FIRST SYNOD SESSION

Evening Star, Issue 22462, 6 October 1936, Page 6

FIRST SYNOD SESSION

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES OFFICERS APPOINTED The first session of the twentyfourth Anglican Synod was held in St. Paul’s Schoolroom „ yesterday afternoon, Bishop Fitchett presiding. After the Bishop had delivered his presidential address, which '"’3 s published in last night’s ‘ Star, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded him on the motion of Archdeacon CurzonSiggers. APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS. The following Synod officers were appointed:—Clerical secretary, the llev. E. Wilson; lay secretary, Mr F. W. Knight: chairman of committees. Mr J. T. Dawson; deputy-chair-man of committee, Mr,W. E. Earnshaw; clerk of committees, Mr P. J. Priest; chancellor of the diocese, Mr J. Cook; church advocate, Mr H. L. Cook; registrar of the Bishop’s Court, the Rev. W. A. Curzon-Siggers. The Bishop paid a tribute to the great assistance he had been given in legal matters by the Messrs Cook. It was decided that the hours of meeting be from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. MISSIONARY COMMITTEE. The report of the Diocesan Missionary Committee was read as follows, by the Rev Mr Hamblett: — ■ Your committee has pleasure in presenting the following reports for the 12 months ended June 30_ last: —The total contributions received were £1,422 13s 3d, of which £1,407 6s lid were for the budget and £ls 6s 4d for non-budget. Our total receipts were £6O 15s 8d in excess of last year, but wo were £l6l 13s Id short of the budget. An analysis of the contributions reveals the following interesting figures:—Thirteen parishes or districts reached or exceeded. their quotas and contributed £874 Is Id, seven others contributed 75 per cent., or more and gave £l6l 16s 4d, eight others contributed 50 per cent, or more and gave £207 2s Id, five others contributed 25 per cent, or more and gave £23 14s 6d, seven others gave less than 25 per cent, and gave £ll 3s 4d. Besides these there were : non-parochial contributions amounting to £129 9s 7d,. including a legacy of £IOO for the Melanesian Mission—total, £1,407 6s lid. It seems that some districts possess no organisation which, operating throughout the year, would bring in regular contributions, _ and this has a specially bad l _ effect ‘ when transfers occur and districts are left without a vicar for varying periods. It seems also that too much is left to the initiative of the vicars, and it is desirable that vestries and church committees should co-operate with the vioars to see that the quotas are obtained or thnt at least some organised effort is made to obtain them, and that the matter be not generally left to intermittent appeals. A ladies’ missionary committee was formed,in'Dunedin in December and meets twice monthly, once for prayer, information, and inspiration, and once for sewing and general purposes. It has -done something in supplying useful things for various' mission stations, and Its members endeavour to foster the missionary cause in their respective parishes. Mr John Wilson, representative in New Zealand of the Melanesian Mission, Will spend a month in the archdeaconries of Southland and Central Otago in October and November this year. The board fixed the budget at* the same figure as for the previous year—viz., £16,500', and left the diocesan quotas at last year’s ratios. As the actual contributions were 10 per cent, less than the budget, the board earnestly diesires that all donors will this year , endeavour to increase their gifts by at least 10 per , cent. On all sides comes the call for more workers, and in..our fields in Melanesia and India especially many converts are being .made, requiring additional workers, but lack of funds. hinders progress. The parochial quotas remain the same as last year except where altered boundaries required modification.—William Dunedin, chairman. The report was laid on the table.. , ' SOCIAL QUESTIONS. The Rev. A. B. Pywell submitted ‘he fojlowing report, from the Diocesan Committee on social questions:— During the progress of the year your committee considered its “ modus nperandi,’’ and-for the purpose of guidance made inanities from similar bodies in other -dioceses within the province. It was discovered some of these dealt with subjects relating to monetary and other economic problems, which your members felt demanded specialised knowledge with which they were not equipped. In consequence, it was decided to extend some oversight upon the various diocesan institutions, which came under the church’s social activities’. Reports were asked for and received from most of them. An interesting feature of the discussions was in connection with the work of the Dunedin Films Institute, which we were pleased to learn is functioning successfully. From information given this committee ,it seems clear that pressure is being brought to hear throughout the world, and is having the effect of a marked improvement in the average type of picture. A further movement of considerable importance in the view of this committee relates to the recent action of the Otago Education Board and local school committees in allowing daily school -to be opened with devotional exercises. In the committee’s opinion, this excellent provision should be taken advantage of by clergy wherever possible. Your committee noted with satisfaction that the spiritual needs of military camps have been well provided for by the diocesan chaplains of the district. At the final meeting of the committee earnest consideration was given to the question raised by a member whether the future functioning of this organisation could not be improved by linking up with some similar' institution in the Homeland, preferably with the Industrial _ Christian Fellowship, whose publications have already been found- useful by some members of the committee. The report-was laid on the table.