CHRISTCHURCH DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8621, 24 October 1893, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The Synod met at 4 p.m. Tho Pbesiokst laid on the table th« report of the New Zealand Mothers' Union, which he moved be read. The report was attempted to be read bj Rev. W. Teakle, but after going some little way into it tho Clerical Secretary gave up the task.

Rev. T. A. Hamiltom moved—"That the Synod respeutfully requests his Lordehip the Bishop to uppoint a Sunday in the year on which the clergy of the diocese •hall preach special sermons on the duty of temperance." He said when false teaching was allowed in the shape of prohibition it was the duty of the Church to speak with no uncertain sound by giving the true teaching. He thought that the use of formented and spirituous liquors was Scriptural, bub he had always taught that they should preach their people should abstain for the good of othors. He thought that the appointment of a temperance Sunday would do a great deal of good. Rev. W. Tobix seconded the motion.

Very Rev. the Dean asked Mr Hamilton if he would accept the addition of the words "be vuvited" after the word " shall."

Rev. Mr Hamilton accepted the altera* tion as proposed. Rev. Mr Prestox said that if Mr Hamilton had so many drunken persons in his parish he ought to be after them mora Sundays than one in the year. As a matter of fact, people who drauk sometimes did so on the sly, and he thought that if they announced a temperance sermon, those whom they wanted to get at would not b©_,, there. They wanted to catch them on* the hop. Mr Parsons thought thoy ought to be temperate in more things than iv drinking, and he trusted that the resolution would not be carried, Mr Bevan-Browx said that he thought that if ho were askod what vice should be selected for special preaching against in New Zealand, it would not bo intemperance in drink, for ho believed this was not a national vice (Hear), but that they should preach against mammon worship, which was far worse. Rev. Mr Hamilton said that as he found there was a strong opposition against the motion he would withdraw it. The motion for withdrawal was put and agreed to. Rev. E. E. Chambers moved—"That the Synod desires to thank the Sunday school teajhers throughout the diooeaa for their untiring and valuable ser--rices in the past, and heartily approves of the system of diocesan examination of teachers and senior scholars, as well as the standard system, introduced by the Rev* T. A. Hamilton." Mr Parsons seconded tho motion, After some disoussion, Yen. Archdeacon Lingard moved, as ail amendment—" That the word ' senior' bo omitted."

Rev. J. W. Stack seconded the amend* ment.

The President expressed hia deep sense of the services rendered by the Sunday school teachers to the cause of religion. They should, he thought, do all they could to support and help them in the great work they were engaged in. The amendment was pub and carried. The resolution as amended was then put and carried. Rev. W. A. Pascoh moved—"That in view of the pressing needs of the Melanesian Mission, this Synod commends the claims of the Mission to the sympathies and increased support of the members ol the Church iv this Dioceee." Rev. E. A. Scott seconded the motion. The President said that tho Synod had agreed to adjourn its meeting from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning in order that the members should be enabled to attend the meeting of theSSan'j n '' B £0 Text Books in Schools though§day evening. An organ recital, home under tJ, Cathedral on Wednr<«^B is h o p, The necessitate an alte o f fc ] ie i aVif> me'diuntil g erv ice and commerce moved—'• lh ur College ie doubtleea a Synod its efficiency as a train- * evening bfc ur clergy. Such is the state we musfc make the best we fit, Spartan nactus es tianc exprna. Ife \ n ¥ however, the clergy only who tsuffiw mV this isolation of our theological tn jts. It is a very serious reflection m ,''»r laymen are being educated apart 32 kn~, influence of the syetematio and, as it can still to. the parisLtUe old Universities of

Diocesan Synod t? e land. in any cafle names of any pari\ ce of modern diflrecommend the Syndu-Sya, especiallythe provisions of section Title B, of the Canons of lA* -wjtb — Synod." Rev. E. A. Scott seconded the motion, which was agreed to. The Synod resumed at 7.30. The first Order of the day wae the adjourned debate on the Rev. W. A. Pascoe's motions—"l. That the Synod believes that it will be for the best interests of the Church that a larger proportion of the income of the General Trust Estate should be devoted to educational purposes. 2. That all grants made for educational purposes should be permanent in their nature, and that grants made for such purposes should have priority over what are known as ordinary grants. 3. That for the preeent four-fifths of the net available income of the general estate be appropriated for ecclesiastical purposes, and the remaining one-fifth for educational purposes. 4. That the net available income of the general estate be paid to the Standing Committee, and that subject to the foregoing provisions it Le empowered to vote the income to auch cures and schools and in such proportions as it may deem expedient." Mr Web? spoke strongly against the motion, aud regretted that ho had not opposed the same in the Standing Committee, and alleged that the money, one-fifth, was not sufficient to carry on a school

successfully. The Bishop stated that the Synod was to. blame for the report brought down to Synod and advised the report be seat back to ft

Select Committee to revise. Mr March wished for a larger proportion to be devoted to religious education, and stated that only in a very emb.ll minority of State schools religion was taught, and that it was possible to teach in all. Mr Brady resented the idea that the clergy neglected their duty in not teaching in the State schools. Mr Hakman wished the grants to the clergy to remain as at present. Archdeacon Linoakd suggested the selling of the cemetery reserve for educational purposes. Re". H. 0. M. Watson showed the hard task of a clergyman in these days, that it was impossible in short to please all. Mr Baldwin severely castigated the clergy for their want of earnestness. Air Hargreaves thought that a fair proportion of the general trust estate was not devoted to educational purposes. After some discussion the Rev. W. J? 1 . Knowles moved as an amendment—" That the recommendation of the Standing Committee with reference to the application of the income of the general estate be referred to a Select Committee to consider and report upon to tliia Synod." The Rev. F. Knowles seconded the amendment. At 9.55 p.m. Mr H. D. Andrews moved the adjournment of the debate till the following day/ This was carried, and after notices of motion were given the Synod adjourned until 4 p.m. to-day.