THE PRIMACY DIFFICULTY.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7526, 16 April 1890, Page 2

THE PRIMACY DIFFICULTY.

At the request of the Bishop of Nelson, and upon the invitation of the Very Rev. the Dean, the members of the Standing Committee of the. Christcburch Diocesan bynod, members of the Chapter, and past and present members of the General Synod met at Christ's College Library on Wednesday, April 9th, to hear from the Bishop of Nelson a proposal concerning the Primacy Question. . The Very Rev. the Dean presided, and on his right "was the Bishop of Nelson, on his left sat Bishop Harper and the Rev. F. Knowles, Diocesan Secretary. There were aUo present the Venerables Archdeacons Dudley, Lingard, and Cholmondeley, Revs. Canons Cotterill, Stanford, and Dunkley, Revs. Pascoe, Harper, Gillam, Stack, 08. Hoare, Thorpe, Sir John Hall, the Hons. J. B. Greeson, J. B. A. Acland, Professor Cook* Messrs Grigg, Kirn bell, Batham, Cotterill, Harmau, Maude, Whifcefodrd,- Westoh, Mclntyre, Malet, Webb, Mullock, Ainger, and others.

The proceedings were opened with prayer after which -

The Very Rev. the Dean asked the meeting to settle the question whether or not the reporters should be allowed to be present. Mr X. S. Wkston moved—" That the "reporters remain."....... Mr Maxet seconded the motion, which was carried with one or two dissentients.

The Very Bey. the Dean then said it • was about a week ago i that/ when there in charge of a meeting a telegram was put into his hand from the Bishop of Nelson, asking the Standing Committee, to meet him on that day. Thinking it desirable that other gentlemen should be present, he sent an urgent telegram asking his Lordship to include also members of the General Synod. if c got an answer back on behalf of the Bishop of Nelson* that he would be quite willing to meet them in that respect, and as soon as his Lordship arrived he accepted that coarse. He (the Chairman) thought he was interpreting aright the feeliugs of those present if he said they wished to, as far as possible, avoid any discussion as to the origin of the present difficulty, still less did they wish to case blame upon anyone. Their one wish was to find a solution to the difficulty in which they were placed. It was a matter which had caused them a deal of grief and very great inconvenience to tnetr iJisJiop-eleoG of the Diocese. His Lordnaip was kept in a state of uncertainty »ua suspense, and the delay was causing him considerable expense. He (the chairman) also wished to draw attention to the memorial (Which has been published), which was adopted by the Standing Committee at its last month tt meeting, and in consequence of Which his Lordship the Biabop of Nelson had invited them to meet him. Now they were met to impress upon his Lordship to show them a way oat of their diinculcy, and were that done he felt sure they would be very grateful. In conclusion, he had to say that they sympathised deeply with his Lordship in his difficulty, and were greatly obliged to him for visiting Christchurch to try and settle the Primacy deadlock. (Applause.) He then asked the Bishop of Nelaou to address the Conference '

