FOURTH GENERAL SYNOD OF NEW ZEALAND. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3510, 15 October 1868, Page 4

FOURTH GENERAL SYNOD OF NEW ZEALAND. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14.

The President took the chair at 4 p.m. The proceedings were opened with prayer. MINUTES. The minutes of the preceding aitting were read and confirmed.

PRESENT. Bishops : The Lord Bishop o£ Nejr Zealand, and Licbfield ; the Bishops of Christchurcb, .Wellington, Nelson, Waiapu, and Melanesia. Clergy : The -Very R©v. the DeaoaOf ChrUitchuroh; Yen. Archdeacons Butt, Brown, , Govott, Hadfield, Harper. Lloyd, Williams ; Revs. J. Atkijn, S. Black* bura, R. Burrows j .Canon Cotterill; A. Gifford, Y. Lush, Dr. Mauniell, J: Palmer, S. Poole. La»ty : Messrs. J. B. Aclaod, T. Beckbamj\G. H. Brown, P. Hanmer, WwH. Kenny, J*. B..Lusk,,W. Martin, H. S. McKellar, J. R. Selwyn, W.^STrainaon, T. C. TMey, H. Williams, and S. B. Ludbrook. ELECTION OP A BISHOP TO BI PRIMATE. The Hou. W..SwAmaoM moved, ''That, pursuant to the provision! of the statute for the .appointment of a Primate, the Synod do proceed to elect a Biihop who shall be the Primate upon thei resignation,, or -death of the Bishop of JNew Zr aland." He referred to the clause ot the statute which* provided for, the election of a Primate as soon ai oonvenient,after c tb.e passing of the Act. Mr. IS. Quick seconded the motion, which was agreed to. His Lordship said the subject of tha .election of a Primate wan one that ,was new,.t» them, and .was one of such great interest that he thought they ahoujd mark it in some special manner, diffeient from that in which ordinary' elections were conducted. It was true- that the othoe of Primate administered by him for something like nine years had not] been marked by any great difficulty of adminifitratiqn,but>e could not help thinking that it was a matter of, absolute necessity for the maintenance and growth, of the syuodical system under which the affcirs of the Church in Mew Zealand are administered, that there should be a Primate to preside over such meetiugajts this, audto govern other matters connected with the Church. ,Tht> Apostles were accustomed to refer such questions as this to the guidance of God, who knows the hearts of men, and, as we hoped for the same guidance of His Holy; Spirit in the election, he (the Presideut) thought the Synod could not do better than apeud a few moments in prayer, believing that the answer which would be given to it would be a real manifestation of the will of God. He therefore requested the Synod to joiu in prayer that it .might please God to give Uu Holy Spirit to > guide their choice in this matter. The members of tbe Synod then engaged in prayer, after which .they proceeded to elect a Bishop to be Primate. The process of election was by voting papers. After some delay the voting papers were handed in by the scrutineers. < The Pbesidbnt said : I have now to report rthe *< result as shown by the voting papers, as I prefer to call them, rather Jihau a vote by ballot. Bishop of Ctiristchurch : B shops 5, clergy 13, lailjj 9. Bishop of Wellington : Clergy 2, laity 6. Bishop of W.aiapu : Bishop 1, clergy 1, laicy 1. Adding together tbe clergy who have voted for the two last named, there are 13 clergymen who have voted- for the Bishop of Christcburch, and there are 3 for the other Bishopa. Adding together the number of the laity who have voted for the two last named, there are 9 for the Bishop of Christchurcb,. and 7 for the others. I therefore pronounce that, ia accordance with clause 5, relative to the appointment of a Primate, the Bishop of Cbristchurch is duly elected. And, in making that declaration, I do so with sincere pleasure, as I shall resign into the hands of one in whom I have the most entire confidence. It so happened that Bishop Harper and myself were ordained together, and began life at ministers of one church side by side with one auother. From him I received the first impression of the admirable character of a pari»h priest. In his ministration at Eton a great change t»ok place in the whole manner of conducting divine bervice ia the college and in the parish church. It was for that reason that after many attempts had been made to procure a Bishop of Ohristchurch, and several attempts had failed, I said at once, at public meetings in Canterbury, at Chnstchurch, that there was one persoD whom I could recommend to that office with perfect confidence. £am quite sure, after many years' experience, that all the clergy will concur in the choict which God's providence led me to make, and that the action is fully justified by the