CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 784, 19 November 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

Wednesday, November 5. intemperance. The Rev. Mr Stanford moved- That, looking to the extension and continued prevalence of the sin of intemperance in this diocese, the Church of England, as charged with the spiritual and moral interests of the members of her communion, is bound to put forth special efforts with a view to its removal." There was not more drunkenness in Dunedin than in any part of this Colony or of any other; on the contrary, perhaps there was less. But had not the sin ot intemperance extended its roots amongst them —was it not doing harm to their work as a Church, and was it not causing misery amongst the various strata of their social being? The resolution was not one for which he could take credit to himself as the originator. It was simply copied from one proposed by the Bishop of Lichfield at a Church Congress held in the library of Lambeth Palace, under the presidency of the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was the first of a long series, and in explanation of its objects he read the definition of those purposes for which the Church Temperance Society at Home was constituted. They were as follows' For the promotion of habits of temperance, for the reformation of the intemperate, and for the removal of the causes which lead to intemperance, mainly in accordance with the recommendations of the reports of Convocation, lhe Society is to be open to assistance from nonabstainers as well as from abstainers, and seeks aid in explaining and enforcing the provisions of the law ; in the formation of a sound public opinion as to the connection between intemperance and the undue facilities and temptations provided by the present public-house system ; in the progressive diminution of the number of public-houses and beershops as public opinion may permit; the alteratien of the character of ' tippihig-houses,' by bringing them back to the original form of ' victualling and refreshment nouses;' in the closing of publichouses and beershop on Sunday (except to travellers), and the limitation of the hours of sale on weekdays, as public opinion may permit ; in the dissociation of music halls and dancing rooms from public-houses; in the strengthening of the hands of the magistrates in the exercise of their power for the curtailment of facilities for the sale of intoxicating liquors; in giving to local public opinion its due share, in conjunction with existing authorities, in the granting or refusing of lenses, and in the regulation of public-houses i/jr beershops ; in the removal of_ benefit, friendly, and burial clubs from public-houses, and the discouragement of the payment of wages at those places; in the promotion of British Workman' public-houses, recreation grounds, and other counteractions to the ordinary publichnuse; in the discouragement of the present system of 'treating' in business and commercial transactions, and the 'footing' custom among workmen ; in the preparation of lesson books for reading in the national schools of the country, with special teaching on the moral, social, and physical evils resulting from intemperance; in the diffusion of correct and reliable information by temperance literature, tracts, and other publications, by sermons, lectures, and readings, by addresses to members of the Universities, theological colleges, and training colleges for teachers, and also by missionary efforts in prisons, workhouses, and other places where the victims of intemperance are usually found ; and in the promotion of union for special prayer throughout the country for the l)ivince blessing upon the temperance movement. _ Both classes, nonabstainers as well as abstainers, are asked to aid in these purposes, and in addition the abstainers are requested to aid in the establish ment of parochial temperance societies, guilds, and Bands of Hope, based on the principle of total abstinence, under the superintendence or with the sanction of the parochial clergy, as the proved and most effectual human means of bringing the intemperate under the teaching and power of the Gospel, and so setting them free from the bondage of their sin, and of preserving others from the abounding temptations of the day." If this resolution had come forward at an eailier period, he would have been prepared to advocate something of the same kind here, and propose that they should institute a guild or temperance society. In proposing some declaration of opinion on the subject of temperance, he was very far from wishing to propose anything like an increase in the number of teetotallers or total abstainers. 1? or his part he was not an abstainer, and hoped he never should be. If he thought his motion would draw one more into their ranks, he should be loth indeed to move it He conceived that the dictum of one of the most illustrious prelates in the English Bench was as true here as in England. H e said that he " would rather see England free than sober." For his (Mr Stanford's) part he would sooner see Otago free than sober. He conceived that the pledge of teetotalism constituted one of the worst slaveries, and that the legislation of which the Permissive Bill was taken as the representative, was only one degree lighter in its chains of Mr fiAGGITT seconded the resolution.

