SOUTH AUCKLAND METHODIST SYNOD.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 106, 14 November 1918, Page 1

SOUTH AUCKLAND METHODIST SYNOD.

Meeting at Moppinsville. WEDNESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The annual Synod of the South Auckland Methodist church opened in Morrinsville on Wednesday, Revs. J. Dukes, of Te Aroha, presiding. A trial sermon was preached by Mr C. W. Brown I before a good congregation. The following were present: Rev. J. I Dukes (Te Aroha;. J- Olphert I (Waibi), J. Clover, E. 0. Blamires, 1 and' J. D. McArthur (Hamilton), t T. R. B. Wooloxall (Morrinsville), J. Nixon (Rotorua), R. E. Fordyce j (Taumarunui), and the home missionaries Messrs C. Duncan (Paeroa), A. Fitchett (Whakatane), A. Lay bourn (Tauranga), W. Richards (Matamata), T. H. Burton (Leamington), C. W. Brown (Te Kuiti), J. H. Edmondson (Ngaruawahia), and P. J. Mairs (Huntly). The following officers for the day were elected : secretary, Rev. J. D. McArthur; journal secretary, Mr J. H. Burton. After preliminary work the committee adjourned out of respect to the memory of the late Rev. C. H. Garland. Two candidates for the ministry presented themselves and were examined orally in theology. It was reported that the Theological College has not carried on operations this year on account of the absence of the students on active service. THURSDAY PROCEEDINGS. The synod was opened by a devotional service when the Rev. Morgan Richards, the Morrinsville Presbyterian minister, was associated with Rev. T. R. B. Woolloxall ih assisting at the sacramental service which followed. The Rev. J. Dukes in welcoming the lay delegates to the synod said, This is the fifth synod since war began but the dark clouds that have hung over the Empire are breaking and the day of peace appears to be drawing very close. He believed that they were living in a day of great things. The thrones and dynasties founded upon blood and iron are passing away. Right is going to triumph over might, and justice be dealt to all men. It is the work of the Church to do her part in the reconstruction of society. The various matters to be dealt with by the synod were then laid before the members. Feeling references were made to the deaths of late Rev. S. Serpell, at one time chairman of the district and Rev. C. H. Garland, late principal of the Theological College. A welcome-was extended to the ministers who have arrived in the district during the year. Several delegates have not arrived owing to the epidemic of influenza. ; The reports presented by the " district secretaries showed: — f Number of churches in the district 38, school buildings 12, parsonages 14, debit on properties £15,935 13s 4d, paid off debt during the year £563 10s sd, members 1800 increase 75, communicants 1281 increase 73, attendants at the services 7072, scholars 2416 increase 298. ,

The reports on the circuit funds showed credit balances £97 lis; debit £470 lis ; raised for Home Missions £414 3s 6d; Foreign Mission £654 17s Bd, being an increase of £63 16s 2d. 282 Missionary reviews were circulated. The estimated income for 1919 was £409, being an increase £lO7 on estimated income for last year. The estimated expenditure for 1919 was £7OO. The Rev E. O. Blamires in reporting the statistics stated that deductions from the census returns show that before the enforcement cf conscription the Anglican church young men volunteered to the extent of 200 more than her due proportion, the Presbyterian and Methodist over 700 more than their due proportion, the Roman Catholic 1335 less than her due proportion. , Public Welcome. There was a large attendance at the public meeting in the Morrinsville Methodist Church, on Wednesday night to welcome the delegates to the South Auckland Methodist Synod, which has been meeting this week in Mor-

rinsville. The Rev. J. Dukes, ofTe Aroha, presided, and prior to his taking his seat Mrs Dukes was the recipient of a bouquet from the children of the Morrinsville Methodist Church.

In his opening remarks the Rev. Dukes referred to the work of the Churches and emphasised the point that if they did not fulfil their Divine commission their doom was writ. The Church had two great missions. The first, and especially so at the present time, was to minister consolation to the distressed and afflicted. The second was that they existed to maintain the highest ideals. When a nation turned against its ideals it took the first step down. Mr E. McGregor, chairman of the Town board, extended a welcome on behalf of the citizens of Morrinsville to the members of the Synod. He congratulated the Methodist Church in recognising the claims of Morrinsville as a suitable and convenient centre for holding its Synod meetings. He hoped that the gathering would be most successful and ventured the prediction it would be one of the most momentous in their history. The war clouds were beginning to roll away. The world was on the eve of a revolution in habits and thought. Men were determined not to go on the same way as before the war. He referred to the social upheaval in many parts of Europe. Never was the national conscience so pliable as at present, and it was the Churches' duty to mould that conscience. He believed that the great fault of the Churches was that they were going in for entrenched warfare instead of open fighting. If the Churches wished to fulfil their duty they must go over the top and attack all along the line. He suggested that a conference of all denominations be held. Church union would ; not come all at once, but he could see no reason why religious bodies should not combine. . The Rev. Blamires (Hamilton) on behalf of the Synod thanked the chairman of the Town board for his welcome, and the citizens of Morrinsville for the hospitality shown them. One of .the great missions of the Church was to produce men to lead the community. When the mass of the people were aroused the wheels of progress commenced to revolve. In producing the leaders the Church was doing much great work. •

Mr J. B. Thomas, on behalf of the laymen, congratulated the chairman of the Town board on his speech and thanked him for the welcome. It was the church's duty to strive to do away with class distrust, by preaching the gospel of love and to do to others as you would be done by. The subject of the union of the churches figured largely in the speeches of welcome made by the following speakers: Rev. W. Venables (Church of England), Rev. M. Richards and Mr D. R. F. Campbell (Presbyterian), Rev. S. B. Maiden and Mr A. Cutforth (Baptist) and Mr P. Rushton (Methodist local preachers). The Rev. Olphert on behalf of the Synod thanked the speakers for their kindly references. During the evening solos were sung by Misses Harper and Wills and Mr Saunders. Prior to dispersing supper provided by the ladies of the church was handed round.