ANGLICAN SYNOD

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1913, Page 11

ANGLICAN SYNOD

Ml ' » LEGAL STATUS OF CHURCH OFFICERS. DOINGS OFIIORMONS. (BT tBl/EGBArtt— ttlESS ASSOCIATION.) NELSON, 24th January. At the Anglican General Synod's morning sitting the committee reporting on the legal' status of churdh 'officers stated that the position was unsatisfactory, Officers were personally liable under a but were unable to hold property on behalf of parishioners. The committee submitted the following recommendation : That the Minister for Internal Affairs be approached with a view of securing the insertion in the Religious, Educational, Charitable, and Trust Bodies Act, 1908, an enabling clause under which vestries or managihg committees of any religious body may be incorporated for the purpose of entering into contracts and holding church property. Archdeacon Grace, on behalf of the committee enquiring into the doings of Mormons, reported that in view of the grave spread of Mormon tenets and practices' into the moral and social life of the community'— both pakeh"a and 1 Maori-^the committee is of opinion that it behoves the church to take measures to combat and expose the same. It was recommended that a commission be set up to take such steps aa may be deemed necessary. j The Bishop of Christchurch moved : That the Synod iirges members of the church, while continuing their efforts in support of the Melanesian and Maori missions, to endeavour by prayer and study to extend the knowledge and sympathy of the people with the missionary worl£ of the* church throughout the world. Bishop Crossley (Auckland)' urged that the first duty of New Zealand was to the Maori. He moved an amendment that the words "Melanesia and Maori" be transposed. Bishop Williams said the Church Missionary Association was entitled to hearty thanks. Canon Mac Murray said it was a great mistake to think the Maori mission work was completed. The Bishop, of Waiapu said the church had not yet done its duty to the Maori. The Bishop of Nelson spoke of the great responsibilities of the church in missions. Its first- duty was to the Maori. He seconded the amehdment, which was carried.. The Primate, speaking to the amended motion, said he looked to Bee great interest stirred up in the Maori missions. The Rev. W. Beatty asked whether the church was justified ■ in spending large sums on tilings not primarify necessary for the advancement of r the Kingdom. . • ■",..-,«. ' #Ehe! riiotfop "wets' carried.""! *r .llmi »■ This afternoon, the following resolutions attached to the report of the Board of Th'eoJbgical Studies were adopted :-^- (1) .That.m order t^>, meet the expendi.tur»',.,of the noard", "the dioceses be assessed for the next three years at £100 per annum. (2) That for each of the next three years the sum of £80 be set aside- by the General Church Trustees to provide exhibitions, if required, for candidates for Holy Orders who shall pass Grade 111., subject to regulations drafted by the board. (3) That the following be nominated as members of, the board .'—Archdeacons Richards and H. W. Williams, the Revs. H. T. Purchas, J, R, Wilford, A. M. Johnson, and F. G. Harvie. The Wanganui Church authorities were empowered to sell the present site, and v-withv -with the proceeds to purchase another in the Avenue. On the recommendation of the Committee of Trusts, the General Synod authorised the Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board to exchange with the City Councij certain lands on which to erect a cathedral. ,