OPENING OF THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1518, 6 October 1868, Page 6

OPENING OF THE SESSION OF THE GENERAL SYNOD.

CHORAL SEBVICB AT THH CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUI/. Thb opening of the General Synod cf New Zealand was inaugurated yesterday morning by the celebration of Divine Service in the Cathedral Church o? St. Paul. At eleven o'clock the united ohoirs.of Auokland commenced the 46th hymn, during the singing of which' the ventry doors were opened and the procesion of Clergy and Bishops mcyed up the aisle and took their places in the cKanoel.- The order of Morning Prayer was read by the Ven. Arohdeiicon Lloyd, and the 122 nd, 133 rd, and 131thand 150 th Psalms specially appointed for tho day were ehaunted by the choir to Mercer's arrangement. Tho Right Rev. the Bishop of Nelson read the first lesson, pvhich was the 18tli chapter of Exodus, and the Right Jev. the Bishop of Melanesia, the second lesson, which was the 15th chaptcr of the Acts of tho Apostles. At the usual place for tho introduction of the anthem, the 186 th hymn wae sung, and at the conclusion of tho ordor of Morning Prayer the 124 th hymn. His Lordship of New Zealand read the Communion Sorvice, tho opisfln being read by the Right Rev. the Bishop of j Waiapu, and the Gospol by the Right Rev. tho Bishop of Ohristchurch. It was then stated that tho offertory of tho day would be dedicated to the expenses of the Synod, and the Bishop of Now Zealand read tho usual passages of Scripture during its collection. At the conclusion of the prayer for the church militant, tho larger portion of the congregation left, a few persons remaining with the members of tho Synod to partake of tho administration of the Sacrament of the Holy Communion. The responses wore eung from Tallio's Sorvice, the "To Doum" and tho " Juhilato" to chants from Mercer's collodion. The choir was arranged ks a Decani and Cantoris on opposite aides of tho chancel, and Mr. Livingston, organist of the Church, accompanied, assisted by Mr. Brown, organist of St. Matthew's.

The Church was crowded during tho service by a most attentive congregation.

The Sacrament was administered by the Bishops of Kcf Zealand, Wellington, Waiapu, and Ohristchurch. There were about 16 J communicants. The offertory amounted to about sixteen guineas. We noticed amongst those present—The Lord Bishop of New Zealand and Lichfield, the Right Revs, the Bishops of Wellington, Nelson, Waiapu, Canterbury, and Melanesia ; the "Ven. Archdeacons Lloyd, Govatt, and Hadfieid ; the Revs. E. N. Breo, B. T. Dudley, J. Atfein, S. Burrows, S. Blackburn, 35. H. Haywood, V. Lnsh, and Q. Gould, and Dr. Purchas.

THE SYNOD IN SESSION. The fourth General Synod of the Now Zealand branch of the Established Churoh of England and Ireland commenced its sittings yesterday, at three o'clock in the afternoon, in the Bishop's Library. Duaing the assembling of the Synod the bells of the Library rang a peal There were present the following members of the clergy and laity :—Bishops of New Zealand, Ohristchuroh, Wellington, Nelson, Waiapu, and Melanesian Islands, Sean of Ohristehurch, Yen. Archdeacon Butt, Yen. Archdeacon Gorott, Yen. Archdeacon Hadfield, Ven. Archdeacon Harper, Ven. Archdeacon Lloyd, Ven. Archdeacon Williams, tho Revs. J.

Atkin, B. Burrows, Oanon Ootteriil, V. Lush, J.

Palmer, 8. Poole. Laity—Messrs. J. B. Acklana, T. Beckham, E. S. Braithwaite, O. H. Brown, T.

Connell, F. X). Kenton, J. A. Gilfillan, P. Hanmer,

W. H. Kenny, W. Martin, H. S.McKellar, A. Rose, J. R. Selwyn, W. Swainson, T. O. Tilley, H. Williams, L. B. Ludbrook, G. S. Kiaeling, W. Adams.

