ANGLICAN CHURCH."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 721, 21 January 1910, Page 7

ANGLICAN CHURCH."

' THE GENERAL SYNOD, fundamental provisions of THE CONSTITUTION. IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY THE PRIMATE, The/eighteenth. General' Synod of the Anglioah Church of the Province, oi' New .: Zeajanil,;, was, " opened yesterday, , Holy Couimiinioni;lris '/{':* at S Bishon'of; Waiapu (tho Rev. A. W. "r-V^ ; i?i./PKSeh^d,;.to;a large",congrfg^tiori,' ■0;t- $ was: h?ld; ;}ll Dnnfr-. •• opening address. -A. Eal|_ocoi|pied the evening' "BISfIOP AVEFIILL'S SERMON. . ;In ~ h)S". sermon .at r St.', - Paul's Pro'Cathedral>in':the/ihprning,.the Bishop of; ,:; .\Vaiapu; preaclijug from -threo yersia. jn Ji/Stho^-ifiTsti'iqhapJer,': of/the/Acts,-laid special' 'rr.;/; f '://y.dps^:thbUv'nt';this^iivio;'-restbr^ ; iho:king- . doni to . : IsraeS?'' . find the / words -in the the ': .. .Holy -'Ghost- is«ooih'e -iipon ;yoUi".; ' While. v.,'; thankful • (said tho Bishop). for what, -.had ;j . for ..the': niany ;'ad',,"vant*liges /of ■.■■the~ r ; .Church,*/God "-forbid'-that Jtheyjshould'. beVsafisfiedi'with- lts'/pMSont: : V// 'position;' i/or iiba'" ': .. locust-«had- eaten, or-think i that - its ;: ; , / /' Mw&Vwaj; oomm'enswate /with/its i hum,/y v.bers.;*,r, Mightv'not/th? 'geheral synods' be -.'Jmor^ 1 '; spiritual i'and moro; 1 helpful to tho ~,:^/sGhflph'^tKah'^:th, e y.■^Had', ' bM'n'?■, He hoped ;-;what v .'-ha'd ; : called-. ;tho>/'s£cular/,":;.w-orlc.'.!/bf ',':/t^ .Tfould;be placed in the hands of conimit- .. • tees, so that tho Synod might devote'more. .iV':Vtiwa~: r'thti' ■ grea|/ questions" . of .t.hc {dr.y.' ' He' would even. venture -,;/to;-;hoiie . that the 'SyDod would diffuse i ': / cmora/;Spiritual. pbwer in tho places where it: /met; and" do; more - to/tone/up the, spiritual vi ;; 'dioceses./;;.He scould .'not 'for ; .- ... Bet.that.it ivas.m that.parish and by '////•its/-vicar/that' the': fir^;no^/waß'''6bnnd(;q[- : '\ tjiat'led j ; /'■/'; t'o^^:.hpld'' ; a'gen'erjil':'miisidn',/whi ■ lieved. tho piovm<;o - would "havo -. cause /' -:;'b}es3rv\vrl^ - .;.view.'^of^tha*;cpming/mis-: sioni-.they-neededito forget their personal /: ; :: likes;and-dislikes, prejudices 'hnd criti;/://6ismsi ,/and.'/fall/,tp /'prayer, i 'not '.in:'; the' . . ,Bpiri|'; of i ."Lord," ;wilt Thou; uV' ; - TCstoTo'j tlio;';-fengdom' r //tb":>/X6raelbut : / .;:'lboking'"f6r a gracious assuxance of spirit-" . .'. iial*powpr: 'and'a con»mis-sion : to be wit.ncsses for the Master. / The Synod would *,; j'v bo called upon /todeal ; with 'the thohiy. ■>./.BubjMt. of -the fnndamentals-:of ithe/Ch'iirch ■,/J.:;>of : ,the/Proyince*of ,New- Zealand''and/the' /'/*:.:-'^^™-'9^ti o n.:pf -.the.Vrevj sion -of ■; the ■ the Kpini'.y,-hich looked for. theirestdratipnr . Df '.thc: :kingdom .to . IsTael,;/or. in - the gpiri| (which;.longed, "to; see thp .Church' (■ for spiritual -' action I: ■ ;V-Would they go on admiring 'tho language- ,; i ishedftfoi; tlie ■ need: pf; V/more '■ suitable ■- •i ; "egression ' of.. tbwjr - religious. aspirations?, ■; Ought,-/they . not '- to consider-: , those consciences which, .whilo.'loyal to tho Catholic. Faith, desired 'som® relief for : the sake::of a • greater - spirituality in ;" ;: Si? f 6 S r^.^s W'l'ich*' enshrined '.that /: foitli P, ....... The Maori. Mission - Board was another , vital, question for the Synod. -It they .re-, tlie-; : Nattve-rwe, 1 : the timG . would not bfs lfir ctT when the Maori; Mission would cease to exist, and i., the prdinivi'y parochial;CTstpm would embrace both peoples. 'Hay the Divine opint and,power bo with ns in our flc- .; liberations,*', concluded the bishop, "and ..lefi-us pray that all we do-may bo to tho glory of God "

