WELLINGTON METHODIST SYNOD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2622, 18 November 1915, Page 3

WELLINGTON METHODIST SYNOD

YESTERDAY'S SITTING. The sitting of the Wellington District Methodist Synod were continued yesterday. Chaplain Captain Walker, of lrentham, and Chaplain Captain Sullivan, of 3] ay Morn, were present. The lormor gave the synod an interesting account of the work at Trentham and Kangiotu. The good work done by the chaplains was approved and suggestions made for further financing the work. lho danger of the "shouting" system, especially in connection with soldiers, was Considered, and it was' decided to bring the regulations dealing with this evil in the English Defence of the .Realms Act under the notice of the Government. It was decided to ask the Government to recognise the incongruity of maintaining open bars, liorseracmg, totalisator betting, art unions and raffles aa usual, in this time of national testing and sorrow, and urging that it was not yot too late to introduce measures making for moral reform. The harm wrought by morbid and morally unhealthy pictures as shown in many picturo theatres was considered, and a representative was appointed to co-operate with other organisations in urging that the Government should establish a stricter censorship over all pictures. It was also resolved that the lord's Day observance movement recently inaugurated 111 Wellington should be supported. It was reported that all the labour had beon given free in connection witli the new church, opened at Waikanae recently, and that tiie erection of a vestry and a section of land had been donated by the Taylor family at Tawa Flat, for which a vote of thanks was recorded.

No less than 21 ministers, senior theological students, and Lome missionaries have answered the call in connection with the war; six as cha.pkius and the remainder in the forces. The following resolution was passed concerning tho war: "The synod! expresses its gratitude for the faith, , heroism, loyalty, loving kindness, and self-sacri-fice revealed during the prosent war, and regards these as a visible evidence of the Divine Spirit working in and through men. We also record our deep senso' of horror at the manifestation of human depravity which the war has also called forth, showing to ns anew the world's need of an infinite salvation for sin through our Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ, the most obvious evil being the Prussian war spirit, which must he conquered for the sake of humanity, W6 .reaffirm. our loyalty to King and Empire in this strife, and urgo our people ; to pray daily for wisdom and guidance for rulers and counsellors; for courage and endurance for soldiers and sailors and victory over our enemies in God's good time. Also for tile spirit of prayer and repentance to be given to tho nations; for healing for the sick and wounded, comfort for those who mour, and tho gift of the Holy Spirit to those who minister to these in body and soul; and that God may overrule tho strife and bloodshed for the sood of man and the extension of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ." The Rev. J. G.- Chapman informed the Synod that a training school for destitute children was about to be established in Wellington.by tho Educational Trust. A satisfactory report was read concerning tho work of the Wel-

lington Central Mission. It was resolved that the president and secretary of the conference should be elected at tie conference preceding their year of occupation of'these offices. The Rev. J. G. Chapman was elected as representative to the annual confcrcnce. NAPIER METHODIST SYNOD By Telcgrapli—Preo3 Association. Napier, November 17. Tho Methodist Synod resolyed to recommend the New Zealand Conference to close tho college for the duration of the war, and place the institute at tho disposal of the authorities' as a convalescent soldiers' home, the students to be placed on the list of reserve and the principal be given a circuit.