Visitors—Bars. Baker, Bree, Clarke, Dudley, Heywood, Kinder, Purclias; Colonel Nation, Dr. Goldsbro', Messrs. Atkin, Braithwaite, Chuiton, > Gordon, Baithby, Lodge, Pierce, Yonge, Hamley, <fco.; Hesdames Selwyn, Abrahams, Baker, Dudley, Heywood, Kinder, Purchas, Burrows, Aclcland, Cadnran, Chapman, Grace, Goldsbro', Hebley, Kissling, Kinder, Kemptborne, Lush, Matson, Nihill, McKellar, Owen, Lingard, Tilley, Walker, Lady Martyn, &c. After an opening prayer by the Bishop of New Zealand, His Lordship proceeded to deliver the following opening address :— Sly Beloved Bkethben', Bishops, Clbeqt, akd Laitt : —This fourth meeting of our General Synod marks the completion of the ninth year of our church system. We have now tested by long experience the Constitution which we accepted, in 1859, not upon theory alone, but upon the higheit authority. We followed, as much as possible, the precedents of the early Church, and" we submitted our draft Constitution to the judgment of Sir John Patteson. We were guided at every step by our own legal advisers, the late Chief Justice and Attorney General of New Zealand. In recent years, judgments of the greatest importance have been delirered by the Judicial Committee of the Fri»y Council upon questions raised in other parts of the Colonial Church. These decisions have had no other effect upon u» than to confirm the principles npon which our church system was framed. They hare not made it necpssary for us to alter oven a single word in our Constitution or statutes.

In attributing this hoppy result to the care and forethought of our legal advisers, X am not unmindful of the higher source from which these blessings have been derived. We owe a debt of devout thankfulness to the God whose guiding Providence has cleared for u« a way, through many difficulties, to our present state of organization. To Him alone be the praise. The agents of the Church Mission, governed by the laws of their own society, might have been unable to unite with us in the same system of church Government. But the society itself removed the difficulty, by not only permitting but advising its missionaries to assist the Bishop and the rest of the clergy in organising the institutions of the infant church in JJew Zealand. The missionary clergy have taken an active and cordial part in our Synods: and the acts of the Synods have in no way interfered with the independent action of the Church Missionary Society.

Another and perhans a greater difficulty was the bitterness of party spirit in the church at home. To have imported this into our feeble body would have been fatal. This danger also has been providentially averted. We all hold our own various forms of opinion, within the rccognised limits of the doctrines of the Church of Fngland. But no instance has occurred in which these difficulties havo hindered us from carrying on our work of church legislation. If we do not think together, at least we have been able to act together. Our ay nodical meetings, guided by ths.Spirit, of Connsel, have saved us from the eccentricities of individual zeal.

A third difficulty, against which we had to contend at first, may now be said to have disappeared; The system when it was first proposed wag new and untried. Our colonists could not understand it. The question wos asked cui bono ? Given Synods, what were they to do? It was of little um at first to argue, that all other religious bodies have some suoh organization for the management of their affairs. The Church of England was said to be different from all other bodies, in having a system provided for it by law. What that system is, as applicable to the Colonial Church, nobody could tell, but not the less was it affirmed that the church even hero is part of the churoh as by law established, and therefore needs no system or laws of its own. It was deemed sufficient to speak of.the Queen's Supremacy as covering the whole of this affirmation, without the necessity of further proof. To frame any new system was said to be an attempt to separate from the Mother Church. If these opinions had prevailed, our foundation would have been altogesher insecure. We could hare affirmed nothing, because there would have been no aggregate body by which an affirmation of principle could be made. We should not even have had a common bond of interest to. unite us together, because all the church property would have been hold by private trustees, who would have been responsible only to the law courts for the fulfilment of their trust. But all these doubts and questions have been happily set at rest by the decisions of the Privy Council affirming the legality of everything that we have done. And we have taken effectual care, that those judgments Bhall not havo the effect of separating us from the mother church, by our own solemn declaration, that " This Branch of the United Church ot England and Ireland in New Zealand doth hold «nd_ maintain the Doctrines and Bacraments of Christ as the Lord hath commanded in His Holy Word, and as the United Church of England and Ireland hath received and explained the same." This is our bond of Union with the Mother Churoh : which by our Constitution is declared to be fun-