- OPENING OF THE SYNOD. THE ROLL CALL, ' i's^.?. : -.® e s, er ?''-Synod -•■▼as., constituted ■ at 8-30 p.m, in (ho Ma&onio Hall, the Primate-, (Dr. Nevjll) presiding. The Pri-1 plate stated that ho hadrcceived a lettar from Bishop Wileon of Melanesia, :X' i ttiat 'jtli{i.,rfenniremi;iit3 of - his • diocese precluded the possibility of his '} v attending, the Synod,; The following, mem-. • • fA, ot.fte-Syiio4,answered;to. theroll-1 ; call f . Bishops. • The Mast., Rev. J)r, Xcvill, Bishop of Dnnedin ajijj Primate; the Eight Ifcv. 1 Bishop of Aucklnnditho ingiit IWv. .Dr.-Juliuvßishop. of Chrisfc-;.^churchi-the-, Rightiv ?P.AMules, ; :-,a%ttVßOT.v:-Dr;. ; WaUis.rßi£hon o f ; Wellington rthe Right 1 • AveriU, Bishop.of Waiapu; • .and tho.aght Bw. Dr. W. L.. Williams. < 1 , , clo rgy. , Dloooso .0f... Auckland. —Archdeacons Calder and Willis, and Canon ilac-Mur-

''-OiMCSG of ClirifitcKurcli.—Arohdencons Gosett: and JBnsor, 'and the'Tiev? W. W Sedgwick. Dwoeseof Nelson—Archdeacon York, . tte. aeys. J. P.; Kempthorno - and J. ■R. Dart _ - • : .-. Bi«ccs©. of-Waiapui—Archilcacons Hud-' •' -and; Williams, and. the. Rev. J. Hobhs ':;i.'Li.Dioceso.^ J of sj Wellington.—iiolideacons ■i* " JtLarpor-and ■ Jacob, and .'the • Rev. <T. H.' ;Bprott >'■''' ; 'w , , Dnnedin.—Dean Fitchettand. Archdeacon ElchaTdsv Missionary Dioceso 'of Mehthe'sia.—The E«vs. W, J.-Durrad and E. H. Strong.

Laity. fi'n®-?!? 0 -?® Auckland.^-Jlessri. J.Batger, • 1- Wells, C. J.,Tunks, and.J: 11. Untori. Diocese of Chnstchuroh —Messrs.. H D c - B<!an > G Bnttan, ana VV. Hull '■'Diocese of Nelson.—Meiirs. A. iVMiMh- .: .Juty,:A. I). Bayfield; and W. 8. Ha'mpsoh; ,i. . Diocese ,of VVaiapu;—Messrs. J- B ; ;'Pifildcr, J. IL Sheath, and^T.-Tanner. -L' r Messrs.-- AVv.' J.i • C E;'Wilberfoss. ...... . iliooese •of Dunedin.—Messrs., C. H • . B- Seandrett, A. Washer, and. Henderson.' ,- v. ; .■ ■ 4 Diocese ..of .Melanesia.— Messrs, N. ; 'S Cochrane find It. G. Coats

THE PRIMATE'S ADDRESS. PROPOSED ALTERATION IN THE CONSTITUTION. THE,QUESTION Or REUNION. I? Ws opening address the. Primate ; Baid - , •_ -;' '■.'•,' .■ T.' important, historical events :v.^^:» e :« c fM r ed.sinc6.,tho la6t session. ■ ' - 'B *5?"!, ' tro .the.resignation , of Bishop W. L. Williams, of tho See. ;of " c le and consecraJ 1 ? 11 - %■ cn. • Arclideaooii;.Averill. to bo |v '}£r s - "regret;; at the 'services S .^? P full espreseion -othe;time;of *fhal .resignation, 1 - and the 'partioular/ will feel that - fvihteicourse .from early those werevearnestly en-' A/;.;: ; eolvin'g-the' difficult •:problems- *.' themselves for solution ' : .v 'thQVfathers;.<)r;ouTProvincial Church/ ;•'■/. - Oouidv.fipeak "us • with~' much, authority. : : -; JP on ;'coasHtiitional and > canonical;'queV. tions.- yr loss was,-: however/ rehinevitable,: by advancing age^.or.,the .bishop,• Z ; shall,/!. : of: , ; when- I.vas:' . - to the-ncw bishop our', loving,, and ; taking, l for.-, the; • nrsfc tnne/aiiipngst : us, : liis honourable and •J:.; ;. responsible/Keat.;.- 'Jhe Bishop is not :;{one>who;.has. to :be accepted on trust on •v :;the .TecommcndatiOn of others who have i . -;::;Perhaps.,;after ,all, .but ; 1 ittlo. =• intimate I kno;s;lo<].of . our : vcircuiiistances " and i ijneeds; ; he,. is onc'Avho'by some years : of 1 •; . devc-red /li aiKlj-able dHniiiiistralion .in 1 : : : qur ;miast : has igained- our esteem auH •; l and-woni-for'-himself a.worthy v;.;;,; :those:uith whom the Selection primarily' ranks of : our own'prit'Sthcod to find a man fitted 'Z to, preside ■ over" thijm and to riurture their .Church. .. ..•• . . / I.—CONSTITUTIONAL. IMI'OKT ANT PRONOUNCEMENT. :.;.-.V 'A'-^'n6ti6n.;was vbrought.' before lhe : , Gen- :\:-.. eral. Synod at tlie.lasf session:w'hich, had :^^;';itv;been : carried,^would ; -havo'-been .tant- ; i.imount to a dcelaration'.that .the' so-called > i;.;'viuiidanientalr of tho CoristituJ.;/.; tion; were non-f uiidamefitar and'alterable,

