlyconstituted Church Meeting and its . functions, Mr Laws said:—"lt is provided on the basis of union, that such a mooting, consisting of all the members of the Church, shall bo held quarterly, and that at the meeting in tho December quarter the members shall elect tho Society stewards, tho stewards for the Poor Fund, and also a certain proportion of representatives to the quarterly meeting. It seems to mc of the greatest importance that this feature of the policy of the United Church should bo made really effective. Church members should be acquainted by circular with the important privileges thus conferred upon them, and the Church Meeting should bo made one of the most attractive in the Society. Whilo the functions of the nieotiug are at present limited, I believo that the tendency, will be to givo tho members of the Church an increasing share in the management of its affairs, and that wo should magnify the Church Meeting, with a view to such a possible 7 development."