ANGLICAN SERVICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9127, 24 October 1917, Page 5

ANGLICAN SERVICES.

DEBATE IN THE SYNOD

THE BISHOP 'PAINED

When the Anglican Synod adjourned its ■■■proceedings on Monday night, the Rev. C. G. Mutter had: possession of the floor in the! debate' on the motion of the, Ilev. H. Williams, sen., regarding church ■'' messengers' " meetings: Mutter had expressed his very .emphatic disapproval of the views of certain, of the previous speakers. When Synod resumed yesterday afternoon Bishop Julius said he was compelled to follow an unusual course, which was to him a very difficult and paiuiul ,one, « The last session of Synod a year <ie;o had been remarkable for its spiritual influence/and high tone, which subsequent events had proved. .Resolutions and recommendations of very great moment had been passed and handed on for consideration by the diocese, and notable amongst them was a series of recommendations in the direction of' fellowship. However, the Bishap uent^on, a year, had gone by, and-, ironi tWbottoni of his heart he wished that those who had proposed-the resolution pieviously rekrred to had left things where they were. The mover oi ' the motion, owing to his old and taituln] service, and liis .very evident sincerity, had been allowed undue* license, Out the debate which followed had caused- his Lordship the very greatest sorrow and trouble from beginning to end. Many speakers had seemed -to 6hm'k that they could tie up the Church in their own particular way. The result had been an intolerable divergent c of opinion. Tho speeoh made by a member the previous evening had proved to his Lordship as distasteful .and as painiul as ■anything to which he had ever'listenedj but he did not think his dear brother (the previous flight's speaker) had muant what he said

" I' want t'qvpiit it plainly," Bishop Julius continued. 'h I ..would rather have this Synod closed'up this afternoon than hayeya continuation of this debate. I do not /wish to take the responsibility of. moving that we" pass on to the next r:order of the day. 1 will leave the question open to Synod, but in' the name of the love of God, what are we going to do wj£h this debate. ?; As 1 said before, I have allowed the mover undue license. If we go on we shall have controversial statements, denunciations, trouble in divers ways, and- the spirit of this ihouse will go from worse to worse." His Lordship' concluded^ that so sure as ' things' went on as they promised, the devil would. enter the Garden, and. lie begged that the mover would forego, , his right of reply and that the debate should not continue further. If x it, did, there would l>fe only unhappy explanations, exhibitions of wrath, if such existed, and various developments contrary to the Synod's spirit. Perhaps the mover might withdraw altogether, and let Synod go on to the next item on the order paper. Very little discussion eiiMied. One snjyikor to whom reference h;id been made unconditionally withdrew an interjection, which he had made during the debate, and it' wa.s ultimately tie-. oided to proceed with the next matter on the order paper.