THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 56, 31 January 1852, Page 3

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

\From the South Australian Register, Nov. 8-] "Minute addressed to the Lay Members of the South Australian Church Society, by the Lord Bishop of "Adelaide. "Tuesday, September 2, 1851. " Gentlemen,—The recent vote of the Legislative Assembly, whereby all aid from State in Vdisseminating the doctrine and moral laws of bur adorable Redeeemer has been cut off, and so far His kingdom upon earth no longer publicly recognised, compels me to address you earnestly and affectionately with reference to the future supportof your clergy, and the extension of the means of grace to the members of our Church, who are scattered through the province, and continually arriving in considerable numbers. It. appears to. me that the time has arrived when every earnest-minded Christian in communion with our Church is imperatively called on to contribute to his power, yea, and beyond his power, for the furtherance of the Gospel, so far as it depends upon the ministry of the Word, and to exert his influence in order to raise a general Diocesan Fund for the support of the clergy, both parochial and missionary. The moral degradation, of apeople, deprived of the ordinances of the gospel, is certain and progressive. Nor can we expect any other result than the spiritual deterioration of the people of thiscolony, if the means of grace are not supplied in proportion to their increasing numbers. Let it be remembered that the next generation will not enjoy the privileges we have possessed in our fatherland, and in the bosom of our Church ; while experience forbids us to hope that a population deprived of the public worship of Almighty God can preserve that sense of His Providence and Government of the world which is essential to its well-being, and the observance of the eternal laws of truth and righteousness. Under these circumstances s v*l would urge the appointment of a committee of five lay members of the Society, to consult upon i the best means of developing the resources of our communion for the support of its ministers ; and to report upon the best mode of enlisting the sympathies of the great body of lay members of the Church in this most Christian and necessary work. Among other plans which have occurred to me are, —Ist, the assembling together in Adelaide of one or two lay members, being communicants, from each congregation, to act as a pro tempore Convention in furtherance of the above object.—2ndly, the appointment of two laymen to act as stewards of the Diocesan Fund to be raised, and of a treasurer. —3rdly, that the endeavour should be made to obtain not less than Is. per quarter, over and above their local contributions, from every one who frequents the worship of our Church, for a Diocesan Fund in the support of the ministry, to be collected and paid over by the local Stewards appointed for this purpose by each congregation. I have only to add that I shall be ready to contribute all the aid in my power towards the proper support of a zealous and efficient ministry. " I remain, Gentlemen, " Your faithful friend and brother, " Augustus Adelaide."

" Report of the Committee of the South Australian Church Society upon the suggestions of a sub-committee appointed to consider and report upon the above Minute, addressed to the Society by the Lord Bishop of Adelaide, on the 2nd September, 185 J. " This Minute appears to embrace two topics :— . " First, ' The best means of developing the "resources of the Church in this Diocese for the support of its ministers.' " Secondly, ' the best mode of enlisting the sympathies of the great body of lay members of the Church in furtherance of that object, and suggesting a convention for such purpose.' " Your committee having care fully considered, at several adjourned meetings, the Report of the -sub-committee, desire to record their sense of the value of many of its suggestions ; and have Agreed to adopt and embody the substance of -them in this their Report to the members of the Society at large. " In the present position of our Church in this diocese, not established by law, and the aid of Government withdrawn, your committee are of opinion that a more perfect development of its organization is requisite to meet the emergency. In the measures to be proposed, how-

