LACK OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 9

LACK OF THE METHODIST CHURCH

... * 1 MUST HAVE MORE MEN. A serious shortage, of men , is facing the Methodist Church. The matter wns discussed at tlio Auckland District Synod, to which'body the Home Mission Oommittc!* reported that 20 stations had been without appointments . for somo time, and now 17 stations were vacant. Tho llev. T. G. Brooke sVifd 'the shortage of ministers and home missionaries was robbing the church ;of its initiative. It .was imperative that more men should bo secured if the work of the church was to progress. The Rev. J. Lochor6 pointed to what tlio Presbyterians were doing to attract men, and suggested that tlie president of the Theological College might make a tour through the country asking for men. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth thought the time had arrived when the church should face reorganisation. Ho could point out men who-'were working oil n hopeless task in certain charges,- nnd the result was .that tlicy wero. getting broken-hearted. Thoso men should be taken away from'such'charges and the. church should concentrate on strong centres. - Before they looked for morp men they should see that they were doing the best with tlio men they,had.

The -Rev. J. E. Parsons- deprecated abandoning' places where there'seemed to be a lull. He had known cases like that where «mio other sect' had , eoino along, and in a time of revival had taken up what the Methodists had lost. They should hold on to tvhat they had.. The Re.v. W. A. Durley did not know whether tho principal of the college could go about the country, but next Easter, when the Bible-class young men wero in camp would be a good opportunity of getting .into' touch with possible candidates -for the ministry. (Hear.hear.) A lay member suggested that there was need of the personal apnenl to the young men, nnd Mr. A. ,T. Booth asked if the Old Country knew of. the great norj.l for men in.,(thUte, .."God's own. country." The Rev.' Ci nr'Laws'ivns of opinion that the Old Country wns suffering -from tho same lack. Tho shortage was not peculiar to Netv Zealand. To his mind the Temedy lay in watching over the younj. If ■ they sowed tlio'seed in tlio hearts of the boys manv<ja young man who now tunnel to something else, would ioin iiiie clivirch.' If they couid pet hold of the young pconle it'would be better than goitis; througfi the country on a campaign. (Hoar, hear.) The Synod eventually decided to recommend the conference to take the mntter .of the shortage of men "into eerious consideration, and that a certain minister be asVed to visit the various , circuits to stir'up an interest among the young men of the church and point out the great need for • labourers;