Bishop Sitter said the Dean had told them that they were not to ro into the past, but he ventured to say that were he to assert that he waa now quite is favor of Synod being convened, tsey would Immediately reply " Why did you not saj so before?" Therefore he most answer that question, and to do so must go a little over the past". He would not detain them very long, and would Bay that the matter ap-1 peered to him to require a protest, and i required further consideration and discussion, audit seemed, according to the legal advice which he had, to be proved that what had taken place was illegal, and he puc to the Bishop of Wellington the following alternative, under date of September 11th—" I suggest, therefore, that the matter be referred to the Standing Commission, as it is a question of interpretation of various Canons, especially of clause 23, whether, * until the General. Synod shall, under the provisions,' is to be construed to mean ' unless the General Synod shall have made. . For this I am prepared to state a case, or, which I venture to think a speedier method, to have a special meeting of the General Synod convened at Wellington for the express purpose of validating cer- ' tain proceedings in connection with the election of a successor to Bishop Harper as Primate." In reply he received a dated the 14th September, which contained the following:—" As you are prepared to state a case tor the Standing Commission, I wish to say that I agree with you that it is very desirable that this should be done without delay." It was done, and they knew the result. Immediately upon the resolution beiug made known, or even before it was known, and before it reached him in writing, he received from the Very Rev. the Dean a request to proceed to set the confirmation of the various Standing Committees. He did so, and received replies from the Committees of Auckland and Nelson and Walapu, and from ' Christchurch he learned that everything was going forward for the consecration ol Archdeacon Julius. Hβ sent out a modestly worded mandate to lay before the Standing Committee of Wellington, and he received an acknowledgment to his letter. He sent one also to the Bishop of Dunedin, but he had not had an answer up to that day. He was aware that a number of things were going about, but he did not think it was hie business to take any notice of what appeared in the papers as to what was going on in the different dioceses. About January ho received suggestions for a General Synod being convened, and he asked the Bishop of Christchurch to define more specially what was wanted. He told him that he would receive word from the Bishop of Dunedin, and probably from the Bishop of Walapu. He had not received them. Again he would say, he had not received any application, and certainly no definite application. To ask one to summon a General Synod without specifying the object concerned was absurd. It watt very necessary to etate the object, whether it was to validate this or elect such and such a person. And he never got until within the last ten days'any definite application for the General Synod to be called together. As to saying that it should be called as a general recommendation, he had no two applications on that. In the meantime he sent letters to all the members of the General Synod, and he hoped they would not think there had been any unnecessary delay. The Standing Committee of each diocese had agreed to this course, and it did not seem that it would be for anyone else to Interfere. In fact, it appeared to him then, as now, that it was a very serious thing indeed to call a General Synod together, as it involved a great deal of expense, and it also depended very much on the subjects to be discussed whether it should be called. A 9 the Bishop of Christchurch had pointed: out, only a bare quorum might be got together, and he considered it would be hardly just to discuss important matters with so small an attendance. At no time, however, did he say that he would not call the Synod together. He certainly pointed out the objections, and some of them existed now, but surely if one pointed out objections he was not to bo criticised as being opposed to that course. He did not say he looked at all*these things with approval; he only wished the matter to be thoroughly discussed, and there were many who wished the Synod called, because it was a place within the walls of which the question could be discussed, and not in the papers. He was not going to do anything which did not commend itself to him as a wise and prudent thing. He alluded to his scheme in the answer he gave to the members of the General Synod, and with all due deference he thought that might have been carried out had there been a personal willingness to do so. It would h#ve secured, without delay, the consecration of the new Bishop: it would have sustained Bishop Hadfleld, and, the whole matter would not have been gone into until the General Synod met in its ordinary course. He mentioned this to show them that hevhad been willing to stand on one aide, and was so feow. Matters, however, went on until the Bishop of Auckland thought he had found a solution. He thought so at the. time, but, like others, he came to the conclusion that the course suggested was impossible. This took time, but there, again, he would not stand in the way. But he must complain of this, as all his assent was asked to was a mode of procedure. His assent was withdrawn when that mode of procedure was not taken up, and then, when he said he did not agree with them, he was blamed for withdrawing his assent. The matter, when it came back to him, was quite different to what he had assented to in the first place. Could that have been carried out he would have been pleased. Then it came to the present time; to within a few days ago. He was telegraphed to that if he would call the Synod together the Bishop of Wellington would resign. The moment that reached him he communicated with Bishop Harper that be would come down here without loss of time and as fas: as possible meet the case—(Applause)—and that was • what had re&lly brought him here. He felt very strongly on the matter. He had been told thac he had come amongst friends, but he did notthiukthatsomeof his : friends realised the storm which had been poured upon him, and that & man sixty years of age should be blamed as he had been. He had been spoken of as a candidate, and perhaps there were thoae who thought it no hardship to him to be called a candidate. He had even received a letter from Australia asking him what it was all about. He had not the pleasure of knowing all, but those he did know he felt would sympathise with him in his difficult position. There were many things of pressing interest Iα a country, and they had to remember that things which were secondary to themselves were primary to others. He was told he waa amongst friends, and he could assure them that he was very anxious to forward the matter. (Applause.) He had only taken up the position he had because he was persuaded that it was his duty to do so, and he had not gone into abstract questions about the Interests of the Church, because it seemed to him to be clear what course he should take. Hβ did not come whining to them that ne had been involved in misrepresentations, he had been too long a Bishop to take any notice of them ; bat to let them feel that he bad and did feel very strongly aud [painfully much which had been eaid and much which had been unsaid. Of course it had been said by some that they were representing the constitution. The position he had taken had been, or at any rate it might be considered quite as much testimony In favoring the constitution as in their view of the case. The position he had taken up was one which was maintained by a tribunal of the Church, and in supporting that, and in basing his operations on that, he thought he had been supporting what had been at all events in accordance with the constitution. He must say one thing. He had been asked in a conjoined paper by the Bishops of Chratcbuich and Dunedin to convene the Synod " without prejudice to their individual opinions." He asked how he could accept such a request, to be moved by parties to do & certain thing, while the parties have the right to find fault with him. He could not agree and he wrote to Bishop Harper accordingly. Bishop Harper sen to is reply on the matter but he had received no answer from any other quarter. He had to make the following proposal:—"Having received from the Most Keverend Bishop Harper an intimation that tha Bishop of Wellington U willing to resign his position, upon receipt of that resignation I shall comply with the applications recently made to mc by the Bishops of Chrtetchurch, Auckland, and Walapn to convene a special meeting of the General Synod at an early date—probably April 24th—and as the most central position at Wellington, for the election of Primate and confirmation of the Venerable Archdeacon Julius's ejection to the see of Christchurch." He thought it was an established thing thac Bishop Harper should be, as ex-President of the late Synod, the means of communication between himself and the Bishop of Wellington. He hoped thie matter would be carried oujk and had hoped to have the; Bishop of , * resignation there: but doubtless the holidays accounted for the delay. Hβ thanked them for having listened to hi*

