ANGLICAN SYNOD

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20988, 17 October 1933, Page 10

ANGLICAN SYNOD

4> TWENTY-SIXTH SESSION OPENS BISHOP WEST-WATSON'S ADDRESS The third session of the twenty-sixth Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch was opened in the old Provincial Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. Bishop West-Watson presided. The following answered the rollcall: Clergy—Archbishop Julius, Dean Julius, " Archdeacon Haggitt, Archdeacon Taylor, Archdeacon Monaghan, Archdeacon Purchas, Canon Galwey, Canon Williams, Canon Coursey, Canon Hanbv, Canon Norris, Canon Parr, Canon Hamilton, Canon Bean, Revs. A H M. Acheson, E. C. Atkinson, A. H Barnett, E. N. Blakislon, F. G. Brittan, H. A. Childs, H. M. Cocks, S J. Cooper. C. F. Cross, T. M. Curnow. W. E. D. Davies. R. de Lambert, G W. Dent, E. Edmonds. J. Evans, J. F. Feron, O. Fitzgerald, N. A. Friberg, H. S. Hamilton, W. G. Hands. E. Hanna. G. L. Harold, H. G. Hawkins, D. R. Ha,-. J. Gay, J. P. Hervey, H. I. Hopkin.-. V. R. Inwood. H. B. Jones, A. H. Julius, H. J. W. Knights. F. Latter, C. W. 1. Maclaverty. J. T. iVlcWilliam, K. E. Maiden, A. S. Mufl'att. C. L. Moimtfort, G. K. Nanson. li. Newcombe, C. C. Oidham, W. A. Orange, W. H. OrboJl. E. A. Osmers, C. E. Perrv, A. J. Peine, E. C. W. Powell. P. li. Pritchetl. A. C. T. Purchas, D. Rankin. F. H. Kavlc, F. IX Redgrave P. Eo.vd}. H. N. Roberts, K. Schollar, U. G. Sell, W. S. Southward. C. L. Sparrow, B. M. Tavlor. D. D. Thorpe, F. H. Thorpe, C. A. Tobin. K. A. Too ley, A. K. Warren. L. N. Watkins. G. N. Watson, H. A. Wilkinson, H. Williams, O. W. Williams, W. T. Williams, C. L. Wilson. W. Wollstein, li. N. Wright, G. W. York, H. T. York, R. Young, F. C. Long, Laitv —Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Messrs H. D. Andrews, W. W. Baxter, W. E. D. Bishop, J. Booth, J. Braddick, F. W. Carpenter. E. C. Champion, L. A. Charles, C. H. Clibborn. J. Cook, A. C. Cotlrell, F. J. Cox, W. A. D. Cox, S. R. Cuming, L. F. de Berrv. T. Evans, W. J. Fletcher, J. Goddard, R. S. Goodman, K. M. Gresson, J. H. Grigg, W. Hall, E. H. S. Hamilton, R. Harrison, W. L. Harrison, E. Hitchcock, F. Hobbs, E. G. Hogg. F. G. Horrell, B. Hughes, G. F. Hutton, C. Jaine, S. W. Jameson, W. G. Jamieson, C. E. Jones, C. E. Kay, C. G. B. King, C. W. Leete, H. G. Livingstone, H. J. Mathers, H. E. Morgan, R. H. Orbell, W. C. J. Osman, H. Osmers, F. G. Page, H. H. C. Palmer, C. J. Ronaldson, E. J. Ross. J. E. M. Rountree, J. W. N. Salisbury, C. D. W. L. Sheppard, R. W. Simpson, H. P. Slater, L. C. Stanford, G. Sterling, T. A. Stephens, J. Studholme, T. Thompson, A. C. Truman, W. F Turner, J. B. Ward, R. G. Ward C J. Willis, W. J. Wills, W. A. Wilson, E. Wolff, E. V. Worthington, C A Wright, and Dr. A. C. Sandston.

