ANGLICAN DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 22, 21 October 1907, Page 10

ANGLICAN DIOCESAN SYNOD.

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS. SEPARATE ENDOWED SCHOOLS BILL. [by telegraph.—γ-ress association.] Auckland, October 18. Tho business sittings of the Synoc wore'opened on Friday last, ttl..'. \ho.Bishoj (Dr. Ncligan) dolivored his cl:.. Alluding to the need ior 1 j clergy, h< said it was manifest that 1 .low-' Zeaianc thoy should have to rely very considerably foi ■some years upon, outside sources "of supply. The_ dearth "of men for tho ministry- was riot confined to their own communion. It was oxporionced also in the non-Episcopal bodies, Judging from personal experience, 'he " did ■■riot think the Higher Criticism had much tc do with the matter. Undoubtedly the clergj were poorly paid, and had.many oxponses a private man Had -not; but he did not believe that this fact was in itself a sufficient solution to I tho'problem. Out of "a total population within this diocese of 214,078, the number of persons recorded as Church people was 90,189. It was exceedingly difficult to get at. an accurato census or tho Maoris. The Year Book return gave the diocese' a total of 22,108 Maoris. Ho thought it a' fair estimate, though a rough ono, to count 8000 as belonging to the Anglican Church, 8000 as belonging to .tho Roman, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan Missions, and betweon 6000 and ,7000 as boing heathen or apostato/or disciples of some "corrupt following." Referring to tho Bible in State schools, he said:—" Unless the Government puts the Bible into the curriculum of the.State, schools, tho national scheme of State schools will be upset in New Zealand, because it is contrary to the; very fundamentals of democracy that religious education for their children should bo reserved only as tho privilege of those who can afford to send their children to school whore payment .has to be made. If tho of Bible lessons from'the State schools continued long enough, it will force the people who care for education in its only true senso to start and maintain denominational elementary schools, as have the mombers of the Church of Rome in this Dominion. In my own mind I have not a doubt that the is'suo must work out thus. Logic cannot stop it. It may take , twenty-five years or more before it happens, but happen-.it-must. Regarding oithor,result as an evil, as porhaps politicians may, it is for them to choose which even they may deem in thoir wisdom to bo tbo lessor evil." -. ' . /..:.- RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS. ; Referring next to tho separate Endowed Schools Bill, the Bishop said these commissions had only to do with Anglican trusts. In neither report wore Anglican trustees found in any true , sonse guilty; of dereliction of trust. Granted; for the. sake of argument, that nativo trusts wanted looking into, would it not givo moro credonco to the good intentions'of tho Government ir,.in addition to the Anglican, the Roman, Presbyterian, and Wesleyan trusts were equally investigated? As a matter of academic, if not of national ami practical interest, would it not be more disinterested of a Government, and oxposo thom less to the charge of partiality, if they proposed a Bill to resumo possession of all religious endowments—Anglican, Roman, Presbytorian, Wesloyan alike. Failing such action on tho part of the liovornment in these ;twq particulars, was it not of tho naturo of religious persecution, and of interference with the civil and religious liberty of citizens? If the Bill becamo law, there would.not bo ono single roligious educational institution of any sort or kind within this Dominion free from the interference, captiousior otherwiso, of tho Minister for Education for tho timo being. Nor could any man, Anglican, Roman, Presbyterian, or Wesleyan, contribute to religious education according to his own form of faith with any dogree of security that his gift, direct or testamentary, would not bo alienated from the definitely rolfgious cdupational purpose he had in view, becauso it was liable'to'seizure by a Minister for Education at ajiy time for puroly secular purposes. The general Synod had recently recommonded that " Every effort of every mpihber of the general Synod, direct and;'indirect, through every mombor of the Church of the province of NOIV Zealand, bo used to prevent the passage of any such measure through the Legislature." They knew that the Wesloyan Conference heartily joined hands with them in this matter, and might also be certain that the membersT'of "the Roman communion would be equally determined in their-resistance .to any action calculated to infringe-the principle of religious liberty.' , ' ■ . ' ■■ '■ '■.■•■■' MISSIONS. De'aling with missionary work, Dr. Neligan said: "A very'important stago has been reached in missionary enterprise which I desire'should be clearly understood. Ever since tho Bishop of New Zealand began his great work it has been hoped that God would some day make tho way open for tho , Maori race to Bend; missionaries to Melanesia.. It was not until the early'part of this year that those in authority felt justified in seeking for further, guidance as to God's will in tho matter by .taking definito steps towards bringing the Maori and Melanesian peoples together. After much prayerVand consultation, it was determined to send our own diocesan Maori superintendent with an experienced Maori priost to visit the Melanesian Mission. .Accordingly, tho.Rovs. H. A..Hawkins and Hone Papahia sailed on tho Southern Cross for her Sep-tember-December voyago. The Bishop of Melanesia will bo on the ship, and our two clergy will have the benefit of his sympathy and "guidance. The present suggestion is, not {to send Maori clergy as missionaries to Molqnesia, but Maori laymen and thoir. wives, •men.and women of definito Christian life and conversation.- "These people are to live tbo Christian family life among the heathen,'and, ns evangelists, teachers, or in other capacity, are to try to evangelise those amongst whom they,.may dwell.. Our two clergy are to investigate the conditions of life in Melanesia, climate, language, and so forth. They a.o s to. report their conclusions both to the Bishop of Melanesia and myself. Upon that report further action of tho Bishops will, dopond,. Tho report "ought to' bo of great V'alu'o, , ior 0110 man can view tho situation both fiom j.the Pakeha and Maori standpoint, and Hie other from the Maori standpoint alone. Thero ds not likoly to.be any lack of.Maori volunteers for the work, if it be decided'-to. begin it. The Maoris are born missionaries; in three dioceses of this island there are abouo forty Maori clergy, many of thorn loadirp puroly missionary livos, and thero. is an txceedingly large body of truly evangelistic lay readors." ••■■•• The Bishop concluded an address of great length-by'announcing his intention of going to England". to attend tho Lambeth Conference . .and .Pan-Anglican Missionary Congress with his wife and family, sailing about Christ-, mas of'this'ycaf.