DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11103, 23 October 1901, Page 4

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

ANNUAL SESSION. i The annual session of the Diocesan Synod was opened by the Bishop of the Diocese at four o'clock yesterday afternoon, in thte Library of Christ's College. Matins were celebrated at the Cathedral at nine o'clock in the morning, while the sacrament of the Holy Communion was celebrated at eleven o'clock. At each of these services the local and visiting clergy were present. The Synod was opened by the Bishop of Christcburch, and the following were present: —Clergy—Archdeacon Harper, Archdeacon OaoJmondeley, and Archdeacon Lingard, Canon Harper, Canon Knowles, Canon Pascoe, Canon Dunkley, Revs. H. E. East, L. C. Brady, T. A. Hamilton, H. Ensor, W. Blathwayt, H. Purchaa, T. A. Meyer, P. J. Cocks, H. William*, C. H Gossett, E. N. Blakiston, F. R. Inwood, P. H. Pritchett, R..F. Garbett, A. S. Fox, W. H. Orbell, W. T. P. Winter, C. R. PoUock, J. E. Blackbume, E. Elliott Chambers, H. H. S. Hamilton, F. P. Fendall, H. Airay Watson, W. Cruden, A. Beavan, S, G. Fielding, H. Williams, J. M. Adoock, J, A. Julius, W. «B. Sisam, S. Hinson, C. A. W. Averill, W. E. Newton, W. W. Sedgwick, J. Campbell, C. A. Tobin, R, A. Woodthorpe, S. Hamilton, A.. C. Hoggins, T. J. Smythe, J. K. Barklie, T. Farley, H.. M. Smythe, and F. A. Hare. Laity—Messrs H. R. Butdher, R. Hill Fisher, G. Dunnage, W. H. Beckett, €. H. Winny, J. Studbolme, jun., H. W. Uru, K. Denham, G. L. Greenwood, W. G. Brittan, A. H. Turnbull, T. Gordon, A. R. Inwpod, S. F. Smithson, E. Y. Cox, S. S. Blackbume, F, W. Smith-Ansted, J. C. C. Gfbbie, H. Slater, W. H. Hargreaves, E. R. Wefcb, J. E.. March, H. G. Baker, H. W. Bishop, H. D. Andrews, F. G, D. H. Gillingham; H. P. Hill, and F. Burns. GENERAL. Rev. H. E. East was appointed clerical secretory to the Synod, and Mr E. Y. Cox lay secretary, Mr W. G, Brittan was appointed chairman of committees, and Mr T. Gordon clerk of committees. ' • Th'a secretaries of Synod, together with the Diocesan Registrar, were appointed a sessional committee to deal with printing, synodical expenses, -and petitions. Upon the motion of.Mr H. D. Andrews, it was -decided to meet each' day ah four p.m., with an adjournment at six till half: ! past seven, and adjourn again at ten t o'clock until.'the next day, unless otherj wise agreed upon. i I The annual report of the Clergy Pension Trust Board was presented by Mr R. Hill Fisher and read. . The annual - report of the organising secretary of tbe Church Mission Fund, ag presented by the Rev. E. A. Scott, was read. . ' • . It was decided to have these reports printed. •Canon Knowles mentioned that if the Synod approached §ir Joseph. Ward jjreatej railway, concessions would be allowed, to members of the Synod coining from a distance. Canon Knowles laid on the table tb« annual reports of the Standing Committee] the Church Property Trustees, and (jh€ Cathedral Chapter. ' ' The Bishop also - laid on the table . has acts from October, 1900, to Ootober, 1901. His Lordship reminded the Synod that Communion was celebrated at the Cathedral every morning at half-past seven. H« also invited the clergy and lay readers to a quiet hour in the Cathedral between eleven and twelve.to-day, and mentioned that a conference would be <held at ten o'clock on Thursday morning.<■ In conclusion, he invited members of the Synod to Bishopscourt on Thursday afternoon/ and it was decided to start the session at 4.30 on that afternoon instead of four o'clock. NOTICES OF MOTION. The following notices of motion were given:—For Wednesday—For leave to introduce a Bill to amend the Cathedral Statute, 1894 (Mr Andrews). For leave tc introduce a. Bill to enact regulations fdx securing the better registration of Church ] members, and the more accurate compila- [ tion. of electoral rolls (Mr S. S. Blacks' 'burn©). • That it is desirable that in the ' opinion of the .Synod ,tbtere Should be more time for the .transaction of business in the first .week of Synod j that the mafctei be referred to the Standing Committee foi considwation, and to report to the next Synod (Rev. H. H. Mathaae).. That the consent of Synod be given under Section 26 of the Church Property Trust fOanter- , trary) Act, 1879, to the sale or lease of • part Rural Section 79 (Mr W. & Brittan). That Messrs iM. J. Knubley, M. Gray, and S. F. Smithson be appointed as local trustees of the Timaru Glebe in the place oi the only surviving trustee, Mr L: LeCren, wlho wishfed to be relieved (Archdeacon Harper). That in view of the importance of the teaching office of the Church this Synod is strongly of tbe opinion that training in the science and practice of education should form an essential part oi the preparation of tie clergy, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Board of Theological- Studies (Rev. F. Dunnage). That in the opinion of this Synod it is desirable that an association should be formed, to. be called 'The Christchuich Lay Readers' Association"; that the objects "of the Association should be—(a) association of lay readers foe prayer, conference, and effective service; (b) the provision end maintenance of a lay readers' library; that a gathering of lay readers for conference with, a festival service in the Cathedral should be held once a year; that, if practicable, occasional meetings for prayer and study sttould be held in Christchnrch and other chief centres ; tUiat his Lordship the Bishop is hereby respectfully requested to make the arrangements to give effect to &ese resolutions (Mr E. Y. Cox). For Thursday—That the Synod proceed to the election of three members of the Clergy Pension Board (Mr R. Hill Fieher). That the practice, unless tmder very exceptional circumstances, of appointing to parish vicarages clergymen from outside the diocese or who have recently come into it, and especially the practice of appointing an imported locum tenens in succession to a parish vicar whose place he has temporarily filled, is unjust to clergymen who have woifced well and faithfully in the diocese during a considerable number of years, and is very discouraging to them, and that the practice tends .to binder men from seeking or accepting junior positions in the diocese and to deter parents from consenting to their sons preparing for ordination v that the Bishop be respectfully requested to bring the foregoing resolution to the notice of the Board of Nominators whenever- be has reason to suppose that any such appointment as is therein referred to is contemplated (Mr S, S. Blackbume). That this Synod earnestly commends the work of :St. Saviour's Guad t more especially that part of it which is connected with St. Mary's Home, and the Female Refuge, to the sympathy and support of the clergy and laity throughout the diocese (Mr h. Y. Cvx). That a total appropriation of I £5330 be made to parishes and institutions [ for the current « jre&r from tha Church

Property Trust Subsidy (Canon Knowies). Far Friday—That the Synod'proceed to the election of twj> Church Property Trustees in the place of Mr H. D v Andrews and Mr B. Hill Fisher, retiring by rotation, and of a Church Property Trustee in the. plaoe of Mr P. J. Fryer, resigned (Canon Knowies). . . For Monday—That the Bishop be respectfully requested (1) to authorise and direct that notices -concerning elections to the General Synod and Diocesan Synod be included in the notices given out in church; (2) to instruct the Archdeacon to call for and inspect the churchwarden's books of registered parisrhoners at their visitations in order to ensure that the books are being properly kept (Mr S. S. Blackburne). The Synod then adjourned until 4 o'clock this afternoon.