EPISCOPALIAN DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IV, Issue 1123, 20 June 1867, Page 5

EPISCOPALIAN DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The council of the Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand met again yesterday, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when tho following clergymen and laity were present :—Clergy, Ven. Archdeacon Lloyd, Revs. C. Baker, S. Blackburn, E. N. Bree, T. Chapman, B. Dudley, P. Gould, R. A. Hall, E. H. Heywood, J. Kinder, V. Lush, Dr. Maunsell, G. Maunsell, A. G. Purclias, J. B. Smyth, R. R. Kidd, L.L.B. Laity—R. B. Lusk B.Maclean, D. McKellar, H. S. McKellar, A. O'Neill, J. Eoberton, J. Tuttin, F. D. Yonge, Drs. Goldsbro and Home, Major Speedy, Hon. W. Swainson, and Sir W. Martin. ADDRESS TO HIS LORDSpiP THE BISHOP OF NEW ZEALAND. The Yen. Archdeacon., Lloyd then moved that on the occasion of the departure of the Bishop of New Zealand for England for the -purpose of being present at a conference of the Bishops in visible communion with the United Church of England and Ireland, an address be presented to him by this Synod. He said his Lordship had rendered a great and important service to the Melanesian Mission, by collecting the endowments to the amount of about £10,000, and by bringing out with him on his return from England, one whose value could not be over estimated—the present Bishop of that Mission.

The motion was seconded by Mr. E. B. lusk, and carried. Tlio Council then -went into committee for the purpose of considering the various clauscs of the address, the hon. W. Swainson, chancellor of the diocese, in the chair. The various clauses having passed through committee, the Chaibman reported progress, and the following address was put and carried by the unanimous vote of the Council: — ADDRESS. The Bishop of New Zealand being about to visit England, in compliance with the invitation of tho Archbishop of Canterbury and in concurrence with tho opinion of the Standing Committee of thia diocese, for the purpose of being present at a meeting of the bishops in visible communion with the Church of England. The clerical and lay members of this Synod desire to express their satisfaction that the diocese of New Zealand will be represented at that Conference by one who has so eminently contributed to the establishment of the New Zealand branch of the United Church of England and Ireland upon its present basis, and in whoso enlarged viows and sound judgment it has the fullest confidence. While tho members of +he Ohnrch in these islands . in associating themselveß together have been careful ) to bind themselves by the terms of their compact to I adhere to the doctrines and rituals of Mother Church. The Synod of this diocese would at the game time record its conviction that bo long as the > responsibility o£ conducting tho Government 'of

