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Evening Star, Issue 25724, 22 February 1946, Page 7

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I The sitting of the General Synod pf the Anglican Church was continued in All Saints’ schoolroom on Wednesday afternoon, Archbishop Campbell WestWatson presiding, THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. On the motion of Archbishop VVestWatson, it was resolved that, in addition to the bishops, who were exofficio members, the Board of Theological Studies for the ensuing triennial period be Archdeacons A, C. T Purchas (Christchurch), T. H. C. Partridge (Auckland), L. G. Whitehead (Dunedin), F. H. Petrie (Wellington), Canons S. Parr (Christchurch) and S. F. N. Waymouth (Waiapu). HYMNAL PROPOSAL: It was decided, on the motion of Dean A. K. Warren (Christchurch): “ That this Synod requests His Grace the Archbishop to appoint a commission —(a) to confer with representatives of the General Synods of the Church of Englnnd in Canada and Australia, and to consider the desirability of the production of a hymnal suitable for the Church of the Province of New Zealand; and (b) to report to diocesan Synods with instructions that they report back to the next meeting of General Synod.” CHURCH MEN’S SOCIETY. A motion: “That this Synod welcomes the evidence of renewed aotivity on the part of the Church of England Men’s Society, and expresses the hope that work amongst men . of , the Church will receive fresh impetus through the efforts of the society; and that a report on the work and development of- the society, particularly m relation to the task of restoring, servicemen to normal life, be furnished at each session of in future.” Dean Gibson said it was much more difficult to get men to take an interest in church than was the case with women. In many cases chaplains who had returned from service overseas had been appalled at the lack of religious knowledge and the indifference to religious affairs they had found.. The ®ame state of affairs had been found in camps in New Zealand. In spite of that, he said, more and more men Were really keen to find out about the Christian faith, and what the Church-had to offer them. There had been some criticism of the C.E.M.S., but the speaker regarded it as one of the most valuable organisations in the Church. Most encouraging signs had been noticeable both in England and in New Zealand, nnd the dean was sure the progress would be continued, as in every way the prospects were brighter than for some time past. A high tribute to the work of Mr J. Snell (Wellington), the Dominion organiser, was paid by the dean. Mr Snell was prepared to serve for a further period, he said. The results of his work had been most gratifying and the prospects for the society were how brighter, than for many years past. The society provided an opportunity for those men who returned from service overseas to find entirely different, conditions in their parishes. The work of the society was deserving of encouragement. and through it' the Church would become stronger. Bishop C. A. Cherrington. of Waikato. in seconding the motion said lie knew of nothing which would help the church forward more than the formation of a branch of the society. It was amazing, he continued, ' that bishops had not advised their clergy of the desirability of forming branches in their parishes. He suggested that the reason why the clergy did not move in the matter was either that they were lazy, or they were afraid of the men. The foundation of a branch olf the C.E.M.S. in a parish would give the vicar the support of spiritual men in his work. Bishop W. A. R. Fitchett (Dunedin) pointed out that the society should not be regarded as one which did work, but as an association of church workers. Further discussion of the matter tVas interrupted by the afternoon adjournment. MISSIONS REPORT. The report of the New Zealand Anglican Board of Missions for the triennial period ended June 30, 1945, was adopted on the motion of Bishop W. J. Simkin. of Auckland, who also moved —“ That the Synod commends the action of the board in creating the stabilisation fund for the purpose Of maintaining the work olf the co-ordi-nated missions in the event of a financial depression; that the Synod heartily approves of the decision of the board in its policy of increasing the aitnual budget by £I,OOO with the object of reaching an annual amount of £30,000; that on the occasion of his impending retirement from the office of general secretary of the board the Synod expresses, to the (Rev. F. C. Long its appreciation of and thankfulness for his faithful and painstaking work, and wishes him- every blessing in his retirement.” Bishop Simkin said that, the board’s decision to create a stabilisation fund bad been adopted after considerable thought, and it had been felt that such a course would be only wise in that it would make provision for the maintenance of its missions in the event of a financial depression. The board’s decision to increase the annual budget by £I,OOO yearly until an annual total of £30.000 was reached might be ooen to criticism, but financial support had steadily increased during the past triennial period, and there was room tor great expansion in the Ohurch’s mission work in the Pacific. The victory over Japan imposed on tho Church a very serious obligation indeed. Japan was a fallen foe. and it was their duty as Christian people to gain an open door to evangelise the people of Jap:® and bring them within the sphere of Christian influence. Regarding the retirement of the Rev. Mr Long, the bishop said he did not know how many years Mr Long had been .-general secretary of the Missions Board. For his painstaking work and keenness the board could not say enough, but now increasing years had caused him to relinquish his position. He should be made to feel that not only the Missions Board but also the Svnod was grateful to him for his work as secretary and also his earlier missionary work in India. The resolution was seconded by Bishop P. W. Stephenson, of Nelson, who said that the establishment of a stabilisation fund would eliminate) the necessity of having to reduce allocations to missions in the event of a depression. If they looked at their task as a Pacific pebple they could be dismayed by its magnitude, hut the request for an increase in contributions to the missions year by year was in keeping with the responsibilities of a fonvard-lo'oking church. Gratitude for tho steady increase in the allocations made to his diocese ‘since it was admitted to association with the province of New Zealand 21 years previously was expressed by Bishop L. S. Kempthorne, (Bishop of Polynesia. He gave an outline, of the extent of the work in his diocese, ■which covered Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, auu

a number of neighbouring groups, and said that at the end of November he expected to be in Honolulu, to meet the (Bishops of Melanesia, New Guinea, Honolulu, the Philippines, and Singapore to consider problems that were common to all. Mr IR. H. Lister (Suva) gave details of the Church's work amonc the Solomon Islanders and New Hebrideaus in Fiji,