GENERAL SYNOD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 29 January 1913, Page 6

GENERAL SYNOD

CLOSE OF THE SESSION. NINTH DAY. The 19th. General Synod of the Churoh of the Province of New Zealand was < on eluded yesterday evening at the Provincial Hall. The Primate presided. AFTERNOON SESSION. (Continued.) GENERAL CHURCH TRUST. Mr. A. S..Holmes (chairman) presented the following report No. 2 of the Com mittee on Accounts and other financial matters: "Your Committee beg; to retort' that thev have estimated the expenditure of the 'General Church Trust account for the period ending June 30th, ''9l2-1915. They estimate as follows Revenue. —Balance in hand £550, est. mated revenue £2200, £2750; payment* .detailed) £2750. A sum not exceeding £4O has to be provided for the expense* of the bishops to the consecration ol tht Bishops of Melanesia and of kelson. Your Committee submit to the Synod the following resolutions -.—(1) Tha ; the sum of £SO for printing ana publishing an occasional Service Book for the use of clergy be advanced to those responsible for the drawing up ana issuing of the same. (2) That owing to the fact that £9O has already been voted towards the building of the Dunedm .Cathedral your Committee have no recommendation to make in reference to the":suggested additional grant to that Cathedral." - ' The Bishop of Auckland urged that a sum be granted towards the cost of building the Dunedin Cathedral; and it was resolved to strike out clause 2 and substitute the following: "That the sum of £IOO, if available, be voted towards the building of the Dunedin Cathedral. - The following additional resolution -was added to the report: "That the trustees of the General Church Tr,ust be instructed to .make (payment in accordance with the estimates embodied in the Committee's report." ■ The report, as amended, was adopter 1 arid progress reported. CONSTITUTION AMENDMENTS. - -Mr, T. F. Martin (Wellington) moved the.second reading of a bill to amend clauses 24 aod 26 of the Constitution as follows: "(1) Clause 24 of the Constitution is* hereby amended by striking out the words, /The Religious, Charitable., arid Educational. Trusts Act, 1856,' anc substituting the words 'The Religious Charitable, and Educational Trusts Act. 1908. "or any Act amending or re-enact ins the same.' (2) The form of Declara •tion of Submission to the General Synoc appended to clause 26 of the y Constitution is hereby amended by inserting aftei the words 'Constitution agreed to on th< 13th day of June, 185T the words 'as revised at a session of the General Synod in.the year 1855.' '*' Standing orders were suspended t< expedite the passage of, the bill to its final stage, and it was read a third time and {passed. INSURANCE OF CHURCH PRO- -••;" PERTY.

. The third reading of a bill to amend Title. F, Canon Til., clause 14 (Mr Wil- :,- b?rfoss) was taken. The bill stipulates that all buildings. held by the Diocesan 15 Trustees should be insured in the nam* of the Trustees, and that the furnituw and of all churches and build-- ',• dogs held by the Trustees should be insured in the name of the Trustees, the vicar, and churchwardens and vestry oi the parish or parochial district. Bill read a, third time and passed.

APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF ARCHDEACONS. Archdeacon Harper (Wellington) mov ed the second Teading of a bill to amerwf Title A, Canon 11., providing for th< appointment, and specifying the of archdeacons. . ' The mover said there was a grea* Tieed for scire such bill. Archdeacons authority depended on themselves, anc h« believed they' would be glad to havt • the broad outlines of their work laic down for them... There "was also +lk clergymehs' arid parishioners' side of. th* , question.' vand archdeacons sometime? found themselves face to face witr . parochial authority.- It would be a ven ' «ood thing if in" every dioceee archdeacon* =were guided by some, general rules t>" "which they could appeal in cases c' where difference of opinion existed as tc their Tights and privileges.■' "Archdeacon "Williams (Waiapu) second ed the motion. Dean Fitchett (Dunedin) saw nothing in the bill to which exception could 1> taken, but he knew of no reason win legislature was needed to deal with tl> duties of archdeacons. He would noi however, oppose the bill. The Bishop of Auckland, in speaking to. the motion, said he had had th« .pleasure while in Nelson of reading th> letters patent in connection with craa; ing the See of Nelson, and in then? r was laid down that the functions ol - *rohdeacons should be the discharge oi such duties as the bishop should allot tc them. Archdeacon Richards" (Dunedin) sug gested that-the bishops should give theii views of .the question. Bishop Williams (Waiapu) was "of" opinion that the .duties of archdeacons should be clearly specified. The bil' would attain this object. The Primate acknowledged that th< ■provisions cf the bill were of a harmless character. He might say, however, thai he had a little hesitation in accepting the proposals. He had noticed that i growing opinion_ among Syncdsmen and others that nothing could be done in the church except .'•by the authority and canon of General Synod. The history of the Church from time immemorial showed that this had not been the way in which the Church had worked ; and thif was his principle objection to th e bill. Archdeacon Ruddock (Waiaipu) thought many clergy would -welcome a clear definition of what was required of arch deacons'. ■ Rev. W. Bcatty (Auckland) thought it would be an advantage- if bishops ir each diocese defined the duties of then particular archdeacons. Archdeacon Grace (Nelson) said his experience had been that the authority ii V ,ts P resent for m would, h* thought, cover tco much ground. Archdeacon Haroer, in reply to Arch deacon Grace, said the bill had beer drawn up largely on his own experience. sorry the Bishop of Waiapu wa? f£vSP?',V as .- he '- was a strong supporter oi the »bill,. TheAniotidn TheAniotidn was about to be put. when (Waiapu) raised a point of order,-contending that when a vote was •put. tp. the Synod on the voices, each sec ttpn—bishops. - clergv and laity—should vote* separately. --The-Primate replied that it was the habit, to put such motions to Synod a? a-whole. '•-.'The' motion was put, and the "noes" were-declared to have carried it. A division was called for, with the followine result:—Ayes: Bishops 1, clergv 9] laity -£t> -° eS: Bisno P s 5 - clergy 7."laitv 5. '■■ The motion was lost. and the bil' thrown out. ■\£ r '- VQTE2 FOR WOMEN. .;'Ca :; ccj3jp£ tc th 2 iusconded dsb-te c-i .Wk-isisoni. reading of \ bill to anvnd Tetter KVfianon IT., the pur.oorfc'cf- which was- to >allcrvy women to attend and roi' £tX%elsbtion rf synodsmcn. Mr. Hal" (C.bristchurchl on behalf of Mr. Rowf (GBrtstchorch) "ho moved th" ori<nnaJ motion, moved that'the next older of th f day ion "tha business paper be orccesded He agreed that women were qy'ifc*

