ANGLICAN SYNOD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3127, 4 July 1917, Page 10

ANGLICAN SYNOD

SESSIONS OPENED BISHOP SPROTT'S ADDRESS .The first session of tho twenty-first Synod of tho diocese of Wellington was held in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street, yesterday afternoon. His Lordship Bishop Sprott presided over a large attendance. His Lordship, in his presidential address, recorded changes that had taken placo in tho staff of clergy during the past year. The diocese, he said, was woefully undermanned. Tho pressing need was for more clergy, though it was difficult to see where they were to lie obtained. Tho report of the committee for tho management of the Maori Mission would show that thus far the committee had fully justified its establishment. During the year no fewer than 118 Maoris had been confirmed. Ho asked his people, to see that the greater interest shown in the past year was sustained, and increased in the" years to come. Tho report of the Church Schools Board would also be regarded,as eminently satisfactory. Ho most heartily commended the movement. Tho Church of Eugla-nd had an ideal—and a noblo ideal— of education. All imperfect as had been its embodiment in the schools in England, he was sure that all impartial men would admit that it had had an immenso and salutary influence on English lifo and character. If this ideal could be embodied in even a few schools in New Zealand, the benefit would bo great, not only to the Church, but to tho country. He wished to call tho attention of the Synod and of his people generally to tho report of the mission work that was being done among the Chinese in the diocese, and also in the dioceses of Waiapu and Christchurch. The financial needs of tho mission were not great, and he trusted that such as they were they would bo. ungrudgingly supplied. There had been times when tho committee had found itself in great straits. It would bo remembered that last year tho Synod, following the example of tho General Synod, and in common with a large number of citizens, had resolved that in its opinion it would bo in the best interests of. the country that bars should be closed at G p.m., and "treating"' prohibited, during the period of the war and for six months thereafter. Parliament had granted only tho latter demand. It was abundantly evident, however, that very many wore by no means satisfied with tho results so far achieved, and the demand for early closing was becoming insistent. One could not, of course, demonstrate that if both the demands had been granted better results would have been achieved, but they were not without evidence that in all probability such would have been the case.

The Synod was fully justified in repeat-

ing its demand of lust year, and he would urgo all members of the Church to sup-

port this demand by resolutions and petitions. Ho did not himself believe that tho end of tho war was in sight. Tim recent Amcrhian estimato that it might

last for yet three years did not seem to liiiu at all incredible. One could discern possible complications that might prolong it for an even greater period, it miglit well be that a curtailment of the use oi> intoxicants might bo the i least of tho sacrifices that might be required bolero the end.

The committee appointed to consider questions connected with the provision of it cathedral for tho diocese had prepared a scheme whicli he earnestly hoped the Synod would adopt. Of lato years the grant and rapid growth of tlio city had seemed to somo to demand the provision of a cathedral as sooij as. might-be. Ho could not imagine a. more fitting time than tho present for tho ticconiplisliment of such a work. They were witnessing tho deatli agony of one ago and the birth-pangs of a_.'iie\v age. Tho age which in ami through the Gy,eat War was passing away was a materialistic age. How could they better inaugurate tlio now ago than by tho erection in this Capital City of a great and noblo cathedral, which by its prominence, its beauty, and its dignity should witness to men that there was a nobler wor-

ship than that of Mammon and Moloch ? His Lordship proceeded to speak 'of tlio reunion of the separated churches of Christendom. He said that the subsli-

:ution of any-'real system of arbitration

for war pro-supposed the existence of a strong and highly-moralised national and international public opinion, of tho existence of which there was at present no very convincing evidence. What was Heeded for tho generation of such international morality was that tho peoples of the world should be, and should recognise themselves lo be, not only members of distinct national societies, but also members of one groat international society—a real family of nations. Tho Christian Church in ' its naturo wao such an international society, but it was in itself divided. His Lordship went on to suggest fcjiat a basis for reconciliation was to bo found in the four institutions selected by the Lambeth Conference.

fj His Lordship concluded as follows:— 'I close by again expressing my conviction thai, along whatever lines, this question of reunion is, ana will' be, the question of questions for Christian men to-day and in. the- fateful years that are coming. More and more it seems to me that in the real re-union of the Church of Jesus Christ lies the chief hope, perhaps the only hope, of permanent peace for the world. In the early days of the war it did indeed seem us it those who view things, at least in their public utterances, from a predominantly if not exclusively secular point ol view were anxious and determined so to order the affairs of nations .that the present war should bo indeed tho end of war.' But the high idealism of those early days seems to mo to be passing away. Everybody now seems to have made up his mind that, when tno present war of blood and j iron.is over, there will follow a trade war ot unparalleled intensity. For this trade war all the belligerent nations seem to bo already making preparations. Perhaps it is inevitable; I do not know. iJut 1 should be untrue to my oflice if L (lid not utter my conviction, which is not mine only, that a ruthless' trade war between the nations must end in bringing upon our children's children another and perhaps even greater war'of blood and iron. Trade has been often used in 'the past as the justification, sometimes the only justification of war, tho only thing about which sensible men could think it worth while to fight. It will not be <( otherwise iu the future. "In tho meantime there exists and persists among all the nations the Societv which Ho founded Who came to make all ™? n i}''^ nds . and to heal the breaches in His Fathers Family; the Society whoso members are bound to-each other by the strong ties of a common origin in ono lather God, a common destiny as heirs of His Eternal Kingdom, a common moral ideal, and a common Lord of Conscience. Torn and rent it is. Yet if only it were united it would, I am convinced, evon now be strong enough to keep tho nations true to their better solves, truo to their nobler visions. To secure such unity, I feel that no sacrifice, if only in very truth it. would secure it, were too great."

After transacting formal business Svnod adjourned, and will resume-to-day.