METHODIST SYNOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1921, Page 6

METHODIST SYNOD.

CONFERENCE AT HAIWERA. MINISTERIAL SESSION. The annual synod of the Methodist Church of the Taranaki-Wanganui district opened on Tuesday in the Hawera Methodist Church under the chairmanship of the Rev. William Grigg, president of the Methodist Church of. New Zealand. The following delegates were in attendance: —Revs. W. J. Elliott and J. F. Martin, New Plymouth; F. B. Lawrence Waitara; E. B. Chambers, Inglewood; L. B. Neale, Stratford; J. A. Hosking, Flitham; A. Liversedge, Hawera; H. J. Odell, Manaia; E. S. Harkness, Cape Egmont; W. W. Avery, Kaponga; B. Dudley, F.R.A.S., Wanganui North; H. T. Peat, Marton; W. Lea, Taihape; R. T. P. Haddon, Normanby; D. Willcox, Rahotu; probationers/ W. B. Cumming, Waimarino home missionaries, W. Watson, Patea; C. Strand, Gonville; A. L. Witherford, Midhirst; C. Aker, Cape Egmont; G. R. Harris, Wangaffui East; J. Reid, Wanganui East; J. Reid, Wanganui North. The Rev. J. A. Hosking (Eltham) extended a hearty welcome to the Rev. W. Grigg, president of the conference and chairman of the district. Mr. Hosking referred to Mr. Grigg’a record as a chaplain to the forces, and to the excellent services rendered to the church during his honorable ministry. The president welcomed the Rev. E. S. Harkness, a returned missionary, now in active work in the district. The Rev. W. B. Cumming, of Waimarino, was recommended to the conference to be passed in his year, subject to his written examination proving satisfactory. The Rev. Hoani Hakaraia te Mawiri was recommended to pass in his year, subject to his written work being satisfactory. After the Rev. W. J. Elliott had orally examined Messrs. Larsen and Petersen, candidates for the ministry, the synod unanimously recommended both young men for acceptance at the ensuing conference, subject to the medical certificates proving satisfactory. Mr. Oliver Haddon, son of the Rev. R. T. P. Haddon, of Normanby, a candidate for the native ministry, was unanimously recommended to be accepted by conference. The Synod received and adopted the report of the Rev. C. H. Laws, 8.A., principal of the Auckland Theological College, and expressed its appreciation of the excellent work done during the year. The foreign mission report stated that, notwithstanding the financial stringency, the missionary income for the year had attained a record, the tots! amount’ for the year being £12,326. During the year an electric lighting plant has been installed at the head station on t-Ife Solomon Islands. Roviana. During the year the**Rev. J. F. Goldie chairman of the Solomon Islands, together with two natives, visited«the Dominion. Mr. Goldie’s visit to Tonga and Fiji resulted in securing 20 Tongan and several Fijian volunteers for the Solomons. The Rev. A. H. Serivin. of Papua, also visited the Dominion during the year. From this district in the course of the year .Rev. A. A. Bensley, who offered for foreign work at the last conference, went to the Solomons, which field will on January 1. 1922. become New Zealand’s own responsibility. The centenary report, presented by the Rev. a. C. Lowry (general secretary) stated: “During the year the Rev. W. J. Williams has completed his book, entitled ‘Centenary Sketches of N.Z. Methodism.’ This valuable and attractive book should demand a ready sale. Despite the serious financial conditions prevailing, the amount promised to date to the Thanksgiving Fund is over £32.250. To celebrate the attainment of our first hundred years a memorial church will be erected in Kaeo township, a site for which has been generously given hv Messrs. Hayes Bros. Plans and specifications of a church in reinforced concrete to seat ]2O persons ere being prepared. It has been decided to place in this church a suitable memorial window. On the actual site of the old mission station a monumental or memorial cairn is to be erected. The Maori people have specially rAjuested that they be allowed to erect thiZ memori il as part of their contribution to the centenary celebrations, and to this the committee has agreed.” The Synod passed the following motion dealing with expenditure upon military training: “That this synod regrets the very large amount of defence expenditure for the coming year. In view of what is taking place at the Washington conference, this synod considers that a considerable portion of the moneys set aside for military training could be much better spent in productive works.” The following resolution was also carried: “This synod records an expression of its profound appreciation and gratitude to Almighty God for the hopeful and humane spirit in which the proposals towards disarmament have been received by the responsive yearnings of the nations concerned, and portrays that under the unerring ProviI dence of God t'he great conference may •be guided to a peaceful conclusion.”