and since that: time a resolution has been carried; in . thb synod.of tho. .Diocese, of Wellington iVhicn expresses the opinion "that the unalterable character ol the provisions in the : Constitution, called fundamental,' is injurious to the best interests.of tile Church." X shall :take the liberty,,a little later,on,'of making some free-Comments .'upon 1 tho .points of this resolution, as 'it;'pi'ays, the-General Synod .tp. take/certain action i~.but first, for reasons,l'have already given, and because, at . my! age' it is not improbable" that'this .may w 'inyjast-opportunity of • address-, ing ..the- supreme legislature of our Chiirch, I should like; to:trace, briefly tho historical, evolution of this, question, and to "place/on/record the. viows . which. I have been led, to embrace upon it as to the true position, ■ ./-,,-/; -.- ■ ; [The Priirinto'went on: to give' a. very able and interesting, historical sketch of. the .movement , which resulted in thefor : mation of tho ' Churoh Constitution. Therp is, perhaps, no ,inaii living;who can 'speak '.with 'greatpr personal 'knowledge aiid authority; on this' point than Dr. Ncvill.] ' '' . . ;/■ . Validity of th?' Fundamental Provisions. , : The ; Primato \tlien, proceoded as 'follows:—...

Permit'mo/now to: state, my own. view, to .this Synod upon this constantly .recur-; ring: question 'of, the validity, of ■ thpse so.'called; Fundamental Provisions., I, think that in .tho .abstract, the Church in any Country; in which' the component oloirient.s of'a-CnUreh arc present .in hum-.; bersfjr orgnnio purposes—vis,, a.body, of lay members, with tho clergy in all their orders—she .'can proceed; in ' freedom . to • formulate 'regulations - for orderly self-, government;' with no further "reference /to outside authority than .appertains to' her civil' relatiohs,; ..in, ' which. respect she is amonablo to the laws" of / the.'country itself. .: ~.. .* In. / tho"abstract, the Church in' Now Zealand/or Avstfalia'/is' •free'ifrom. oil .e'steriial control,' arid being itself: inheroutly''freei.' it is a wrong' to its" own: nature to declare that it "shall have no power" to do this or. that. In other :> words, the "'so-called /Fundamental Provisions, :bcing formed. on ,'. false'/pre-' raises, and: misconceptions,, aro thomselves; invalid; and may ,be .regarded as null' and .vbid,' and''those .who have, subscribed' to thenv in all good .faith; are,.ipso, facto frei' from' : thj .obligation .of/: a ' declaration : which- they. had no ..power to; make.';'C// p , I do not ; profess.'tb;be;laying down' aiijfe tlbing .now/ ■ The"' principle's' I have forth are essentially,;those:which we upon ""when we assumed' as' a' distinctive: namoj :biit 'recdnt discussions" seem . tpipako ,the reassertion of these principles riecossary.' "A resolu-' tipn'.which' is.coiiimendod'tii our noticii by the Dibcositri Synpd;of .Wellington, to/iuy, so far' a? to' "pray, tho (.General, Synod ;to securei by . '.Act, of.'Parliament,t}io. right', of.complete 'self-goTornpient; for. tho, Church;"/ 1 am possess that, right, and''that' if :we did. not it wonld'be lin the highest, "degree wrong for ; a., spiritual society, to '.apply; to a secular gbyeriiment to'confer such', iuthorit'y,- and even with'regard:.to' tha' safe .possession of ~ pur. property,/ I/myself see ho/reas6h:for/ : applying to ' the'- JjOgislature ..'for /action, upon a .matter. in; which/there' is surely, now no apparent danger. The .title to-pro-! : perty held by thb Church before ,wo ;de-/ ;clared- our '; independence of thb' Mother. Church by'assuming ;our distinctive name,, ■has /never'; been- challenged,/and/the Government, in tho; Marriage - Acts,: recognises our existence under , our own name, which • carefully, .• preserves our historic continuity,/and the .'properties 'conveyed to us/during/tho: last-thirty years have been conveyed ..under tho title ..of tho Church of the . Province, of New Zealand,' and. should . therefore be - secure. • 1 am myself averse from .any approach to the Legislature on the points brought forward by tho resolution referred to. . "Overiordship."

