ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10886, 11 February 1901, Page 3

ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

(press association telegram.} NAPIER, February 7. At the Anglican Genera! Synod, Archdeacon Cho'mondelsy njcvt<!—"'Phat in the epinion of vnij Stikal. it, is dcsjrabl? that r.eraissk>n.. bj- a c. m\> te-.-.t a - , t .o;-ity, sliou'd ba iriven where it is desired by cier«y atd people for lessons being ruid from the Kevised Version of vhe jjible in the miblic sfrvi es of ths Church." Ai'fc.T considerable discussicn the motion was lost. Mr Thomas Tanner moved—" 1 That the Right Eev. .he Bishops bo respectfully requested hy this Synod to revise or rearnrnga tiie table cf lessons, so that the most appropr'ate lessons l>9 read in ail churches on Sundays. 2. Iliac, ths Right Row the Bishhops bs respectfully requested by this Synod so to rearrange the Psalms that- they may be more equally divided for the days "of the month." The motion was lost. NAPIER, February 8. At last evening's sitting of the Synod, the only matter taken was a bill providing for the trial of Bishops if charged with any of the following offences:—(l) Crime or immorality ; (2) wilful and persistent violation of the provisions of the constitution, or of the ecclesiastical laws in force in the diocese; (3) neglect of duty ; (4) false doctrine. After some discussion the second reading was carried, the bill was taken into Committee, and good progress made. At the General Synod to-day, the Bishop of Christchurch moved—"That a select committee ba appointed to consider the compact or understanding between Church Missions in the Pacific and those of other religious bodies, believed to have been made in the episcopate of Bishop G. A. Selwyn, and observed for many years, and report— (:f Whether it is still" binding; (2) "the nature of the obligations imposed by it; (3) whether it is desirable tUat it should be modified or annulled, and if so under what conditions. That the committee consist of the Bishop of Wellington, the Yen. Archdeacon Harper, the Yen. Archdeacon S. Williams, the Yen. Archdeacon Fancourt, Mr Walter and the mover."

The Bishop of Melanesia, in seconding, said that amongst the missionaries in the Islands there was an impression that such a compact did exist, as they had been working on that compact which was respected. By this compact Anglicans, Wesleyans, and Presbyterians respected each other's spheres. Archdeacon Palmer said this was the means of preventing different forms of religion being introduced among the Islands of Melanesia. Without that compact there was no doubt that the New Hebrides would bo invaded by the Presbyterians. It was not for ths Church of England to withdraw from that compact.

Archdeacon Dudley gave an instance to show that such a compact did exist, Bishop Patterson having withdrawn from one of the Melanesian group in favour of the missionaries sent out by the London Mission Board, who had a prior claim, notwithstanding the protestations of the natives, who asked Bishop Patterson to remain on the Island.

The Bishop of Dunedin said threre was a very anxious desica for the Church of England to establish itself in such islands as Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. All denominations- had a right to preach the Gospel of Christ in the islands. The people there had come to the conclusion that the Church of England cared nothing about them b=cause tliey did nothing. He had n-ever heard any Presbyterian minister say there was a written compact. It seemed to him that what hud been done- in the past was fimply an act of Christian courtesy by Bishop Selwyn. There was no bar to the Church of England establishing itself in such islands as Tonga civilised as it had been, and thus neglecting the spiritual welfare of their white brethren, many of them their own Church.

The Bishop of Christchurch said in regard to this ccmpr.ct they should act as Christian gentlemen, and act loyally to those who had acted loyally towards them, not in a way that might bring discredit on them. Bishop John Selwyn, at any rate, bslievcd there was such a compact, and also believed in approaching other missions in a courteous way, showing that ho had no dssire to intrude where others had already established themselves. The motion was carried.

On the motion of the Bishop of Melansia, Norfolk Island was included in his diocese, tlie consent of the Archbishop of Svdnay having been obtained. A motion was carried in favour of an amendment of the Colonial Clergy Act. with a view to removing vexatious restrictions on colonial clergy visiting England officiating there. In the discussion which followed, it was pointed out that at the present tima colonia) clergy visiting England, no matter wh-..t high." attainments they possessed, wero placed tinder (great hardship, as they wcro unable to preach in any church unless by license from tha Arehbisho.p of Canterbury, although they might ba visiting their native parish only" for a .short period. There seemed to bs an opinion at Home that a man colonially ordained was a. very much inferior person. A motion by Mr Tanner for direct representation of Mnoris in the Synod was withdrawn, as a Bill wa3 necessary for the purpose. The evening sitting was wholly occupied ■with tho discussion of the Maori mission, •which was described as in a very perilous state. A committee appointed to consider the subject, j>resented a report rscommendins that various steps bs taken with t view to arouse the interest of the public in ths question, that a director of the Maori mission be appointed; that trie minimum salary of the native clergymen be £100 a year. The Bishop of Wellington said there -were 5000 Maoris in his diocese, now scattered ■like sheep. AM the Bishops supported fhe report, tha Synod being unanimous on the necessity of some*hisg being done, but thsre was a leiMjthr discussion on the details, and the proposal was finally talked out; but leave was given to reintroduce it.