DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3823, 23 October 1877, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Monday, October 22. The President toot his seat at 4 p.m., and opened the proceedings with prayer. ABCHDEACOK WILIOCK. The President said he had received the resignation of the Yen. Archdeacon Willock as member of the Church Property Trust, and of the Diocesan Board of Trustees. The Archdeacon's mark to his resignation had been obtained and witnessed by Mr Hannier. MAORI MISSION. The Rev J. W. Stack brought up the annual report of the Maori Mission, which was read. ELECTION TO GENBBAIi STNOD. The Rev H. 0. M. Watson moved—" That it be a recommendation to the General Synod to amend Statute 1, so as to allow of the election of the clerical and the lay representatives by the Diocesan Synods." (See printed proceedings (3-eneral Synod, Statute 1., p.p. 80 —85, and Statute XV., p.p. 168—171.) . Mr W. C. Walker seconded the resolution. After some remarks, Mr Watson obtained leave and withdrew hie resolution. STATUTES AND BEGUIATIONS. The Eev E. Gh Penny moved—"That it is desirable for better legislation on * all important questions, especially such as affect changes in the Statutes and Regulations, that notice be given of such questions to be brought forward at each session of the Synod, as early as possible before the meeting of Synod, and published l>y the secretary of the Standing Committee in the next issue of the' Church News.' , ' Rev T. Flavell seconded the motion. In the remarks which followed by members reference was made to the serioue dbadvantage many labored under in being called upon to consider important notices of motion which they knew nothing of before they entered the room. Mr W. J. W. Hamilton, lay secretary, said that as members sat until haft-past eleven at night, it took him until 2 p.m. to prepare the notices, and in many instances decipher them for the printer, and it was nearly impossible for a long notice list to be out of-the printer's hands before the hour of meeting each day. On being put the motion was lost. BEPOBT. The committee appointed to prepare a scheme for the establishment of a Diocesan Pension Fund, brought up their report, which was read. Mr Webb moved —" That the report be printed," which was agreed to-. INSUBANCBS. The Dean laid on the table a schedule of insurances on churches and parsonages in the*diocese. PBEBBLBTON-CTTM-TEMPLETON. The report of the Select Committee on the petition to make the above separate parishes was read on the motion of the Rev De Berdt Hovell. The report recommended that Templeton should be made a separate parieh and defined the boundaries. ■WJEBTIAHD. The Rev W. A. Pascoe moved — "That the Standing Committee be instructed to see that sections (c)and (d) of Clause I. in ' Financial Regulations for Westland' (at page 43), be strictly enforced." Mr R. J. S. Harman seconded the resolution which was agreed to after discussion. PABSONAGES BBSEBVES. Mr Mclntyre moved—"That the Stand- ' ing Committee be requested to report to the Synod, at its next annual session, on the best method for adjusting the Christchurch Parsonages Reserves Account, in accordance with the resolutions adopted in 1875 relative to the said reserves, by the transfer of certain items to the Dean and Chapter Estate Account or otherwise." Rev. H. C. M. Watson seconded the resolution. He thought it hardly necessary to pass the resolution now, as a similar one was passed at the last session of the Synod. The only necessity was to impress upon the Standing Committee the duty of carrying out reeolutions agreed to by the Synod. The resolution was put and carried. HOKITIKA CHTTBCH BBSEBVBB. Mr Hanmer moved —" That this Synod appoints Samuel Munckley South, of Hokitika in Westland, barrister and solicitor, John Porter Harris, of Hokitika aforesaid, bank manager, and John Plaisted, of Hokitika aforesaid, merchant, to be trustees of the lands and hereditaments known by the name ofj the Church Reserves in Hokitika aforesaid; and that the same hereditaments bo conveyed to the said trustees upon the trusts and in the manner directed by the Bishops in 'New Zealand Trusts Act, 1871.' " The Very Rev. the Dean seconded the motion, which was agreed to. CHTTBCH SCHOOLS. Archdeacon Harper moved—"That this Synod is of opinion that any system of Government Education which excludes religious instruction from the schools must be unsatisfactory, and that it is therefore desirable to establish Church schools, and recommends that the Church Property Trustees should make a grant of a sum, not exceeding £ , in aid of any such school or schools, at the discretion of tne Standing Committee." He thought it would be admitted that the recent action taken by the Assembly pointed to the necessity for some such course as that indicated in the motion being carried out. Though the Bill in Parliament lad not yet become law, the feeling was sufficiently apparent In the Legislature that no religious instruction would be permitted in the future in State schools. From the action which the Roman Catholics took some little time since on the subject of religious education in day schools, and the weight it was shown they had, the Synod might assume th*fc the Legia-

