ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7559, 11 February 1886, Page 6

ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

The Anglican General Synod resumed its sittings at the Cathedral Library, Parnell, yesterday. The Primate presided, GENERAL PENSION FOND. Archdeacon Stock brought up the report of the Pension Fund Committee. The committee recommended that the services of an actuary be obtained to report as to pay* ments, &c. RETURNS. The Rev. A. Gifeord brought up a report from the Select Committee on Returns, The oommittee reported a number of the returns were not fully made out as was required. REGISTERED MEMBERS. The Dean of Chkistohubch moved, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill for the revision of lists of registered members of the Church, and that the Bill be read a first time." Bill introduced, and read a first time. IN MKMOBIAM. The Bishop of Nelson moved, "1. That this Synod at its first session after the death of the Hon. Henry John Tancred, Chancellor of the University of New Zealand, desires to recognise the active part taken by him in every movement affecting the interest of the Church in this ecolesiastical province, he being one of those associated with Bishop Selwyn in laying the foundations of the Constitution of the Church, and more especially assisting the development of that diocese in which, as a resident, he led a long, useful, and consistently Christian life. The union of literary culture with the new and absorbing duties of colonial occupations in his case rendered him one who was able to give, as he did most ungrudgingly, much valuable help, both to the Church of which he was a devoted and loyal member, and to the society in whioh he lived. 2. This Synod further records the memory of one who also took part in the first convention of 1857, at whioh the constitution of the Church of the Province of New Zealand was first agreed uponthe Ven. James Wilson, M.A., formerly Archdeacon of Christchurch, in the Diocese of Christchurch. He was a member of the General Synod of 1562, 1865, 1871, 1874, and took a -leading part in the proceedings and progress of the Synod of his own diocese, in which, though not holding a cure, he placed his efficient services at the disposal of. the diocese in collegiate and similar work. 3. Another of the survivors of the devoted band who first planted Christianity in New Zealand has passed away : the Ven. Alfred Neabitt Brown, Archdeacon of Tauranga, after a long life of successful labour as a missionary, has been called to his rest. He was a member of the General Synod of 1859-1868. 4. The Synod especially feels the loss of one who was looked forward to as likely for many years to come to occupy important officca in the Church, the Ven. Archdeacon William Chambers Harris, whose name cannot be mentioned without recalling the loving Christian disposition, the sterling worth, and intellectual ability which charasterised him, whether as headmaster of Christ's College School, Archdeacon and Inspector of Schools, or taking an active part in synodical work, and in the special department of the Board of Theological Studies. He will he missed in all these Church works, but has bequeathed to the Church a happy, helpful memory, encouraging others to' follow his modest and unassuming, though influential example. 5. One of those who specially assisted Bishop Selwyn and Sir William Martin in their wise provision for the constitution of this Church has also, but in a ripe full age, been taken from us, the Hon. William Swainson, who for fifteen years was Attor-ney-General of this colony. He was & member of the Convention of 1857, and of the first General Synod of 1859, and of 1862 and IS6S, and for many years gave the benefit of his valuable legal advice to the Standing Commission of the Ohnrch. The Synod holds his name in grateful remembrance, along with those of his many fellow-colonists of whom so few now remain."

The Primate briefly seconded the motion, and bore testimony to the good work done and the active interest taken in the Church work by the late Hon. Mr. Tancred, Archdeacon Wilson, and Archdeacon Harris. Dean Jacobs moved the addition of the following clause to the above resolutions : — " That the Synod desires to add to the above names the name of William Donald, Esq., an active and earnest member of the General Synod in 1865 aad 1871, and one who laboured with energy and devotion in building up the fabric of the church in the diocese of Christchuroh from the earliest days of the settlement." The Bishop of Auckland desired to add the name of Archdeacon Pritt, but it was explained that the late archdeacon was never a member of the Synod. Bishop Oowie regretted this, but wished to say that the late Bishop Patteson told him that the good organisation of the Melanesiau Mission in those days was mainly duo to Archdeacon Pritt. Bishop Cowie then referred briefly to the late Hon. William Swainson.

