DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1568, 21 December 1865, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

TcESD.fi i Dec. 19. The Synod met at 4.30 p.m., the Lord Bishop of the Diocese presiding. Prayers were offered by the Bishop, and the minutes of the, last sitting were con- ' firmed. I' The Bishop laid upon the table some of the parochial accounts, framed in accordance with clause 27 of Instructions to Churchwardens. Mr. Lee brought up the report of the committee on the management of the property held by the Church Property Trustees. The election of three assessors, and of twelve members of the Standing Committee of the Synod, was appointed to take the precedence of the other business of the day. The following were elected as members of the Standing Committee : —Clergy: Revs. G. Cotterill, J. Wilson, J. C. Bagshaw, B. W. Dudley, and G. J. Cholmondely; the Yen. the Archdeacon of Christchurch acting ex officio. Laity: Messrs. Donald, A. F. K Blakiston, Williams, Ross, Gordon, and Davie. The following were elected Assessors Clergy: Yen. the Archdeacon of Christchurch, J. Wilson, and B. W. Dudley. Laity : Messrs. Ross, Acland, and Hall. Mr. Hawkes proposed the following resolution:—" That, in the opinion of this Synod, the time has arrived when a capitular body should be constituted in the Diocese of Christchurch, in connection with the Cathedral, and that the same shall consist of a Dean and four Canons." The Rev. J. Wilson would like to have a definite account of the object in view in connection with the proposed body, their duties, I & c. The Bishop suggested that the Dean should have the charge of candidates for holy orders, acting as director of their reading, studies, &c. An Archdeacon might also be appointed, who, besides his other duties, might take the charge of the financial department of the diocese—such as the various trusts. The Canons might render very valuable assistance in the general work of the diocese. In connection with the Standing Commission, he would gladly assist in arranging the work of the capitular body. The motion was carried. Tie Rev. W. W. Willock proposed, " That the Bishop be requested to form & commission, in order that a selection of music to suit the hymns contained in the New Zealand Hymnal might be compiled, and that the commission be instructed to make, if possible, their final report at the next meeting of Synod."—Carried. The Standing Orders having been suspended, in order to facilitate the transaction of business, The first clause of the resolutions, with reference to the education of the sons of the clergy, was reconsidered. The words, " that a portion of the fund should be expended upon exhibitions for the sons of clergymen proceeding to Christ's College, or any similar Church institution," being added. The Hev. F. Knowlks moved a resolution to the effect that, in some exceptional cases, remuneration should be given out of the Trust Fund to assistant curates doing extra Sunday duly. The resolution was lost on a division being taken. The Rev. G, Cotterill proposed some alterations in the number of the Synodsmen and in the electoral districts whioh they are appointed to represent, which were agreed to. A Synodsiuan was appointed for the parish of St. John the Baptist, the number for Christchurch being fixed at three. Two additional Synodsmen were appointed—one for the parish of I'rebbleton with Templeton, and one for the district of Ellesmere. The list, as amended, was officially certified, and signed by the Bishop. It was settled that, in the case of the creation of a new parish or district during the recess of the Synod, it shall be the duty of the Registrar to take the necessary measures for the election of a Syilodsman for it. In the absence of the Kev. J W. Stack, The Veil, the Arohdkacow moved the appointment of a Select Committee to sit during the recess of the Synod, to give effect to the resolutions respecting the education of the sons of the clergy ; the committee to consist of the Bishop, the Revds. J. W. Stack, B. W. Dudley, J. C. Bagshaw, F. Knowles, Messrs. Luck, McKellar, and Ross. The committee is to have the power

to make modification* In the resolutions.-— Carried. The Her. J. Wilson moved that the rejolutions of the Church Trusts he adopted at a whole.—Carried. The Ven. the Ahchdicacoi* proposed a rote of thanks, to the Masonic body, for their courtesy in allowing the Synod the use of their hall, for the fourth time. , The Rev. J. Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. It was decided that the Standing Committee should have the power of printing Buch portion of the Synodical documents as the; may deem necessary. Mr. Ross proposed, "That the vestry of any parish shall be competent to decide whether sittings in their church shall be let at a rental or not, and at what rental; but that the number of sittings so let shall not excecd two-thirds of the whole number." The Rev. H. Torlesse seconded the motion. After some discussion, Mr. Luck moved, as an amendment, that the Synod should proceed to the next order of'the day. Mr. Davie seconded the amendment. A division was taken, and the amendment was carried. Mr. Gordon moved, " That, for the future, in the appointment of persons to serve on the committee of the Orphan Asylum, they be selected from those whose names are on the last list of subscribers laid before the Synod, or from those who are members of i the Synod." The motion waq lost on a division. The report of the Commission on the Church Constitution was laid upon the table by the Rev. J Wilson. On the motion of the Rev. G. Cottbrill, the roll of the clerical members of the Synod was certified. The Rev. W. C. Harris, 8.A., was elected a member of the Synod. It was decided that the statutes of the Synod should be arranged by the Standing Committee, the same being attested by the signature of the Right Rev. the President, as those in force in the diocese. The Rev. H. Torlesse moved, " That the Select Committee appointed by the Synod to draW up a petition to the Provincial Council, upon the subject of the appointment of Deacon-schoolmasters in the bays of the Peninsula, be instructed to report the same, when drawn up, to the Standing Committee, who are hereby authorized to lay the same before the Provincial Council, if possible, during the present session."—Carried. A proposal that the Diocesan School Com* mittee should be elected, was'negatived. The Benediction was pronounced, and the Synod adjourned sine die.