If my accountof ..the .h'ue' lposition ,of the Church, in: a colony 'which is'possessed, of- an independent legislature.'.he correct,' .it follows 'thqt' it is ;alilco improper fot'liiir; [on' the one- hand, to apply,' in" derogation. ."pf her own .powers and responsibilities,, to "a civil' and; external' power for; a' constitu-" tion, and regulative. authority,' and on the ■ other to submit herself .or her[Ofiiiers .to the overlordship of the ' Church or the chief qfficers of the Ch^rclLinVsoniS;,other,; oduntry, . It is.not.we,ourselves only:',whq, are placed in difficultyJ:hTOUgh[the miscon.ceptions: of. tlioV past. -'TWuli'reference ft _ these points'l read in"th'e'last address of the Ai-ojibishpp of iHolbourne . to ..his Pro-' ; _the. head' of. "Con-. [stituKoir-£cts,['(vrhiel)','thpfe aro Acts, of: •Parliament) - that "the . authority; to hold, the. Synod' ahd riiahy. of the rights of. tho clergy aud laity are ombodied in theseActs," and, ag:ain, :that ;"uhder,,the Constitution. Acts we bound totlie Church; : in England.";, Further,.'it is'doubtless.be'cause tho Chur'ch-iu.New-Soutli Wales.has. been lyvongly -pnt irito .an improper, posi-i .tioriby 'the sani'o or. a similar' Act of, the civil. legislature _that the., Kowly:consS.cratod. Archbishop"of' Sydney.had ,to make' a /'declaration of > subordination to the 'Archbishop oi Canterbury, lam not petent to pronouncc: upon the'validity of / th-6 -' Church. : Constitution Acts - : of Australia; though 1. have no doubt is'-. ,to. | -their impropriety, but X look upon _it as in itsalf ari ecclesiastical immorality . for tho. Archbishop of one province to require'.the : Archbishop, of [another. to /make'a declaration .of submission ...whichcan mean ;nothing...: Tho / Archbishop of ,the Province of .'Canterbury', can iio more, govern the . Province ;of .the Archbishop" of .than"the; latter, can that of ■ the former; and .if it he that- it is. his position :as: an . English/Primate, that. i .wafrants' '■' the declaration; 6f submission' I from 'an [Australian' Archbishop;; X,. have to 1 ask what; position, then, is'left to the' Primate or Australia, and is, there no loyalty to him? '. '• V.'f !. -I jwish it t'o.'.bo 1 '; understood that-1' put [forth[thesa.comments:.; with; /-.the ', pro-/ , foundesfc-fbspcct for, the ,individual_s[coni .cerhed' [in- : this" tangle, ; and 'if [ it be |: thought that I. am going .beyond, toy; prpi per s.phere -as; Primate of this'. 'Pfoviiice,' in alluding 'to tho' position of; other, Province:! I have, only to say[ that-the. prin-'. ~ciples::l am propounding I ,are. of .univor-' sal application,- and that' the catholicity. of the. Church involves 1 that we should "look[not 'only; on [our: own things but -with ..all 1 sympathy;.'humility, and - earnestness; ; also upon the things of Vothers."; : -1 ; this. : constitutional question, 'with the remark that "it'.is one thing to recognise [and claim -to - the;. full our ;autonomy; but quite another to take : any. action , upon it,, unless such action • is. urgently required.,.-It is a good- many jear? since most ..of us-.discovered -.actual" position, and ;J do iiot,thinkiwe', have, suSered: any ■:. great : inconvenience from; the '.conservative- disposition ; we have shown.'' The [jus liturgjcum resid-. ing in the, bishops' has • proved sufficient; '.to, give elasticity -to our "service's with»out. the.' introduction, of. changes which. jnight prove :disturbing. > We-:,must always • remember that [we do -not stand. ■ alone, ; aiid that any: alteration of our ; Prayer Book woijld be fraught not only with seriouS practical diificulties,, but possibly with-differences of feeling.which would lx) much-' niore serious.- ■ Enrichment by tho authorisation, of services for special occasions and .the like might, I think; bo attained by the preparation of a.[small manual 'which sliould-"receive-due sanction for public. use. I would even suggest that : it would ■ be', well for. this Synod to constitute a small com-: mission .for ■ this purpose, who .should' submit the; result of their labours to tho Bishops and -Diocesan Synods to be .brought up to this Synod for approval at.tho next Session. - i:

lI.—LEGISLATIVE QUESTIONS- : THE' MAORI MISSION HOARD,' Under the head: of legislative questions the Primate makes suggestions-regarding (1) Amendment to tho; wording of the form of /declaration of ofnoo bearers; (2). the authority > of tho Primate in' case' of a vacant diocesej (3); the Canon>on the nomination of clergy to parishes ' He then proceeds: Tho Maori Mission Board will doubtless present its^ report to the Synod,'but-'I think that, it appertains to my offlcc as tho president of the Synod directing your attention to matters of legislation to ex-' prcss to'the Synod tho conclusion to which 1 believe most of the members of tho board have come—viz., that oxperienco has shown the .provisions of Canon VII, Titlo B, to be unworkable. It is, I: think, needless for' mo to.comment upon the causes of this-further than to say. that the configuration of our country, militates greatly against; the .successful conduct of any department , of: our work by boards con- | stituted by . the ■ General. Synod, ; iind as missionary .work of every kind fgrme an integral part of the general work of the Church,- and therefore of every diocese and parish,'l think it'.would be better I to Rescind the Canon which constitutes