The Bishop of Wellington bore testimony to the conscientious manner in which the late Hon. William Swainson discharged all the trusts and duties whioh he undertook. He also testified to Mr. Swainson'B kindness. He fully endorsed the reference in the resolution to the Hon. Mr. Tanored,

Arohdeacon Dudley said that in many ways the late Dr. Donald set an example to churchmen. He called to memory the words and work of the late Mr. Tancred and Archdeaoon Harris at the last session of the Synod. Archdeacon Dudley said that he was the last minister who attended the late Hon. William Swainson, and he could say that the dying man's mind was quite clear to the last, and he asked many questions as to the Church work in the district. It seemed to him (Arohdeacon Dudley) to be a most remarkable evidence of the triumph of mind over matter, and was so suggestive and instructive that he would never forget it. He was deeply impressed by that last interview with the dying man, which interview ended in prayer, Mr. Swainson saying the Lord's Prayer. The Rev. C. M, Nelson said that the late Hon. Mr. Swainson had been a regular attendant of St. Paul's Church almost since the church was founded. The resolutions were then read by the Primate, the Synod standing meanwhile. The resolutions were carried unanimously. UNINTENDED repetitions. The Bishop of Nelson moved, in accordance with the report of the select committee, "That in the opinion of this Synod any difficulties that may arise from the combination of eervioes, are already provided for in the discretionary power of the ordinary, Whose special sanction must be previously obtained before such combination." The question involved in the resolution had already been fully discussed. After some brief comments on the motion, Mr. G. P. Pierce moved, " That the Synod do now proceed to the next business." The Synod divided ; —Ayes : bishops, 2 ; clergy, 3; laity, 11. Noes: bishops, 5; clergy, 14 ; laity, 11. The amendment was therefore negatived. The Bishop of Nelson subsequently withdrew the motion. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH SITE. The Bishop of Auckland moved, " That the General Synod give to the trustees of the Auckland Diocesan General Trust Board, authority to sell the sites of the church, the parsonage, and the school of St. Paul's parish, Auckland, or to exohange the same for other Bites within the parish, or to sell or to exchange any one or more of the said sites, subject to the approval of the Standing Committee, in accordance with the recommendation of the Synod of the Diocese of Auokland ; the moneys obtained in the case of sale, to be invested in other land or lauds, to be held for the purposes of the said original sites." The Rev. C. M. Nelson seconded the motion, and stated that it was not the intention of the parishioners to build on the old site ; it was desirable that a more central site should be secured. He regretted, however, that the old church had been pulled down. The motion was adopted. The Rev. C. M. Nelson moved as an addition to the Bishop of Auokland's motion, "And also, it for the purpose of the sale or exohange of any or either of the sites above mentioned, an Act of the General Assembly be necessary, this General Synod authorises the General Trust Board to take the proper steps for obtaining the same." This resolution was also adopted. FLAT BUSH. The Bishop of Auckland moved, " That the General Synod give to the trustees of the Auokland Diocesan General Trust Board authority to sell an acre of the Bishopric Endowment Estate at Flat Bush as a site for a church and for a burial-ground, at a prioe to be approved of by the Standing Committee, on the condition that the proceeds of such sale be invested in other land to be applied

