GENERAL SYNOD.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8097, 13 February 1892, Page 6

GENERAL SYNOD.

[PRESS ASSOCIATIOK TELEGRAM.]

ANOTHER DISORDERLY SCENE.

WELLINGTON, February 12. The Synod met at 3 p.m. A3 soon as the minutes had been confirmed, The Primate rose and remarked that he had been rather hasty the previous evening in stopping the Rev. A. R. Fitchett, without letting him say distinctly what the subject he was about to bring before the Synod was. That condnct on his part arose from the feet that before he entered the building he heard what that subject would be, and he was therefore anxious it should not come before the Synod. While admitting his haste, he liald he had a statutory right to do what he did, and he had received a telegram from Sir M. O'Rorke cou firming him in that opinion. He merely wished the Svuod to understand that he never had, and never should have any desire to restrict the privileged of any member of the Synod. The Rev. A. li. Fitchett then asked whether his Lordship would permit him to make a statement to the Synod, but was informed that he could not do so unless it was on a personal matter. Mr Fitchett—Well, will your Lordship hear mc on the subject of yesterday's proceedings ?"■ " The Primate—No. I have s*id already that I apologise so far for having been hasty, but, at the same time, I maintain that my ruling is perfectly right; therefore, I cannot allow you to make any remarks upon it. The Bishop of Dunedin commenced to say that he did not know what Mr Fitchett was about to bring forward yesterday, but had only said a few words when The Primate peremptorily asked him to resume his seat.

Bishop Neville said he should not sit down until he had said what he had to say, but upon the Primate repeating his order, and cries of "shame" proceeding from some of the Synod, he said he would obey the ruling of the chair, although, at the same time, he thought he had a grievance. The Primate said he was perfectly willing to hear his grievance before the Synod, but he had not »aid he had been misrepresented in any way, or made any representation in reference to any misstatement. The Bishop of Duuediu—Except what your lordship has just now said. The Primate —I did not mention the Bishop of Dunedin's name. X call on the next business. Mr Fitohett again applied for a hearing, and after a short delay he moved the adjournment of Synod till 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday next. He.then proceeded to say that he only wished to be heard, when he was interrupted by The Primate, who said he muat only speak on the point of whether an adjournment was desirable.

Mr Fitchett—l am going to speak to that point.. The Primate—Will you be so good aa to sit down.

Mr Fitchett—l think I have a right, with all deference

The Primate—l insist upon you sitting down. I call on the next business.

Mr Fitchett submitted that the Synod could only be carried, on by observing the Orders made by themselves, but was frequently interrupted by The Primate, who at length said—"l will not allo w<. Mr Fitchett to speak. You must sit down while the business of Synod is going on."' Air Mtchett said he would sit down, but would rise again, and The Primate then said that unless he was allowed to rule the Synod he might as well leave the chair. Subsequent y, he again insisted on Mr Fitchett resuming his seat and ceasing to disturb the proceedings of Synod; if not he should leave the chair without any adjournment at all. Mr Fitchett appealed to his Lordship's sense of justice, but bis Lordship merely said he had called on the business of. the Synod, and would not have it interrupted. Again and again Mr Fitchett attempted, to justify his conduct, and again and again the Primate interrupted him on the ground 1 that he was not speaking to the adjournment, and at last rose to leave the chair as he had several times threatened to do. The Rev. Mr Coffey (Wellington) hoped his Lordship would not .take such a course, and, his Lordship resuming his seat, some of the syhbdsmen expressed their views of what had occurred. Bishop Julius, of Christchurch, remarking that he was sure, what had occurred would be a heavy loss to the Church, and ! he hoped, for the iuterests of all, that matters would now proceed quietly. Mr James Allen (Dunedin) thought they were merely " affording sport to the Philistines " by acting in such a manner-. Archdeacon Mules (Nelson) then moved as an amendment, which • was seconded by the Bishop of Christehurch—"That the Synod adjourn till 7.30 p.m. the same evening," and Mr Fitchett withdrew hie original resolution in favour'of it. On a division the adjournment was lost by 20 to 19, the votes being :• —Ayes— Bishops 4, clergy 6, laity 9. Noes—Bishops 0, clergy 11, laity 9. The business of the Synod was then proceeded with.

