ANGLICAN SYNOD

Evening Star, Issue 21232, 13 October 1932, Page 6

ANGLICAN SYNOD

PROCEEDINGS AT YESTERDAY S SESSION The Anglican Synod of the Diocese of Dunedin resumed yesterday afternoon, Bishop Richards presiding. STANDING COMMITTEE RED^T. The Synod went into committee to discuss the report and accounts of the Standing Committee. The committee reported:— North Invercargill.—Application to borrow £750 for the erection of a church hall at North Invercargill was sanctioned. Holiday for Vicars.—A request that the committee should advise churchwardens of their responsibility to provide annual holidays for vicars is referred to Synod for consideration. Boundaries of Parochial Districts.— A suh-committee has been appointed to consider the matter of parochial boundaries and has not reported yet. Jackson Trust.—The committee regrets to report that owing to reduction in rents and heavy taxation, the income from the Jackson Trust for the bishopric endowment has fallen from £370 to £2lO a year. Southern Cemetery.—The chairman of the Cemetery Board reported that negotiations with the Dunedin City Corporation _ had been completed, and that in consideration of the payment of £BOI 17s 9d, and the transfer of the cemetery site, the corporation covenanted to indemnify the board against all liability with respect to upkeep and maintenance of certain graves and the upkeep of the cemetery, and a formal agreement has been executed. The balance of the cemetery capital account (£700) and of the cemetery maintenance account (£ls) and of the cemetery income account (£ls 3s lid) have been transferred to the capital account of the pension fund, in accordance with Statute IX., amendment statute, 1928. The Registrar’s Report.—The Registrar reported that with the exception of the assessment account and the bishopric endowment acount, none of the diocesan accounts was overdrawn on June 30, 1932. The assessment account stood in debit at £3O 3s, but this had since been covered by_ the collection of overdue amounts. It is to be regretted that owing to the depression so many parishes and districts were in arrears on June 30, 1932. The report was received. DIOCESAN TRUST BOARD. The Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board submitted a report for the year ending June 30, 1932. The report, which was discussed in committee, stated:— Section Sold.—Section 45, Block V., Otokia, given by Mr W. W. Wathen for the benefit of St. Paul’s Chapter, was sold by direction of the bishop, and the proceeds were paid to St. Paul’s Chapter. Sections.—Sections at Ratanui and Glenomaru have not yet been disposed of. Sections 10 and 11, Block HI., Gore, have been vested in the board, to be held on account of the Gore Parish. Loans on Mortgage.—The Roslyn Parish has reduced its indebtedness to £SOO. There are only two loans on farm properties which are causing the board any concern. Waikawa.—ln accordance with resolution of Synod, the board advanced the Waikawa Church Committee £B7 10s, secured by mortgage on the church site. Bequests.—The ( board has received the following bequests:—Mrs Elizabeth Macdonald, £37G Cs Bd, for the benefit of the Boys’ Home; Mrs C. S. Greenslado, £2,000 each for the Boys’ Home, St. Mary’s Orphanage, the four-fifths general church fund, and for St. Paul’s Cathedral Chapter, of which £I,OOO has been handed over to the chapter; Mr E. Booth, £IOO, for the four-fifths general church fund; Mr E. Price, £I,OOO each for the pension fund and the four-fifths general church fund. Queenstown. —The tender of Messrs MacLellan Ltd. for £2,932 has been accepted for the erection of the new church. Southern Cemetery.—By instructions from the Cemetery Board, acting by direction of the Diocesan Synod, your board handed to the Dunedin City Council securities to the value of £BOI 17s 9d and also transferred to it the site of the Church of England portion of the Southern Cemeterjq the City Council covenanting to undertake all responsibilities in connection with the cemetery. See House Property.—The balance of the land not required for the bishop’s residence has been surveyed and will bo offered for sale shortly. The report was received. CLERGY PENSION FUNDS. The clergy pension fund report was considered in committee and received. On the motion of the Rev. Canon Small it was decided—“ That the Synod learns with gratification that the total of the capital of the clergy, widows’, and orphans’ fund now exceeds £20,000, and records its thanks and offers its congratulations to Archdeacon Curzon-Siggers, under whose advice and guidance the scheme was carried on for a number of years; to the Rev. Canon Statham for. the care with which he has guarded the account since its inception; and to Archdeacon Fitchett for his efforts from time to time to strengthen the workings of he fund.” When the Synod went out of committee Archdeacon Fitchctt said that four years ago he made an appeal on behalf of the pension fund, and the immediate result was the receipt of a cheque for £IOO from the late Mr Ernest Price. Mr Price also provided handsomely for the fund in his will. Other people, said the Archdeacon, might do the same, and in that way the committee would be able to build up a capital which would enable the church to provide pensions for the clergy in their advanced years. The committee could not depend entirely on the contributions of the clergy of the parishes. A certain amount of help was looked for from bequests and other sources. Mi Price, by his payment of £IOO and by tho bequest in his will, had set an example that, it was hoped, would bo followed by other members of the public. Dean Cruickshank said he hoped that the passing of the resolution would not lead people to think the fund was in such a happy position that it did not need further'support. It was apparently the wish of Canon Small, who saw the fund attain its £IO,OOO status, to express his gratification that it had now reached £20,000. and no doubt Canon Small, and indeed the whole church, would be very pleased to see the fund reach £30,000 or more. (“ Hear, hear.”) Archdeacon Fitchett and others supported the view of Dean Cruickshank. EVENING SESSION. The Synod was resumed last night, Bishop Richards presiding. ELECTION OF SYNODMEN. Mr J. T. Dawson moved tiie second reading of the Bill to amend the election of Synodmon (statute No, l),and stated that the Bill was the outcome or a Bill of which he had charge at the last ses.-ion of the Synod. When

the Bill was in committee last year difficulties were experienced in regard to several details, but it was now hoped that they iiad been removed. The Bill proposed that Synodmen should bo elected at an annual meeting of parishioners instead of, as at present, by nomination to a returning officer and a postal ballot. The motion was carried, and the Synod went into committee to consider (he Bill, the third reading being fixed for to-day. STANDING COMMITTEE. The election of Standing Committee resulted as follows: Clergy (Ten Nominations).—Dear Cruickshank, Archdeacon Fitchetf, Archdeacon Russell, Canon Button, Revs. W. A. H. Hamhlctt and J. A. Lush. Laity (Eight Nominations'). —Messrs J. T._ Dawson, A. 11. Allen. L. Deans Ritchie. F. W. Knight, A. I’. Newman, W. E. Earndinw. and G. R. Ritchie.