damental and unalterable. And this declaration has been solemnly "Established by the Bishops, Clergy, and Laity iu General Synod assembled." The Colonial Legislature has assisted us by the enactment of such laws as were considered necessary. Two Acts of the General Assembly have enabled me to transfer to trustees appointed by the General Synod all the property vested in the Bishop of New Zealand and his successors in trust for church purposes. Three Acts of the General Assembly have enabled the General Synod, and any Diocesan Synod, to carry out a simple and easy method of administering trust property, whether held in freehold or by way of mortgage. The best proof of the efficiency of our syßtem will be found in the ropoTts of the standing commission, which will shew how very few cases have arisen in which that body has been called upon to decide disputes. It is 'scarcely necessary to add that no question arising out of property held in trust by the General Synod haß ever been brought into a Court of law. To make our system of voluntary compact more and more complete in every respect, is one of the chief duties of the General Synod at its triennial meeting. We do not desiro to extend our executive authority, or to encumber ourselves with details of business. The fact that every diocese has its own recognised rights and its own internal organization, exempts the G-eneial Synod from the necessity of establishing an elaborate system of cantral government. Our proper^funotion is to bring to perfection a. few simple lawsabased upon brood and general principles, by which all the dioceses of this ecclesiastical province, with one or more missionary bishoprics, may be associated together. Our aim is to frame ruleß so simple that no questions may ever anno among us, or at least no questions which cannot bo sottied by a mode of arbitration agrcad upon by ourselves. Much has been said and writton about appeals to couitsoflaw, and to the Frivy Council, as if they were essential parts of "the system of tho Church of England. Whenever such rights cau be proved to exist, our voluntary system leaves them untouched. Our simple duty is to obey tho law. But we are not bound to go to law. The law itself leaves us to'the froe choice of carrying our disputo3 into tho public court, or of soltling them by private arbitration. If we adopt the private—and 1 think tho more scriptural— mode, then tho law gives to ovory decision founded upon our voluntary agreement the force and effect of a rulo of court. The moßt recent of the judgments of which bo much has been said—that of the Master of the Rolls—is clear upon this point: " Tho members of the church in South Afrioa may oreate an ecolesiastical tribunal to try ecclesiastical matters botween themselves, and may agree that the decisions of such tribunals shall be final, whatev may be their nature or effect. Upon this being proved, the civil tribunal will enforce the decisions against all the persons who have agreed to be bound by thoso decisions ; and it would do eo without enquiring into those decisions." The question, then, which may be referred to the Civil Courts or to tho Privy Council is to decide whether tho acts of our tribunal ore in conformity with the terms of our agreement. It follows that we must use our best endeavours to make our agreement as intelligible, simple, and perfect aB we can. The most difficult queition, which has arisen out of our system of voluntary compact, is the position of tho bishops. Are wo as free to enter into this compact as the olergy and laity ? This question seemed to be answered by the words of the Judioial Committee :—

" The United Church of England and Ireland is not a part of the Constitution in any colonial settlement, nor can its authorities or those who bear office in it olaim to be recognised by the law of the colony otherwise than members of a voluntary assooiation."

