THE ANGLICANS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 28 April 1922, Page 5

THE ANGLICANS.

GENERAL SYNOD

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS,

I (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.; AUCKLAND, April 27." j The General iiynod opened to-day. ' The acting-Primate, Bishop Julius, in his presidential address referred to the j subject of church union, saying that the j chief apparent difficulty was that of | episcopal orders, it \vus obvious that ; many Churches would unite without conditions, but he was convinced that [.whether episcopal orders, were essential !or not the unity of Christendom demanded a ministry acknowledging every part of the Church. : Dealing with the question of the I Bible in schools, Bishop Julius said : "It is a real pain to me that I cannot I agree with my brethren of other I Churches, nor with those of my own community who will support them. I lam prepared to grant that the use of a Scripture text book and a recital of the Lord's Prayer will be an advance upon the present system, sufficient perhaps to salve national conscience and block the way to any genuine means of

religious instruction. If that is all the Churches want they are certainly content with very little; but the temper of the people is changing. Religious instruction will be given, and given effectively; the people themselves will demand it." j The appointment of officers resulted: Clerical secretary, Archdeacon A. M. Johnson; lay secretary, Mr. C. W. Pitts Brown; chairman of committee, Mr. C. J. Tunks; deputy chairman^ Mr. G. Shirtcliffe; clerk of committee, Mr. H. M. Bannehr. ' Bishop Julius was unanimously elected Primate. When the preliminaries in connection with the constitution of the S3 nod were completed, the seven bishops retired to select one of their number : I for nomination to the clergy and laity, j and unanimously selected Bishop Julius. The nomination was submitted to the clergy and laity, who assembled in different rooms and were provided with ■ i voting papers. It transpired that the! 1 vote was unanimous. j j Bishop Aver ill, as senior bishop, congratulated Bishop Julius on his elevation, and said the unanimity in which i the election was made was proof of the! i confidence of the whole Church in him. j He mentioned that Bishop Julius was! ! the thirteenth bishop according to consecration in the whole Anglican community. He thought the Church should fall into line with other communities j , and call their Primate archbishop. I i Dean Fitchett {Dunedin), on behalf j of the clergy, .and Mr. C. A. Delatour (Gisborne), on behalf of the laity, congratulated the Church, the province, and Bishop Julius. I "My brethren of the clergy and i 'laity," said Bishop Julius in reply, speaking with some emotion, "I do not find it very easy to speak. You can understand that after 32 years' connection with the province of New Zealand I feel very deeply, not only the confidence you have shown, but the } kindly, sympathetic and hearty way in I which you have done it." It was t j cheer to an old man, conscious of mist takes and shortcomings, to know he possessed something of their love, esteem and confidence. These were ' times when one felt the Church wanted leadership, strength and youth, and all be could bring was love of the Church » and devotion to their cause. >