ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15700, 20 September 1916, Page 8

ANGLICAN CHURCH.

EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN BISHOP JULIUS'S SCHEME. * ' The annual Conference of the Timaru Archdeaconry of the Church of England (clerical and lay) was held yesterday at St." Mary's Church, Timaru. In the absence of Archdeacon Jacob, the Bishop of Chnstchurch (Dr. Julius) presided, and there was a full attendance of the clergy apd lay representatives. In his opening remarks, Bishop J alius laid stress on the need for education of the Church's children. The Synod had debated proposals about'it, and it all came back to tli 0 question of linding the money. He anticipated that there would be a resolution to set up a commission on the subject, and lio would ask them to do something real about it, and not merely give a sop to thjeir uneasy conscience. When on the West Coast, he was struck with the need of a hostel for children, and with the strides taken by other denominations in this respect. Ho was convinced that there must bo a revolution in their methods. For fifty years they had pottered along with miserable doles for education, and were not much further ahead. He had proposed to the Standing Committee that a third of the revenue of general Trust property 6hould bo sot aside each year for education, and the unexpended amounts allowed to accumulate. The revenue available for subsidy was £5000, of which ho proposed to allocate £1573. His scheme mainly involved the sacrifice of the grants to assistant curates amounting to £450, and this was the rock on which the proposal was wrecked in the Standing Committee, in addition to Which it was held that the £50 votes would in the course of years be imperilled. The question was, however. not concluded thereby, and he was determined that the Church should know what was her duty in this matter pnd ho would fight it out in Syjnod. He was not going to ask merely for a dole which might vary year by year, but that a third of the revenue should bo applied to educational work. He wanted good primary schools in, say, Christehurch and Timaru. a hostel on lh e West Coast for girls, and kindred institutions, educational in character, If -they did not educate their children they would lose them.

Tho Rev. J. H. Rogers, acting-vicar o? St. Mary's, Timaru, moved: —"That this Conference realises the failure of the Church in tho past to carry out her responsibilities with regard to education, and cordially approves of the Bishop's scheme for appropriating a fixed portion of tho Church Property Trustees' subsidy to that purpose, ana further expresses tho hopo that Synod will pass the scheme." Ho said churchmen did not realise what the Church was suffering by neglecting tho education of th 0 children religiously. With tho principle laid down by the Bishop, no ono would quarrel. It was the only safe" basis on which to build up an educational system. At present the Synod salved its conscience with Christ's College and let tli p rest of tho educational work go on account of tho expense, but he was certain so far from the Church suffering by expenditurp on education, it was the only sound basis for tho Church's future.

Mr T. Hughes, in seconding tho motion, said it was obvious that tho Church was not doing all 6he should do for tho education of tho children on a religious foundation.

The motion was carried unanimously.

The Conference passed a resolution of sympathy with the Rev. L. Carsley Brady in the causes that have led to his retirement; its recognition of his lons and faithful work in the parish of Otaio; and its hope that ho may bo spared to enjoy many years of wellearned rest. Mr Brady is about to live in retirement in Christchurch.