AUCKLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9498, 17 October 1889, Page 6

AUCKLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Thk Anglican Synod concluded its sittings yesterday. His Ixwdship Bishop Gowie presided, and there were also present:— Clergy.Von. Archdeacons Dudley and Maunsell; lie v. Messrs. Bates, Beafcty, Boler, Burrows, J. K. Davis, Dußieu, Fox, Haselden, Hill, Mulgan, Nelson, O'CalHphan, Purchas, Richards, Small, Smallfiold, Sprott, and Tebbs. Laity. — Messrs. Armstrong, Beere, Calder, Cameron, Carnell, Clayton, Cochrane, Cox, Dawson, Hamilton, Hammond, Haultain, Hills, Hooper, Jackson, Lodder, Nolan, Pierce, Rawlings, Rice, Soaly, Speight, A. H. Taylor, A. K. Taylor, W. H. Thorp, Upton, Vlckors, and Woods. * ACCOUNTS. The auditors, Messrs. Vickers and Cainoron, forwarded a report stating that the accounts of the Standing Committee and Home Mission had been examined by them, and thoy had found everything in order. They added that the accounts were kept in admirable order. HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN. The Bishop announced that tho Rev. Mr. Houcben had kindly volunteered to give his services as chaplain at the Hospital until a clergyman was permanently appointed _to that position. He did not expect or wish for any peculiar recognition. (Applause.)

DONATION.

Bishop Cowinalso intimated that £5 more had boon promised towards the £150 endowment.

SUNDAY SCHOOL BOARD.

In regard to this matter, the Rev. Mr. Nklson thought there was a disposition to exalt, the work of the Sunday schools, people forgetting that the best training of children should bo given by tho parents at home. The very poor who had nob the means nor tho time to give their children instruction at home rightly sent them to those schools, but he maintained that those who could afford to do so should support the Sunday schools if they sent their children there. He feared they were nob doing in this respect as much as other religious bodies were doing. The Rev. Mr. Smallkif.ld urged that sufficient was not done to interest the laity in the work, and suggested that a "Sunday-school Sunday" should bo observed every year. Dr. Puroiias claimed that tho religious training of the young could not be left to the parents, who had not the knowledge nor tho will to do it. He believed that there were a great many children here who had nob the remotest idea of what the Bible contained, and soon they would want a nice of evangelists to go out and toaoh the old people ; it would be too late for the children t hen, He feared that soon there would be an absolutely heathen-like population in this colony. The election of the Sunday-school Board then took place, the following being appointed : — Clergy : Revs. J. Bates, Sprott, I. Richards, Calder, and C. M. Nelson. Laity: Captain Clayton, Messrs. Hammond, W. H. Brown, W. Furby, and Hamilton.

Mr. Hammond moved, "That it be n recommendation from the Synod that the town parishes pay one pound, mid the parochial districts ten shillings a year, towards the support of the Sunday-school Board."

The motion was agreed to. MEETING-PLACE OK THE SYNOD.

Dr. Puhchas moved, "That in order to enable a larger number of members of the Church to be present, it is desirable that the next session of this Synod should be held in some suitable building within the city, and that the Standing Committee be requested to make all necessary arrangements for the same." He proposed that this change be made as an experiment. Some discussion took place, during which it was suggested that the present building be enlarged. The motion was eventually put and lost. THE COROMANIJKL KG MAN. Mr. Caknkll moved, "That this Synod respectfully requests the Trust Board to comply with the resolution of the Synod passed at the session of ISB7, with regard to t.he paying of the sum of £12 per annum to the clergyman of Coromandel. ' Mr. Upton pointed out that the Trust Board could not pay this money if the resolution were passed, unless they borrowed, and they would not do that. The motion was put and carried. COLLECTIONS.