tliia branch, of the Church is borne by tho members of tho Church in this colony, it is requisite that in tho administration of its internal affairs thoy should ho uncontrolled by any distant authority. It feels that under thiß condition alone can a system of Church Government be established in this country which assigning to each order in the Church ita appropriate duties iDay call forth tho energies of all. It is persuaded that it is only by engaging bishops, clergy, and laity in tho work of Church Government, and under i\ full sense of undivided responsibility tha tho 'branch of tho United Church of England and Ireland in Now Zoaland can flourish. The olorical and lay members of thia Synod desire to convey to tho Bishop on the eve of his departure their earnoat hopo and prayer that his mission to England may bo prospered j that ho may bo restored to tho colony in health and strength ; and that he may long be spared to aid in completing tho great vrotk in which he has already had ao largo a part, of building up tho people of those islands into a Christian nation, and of spreading the light of the Gospel amongst tho heathen pooplo of tho neighbouring seas. His having briefly returned thanks, said, as tho address would appear in the records of tho Synod, it would bo advisable that tho reply siioukl also bo placed on tho books in regular order. Ho would, thoreforo, ask loavo of tho Synod to reply iu writing on Thursday (to-day). PRINTING committee. Tho Rov. 11. H. Heywood moved, and Mr. J. Gordon seconded, that a printing committco be appointed, to consist of tho following members, Mr. S. Hill, Mr. J. Gordon, and the mover.—Carried. | STANDING COMMITTEE. I Tho Rev. J. Kinder moved tho following amendment on Constitution No. 3, with regard to standing committees : —" Tho clerical and lay members shall bo elected by tho Synod for a period of tlireo years. Provided, if tho Synod shall not bo in session at tho expiration of any such period as aforesaid, such members shall hold ofßco until thoir successors shall bo appointed.' ' Tho hon. W. Swainson seconded the motion. Sir "YV. Martin moved tho following amendment, which was put and adopted : " Tho clerical and lay members shall bo elected by tho Synod, and shall hold oflico for tho duration of tho Synod, and until their sucessors shall be appointed." JIABRIAQB LICENSES. Tho Rev. Dr. Maunsell moved that tho E resent rulo of marriage by special liuenso, &0., o discontinued, and one uniform system of procedure be adopted. Ho said he had rooeiyod several lettors from personal friends on tho subject, and among others ono from Archdeacon Govott, which ho thon read. He thought the present system of marriage by special licence favoured the rich, whilo it hurt the feelings of I the poor. "Whon poor people had come to him <to bo married, he had been almost ashamed Ito tell them that they would hare Ito pay a sum of £2 to tho registrar, and afterwards a further sum to the minister. It was an insult to the poor, and the system of I banns, as compared with the lioenso system, | made it appear that poor people chose to be married by banns because they were unable to pay for the license. They - should adopt one general system of marriage, and then they would be the cheapest marrying body in the world. Tho Boy. B. Hall seconded tho resolution. Ho said ho know from his own erperionco, that the poor had an objection to bo married by banns, and in ordor to meets tho wants of tho poor in England and Ireland, tho licensing fee had been reduced, which had tended materially to tho Church. Tho Rev. A. G. Pubchas said the matter was one of considerable importance, and tho tliaoks of the Council wero duo to Dr. Maunsell for the manner in which ho had brought it forward. Ho thought tho licensing system was a real grievance. Tho object for which the system of licensing had been introduced no longer existed, the responsibility having been tat on off their shoulders by tho Government. The licensing system caused many people belonging to tho Church of England to go olsowhere to be married. Ho thought the Synod ought to do all in its power to abolish tho licensing system. Tho Rev. J. B. Smyth thought tho system of licensing should bo abolished, and that the simplest possible systom of marriage should bo adopted. Tho Rov. F. Gould inquired if tho Synod had any authority in tho matter. _ The Rev. E. H. Heywood said ho believed Dr. Maunsell would best consult tho desire of the Synod by withdrawing tho motion. Tho Rev. Dr. Maunsell said if a sensible reduction wore mado in the licensing fee it would meet his object, so as to place it within the roach of tho poor. Ho would move as an amendment that a select committee _ be appointed to sit during tho recess, to inquire into, and report upon tho practicability of making any alteration in tho present system of granting marriage licenses. This amendment was put and carried. Tho Rev. E. H. Heywood said the next Council would be a new body, and would thoreforo have no power to take any action in the matter. Hisf Lobdship said he would endeavour to securo a reduction in tho licences. The Council then adjourned, On tho Council re-assembling, Mr. S. Hill moved the following resolutions :— 1. That if any porson having an interest in the due administration of any fund applicable to Ohuroh purposes, shall have cause to apprehend or to complain of tho irregular application of such fund, it should bo competent for such person to bring his complaint before the Standing Committee of tho dioceae, who should havo authority to hear and detormino the Bame, and to mako such order therein by way of injunction, or for repayment or otherwise, as to the Standing Committee may seem m °2 r Xhat in the matter of any suoh complaint the decision of the Standing Committee should be binding on all parties having an interest in the duo administration of any such fund as aforesaid. 3. That tho Standing Committee Bhall have power to make suoh rules as may seem to them necessary for bringing such complaints fairly before them, and generally for rogulating the modo of procedure to be observed in hearing and determining the same. 4. That a copy of every such regulation should be laid before tho Diocosan Synod at the commencement of the session thon following the making of the I same. . Mr. Hill said it was well known that a dispute had occurred between certain parties in i St. Mary's Parish, and no _ means had been I fonnd of having complaints inquired into. A similar matter had como before- the Standing Committee on a former occasion, and tho conclusion had been arrived at that tho Standing Committco was the most suitable body to consider matters of that nature. Tho Rev. Dr. Maunsell said a 9 the resolution stood he would voto against it. The Rev. A. Q-. Pubchas said there were no pounds for introducing additional machinery into tho Church. Tho Rev. J. Kinder supported tho resolution. Sir "W. Martin opposed it. Tho Rev. Dr. Maunsell moved that the following bo added to tho end of tho first resolution Provided always, that in the case of parochial funds such complaints have been first submitted to the Vestry, and failing the Vestry, to a duly-constituted parish meeting." The Rev. A. G. Pubchas seconded. Sir W. Martin then moved the following amendment to the resolution 1. That it is very desirable that some tribunal should be established for the purpose of dealing with oases which will ariße ftom to time iu the administration of funds applioaWe to Church purposes^

2. That the Standing Committee of the Synod of the diocese appears to be a convenient tribunal for that purpose. 3, That in tho opinion of the Commission a law should be passed to give the necessary powers to the Standing Committee. ! His Lobdship said the matter was not one on which a hasty vote should be given, and it would be well to allow members an opportunity of giying it full consideration. The Council adjourned at 9.30 p.m. until 4 p.m. this day.