Before the arrival of this judgment my legal advisers had prepared a draft form of letters patent, I now lay upon the table, framed upon the principle of authorising the bishop to administer the affairs of the church in hiß diocese in New Zoaland, in conformity with tho Regulations of the General Synod. Whatever may be thought of the necessity or value of letters patent, tho bishops were evidontly bound in honor to seek to b9 released from any restriction which prevontod them from entering, bona fide, into full participation with the clergy and laity in the benefits and liabilities of our voluntary oompact. After the receipt of the judgment cited abov?, the Bishopß of tho fire dioceses in New Zealand addressed a petition to her Majesty, praying to be allowed to surronder their letters patent. Mr. Cardwcill, then Seoretary of State for tho Colonies, is reported to have said in tho House of Commons, that the Government thought that this petiton might reasonably bo complied with ; but no official answer to it has been received by us. There is no. reason to suppose that letters patent will in future be granted to colonial Bishops. Dioobsb op Duhbdin. The first question which will require your attention, is an uct to validate the election of members ohosen to represent the two portions of the present diocese of Ohristchuroh. This necessity has arisen from th® unforeseen delay in the constitution of the diocese of Dunedin. It seemed to me to be expedient that a fullrepreientationof thejclergy and laity in th» Rural Deanery of Otago and Southland, should assist in deciding the important questions affecting the new diocese which will bo brought before us. On ihis subject I have only further to recommend that any matters involving personal considerations be referred, rb in former instances, to a select committee to be chossn by ballot. Appointment or Primate. My approaching resignation of the Bishopric of New Zealand requires you to make provision for the appointment of a Primate. This title has already come into use, as being more suited to the circumstances of the church in New Zealand than the title of Metropolitan. It has not been thought expedient that the Bishop residing at the Civil Metropolis or Seat of Government should bo Primate, ex officio. Change in Standing Commission. The Primato or Metropolitan has hitherto bean a member of the Standing Commission, but by election only, and not by virtue of his office. In the case of a change of Primate, it may not he possible to transfer tho judicial funotions of the Standing Commission to an equally competent body in the place where the new Primate resides. To meet this difficulty, I request you to consider whether those powors of the Standing Commission which relate to tho appointment of trustees may not be transferred in all cases to Diocesan Boards of Trusts, as has been done already in the appointment of a Board of Trusts for the Rural Deanery Board of Otago and Southland. These Diocesan Boards may then act in a double character, for property held in trust for the General Bynod; and also, for property held in trust for the Diocese, undor the Religious, Charitable, and Trusts' Act Amendment Act, 1865. If the Standing Commission be thus freed from the enoumbrance of the management of property, tho place of meeting may be fixed wherever the most competent body can be found for the disoharga of its judioial functions. MELANESIA* Bishofkic.

We shall all unite in welcoming most heartily to his place in the Synod our Melanesian Bishop and his coadjutors. It has ploased God to bless hia work with a large measure of success. In the course of our session ho will give us, I hope, some account of the present state and prospects of hie mission. We have already associated his Bishopric with our Synod by a «erie 3 of resolutions, but it will now bo necessary to make provision by ttatute for future appointments. The landed property of the mission, both here and Nor/bit Island, is held by trustees appointed by the General Synod. In making this suggestion, I am not unmindful of the kindneis and liberality of our brother churchmen in Australia and Tasmania, who hare contributed largely to the support of the Melanesian Mission ; but I think that we shall better secure the permanence of the Mission by affiliating it to our own branch of the church, than by leaving it indefinitely to the care of many parents. Diriaroif o* Diochses.

It has been decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (20th Maroh, 1865), that tha Grown has no power to assign to a bishop any diocese in a colony which is possessed of an independent legislature. It will therefore beoome the duty of the General Synod to define from time to time tho boundaries of dioceses. A great advantage will thus be gained by the prompt adjustment of our diocesan system for the convenience of the bishops, according to the ohangos of population which are continually occurring. The boundaries fixed in times of ignorance by degrees of latitude and longitude may now be reviewed by the light of a better knowledge of the country. The name of my bob ought now to be changed. Some regulation is needed to provide for the eleotion of a bishop to a new diocese, the want of whioh has been felt in the case of the biahoprio of Duntdin.

Acceptance oe Alterations in Prates Boor. It ii provided by the constitution that the Gener»l Synod may accept any alteration of the prayer book which has " been adopted by the United Ohurch of England and Ireland, with the consent of the Crown and of Convocation." An alteration of the terms of subscription involving an alteration in the form of ordaining priests and deacons, has been made by. authority of convocation, and of au Act of Parliament passed on the sth July, 1866. It seems to be expedient that the General Synod should place upon record its acceptance of this alteration. Aitbkatiohb in- Statutes. No noticeß having been given at the last session of the Geneiol Synod, tho Constitution will remain unaltered. The Bishop of Ohristchurch haß supplied mo with a list of alterations required in our statutes and resolutions. Statute I.—Section 12. Time and election requires to be altered. lb.—Section 18. This section may bo struck out. Ib.—Section 15. It is thought that this proviso doos not state clearly tbat the Standing Committer has power in all cases to fill up vacant seat*, in whatever manner the vacancy may occur. It is presumodthat this was intended, a« the objeot of the section was to secure a full attendance of representatives. lb.—Section 18. To change the word " Metropolitan "into "Primate." Statute X"V*.—Section 7. On this section a question has arisen, whether vestrymen must bo resident in the parish or not.