The Synod then adjourned, and upon resuming Mr. G. P. Pierce moved, " Tliat the following alteration be made in clause 11, resolution V, resolution affecting financial operations (Statutes 1885, p. 51) ; the omission of the words ' are recommended to allow,' and insertion of tho following, ' shall cauee.' "

The Bishop said that if this motion were agreed to it would be compulsory to make collections upon a certain day every year for certain purposes. The motion was agreed to. REGISTRATION.

In the absence of the Rev. Mr. Tebbs the Rev. Mr. Nklson moved, "That whilst fully recognising the universal character of the ministrations of the Church, it seems to the Synod to be necessary to the practical working of parishes arid districts that some periodical registration of Church members and revision of registers should be {made." This was agreed to. It was also resolved, on the motion of Mr. Nelson, " That a select committee be appointed to sit during the receas, and to report to the Synod at its next sitting, as to the best means of carrying the above resolution into effect, and that such committee consist of the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley, the Rev. W. Tebbs, Messrs. Upton, McMillan, Rice, Rawlings, and the mover."

THE RAISING Of MONEY FOR CHURCH PURPOSES.

The Rev. Mr. Fox moved, "That this Synod views with disapproval many of the means resorted to for raising money for Church purposes, such as gift auctions, bazaars, lotteries, and amusement of various kinds ; and trusts that an endeavour will be made to create a more healthy opinion amongst Churchmen on the subject of making offerings for the maintenance of the ministers and the service of God." He thought that some of the means for raising •money were distinctly prejudicial to the cultivation and maintenance of the true spirit of liberality, of Christianity, and of self-sacrifice. Mr. Louder seconded the motion. The Rev. Mr. Sprout hoped the Synod would not be asked to vote on this question. He hoped that a distinction would be made betwen quiet sales of work with no sensational attractions, and bazaars with sensational adjuncts. Jf the motion were passed he would have to disband a needlework guild which was in his parish, the members of which, some 40 ladies, had provided the church with a font, communion vessels, an organ, and had paid off £150 of the debt upon the building. His Lordship the Bishop had sanctioned the work of this guild, and if it were disbanded St. Barnabas' would suffer, and they would furthermore have to cease their contributions to the Home Mission fund. He hoped the Synod would trust to the piety, the religious instincts, and the good sense of the parishes not to raise money by any means which would bo objectionable. Mr. Cox suggested that the words " gift auction, bazaars, lotteries, and amusements of various kinds," be omitted from the motion,

The Bishop said he thought the authorities were quite as capable of judging in this matter as the Synod. (Hear, hear.) He did not think it would be becoming for the Synod to enter into details on the subject. Ah for the sale of work, ha thought it was honourable and commendable. Supposing the principle had been enforced in days gone by, how the Melanesia!! Mission would have suffered ! Again, somo of the memtors of the Synod were no doubt aware that there was a scholarship in the Homo Mission wnieh had been realised by the sale of ferns, a lady having realised £150 by this means.

Mr. Speight said he did not think anything was intended in regard to what had been spoken of by the Bishop ; but things had been done in the diocese which he had blushed for. They should discriminate between what was good in themselves, but which were abused by the accessories which went with them.

The Rev. Mr. Fox pointed out that he had not condemned sales of work, •} Mr. Speight wont on to urge that they wished to condemn such means of raising money as that of organising a cavalcade of gaudily-dressed men and women, and girls and boys with their faces blackened, proceeding to an allotted spot to hold a fancy fair. He disagreed with Mr. Sprotfc upon this point, and hoped Mr. Cox's suggestion would be adopted.

Mr. Upton claimed that in carrying on Church work by somo of the means spoken of they were brought into competition with Soar people who obtained their livelihood by needlework. To run the risk of depriving people of their living in order that thoy might have n beautiful service, or wipe the debt from a church, was, he thought, not a right position to take up. Ho opposed Mr. Cox's suggestion to omit part of the motion. Archdeacon Maunsell condemned the system of 41 lucky bags" at bazaars. Areltdeacon Dudley did not think that the relief of such distress as that pointed out by Mr. Upton was incompatible with the existence of an organisation like that which Mr. Sprott had mentioned, lie thought that the revulsion of feeling setting in on this subject was an argument for the withdrawing of the motion, as there would bo no need for it.

