METHODIST SYNOD.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 November 1917, Page 3

METHODIST SYNOD.

ANNUAL, GATHERING AT LEVIN. I > Tho 'Methodist Synod of the "Wellington district held its animal meetings in 'Levin this week, commencing on (Tuesday and ending to-dia.y. All tho sessions were well attended and satisfactory progress was reported. Of special interest to the public were tho meetings hold on Tuesday and Wednes. day evenings wlicn there were largo attendances of members of the Synod and the general public. Tuesday evening's gathering book the form of a public welcome to the delegates at which the Mayor (Mr C. ißlenkhorn) ' presided. Last night's gathering was under the auspices of the Social Ser_ vicc League and an address was delivered by the Rev. J. Ivnowles Smith on "Human • Meats, and Christian Ideals," followed by an open discussion. A re. port of this in,cresting meeting will appear in our next issue. PUBLIC WELCOME. The proceedings at. Tuesday night's 'reception were opened with the spirited singing of "All Hail the Power of Jesu'.s Name" to tho fiainorts o*ld Methodist time "Diacllem," followed by prayer led by the Rev J. G. Chapman, of Taranaki street Church, Wellington. The local minister, Rev W. H. E. Ab. bey, then extended a warm welcome to the Mayor, whose presence at the gathering was' 'keenly t both by the Synod and the members of the Church.

■Mr Blenkhorn, in taking over the meeting, eaid $ was his duty to extend a hearty civic welcome to tho delegates and hp trusted their deliberations would result in some., permanent good to our national life and character. When tho itimo came to leave Lev'in he hopedi they would go away with the consciousness that they had done good work well and were taking with them pleasant recollections of the town. (Applause).

Rev. E. Brake, in replying to >ihe welcome, expressed the gratitude of the Synod at his Worship's presence in' his civic capacity. He conaratulated the town on the evidence of prosperity and hoped it would continue to grow. i Proceeding, Mr Drake said the civic and national life couldl not do without the -Church of Jesus Christ. "That which' makes for character is more important than the man who ■makci- the laws. I have not very much patience wSJi the man who is always decrying the church as if it were failing in its mission. To many the Church is a failure because they have no association with it. Because it is Christ's church," added the speaker, "it will continue to live." . In its con_ oeption of national duty the Church had not fnilled. The men of tho Protestant Churches did not need any Military Service Act to send them to , the front (Applause). The men who I went first were those belonging oo the j Churches and the best life of the community. In another direction the Church had not failed. For sometime past they had been trying to cun.'iaiT the liquor traffic andl it was thought no power in the community wai= strong enough to accomplish this. Even the Premier had declared agaiinst six o'clock closing, but he was forced to change' his mind and he was the very man who moved tho motion in the House (Applause). "I have an idea that's the principles of Christianity have never gripped men as they do now. The self-sacrifice and generosity op the people is an evidence of this. The nation has been softened by the war to respond to the call to htgher things." Speaking of the problems facing the Church of the fujhure tho speaker demanded that the Church shouldl endeavour to see things more ( from the view point of the man outride. "We must come to sit where men sit. We. must underhand better than time in which we live so that we may help men. Suppose capital were to sit down by the side of labour there would be less irritation. And suppose labour were to sit down by ':,he side of capital, it understood- hotter •tihe responsibilities of the employer and the responsibilities of money. Where an employer comes into contact with his men there is usually more sympathy, but where the employer is a company tho case ?s very different. You can find an individual's conscience, but it i.s a. very difficult thing to find a company's conscience. Continuing Mr Drake declaredi that he oouTd see no difference between tho man on West Coast who struck foi 6d per day more wages and the wool grower who held up his wool for another sixpence a pound. Concluding, the speaker mado an earnest appeal to perpetuate the splendid spirit that had manifested itself during the war. Mr James Prouse, on behalf of the congregation, warmly welcomed tho delegates and: paid eloquent tribute to the many excellences of Levin and distinct. , : Rev. Josia.li Ward responded in a neat and brief speech. An interesting time was then spent in listening :o reminiscences of camp life told by Chaplain 'Rands who is in charge of the Methodist Institute, at Trentham. Mr Rands the classes of men, their temptations, modes of life, pleasures and work and made a abrong plea for support for tho ■institutes which he saidl were one of the beist advertisements Christianity had among the men of tho Dominion. The addresses for the evening wore interspersed with musical items, solos being effectively rendered bv Mr Frank Bonn, of Ofcaki; Mr Howard Andrews, Manakau; and Miss MoEwen, Ijevin, whose item was encored. Miv Nation presided at the piano. A dainty supper served by the ladies of the congregation concluded! a most enjoyable evening. Business Sessions. IMPORT A XT RESOLUTION'S. Tho business session opened in tho Century Hall, on Wednesday, the Rev. E. Drake, District Chairman, presiding. A sacramental service marked the opening, several members of the Levin Church attending with tho Synod There were present: Revs. E. Drake, i(chairnian), J. G. Chapman, G, Ivnowles Sm'-Xh, A. Reader, J. Richards, W. Rowe, D. J. Murray, F. Rands, (Military Chaplain), A. I Mcßean, W. J. Euticott, J. Ward, J. I A. Hosting, C. B. Jordian, B. A.,