Maori Mission Board, and to . throw |J>® duty of supporting our . work among the Maoris upon the dioceses, as wb do in the case of thtf Melimcsian Mission,without any formal organisation other than imght bo devised by each dioceso to ensure the. promotion of tjie work." 1 .would' suggest that it; be a recognised function of the .Arohdeacons in each dio. cese to see that' something was done for missions in evory parish of their archdeaconry;'if possible; by a small band of missionary collectors, as well as' by- a Sunday > offertory-and that moneys so raised should be paid at stated times to the treasuror of the diocese. Tho amounts subscribed for tho, Melaneriari or other mission to be sent. to the authorities of thatmission, --whilo tho amount > raised for lvprk among the Maoris should, aftor payment of local workers on a scale laid downV. by' the'.Diocesan Syiipd for: the Maori, wprk •<>' .that diocese,. be given to'tl*o wMk-'in-Bttch dioceso and in suoli pros' -portions as the Synods-of each diosese might decide. The treasurer; 'of . each diocese should report ; . trienniallyto' the secretary and treasurer of the General Synod, . for statistical purposes, .tho amounts'so' raised on behalf of missions in , oachVyear. ■'\Ye should thus obtain throughthe ordinary machinery of tho Church, the . equivalent „pf. a Board of Missions. • Should it bb thought well to cancel ■ the . canon I have referred to, , X would suggest'the ; passing of a resolur Hon by the General Synod recommending to the Diocesan . Synods the. adoption o; gome such plan as ■ I have -sketched .out

lit—THE EVANGELICAL ASPECT. - -" REUNION 'PEOPOSAIiS. . . J adopt .tl\is headinl for the conclusion fit-' my;. address, daar that: .we |;may.:.be aided to fall,to oiir; task:stimulated 'by a / clear conoention/. of : God's ijall- to 'His Church. With a gaze; confined, 'perhaps • too' closely, to our diffi-' ?ultio3 'or :; shortcomings-discouraged, perhaps too much, by. tho folly and see around '.us,, wo fail to disppver. what, nevertheless X : believo to be trtie—viz., that,jhispifo of all this there never was a time since tho .earliest epochs when,the, Divine,Spirit:,was moving so. vitally,\over. the : chaotic oleinents of the moral and ' spiritual .world.; It is - manifestly .inipossiblo fo< me- at tho-. closo of jay - present- address to toiich upon niany of, the -subjects dealt: with; by tjie Committees - of' the; - Conferenop,-:. ..though tho oobialistio .and- educational- questions aro Strongly applicable to .our conditions.' X will,, however; claim your indulgence for .a/ few moments,' ' while 'I . bring before your notioo a- striking illustration, which ;has' qiiite :' lately; been /afforded of the; vast importance' of. our individually, doing 'all' we can in furtherance ,of a groat', and • true-', object, however hopeless our poor, >seem: to/be rdt - tho -.time;, -.and .'.however/ muchcomplacently, superior iporsphs; may -smile at thoso ■ ot'-; forts. Ih. the'.iyear,. 187S I -visited' Swedish Bishops -in Gothenburg, Stockholm, and. Xipsala, and was the first . A'ngli'dan. Bishop to do so; and my, objebt - was to ascertain, by personal inquiry what was; the, actual status ,of ' the; Church -'of. Swodon /and .the' attitude., of :.ifs' leaders towards us. X propose to give- some do-' tails' of that.visit and' its immediate coriseq«ences' iu, an appohdik'tb this address,' but v-I' 'can •' only: now say, that'' in -'. the month , of December, -just; passed I. re., coived ,an : airectio'nato letter, from, tho widow: of the late ,Bishop Grafstrom,. ; ;of Stockholm,' a prelate of distinction, who sympathised.-.'earnestly ~in - my. . objects, and the aged and good lady pours forth ; her .joy' that :tho object we then had "in vieiy—viz., the establishment/of .acknowledged intei'conilnunion bat Ween' the two Churches—lias. n-iw so .bright -a 1 prospect of accomplishment, \ ' .'• In cn:'address: giyen- ot the' Opening of this century, I ventured to' predict that those whose lives were prolonged far into it/Would witness many instances-of longseparated Churches restored to union, and ■I am deeply /'thankful ;-fnr the 'sympathetic'- lyords. used by . the Union Committee of : the ..Conference .in/ the oncourageniiint of: intercourse.:jvith the. Orthodox Church.' . l'hei' now political and social: conditions of Turkey are full of : hppe. .:. . Jerusaloni.may yet. becoido: a boutre of-.Christendom./.-She :is thb; mother of us all.. fW6- are.', now- the Oriontal .Church; ~ 'i;"' Would *to' dear 'brethren; that/a 'second ' Council '.of : ' Jorusalom •inight-bo-callcdl Some.of us 1 may boast' of, crusading ancestors who eiridurcd' groat' -hardghips .to r'esnuo the tomb of Jesus. Who ;,would:.iibt -join' a ne\j/, prusadp. to establish .His I 'throne, and "perch ance' to be blessed: with/the - fires of,/a" second' Pentecost! ~l;use -my-.-presidential/chair■ "to-day, dear ..brethren, to affirm",my: faith that. such. a call to central JChristendpm rail come. •••