to the same purpose for which the said estate is now held by the said trustees." Mr. G. P. Pi brok aeoonded the motion, and it was adopted. , • The Synod adjourned at six o'olook till half-past seven o'olook. THE KEY 01 THE OHUBOH. Arohdeacon Williams moved the second reading of a Bill to embody section B of clause 14 of instruotionß to trustees in the code of canons. The clause provided that the minister of the parish shall have possession of the key of the churoh, but when the church iB required for services by the Bishop it shall be be the duty of the olergyman of the parish to allow the church to be opened at the time appointed for those services. Certain minor amendments were made in the Bill, and the Bill was reported with amendments, which were agreed to. ST. John's college, tamaki. The Bishop of Waiapu brought up the report of the Seleot Committee on St. John's College, The report stated :—"As the main reason assigned by the Governors in their report to the General of 1883 for the removal of the College in the neighbourhood of Auckland was that the students of St. John's College 'should have the benefit of attending the lectures of the Professors of the Auokland University College,' your committee have devoted speoial attention to this point, and they find that the result has been very inconsiderable so far, and there seems little promise of improvement, as from the return furnished by the Governors it appears that only three students are now attending University lectures, whereas at the commencement of 1884 seven students were so attending. They also oonsider that the absence of a permanent warden is detrimental to the well-being and success of the institution, and are therefore of opinion that the services of a permanent warden should be secured, even though this should involve a decrease in the number of scholarships given. Your committee think that the present Bite, in Gladstone Road, Parnell, is inadequate to take the additional buildings required ; and they had before them two propositions ; (a) To acquire a suffisient portion of the cathedral site and to erect thereon buildings suitable to the requirements of the college at a oost not exceeding the amount of the capital represented by the income now looked up in paying interest and rent on the site and buildings in Parnell; (b) to resume occupation of the buildings at Tamaki, after doing what is needful in the way of repairs and enlargement. Your committee are of opinion that ot these two courses the latter is preferable, and recommend it accordingly. From evidence furnished to your committee it appears desirable that some definite standard of attainment should be required from students seeking admission to the College, and that scholarships should be awarded to the most proficient. Your committee are of opinion that it is inadvisable to alienate any portion of the estate at Tamaki, and that the authority to sell part of the land at Tamaki, given by the General Synod in 1883, should be rescinded, but they recommend that parts of the eßtate be let on long leases as opportunity offers, vV ith regard to the petition presented by the students of the College to the General Synod, whioh has been referred to your committee, they are of opinion that this petition should have "been presented through the Governors, and that it contains matter which may safely be left to them to deal with. Your committee recommend, for adoption by the Synod, the following resolutions r—l. That iu the opinion of this Synod a resident warden should be appointed for St. John's College as soon as can be. 2. That occupation of the buildings at Tamaki be resumed as soon as they can be put into proper order. 3. That a definite standard of attainment be required from students seeking admission to the College. 4. That the permission given by the General Synod of 1883 to sell a part of the Tamaki estate be and hereby iB rescinded." The Bishop of Waiapu moved the adoption of the first resolution. The Synod went into committee to consider the resolutions. It appeared that the funds were soarcely sufficient to secure the services of a competent warden and tutors. The value of the property is set down at £46,000. Colonel Haultain explained that the reason so small a return was got from so valuable an estate was that I*2oo acres of the estate, valued at £30,000, was still under lease for a small annual rent. This lease would not fall due for 13 years to come. In the course of some remarks, Colonel Haultain referred to the Bishop of Melanesia as being a biassed member of the Seleot Committee,

The Bishop of Melanesia said he thought such an accusation came at least somewhat badly, when it had been so publicly asserted that the removal of the College to Anokland had the full concurrence of the Bishop of Melanesia. He appealed to the members of the Synod whether he gave his full concurrence. The proposed change came suddenly upon him on nis arrival from Norfolk Island, and just prior to the last meeting of the Synod at Napier. At that time he said he hoped the measure would only be a temporary one: He now wished he had refused to give his assent. He protested against any statement being made that be was biassed, or that he influenced in any way members of the committee, or asked witnesses leading questions.

Colonel Haultain said he was exceedingly pained to think that anything he had said had given pain to the Bishop of Melanesia. Certainly, auoh was far from his intention; for there was no person with whom he was acquainted whom he bad a higher respect for than the Bishop of Melanesia.

The Bishop of Melanesia then withdrew what he had said.

Mr. Meeson, one of the members of the committee, said that Bishop Selwyn studiously absented himself from the oommittee when the question of the removal of the College was being discussed.

Mr. Upton said that the land was given by the late Bishop Selwyn for a specific purpose. The terms of the trußt deed should be strictly carried out. He held that a wrong had been done in removing the College from Tamaki, If the trust could not be carried on as was intended by the founder, then the duty of the Synod was clear, viz., the College should be closed. He said that there could be no doubt that in a few years the estate at St. John's College would be of immense value. It was madness to propose to sell a portion of the estate. He held that the trust had been diverted. The committee recommended that the wrong done should be righted. He therefore would support the recommendation of the committee. The Bishop of Wellington said that Mr. Upton'a statement of the position was a most clear and lucid one. He (Bishop Hadfield) also felt that the Synod had done wrong. As to the intention of the late Bishop Selwyn, he might say that Bishop Selwyn said to him: "1 deliberately selected this site (St. John's) because of its distance from Auckland. My experience iB that students should hot be brought into Auokland. I had an opportunity of selecting good and rich land at Remuera and Epsom, but I passed that all over, because it was not my wish and intention to devote the money which I had at my disposal to the founding of a college at a place where the students will be at a considerable distance from Auokland and its suburbs." He quite agreed that the Synod had done wrong. If the funds did not admit of doing what was intended, then close the college until the funds were sufficient. The Bishop of Auckland maintained that they were carrying out the wishes of the donor. Nothing was further from his mind than to coutemplate selling the site at Tamaki. The Tamaki site would be a grand site for a College in years to come, but it was not so now. The Bishop of Melanesia said if they could not get enough money to pay a warden, he agreed with the Bishop of Wellington that it would be better to wait until they could, and close the College in the meantime. He maintained that this College could only be carried on by having a resident warden in charge of he College. The College at Parnell was in a most unsatisfactory con* dition. The Bishop of Nelson contended that the removal of the College was not a violation of the trust. The object of the donor was to promote the advancement of the Churoh in New Zealand. Archdeaoon Dudley said that the more he read the memorial the more it came home to him that the point of the trust was the training of theological, students, and that the situation of the College was a minor point. If the purposes of the trust could be better secured by the removal of the College to Auckland, then it was more in accordance with the spirit of the trust to remove the College. At a quarter-past eleven o'clock the Synod adjourned till half-past seven o'olook next evening.

