DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9028, 5 November 1892, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The adjourned meeting of the Diocesan Synod was opened at the Cathedral Library, yesterday afternoon, the Right Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of the diocese, presiding. The following members were present during the evening:— Clergy. — Ven. Archdeacons Dudley, Maunsell, Willis, Revs. Bates, Beatty, Biggs, Boler, Boyes, Calder, H. S. Davies, Du Rieu, Evans, Gould, Haselden, Hawkes, O. R. Hewlett, Houchen, Kidd, Larkins, Lush, Mac Murray, Marshall, Nelson, Outram, rapahia, Purchas, Raikes, Richards. _ Laity-Messrs. Batger, Bishop, A. Brown, Burton, Calder, Carnell, Churfin, Clarke, Clayton, Cochrane, C. Cooper, Cox, Crispe, Duncan, Ewington, Gordon, Green, Hamilton, Haultain, Hesketh, Hooper, Jacks'? 11 ', Kensington, Luke, Lush, Mason, McUullough, Nolan, Rice, Snelling, Speight, A; ,?• Thompson, Thorp, Tibbs, Upton, Walker, Wells. WIIANGAREI MISSION LAND. Mr. Mason moved, "That the request of the Whangarei Vestry to the Diocesan Board, dated November, 1891, re rent of the mission land, be granted." The President explained that this land was made over by Bishop Selwyn for diocesan purposes, but the Synod could vote the rents to Whangarei, although they had no special claim to it. Mr. Crisp supported the motion. The Ven. Archdeacon Willis suggested that the matter should be referred to a committee to report either at this or next Synod. "The President said the question was a large one, and would refer to many other districts, but there was a preliminary difficulty; they had not the opinion of the Trusb Board. Mr. Si'KiGHT moved, "That the matter be reforred to the Trust Board to report to the next Synod." It was not an urgent matter. The amendment was carried. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The Rev. Frank Gould moved, "1. That it is highly desirable that some definite action bo taken in the matter of religious education in board schools. 2. That a committee be appointed to consider the advisability of recommending the system qf religious instruction adopted in the board schools of England. Such committee to bring up its report during the present session." Speaking to the first part of the resolution, he thought there should bo no difference of opinion lis to the desirability of having their children religiously educated. He referred to the many efforts which had been made to- do away with the slur on their education system, by Dr. Maunsell and others, but they failed, and the result was that now no person could bo educated in tho Board school for a liberal education without a knowledge of the Scriptures in a Christian country was a contradiction in terms. In regard to the second part of the resolution ho said ho was not well acquainted with the Board school system in England. It was nob the system of New South Wales, but he adopted tho suggestions of the Synod of Christchurch. The Vev. Archdeacon Willis seconded tho motion. Ho would have preferred his own motion on the Order Paper lower down which could not now be reached. They, however, must do something, and he felt inclined to ask Mr. Gould to leave the matter for consideration during tho recess. J-he matter had been before them last session, and it was referred to the General Synod, but the General Synod asked too much, as they usually did, and got nothing. Even if it w ,s possible for towli clergy to visit tho schools, what could they do in the country? But if they got Bible teaching by the teachers it would be different. Why many of their children, if asked who Adam was, could not tell. Mr. Ewington considered they were not sufficiently in earnest on the matter, and that there was a jealousy between the sects, and until they were prepared to make sacrifices they could not convince the public thoy wero in earnest. For tho public teachers lie had the highest esteem, but they had amontrst them different sects, Agnostics and Jews, and he thought the motion impracticable. He thought instead of running their heads against a stone wall such as tho present Education Act, if they devoted their attention to their Sunday schools they would be able to speak authoritavely on this matter. Captain Clayton said the difficulty in St. Mary's parish was that though they could get women teachers they could not get the men to work, and this he considered a downright shame. The Rev. Dr. Kidd concurred in the first portion of the motion. It was true that referring the matter to a committee would moan a delay, but this matter had now been beforo them, to his knowledge, for twenty years, and there was a general consensus of opinion that tho present state