METHODIST SYNOD: WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 999, 14 December 1910, Page 6

METHODIST SYNOD: WELLINGTON DISTRICT.

■ ; —$ PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE. Annually,-,in the;month.of November or December, the minister's and representative laymen-of the. Methodist circuits be--tween Wellington and Gisborne inclusive, meet for the purposes of transacting Church business. The Annual Synod for 1910_ was opened in Wesley Church, Taranaki Street, yestera'dy- . morning. The business, of the synod is,' in the . main, preparatory to the Annual Conference of February,. 1911. The opening exercises were conducted by the lievs. Pendray and Standage;. the Rev.. T.;Fee. (chairman• of tho district) being in the • chair.", There, were present the "following ministers:— The Revs. Thos. Fee (Thorndon), S. J. Serpell, James IV. Clark, H. B. Redstone, E. 0.. Blamires, J. Ward, R.. Richards (Wellington), A. B. Chapp'ell, - M.A. (John-, sonville), B. F. Rothwell and ,S. J. Garlick (Hutt), A. J.. Sfamer (Petone), C. H. Standage s (Carterton), H. A. G. ICeck (Featherston), C. H. Olds (Masterton), A. C. Lawry. and A. F. Burcliell (Napier), T. J. Wallis (Hastings), J. A. Lochore (Gisborne), J. J. Pendray (Eketahuna), J. W. Griffin (Dannevirke),'- T. F...Jones (Levin), F. Rands (Otaki), B. J. James (Waipawa), B. H. Ginger ' (Woodville), W. H. Speer (Pahiatna), and' J,' Richards (Norsewood). Mr., F.- -M. Harris (home missionary, Kuripuni) was also present. The following officers were elected Secretary, Rev. T. F. Jones; assistantsecretary, Rev. B. H. Ginger; financial secretary, Rev. R,. Richard.

The hours of session were fixed as follow Morning, 10 a.m. to 12J45 p.m.; afternoon, 2,p.m. to 5 p.m.; evening, 7.30 p.m. to, 9.30 p.m. - . The Rev. T. J. Wallis- read a paper on. "the: Relationship of the Masses'to the Church." I-n the discussion which followed, the Revs'. S. J. Serpell, A. B. Chappell, B. F.. Eothwell, J. A.-Lochore, and others joined. • The chairman welcomed the members of the; synod ', who had .arrived, in the district- during, the year—Revs. Ward, Richards, Blamircs, 'Keck,' Olds, Wallis, Rands, (and Harris—and .. read . a letter from -, the Rev. William Kirlc, of Petone (supernumerary), asking for a tion oif account of ago and feebleness. This was granted. It was recommended that the Rev. F. W. Isitt bo allowed to continue without pastoral charge. The chairman made application to be permitted' to rest next year with ft view to taking a trip' to the' South Sea Islands- and Australia prior to . throwing his energies into a temperance campaign. Tho synod recommended this to conference., . .. ' ;,' The report of the governor of the. theological'students was.'read b.v the Rqv. A. B. Chappoll. It showed that conference had set apart eleven students for training. , This number was reduced to ten by the.calling out of Mr. Olds.for-supply work. Mr. Striven has.-been 'assisting at Wesley..College, Three Kings,-, for .the. Rev. J.- H.-Simmonds;. AH the men have been attending university lectures. Homiletics, exegesis, systematic tfieology, and kindred subjects have-been lectured upon in, addition. Tho report concerning the diligence, studiousness, and gentlemanly conduct of the students was-of the highest character, as was also that of .their moral and spiritual life. The necessity of provision being made without' delay for the building of, a suitable residential college, and ,tho appointing of 'a warden, was strongly emphasised. The report was unanimously received. . The Rev. A. B. Chappell moyed: "That this synod can regard no scheme of training of students for the ministry as sat-isfactory-that does' not definitely provide in the curriculum for training .in child psychology, principles of pedagogy, -and Sundav school organisation." This was carried unanimously. Tho afternoon session was spent in receiving the reports on " trial sermons preached by probationers, and a candidate for the ministry, and also in examining them in book-lists and doctrines. . After searching examinations: and.general reports, tho following were recommended to conference to pass»on one stage in their ministerial career, subject -to written ex. animations proving . satisfactory—Revs. H. A. (?. .Keck./reeommendcd.-for ordination). F. Rands, W...H, Speer, and A. P. Burchell.. Mr. H. H. Marshall (Eketalmna") was recommended as . a candidate for the ministry, The synod •will resume in financial session at ten o'clock this morning, when representative laymen from tho various circuits will meet with the ministers. A pastoral session will be held at 9.30.