METHODIST SYNOD

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20091, 21 November 1930, Page 16

METHODIST SYNOD

SITTING CONTINUED. COK®! DERATION OF REPORTS. 'Pfie ..Methodist. Synod continued its sittings yesterday morning, afternoon, and evening. Departmental reports wero reteived as well as the reports of the committees on temperance and public morals, and the Bible-in-Schools League. The report of the Homo Mission Board showed that all circuits and stations were reasonably staffed. Ihere "\\eie 110 vacant charges. The reports justified the view that verv definite advances were being made in a number of stations, though others were suffering through the changing character of the population. The District Home Mission Committee reported that the district income for the vcar for homo missions was £.lll- - -Id, and that the estimates tor lVol totalled £.IISI>. Effects of Unemployment.

The following resolutions were passed vesterdav regarding unemployment: — '■ Svnod views with. grave concern the t-ffects of unemployment upon the mornli;v, physique, and general welfare ot the community. It deprecates all nee;. doss •displav and selfish personal expenditujc whi--h" makes impossible that relief which should be immediately tortheoniiusr in everv Christian community. Ihe Svnod extends to nil workh-ss people .-ind their dependents, and seeks lor all such, tho active practical support ot the Methodist eommunity and commends everv constitutional method proposed and'adopted for the relief of distress. • 4 Believing that the social programme o£ Christianity requires greater «nivhasis in the sympathies and policies of ihe Church, and in order to ensure cen--1 ralisation of effort, we recommend the establishment of a Methodist Social Service Association in tho mam cities of New Zealand to be uuiler the direction of accredited representatives ot the Church, and that the Temperance -nd Public. Morals Committee be asked to draft a policy for the forthcoming conference." , The Kev. L. B. Noalc was asked to act with that committee. Children's Homes. The annual report of the South Island Orphanage and Children's Homes was presented by the Rev. A. Hopper, ami adopted by the Synod. The internal administration oi ilu Home has been in the capable hands or Mr and Mrs Ilnvnes and the staii., to . the satisfaction of the Board in all respects. • . - The various committees nave ,-losc attention to their duties. Ihe Ladies' House Committee dc.-erw; spi u. 1 mention for their kindly activities and useful work. The Admission Committee has had to deal with a record number of applications, and a more than usual number of sad and distressing rases have beep investigated, u manager (Mr Ilay.ies) being "sociate.l with the committee and lendermg valued assistance in this The plans for the new buildings ha\e been revised and accommodation is to be provided for SO boys instead of 100 as originally proposed. The Board's recen ly-adopted polic, of boarding out the older lads in private homes lessens the need of the more extensive provision originally proposed. These plans, with plaster models of the proposed structures, which have been prepared bv the Board's architects, Messrs G. T. Lucas and Melville Lawry, were, subject to a fen- minor adjustments, adopted at a spscial meeting of the Board held on October 29tli. Peimission was given for their reproduction in the Special Orphanage Issue of the " Methodist Times." The beginning of this scheme for the new Home only awaits the completion oi The necessary financial provision, now considered to ba within sight, and for which the treasurer, Mr George Bowron, has been assiduously and successfully working for some years past. ±>equcsts of over £2OOO have been received this year. It was resolved that the present personnel of the Board, with the addition of tho name of Mr Hubert de E. Fleshe , be recommended to conference as the Board for 1931. Also that Mr G. Bowron be thanTced for his services as treasurer, and recommended for reappointment.

Foreign Missions. Poreign Mission affairs occupied the attention of the Methodist Synod yesterdav afternoon. The Board of Missions, it was reported, was severely hampered in its work, through financial stringency, and a committee was now investigating the position, and was considering the possibility of reducing expenditure. It might even be necessary, if an ipiprovement could not be effected, to withdraw some workers from the field. It was therefor® urged that every circuit should make an earnest effort to maintain the income of last year. The very depressed state of the copra market made it certain that the income on the Mission Pi eld could not be maintained at the level of previous years. The thanks of the Board were accorded to all workers in the field and at the home base.

