METHODIST SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1000, 15 December 1910, Page 2

METHODIST SYNOD.

$ The Methodist Synod resumed in fiuaa* cial session at two o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. H, Randerson presented the property report. A detailed report had been prepared, in which comparisons "were made in the position of the' Church in regard to property in the district ■ during the last ten years. In 1000 tho value of properties was ,£17,3G4; in 1910 it was .£71,083. During tho same period, the debts had increased from ,£14,989 to A' 28,132.. The inercaso in property during the ten years was. valued at .£29,724, and a comparison was made in that of the eight years' previous, 1892-1900, namely, «£BBli9. The progress of. tlio year. 1909-10 is stated as follows:—Of new sites acquired there aro four, of which three, are freehold, viz., Herbert Street, AVelling- 1 ton; 'l'e Hapara (Gislrarne); and Otakij that at Napier South being leasehold'with right to purchase. The area is 1 acre 3 roads 26.4 perches, and the cost or Value <£1963 Is. Bu. No new churches have been erected, but two new halls, viz., at Napier South, and 'l'e Hapara (Gisborno); in addition to the Herbert Street Hall, Wellington. The seating accommodation is for 540 persons, tho cost or value .£971 lis, 9d., and tho debts 'remaining .£1528 0&. 3d. One church, Petone, has been enlarged, providing 60 additional sittings, the cost including entire new roof and furnishing, has been £624 4s. lid., and tho debt .£250. Two schoolrooms have been crected, viz., at Gisborne, seating 85, and at Masterton a Junior lien's Bible clasiiroom and a/ vestry has been added to Manakau Church—the cost has been JSII9 12s. lid., and the added debt 14s. 7d. Two new - parsonages have been completed (Jolmsonville and Pahiatua), the cost has been JCIO3S 175., and the debt .£995. In tho important department cr sacred music, a new pipe organ lias beeai installed at Napier church, and a splen- 1 did set of E.P. band instruments lia'9 1 been imported, the cost being respectively .£350 and .£638. In all, the' new enterprises of tho year total 15, viz.: Fpur' new sites, three halls, ono .church' enlarged, three schoolrooms erected, two. parsonages built,'one new organ, and one set band instruments. The cost reported is ;£S3SI 3s. 4d., and the. additional - debt? .£2962 14s. lOd.

In receiving -and adopting the report, the Clrarcli Property Secretary (Mr. Kanderson) was very heartily thanked for the excellent report, and he was reappointed'for next year, amiil cheers. The report of the Wellington'Wesleyaii:, Educational Trust was read by' the.; Rev. S. J. Serpell. Expenditure, "in connection with kindergarten work mainly to the amount of .£sll Is. lid., was .reported. The report , was received. • The'report of Wesley College, • Threo Kings, was read. It showed '/that .33 i Maori .hoys' were in fhe-institution, all making good progress. Half, of,/ the boys are being instructed in. sucli" subjects as Latin, ~ algebra, and geometry. Applica-' tions for admission have been made to double the number of, boys that "can; bs accommodated; Farm work'and athletics have been included iij the programme of the school. The report was received. A great amount of interest centred in. tho report and recommendation's of tho Committee on Theological Institution, as amended after reports from, tho Dis-. trict Committees. A levy of three, pen cent, on .the circuits , for the fund was. recommended. The representatives o{ the circuits loyally sustained the recommendation in view of-the need'of the institution. It. was recommended by. the committee that tho Rev. C. H. Garland- ■ (Christehurch) should be appointed principal, commencing duties ( in April, 1911. The synod recommended - that .the name of the Rev'. A. B. Chappell, M.A. (John-' sonville). be added for .-consideration-■by' conference; > : . ■■ ■. ; Tho thanks of . synod ■: wero accorded to : the Iter. W. A. Heighway, the foreign mission deputation- of. last .year, and a lioto of gladness was struct upon hearing of the prospective visit next year of tlie liev. J. G. Wheen.'of Sydney, General Secretary of -the Australasian Foreign Missions. Mr. J. R; -Randerson moved that the hearty support of tho synod- be given to the laymen's missionary movement. The synod proved to'bt 'lleaTtily sympathetic.. . . - , - The Itev. B. H. Ginger (Wpodyille) was appointed'to accompany the' 1 chairman to> the!,Ji,conference, which .will: .bq held in Christehurch in- FcbruaryvMarch, 1911.,. The 'liev; S. J.-_ Serpell substitute representative . i ; f . In thovevening. Home- Mission",-affair® were analysed. The returns of contributions'from circuits were incomplete; but excellent reports were received from .some country circuits, notably Woodville, tahuua, Pahiatun, Waipawa, and Danne-. virke. Grants were recommended for next year as' follow:—Norsewood, .£25 j; South "AVairarana. .£10; Jlasterton (extension), ,£25; Wellington • suburban, i£Cop Wellington Central Mission, ,£'2oo; Thorndon, <£30; Jolmsonville, : Dannevirke,. X3O; Eketahunn, ,£SO; Waipawa, X4O; Pahiatua. .£3O. _ - A break was mado in Home Mission, affairs to hear the report of the treasurer of the Bible Class movement (.Mr. Chisholm). Consideration -was deferred,: but a hearty voto of thanks" was i'passed' to the treasurer.