lature would in the future tic* be likely to introduce any system in schools which would include religious teaching. The present march of rationalism, as lie might term it, was evidently setting ite foot on all religious instruction in schools. He had heard of the Saturday schools, and although he had not seen one he was determined to try such a school on his return to Timaru, though he -was always of the opinion that that day should be looked upon by children as their holiday. If this school failed he would certainly like to see a Church school established, even say in Christchurch to make a beginning. Although they ; might be able to do very little by establishing it, yet in hie opinion they ought to- do what they could, and by degrees they might hare some hope of seeing their way out of this vexed question. Hβ' trusted the resolution would pass, and that the Church Property Trustees would ccc their way to assiet them with funds. Sir Thomas Tancred seconded the motibn, and considered the members of the Church were much to blame for the apathy they had shown in this matter in allowing, without a protest, the Legislative action that had been taken. If parent* were only canvassed he felt certain they would send their children to such a school as that proposed if funds were only found to establish one. The Dean said that it was impossible that any money could be expected from the Church Property Trusteee to assist in establishing a church school. After reading the estimated expenditure of the trustees for next year, the Dean said if a grant were made for any such purpose they would have to cut down some present charges, and though he would heartily support such a grant being made if they were in a position, he would aek the Archdeacon to withdraw hie motion for the present. Key. C. Bowen said it was not certain the Bill would pass this session, and in the meanwhile the Church members should bestir themselves and forward petitions against fuch a measure being passed. The discussion was interrupted by the arrival of the hour of adjournment for tea. Evbning Sitting. The Synod resumed at 7.45. " ELECTION OF BYNODBMBN. On the motion of Mr W. C. Walker, the Synod went into committee to consider the Bill to Amend Diocesan Statute No. 3, for regulating the election of synodsmen, which, was read a second time. He proposed the* following amendments: — (Page 30.) Section 4—Omit words " who ehall be an elector of the district." Section s—Substitute5 —Substitute words a " suitable person" for words "an elector of the district." Section 10 —In third line after word " church door" insert words " or church doors where there is more than once church in the parish or district and on," —omit word " or." Section 11 —At end of section add words "Provided that the returning officer or his deputy shall not be capable of being so nominated." (Page 31) —Section 22—At end of section add words " and a copy of such objection shall be sent by the Bishop to the person whose election is disputed, at least one month before the day on which the Synod w summoned to meet." A long discussion took place on the second amendment, which was ultimately made to read " an elector of the diocese." The third amendment was made to read, "on the door of each church" ; the fourth, " provided that, if the returning officer shall become a candidate, his deputy ehall conduct the election." The fifth amendment was carried as it stood. • . Other contingent amendments in the Bill were proposed, when it was resolved that the chairman report progress, and ask leave to sit again. PHOTOGBAPHING HBMBEBS. The Clerical Secretary read a letter from Mr D. Mundy, offering to photograph the members of the Synod, according to the autotype process, at a guinea a plate. The writer suggested that the work would form an interesting souvenir of the Synod of 1877. The letter, which caused some amusement, was laid on the table. KOMINATOBB AND PASTOBS. On the motion of the Dean, the Synod went into committee on the second reading of the Bill to Amend Diocesan Statute No. 5, for the election of nominators and appointment of pastors to parishes. The clauses having been taken seriatim the Chairman reported progress, and asked leave to set again. The further consideration of the Bill was made an order of the day for Tuesday. The Synod adjourned at 11.5 p.m.