ever, your committee desire to keep steadily in view the subordinate relation of our Church to the United Church of England and Ireland, and to conform to its principles and institutions as closely as the circumstances of an infant colony will permit. "Your committee therefore propose for consideration, the following draft of a constitution for the Church in this Diocese ;—to consist of the Bishop, Synod of Clergy, and Convention of Laity; together forming a General Diocesan Assembly. . "Appointment op Bishops. "1. It is not thought expedient to propose any alteration in the manner in which the Royal prerogative is at present exercised in the appointment of Bishops. - " Synod op Clergy. "2. The Synod of Clergy shall consist of every duly: licensed officiating minister, Presbyters alone having the right of voting. ".-■"'" "Convention or Laity. /u3. The Convention shall consist of lay delegates (being.communicants) from all the congregations/in the Diocese ; to be elected by the seat-renters in the following proportions, viz,— for a congregation under 150 souls, one delegate ; above 150 and under 300. two delegates ; and above 300, three delegates. These delegates shall represent.their respective congregations in the Diocesan Assembly. " Diocesan Assembly. "4; This Assembly is constituted when the Convention and Synod meet together, and are presided over by the Bishop. " 5; No rule shall be binding on the members of the Church of the Diocese at large, which shall not have received the concurrent assent of the Bishop, the Synod, and the Convention; and which shall not have been passed in the Diocesan Assembly. :*" 6.: It shall be lawful for the Synod and Convention to deliberate apart, or in conference (by mutuahagreement) with each other, or with the Bishop. "7. The assent, or dissent of the Synod and Convention, shall be determined by the majority of votes in each order respectively. Each order to vote by itself, either openly, or by ballot, as shall be decided on each occasion. " 8. The Diocesan Assembly shall meet annually in the month of January, and Services shall be held, and Sermons preached daily during its session. At its opening a pastoral letter from the Bishop shall be read, containing a report of the general state of the Church in the Diocese, the progress of religion and education, and of the means of public worship. The Clergy shall also deliver written reports to the Bishop, detailing the duties performed by them during the year; the state of the parishes ; number of communicants; their pastoral visitations; the state of the Sunday and Day Schools ; and the efforts made by themselves and congregations for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. Extraordinary meetings may be convened by the Bishop, when he sees fit; or upon a requisition by seven of the Clergy, ttho have been at least five years in priest's orders ; or of ten delegates. "9. The Clergy being under the obligation implied in their subscription to the Thirty-nine Articles, as well as the three Articles of the 36th Canon, it is not competent for the Diocesan Assembly to make alterations in those formularies ; or in the method of interpretation laid down in the declaration prefixed to the Thirtynine Articles; or in the Book of Common Prayer of the United Church of England and Ireland: or finally, in the authorised version of the Holy Scriptures. With these exceptions, the Diocesan Assembly may deliberate and decide by a majority of votes, taken as specified in Rule 7, on all matters affecting the interests of the Church in this Diocese. " Committees. " 10. The Diocesan Assembly shall have power to appoint such committees for such purposes, either Financial or otherwise, and to act for such time, as it shall deem expedient. Your Committee recommends that financial committees should consist of the Bishop and of two of the Clergy ; one to be chosen by the Dean and Chapter, the other by the remaining Clergy and five Laymen. "Ecclesiastical Censures and Punishments. "11. The Clergy will be subject to the spiritual jurisdiction of the Bishop, whose power of admonishing and censuring them, as occasion may require, can be exercised by him, as hath heretofore been done in England ; but it

is recommended that the Bishop should be assisted by five Clergymen in Priest's orders ; two of whom should be the Dean of the Cathedral Church and Archdeacon ; and the other three nominated by the Bishop from the Synod at the annual meeting of the Diocesan Assembly; and that they altogether should form a Court to be called the Consistorial Court, or Court of first instance. This Court may in the first instance, take cognizance of all charges against Ministers of misconduct, ecclesiastical or moral. Such offences as appear to require a heavier punishment than censure, are to be inquired into in a Court to be called the Court of Delegates. The members of such last mentioned Court shall be annually appointed by ballot by the members of the Diocesan Assembly at its yearly meeting, and shall consist of five Clerical and five Lay members, five of whom shall be a quorum. The Bishop, or in his absence his Chancellor, if there be one ; or if there be no Chancellor, then some person to be deputed by the Bishop, acting as President, and in case of equality of votes, but in such cases only, having a vote. "12. All charges of alleged misconduct, which in the opinion of the Consistory or Court of First Instance may probably require to be punished with deprivation, or suspension of the enjoyment of temporalities, are to be sent to this Court, where the accused is to be tried according to such rules and forms of proceedings as the Court shall make in that behalf. If the Court shall pronounce its opinion to be wholly or in part against the accused, the Bishop shall, with the assent of the Court, award such punishment as shall be deemed fit; which punishment, if there shall be no appeal from the decision of the Court of Delegates, or if being such, the decision shall be affirmed, shall be carried into execution. "13. To give effect to the judgment of the Court of Delegates it will be proper that a clause should be inserted in every Trust Deed for determining the tenure of any minister of the Church, Chapel, House, Lands, or advantages whereof he may be deprived by or by means of the sentence of the Court of Delegates. " Declaration by Ministers. " I, A.8., do hereby solemnly engage to submit myself to the decision of the Court of Delegates or Diocesan Assembly, and to give up possession of the temporalities of the Church or District which I may hold, if sentenced to Suspension or Deprivation by the Court of Delegates, or Diocesan Assembly in case of appeal. "Appeals. " 14. Ministers may appeal from the sentence of the Consistorial Court to the Bishop in Synod: or to the superior Ecclesiastical Courts; and from the sentence of the Court of Delegates to the Diocesan Assembly. The sentence of the Court of Delegates shall be final, unless an appeal be made according to rules in that behalf to be made. " 15. Provided the objects described in the four preceding clauses can be accomplished, your committee does not think it desirable that our church should seek for any legislation, either local or imperial, relating to its affairs. "Patronage. " 16. The first appointment of a Minister to a Church shall be vested in the principal contributors to its erection, in accordance with rules to be framed by the Diocesan Assembly. On the occurrence of subsequent vacancies, however, each vestry of trustees, churchwardens, and committee of seatholders shall have power to elect the minister of their church, transmitting the usual form of nomination to the bishop. " Of Churches or Parishes. " 17. The affairs of each church shall be managed by a select vestry, composed of the minister (who shall preside when present), trustees, wardens, and (in proportion to the number of the congregation) from two to ten ' sidesmen,' or assistant wardens. And your committee would recommend that corporate powers should be sought for the trustees and wardens of each church to hold lands in perpetuity for the benefit thereof, subject to the control of the vestry. " Sidesmen. " IS. The duty of collecting the subscriptions for the 'Pastoral Aid Fund,' and other general funds of the church, will devolve on the sidesmen, to be handed over to the wardens of their respective churches, and transmitted by them to the Finance Committee of the General Assembly. " General and Parochial Registers. "19. Accurate registers, after an approved form, shall be kept in each vestry, of all adult