result. Now that I have been called upon to resign, lam most thankful to be able to resign my offioe into the hands of one in whom I have the moat entire confidence. (Applause.) The Bishop of Christchurch said : My Lord, you have on this occasion laid down as a rule, and every good Synodsman should comply with the rule 3 of the Synod, namely, that every member of the Synod is bound to comply with the expressed wishes of the Syno i. Therefore, in accepting this office, I wish to comply with that rule, though I do so with some .reluctance, because I cauuot help feeling that it is no easy .matter to occupy the »eat,f hich,yoi>r Lordship has occupied. All of us must feel, aud I am sure do feel, from our hearts, that it will be no easy matter for me to occupy such a seat ; , and I cannot help remembering that by tbe wise action of the Synod they have relieved the Primate of some of the dv ies and responsibilities which have b-en laid upon him, to transfer them to another. I do trust, therefore, that by God's blessing I may be found 'faithful in the office to which I have been elected. J. have the more confidence in this because of the synodical gystem in , vogue in 4 tbis country, and because, from what I .have .seen in my own diocese and in this meeting of the General .synod, the PrimateV if 'he faithfully endeavours to discharge his duty, will carry with'him the full concurrence of the clergymen and faithful laity. (Cheers.) It is on these grounds that I have less reluctance than I otherwise should have had in accepting this high office. I trust with God's blessing that I may be enabled to faithfully fulfil all the duties of. it ; and I look, forward to the concuirence, as I have said, not only of thoee present, but of all members of the ecclesiastical province. With God's help I will try and, fulfil the duties devolving upon me. (Cheer^)

STANDING COMMISSION. Mr. Swainson m>ve<J, "'lhat the Synod, pursuant to the provisions of the Statute for establishing a SUudiDg Commission, ,e)ect the persons to ba th" Commi'-siunert." The motion w as seconded, and agreed to. The following members were appointed t-rr-jThe Yen. Archdeacon Lloyd, Sir W. Martin, the Hon. W. ; Swainson, the "Jion . Sir George Arnejr,, «rd F. Whitaktr, Jt(>q.

CONFIRMATION SERVICE. Ihe Bishop of N klson moved, " That the Bishopi be requested to compile a form of Confirmation Service which may be used in the.case of tbpjg .baptised hB adu ts, or of those vrho, haying received the eieentials of H<>ly Baptism may not have been baptised according to the form prescribed bythe Church or England, if a new form be K not ( denhabPe, 'that the Hi-hops, l eing compet<-nti authorities ioß.that purpose, should declare what modification in such. serviceH may tie considered, as ju^tjified'byjfcKef'circu,m»tauces »f jt>>e colony. '* ' '„ <j " \ , ct . Archrleact>n Butt reconded the motion. ThePRKSiDENT statei that ! Sic ,Jobn ''J?att«ron'« ,w,as where ; n',> form v ,»«*■, .^pwH^d^^ihe Biihop «if Jblie Diocese had tlie inhereut xivhi to proVide a f>rm for his own use : e.g., cooteci'.alkmof • ciiureb, or confirmation of i wh'p'' ( h,a^' n'ojr'^'een b.Hptiaec' b ; y a clergyman of the, o£'Jsn,gJiiiid. The lishop of Nelson naii he*a» r -s*ti»fieid[i«ith the explai<anon given by the President, -*nd_-begged leave to »i>hdraw the motion standing in his name. Leave wa* given, and the motion was withdrawn. HYMNS ANCIENT AND MODEBN. The Dean of ChR'STCHUBCH moved, "That thi« *<ynod sanctions the use of the hymnal called ' Hymnt Ancient and Modern,' in any parish which may think proper to adopt it." 'J he P.R4BIOENT disapproved of the adoption of a new h> mi<al. He suggested that several favourite hymns ought rather to be incorporated in th» " New Zealand. Hymnal." , , , -•, >• The Bishop of Waiapu opposed thiei motion. He moved, as an amendment, ''111** a committee be iappointed to- prtpare'i»isuppl«mentrtoitheifjpqg^nli Jjftftt it jcp^net^ 01 : Utiristoliurchr Hon. U J. B. ! A^land, r Atch&ttftson i - Wil Jiams, Archdeacon' Lldyfl, ' Biahop of Nelabfi, Qfad .Sir W.i Martin." • ' . ' '!■•■■','•'■:> -aio hi A rchdeacon Lloyd ftha.^^fßiahoDj of word " supi'l^ment ' in, v his amendment. i ' Dr. Mau^sem, hoped 'iheTßish'opbf Waiapty^nld not adopt thepxoposed Amendmenti liianjaUl^bpt . made to revise ]tie,s»njqal,, s tbe.Jar^ejfljMni*t of books already pripted^y.Jihe enAernrise o^ [the bookseller^ would be rendered useleW. '" '' The President said he wa'sinformed by tbePag*n% of. the :ent?rprißing. l print«jof.i(he I ;Hyronalf Jivititth*