The Rev. Mr Coffey supported the resolution, but did not agree with the mover in his condemnation of teetotalism. There were many whose only hope of cure lay in total abstinence. As for the Permissive Bill, its main object was to remove the temptations cast in the way of bo many round about them. The Rev. Mr Oldham heartily supported the resolution ; but did not agree with Mr Stanford's definition of total abstinence. That system had rescued hundreds and thousands of individuals and families from misery and destitution. He would be in favor of a proposal recently made by the Bishop of Melbourne for an alliance between moderate drinkers and total abstainers. The Rev. Mr Gifford so far agreed with the principle of the Permissive Bill that he himself had signed and obtained signatures to the memorials in favor of the measure recently submitted to the General Assembly. Jo*xt Rev. Mr Dewe also spoke in favor of the resolution. Referring to the numerous grog shanties to be met with throughout the Province, he said that the police were utterly powerless to deal with the evil. Ihe feeling against informers was so strong up-country that the police could get no information against offenders. He knew of one instance where the people of the district subscribed to bring up a lawyer to defend a person who had been informed against, while a Magistrate and another man nearly frightened the life out of the informer. An inquiry into the conduct of this Magistrate was to have taken place, but it had been quietly burked. Archdeacon Edwards thought the clergy might do a great deal towards diminishing intemperance if they resolutely set their faces against every instance of it, and ceased to regard it as though it were in many cases a mere amiable weakness." The President believed he was merely expressing the general opinion when he said that were it not that they were all so anxious to bring the Synod to a close, the importance of this subject and its great bearing upon their work would have drawn forth a much more lengthened debate. But this introduction of the subject would doubtless call forth on a subsequent occasion more practical measures. He said this lest it should appear from their present meagre discussion that they had not the consideration of this important subject closely at heart. . The resolution was unanimously agreed to.

CURATES. The Yen. Archdeacon Edwards moved the first of his series of resolutions as follows—"The appointment and removal of assistant curates shall rest with the incumbents of parishes, subject to the approval of parochial nominators and the Bishop.' Mr Lubecki proposed as an amendment " That the appointment of assistant curates shall rest with the vestry, subject to the approval of the incumbent and the Bishop. Mr Houghton proposed as an addition to the foregoing amendment the words, 4 and that no such appointment shall be made until a general meeting of the parishioners has been held, and discussed the propriety of such addition." Mr STANFORDproposed the following as an amendment—" The appointment and removal of assistant curates snail rest with the incumbents of parishes, subject to the approval of parochial nominators, and no such appoint*

ment shall be made until a general meeting <»f the parishioners has been held to discufcs the propriety of such addition." After discussion, Mr Lubecki agreed to ac cept Mr Stanford's amendment, and withdrew his own. , . . On Mr Stanford's amendment being put, the voting was found to be as follows: Clergy : ayes, 6: noes, 6. Laity: ayes, 6; noes, 6. The Bishop gave his casting vote against the amendment, which was, therefore, declared to be lost. _, The Ven. Ardeacon Edwards's motion was then put and carried. The second resolution —_ The relations between incumbents and assistant curates shall be the same, as far as possible, as_ those which exist between incumbents and assistant curates of English parishes"—was carried unanimously, after a short discussion. Archdeacon Edwards then moved— A. bo assistant curate shall be removed from his office (except under the sentence of a tribunal acting under the authority of the Synod), unless he shall have received six months' notice of removal from the incumbent, with the like consent ; nor shall any assistant curate resign his office without giving six months' notice to the incumbent." Carried. "4. That the Bishop be requested to accept as a title for orders an appointment to an assistant curacy at a minimum stipend of LI 50 per annum. Carried. "5. The funds provided for the payment ot tne stipend of the assistant curate shall pass through the hands of the Parochial Treasurer. Mr Hawkins moved as an amendment — "That whenever it shall be required that the funds for the payment of the stipend of an assistant curate, or any part thereof, shall be provided out of the funds of the parish, a meeting of the parishioners shall be convened to give their consent to the expenditure before the same shall be incurred, and that any funds which shall be provided by the parishioners for that purpose shall be paid to the incumbent, who alone shall be responsible to the assistant curate for the payment of his stipend." Both the amendment and the original motion weie rejected. Mr Mansford moved that the resolutions with the exception of No. 5, which wasrejected, should be adopted as a whole. The motion was lost on a division, and the resolutions as a whole rejected. THE SUNDAY SCHOOL SYSTEM. The Rev. W. F. Oldham moved—" 1. That a systematic scheme of instruction be provided to be used in the Sunday Schools of the diocese. 2. That the Schools be regularly insjweted and examined. 3. That the Bishop of the diocese be requested to draw up such a scheme of instruction, and also to make provision foi inspection." Carried.

