ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9646, 11 February 1892, Page 6

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

[Pib Pass a Association.! WELLINGTON, Feb. 10. The Synod met at 3 p.m. W Bishop of Auckland presented a Mcpnd interim report from the Committee in which the Committee recommends that the necessary action be taken to obtain an alteration in the Eeligions, Charitable and Educational Trust Acts to enable trustees of church lands to grant mining leases involving waste. The Committee did not recommend that the Diocesan General Trust Board of Auckland should be appointed trustees of the General Church Trusta and the Melanesian Trust estates. Three Bills to amend certain canons were read a first time. A Select Committee was set up to coneider and report upon the present position bf the. Anglican Church laws, particularly in regard to the time when and the manner in which any alterations made by the General Synod in. such laws come into operation, and to recommend when aud how such alterations shall become operative in the future. Several motions for grants out of the funds of the General Church Trust to different Bishopric Endowment Funds, conditionally upon the raising of corresponding ■ same in the benefiting Diocese, were referred' to the Sessional Committee on Trusts. Archdeacon Dudley (Auckland), speaking t6' one of the motions, commented strongly upon the unsatisfactory position in which most of the Bishopric Endowment Funds stand. He said that none of the Bishoprics, with the exception of Christchurch, were adequately endowed. In one case the official 'income was - only about <£4oo, and in another the income was under J 2500. This was altogether inadequate for the position which a bishop was required to keep up, and it was a reproach and a scandal to the Church that when a See became vacant it was necessary to look around for a man possessed of private means, and, in. fact, to make_ his wealth one of the principal considerations. Quito lately he had received information from Dr Conrington iu reference to a candidate for the Bishopric of Melenasia who was a good linguist, a noted traveller, and in every way a desirable man, only that he happened to be poor. This miserable state of affairs was almost disgraceful tb the Church, and he urged the Synod to save as much as possible each year from the General Church Trust Fund, and allot the money to ’ the funds of the poorer bfihbprics, bn the principle of .£1 for every JB3 contributed in the diocese claiming a gnat, so as to stimulate well-to-do members of the Church to pat the endowment funds upon a proper footing. The Dean of Christchurch moved—“ That the Synod regards with anxiety the present ■tateand prospects of Christianity among large portions of the Maori population, and earnestly commends to the sympathy and intercession of Christians throughout New Zealand the efforts which are being made for the recovery of those portions of the country which have lapsed from the faith." Colonel Hanltain seconded the resolution. The Bishop of Dunedin suggested the following addition to the motion;—“And further that this subject be commended by the Bishops of the Ecolesistical Province to the attention of the clergy on the occasion bf the next day of intercession for rnieeions.” The debate was interrupted by the 5.45 adjournment. The Synod resumed at 7.30. A motion by the Hon Colonel Hanltain for the second reading of a Bill to make additions to Title 8., Canon 11., in order to provide for special Maoti lay representation in Diocesan Synods, was discussed at considerable length. The Synod divided on the question with the following result Ayes; Bishops 3, clergy, 13, laity, 10. Noes: Bishops 1, clergy, 7, laity, 10. As the rules of Synod require a majority in each, order; the'second reading was therefore negatived. -Archdeacon W. L. Williams moved the secqnd'reading of a Bill to add to title A., Canon I, Clause 8. The Clause now reads:— " Whenever the question of sanctioning the nomination of a bishop shall be brought before any Standing Committee, such committee shall vote by orders.” The Bill proposes to add the following“ Provided that in no case shall such a question be decided by the Standing Committee without the vote of the bishop of the diocese present in person." After a abort discussion the Bill was thrown out. There was a majority of bishops and clergy in favour of the motion, hut the votes of the laity were equal. Mr Bobert Parker (Wellington) gave notice to move—“ That, in the opinion of this Synod, it is desirable that candidates for Holy Orders in this Ecclesiastical Province should possess some knowledge of the principles of public reading and speaking, and of the art of vocal music, in order that the minister’s part in divine service may be more adequately rendered than is now frequently the case." The Synod adjourned at 10.30. The business of the session is expected to be finished about the end of next week. It is probable that the ceremony of consecrating Archdeacon Mules as Bishop of Nelson will'take place in Wellington at the close of the session.