WANGANUI DISTRICT METHODIST SYNOD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 9020, 6 December 1907, Page 3

WANGANUI DISTRICT METHODIST SYNOD.

The Synod mot in pastoral session at 9 o’clock yesterday morning, the Rev T. G. Brooke presiding. After a hymn had been snug and a passage of Scripture read, the Rev. T. G. Hammond led the Synod in

prayer. A report was received from the Rev. J. H. Simmonds dealing with the present arrangements of training students for the ministry. Considerable discussion ensued ; two schemes were brought before tho Synod but were rejected. Ultimately the following resolution was passed: ‘ ‘ That wo as a Synod express our dissatisfaction .with the inadequate and unworthy Arrangements made for the training of our students for the ministry, and that we urge the conference speedily to effect a change in this respect. ’ ’ Messrs M. J. Martin. Main Trunk Lino; J. B. Beocho, Waimariuo, J. F. Hilder, Taihapo, wore recommended to the conference for training, subject to their medical certificates being satisfactory. The Synod went into financial session at 10.15, Mr Laybonrue offering prayer. ~'A vote being taken for the position of representative to conference, the Rev. O. E. Beecroft was elected, with the Rev. J. G. Chapman substitute.

GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT. Ou the motion of the Rev. T. G. Carr, the Synod resolved, “That we as a Synod express our gratification that the Premier lias kept faith with the community in the recent legislation entitled tho Gaming and Lotteries Act, but altliouglit his Act possesses many excellent features we would express our regret that the totalisator and bookmakers are still licensed by Government, which thus puts its imprimatur on a vice that is so destructive of tho moral sense of the community. ” FOREIGN MISSIONS.

While the reports from the circuits were incomplete there was every prospect of the amount raised last year being exceeded. The. Synod expressed its appreciation of the Eev. B. Laverty’s work as foreign mission deputation in the district, and requested the Foreign Mission secretary to arrange with tho Mission Board, if possible, for the appointment of the Rev. W. E. Bromilow as deputation for next year. Ou tho motion of the Rev. T. G. Hammond, it w r as resolved that in future arrangements more attention he given to the smaller out-stations. A vote of thanks was passed to President Slade for his splendid services in forming Ladies’ Foreign Mission auxilaries. A letter was received from President Slade asking that the members should co-operate with the movement to recognise the valuable services rendered for 47 years by Dr. George Brown. Mr E. Dixon was elected secretary and treasurer of the fund for tbs Wanganui district. One shilling subscription is being solicited in every circuit. HOME MISSIONS. The following grants were recommended to the conference : Native minister ; Increase of salary to £lt>o, with travelling allowance of £2O. Home mission stations : Patea £25, Kimboltou £2O, Taumaranui £SO, Main Trunk Lino £l3O, North Taranaki £l5O. Aided circuits with homo missionaries: Cape Egmont (Rahotn) £SO, Taihapo, for Maugaweka, £3O. Aided circuit: Waitara £4O, Stratford £4O on condition of salary being raised to £IBO, Eltham £25, Palmerston North £SO providing a probationer be appointed, Waimariuo £SO if probationer he appointed. The chairman presented the report of the Grey Institute, which showed that owing to the decline of laud values the trustees were only able to vote £IOO to the Home Mission Fund.

The balance sheet of the Kai Iwi estate presented by the Rev. J. G. Chapman also showed that £IOO was voted to the Home Mission Fund. The Revs. T. G. Hammond and R. Haddon gave an aconut of the present state of the Maori work after which the Synod passed the following resolutions: — “That the attention of the forthcoming conference be called to the importance of dealing effectively with our West Coast Maori work at this time. ’ ’ ■ “That the time has fully come when an attempt should be made to constitute our Maori work in the Dominion into a separate Synod.’’ THE “.OUTLOOK.” On the motion of the Rev. J. W. Worboys it was resolved “That Conference be urged to make arrangements to discontinue the present connection with the “Outlook” and start a paper suitable to our own church, at the close of the present contract.' ’ SUNDAY SCHOOLS. The report of the Conference committee on Sunday School affairs was received. It was resolved “That the thanks of this Synod be accorded to Mr A. Reed, Dunedin, for the way in which he has carried out the duties of the Sunday School department of the connexion. ’ ’ GENERAL RETURNS.

The Rev. T. G. Carr presented the statistical returns which were as follows;—s3 churches, (53 other preaching places, 14 schoolrooms, 15 parsonages, 19 ministers, G homo missionaries, 108 local preachers, 10 class leaders, 3,085 church members, 3TI junior members, 11 deaths, 9,057 attendants on public worship, 53 schools, 3088 scholars, 273 teachers, 4,414 volumes in school libraries. YOTES OF THANKS. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded to the chairman for his work in tha.,district during the year and for the able manner in which he had presided over the sessions of the Synod ; to the secretary and his assistants and reporters. Special thanks was also given to the officers of the Congregational Church for the use of the building for the sessions of the Synod; to the hosts and hostesses for their kind entertainment ; and to the Press for the full reports given to the business of the Synod. It was resolved that the next Synod be held at New Plymouth. The journal was signed at 9.30 last evening and a very successful and profitable synod brought to a close by the Rev. J. J. Lewis offering prayer and the chairman pronouncing the benediction.