The following are the terms of the trust deed " Trust for Jthe site of and towards the support of the said College of St. John the Evangelist, near Auckland, and for the education in the said College of candidates for holy orders, and for the instruction and training in the said College of the youth of both races in moral and industrious habits, and for the education of all the students therein in the principles of the Christian religion, according to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of England : subject to all such rules and regulations as may from time to time be made by or by authority of the General Synod of the branch of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand, concerning the constitution, government, and discipline of the said College, and the course of study to be followed therein ; and for ensuring the good order and efficiency thereof, and otherwise for securing the due execution of the trusts and purposes aforesaid ; and until such rules and regulations shall be so made concerning the matters aforesaid ; subject to all such rules and regulations as may from time to time be made concerning the same by the trustees for the time being." NOTICES 01 MOTION. The following notices of motion were given :— 79. Archdeacon Harper to move, "That a select committee be appointed to draw ap a form of petition to the Houses of Legislature, embodying the substance of the resolutions on religious instruction adopted by the Synod, such committee to consist of the Bishop of Dunedin, the Dean of Christchuroh, Mr. Hunter Brown, and the mover." , SO. The Bishop of Auckland to move, "That all the reports of the Sessional Committee on Trusts be printed with the proceedings of the Synod, and also the reports of the trustees of the General Church Trust and the St. John's College Trust." 81. Mr. Thomas ells to move, "That it be an instruction to the committee to be appointed to draw petition to Parliament (vide notice of motion 79) to draft two separate petitions, one containing clause 1 and the other clause 2 of Archdeacon Harper's motion No. 7-" 82. Archdeacon Stock to move, "1. That a General Pension Fund be established, to whioh all clergymen shall subscribe. 2. That a sum of money not exceeding seventy guineas shall be contributed in equal proportion by the dioceses of Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin, Waiapu, and Melanesia, for the purposes of obtaining from an actuary a well considered plan shewing scales of payments and allowances. 3. That such a plan be printed and sent to the Bishops of the above dioceses, to be submitted by them to their respective Diocesan Synods, and to be reported upon by these Synods to the General Synod of 1889. 4. That a committee of five persons be appointed by this Synod to carry out during the recess the above propositions, and to supply the actuary with all particulars required. 5. Such committee to consist of Archdeaoon Stock, Messrs. G. P. Pierce, C. P. Bowles, J. Meeson, and A. Boardman. 6. That the report of the Select Committee on the General Pension Fund be printed in the report of the Synod." 83. The Rev. A. Gifeord to move, " 1. That the diocesan returns required by the General Synod shall give information, as far as possible, in oonformity with the headings under resolution 9, General Synod Report 1880, page 218. 2. That the Bishop of Melanesia be respectfully requested to furnish the statistics of the Melanesiau Mission (in such form as he may find convenient), to be included in the triennial summary of returns required by the General Synod. 3. That this Synod is of opinion that the adoption of one and the same financial year for the whole province would greatly facilitate the compilation of the triennial statistics required, and recommend the season of Easter. 84. The Bishop of Wellington to move, " That the Standing Commission consist of the following persons :—The Right Reverend Bishop of Auckland, Sir Frederick Whitaker, Edwin Hesketh, Esq., E. A. Mackechnie, Esq., and Hugh Garden Seth Smith, Esq." 35. The Rev. S. Williams to move, " That the oommittee, which is charged with the duty of drawing up a soheme for a General Pension Fund and to oonsult an actuary on the subjeot, be directed to oonsider in connection therewith, also with the advice of the said aotnary, a soheme for the insurance against fire of buildings whioh are the property of the Church, such as that which is set forth in the report of a seleot committee appointed 6th February, 1871, and which is printed on pages 196 and 197 of the General Synod of 1871."