members of our church, residing within the parish, or district, from which a register of the Diocesan Assembly shall be compiled and cor- . rected periodically. The object is to bring all its members into closer communion with the church, by means of pastoral visitation ; and to extend Church accommodation and the means of education, as the population increases. " Finance. "20. Your committee now proceed to the consideration of the question of finance. They recommend the establishment of three separate and distinct funds, namely,—a ' Pastoral Aid Fund,' an ' Endowment Fund,' and an ' Educational Fund.' These funds should be placed under the control, and subject to the regulation of the Diocesan Assembly, and administered by its finance Committee. " Pastoral Aid Fund. . " 21. This fund should be established by means of quarterly subscriptions of 3s. per qr., or 12s. per annum, from every adult member of our church who may be willing to subscribe; and collected by the sidesmen of each parish or district in their respective localities. " 22. Annual Sermons should be preached in all churches in aid of this fund. " 23. The object of this Fund is to afford aid to Ministers whose income from all professional sources, may not reach the minimum sum of £150 per annum ; their primary source of income being from Pew-rents and Surplice Fees. Claims on this Fund will not be admitted, however, as a matter of right, from any minister whose church or district is capable of providing him with a suitable income; it being more particularly intended to aid ministers having small churches, and in poor districts, as the state of the Fund may permit; due consideration being had for such ministers as have families. It is also proposed that aid should be granted from this Fund towards the support of missionaries to itinerate in remote districts. " 24. -It is expected that, in the more wealthy and populous Parishes, besides the necessary subscriptions to the General Funds of the Church, the Congregations will provide incomes for their ministers on a liberal scale, without looking for extraneous aid. ' '•25. Aid should not be granted from this Fund to Ministers of Churches, the Trust Deeds of which are unsatisfactory to the Finance Committee. " Endowment and Building Fund. "26. This Fund will be established by means of annual subscriptions and donations of money or land, and is intended to aid local efforts in the purchase of Glebe Lands, the erection of Parsonage Houses and building Churches ; on the conditions to be prescribed by the Diocesan Assembly. " Educational Fund. " 27. Your committee recommend the establishment of a Fund in aid of Salaries to School masters and School mistresses, building Schoolrooms, and to promote education generally; under conditions to be determined by the Diocesan Assembly. " In concluding their Report, and commending its suggestions to the prayerful consideration of the Members of the Society and of the Church at large, your committee are most anxious to call forth and cherish the zealous cooperation of all the members of our communion, in extending its influence and enlarging its usefulness. It appears to your committee that this can only be effected under the Divine blessing, by remedying some defects and supplying some wants in its system. A more effective organization is needed to give energy to the discipline of the Church. The Laity must assume their proper functions, as well as largely extend the bounds of their liberality; remembering that here there are no endowments as in England, and that our rapidly increasing population calls for corresponding increase in the means of divine worship. Under the circumstances of this province, your committee feel that each individual member of our church, after satisfying local claims, would do well to devote not less than two and a half per cent, of his income to a general Church Fund, under the control of the Diocesan Assembly, for the diffusion of the Gospel, the supply of Ordinances, and the support of Clergy, both parochial and missionary. The Clergy ought to be relieved from anxiety about secular things. The laity are called to take a more active part in the administration of the temporal concerns as well as ecclesiastical arrangements of the Church. A closer union would thus be formed between both, by the stated interchange of those spiritual and

secular good offices which are appropriate to each. Societies for visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, comforting the afflicted, and counselling the erring^would be more readily formed. A way would be opened for the more extensive exercise of those offices of charity and mercy, which are peculiarly appropriate to the female sex. Through their influence and the sympathies thus awakened, many wanderers from the fold of Christ would be restored to the bosom of the Church, as well as to the worship and associations of their youth. With the Divine blessing on such endeavours, and upon the arrangements within the Church which may hereafter, with the sanction of the Supreme authority, be°adopted, the clergy and laity in their several* stations would work together in promoting the glory of God and the welfare of mankind. The gospel of the kingdom of Christ would be more fully preached, and, according to His commandment, the ministers who preach that Gospel would " surely live of it." At all events the means to effect that object would not have been left untried, and in this confidence your committee would be content to leave the result to the good providence of God."