snoh hymns m w«re desirable should be added as a supplement to the present Hymnal, leaving it for the tartans clergymen to ezercito their own choice ai to their use. The Bishop of Waiapu's amendment Was carried, and, alter tome discnttion, the following committee was agreed to :— The Dean of Christotiurcb, Arch deacon Harper, Her. A. Gifford, Archdeacon WillianAi, Archdeacon Lloyd, the Bishop of NeUon, 0. H. Brown, and the mover. TOLTJNTJJIY SPHtITOAL TMBUNIXS. ■ — ADJOTONTO DdBATB. The debate on 'the motion of Archdeacon Harper, approving of » the constitution of ■ a voluntary j spiritual tribunal as recommended by the Lambeth Conference, and to which motion an amendment was movediby Mr. Kempthorue that it was premature andi inexpedient to pass snoh a resolution at prebenr, was resumed. ■ ,*._,,. -The Bishop of WAiAPrj supported the amendment of Mr. Kempthorne. •jThe Bishop pf Wellington said,u any one of the articles of the Church were interpreted in anyway contrary, to, the spirit of the Constitution, the Church could go to the Supreme Court,and they might be certain that the Supreme Court would give its decision upon the matter, and if necessary the matter could be carried by appeal to the Privy Council. There was a member of that Sjnod who was particularly jealous of the Royal supremacy, but if he studied the matter he would see that the Synod had been equally jealous of it. If he or any of those who held the same view were to go to some legal friend of ttieirs and ask him if this legislation of the Synod was contrary to the Royal supremacy, they would be told that the law recognised it just the same as it recognised anything else cased on the principle of arbitration. Under t'lis voluntary system they oould go to the Privy Council by appeal, and he defied any of them to get to the Council in any other way. He deprecated the bringing of the points of ecclesiastical doctrine into the Supreme Court. He did not like to tee religious questions brought into a court of law to be made the subject of scandal and talk. He thought all . this incessant appeal to the law courts in England a scandal and a •hame. It was driving people out of oar Churoh, and making good men deeply deplore the degeneration of the Church. Men in England bowed their heads in shame at this incessant appeal to couits of law. In other denominations these matters were investigated, and nothing was heard of them, while the Church of England was incessantly appealing to the law courts on one question and another, where the finger of scorn was pointed at it. If men would continue to take these matters into the Supreme Courts, he would allow them to do so, but he for one would wash his hands of such proceedings. (Applause.) Colonel Kxnny said it would be time enough fcr this Synod to give its adherence to the new tribunal when it was constituted, and the course of action it would take had been defined. He appealed to his fellow laymen to consider tbe matter with all caution, as it was one of a very serious charaoter. Dr. Maunbkll advised the Synod to be careful how they accepted the spiritual tribunal, and pointed out that the colonial Church already possessed sufficient machinery of the character. Mr. R. B. Martin supported the amendment. The D«an of Chbistohuuch said the objection that the matter was premature was grounded on a wrong impression. It waß not meant to refer the whole question which had been settled in the colonial tribunal to the home tribunal, but it was meant that the colonial tribunal should have the power of referring certain questions as to doctrine to the tribunal at home. This province did not as yet possess men of sufficient learning and influence to render their decision satisfactory and conclusive. He contended that there was no material for the formation of a competent tribunal in the colony. The matter was certainly a responsible one, but it was one that the laity might decide in two minutes. It was due to the Lambeth Conference that we should give an answer to the qnestion whether we thought such a tribunal desirable. Sir W. Martin regretted that this matter had been brought forward at all. He believed from what had been said that the constitution of this tribunal which was projected was little understood. Of course they might talk about the subject without doiotg a great deal of harm : in fact it was this discussing matters that did a great deal of good by Infusing into each others' minds the consideration of questions affecting tbe Church. The hon. gentleman went on to quote from " Binghaoa's Antiquities' relative to the constitutional government of the Church i* the time of Justinian. From this it-ap-peareds tn*t there was an appeal to a General Council, but from no