Ib.—Section 8. It seems to be desirable to insert, after the word " churchwardens," " chosen for that purpose by the Veßtry." Statute V. —Seotion 8. This section seems to be at T-urinnce with sections 8 and 9, in the case of objection boing raised by the bishop to the institution of a clergytcau on the ground of any charge specified in tho first and Hecond sections of the Ecclesiastical Offences Statute, 1865, tho Standing Committee, exclusive of the bishop by this scction aeem to have power to set aeide the appoal to tha Home of Binhops. I.b. Section 10. It is thought that with the present rapidity of communication, eighteen months is an unreasonable time for a parish to be vacant. Statute VIII. 10.—It is not clear that the Commissary of the Bishop of Ohristchurch would continue in office until the arrival of the hew Bishop. Alteration op Resolutions. Resolution I.—The instructions to trustees will require to be adapted to any new statute which may bo passed for the formation of Diocesan Boards of Trusts, and to any resolutions which may be adopted upon the report of the Committee of Trusts.

Resolution 11. may be expunged. .Resolution 111. may be expunged, and in its place a similar resolution may be inserted declaring the course which the General Synod adopts under the 23rd clause of the Constitution deed to sanction the appointment of a successor to the present Bishop of New Zealand, and also deciding by what name the Bishopric thall hereafter be called.

Resolution IV. may be expunged if a statute for the Constitution of the Melanesian Bishopric be passed. Resolution Vl.—The Bishop of Christchuroh will bring forward the forms of prayer which have bean adopted in his diocese for the purposes specified in thie resolution. Ehdownent Fund. Resolution VII.—I shall be glad to receive any information and adrice from the Synod on the subject of the Endowment Fund which is now being raisod for the endowment of tho Bishopric of New Zealand. Pension Fund. Resolution VIII.—The Pension Fund resolutions require some verbal alterations to make-their meaning more clear. In other respeots the system as amended in 1865 has worked well. The Fire Insurance and Life Insurance branches have been brought into operation. Reports upon the Central Fund and its branches will be laid before you. UOTTX. Resolution IX.—May still remain rb an expression of our earnest desire for a restoration of the unity of the Christian Church ; but no definite line of action has yet boon opened to us towards the attainment of that object. "West Coast. Rosolution X.—May be expunged; but not without a feeling of thankfulness for the success of the efforts which the Bishops of Christohnrch and Nelson havo been enabled to sot on foot in the West Coast golifields. Nomination ov Bishops. Resolution XT.—This resolution may be expanded into a rule for the nomination of a Bishop to a new See, and for the division of diooeses. Meeting Expenses of Synob. Resolutions XII, Xni, and XlV.—Require no remark, and may bo adopted again with slight alterations. Resolution XV.—May be expunged. Standing Commission. Resolution XVl.—Will probably bs superseded by the enactment of a new statute. AmbbjlTions in Standing Ohdbrs. A bill will be laid befori? ~ou for extending the operations of the Standing Orders. My experience leads ma to request you to cancel the authority given by Standing Order 27 to the Prosident, to appoint Sessional Committees. It is very desirable that these committees should be elected by the Synod. Lambeth Conpehence. Having now spoken of the necessity of making our voluntary compact as precise and perfect as possible, by supplying what is still lacking in our own laws, I go on to speak of a most important addition to our stook of knowledge which has been made by the Report of the- Committees appointed by the Lambeth to consider the question of the organization of the Colonial Churches. If I do not say much on the subject of that Conference, it is because so much has been said and written already, from opposite sides, that it might soem as if I wished to bring before you a disputed question in order to obtain your opinion upon it. This is no part of the business for which we have met. I need only Bay, tliat I attended that meeting in obedience to the invitation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and that I bob much reason to be thankful for the results of its deliberations. I believe the Lambeth Conference to be the greatest event in the History of our Branch of the the Ohuroh since the Reformation, and that the importance of the principles embodied in the Reportß of its Committees will soon be generally recognized. Having said this, I pass on to those parts of the Reports of the Conference in which, "w© aro practically interested. The general system proposed for the organization of the Colonial Churohes does not differ, I think, in any important point from that which we have adopted. Certainly there is nothing in the reports of the committees which contradicts our Constitution. But the suggestion by the committee appointed under Resolution IX, of a Board of Reference, in which all the branches of the Anglican Communion should be represented, is a new point of groat interest, deserving and requiring to be carefully considered. Tho framers of our Constitution seemed to look forward to something higher than our own voluntary tribunals, as may be inferred from tho words of the 16th seotion:—

