FREEDOM WANTED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 8, 9 July 1909, Page 3

FREEDOM WANTED.

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH. INTERESTING DEBATE AT THE SYNOD. t MR. SPROTT'S MOTION CARRIED. The debate on the motion submitted in the Anglican Synod by the Rev. T. 11. Sprott, urging synod to secure, by Act of Parliament, the right of complete self -government for the Church, was resumed last evening. His Lordship, the Bishop, who had to leave the assembly, said valuable speeches had been made already, but he hoped details of changes required would not be discussed. Ihe principle should be discussed. He thought with Rev. Mr. Sola that if increased power were given the church, such increased powers should be exercised wit^i difficulty. To meet the case he had drawn up -.an amendment by way of addition to the motion which provided: — "That no alteration in the Book of Common Player, in the form and manner of making, ordaining, and consecrating of bishops, priests and deacons, and in the thirty-nine Articles of religion, shall bo made »until it shall have been first pioposed in one general synod, and made known to the several diocesan synods, and finally agreed to in the meeting of the general synod next ensuing." "To me," he said, "it is a horrible thing to say that we shall never make changes. It seems to me to be almost a denial of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our church. I don't think we should say we shall never make "hanges." Changes were contemplated by the very framevs of the Constitution. There was no reason why NewZealand should be alone .in not having the power now asked for. He earnestly hoped that the members of the synod would take his view of the case — that no change would be made without the utmost delibeiation. It was, however, a terrible thing to say that the church here was not to benefit by the result of experience, and that the church should go on in the same way that it had 200 years ago — that they should have no power to make alterations. (Applause.) The Rev. T. H. Sprott intimated that he- would gladly accept the amendment proposed by his Lordship as an addition to his motion. (Applause.) Mr. T. TP. Martin approved the motion. He made an exhaustive examination of the -position, and declared that there was such a thing as unwise conservatism. In the motion he thought they shou'd at the outset affirm their spiritual communion with the Church of England. With a view to making piovision for certain matters outlined m his speech, he suggested the following additions to the motion. "And also to seek legislation by private Bill vesting all lands in New Zealand granted or conveyed for purposes in connection with the United Church of England and Ireland in trustees appointed by the general synod to be held for the like purpose in connection with the church and the province of New Zealand, and in asking general synod to take this course this synod reaffirms that the church of this province is in full communion with the Church of England, and suggests that a declaration to this effect be placed in the forefront of any resolution that may be passed by the general synod on the subject of altering the fundamental provisions, and in any Bill on the subject that may be introduced into Parliament, and further agrees to this course." The Rev. Mr. Sprott readily accepted the suggested addition to his motion. Mr. W. H. Quick also examined the subject li-om its historical aspect. He stated that the church in New Zealand, strictly speaking, was a provincial church in communion with the Church of England. He did not regard the motion as revolutionary. It had been discussed at several previous synods by lay representatives. "The time will come," he said, "when we will find ourselves a fossilised church if we do not take steps to secure our autonomy." He contended that they were simply asking the general synod to assert a power which it had already. Mr. E. H. Dean seconded Mr. Miartin's amendment. • Capt. Hewitt said that when he came to the synod that afternoon he felt inclined to counsel delay. After the manner in which the position of the church had been explained by the legal n.embers of the synod he must say "Qo on." — (applause.) Mr. E. H. Hadfield, though hesitant at first, said that after the addendum to the motion .vhich had been tabled by the Bishop, even the most timid person , could support the proposal. It would have his support. Yen. Archdeacon Fancourt (in the chair) said he could not say from his place then what he would hays stated on the floor of the house. He was getting an old man, and perhaps he was a little conservative. Many of them lcoked upon any proposed change with very great trepidation. The whole question of ritual and services was now before the convocation of Canterbury, and very shortly it would come under the consideration of the convocation of York. He would not like to see different prayer books in use in different colonial churches. The chinch in New Zealand should be in full -communion •with the Church in England. (Applause.) In replying, the Rev. Sprott said the piayer book in use in America was different to that in use in England ; so vas the prayer book in use in Scotland and elsewhere. Otherwise he held there would be an abandonment of the principle for which the church went through the Reformation — the right of national- i ily in church matters. As for the criti- j cisms of the Rev. Mr. Sola, when he had been a little longer in New Zealand he would come to understand that the church here was more conservative than was the case in England. After 20 years experience ol the rapidity of the church here— (laughter) — he could honestly say that he aid not think ne would live to see a single comma in the prayer book altered — (renewed laughter.) The motion was carried, and the Bishop was requested to bring the resolution before the next meeting of the general synod.