Clergy of the Diocese. The synodical address was delivered by Bishop West-Watson, who said:— It is a pleasure to record that our losses from sickness and death are happily less severe than in the previous year, when wc had to pay our last tribute to so many familiar friends and fellow-workers. After a long illness gravely endured, the Reverend Harold Edward Ensor, formerly Archdeacon of Akaroa, has entered into rest. He served 28 years in the diocese, and his interest in it was ever fresh and keen. We thank God for all that he was enabled to do and for the abiding influence of his ministry. "Quite recently we have lost another of our elder clergy who, though retired, was still active among us. The Reverend Hugh Northcote, formerly in charge of a parish here, and temporarily head of College House, had been absent for many years from New Zealand, but since his return in 1927 he had rendered loving and most acceptable service both in the parish of Sumner where he lived, and in other places, notably in Opawa. Weakness of body was linked' to an indomitable strength of spiritual life, and we are all the poorer for the passing of our scholar-saint.

"One other loss by death among the clergy has to be regretfully recorded, and that so unexpected and tragic that it is still hard to realise. The Reverend John Alexander Wilson, only 31 years of age, in the middle of a most useful and happy work in the Chatham Islands, was suddenly stricken down. and passed away without time for farewell. It is blessed to know that the venture of faith which he and his wife made in volunteering for this faraway and lonely sphere was so fruitful for the islanders, but it leaves a blank which it is proving very hard to till. The memory of a short ministry so gallantly discharged is a thrilling call to those who shall come after, but to the diocesan work the loss is heavy. Resignations. "Two important resignations are pending, those of Archdeacon Haggitt and of Canon J. de B. Galwey. In Archdeacon Haggitt we all feel that we are- losing a personal friend. His experience has made him a practical as well as a spiritual force both m our Synod work, and in his archdeaconry. His courage in personal trouble has won our most sympathetic respect. We shall always look upon him as a kind of honorary member of this diocese, and our heartiest good wishes will go with him to the Deanery of Nelson. . . "To Canon Galwey as registrar we bid farewell with deep reluctance, on his retirement from full work. His labours and personality have been so intricately interwoven with this Synod raid its work that we hardly yet realise how severe will be the operation of disentangling them. We shall remember the'organising skill which has made such expert preparation for our meetings from year to year. Even more gratefully, perhaps, we shall remember the quiet penetration with which, when a debate had lost its way, he could take it by the hand and lead it out of the wood. I feel sure that the financial work which he has done for the diocese both before and during this critical period will stand the test of time, and be gratefully remembered by the clergy for whose interests he worked so strenuously. The Last Year. "In spite of all the difficulties of the times the work of the parishes has been well sustained; if the attendance at services is any test, I think that there has been a real advance in the numbers gathered at confirmations and on special occasions. I have been particularly struck by the number of adults who have been presented for confirmation, and I cannot doubt that the effect of such decisions will be felt in many of our homes. I trust that the clergy and communicants will work together to draw in more of those who still remain in the 'outer courts' of the faith, and so close and strengthen our ranks. "The amounts received for outforeign missionary quota, in spite of all the demands on our resources, fell only £2Ol short of those for last year Church Schools. "The work of ihe Diocesan Board of Education has gone on steadily, and by means of rigid economies, it has been possible to keep all the institutions under its care actively in being. "In all our schools it is our ambition to give to our boys and girls every advantage of educational opportunity. We believe that if church schools are worth maintaining they must be model schools not only in their religious atmosphere, but also in their standard of intellectual attainment. Our conviction is that as God is the source and the goal of all knowledge, education should centre on Him. And. further, we are persuaded that only in this atmosphere will our varied studies find their tni'.:- unity, and nur students be enabled to "relate their efforts to the 'one increasing purpose' which runs through creation. Now if these ideals are io be rr ached, we must have the cordial support of our own church