STANDING COMMITTEE. The Rev. Mr Giffoud moved—" That the following clerical and Jay members form the Standing Committee for the ensuing year The Ven. Archdeacon Edwards, the Revs. R. L. Stanford, R. Coffey, andE. G. Penny ; and Messrs D'Arcy Haggitt, A. Mansford, M. W. Hawkins, and G. F. Reid." Mr Hawkins moved, as an amendment—- "( That the resolution be postponed until the Bill to amend Statute No. 2, 1872, is taken into consideration." The amendment was agreed to. NEXT SESSION OF SYNOD. The Rev. Mr Beaumont asked—"When is the next session of the Synod likely to be The Bishop furnished the following answer : —" The exact date of the next session of the Synod cannot now be given, but it may take place at any time after the month of September next year.' - Thursday, November 6. bishop's court. The Synod, at its evening sitting, resolved itself into committee to consider the following report, brought up by the select committee appointed to consider the endowment and rent "1. The committee recommend that the clergyman of each parish should be requested to co-operate with his vestry and the collector appointed by the Standing Committee for his district, in order that immediate steps may be taken by them to do their best towards raising the sum of LI.OOO necessary to complete the Bishopric Endowment Fund. " 2 The Committee also strongly recommend that an appeal be made to every member of our Church to contribute according to his means, be the sum ever so small. "3. That the Bishop be respectfully requested to allow the proposition made to and accepted by him by the Standing Committee, in August, 1573, with reference to Bishops Court, to be withdrawn, and that the original agreement, made between himself and the Standing Committee, be adhered to. Archdeacon Edwards and Rev. R. L. Stanford dissent from this recommendation. " 4. That a committee be appointed to confer with the Bishop on the subject of the trusts contemplated by his offer for the sale of Bishop's Court and land. —Richard CoFt K\, Chairman." Mr HOWGRTH said there were two questions involved in this motion—one in reference to the episcopal residence fund, and the other the episcopal endowment fund. With regard to the residence fund, he read the original offer by the Bishop, and proceeded to say that it seemed to him the Standing Committee resolved to accept it on behalf of the diocese. It struck him that there was considerable ambiguity in the nature of the offer, and without some explanation from the Bishop it was not possible to say what it meant. For instance, the money was to be paid within ten years, with interest. Therefore it was competent to pay the money at once, and assume the ownership of the propei ty, and deal with it as they might think fit. Under that view, it was, no doubt, advantageous to the diocese as an investment. A proportion of it could have been rented, and so realise a considerable sum more than was sufficient to pay the interest and create a sinking fund for the principal Another view of the subject presented itself. After the death or relinquishment of the office by the Bishop, and the transaction still incomplete under the ten years' agreement, would the diocese be at liberty to deal with the property in any way that was thought fit? He believed one member of the Standing Committee put forward a proposition that a portion of the property should be set apart for raising money in that way. If what his Lordship explained to him (Mr Howorth) was properly understood, that proposal would not be in accordance witli the intention of his offer. He (Mr Howorth) had never had the matter properly brought under his notice until then. Coming before him, as it did, for the first time, he had endeavored to "et to the foundation of the subsequent proceedings. He could not support the view that they should go over the same ground again and ask the Bishop to withdraw his offer. Tliat, coupled with the proposition to allow the Bishop Ll5O for rent, was, in his opinion, going beyond their instructions. He saw very great difficulty in carrying out the proposal to raise Ll5O annually as rent. He supported the proposal that a committee should be appointed to confer with the Bishop on that subject. Now that the diocese had been got into working order, it was perfectly competent for them to reconsider the matter, with the view of getting some plan devised by which the property would be a (, ain offered to the diocese in such a manner that a portion of it might be utilised and another portion of it retained as Bishop's Court. A proposition like that would, he thought, receive favorable consideration. Rev Air Stanford remarked that it had been alleged the standing committee had no right to enter into negotiations with the Bishop, and that in doing so they had exceeded their powers. lii his opinion, that standing committee had acted strictly within its powers, and as a member of that committee he _ would say that if they had the work to do again it would be done in the same way. The proceedings of 4th June, 1871, which he had in his hand, fully justified the committee in the action it had taken. In the absence of the Bishop, he would explain that there were other motives for the committee giving up Bishon's Court property besides those already stated. They were continually assailed with the complaint that the house was of far too grand a description, and that it would be much better suited for a well endowed diocese than a diocese like that of Dunedin. There was a feeling that they, as a Church, would do better by washing their hands of it altogether. —(Cries of " No, no.") Ihere was an apparent assumption of superiority which it was most undesirable for them to create. The idea was that they proposed to build a palace »©»ething widely different from