. Union With Non-Episcopal Churches. '■ Tho / question of union with Presbyterian. and other non-Episcopal Churches presents greater difficulties- than ' that of intercommunion between parts, of- th« .Church .whichv have beeiy: separated by what may. bo .called accidental, or, at. all .'«YS»ts, removable;; circumstances; .; .Even differences i; of "doctrinal statements arc less permanently.. operative thacu those • of ecclesiastical ponstitvtion. and this largely l&cause ohanges in. the former category we less generally observable, than altered aotion in the latter.. An overt act like a change in the constitution,; however, appears to involve ; some.'confos6ion of fault in. the, past, and this ..i'c&L and natural obstacle operatcs-'even in cases in which it is admitted that is primitive, and that as-"a form, of Church government .it presents many"advantages. '•This it is,'l think, which, rising up as an insuperable obstacle at the ,vory outset, prevents any, such serious consideration ofthe wrongfulness and the-'evils of our •'unhappy divisions as would' lead "to : a longing 'desire for. their healing. l . Yet • I am able, to say, from, correspondence and conversation upon the subject, that Pres,by r tsria'n laymen, elders, and Presbyters ..ate.'willing to go.so far as to confess-that .tlio'iiumber ot'separate'and 'necessarily opposinf vChurclies. in. our'country towns ■is; at .once 'a blot' on our Christianity, a' shameful waste of. Christian resource, and : a great' source of weakness to' the body - of Christ. 'I; ask, then; must: this state of things go on - for. ever ? , The' response :to such a, question is usually : "These'things cannot be 'dono in a hurry!" • The.'truth |of;-this/response, . which is usually regarded .'as' an evidence of superior wisdom,: is "really too manifest "to, need' a reply, : sinco oven tho desire for • union has yet almost ,to be oreated. But the too-common effect of such a caution, is to put tho whole matter outside the limit even, of consideration,." and so: to perIpetute- indefinitely the':'state' of things which is commonly deplored.! ;;' • • ■

r ' The' Lessons of History.' ' I am.'profoundljr in earnest,when I.say . that the negotiations, betiieen the Presbyterians aud'- Aiiglicans' in' Victoria, which had been .hajpily carried to a certain point, should not bo permitted to fade from memory, and 1 suppose it is in allusion to this negotiation that . the Lamboth Conference. suggests the possibility of reunion on the basis <sf. consecrations to the episcopate on tho lines of 'tho precedent, of 1610; This was.one 'of'tho occasions of tho reiteration of the episcopate to Scotland, and was accomplished with the .expressed consent of the Pres'byterian General Assembly. It seenis to bo understood that gpbttiswodd, Hainil-' ton," and Lamb were consecrated bishops per' saltuin—i.e., directly, without -having first -received thd orders of, deacon and priest;. Certainly, on the second-occasion' of the re-establishment of episcopy in .Scotland—viz.,'ill 1661—those consecrated (BishopS Sharp, ■ Hamilton, Loighton, and Kairfonl) had all been Presbyterian ministers: but before consecration they wore admitted' to tho diaconftte of priesthood." Tho point, however, to which I desire'to draw your attention, and as far as possible the recollection of the whole Church, is that 1 this Scottish instance of direct admission , to tho. episcopato by no means stands, alone.' It-is a matter:of surprise to mo that tho committte of the conference which had this subject in hand did not allude to very .early custom on'this matter. 'It is true that somo early councils' laid stress upon tho ''propriety of bishops being chosen from thoso who had passed through tho other Qrdors, and so. gaining experience and discipline, but even aftor tho establishment of this rule the exceptions wero very numerous. Bingham says expressly that "deacons were as commonly made bishops as any other," and nnlong mfuiy instances ho cites several of men' who were advanced directly from tbo diaconato ,to, tho position of bishops of Rome.' Some, too, were'consecrated . directly from tho minor orders, as' that of Reader, and some,'though less commonly, immediately from the rniik's of tho laity, and .this .even to; the .greatest Sees, as. Ambrose" to Milan, Cyprian, to Carthage, and..Nectarius to. Constantinople. ; As I have remarked, in addressing: my ; own-synod on. this , (piestion, it cannot' be' argued that the .grace of God can only proceed pari passu with

the regulations , of. man, however advisable for general purposes'such regulations may be. The gift is for the office independently of- any former position which , may liavo. been held by tlie recipient.