The North Canterbury Foreign Mission report, presented by the Jtev. S. Lawrv, stated that the aim for the district was an average of 10s a member eaeli* year, as missionary contribution. It was desirablo that this v/ork should receive the attention of men who understood the claims of Mis-

sions. The Rev. S. Lawry was thanked for his services as secretary. Women's Missionary Union. The report of the Women's Missionary Union was received. It dealt with the work of the Union as a whole, not merely with the North Canterbury district. Membership stood at 2940, of which 370 were members in Canterbury. The income for the year was £2950, an increase of £7O over 1929.. Of this £446 came from the North Canterbury branch, and £205 was sent to the Solomon Islands, for the work there, and a further £ll7 10s was spent on deaconess work amongst the Maoris. The Union had been responsible for the salaries of four sisters in the Maori work. Sister Eleanor Dobby was extending her work in the Hokianga district; Sister Netta Gittos, at Ratana Pa, and Sister Iris Foster, in Taranaki, wore kept very busy, and Sister Ivy Jones was doing outstanding work 1 among the Maori girls in Auckland city I and surrounding districts. The North Canterbury branch waa in a most flourishing condition, and help and co-operation had been forthcoming from, the Bible Class girls. Art Unions and Gambling. Questions concerning public morals ■were discussed when a departmental report was presented by the Rev. F. Greenwood. Satisfaction was expressed at the failure of the Gaming Act Amendment Bill to become law. The following resolution was unanimously adopted:— "This Synod, on moral grounds, renews its opposition to the proposals of the Gaming Amendment Bill, and appeals to the entire community to recognise thu folly, from an economic standpoint, in this time of financial stress, of increasing gambling facilities, and thus aggravating commercial depression." kvlhe question of art unions brought Wtfc;:thsrfollowing resolution: "This

Synod, also on moral grounds, opposes aiiy further issue of art union permits, and in view of the enormity of this evil we deplore the fact that one Minister of the Crown should have independent power to issue such permits." It was decided to write to the Cancer Research Committee, which meets in Dunedin next month, in the following terms: —"This Synod requests the committee, in considering any proposal for an art union, to reflect that a large body of public opinion in the Dominion regards this so-called art union as calculated, in the long view, to react detrimentally upon the economic and moral interests of the community, and urges that, other moans be adopted of raising funds for this worthy object."

It was further decided to write in similar terms to the Minister for Internal Affairs, with reference to the proposal to issue a permit for an art union in connexion with the Port Christchurch League's enterprises. Expenditure on Alcohol. The following resolution was carried unanimously: "Thar- this Synod deplores an increaaed expenditure in the Dominion on alcoholic liquors of more than half a million pounds during the past year, and this in face of severe economic depression. We therefore urge the conference to consider what steps can be taken by our Methodist Church to assist tho Prohibition vote in the coming licensing poll; also that a strong advisory committee be appointed at the earliest* possible moment to report on what methods they think should be adopted." The following resolution was also adopted: "Tliat. the matter of the (Supreme Court ruling which compelled the Minister for Internal Affairs to grant a permit for a brewery license be referred to tho-Temperance and Public 11 orals Committee for immediate consideration." Sunday Trains. A discussion on the question of Sunday observance resulted in the unanimous adoption of the following resolution: "That this Synod deplores the policy of the Railway Department in encouraging Sunday excursions throughout the Dominion, and appreciates the efforts of the Temperance and Public, Morals Committee of our Church in combating the evil .by protests to the Government Department concerned." t Bible-in-Schools League. The l.ible-in-SehooN League .Executive Committee reported interesting developments in its work. "Last March," it stated, "a conference of Church representatives met to sider fresh proposals. These are embodied in a new Bill, copies of which will be supplied to members of the Svuods. The alterations from tho Religious lixercises in Schools Bill aro in the direction of securing permissive legislation whereby education boards mav authorise religious instruction in their own areas, of using for this purpose teachers who are prepared to undertake the work, and volunteer teachers from outside the school staff, where exemptions render this necessary, and of granting Itoman Catholic teachers and pupils freedom from participation without the necessity of applying for exemption. The withdrawal of the opposition of the Roman Catholics is assured, on the understanding that they do not participate, nor bear any part of the additional expense. Expense incurred in initiating the scheme would be confined to the provision of the manuals, the cost of which will need to be borne by those using them, or by voluntary organisations. The conference of Chureh representatives mentioned above, together i with the League's executive, commends the proposals to the consideration of the j governing bodies of the various Churches seeking the approval of the J Church courts for tho alterations made I in the League's platform.