Interim report No. 4 of the Sessional Committee on the reports of the Trustees was brought. up. The Committee had considered the applications for grants from the expected balance of the geaeral Church Trust income daring the three years baginning July Ist, 1891, viz., £180 and £141 respectively, amounting to £321 in all. They recommended that £75 be paid towards the travelling expeuses of the clergy who attended the special session of Syned in 1890, £50 be granted to the endowment of the Dunedin Bishopric conditionally on £150 being raised locally, £30 to the travelling expenses of Bishops to the present Synod, £30. to the travelling expenses of Bishops to the Synod of £50 towards the building fund of the Bishop's house in the Waiapu diocese if £150 is raised locally, .£3O to the Bishop's house building fund in the Wellington diocese if £90 is raised locally, £25 to the Auckland and "Nelson dioceses for the repair of Bishops' houses if £25 is raised locally. On the motion of Archdeacon bamuel Williams, it was decided that the Trustees of Te Aute School Estate be authorised to apply to the Legislature for an Act to enable, them to expend a portion of the funds derived from the Native grant of land to the Te Aute school upon the Native girls , school at Hukarere, Napier, on condition that the latter school be conveyed-to the Trustees of the Te Aute estate, to be held upon trust as a site for a school for Native girls. The Select Committee's report on the subject of funeral reform was adopted by the Synod. • At 5.20 p.m. the Synod adjourned till 7.3tfp.m. The Synod resumed at 7.30 p.m. The adjourned debate on the motion of the Bishop of Dunedin re the oath of canonical obedience to the Archbishop of Canterbury was resumed. _ The motion was carried unanimously.

In the absence of the Bishop of Waiapu Sir John Hall resumed the debate on the motion for leave to bring in the Bill to amend the Canons in such a manner that women as well as men shall be permitted to vote at parish meetings. The Primate ruled that the point of order raised by Archdeacon Harper, when the motion was last before the Synod, could not interfere with the progress of the measure at the present stage, and' the first reading was agreed to, the second reading being fixed for Monday. After further debate,

The Dean of Christchnrch's motion, with reference to the state of Christianity among the Maori population, was agreed to. The third interim report of the trustees of property w«s considered in Committee, and passed.without material amendment.

At 9.30.the Synod adjourned till Monday at,3 p.m. , ..

Oar Wellington correspondent forwards a similar account of the proceedings, and adds that after the Bishop of Duuedin, the Primate aaked Sir J. Hall's opinion as whether Mr fitchett could speak oni the motion for adjoarnment, to which. Sir John replied that a discussion would be in order if Mr Fitchett moved the adjournment .of the Synod to a future day! Mr again rose, but was again stopped almost immediately, the Primate stating that h* most leave the chair if the Synod

did not support him- Hβ then requested the JBfohop of Auckland to tafce tne chair ana Bishop Cowie rose to comply with the Before the Primate could leave the chair, however, the Rev. Coffay{ Wellington) said he hoped his lordship would not vacate his position, and that Mr Fitchetc would now allow the matter to drop. Mr Coffey then proceeded to debate the question, but Sir John Hail raised the objection that as Mr Fitchett was not allowed to speak Mr Coffey should not be put in a position to do so, and the objection was upheld. Archdeacon Mules (Bishop-elect of Nelson) had in the meantime, with Mr Fitchett's consent, moved as an amendment, that the Synod should adjourn till half-past seven to-night, m order that soma arrangement might be come to, and numerous points of order were here raised. Dean Howell, of Napier, at length ros* and appealed to both sides for the sake of peace and the welfare of the Church to let the matter drop. He said that scenes of this kind could not but have au injurious effect, and he earnestly hoped that Mr Fitchett would now withdraw his motion. The Bishop of Christchurch heartily concurred in DeanHowelTa remark. In doing so, Bishop Julius added that there was one standing order which they seemed to have forgotten, and that was that Christians should love one another. He also hoped that the ordinary business would now be allowed to procead. Archdeacon Mules'amendment for the adjournmentjpf the Synod was finally put and lost on division, a large majority of clergy voting against any adjournment. The matter was -tSen dropped and business proceeded aa usual. Although the Rev. Mr Fitchttt was not allowed an opportunity of making an explanation it is understood that he was acting entirely in the interests of the Rev. Canon Howell, incumbent of St. Matthew's, Dunedin, who, it is commonly reported, has been inhibited troin preaching in any of the churches in the Wellington diocese during the sitting of the Synod. It is urged on the Primate's behalf that he (the Primate) has a perfect right to invite or cause to be invited whom he likes to occupy the Wellington pulpits during the Synod, and those who take this view fail to see that any slur has been cast on Canon Howell through not being asked to preach whilst he remains here. Mr HowelTs friends assert that he has been subjected to a mild form of persecution during the six months in which he officiated at St. Paul's, Wellington, as locum tenens in the Rev. Mr Still's absence, and the rumor that Mr Howell was not to be allowed to preach in any of the city churches during his present visit is regarded as a continuation of the unfair treatment which they consider he received when previously in Wellington.