DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 257, 30 October 1890, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The Synod resumed ab 2.15 o'clock yeaberday afbernoon, when Bishop Cowie presided. There were present:—

Clergy.—Yen s. Archdeacons Maunsell, Clarke, Govett, and Dudley, Revs. Bates, Beatty, Boler, H. S. Davies, Farley, Fox, Gould, Haselden, Kidd, Larkins, Marshall, Nelson, Preston, Purchas; Richards, Sprott, Tebbsand Walsh. Laity.—Messrs Bather, Carnell, Churton, Clayton, Cochrane, Cox, Crispe, Gordon, Haultain, Heather, Hcsketh, Hooper, Jackson, Nolan, Pierce, Rawlings, Rice, Scaly, Speight, Upton, Watkins, C. J. Wilson and Hamilton. MISSION. Archdeacon Dudley moved, " That this Synod has heard wibh thankfulness from its President of the improved health of Bishop Selwyn, and of the development of the work of the Melanesian Mission. It rejoices to learn that, through the liberality of the Bishop and Mrs Selwyn, it has been found possible to order a new and larger vessel, and in order that the mission work may be maintained at its present stage, and still further developed, ib commends ib anew to the sympathy, tho prayers, freewill offerings of the congregations, thjr Sunday-schools, and the members of the Church throughout the diocese." The mover mentioned that the new vessel would cost -£9,300. Some five or six thousand pounds was in hand from the trust, but that would nob be sufficient. Then came the news that Bishop Selwyn and his wife had given the required £3,000 as a thankoffering. Their new vessel was, to hia mind, a somewhat moderate one, bub a larger boat would cost more for maintenance. He yras sorry that the income of the mission bad somewhat decreased during the past few years. The income from England could hardly be expected to be increased now thab such a large field for mission work had been opened up in Central Africa. Therefore, ib was necessary for them to renew their efforts. Melanesia was really the Bpecial mission for New Zealand and Australia. He considered that no church was in a healthy state unless it cared for the heathen outside. They must commend the mission anew to the freewiil offerings of their people. He would like to see something done by all their Sunday-schools. One brother had said to him that he would rather givo half a sovereign to the Home Mission than threepence to the Melansian Mission, as the clergy lived in clover. Tho trubh was thab Bishop Selwyn's purse was always open to his clergy. They all knew that Bishop Selwyn merely drew his salary as a mabber of principle, thab ho had a private income, and really expended his salary on developing his mission. He felb thab bhey were specially called upon bo show sympathy •with this mission. Mr J. H. Upton seconded the motion, and remarked thab the mission had overrun the constable to the extent of £1,000. In fact, the trustees had notified the mission thab £200 per annum less musb be drawn for bhe pexb five years in order to make up the deficit. Thab showed tha. necessity for practical sympathy. The motion was adopted: "CHURCH GAZETTE." Mr CrisDß moved the thanks of this Synod' be given to the managers of the "Church Gazette.'" This was seconded by Mr W. J. Speight, •who testified to the value of the "Church Gazette," but pointed oub that ib was not as popular as ib should b.c. Mr Luke spoke in support of the motion. He said bhab the Sunday-school teachers generally found the lessons in the "Gazette" veiy valuable. ; Mr Rice considered that the " Gazette " WdS a little too official. Mr.Rawlings suggested that a lay coadjutor should bo appointed to assist the editor of the," Gazebfce.". Mr Upton said thab he felb inclined to move that a vote of sympathy should be accorded to the editor of the " Gazette." The President said bhab he thought) when an official record of church work was \ published churchmen mighb ab leasb pur- j chase a copy. He was ofben asked to make engagemenbs when a perusal of the " Church Gazette " would show that ho was already fixed for months ahead. Letters thab appeared in the daily papers would •not do for insertion in an official organ, The motion was then adopted. The managers for tho "Gazette" are Messrs Upton and Cochrane. NUMBER OF VESTRYMEN. Mr Batger moved, "That the General Synod be moved to amend Canon V., Title B, Section 6, by removing therefrom the words which limit the number of vesbry_uen, and bhab the President be requested to give effect bo this resolubion." Mr Batger spoke in favour of allowing a parish to have more than 10 vestrymen. Dr. Purchas seconded the motion. Mr Rice spoke in iavour of the motion. Mr Crispe objected to the alberabion. He thoughb' if ten men could nob manage a parish they should hand it over, to some one else.«£v|_ ' The Rev.'Mr Beatty said that Mr Batger might argue " that in the multitude of counsellors there lackebh nob wisdom," bub he should also bear in mind thab in bhe multitude of words there wanteth nob folly. He spoko in favour of allowing the canon to remain as at present constituted. The Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell objected to the alberabion as calculated to split up the parishes into syndicates. Archdeacon Dudley spoke in support of the motion, pointing out that often they found that there wore other men they would like on bhe vestry, in addition to those already existing. Mr Batger, in reply, said chat all he -wanted was that a parish should be allowed freedom to elect more men if it chose. It did not interfere with the right of any other parish. The. motion was lost on the voices. PENSION FUND FEES. . The Rev. W. Tebbs moved, "That the motion moved by Archdeacon Dudley and carried at the last session of tbe Synod on "Wednesday, October 16bb, respecting fees to be paid bo the pension fund, be rescinded, and that resolution IV. ' of fees and Church dues,' as printed in 1885, be restored." Mr Tebbs considered thab fees paid to the clergyman for performing the marriage service belonged to him, and he objected to a certain portion being paid to the Pension Fund. Occasionally there were cases when ib was a hardship for persons to pay this fee, and it ought to be ab the discretion of the clergyman whether ib should be demanded. Archdeacon Govetb seconded the motion, wSiich was discussed ab some length. Ultimately Mr Upton moved and tho Rev. Mr Beatty seconded, " That this matter be referred .to the clergy to report at the next Synod.*" A division was taken, when the amendment was adopted. HOME MISSION ENDOWMENT. The Rev.- Mr Boler moved on behalf of the Rev. W. Katterns " That this Synod accord its best thanks to those donors to the Home Mission Endowment Fund mentioned in the reporb." , This was seconded by the Rev Mr Sprott and adopted discussion. MAORI CX'ERGY REPRESENTATIVES. Colonel Haultain asked the Right Bey. the President, " Whether any, and what steps have been taken to communicate to Vthe Mnori clergy and their eongregationa\the resolution of the Synod agreeel to during the lasb session, expressing its interest and sympathy with the members o» the Maori Church, and Its wi«h there should be a closer the two races

_.i all matters connected with tho government and ministrations of their common church. Whether there has been any acknowledgment or response to this communication, if ib has been made. Whether any of vhe Maori clergy have been specially invited to take their seats ab bhis session of the Synod. Whether the Church Missionary Board have furnished to the Synod the information they were requested to supply by resolution of the 16th October, 3889." The President " replied that tho Maori clergy had not been specially invited this year. He explained bhab since bhe Maoris had bheir own Board they did nob care to attend the meetings of the Synod. ENDOWMENT FUND. The Rev. Mr Beatty moved, " That it is desirable to carry out as soon as possible the resolution of a former Standing Committee by which the legacy of £100 bequeathed by the late Miss Hannah King was to be devoted to an Endowment Fund for the Homo Mission ; and that in the meantime the Standing Committee annually pay td the Home Mission EndowmenbFund interest on the said legacy at the rate of 5 per cent." ■ Mjij- Crispe seconded the motion. Tne motion was adopted. The Synod adjourned ab 6 o'clock.