of affairs was gravely deplorable, and a remedy was necessary. There was a consensus of opinion among the highest authorities. Tho Rev. Mr. Mac Murray spoke on the subject, and said tho State having taken over tho teaching of tho young, failed in their duty in not giving Biblical education. It was the duty of the churches to teach the community to educate tho children to know thoir God and love their Saviour. Mr. Speight pointed out that so far as the first part of tho resolution was concerned they had no information before them. Was it, ho asked, meant that the State was to provide the teacher ? Mr. Gould said in England the teachers of the Board schools gave the religious education asked for. Tho Rev. Mr. Beatty, commenting on the question, said the State in merely providing secular education, was failing in its duty of making good citizens, as this could nob be done without tho moral teaching of the Bible. Mr. Upton said these discussions occurred annually, and the basis was that if religious instruction was nob imparted, then tho children would be inferior. Now, it had been in existence for 16 years, and it had nob produced the results anticipated. It had not produced larrikinism, bub the contrary. The argument that their children would grow up godless, or that larrikinism would prevail, was unsound; bub there should be a higher system, and that was tho ground which should be urged. For that reason he should vote for Mr. Gould's motion, and ho only wished it could be altered to a wider range. The first portion of the resolution was carried. The second clause, altered in the Following form, was also carried " That a committee bo appointed to consider the idvisability of recommending some system sf religious instruction to be given in the Board schools of the colony. It was agreed ;hab tho committee should sib during the •ecess and reporb to tho next session, the committee to consist of the Ven. Archleacon Willis, Revs. W. Beatty, Dr. L'urchas, Messrs. McCullough, Upton, Clayion, and the mover, with power to add to ;heir number." • THE FINANCIAL YEAR. Mr. Thos. Wells moved, "That in )rder to comply with the recommendation )f the General Synod, this Synod orders that -he financial year of the diocese shall terminate on the 30th of June, and that all paro:hial and diocesan returns be made up to .hab date." The motion was agreed to with -he addition " and that this order be efcrred to the Standing Committee with ! nstructions to consider and report to the Synod at its next session what alterations n the regulations are necessary to enable i t to be carried into effect." i DIOCESAN RETURNS. Archdeacon Willis moved, "That Resoution 14, ' Diocesan Returns,' be amended )y striking out all the words and figures ifter the word 'particulars,' and substitutng in lieu thereof the words and figures >f the new form for returns of the General Synod hereto attached." The motion was agreed to without discission, being a formal one. MAORI MEMBERS OF THE SYNOD. Colonel Haultain moved, " That the Synod regrets that the General Synod ab ts recent session did nob adopb their re;ommendation thab lay members of the Maori race should, by special provision, be ilected to seats in this Synod by the Vlaori population of the diocese, and hope ihat the General Synod will give the matter 'urther consideration ab their next session." tie referred to the faint) support given to ;he matter in the last General Synod, when iven the Primate condemned ib by fainb praise. He felt that the Maoris themtelves were anxious on the subjecb, : and when the matter was mooted they elected two of their members qualified in every .vay, and having a knowledge of the | English language, to represent them. Ho 1

felt that this Maori church should not b< made to feel that they were not one anc the same Church with the Church of Eng land. ■ v - Archdeacon Dudley seconded the motion . Mr. T. Clark said in the General Synoc he had taken action in regard to the Maor representation. He felt that there was t misapprehension amongst the laity on th< subject. They thought the Maori Churcl was a separate Church, but that should nol be so, and the Maoris were greatly dissatis fied with the result. Mr. Matiu PArA (for whom Mr. Clarl interpreted) expressed his satisfaction at being in the Synod, and his thanks to th( gentleman who had "brought forward tin motion. The great desire of the Maor Church was to take part in the Synod Some of the Maoris thought they were t different Church from the Europeans, but the thought still prevailed that they al belonged to one Church, and their onlj difficulty was that they were of a different race, and had a different language. Som< of the natives thought there was a racial