Xieople for whom there fchools were established. If staffs are to be maintained and efficiency secured, we must have an adequate number of pupils. And we claim that support the more confidently because we are not asking parents to sacrifice anything but rather arc offering them a really good opportunity. We are not criticising or disparaging other schools: rather we would thankfully acknowledge the very high standard and excellence of our State primary and secondary schools. They are a continual stimulus to us. But wc believe that education is at its best when it is centred and focused on the spiritual nature and destiny of man. This puts his other studies and pursuits in a proper proportion, and directs them to iheir true aim, the glory of God and the benefit of our fellow-men. One of the dangers of the modern world is that knowledge and research uncontrolled and undirected by any spiritual purpose tend to become selfish, divisive, and antisocial. We have no desire to return to the well-meaning but disastrous efforts of mediaeval ecclesiasticism to restrict the free range of the intellect, for we believe that all truth is of God, and that 'we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.' Our desire is rather to lead our young people to recognise in the wonderful growth of knowledge a call to widen and deepen their thoughts nf God, and to give to Him the Glory.

Oxford Movement Centenary. "One of the leading features of our last year's church life has been the celebration of the centenary of the Oxford Movement. 1 spoke last year of the importance to the Church of rhat movement. It did much to bring our Communion back to a sense of its i icli inheritance in the age-long life of the Christian Church, and in its oxperionoe during all the centuries since Christ. ft roused our Church to a sense of its independence of national or secular trammels and of its direct dependence on a Divine Lord and Master. From the disappointments and disillusionments of post-war days we turn with thankful relief to the thought of the unity and continuity of the Church which like a great river of God's love and grace flows down from Apostolic days and bears us on ils bosom past the wreckage of all earthly dreams of permanence or beatitude right on to the great ocean of God's eternity. One is reminded of Augustine's great masterpiece of the City of God, drawn when the greatest city of this world, imperial Rome, was going down in ruin. And I believe that this recall to the breadth and length and depth and height of the City of God and of our spiritual heritage has enriched and dignified not only all sections of our own Church, but has given new horizons to other Communions beyond our borders. Here in the Christchurch diocese we united in our celebration the Evangelical with the Oxford Movement, trying to gather up in one our thankfulness for the whole spiritual movement, personal and corporate, which lifted our church lif<? from the inertia of the eighteenth century to the keen and vigorous life of the twentieth. And we shall, I hope, strive to realise more and more that the strength of each of our great church tendencies, Catholic, Evangelical, and Liberal, lies not in isolation, but in combination with the others; not in striving to eliminate the others but to supplement them while in turn receiving of their strength. As members of one Communion and fellowship we have a right to share each in the others' best gifts.

The Church Army. "Another striking event of the year has been the visit of the Church Army Flying Column. To most of us a year ago the Church Army was little more than a name. To many of us now it. has revealed itself as a wonderful instrument for the service of God. Nearly all our parishes outside Christchurch have been visited by the column, and one of the most serious criticisms which I have heard has been that the visits have been too short. To us clergy the courage and faith and joyous fellowship of these young men and women have been a real refreshment. The testimony which I have received from my brethren has been generous and whole-hearted. And it is a joy to us to know that the simple witness to the power of personal religion has proved a help to so many of our people, ft is becoming increasingly clear that we must strive to get the Church Army firmly established in New Zealand both as an evangelistic and a social agency. .St. Paul and St. James would find their controversy of faith and works happily reconciled in the work of the Church Army!