An American Suggestion. ' . May, hot those , reminiscences of. the action/of, the Churoh in .limes long gone by afford us some oluo to load us through the confusing maze into whioh disunion has brought us? The Bishop, of Ajknnsns says boldly: Extend tho episoopnte to any denomination whioh,asks for it on the sole: condition that. the members of tliat denomination • pledgo themselves in thoil- recognised assemblies to present all future candidates for the painistry to snoh bishop to receivo the customary Orders at his hands,,. It might seem possible, thus "to validat'eo-the. Orders of t!\e Methodist Episcopal Church :should such a concordat, be . agreed upon, and as I believe that denomination to exist almost exclusively in- "Ajnerica tho- decision on such a matter might be left tothose, iji that country 1 who" were concerned ln 'it, much as the healing, of the great Donatist schism was effected under the influence of St. Augustine in- Africa without reference' to tho Church in other countries, thjinkful a 3' all. were that tlie division was 'at length brought to an end. It may in general be allowed .that unions of widespread bodies should not be' con-" sumniated, in small areas without consultation with the authorities in wider spheres, ,but I- do' not think the univer-' sal;consent "of . authorities of . the neIptjating Ixidiea '.'need ,/bd ,'rcquifed. If the", whole Church, ; say in". Australasia or Canada,-were hanjiy .onongli, to coine to agreement 'iyith;,tlie;authoritles bf...'a denomination .in'siieh an .extended, "area per- : -action/might tie; justified.' /"•"

_ Brethren .if I 'seem, to liave launched forth .too' widely "in the subjects of my address, I seek justification .in 'our catholioity.'' "Npno,of lis |iveth to himself." A: truth uttered,, or a sentiment ezprpssed, may .find its-mark even at a great distanco. •■. In tho. spiritual body the. whole is- "fitly framed together and ODmpacfed .by means': of overy joint of ,spiritual, supply.":: May 'that supply, bo bestowed' abundantly' upon us) to the perfection.' of our. work', and the invigora-tion-of-our' part of' thb body :of; Christ. Sp'.ritus:-.Domini; vobisciim!. /', ; ..'/;' ' The.B'shpp "of Christohurdh, in riipvlng »jvote' of;, thftnks J:o,, tho ..Primate/for his address, - asked. that. it be printed, and copies: laid -ori: ;tho table.,.;;:. -'seconded".'by the Bishop of. Nelsou,. and- carried.' ■

OTHER BUSINESS , OFFICERS, -' The follpwing offlcsrs- of ,-thb Synod were lappomtecj':—Clorioal, ssprefory, Arohdcacon. .IJarpor; laiy ■ ■ sooretary and treasurer; ; .Mr.. C. If. -Statham;: ohairman of committees,.Mr. W. G/ Brittan.' / _ The- hours -of. sitting'; were fixed as' from 2.30 p;m. to S;3O p.m. and^7.3o p.m. to 10" pirn., "«xoepting on. Saturdays' and oundays arid, when'otherwise resolved. -

FOR FUTURE DisCUSSION. . . Tho Bishop of Wellington gave notice to move;—' That • tl]b bishop? of tho provinoe bo empowered, if they think fit so 5° , do > to appoint a member of the Central Consultative Committee 'of: 'the Lambeth Conference to liold office for so i? a they §hall determine." . i.'n-.'?-.■• Martin gave notice to" move;— That Synod hereby selects the colleges ,of Te Aute, ajid .St. Johns as. th<j ■ three colleges under the Utaki and Porirua Trust Act. . ißifl* for constituting 'a'; College of Theology .(Dean Fitchett), providing for the better working of: the Board : of Theological Studies (Archdeacon-Williams), for making new provisions', regarding ' the 'Standing Commission'(Mr; T. iV'Jlnrtin), for OMhging' the . constitution of ,' vestries removing the roEtnction as to numbers of vestrymen (Itr, C. H. tjtatham) and for the convening and Chairmanship'; of 'vestry meetings (Mr. J?: ¥. Martin) were introduced and read a first time..; TJieso Hills wore dealt v-'itli in The Dominion oil Monday lji^t; THE PRIMACY. Archdeacon Williams moved: "That tho consideration of the report of the commission on matters connected.- with the Primacy bo;.;mad.o, t 'anorder.;,of..tho" day. for next sitting day." He.intimated' that ho would ; ask that the discussion bo. taken in committee,' as he understood that, some/propositions other than those made in the report might bo made. He added that the effect of!tho report was contained in the Bill of whioli lie had given notice. ;, It ' was resolved to have" the report printed , and ' its ■ consideration made an order of tho day for next Wednesday. : Tho" report of the cqnimissloh embodies the following conclusions :--"(a) While it may ultimately become exp'emeht,, it does .not at present appear to be practicable to constitute one of tho existing; Sees as the metropolitical See of the Provinoe of Now Zealand, ' (b)' In "view, of -the fact that the'title ;of Archbishop is. better \in,deriito6d by .the people, it , is expedient that the, title of and Primate should bo substituted 'for that of Primate. (c) The commission would suggest, ,aa an improvement in tho' method of electing tho, Primate, that thero should be one ballot only in place of three,'as at present provided." ;

