METHODIST SYNOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1917, Page 6

METHODIST SYNOD.

■SUPPLEMENTARY REPORT The following oDicial report of tin; recent .Synod held in Kltliani. representing t'lie Methodist Churches of the Taranaki-Wanganui area, lias been supplied, to complete the reports which have already appeared:— '

Rev. C. Blair was eleeted Journal secretary.

The Synod drew the attention of the conference lo the long stretch of country between Marton and Te Awanmtu without ail ordained minister, and recommended that the whole of the specified area be placed under an ordained superintendent.

The action of the committee /in endeavoring- to secure the services of the Rev. V. Triage for another year was endorsed and the hope expressed that the Auxiliary Fund may be sufficiently enlarged so as to give the smaller circuits an opportunity of securing his services.

Tlie following recommendations were curried:—That next year, during the •Tune quarter, a. special conference of the circuit, Quarterly Board, t'he Cir- • cuit S.S. and Y.P. Committee be held in each circuit and Home Mission station to consider the work among young people; that the conference be recommended to take into consideration the appointment, after the TOir. of one of the younger returned chaplains as an organising secretary for the purpose of forming or resuscitating Bible classes end kindred institutions attached to the church; that, the District S.S. and Y.P. Committee for ne-xt year be as follows: The superintendent," ministers and superintendents in the main schools in the Stratford, Elthani and Hawera circuits, with Messrs .T. AY. and E. Yearburv, Sister Nellie and Miss Squire; conveners, the TTawera superintendents. The following properties in the district have been given or purchased:— Cape F.gmont Circuit: Okato township, one acre: cost of land. £1(10; buildings. •■CSOn. Hawera Circuit: Meremere. one leod Sperches, the gift 0 f Mr. I). J. Williams, Meremere: value of land, £25. Tiiruturu road, Hawera: One rood 12 perches. The following erections have been mnde:—Hawera. Circuit: Meremere. school-hall. ca*t .€2Bl 15s fid; debt, £BS ">s Id. Wanganui Circuit: Wn.ngn.nui East, church hall, cost to date. £l3O. The following enlargements and improvements have been made:— Hawera Circuit: Hawera. new pipe organ, cost £6.">fl, debt .C 150: Meremere. new organ, cost. £22. Kapnnca Circuit: Kaponga, new cost £33 10s; no debt.

Insurances on buildings represent £25,057.

If was aNo reported that a new Bible classroom in concrete was approaching completion (cost. £400) at Tlawer:-. It was resolved that (he heartiest than';s of the Synod he accorded to Mr. T?. Peppercll. district church property secretary, and that he he recommended to conference for re-appoint went; with a District Advisory Commit fee. and the following were nominated to he associates! (hereon with the chairman and church propertv secretary; f!ev. H. L. I'hmircs and Mr. C. K. Rellringer.

Reports from tiic Methodist Orjihanafc showed that the buildings had been enlarged di'ring the year, the home at Thriftchnrch at a onst of nearly £2OOO. Gratification was expressed at, the excellence of (lie operations carried on. find the Christmas appeal on behalf of the Mclhodist Ophpnasc at Auckland eomp'cv.i l - Ito fIk> circuits. Proposal* for the of a hostel were lai'l before the Svnod.

The principal nf Ibo Theological Institution reported that there were no students in trniiiin.s. Chaplain 11. L. Blemires drew (ho attention of the president to the number of young ministers mi active service, and urged 1 liat furtlier vaeeneies in the ranks of chaplains should he filled from these, whose experience would stand them in goort stead when thev became chaplains. Chaplain J. I?. Sullivan was reported to Jbe on the "permanently unfit" list. The statistical secretary for the district reported !ia churches, !>7 other preaching plae.ori, 2201 members. and 7305 attendants at public worship. ">0 Sunday schools with 2817 scholars. 24 Young 'People's Societies with 59.7 members. and .140 Bible class members. .•CHAS was raised for Foreign Missions in the district, and £440 for Home Missions.

The Foreign Mission report was received, and recommendations were adopted, including the proposal to aim at .CIO.OOO for next year's income. Appreciation was expressed nf the work of all deputations and Circuit F.M. Committees, to he sent by letter to the quarterly meetings. It. was recommended to urge thf- Mission Board to send a strong deputation to New Zealand next year, the name of Rev. R. C. Nicholson being specially commended; that the use of laymen in Foreign Mission deputation work be continued; that the following be the District F.M. Committee: The chairman of the district and the ministers of the Wangamu, Aramoho. and Rangitikei circuits, with Messrs T. T. Bartlett, W, 6. Bassctt., C. Bowatcr, F. ,T. Denton, F. Webb .Tones. E. V. Laws, Mara, Parkes, .T. Stevenson, Taylor, W. Williams and W. J. Andrews. M.A.; convener, the superintendent of the Wanganui Circuit. It was recommended that the Okaiawa Misson Hall be removed to that part of the district where it will be of the greatest use. the recommendation regarding locality to be in the hands of Revs. T. (1. .'Hammond, R. Iladdon and N. Papakakura. The following were recommended for appointment on the District Home Mission Advisory Committee: The ministers of the New Plymouth, Waitara. and Inglewood circuits, Messrs C. E. Bellringer. C. Carter, K. Pepperell, W. Roberts. E. Taylor, and P. White; convenor the superintendent of the New Plymouth Circuit. The reports of the Home Misson Executive and the general secretary were received; also that of the Deaconess' Home Committee. It was recommended thai Mr. A. S. Wansbrough be thanked for his services and reappointed as district treasurer. Regarding secondary education, it was resolved that, the conference be requested to appoint a special committee to consider the question of the establishment of secondary schools for girls and boys under Methodist management, and that this synod reeommchd that a portion of the fiind to be raised in connection with the celebration of the centenary of the Methodist Church in New Zealand be devoted thereto. Having receved from the New Zealand Freedom League a letter dealing with the treatment meted out to conscientious objectors to military service, this synod susti.im.il the recommendations of tiie Auckland Synod in oo- ?