that of any other clerical residence. That opinion operated against the claims put forward by the Committee, and to that feeling he ascribed the indisposition evinced by the parishes to subscribe to the fund There was another reason for the action of the Commitee. Bishop s Court property was too far away from the centre of the town. The Committee, :is consti tuted, were constituted with power to do what they considered to be right under the circumstances. In the first instance, they found that they had made a mistake by entering into the arrangement, and, having made that discovery, they were at perfect liberty to get out of it the best way they could. They had a sentimental feeling about the costly character of the establishment—a feeling which prevailed both in town and country. Mr Coffey : No, no. Mr Stanford : I appeal to the rev. gentleman who called out "No, 110," if what I have just stated is not correct: if that w;is not the feeling which prevailed amongst his parishioners when they saw Bishop's Court? Mr Coffey : Why, my parishioners never saw Bishop's Court at all.—(Laughter. ) Mr Stanford proceeded : In consideration of these sentimental notions they came to the conclusion that it would be mors in accordance with the feeling of the diocese to abandon the arrangement with the Bishop, and provide Ll5O as house rent. He (Mr Stanford) thought then, as he thought now, that if they went round with a subscription list for moneyto provide a residence, it would be got, whereas if the money were asked to furnish the palace on the hill it would not be got. , Archdeacon Edwards said that he had had letters from different parts of the country, in reply to questions asked by him about Bishop s Court property. It was the nature of these replies which induced him to support the proposal for getting rid of the property as fast as possible. He knew there was a feeling of unpleasantness throughout the diocese on the subject. , , Mr Hawkins said that, after the explanations that had been made, he was inclined to say that they should have nothing to do with the property. As regards the question of the house rent, there was a doubt in his mind as to whether they were pledged or bound to find a house for his Lordship. When he accepted the See, he knew perfectly well the state of it. He came into the diocese with his eyes open. He knew that there was no stipend for him, but he said he was independent of all these things, and that he would be glad to accept of the office without the pay.—(Cries of No. ) If they expected to raise the money because it was asked as house rent, they perhaps find out their mistake. In ninety-nine instances out of a hundred they would be met by the answer, Why, he has got a magnificent mansion on the hill; what does he want with a house ? Then he wished to ask whether or not it was true the Bishop had no stipend I He had been told that he has drawn— A Voice : " Question," and interruption. Mr Hawkins : I am speaking to the question. What I want to know is whether or not the Bishop has not been paid something that may reasonably be applied as house-rent ? I do not see why the diocese should provide a house for him at all. That being the case, I would prefer seeing the whole of the clause referring to the subject expunged from the rei>ort. Rev. Mr Coffey said the whole question resolved itself into this : whether they should pay Ll5O per annum as rent, or a sum of LLo for the property ? He believed t'ie diocese would unhesitatingly decide in favor of the latter. It would secure for them a valuable estate, and he had no doubt but that the parishes would contribute more readily for the purpose of securing an estate than for the mere payment of rent, more especially as the difference between the two amounts did not exceed L 25. „ , . After further discussion the first two clauses were agreed to, and the others thrown out. Ui>on the House resuming, the llev. Mr Stanford moved, " That the Synod approve of the offer of standing committee of Ll5O houserent for the Bishop." Mr Mansford moved, as an amendment, " That the sum of LHOO be raised as an annual income for the Bishop, such such to include house-rent." The Rev. Mr Coffey seconded the amendment pro forma. After some discussion, both Messrs Stanford and Mansford withdrew their motions. Mr Smith moved the following resolution : " That active efforts be made to increase the capital of the Bishopric Endowment Fund, so as to yield the annual income of not less than L6OO, in order to cover house rent, as well as the stipend for the Bishop; and that until a sufficient sum shall have been raised for that purpose, the sum of Ll5O per annum shall be contributed by the different parishes and parochial districts of the diocese in lieu of house rent."