CHARITABLE, INSTITUTIONS. ; . Archdeacon Harper moved—"That it be an instruction to the Printing Committee .to obtain from the several diocesan secretaries' I 'a list : of all charitable institutions: or rescue hom'ta in cach dioc&sc belonging;'wholly or 'in : part, i to' the Church of- England, and to-, include " the' Same in .the proceedings of the : General Synod, together-with; particulars." ■ ■The mover: said, that if ..people oniyjknew of these institutions; much more -assistance for them' would, bo forthcoming. Many people seemed ..to-think, that the only work of the kind was done by the Eoinan Catholic Church and the Salvation ! Army. . \ Arohdeacon Harper was still speaking when-the Synod" adjourned until 2.30 this afternoon.- ; MISSIONARY MEETING. . STIRRING APPEALS. 1 : THE DUTY OP THE CHURCH; ; Tho 'strains of .the" famous missionary hymn,: "Onward, . Christian. Soldiers,'' heartily sung by a gathering which filled the large Town Hall fittingly commenced the Anglican missionary meeting last night. A series of eloquent and vigorjus speeches received a sympathetic hearing from the great concourse of people.' "Missions are not'.a, mere side issue of the Church's existence, but they are the first and foremost duty of the Church of God," declared the chairman (Bishop, Julius, of Chri6tchurch), and the .meeting endorsed the remark-with applause.,; He could, not enoujh admire, the courago of , Bishop Sehvyn, in"...starting. the \ mission work in' Melanesia while the.'.Church.- in New .Zealand was still, in its 'infancy. rMetanesia had done much for : New '.Zealand, for there was nothing th'it, stirred the dioceses' more than" the appeals for Melanesia. .

• "Pray for, Melanesia," was the burden of nn earnest address by Mn George Coates, formerly of the Melanesian Mission. ' . " ;

Missionary work'. amongst' the Maoris Was. the subject of an address by Canon Mac Murray, who said that in the' Auckland diocese it had been -found a . very successful, system to', send' only. \Maori clergy among the. Maoris,, and have white clergymen: to oversee them. Pakeha missionary .nurses, with . Maori ...assistants, wero having a far-reaching influence as a mighty force under God in otn-ning. tho hearts :of the. Maoris of the King. Country to reoeive "the Gospel. After close contact, with- .the • Maori- race during many years, he felt more than' ever' that they wore a race ...ffell worth, saving. (Applause.) ' ■ - Tho. Eev. E. K.. Mules, .speaking' of home missions,,, described . tho,; Country; between Otira and Broken Rivor, where lie himself labours, a district of ; some twelve to sixteen hundred inhabitants, chiefly connected with the railway corisfernction Works, and including many different types of humanity. 110 was thankful to say that the diocese supported him, awl' therefore he had no .financial' anxiety. Would, that every mission priest in New. .Zealand could say the' snmel Thoro' were "many pagans in New ;Zealand and tho .number - was. incrcasihg.';' Five hundrod" men 1 were Working on the mil* Vay works, and for two- years no minister

of religion came near them. Mr. Mules dosoribed in an interesting manner the furnishing of the-mission.-church; the Sunday School, and his efforts' to establish a library, a. recreation room, a rifle club, and other organisa-,-tions, and acknowledged, tho assistance that had been given him fof thoso objects. Drunkenness and gambling ,wero liesotting vices of tho New Zealand working man, but there were many brighter pictures, and with . some ;of these, illustrating tho beauty of tho Christian life and Christian homes, tho speaker concluded amidst applause. ■ "You who have been bom and bred in Now Zealand, thank God you have a Now Zealander who can speak like that," said tho Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Ncligan) alluding to the last speaker. Continuing, Dr., Neligan said the home • mission work of tho Church in Is-ew Zealand included two brinchesi. ' The first was in the big cities, arid did not press very urgently as yot,,bnt it'would do so in the future, for the growth of, a great city always meant cruelty. -. Then there was the work in /tho ; country, and he thought the people of tho cities did not fully realise how much they were dependent upon the country districts. "The cities lived on tho work of tho pioneers ■in the backblpoks, and, therefore/people in the cities should bo ready to ■ assist home mission work in the backblecks. Tho parochial system was not suitable for new districts,, and, hence the home mission system had to be adopted'. Tlie Auckland diocese had 11 home missionaries, who were paid fyoni'Auckland, and could preach to the people independent of financial support from them. This " was. the right (Applause.) The Bishop made a stirring' appeal for yonng - Now' Zealanders /to corao forward - for homp mission work.. "A truce to your talking about what fine people you aro," ho cried, "until you have manned the Churoh in New Zealand with New Zealanders." Had Church people prayed that God would put it into: the, heart's of their sons'-to take Holy. Orders,for mission work in New Zealand, he would not havo had to bring out men from' Home in 190 S. -Yet men who had : not tho manhood tp -give up thoir own sons, - had the .blasphemy to oriticise those men ...who were living' in the mud for tho sake pf New Zealand.