W. H'. E. Abbey, and H-edley White; Messrs J. H. White, G. N. Cule, and C. H. Earwaker (home missionaries); also the following lay representatives: Mrs J. L. Wright, Sister Constance, Messrs W. S. Osborne, W. G. Skinner, A. Moncrieff, W. J. Clark, E. J. B. Haddon, S. Martin, J. L. 'Wright, T. Fear, B. Lynneberg, C. J. H. Trim, .F. Lockwood, W. H. Melhui&h, W. Sadler, W. T. Nfeweombe, L. W. Jomes, H. Sorensen, J. Prouse, F. Penn, J. Howard Andrew, and T. Sims.

An apology for absence was received from Mr E. Dawson, District Secretary of Church Properties, and the following were granted dispensations:— Be vs. W. Walker and L. B. Neale (chaplains at the front), J. Dumbell, C. H. Standage, W. Hi. Beck and J. Dawson (Alliance Secretary.)

The ltev. A. Reader was elected secretary, and he nominated the folloiwing :—Assistant, Kev A. Mc-Bean ; jour, nal secretary, Rev. W. J. Enticott; Press reporters Mr Frank Penn andi Rev. C. B. Jordan, B.A. ,

A motion was carried expressing appreciation of the long and faithful services of tho late Rev. S. J. Gar-lick, and sympathy with the members of hii* family.

Thei Synod recommended that the Wellington South circuit be divided, and! that Kilbirnie, Maranui, and Wor_ ser Bay should form circuit to be known as the KiLbirnie Circuit, and that a married 1 minister be stationed there with a grant from the Home Mission fund of £100.

A motion of satisfaction andl gratitude was carried with respect to tho following increases in the distirict statistics:—l 24 members, 25 on pro. bation, 86 juniors, and 147 communicants, also on tho fact that the District contributions to Foreign Missions had increased by over 100 per cent.

A similar motion was carried with respect to the increase of 17 teachers and 155 scholars in the Sunday Schools of the district. The Synod expressed its sympathy with and appreciation of the labours and efforts of the Sunday school workers.

In the report on the state of circuit fund 1 ? in the district the total credits exceeded the total debits, the figures being:— Oredlits £203 8s 2d > Debits £165 15s sd.

Synod approved a. recommendation that advisory committees be set up in each district to afeist the Church' Building and Loan Fund Committee. After a lengthy debate re Trust 'liabilities of the Petone andi Thorndos (Lite Primitive Methodist) properties, Svnod recommended the Quarterly Meetings concerned to unitedly memorialise the Conference to make such disposition ns will fettle the dispute. dealing with the recommendations of the Committee of Temperance and Public Morals. Synod passed; resolutions regretting the widespread desecration of the lord's Day, and urging the discountenance of everything that would interfere with the sacredness o the day, also recommending that the last Sunday in November be a Sabbath Observance 3>ay. A resolution was carried condemning the State patronage extended to totalizator betting, art union?, and raffles. and calling upon all Methodists to discountenance the same. It also urged ministers and Sunday school teachers to instruct andi warn young people with regard to such evils. The Minister and General Manager of Railways were congratulated on their refusal to run race trains, and the National Government was urged in the same resolution to abolish or drastically curtail racing during the period of the war.

The Synod expressed it profound thankfulness for the recent victory in the 6 o'clock closing campaign.

Motions were proposed recommending tha/t the Government be urged to take action with respect to the housing problem and the cost of living question, special mention being made of the Meat and Shipping Trusts, but there was not time to inform the Synodl members sufficiently on these matters, and tho motions/ were not carried.

Gratification Tvais expressed with the successful missions of the Rev. Val. Triage, and the request, for his services in New Zealand for a further year heartily endorsed.

It was resolved that the Conference be asked to 11 rue upon ministers, layworkers, and Bible class leaders that, in tlio absence of the senior Young Men's Bible Class members, every effort be made to encourage Junior Bible Class work, by establishing new classes wherever possible, by arranging Bible CI ate camps and such gatherings as shall extend and -maintain the interest of the youth of the* Church in Christian study and service.