difficulty ; but, although those ideas did exist, they still believed they really be longed to one Church. He again thanked the gentleman who had brought forward the motion, for they wished to be represen ted in this Synod. (Applause.) This motion was carried unanimously, CONSTITUTION OF DISTRICTS. The Rev. Mr. Hawkes, in the absence of Mr. A. Swarbrick, moved, " That in order to secure efficiency in Church work, it is necessary to divide the diocese into defined districts, each in charge of a resident clergyman." He spoke of the impossibility of the Diocesan Missionary being able to attend to all tho duties devolving on him, and the necessity for having a resident minister within a reasonable distance. He spoke at length in support of the motion, and hoped it would have earnest consideration during the recess. Mr. W. Duncan seconded the motion. After some lengthy discussion, Mi. Wells moved, "That the Synod proceed to the next business." He did nob wish the motion to be either negatived or affirmed. Mr. Wells's motion was unanimously agreed to. FAILURE of maintenance. Mr. Gordon, in accordance with notice, asked " The Standing Committee if they have taken the necessary steps to give effect to resolution No. 4 under the head oi ' Failure of Maintenance,' and if not, why not The President said the committee had not taken the steps referred to, not considering it'necessary to do so. license fees. The Rev. Isaac Richards move\ " That the following alterations be made in the table of fees for the diocese of Auckland :— 1. Marriages (a) publication of banns, nc fee ; (6) Bishop's license, £1, of which 10s be paid to the pension fund, and 10s to the registrar's fund ; (c) marriage, ' The accustomed duty to tho priest.' 2. Burials ; (a) in parochial churchyards, no fee to parishioners ; (b) in cemeteries and burial grounds, 10s to be paid to the cemetery chaplain's fund. Note :It is desired that as far as may be practicable, burials do not take place on Sundays." He spoke in support of the motion. The President said it was an entirely new departure for the Synod to dictate in regard to the granting of the Bishop's license. This was granted without foes if the circumstances required it. The matter of the Bishop's license oughb to bo kept entirely separate from the other, and ho wished that it should be so. Mr. Richards said as there seemed to be a misunderstanding on the matter he asked leave to withdraw the motion. This was agreed to. melanesian mission. Archdeacon Dudley moved, " That this Synod avails itself of the first opportunity afforded to it since the lamented resignation of the bishopric of Melanesia by the Right Rev. John Richardson Selwyn, D.D. to express its profound sympathy with His Lordship in tho affliction that rendered thai resignation inevitable. 'Its members unite with him in earnest prayer that God will raise up a wise and faithful man to be hi: successor; and, as the token of practical sympathy with him that they believe h< will best appreciate, they pledge them selves to do what in them lies to increase tho pecuniary support accorded to th< Melanesian Mission by the Church in fchii diocese." He pointed out that Bishoj Selwyn did not resign his work until tin beso medical advice of England told bin he could not continue it. He referred t« the pain it caused Bishop Selwyn togivt up his work and his devotion to it even ii his illness in England. The Archdeacon ii the highest terms spoke of the assistant given by the Bishop of Tasmania. He con eluded by suggesting that each shoulc make a practical feature of subscribing to the support of the Melanesian Mission. The Rev. Mr. Pdrchas spoke in suppor of the motion, and considered there shoulc be two bishops in Melanesia. Tho motion was unanimously agreed to. The Synod adjourned at half-past si? o'clock until four o'clock on Monday. Mr. Snelling proposed that the Synoc be now prorogued, but the motion was nol seconded. , DIOCESAN CHURCH FESTIVAL. The annual choral service in connection with tho sittings of the Diocesan Synod was held in St. Mary's Cathedral Churcl last evening. There was a large attendance of clerical and lay members of the Synod and a fairly-filled church. Mr. A. Towsey of St. Matthew's Church, officiated as con ductor, and the choral portions of tin service were impressively rendered, anc musically they were successful and a credi to the associated choirs. Mr. W. R Walker presided at the organ. The Rev C. M. Nelson, of St. Paul's, read th< prayers, the Rev. Mr. Lush, of Epiphany read tho first lesson, the Rev. Mr. Evans o Te Aroha, the second lesson, and thi Rev. G. Mac Murray preached tho»sermoi from tho text, Matthew vi., 9-10. A col lection was taken up in aid of the choi fund.