one part of the Church was there an appeal to any other. • In the early days, a body of Christians existed out of Rome, and preferred to regulate the Church by independent legislilation. It wa» remarkable how the whole system of Church government had grown out of the efforts of a few earnest men-. A few men, poor, scattered, and many of *hem ignorani, formed themselves into a Christian body, and though they wert at first viewed with coDSideratle suspicion by the temporal- powefl£-and perhaps justly so, seeing that they aimed at the abolition of idolatry, and all thatwpertained to it— they gradually increased in numbers and^influence, and developed a system of Church" government thafc was in the leading points similar to that of the New Zealand branch of the Church of England and Ireland. No decision could be infallible, and.thougn the decisions of the tribunal of bishop* in N.ew Zealand might not have the weitfnt of a decißflitrby the spiritual tribunal of Encland, it woul#W sufficient to dispose of any questions that would arise. Tbe only limitation would become .speculative point, and nothing would wfli&t by such a limitation. In this colony none of those subtle questions could arise wbiefc. arose amongst the speculative and subtle Gxesks. If they set up a high tribunal it might come in time to be invested with some of the infallibility which wa* supposed to belong to tne Papal Courts. Ihey would thus arrive at a tribunal whose existence 4 was unknown in the earliest and purest ages of the Church. (Applause.) The Rev. R. Burrows suggested that Mr. Kempthorne should withdraw his amendment, so that the following might be substituted, "That it is iuexptdienttbat so important a question as the one now before "thi Synod should be hastily decided, aud that therefor* the further consideration of the subject be deferred until the next General Synod." Mr. \Kbmpthobnb consented to withdraw his amendment in favour of that moved by the Rev. R. Burrows. , , The Bishop of Chmstchtjboh supported the motion. Archdeacon Habpkb, in reply, argued that a colonial tribunal would not be competent to deal with ■ucb matters as the unfortunate schism of Dr. Colenso. If such an unfortunate thing happened here was it likely that Dr. Colenso, an accomplished Hebraist- ar he was, would defer to the judgment of a colonial tribunal on matters which related to the interpretation of the Scriptures 1 So far from the spiritual tribunal being a merely worldly institution, it was indirect consonance with the will of God. The PabSTdbnt said he had a confession to make. He himself badimore to do with the resolution that approved of the constitution of a tribunal than any other fljember of the Lambeth Conference. W hen they mcV together, 75 Bishops of the (Jhurch, it luegested thijpossibility of some method oE healing up th% breaches, in, the Church. While they were j offering *P prayers and bestowing their time towards the study of the" best means of the unity of the Christian Churches, ought they not rather to study how |ft consolidate their own ? "Was the voice of the Church of EugUnd to be heard as a liriDg voioe? In tbe present position of tbe Church of England it was evident that the main difficulty was tbe subject of ritual. Da. this subject there was the utmost disagreement and diversity of opinion. Minttteri' at hom£, ' however comprehensive their views'migbt b#, seemed t> be continually looking out for som>gr6und of accusation against their brethren. Having been uW £b the cordial w»y in, which the various' members' of the Church had been accdßiome'd to meti together in New Ze.land, it wiaVJike going out of a quiet harbour into a troubled sea to go home amongst tbe dissensions in the Church. In this state of things Cardinal Wisemarf pubfisW a'letter holding out T to the clergymen of the.Ch'urchiof an invitation to j'tfu the Church of Rome. He said let them only acknowledge the infallibility of the Popr, and they would' at once chakge their troubled and uncertain state for the qni^ navtin of the Church of - Rome The question of ritualism had been tried by the Courts of law, aud four eminent lawyers had deoided one way, while' four equally eminent lawyers decided the other way. There was a question between law arid custom. This case had been tried and ie-tried, involving very great expanse and leW of time, and'' *Md 'satisfactory < I conclusion wa< come to. t^'-ft >u> #aJs ■ said in 'one parish that three bundreft" years' ago 'the' use a! vestments had been^'the practice in <the Church, and in another t wasrtiu that there had been no*ucb_things during' hat period. ~ Then came the Ritnal Coinnrs; o ■," which sat regularly, and at last scut out a report wbifb, he/didjnot wish to character ac it harshly, he "could only liken to the mountain in< abour, that brought forth a mouse. The proper