" The General Synod shall establish a tribunal ortribunula in New Zealand for the purpose of deciding all questions of doctrine and discipline; and also may establish a court or courts of appeal from the decision of any such tribunal."

Here wo are met with two objections, that it 3s proposed to establish a tribunal having authority, first to frame new declarations and standards of docrine, and then to aot as a court of final appeal. On the first point it is sufficient to refer to the report of the committee appointed under resolution 9. The members who framed that report were well aware that no authority less than that of a Oanon of a General Council, acoepted by the faithful in all. countries, oan alter the standards of doctrine of the Catholio Church ; and also, that the special formularies of the Anglican Church can only be altered, by an authority equivalent to that by whioh they were established. The purposo for which the voluntary tribunal of appeal was proposed may bo gathered from the following sentence in the report:— "That the judgments of the Tribunal of Appeal should bo delivered in the form of a decision that the teaching or practice of the accused party is (oris not) permissible."

Many of the decisions in the church at the present time seem to bo caused by the prevalence of the erroneous idea, that everything is permissible which w not expressly forbidden by the letter of the Law.

St. Paul's teaching was directly contrary. Three whole ohapters in his Epistleß. Bcmang 14, 1 Corinthians 8, and 10, are devoted to the subject of Christian liberty, and the rule of conscience. The summary of all is in 1 Cor. x. 23.: " All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient • all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not " .What limits ought to be assigned to biblical criticism; .how far speculation into obtruse subjects may be introduced into our pnblio teaching; in what sense we are bound to uphold the inspiration of Holy Scripture ; how far the usige* and ritual of other ages or of other branches of the church are worthy of imitation ; what respect is due to long established custom, even if it differ from th ß letter of the law; in what sense and tc what degree external signs are to be taught as representing inward and spiritual doctrines $ all these are questions, on which njany who now act rashly and even presumptiously for want o' guidance, would be -willing to Bubmit their private judgments to the Godly admonitions of those who are chosen to decide in each case what latitude of teaching or what liberty of practice is permissible.

As to the second objection, that it is proposed to set up a new Court of Final Appeal, I have alreadyendeavoured to show that there is no rivalry or opposition between Courts of Law and arbitrators appointed by voluntary consent. As it is the business of the civil Legislature to make its Courts of law and all their proceedings as perfect as possible, so it is our business to carry up ouc system of voluntary compact as many steps as may be necessarv to satisfy our members that substantial justice Trill be done in ail cases. For this purpose we have already provided an appeal from the Diocesan to the Qereral Synod; and if it be thought necessary or expedient to rofer to a higher Board of Arbitration, the report of the committee appointed by resolution 9 of the Lambeth Conference suggests one out of the many methods by which such a Board may bo established. 3n the meantime, the Judicial Committeo of the Privy Council remains what the law has made it. the court of final appeal from the judgments of the lower courts; in no respect touched, much less superseded, by any Board of Reference or final arbitration which the Colonial, Scotch, or American Churohes may agree to accept—because, let voluntary compact bB carried ever so high, the law of the land must be higher still. Those who look to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as a bond of union to connect our colonwl branches with the Mother Church, must have omitted to consider that only one class of En»lis h c.ergymen have any such right to appeal. It would require an Act of Parliament to give to all clergymen, as such, the status of beneficed incumbents, before the Judicial Commijttee could serve aB a bond of union between all the branches of the Church. At this moment, 5000 curates in England hold'their licences at the discretion of the bishop of the diocese wich no further right of appeal than to the Arohbishop of the The Missionary clergy employed by the Church Societies are removable by the Societies by which they are employed, under laws to which they have assented on entering upon their office. Chaplains in the army and navy, in jails, and workhouses : consular chaplains in foreign parts, all are govorned by special bye-laws or voluntary agreement, with no other right of appeal to the Privy Council, than that which may issue from any action for breach of agreement tried in any ono of the lower Courts of Law.