as worthy members of the Church at •iren ; but held they had aitferent functions and rights none the less honourable, apart from exercising their vote at meetings. There was no work that men did which could compare move honourably with the work of women in training and rearing children ard administering to the sick. He moved that the next business on the order paper be proceeded wilh. Carried on the voices, there being a good response of "noes."" INTERCHANGE OF INCUMBENTS. The bill to amend Title A, Canon 11., clause 23 (Canon Mac Murray) dealing with the interchange of incumbents between parishes, was not proceeded with in the committee stag?, it being already covered in a previous bill. DEFINITION OF COMMUNICANTS. Mr. J. B. Feikler (Waiapu) moved the ;econd reading of a bill to amend Title B. Canon V., clause 6. the effect o» which would be to make it read "ten" 'parishioners' who shall be communicants.'" The mover said General Synod had not deined the interpretation of "communi jants." Mr. E. W. Andrews (Waiapu) seconded the motion. Dean Fitchett (Dunedin) was distinctly opposed to any change and would vote Vgainst the second reading. Messrs W. Hall (Christchurch), C. C. Graham (Dunedin). and J. W. Henderson .Wellington) opposed the bill. Mr. Feilder, in view of the discussion, lsked leave to withdraw the bill, which vas granted. TRUST BOARDS. Mr. J. B. Fielder (Waiapu) moved the econd reading of a bill to amend Title F, Canon 1., clauses 6, 10, and 14, to -.he effect that (1) all meetings of the Board shall be called by the diocesan .ecretary, cr registrar of the diocese h) >rder of the chairman ; (2) that a clause >e added to clause 10 providing that the lishop of the diccese shall be a trustee f every body of trustees in his own dio•ese: but shall not V-i a trustee of >ishopric endowment trust of his dioese. but that the Primate shall be a rustee of a provincial body of trustees : nd (3) providing that such trustee oi nistees so retiring shall remain in office intil the successor or successors are ap lointed. Archdeacon Williams (Waiapu) secondd the motion. Mr. A. T. Maginnity (Nelson) mportant questions of ]aw -were nd might have a serious effect in the dministration of the trusts. He sug'ested that the mover cf the motion hould refer it to a special committee tr eport to the next meeting of General ynod. Mr. J. W. Henderson (Wellington) hought the bill quite unnecessary. Archdeacon Ruddock supported the uggestion made by Mr. 'Maginnity. It vas very desirable that the bishops of he diocese should be a member of the arious trusts. Archdeacon Williams hoped the bill vould not be thrown out at this stage. Mr. Holmes (Auckland) agreed with he last speaker. Mr. R. Wilberfoss (Wellington) opposd the first two clauses of the bill. Mr. C. W. Brown (Nelson) saw nc -?'ason for the bill. The motion was lost. DUTIES OF TRUSTEES. Mr. Fielder (Waiapu) moved the secnd reading' cf a bill to amend Title F, ,anon 111., clause 4 as follows - : By inerting in the second line after the word 'lands" the words "moneys, chattels or securities." The mover said that according to the (resent law, trustees had no po\ver or tatus in reference to securities of land, loneys, or chattels. Seconded bv Mr. W. G. Brittan Christchurch.) The motion was carried, and Synod vent into committee to consider the bill Synod adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SESSION. Synod resumed at 7.30. - Synod in committee. After slight amendments progress was sported on Mr. Field -r's motion before ie committee when the afternoon adjurnment was taken, the third reading as carried and the bill passed. MAORI MISSION BOARD. The Bishop of Christchurch, referring -> the decision of the committee to Tefer he canon regarding the appointment of i Maori Mission Board to diocesan sy>ods for consideration, said that Christhurch was the only diocese concerned : nd he asked leave to introduce a bill a repeal Title B, Canon VII. Leave was granted, and standing rders were suspended to facilitate the ill being put through that evening. Mr. T. F. Martin (Wellington) secaded the motion.

The Bishop cf Christr.hureh then mov d his motion.

The Bishop of Auckland hoped the .ishcp of Christchurch would give i-crre ■sneral assurance that the support itherto given by that diocese (Christ-h-urch) .would be continued, otherwise he Auckland diocese-, would-be in-a very erious position, and would have to give lotice to some clergy that they could nt ong;er support them.

_Mr. J; B. Fielder (Waiapu) said hi? liocese would be in the same position. The Bishop of Nelson said if the :.up'ort of Christchurch was withdrawn >hp 3sult;. wou]<] be calamitous to mission vork. Though quite conscious that N»l----on had not done as much as it might lave in the past, they were mak'n.» at: :onest endeavour to make amends.

Mr. Holmes (Christchurch) said thty vould have to repeal the canon and 'rust to the honour cf the dioceses to ielp them.

In reply, the Bishop of Christenurch. peaking to Arch--?earon Hawki:is, &■ id •e woulr} pledge his diocese to carry <-p he work of obtaining statistics and in 'ormation. "and supplying them to *r<> everal diocesan papers, either as a dlo 9se or as a board if wished. He { uld ssure Synod that there was great mj°rest in the Christchurch' diocese jr Vfacri work.

The Bill was put through all its stages, •eported to Synod, and passed.