Young People's Work. Young People's Department business was continued, the following resolution being passed: — That we approve a levy based on the membership of circuits and Home Mission Stations and that we recommend the continuation of the present envelope appeal as the pricipal method of raising the circuit levy for young people's work. - The Youth Office Committee's report was received and adopted. It stated that arrangements had now been completed with Miss L. Hodder, who had accepted the position of Youth Office secretary for three years. The committee felt that all sections of Methodist opinion would approve that appointment.

Pinal arrangements had been completed with the trustees of the Taranaki street Methodist Church, Wellington, for substantial alterations and improvements to be carried out in order to accommodate the Youth Office in the Institute building at Taranaki street, and the space was being divided into a Board room, secretary's office, and general office, with excellent storage space and fixture b. The report of the district secretary for Church property was received and adopted. It was stated that the total revenue from Church trusts was £21,841 2s 2d. The expenditure involved £16,890 13s Bd. New buildings had been erected at Cambridge terrace (Sunday School and parsonage), and at AVaddington (Bible Class Toom). The amount in hand for speeial purposes was £.5502 12s 3d. Mr Frank Thompson was heartily thanked for his services as secretary.

Theological College. The report of the Theological College revealed a successful year' 3 work, being most satisfactory in every respect. The Principal, Dr. C. H. Laws, 8.A., retires this year, and his place is to be taken, by Dr. H. Rawston, M.A., whilp the residential Professor's place will be filled by the Rev. W. T. Blight, 8.A., 8.D., at present of the Durham street Methodist Church.

Tfce report was received and adopted. r nie following resolutions were passed: "That we note with interest and thankfulness the continued value of the College course of study, and we express our confidence in the Principal, residential Professor, and visiting . lecturers."

I "That this Synod take special notice of the retirement of the Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., from the active work of our Church. We desire to record our thankfulness for Dr. Laws's distinguished ministry of 44 years. He has been in the forefront as a preacher and an administrator, a man of deep religious experiences, a mystic, yet a man of affairs. His vision and faith, and devoted leadership, were largely responsible for the building and equipping of the new Trinity College, which will long remain a monument to his name and influence. The Synod wishes Dr. and Mrs Laws many years of health and blessing." Deaconesses. A report on the Methodist Deaeoness Institution was presented by the Rev. S. Lawry. It was reported that the number •>f ! deaconess students has not been so large as could be desired, but that there were good prospects of this being remedied in the near future. The report stated:

"Sisters Ruth and Lenna make their headquarters at Deaconess House. Both these Deaconesses are doing excellent work, and are a constant inspiration and object lesson to all onlookers. Through Bible Classes, women 'b meetings, and social work, they make contact with a large number of women

und young people, who would otherwise be untouched by the Churdli. "Sister Ruth's work at Durham street South began a-e an experiment. It is now justifying itself in increased at- ' tendance at the public services, and ad- | ditions to the membership of th« Church. There are thirty women attending a weekly meeting, twenty girls enrolled as club members, and there are thirty-two Girl Guides. "All tlie deaconesses in t he circuits and stations where tliey are appointed are doing excellent work." Mrs W. J. Williams, the Lady Superintendent, told of her work and tendered thanks to the House Committee, and the staff of lecturers who had made Buch excellent progress possible. The report was received and adopted. It was mentioned in the report that some attention was being given by the conference to the question of giving status to Women Home Missionaries to officiate as ministers under the Marriage Act. The following recommendation was passed: "The Synod is requested to recommend the conference to take steps to induce the New Zealand Parliament to make the necessary alterations in the Marriage Act, so that it may be possible for Women Home Missionaries to be recognised as officiating ministers."