Seconded by Mr Mansford. During the discussion which ensued, Mr Stanford gave the following summary of the items of income devoted to the Bishop Marriage licenses, L 12 0; received at present from land in Christchurch, L 100; interest *t 7 per cent, on a sum of L 1,500 partly invested in property and partly remaining in the Bank, L 10 5; grant from society, LUO; and from other sources, L6O.

Friday, November 7. On re-assembling te-day, the following business was transacted STANDING committee. The following gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year The Ven. Archdeacon Edwards and the Revs. Messrs Stanford (Dunedin), Coffey (Tokomairiro). and Beaumont (Tuapeka); and Messrs D'Arcy Haggitt, T. A. Mansford, M. W. Hawkins, and Herbert.

tokomairiro parsonage loan. ] The Ven. Archdeacon E. wards moved—- " That the question relative to the loan of Ll2O to the Tokomairiro Parsonage should be at once settled." In explanation of the circumstances under which the loan was contracted, the rev. gentleman said: On my last visit to the Tokomairiro vestry I brought this matter under notice. From the discussion that ensued, I ascertained that the money had been got for the purpose of buying the property oj. on which the parsonage was built. Since the spot was selected, the circumstances of the town had changed, and what was then regarded as a very eligible site was now looked upon as being hardly so desirable. I reported the result of that conference to the Standing Committee. In the meantime, I discovered that this sum of Ll2O formed part of a sum of L 5,000 given over by the then Bishop of New Zealand Bishop Selwyn—as an endowment to the clergy. That L 5,000 was vested in trustees, and had been operated upon for different securities. After being further discussed, the motion was put'and earned. Archdeacon Edwards moved, as a further resolution—"That ill the opinion of this Synod the sum lent to the Tokomairiro Parsonage should be repaid at the rate of L3O a year, and the interest thereupon remitted." Carried. bishop's coukt. A letter was received and read from the Bishop, making further overtures regarding the above named property. Mr Hawkins moved—"That the offer of the Bishop relative to Bishop's Court be referred to the Standing Committee, with full power to act; an answer to be given to the Bishop within a month." Agreed.

THE CLEIUJY MAINTENANCE FUND, ETC. Mr Houghton moved—" That the Clergy Maintenance Fund be devoted to the increase of the smaller stipends under L 250 per annum, and to the maintenance «f that sum as a minimum stipend throughout the diocese; the surplus, if any, to be at the discretion of the Standing Committee to divide as they may deem best, and that it be an instruction to the standing committee to confer with the vestries of those parishes where the minister's stipend is in arrear. That, in place of a pensi<>n fund, it be referred to a Committee to consider and report ui>on the best mode of making provision for clergymen who may become incajKicitated by illness or age for the performance of thenduties, and to consider if such provision cannot be best effected by taking advantage of the present system of Government life assurance. That such Committee should consist of the Standing Committee, with Mr Hawkins and the Mover \ such Committee to take the necessary steps for giving effect to this recomniendation, should the Committee deem it necessary to proceed with the scheme during interval i between the present and next session.' The resolution was discussed and adopted.

In bringing the sitting to a close, the President thanked members for their attendance, and a vote of thanks to the Press was also recorded.