explanations, and he if lie had brought fe&g before them. That w«jl|fe They had taken him Into and he had done the same &%? (Applause.) . The Yen. Archdeacon Caotw s*»d they had all listened witfiNte*, what the Bishop of Nelson SfS2 be would now like to aak^a^jm be made a little earlier, co tw mWi&sm crattonof Archdeacon Julioi J* «£? place on the let May. If UmTW £ the General Synod was not 3« 24th the consecration must ftTw antll the middle of May. The Bisho* of Nelson—No «« The Chairman imagined tCu April would be in ample tioiofi?Jf«!i'; secretion to take place on the i£tf» <te Sir John Hajx asked it iti B ** s clear that the Bishop of WeU|C*Wu prepared to send Iα hie reeign 6 J! conditions stated. "* c* tS The Chairman said be h&a SlVi """ £, le 8w»» which had been t££>lV t Bishop Harper from the BiaC < 4 C lington under date of April fcth/t? *» follows:—" As soon as you forwsii the Bishop of Nelson's agreemjßK terms of my telegramsAi&,»% convene Synod at an early dSJ'fSj lington for the election of Pat**'. connrmation of Archdeacon tion-I will forward my "fif & through you." *%«!.;, Mr Grigq aaid they had evemM P could expect under the having &at they must and anticipate no difficulty they would accept most eratefi" %*i had fallen from t&e BishopoffeHJ *4 de fe the reault - (Applaud >*"ia Mr Whitbfooud said that of the Standing Committee to move a vote of thanks to Nehon. He agreed that it xkjffii wise to promote a further dl«suv !i * the matter of the Primacy. there seemed to be,every reasoa difficulty would bo now settled in » 55 ' able manner, after all that had to the contrary. Hβ conetoemp? , *'* their duty to accord a warm Will *■* to the Bishop of Nelson for tt»k to settle the difficulty, whShfift** pressing hardly upon the ChuwhSS their Bishop elect. They had; £9* have their Bishop among tW5 t3 earlier date, etill it was a Bss.«» that there appeared every solution of the difficulty. Hf: •• That this meeting desires &£»*"• warmest thanks to tha Blaho»#S U! for the trouble he has taken s!rf ! tereste of this diocese In vUitM/* church, and to assure his with him in the &{ ■; difficult circumstances which h*wL ! to Th?i? *° * T he * ri ""«V queethj-"** The Hon. J. B. Gresson MeoafajH. motion. Hβ thought they w^ 5 indebted to the Bishop of f» coming here, and tor the exploit' had made, and he thought • A?* account and In fairness couldP|4M? him to do more than he had to do. ■ "*'••. its

MrH. R. Webb supported tk wi. Oue thing he wished to aay, tffiSfc which appeared from Nelson efjE* of Neleon had assured him Jjg £ Tj signed it, and it was got that he waa not to see it. Mat!* 3' no doubt, thought it emaaSLvTP Lordship, but he (Mr that such was not the case. JIC? Press would take notice of wiKw said. ' ™

The Rev. Mr Pascob suras*} fe, their thanks should be «lve«l£Jf nicely* The motion was ultimately cirM's the following form-" That tali*& to esprea* *** warmest UsSt the Bishop of Nelson for tbetmSfc has taken in the Interest of UikfewS visiting Christehurch, and fe&H* noancement he has now ma4s s | y. Intention to convene & specWiwisgg the General Synod, and to assaults to ship of its sympathy with hlm.la tts tit ing and difficult circumstanewwMfiipj arisen in regard to the Prii&Mg |b@,

The BrsHOP of Nelson, In thanks, said he was very raueleMUiis them for their kind expression itsMyn, He could assure them tho go a long way to remove any & & i®. nisions he had referred to aifetfei; occurred. Hβ hoped to fetfafefea as soon as he possibly could, lAgfeiu He could not promise to <io em in, the interests of the hauit he wae confident; that ma &n he had taken was lor tm Safety of this diocese and the ptifas, & might be intimated to the oat® vM that they did isofc have a "BHmkiaitfj five years, and In consequence itas'SM* little complication about the «fei!eo ti their Primates. There wer% ls&<a, many contradictions ia their r St*Sa(oe; but if they could have such si mm?, cay, as Judge Gresson, by tfe* from time to time, following t&wwp!* of the Irish Church, which ahmphß«p, aseessor, then, bo doubt, then vt&M k less of any difficulty. An fee tin s%< gestion ■ that the meeting sSieuld k Sastened, he thought it ehooH t»ihith a day later than aday earlier, Qβ iIM endeavor to arrange for tho conwrntia to take place on l»t May. Jiy bsi U thank them for their kind attenflcnif;:i the Dean for presiding, and deslrsa cerely that when the Very Rev. the w went home he would have the pkswm! looking back upon the matter as SsCJti s (Applause.) The proceedings thoa dosed.