The Rev. Mr. Brattv moved an amendment, "That this Synod recommends to the Church people to support the work of the Church as far as possible by direct and systematic contributions, avoiding all doubtful means of raising money for the maintenance of our places of worship." Dr. Purchas thought a debt of gratitude was due to the laymen who had spoken out at the recent conference on this subject. The Rev. P. Smallf/eld considered that the question before the Synod was one essentially for the laity. Mr. Fox agreed to Hie suggestion to omib part of his motion. The question was put, when the amendment proposed by Mr. Beatty was agreed to. MARRIAGE FEES.

It was resolved v "That resolution 4, fees and Church dues, section 1, mar- ( riage, be altered to read as follows : — Marriage by banns ss; marriage by license, : 10s; certificate of marriage, if applied for. I at the time the ceremony is performed, no charge ; if applied for after the day of the marriage, 2* (3d, such fees and dues to bo payable to the Diocesan Pension Fund." HOME MISSION.

The Synod agreed, on the motion of the Rev. Mr. batty, " That, the Standing Committee be requested to take into consideration the propriety of substituting the Sunday during or immediately succeeding the annual session of the Diocesan Synod for the first Sunday in November as the day on which offertories are to be collected in tho Auckland and suburban churches for the Home Mission Fund." the CHURCH AND THIC MAORIS. Colonel Haultain moved, That the Synod desires to convey to the Maori clergy and their congregations this assurance of its warm interest In their moral and spiritual welfare ; and its wish that there should be a closer relation between the races in all matters connected with the government and ministrations of their common Church. And the Synod cordially invites the native ministers, especially those who speak the English language, to take their seats at the sessions of the Synod." He pointed out that many natives, speaking the English language, were just as able to take part in tho Synod as any person at present a member.

In reply to a question, tho Bishop explained that the Maori clergy were poorly paid, deacons receiving £50, and those in priest's orders £60 per milium. The motion was agreed to. Colonel Haiti/tain moved, "That tho committee of the Church Missionary Society bo requested to furnish the Synod, at its next sitting, with a statement showing tho names and stations of the native clergy, tho estimated number of the members of their congregations, tho number of their communicants and baptisms, the amount contributed by the Maoris towards the maintenance of their church, and also a report of the meetings of the Native Councils."

Mr. Spkioht pointed out that many Maoris were relapsing into Mormonism, and urged that tliis was a serious matter. The motion was passed. VOTKS OF THANKS.

Votes of thanks were pawed to the auditors, Messrs. Garland, Evans, Cameron, and Vickers; tho socretarios, Revs. J. K. Davis and J. Bates, and Mr. J. D. Jackson ; the treasurer, Mr. G. P. Pierce; tho chairman of committees, Colonel Haultain ; the managers of the Church Gazette, the members of tho Sunday-school Board, and Mrs. Cowie and others for their hospitality during the Synod. The Pkksidknt said that social thanks were due to Mr. Jackson for tho manner in which the accounts had boon kept. The Rev. Mr. B(catty moved a vote of thanks to tho proprietors and reporters of the Nkw Zkaland Hkkald and Evening Star for the reports which they had given of the Synod's proceedings. Ho suggested that the reporters were possessed of good, constitutions to have endured so much and listened to so much during the session. (Laughter). The motion was passed. On the motion of Mr. Hamilton, votes of thanks were also given to Archdeacon Maunsell for his devotion to the Maori race, and also to the other unattached clergymen who had assisted in this work. CONCLUSION. Tho Ifospitising Committee was re-ap-pointed. The hoi- congratulated the Synod upon the attention which they had given to Church fairs during tho session. The Doxology was then sung, and Jtlie Pkksiuknt announced that tho Synod was prorogued.