METHODIST CHURCH.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 160, 25 November 1926, Page 5

METHODIST CHURCH.

SOUTH AUCKLAND SYNOD. The ministerial session of the 1 ; Methodist South Auckland District i Synod opened in the Methodist Church, Morrinsville, on Tues- : day at 10 a.m., under the presidency of Rev. W. J. Elliott, of < Cambridge. Practically all the minis- f : ters and home missionaries stationed ! : in the district were present. The sec- , « retary was Rev. F. E. Leadley, of . Hamilton East. Other officers were :. ’ Assistant secretary, Rev. E. E. Sage ; \ journal secretary, Rev. C. M. Roberts; ; reporters, Revs. C. B. Jordan, s M.A.8.D., and H. Cottom. 1 A dispensation was granted and 1 fraternal greetings were sent to Rev. 1 T. G. Hammond (Putaruru). Dispen- 1 sations were also granted to Revs. S. i Henderson (Te Aroha) and Hori i Kakuere (Waikato). ( The chairman briefly welcomed the : new members of synod. ( EXAMINATIONS. The examination of probationers, •, home missionaries and candidates resuited as follows : Probationers, ( Revs. H. L. Fiebig, 8.A., and J. H. . Hall were passed in their years, as were Home Mission Probationers W. , Wilson and E. J. Clark. Two candidates for the ministry, Messrs. E. R. j Alexander and E. C. Leadley, were received and recommended to conference. Mr. E. C. Leadley is the son of the synod secretary (Rev. F. E. ( Leadley), and passed with consider- t able credit, taking 10 subjects and ( securing an average of 70 per cent, i marks. j THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. Reports dealing with the Methodist % Theological College were received. After expressing satisfaction with the reports the synod decided to c record “ appreciation of the work c done by the resident professor, Dr. H. Ranston.” It declared itself “ greatly impressed by the extent and c variety of the duties he had so suecessfully undertaken.” g A committee consisting of the Revs. P. Paris, C. B. Jordan, M.A.B.D:, and W. Burley, M.A., was set up to make arrangements for a district summer school of theology. PUBLIC MEETING. i A public meeting was held on Tues- j day evening in the church, presided over by the Rev. W. J. Elliott. A welcome to visitors was voiced by the Rev. E. E. Sage, addresses were given - by the chairman, the Rev. W. B. Pickering and Rev. W. Burley, M.A., and anthems, “O, Taste and See ” and c the Te Deurn were rendered by the choir. A large number were present, j and refreshments were handed round c at the close. £ OPENING OF SESSION. c Tlie full representative session opened on Wednesday morning at 9.30. There were present the following: Thames, Rev. W. Burley, M.A., and ‘ Mr. anil Mrs. E. N. Miller; Te Aroha, Mr. E. R. Alexander, Messrs. A. A. , Wagstaff and G. W. Horn; Morrinsville, Rev. E. E. Sage, Messrs, F. ( West and J. B. Thomas; Waihi, Rev. ( H. Cottom; Faeroa and Hauraki , Plains, Revs. W. B. Pickering and J. H. Hall; Cambridge, Rev. W. J. Elliott, ( Messrs. F. Penn and N. Butler; Hamilton, Revs. P. R. Paris and H. L. Fiebig, 8.A., Messrs. W. Hobbs and J. Matthews; Hamilton East, Rev. F. E. Leadley, Messrs. F. W. Thomas and •J. R. Webster; Rotorua, Rev. C. C. Harrison; Tauranga, Rev. C. B. Jordan, M.A.8.D., Mr. and Mrs. F. N. Christian; Opotiki, Rev. T. Skuse; Te Awamutu, Rev. C. M. Roberts, Messrs J. T. Johnson and G. W. Mairs; Matamata, Rev. R. E. Fordyce; Taumarunui, Rev. L. A. G. Brooks; Whakatane, Mr. H. Thornley; Te Puke, Mr. C. Aker; Ngaruawahia, Mr. E. J. Clarke and Mr. G. Jamieson; Huntly, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Cocks; Te Kuiti, Mr. C. Strand; Putaruru, Mr. C. W. Brown; secretary of church property, Mr. F. C. Daniell; women’s missionary union, Mrs. Eastwood; local preachers’ as- ’ l sociation, Messrs. W. Harris and G. D. Sealey. The Mayor of Morrinsville, Mr. C. M. Gummer, was present, and in ex- ’ tending a welcome to the Synod, said j he was pleased to be present, because he recognised that the Methodist was ’ doing good work. He hoped their 5 Synod would be pleasant and profit--3 able. He was glad they had not de--2 cided to hold their meetings in Morrinsville a week earlier. If they had done so, parsons and earthquakes might have been connected, and earth tremors attributed to parson’s influI ences. Morrinsville was pleased to [. entertain them, and he hoped ’they i- would’have happy recollections of the s time spent here. The Rev. P. Paris, in a brief and

