ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1176, 11 July 1911, Page 2

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

• » YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. PUBLICITY FOR. THE MARRIAGE LAWS. The Anglican Synod conlinucil its sitting i» tho Sydney Street Schoolroom yesterday afternoon, the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott) presiding. On resuming, the debute on the following amended motion, moved by the Jicv. E; \V. .1. M'C'onnoll, was proceeded with: That (he Standing Committeo Ijo asked to draw up and publish a card to be placed in churches containing a statement of the Church's marriage law and other regulations, :i list of fees, special collections, and church funds, and of such other matter as they may think fit; the printing of such card to be charged to the General Church Fund. The motion was carried after a brief discussion. ASSESSORS OF THE BISHOP'S COURT. The Bishop reported that he had nominated the following to act as assessors of the Bishop's Court for the next three years:—Aichdcncjiis Fancuutv Hirpoi, and Jacob, the l!e,-s. Joshua Jones, V. 11. luteal, J. It. Sykcs, Messrs. W. J. Birch, E. 11. Dean, W. F. Jacob, 11. S. M'Kellar, C. P. Ponies, and K. Wilson. PENSION FUND: SURPLUS, ,£SOOO. On behalf of the Rev. A. S. Innes Jones, Archdeacon Harper moved: Tint the trustees of the pnnsiji\ ' fund be requested to consider the possibility of increasing the amount of the pensions, and report to the next session of Synod. Archdeacon Harper pointed out that the fund was in a very strong position, and ho thought the tune had arrived when tho pensions granted under it could be on a more liberal scale. .£IOO a year was not a very big retiring allowance for a man who had spent tile best part of his life in the work of the Church, particularly in view of tlio present cost of living. The Rev. C. H. Isaacson seconded the motion. Mr. Geo. Shirtcliffe thought the fund should be loft as it was for the next five or seven years until the next actuarial report was due. At present there were 1G subscriliers, and four of these were entitled to come on the fund at once, if they chose to do so, and draw ,£IOO a year each. Several others would be eligible shortly. In the past they had been getting 5 to G per cent, on their investments, but they could not expect to always get this rate, as the' value of money was now decreasing. Personally, he thought they would havo to bo content with an averages of U per cent. If tho pension fund was ■as strong as appeared from the actual report (the apparent surplus being .K000), would it not, ho asked, lie well to divert somo of it to the general ' church fund, in order to increase the salaries of country eli'.rsy, or to procure the services of a Diocesan Missioner. Personally, ho would rather see the fund remain as it was until the next actuarial report nas received, and see if tho fund was still in its present strength then. Captain Hewitt supported the motion, and hoped it would pass. ilr. C. P. Powles also supported the motion. It bound I hem to nothing, and before anything could be done a report and reasons would have to ho.submitted.. Ho hoped Synod would.never consider the question of diverting a half-penny of the fund. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Henderson thought a report should 1m received, to show them tho oxaet position. . . ■ Several other speakers expressed ,their views, aud at length, with the consent of the mover, the following words were, added to tho motion:— "And that the trustees be empowered to obtain a further actuarial report at their discretion." The motion was carried in its amended form. MISSION. TRUST BOARD PROPERTY. The. following resolutions, attached to a report of the committee, appointed to inquire into tho position of those portions of tho New Zealand Mission Trust Board property within the Wellington Diocese, were moved by-Mr. E. H. Dean:—

