ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 7, 8 July 1909, Page 4

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

A RELIGSOUS BROTHERHOOD. j FURTHER DISCUSSED. The Anglican Synod resumed its de- i liberations at 4 p.m. yesterday, Bishop Wallis presiding. THE MAJKRIAGE. CEREMONY. * j The Rev. C. C. Harper moved, in I accordance with notice of motion, to m?l«> the surplice fee chargeable for marriage after license 10s instead of £1. The Rev. G. W. Denton (Eltham) ! seconded the motion. In the discussion which ioUowed the opponents of tho motion emphasised that tho differentiation in fees was to encourage marriage after banns. The Church, the Rev. T. H. Sprott said, desired that marriage should be performed with the utmost publicity. This purpose was better served by the banns system than by the issue of a license. The motion was lost, an overwhelming majority voting against it. THE MEETING OF THE GENERAL SYNOD. On the motion of the Rev. 0. C. Harper, a committee was set up to make arrangements for the providing of hospitality for members of the general synod next January. * The opening of the discussion on the Rev. T. H. Sprott's motion re self-go-vernment is reported elsewhere in this issue. EVENING SITTING. Leave was, given the R»v. A. W. H. Gompton to bring in a Bill, amending, clause 4 of AcL 8, in order to make provision for bringing four clergymen in scholastic positions, at present outside the benefits intended to be conferred by tha pension fund, within its scope. On tha motion of the Rev. C. C. Harper, slight alterations were made in the method of conducting the election of representatives to the general synod. MAORI MISSIONARY WORK. The Rev. A. M. Johnson moved — "That th) 3 synod agrees to contribute for the year ending 31st March, 1910, tlij sum of £105 to the Maori Mission Board, having in view the reconstruction of the board by general synod, and the obligations, of the Church of the province to. work now .being done in the beneficiary diocese of Auckland and Waiapu. " Tho Rev. T. H. Sprott seconded the motion. The debate had to "be adjourned, Mr. Sprott reserving his right to speak later. A VOLUNTARY BROTHERHOOD. Mr. W. J. Birch (Marton) resumed ' the debate on the motion of the Rev. I G. Y. Woodward, which proposes to set up a religious brotherhood for conducting voluntary service in the shape 'of street missions and wock amongst labouring men. He moved, as an amendment, "That this synod approves of the proposal to establish a brotherhood de- | voted to voluntary service for this diocese, and appoints the Revs. C. C. Harper, J. 11. Sykes, G. Y. Woodward, and J. Walker, with power to add to their 'lumber, to consider the matter, and if I 'he scheme be found practicable, ' to draw up a report, to be presented to the next meeting of synod." Arch-deacon Towgood seconded the j amendment. ' The mover and seconder of the mo'fion -accepted the amendment, which then became the proposal .before the synod. The Rev. T. H. Sprott dH not ap- ! prove of the wording of the motion, which, he said, committed the synod to endorsement of the scheme. He moved is. -an amendment to substitute these words: "That the synod considers the ; question worthy of earnest consideraI tion," etc. He counselled the synod to j wait for the forthcoming mission of help, and stated that street-preaching encouraged irreverence. The amendment was seconded by the Rev. W. Ballachey (Wellington). The Rev. G. W. Dent (Eltham) opposed the amendment. He said there was a great, difference between street preaching and street missions, as any one who had seen the work done in ■Whitechapel (London) could prove. There the church workers were treated with more respect than the clergy were inEido the churches in New Zealand. Mr. T. Bland (Newtown) urged that t the clergy should go about amongst the j young men and interest themselves in , th»> games which youths indulged in — * cricket, and the like. They required to" make the churches more homely and at- '• tractive. The Rev. J. Walker (Newtown) oppos■ed the amendment. It appeared to him ! that there was a tendency on the part ! of tho synod to avoid expressing a definite opinion on any subject. j Mr. F. R. Russell (St. Mark's) de- j j flared that the synod would stultify ■ itself if it committed itself to a schema i without knowing what the cost would i be. Mr. Sprott's amendment met the ■situation /exactly. On a division the amendment was carripd. Ayes : Clergy 24, laiety 19. Noes : Clergy 20, laiety 15. CHINESE MISSION. Tho Roy. A. M. Johnson moved : "That the Lord Bishop of the diocese be respectfully asked to constitute a general committee for the management of the Chinese Mission, in order that the »rork of the mission may be extended through the diocese." At present, he said, there was no committee to manage the mission. He understood there were 1 about 170 Chinese in the neighbourhood of Olaki. The church had a duty to these people. Tho 'Rev. A. 0. Williams (Waiiganui) seconded the motion, which was carvied unanimously. His lordship said he would be quite willing to do as requested. THE BISHOP'S RESIDENCE. Archdeacon Fancourt * moved : "(1) That this synod confirms the request of the Diocesan iioarrt of Trustees to the general synod to be allowed to sell or lease the property in Mulgrave-street on which the bishop's residence and diocesan library stands ; (2) That the general .synod be asked to make a grant from the General Church Trust towards^the cost of the erection of a new bishop's residence." The Rev. T. H. Sprott seconded the motion. It was contended that the present residence of his lordship was entirely unsuitable. The noise of late trains made it a most uncomfortable glace to live in. Some members of the synod counselled caution. His Lordship said he would not be able to live in the house very much long.er. The noise from the railway was terrible. The motion was carried. HADFIELD MEMORIAL. The governors of the Hadfield Memo- | rial College and Hostel reported that there are at prasent eight students in -residence, one of whom holds the theological exhibition subscribed for by the clergy. The fees are sufficient to pay working expenses ; but considerable expenditure has been incurred for alterations and for furniture. Last year the Diocesan Synod granted £100 for the warden's stipend. The governors asked synod to grant the same amount this year, and permit the balance of last'J year's £100 to. be expended to meet .the \