In this country, our olergy may be curates, chaplains, or missionaries, anything in short, but beneficed clergymen. A benefice is a creation of the law, including legal rights and obligations, which do not exist here. Advowson, presentation, institution, induction, tithes, dilapidations, simony, are some of the hard names of law incrusted about an English benefice, _ for which our simple system of voluntary compact is the substitute. I respect the feeling which makes many good men venerate almost to idolatry our English system; and I can say with all sincerity, that if it had been possible I would have carried it out as du'.ifully and as heartily as, by God's help, I will now work it in England; but Bince this cannot be, I earnestly intreafc you, as one who has seen work of the Church on both sides of the world, to hold fast to your voluntary compact, make it as perfect as you can,—seek for communion with all the branches of our Anglican Church now scattered over the world; aim at one common standard of faith and ritual in all essential points; " look unto the rock whenco ye were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence ye were diggedtreasure up the memory of the blessings and privileges which we have inherited from our Holy Mother, that it may be seen that she is by none more honoured and beloved than by the most distant of her children.

To maintain that intimate union between the Mother Church and her colonial branches will be one of the chief objeots of my future life. It may be the will of God to bring upon us a season of trial &nd perplexity. The attempt has been already made to cut off our Bister Church of Ireland from her connexion with the State. Many think that this is but the beginning of further changes. We look without fear upon these approaching signs, because we have learned by long experience that the Church of England lives and prospers, not by endowments or by connection with the State, but by the purity of her doctrine, and by the Scriptural simplicity of her liturgy. These are the spiritual benefits which we brought with us from our Mother Church : when we left behind us titheß and endowments, and took in exchange the precarious struggles of a voluntary sooiety. Our barrel of meal has not wasted, nor has our cruise of oil failed. We have not fear, therefore, for our Mother Church, because we already know the worst that can befal her. All the strength that we possess we derived from her, as a true branch of the Church of Christ, indued by the Holy Ghost with gifts of graces, of which she can never be deprived but by unfaithfulness in her stewardship.

I must cut short that part of the subject which relates to myself. In the presence of another, who has worked in this portion of the vineyard two-and-forty years, and with the thought fresh upon my inind of another faithful servant who has lately entered into his rest after fifty years of service. I cannot speak of the six-and-twenty years of my tenure of office in this country. But the thought of the Missionary Church, which had existed here a quarter of a century before I came into the land, reminds me to bequeath to you as a precious legacy —our native pastors and the remnant of their flccks. There is still life in the Native Church. The grace of God has not been poured npon it in vain—" God hath not cast away his people." At this present time there is a remnant according to the election cf grace.

The Bishop of Ckkistchtjrch moved—" That the thanks of the Synod are due to tbe President for the address just delivered, and that tho President ba asked that he would allow it to be printed, and placed among the documents of the Synod."