(1) That this Synod is of opinion that the properties vested in the New Zealand Mission Trust Board within this diocese are not at present used or rented to the best advantage of the Church. i. (2) That it is of opinion that in (ho use or letting or sale of such properties, or parts, thereof, situate within this diocese,-a fair or-reasonable proportion of the revenues derivable therefrom should be us-:d for Maori Mission work within this dicccse. (3) That if any legislation be promoted by the New Zealand Mission Trust Board to acquire further powers or confirm their present powers, this Synod requests and authorises tho Standing Committee to take steps in conjunction with the board to enable this diocese to obtain powers, either by conveyance, transfer, or lease, of otherwise, to manage and control tho properties now vested in the beard and situate within this diocese, or at least tho church and cemetery sites and mis- . s.ion ' houses and glebe lands attached thereto. All three resolutions wero carried with- . out alteration. ' -, THANKSGIVING SERVICES. 'The' following motion in regard to thanksgiving services was moved by Captain Hewitt:— ■ "That the Bishop be, requested to consider the advisability of special, thanksgiving services on one or moro Sundays annually to enable us to praise Almighty God for the knowledge He is now giving man of tlio forces stored up in tho earth for the use of this and succeeding generations, and revealed during the last 100 years." The mover made a lengthy speech in support of his proposal, which was carried on the voices, only a small section of the Synod voting. FINANCIAL RETURNS. The Financial Committee, reporting upon the financial returns, called attention to the fact that the following parishes and parochial districts sent in no returns:—St. Peter's, Foxton, Sandon, Marton, Huntcrville, Mangawoka, Patea, and Opunake. The committee recommended that tho Standing Committee, in order to have accounts kept in a uniform manner, prepare a model parish account book, which each parish and parochial district shall be recommended to use in which to keep their accounts. The recommendation was agreed to. YESTRY REPRESENTATION INCREASED. The Bill promoted by Captain Hewitt to increase the representation on vestries of parochial districts with a population of 3000 and over, from seven to ten, was put through its third reading stage, and passed. CANDIDATES FOR IK'LY ORDERS. The Rev. C. W. I. MmJavorty moved that a Diocesan Fund, to be at the disposal of his Lordship the Bishop, , be created to assist in the education of candidates for holy orders by a voluntary collodion at the Ember seasons, and that the following be appointed a committee to carry (ho same into effect:—Revs. H Watson, A. T. B. Page, 0, W. I. Maclaverl.v, and Messrs. J. Martin and J. G. Cox. Several speakers fcok exception (o the creation of another fund, and on a division the motion was lost, the votin" being:—Clergy: Ayes, 31; noes, 13. Laitv" Ayes, !); noes, 13. PAKEHA CLERGY AND THE MAORIS. The Rev. lwiora Tamaiparea moved — That tho pakelm clergy who havo Maoris living in their districts bo invited to do what they can in visiting the Maoris in their villages, as owing' to the size of the districts the visits of tho Maori clergy are few; and far Ijetwcen, and there is consequently a great danger of our Maori people being loci astray by falso doctrines. Tho mover remarked that it took him twelve weeks to tret round his district, and there were only four Maori clergy for the whole diocese. -During his absence ministers of other religions came along and fnld .to. his people, "Look how your minister a'cßlccts you, Come over to us.

Theso men were thieves and robbers." He tiv-lcd that they would do all. they could to help the .Maori missions. STANDING COMMITTEE. The following were elected to (he Standing Conuuittea:—Clergy—Veil. Archdeacons Fiincourt, Harper, and .Jacob, Revs. A. M. Johnson, Joshua Jones, A. (I. Williams. Ln.itv—Messrs. K. Anderson, W. J. Birch, E. 11. Dean, W. V. Jacob, J. W. Hender.-ou, 11. A. Kevins, R. Wilberfoss, J. Kebbell, and G. Shirtclifle. Several speakers remarked on (he large area of ground which Ihc Native clergy had (o cover, and the assistance given by lay readers. The motion was carried. On (ho motion of (he Rev. W. Fancourt, it was decided that, it was desirable that: tho proceedings of each mooting of the Standing Committee should bo printed in (he ensuing number of tho "Church Chronicle." VOTES OF THANKS. Voles of thanks were passed to the residents of Wellington for their hospitality, special reference !>eiiig made to Mrs. Sproft, and to the AVellesloy Club. The Synod concluded its session at 11 p.m.