THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 3

THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

MISSIONS IN THE PACIFIC. <

THE MAORI 1 MISSION. [Per Press Association.]

NAPIER, Feb. 9.- ■ At the General Synod yesterday, \ the Bishop.of .Christchurch moved—" That-« Select Committee be appointed, to consider the compact or understanding between .the Church Missions in the Pacific and those'of other religious bodies believed to have been made in the episcopate of Bishop G. A; Selwyn, and observed for many years; and report, (1) whether it is still binding; (2) the nature of the obligations imposed .by it; (3) whether it is desirable that it should be modified or annulled, and if so,' under what conditions. That the committee shall consist of the Bishop of Wellington, the Vc-n Archdeacon Harper, the Ven. Archdeacon S, Williams, the .Ven. Archdea.eori Fancourt, Mr Walter and the mover." : The • Bishop of Melanesia, in seconding the motion, said amongst the missionaries in the Islands there was an impression that such a compact did exist, as they had • been working on that compact, which was respected. By this compact Anglicans, Wesleyans, and Presbyterians respected each other's spheres. Archdeacon Palmer said there was no doubt that such a compact was the means of preventing different forms of religion being introduced among the Islands of Melanesia. Without that compact there was no doubt that the New Hebrides would be invaded by the Presbyterians. It was not for the Church of England to withdraw from that compact. .

Archdeacon Dudley gave an instance to show that such a compact did exist, Bishop Patterson having withdrawn from one of the Melanesian group in favour of the missionaries sent out by the London Mission Board, who had a prior claim, notwithstanding the protestations of the natives, asking Bishop Patterson to remain on, the island. The Bishop of Dunedin said there was a very anxious desire for the Cb'ur'rli of England to .establish itself, in'such island's as Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti. All denominations had a ..right to preach the Gospel of Christ in the Islands. The peoj>le there had come to the conclusion that the Church of England cared nothing abont them, because they did nothing. He had never heard any Presbyterian. minister .say there was;a written compact. It seemed to him that what had been done in was simply an act of Christian courtesy by Bishop Selwyn. There was no bar io the Church ' of England establishing itself- in such islands as Tonga, civilised as it had been, and thus neglecting the spiritual welfare, of their white brethren, many of them of iheir own Church.

The Bishop of Christchurch said in regard to this compact they should act as Christian gentlemen, and act loyally to those who had acted loyally towards .them, by not instructing in a way that might bring discredit on them: Bishop John Selwyn, at anyrate, believed there was such a compact, and also believed in approaching other missions in a courteous way, showing that he had no desire to intrude- where others had already established.themselves. The motion was carried.

On the motion of, the Bishop of Melanesia, Norfolk Island was included in his diocese, the consent of the Archbishop of Sydney having been obtained. A motion was carried in favour of the amendment of the Colonial Clergy 'Act; with a view to removing vexatious restrictions on -colonial clergy visiting England officiating there. In the discussion which followed, it was pointed out that at the present time colonial clergy, ho matter what high attainments they possessed, when visiting England were placed under great hardship, as they were unable to preach in any church unless by license from the Archbishop of Canterbury, although they might be visiting their native parish only for ,a. short period. There seemed to be an opinion at Homo that a man cqlonially ordained was a very much inferior person. A motion by Mr Tanner for the direct representation of Maoris in the Synod was withdrawn, as a Bill was necessary for the purpose.

The evening sitting was wholly occupied with a discussion, on the Maori Mission, which was described as in a very parlous state. The committee appointed to oonsider the subject, presented a report, recommending that various steps should be taken,; with a view to arousing the interest of the public in the question, that a Director of. Maori Missions should be appointed, and that the minimum of salary of Native clergymen should be £IOO a year. The Bishop of Wellington said that:there were 5000 Maoris in his diocese now, scattered -like sheep. '•■ ' '■!' All the Bishops supported the report, the Synod being unanimous on the necessity.for something being done, but there was a lengthy discussion on the details, and the proposal was finally talked out. However* leave was given to re-introduce, it.

SEVERE CRITICISM. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, Feb. 9!

The " Star " takes the Auckland representatives'at the Anglican Synod severely to task for opposing the progressive spirit evinced by the Primate and other Bishops'. >lf says : "The Primate's plea for Church federation has met with no practical sympathy. The Bishop of Wellington proposed a world-ly-wise suggestion to refer all possible progress that might seem' to touch upon the parliamentary constitution of the Church to legal advice, so as not toendanger'ih the slightest degree any State endowments. Nothing could be more upright, frank, and genuine than for a Church to seek> if need be, readjustment with the State, from a sciousness of superiority to all the change-, ful creeds and constitutions of the past, and nothing could be more hurtful to the life of a Church than to confuse political constitutions with eternal principles and unchanging verities. The desire to obtain liberty to read the revised version of the Scriptures iri church services is very natural.' It seems incomprehensible to the large majority of the free-born sons and daughters of the Reformation that any Church <uis liberty to be granted by a bishop or by a Government. In New Zealand, the attempt to conceal this ridiculous state of thingsby wild statements against the revised version of the Scriptures was not worthy of the lips that uttered them. It is at least a vast improvement upon the old, and every aid to the better understanding of the Scriptures should be welcomed by all Churches. No British Government, we may be certain, at Home or in our colonies, would' interfere with this Christian liberty. It is simply woeful to find a Church of reformation in the twentieth century debating,,a-matter of this kind; but the remaining' sample., of' ul-tra-conservatism in our Auckland Anglican clerics must be long remembered by ; the majority of their congregations and Christian, workers. Its root, too, by open confession, is political, not Scriptural. Mr Beatty and Canon Calder are not yet reconciled to the political franchise given to women. The clerics forget their own teaching, of patience and insight into higher influences in life than blind and prejudiced people can discover. They forget, too, that Christian men and women are not in their great : divine head, and that the Presbyterian State Church stood out for this positiqn at the Reformation with the best results. The terror of making the Church effeminate,, by giving female Church members votes for the election of a vestry, should be calmed, in view of their possessing the vote for ruling the laity and clergy for generations in one most virile section of Christianity, as prov-, ed upon many a hard fought field under the old blue banner. It is'very comical to,find a Church, by old connections, exalting a : woman to her vi.-ib'.e head on earth, and refusing her a vote at petty parish meetings for the election of vestrymen.