The Bishop of Nehok said he would first like a little explanation of the motion. Ho would go himself heartily with the proposal now made. The question arose in his diocesan synod sis weeks ago how far the presentation of the thanks of those who listened to an address, complied with the statements made in the address. As far as thanking tho right rev. president for the address, he would readily Bay amen, and vote most heartily and ooaseientionsly for the proposal, but if that implied in any degree that the members of the Synod were bound by the statements in the address, he would not vote. There was one particular part in tha address, namely, " that the Church of England live 9 and prospers, but by its connexion with the State," with which he could not concur. He would be very glad if the mover ofthe resolution would give the Synod an intimation of the view, with which he moved what, under the circumstances, was a most important resolution. Of course if this were only a recognition of the primate's countenanco, which ho had for years showed to them, he would£at once vote for the resolution, but if it pledged thorn to any of the statements, he muat at once dissent from it. The Bishop of Christchurcs said this was the general practice both of tho General and Diocesan Synods that a vote of thanks should be moved. He therefore again moved tho resolution, and hoped it would be carried by acclamation. Tha Bishop of Kelson : I asked a question, and should be glad if you would kindly answer me. The Bishop op CHaisTCHtrBCH: I never heard of such a thing. The motion wa3 then put and carried. The Piujiatb then requested the Synod to appoint a secretary and treasurer, trad asked them to proceed to elect a sessional committee. Appointment or Skcbetart and Tbeasdeeb. Mr. W. Swain son" moved—" That the Bev. Mr. Burrows be appointed Secretary." Seoonded by the Bev. S. Poole, and carried. Hunter Brown was also appointed Lay Secretary. Mr. T. Beckham was alio appointed Secretary.

Mr. SwaiiiSok moved, and it was seconded b-» Archdeacon Hatfibld, and carried—"That a com mitteo Tie appointed to draw up a coda of standin® order 3 for the guidance of the Synod, such committal to consist of the Bishop of Wellington, the Yen Archdeacon Govett, T. Buckham, Esq., and th» mover." 9 The PfiiMiTE brought up the report of the atand. ing commission, and in furtherance of the suggestions of the commission the legal advisers of the Brand brought tip drafts of several Acts. Sessional Committbe3. It was moved by Archdeacon Butt, and seconded by the Eev. 8. Blackbubit—'-Ihat the sessional com. mittees be elected by ballot." Colonel Kbnnt moved as an amendment " That the committees bo elected by nomination." The amendment was carried. Stand in® Okdebs. A discussion arose as to whether the standinjorfiers of a previous session should ba binding on the present one. It was mo-red by the Bov. STr. B (throws, seconded by the Yen. Archdeacon Goyett—" That the standing orders of the last General Synod be adopted by this Synod, and be inforoe until the report of the committee on the standing orders shall be adopted by the Synod." Mr. Swainson moved a3 an amendment—" That the words ' with the exception of standing order Ho 27,' be inserted." The motion as amended was then pat and passed. Pbiktikg. The Dean of Chbistchfrch suggested the propriety of printing the notices of motion every day. fll3 Loedjhip said there could be no difficulty about that as they could be printed at their own press. Synodic ai Tbttbt. On the motion of the Bishop of ELLINGTON 1 order No. 14 was suspended, in order to' enable him to move " That a cjmmittea be appointed to receive and report upon the accounts and reports of troata presented to the General Synod an ; any other questions bearing on the property of the General Synod ; such committee to consist of Bight Bev. Bishop. Patterson, Yen. Archd. Brown, Yen. Archd. Govett, Ven. Archd. Butt, Hon. Col. Kenny, H. Williams, JSsq., A. S. Braithwaite, JEsq., and the mover." The motion was carried. The committee was requested to meet at 10 o'clock thiß morning. Hour of Mestino. It was moved by Mr. McKblhab, seconded by Mr. Bosh and carried, that the Synod meet daily, except Saturday, at 4 p.m. •iDDHBSS FROM CHBTSTOHHRCH. The Bishop op Chkistchuhoh asked the Synod to allow the Standing Orders to be suspended, in order to allow him to present an address from the Diocesan Synod of Christchnrch.

The Bishop op Welmkgtok said he would rather move the adjournment of the Synod, and then request the members to st»y in order that several addresses might be presented to his lordship the Primste. The Ten. Aechdeacon Lloyd notified that there would be a meeting on the subiect of the Melanesiaa Mission on Friday evening, at half-past seven, and hoped the members would hold themselves free to attend it. The Synod then adjourned. The Bishop op Ohbistohxteoh, the Bishop or Wellington, and the Bishop op Nelson presents farewell addresses from their several Diocesan Synods* The Rev. Matthew Tacpaxi also read an address from the Natives of the northern portion of the province. His liOED3hip' replied in suitable terms, tracing the riao and progress of the various bishoprics ia Nelson, Wellington, and Christchurch, and thanked the Natives for their address more especially. The Synod then adjourned until four o'clock today.