DIOCESAN SYNODS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13891, 27 October 1905, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNODS.

CHRISTCHUItCH. Tli© Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch resumed its session yesterday, Bishop Julius presiding. The Rot 0. H. Gosset gave notice of motion '' to ask the president whether, any, and if so what, action has been taken by the Standing Committee with regard to the resolution adopted by the Synod at its last session, namely, ' That in view of the passing need of a chapel for church funerals at the Linwood Public Cemetery, the Standing Committee be directed to ascertain if the erection of such a building is practicable, and either to report to the Synod at its next session or itself take action during the recess, as may seem most desirable.' " On the motion of the president, the Synod concurred in the appointment of the following gentlemen a-s assessors of the Bishop's Court:—Clergy—Dean Harper, the Ven Archdeacon Harper, the Ven Archdeacon Scott, the ven Archdeacon Averill, Canon Pascoe and the Rev C. H. Gosset; laity—Sir John Hall and Messrs H. W. Bishop, G. M'lntyre, W. G. Brittan, W. H. Hargreaves and H. P. Hill. . , Discussion was continued on Archdeacon Scott's motion :—" That the Standing Committee and the Church Property Trustees should be requested to take into their favourable consideration the proposals contained in the report of the Commission on the spiritual needs of Greater Christchurch, and to take such action as they shall deem advisable." The Rev C. W. Carrington said that the whole district at present was undermanned. The regular, existing work should be done without stress and strain. He urged that two or three extra clergymen should be secured to fill casual gaps. Archdeacon Averill said that the time had come when the needs of growing outlying districts should be considered. The Church of England had been prone in the past to neglect to attend to the requirements of districts whose populations were increasing, and, consequently, other denominations had secured a firmer footing. He advocated the establishment of a special fund for the purpose of assisting parishes to build churches and do other necessary work. The Rev A. C. Hoggins said that the recognition of the'principle of "one man one church " would be the greatest reform that could be produced. He gave figures to show that the Anglican Church, <ramparatively, had a lack of men in the Christchurch diocesan district. The Congregationalists had one clergyman for 819 persons, the Lutherans one for 537, tho Methodists one for 516, the Baptists ono for 601, the Roman Catholics one priest for 597, the Salvation Army on© officer for 499, the Presbyterians one for 695, the Anglicans one for 938. During the pa6t few years the number of the Salvation Army's officers had increased by 60 per cent, and the increases in the totals of the clergy for other denominations were:— Baptists-50 per cent, Presbyterians 25 per cent, Roman Catholics 20 per cent, Methodists and Congregationalists 16 per cent, Anglicans 6 2-3 per cent. He recommended that there should be better training of the men who were to do the work required in the diocese, and suggested that a college should be established for lay workers. The president said_that he desired to have the report referred to the Standing Committee with a distinct view to action. The great need of Christchurch, since he had arrived there, had not been more churches, but more men. He hoped that the present proposal would be the beginning of a great forward movement in the diocese. Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown said that attention should be concentrated on the young. It was well to look after the sheep, but it was far more important to care for the lambs. The motion was carried unanimously. V Mr J. {E; March moved—" That this Synod requests the Church Property Trustees to take into consideration, during the recess, the advisability of selling any of the landed property set apart for ecclesiastical and educational purposes in connection with the various trust estates, and investing the proceeds in other securities, in terms of the trust, and to report to the next session of Synod." He said that he had perfect confidence in the trustees, but ho thought that the estates should be managed by paid commissioners. He considered that it was desirable to sell some of the reserves in_prder to carry out the work indicated in the Commission's report. The Rev R. F. Garbett seconded the motion. Mr W. C. Bean said that the Church Property Trustees were doing exactly what the motion recommended them to do. Recently they had visited a couple of blocks of land with a view to considering whether they should he sold. Mr H. D. Andrews said that the land tax value of the General Trust Estate was £69,113. By letting the land, a Tevenue of 6 per cent was netted, after paying rates, taxes and expenses of management. As long as the present satisfactory results continued, the idea of any wholesale sale of the land was out of the question. At 7.30 p.m. H. D. Andrews moved the second reading of a Bill to amend the Parish, and Parish Officers' Statute. • Mr Andrews explained the proposal of the Bill to enact that', in the consideration of the adjustment or alteration of parish boundaries, no amendment should be (received which would extend the adjustment or alteration beyond the proposal previously agreed to by the parish, unless the sanction of the parish to the amendment was first secured. 'rue Rev C. H. Gosset opposed the Bill, urging the Synod to refrain from tying its hands in tho manner proposed. Other members spoke in similar .terms, arguing that the reference _ of amendments to parishes' would be-im-practicable during a session of Synod. The Bill was thrown out. Archdeacon Scott moved that the Bill to amend the regulations for the management of the clergy, widows' and orphans' trust fund should be read' a second time. The Bill proposed to make any clergyman engaged in the training of candidates for holy orders, as well as those engaged in parochial or diocesan work, should be eligible for membership of the fund, ,a;nd that clergy over fifty years of age should be eligible to join the fund. Tho" Bill was read a second time amd the Synod went into committee to consider it. Progress was reported, and the Bishop was asked to appoint a commission to consider • whether any : amendments of toe 'regulations were j desirable. Arcbuenco-n Harper stated that he had just heard of the deait-h of Mr, D. I H. Gililing'ham, of Fairlie, who had ! been for a long time a lay member of I Synod, and an earnest and faithful I church worker. He moved—" That this Synod desires to record its deep regret at the death of Mr D, H. GilJinigham, a lay member, of this Synod for many years, and requests thie president to convey to his famicly this expression of the Synod's sincere sympathy with them in their loss." The motion was seconded by the Bishop and carried, the members standing. Archdeacon Scott moved a similar motion of regret find sympathy in reference to the deaths of the hfae Mr Thomas Maude and the late Mr H. J. Ainger. The motion was seconded by Sir John Haill and carried, the members standing. ' Votes of thanks were parS&ed to the

clerical and lay secretaries of Synod, the chairman and clerk of oomimittees, the lay-readers of the diooase, tie Sunday school superintendents and teaidh-' era, the Cathedral sidesmen', chnrch.wardens and vestrymen of the diocese, the churchpeople of the city for their hospitality to the country members, the members of the commission on the spiritual needs of Greater Chiristchurc'h, the diocesan clerks, and thie proprietors, editors and reporters of the daily newspapers. An honorarium of £5 was voted to the members of the diocesan staff who had been engaged in attendance on the Synod. The session was closed at 10 p.m., the president pronouncing tho benediction. OTAGO. [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, October 26. At the Anglican. Synod, after debate, the following motion was carried on the subject of religious instruction in_ schools:—"That this Synod h of opinion that the New South Wales system of providing religious instruction in State schools is equitable as between religious bodies, and is to be preferred for the reason that it permits definite teachings by ministers of religion or their representatives, and that it is in actual operation in a community closely resembling our own and works satisfactorily."