The Bishop of Auckland was given irrmission to mov without notice the 'ol low in or motion : /'That in view of liv ■uspension < f the Maori Board, Svno-d •arnestly calls upon the dioceses of the province to support the work amonj the '•laori- oeople, especially in the Nor.ii r s bind." The motion was carried. PENSION SCHEME. \ D'3an Frtchett (Dunedin) referring to he recommendation of the committee on i pension scheme that a commission bt :et up, trusted that, Synod would take nefiminarv s'.«ps towards foundering a ension scheme for the province. He quite sure Synod was unwilling to efc the matter dron. Mr. Speight said the solidants of the Dhurnh required that the matter t»e not--verlooked. He suggested that those aipfed should meet in Wellington next and lay down the basis of the hfTne. disciisMi'ii ensued -i <s to fiiiancincr •" ■•on ,, "is"nii in preliminary work. \.r. J. YV Hen'krEon (Wc Hmet on)

suggested the expenses be n:et by General Synod. * Mr. Wilberfoss (Wellington) suggested that if the commission should confine their energies to a pensiuii schsme, some oractical result would bo the outcome. He mentioned incidentally that the diojese of Wellington insured all its clergy against accident. n"< } in <-i.vse a death resulting, they made a payment of £SOO. Rev. J. P. Kempthurne (Nelson) said he thought the Nelson diocese would be •villing to contribute to the expenses. On the suggestion of Mr. W. G. Britan (Wellington) Dean Fitchett moved : 'That the actuarial and other expenses be a charge on the General Synod expenses fund." Carried. STANDING ORDERS. Mr. J. B. Fielder (Waiapu) moved : '(1) That a commission be appointed to revise standing orders of this Synod and report to next session. (2) Such commission to consist of the Bishop of Waia.pu, \rchdeacon Williams. Mr. T. F. Martin, xnd the mover." Archdeacon Harper (Wellington) in seconding the first pur'.ion of the motion, made a strong pU'a for reform in the arranging of the older paper. Motion carried. VOTES OF THANKS. Rev. Innes Jones (Wellington) moved that the thanks of the Synod be extended to the people of Nelson for their hospitality, which had 'made their visit far .nore pleasant than it otherwise would have been. Seconded by Archdeacon Neild (Dunedin), and carried. Mr. Speight (Auckland) in moving a hearty vote of thanks to- the press for their reports, said he did not know of any city or place where General Synod lad met that had given more comprelensive and extended reports. The busiless had been gripped in a masterly manner. Mr. Holmes seconded the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Mr. Brittan (Wellington) seconded by Archdeacon Williams fWaiapu) was expressed for the way in which the printing of the order japer. -etc. T had been carri-ed out. On Rev. A. M. Johnston's motion a'learty vote of thanks was accorded the clerical secretary (Archdeacon Harper), md the lay secretary (Mr. Wilberfoss). Archdeacon' Harper gave an intimation '•hat he would not accept nomination, if isked, as secretary at the next session >f Synod. He had officiated at five ses-' ions, and hoped members would now ■elieve him. The Bishop of Auckland moved a 'learty- vote of thanks "to that special species of hostess which had created xerself in the afternoons." They were mormously indebted to the providers of ;fterncon ten. Carried. A vote of thanks was also passed to he Government for the use of the hallAll the motions of thanks were carried enthusiastically. CLOSING REMARKS. Mr. A. T. Maginnity, on .he Nelson diocese, expressed to the visitors very high appreciation of the fact :hat they had met in Nelson after so nanv years. They had learned very ruch from th e able discourses of the ligh prelates of the ■Church. The Primate wished to express thankfulness that the session had been not >nly an extremely happy one, but ah extremely useful one. He could hardly .ecall any session over which he" had iresided in which so many useful measures had been passed, and he felt it .vas a n honour to have presided. His -.hanks w.er e due to all members of the "Svncd for courtesy shown to the chair. (Applause). Synod rose at 8.55 p.m. A thanksgiving- service was held at the Cathedral after Synod" rose.