NELSON METHODIST SYNOD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 4

NELSON METHODIST SYNOD.

The annual Synod of the Methodist Church for the Nelson district began its session in St. John's Church on Wednesday last. The Rev. William Baumber, chairman of the district, in his opening address referred to the satisfactory result of the Methodist Union. There had been a quickened spiritual life and the addition of many members to the Church. He put before the members reports of the work now. being undertaken by tho Church for the provision of orphanages. On the Bible-in-schools question, a letter from the Rev. S. Lawry, President of the Conference, was read, asking ministers and {preachers to observe the second Sunday in December as Bible-in-State-schools Sunday. The Chairman, in referring to this letter, trusted that not only would this be done, but that the Synod would adopt a resolution in favour of the system advocated by the League and appeal to the Government for a referendum thereon, so that t_e people themselves might decide tho question. After some years of personal experience of the system known as tbe Nelson system, both during bis residence in Nelson and also in Timaru. he w_b convinced that the system never could meet the needs of the case. It worked well as far as it went in Nelson city, but it was an utter failure in country districts. The very fact that in the Nelson Education Board district, after all these years the system is in operation in so small a number of schools is sufficient proof of this. On t_9 other hand, the evidence in favour oT the successful working of the system advocated by tbe League in every State in which it was Adopted waa overwhelming. A resolution __ support of the platform of the Bible.n-_-.-t--Schools ______ was adopted, re-affirm-ing the Methodist attitude in Nelson.