aboye .expenditure and for general purposes. MAIN TRUNK MISSION. The Railway Mission Committee repoited that with the opening of the Alain Trunk line for through traflic last December, and the consequent departure of the majority of tho railway woikers, the necessity 'for this special mission ceased to exist. The committee desired to express its most thankful appieciation of Mr. Weller's devoted and successful' labours during the 2£ years of the mission's existence, and its gratitude to all contributors to its work, beiug especially thankful for the liberal grants from the self-denial offerings. The valuable assistance rendered by the oflifeJrs of the Public Works Department and by Mr. G. G. Wilson as lay reader at Raurimu, merited the committee's special appreciation. STANDING COMMITTEE'S EEPOBT. The standing committee reported that tha Rev. H. Kcremeneta was licensed for :work in the district of the Wauganui River, Karioi, and Parapara. A grant of £20 was made for the training of Paora Tokoaitua at Te Rau College. A donation of £100 from the Jate Miss F. M. Spinks was handed over to the Diocesan Trustees for investment, the interest to be £aid to the Maori Mission Fund. Reference was made to new parochial districts that had been constituted. It was mtntioned that the synod at its last session made a grant of £100 for the warden of the Hadfield Hostel. As the warden had not been appointed until this year, there is an unexpected balance. The standing committee recommended a vote of £25 to Archdpason Fancourt for amount of pocket expenses during the time he had charge of the hostel, a policy of insurance of 'Jergy against accident had been ari'anged for, and vestries had been asked to make th 9 necessary contribution for the insurance of their vicars and assistant curates. Mr. R. Wilberfoss had been asked to again bring the matter before the synod. In the general church fund it was reported that there was a small credit balance <-.f £30 9s 4d, the first that has occurred for some years back. The outstanding assessments, however, amount to the sum of £1010 4s 3d. as against £934 15s 7d last year. The Church Chronicle account showed a balance iv hand £31 4s 4d, after payment of a1!a 1 ! liabilities to 31st March. The arrears of subscriptions amount, to £14 Ss 6d, after a provision of £10 written off for bad debts.- On the whole, the account showed improvement, and the circulation remained about the same as last year. The synod adjourned at 10 p.m.