witty speech, thanked the Mayor for his kindly presence and gracious words. Morrinsville would always stand to many of them for kindliness and ready service for suffering for

the church and the country. If they I had been “ shaken up ” he hoped they would all be better men. He trusted church and commerce were drawing nearer together. * The synod then proceeded to business. The officers appointed for the ministerial session were requested to continue through the full session. WORK AMONG MAORIS. The chairman, Rev. W. J. Elliott, in delivering his chairman’s address, referred to the numerous changes in the ministerial staff during the year. Out of 24 ministers and Piome Missionaries, 14 were new men in the district. He welcomed these and the lay delegates. The Synod would be, he hoped, a time of fellowship, privilege and sacred service. He recalled the fact that when the South Auckland district was constituted, 13 years ago, its first sessions were held at Morrinsville. Several of those present on that occasion were members of this Synod. He spoke of the size of the district, 150 miles north to south, and 150 miles west to east, which made oversight difficult. Reviewing the work on the circuits and among the

Maoris, he stated that there were very gratifying signs of progress in the district. He pleaded for a spirit of evangelism which would give life and vigor to the churches. The Revs. C. B. Jordan, M.A.8.D., and H. L. Fiebig, 8.A., were congratulated on the achievement of academic honours. THE YEAR’S WORK. In dealing with circuits it was decided to recommend conference to station an additional minister, a probationer at Te Aroha, and to maintain the status of Waihi by a larger Home . Mission grant. Statistical returns were presented, showing that in the district there were 45 churches, and 102 other preaching places, with 2183 members, an increase of 60; and 1495 communicants, an increase of 85; 62 Sunday schools, with 3115 scholars, an increase of 153 scholars. The church property returns presented by Mr. F. C. Daniell, showed considerable activity. New properties acquired were: Church and site at Claudelands, Hamilton; section of land at Te Puke and a parsonage site (given) at Putaruru. Erections reported were: Wesley Chambers (business premises), Hamilton, at a cost of £35,767; and a new parsonage at Putaruru, cost £970. Enlargements and renovations included: Te Aroha, £309; Maeroa, Hamilton, £6O; and Waitoa, Morrinsville, £47.. WORK OF COMMITTEES. Reports were received from all church departments and committees. The Foreign Mission effort had realised £B9O for the district.' The principal amounts raised being: Te Aroha £143, Thames £l2O, Hamilton £I2S, Cambridge £7O, Morrinsville £69. The report of the Methodist Times and Literature Committee was received and during the diseti'ssion very appreciative reference was ““made to the services rendered by the editor, Rev. Percy Paris. It was resolved “ That this Synod expresses its ap-

preciation of the most efficient work carried out by the Rev. P. Paris as editor of the Methodist Times, and we recommend his reappointment.” The Rev. E. E. Sage was elected district representative to conference and stationing committee. The Revs. E. E. Sage, T. Skuse and C. M. Roberts were nominated for the offices of district secretary, young people’s secretary and Foreign mission secretary, respectively. HOME MISSION BOARD. It was decided to recommend the conference to amend the constitution of the Piome Mission Board, to provide for the appointment of a representative of the Home Missionaries. SACRAMENTAL SERVICE. On Thursday evening a Sacramental service was held, conducted by the Rev. W. J. Elliott. The Rev. T. Skuse gave the address. A conversation on the Work of God over which the Rev. C. C. Harrison presided, the Rev. R. E. Fordyce gave the principal address and the Rev. C. B. Jordan closed with prayer. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the hosts and hostesses, the chairman for his inspiring address and able conduct of the business, the . secretary for the ability and industry displayed during his four years’ term, the press and the minister and officers of the Morrinsville Church.