Adult Study Classes. "In England of recent years a system of what are called 'church tutorial classes' has been inaugurated, in imitation of the tutorial classes of the Workers' Educational Association. And I tin 11k that in many a parish could be found a nucleus of men and women who would be glad lo gather together to study the Bible, or the history and teaching of the church, or the relations of religion and science, or kindred subjects, if they were certain that they were not to suffer 'instructions' but were to be taught as in tutorial classes to know and weigh the old and new knowledge and to form their own judgment in discussion and conference. It is not right that our people should so often turn for religious reading to literature disseminated by those whom we believe to be seriously in error. Though the scheme for a book-van proved impracticable, I trust that if a Church Army van were to be established it might circulate good literature as part of its work. "Meanwhile I shall ask all the rural deaneries to discuss at their meetings the possibilities of adult Bible classes on modern lines, or study circles. If our elders were still learners it would be a new bond of understanding and sympathy between them and their children, who would no longer look forward to emancipation from school as a time when the brain goes to grass. We shall never fulfil our duty to carry our proper weight as the largest religious communion in the Dominion unless we can give a reason for the hope that is in us without so much fear and trembling." Hours of Sitting:. It was agreed that the hours of silling of Synod should be 2.30 to 0 p.m., and from 7.30 to 10 p.m. First Readings. A bill io amend financial regulations 21 and 108 was read a first tune. A bill to amend the pension fund regulations was read a First time, and the second reading was made an order of the day for to-night. A bill to repeal the provincial pensions fund, 1930, was read a first time, and the second reading was made an order of the day for to-night. A bill relating to the amalgamation of trust investments was read a first time, the second reading being made an order of the day for to-day. Select Committees. The following select committees were set up:—

To enquire into and report upon the amounts set down in the st'pend schedule presented by the standing committee —Revs. Canon J. F. Coursey and T. M. Curnow, Messrs R. S. Goodman, E. Chapman, E. G. Hogg, C. J. Ronaldson, and Archdeacon Taylor. To examine and report upon the accounts and reports of the standing committee and the church property trustees —Rev. J. F. Feron. Messrs C. E. Jones, W. C. J. Osman, R. W. Simpson, J. B. Ward, and Archdeacon Haggitt. To examine and report upon accounts and reports of the Cathedral Chapter, the diocesan board of education, and the clergy pension trust board —Revs. C. W. I. Maclaverty, W. S. Southward, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Messrs S. R. Cuming, C. D. W. L. Sheppard, and Dean Julius. To examine and report upon parochial returns—Revs. E. C. Atkinson, A. C. T. Purchas. Messrs J. Cook, T. Evans, H. J. Mathers, and Archdeacon Haggitt. Cathedral Services. Mr H. D. Andrews moved: •"That, subject to the payment of the primary statutory charges, it be a direction to the church property trustees to pay to the Cathedral Chapter from the revenue of the Dean and Chapter es-

state tho sum of £I2OO towards the maintenance of services during the current year." Thij was agreed to. Xho Synod Scrvii r. There was a large gathering of clergy and laity at the Synod service, which was held in the Cathedral last night. The precentor (the Rev. F. E. Rawle) sang the service, the first lesson was read by Mr J. 13. Ward and the second lesson by the Rev. W. J. Hands. The preacher was the Rev. C. E. Perry, vicar of St. Michael's, who look as his text the seventeenth verse of the first chapter of the gospel according to St. John: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Under the guidance of Dr. Bradshaw the Cathedral choir sang the office of "Evensong" with customary dignity and devotion, this portion of the service comprising the following:—Psalm 91 (Qui habitat) to the music of Turle; the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. as set to the music of Stanford—in B flat, also a most appropriate anthem for the occasion, "The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me" (Elgarj, being Isaiah CI. verses 1, 2, and 3. The music chosen for the hymns comprised excerpts from the "English Hymnal." Tcrtius Noble's setting of the Lord's Prayer and the customary responses were sung by the choir faultlessly and without organ accompaniment.

The disappearance of a number of articles from the Napier Hospital has prompted the house committee of the Hawke's Bay Hospital Board to inform the matron that the increase in the number of missing articles is viewed with alarm. It was said at the last meeting of the hospital board that many articles were thrown away in the pig buckets. No fewer than 20 articles of cutlery, returned by the pigman, were produced. The matron has been informed that stricter supervision is necessary.