way nodou t. would b» to define the law an regards « cclesiastica 1 matter*. While the l«w remained ■■• uncertain, the fi.ie old English Church was in danger of being rent to pi.cc. While the.c w*» bo m ,o». uncertainty as to custom, and 10 great a difference a< to law, the stability of th« Church w»« in danger. He urged them to pay no attention to ih report, that had been circulated with reference to h» support of ritualism. "Hp bad ..ot *™""?V* hi.. England ; he ha-1 puwind the course that he a.k»,.t.d ii New Zealand,-be look hiap-okand wort^tbroigl. th« country as a missionary Bishop. (Cheer, ) He had not presumed to infe* r-fc ih* law- i»r define , custom. Men had said to him " W^J b " ' f there was any government m the I hnrch the y would defer to it. The Privy C uncil bad distinct y recognised the authority of fche Col-mal Chuich to legislate for itself on the principle of arbitration Men like Colenao were like rama who were pushing their horns in various directions and rending the Church, tearing th.t garment of Christ which wax woven in one piece, and, if the tribunal was appointed to which he referred it might be *».d to auoh men that they had done thai which would not be tolerated in any other profession, and then if they did not reform they could be expelled from the Church. if men from orer zeal or from lack of "nse cast them-elves away from the centre of the Church U» PjWj* flying out by centrifugal force, then it was the duty of the Church to exert its influence, and Jo teng them back again. Men were flying out from the centre of the Church, breaking out mto eccentrics tiei, and it seemed as if some men were I frying how near they could go to the precipice without falling over. Indeed, some had already fallen over into the Church of Rome, and others were trembling on che brink. If the law failed to lay down any definite rules ag regarded ecclesiastical matters, then the next best course was for the Uhurch itself to take the matter in hand, and to appoint a tribunal which •houldexerciietheri^htof oautioniDgany young olereyman who, from eccentricity, should travel out by centfifrugal force, that be was in danger of detaching himfelf from the Churcb,and, if he persisted, of depfiving him of his living. Jt was not proposed to set Tup any new creed, or to make any fundamental changes in the Church government, but simply to protect the Church from the injury it would suffer rom the unchecked action of indiscreet, or eccentric, or over- zealous-members. However, he rather preferred that the matter should be postponed for the present. , „ The motion for the adjournment of the que«tion was carried. MELAHKSIAN BISHOPBIO BILL. The Synod went into committee on this bilJ, Mr. Eeckham in the chair. The Synod resumed, the bill was reported with amendments, and the third reading made an order of the day for Friday. LOCAL BOARDS ENT MAORI DISTRICTS. Archdeacon Williams moved, "That it is expedient that local Boards be constituted in Maori districts for the better management of Church affairs among the natives, which Board* may hare and exercise in respect of the native population such of the powers of the Diocesan Synod as such Synod may from time to time prescribe. And that the Committee on Statutes andßesolutions be instructed to prepare such additions to Statute No. 3, for the organisation of Archdeaconry and Rural Deanery Boards, as m*y be necessary to effect this object;"and in doing so pointed out the desirability of constituting such Boards, bo as to enable the natives to have a voice in Church matters. -- JV The Bishop of Melanesia supported me motion, and in doing so staced as a proof of the promising state of the Maori Church, notwithstanding the trials and difficulties with which it was temporarily beset, that the Bishop of Waiapu had handed over to him a sum of £30, which might be increased to £59, as a contribution from the natives of the Waimate on behalf of the Melanesian mission. (Applause.) „ . The Bishop of Waiapu, in an able speech, pointed out the advantages to be secured by the institution of these local boards, and the permanence it would give to the native Church. The J?besidbnt aaid there was hope in the native Church still, and it only needed some such organisation as this to revive and give stability to that Church. The motion was put and agreed to. Several notices of motion were banded in, and the Synod adjouroed at 10.40 p.n»- « n *« l * P- m - t°- d »7-