THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13392, 22 January 1907, Page 6

THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

QUESTION* OF FALSE DOCTRINE.

MODIFICATION OF CONSTITUTION. [BV TKI.KOHAPH. — PRESS association.] Dunedin, Monday. The Anglican Gereral Synod resumed today. The Bishop of Waiapu moved the second reading of the Bill providing that in a charge against a bishop of false doctrine when the Court has ascertained the facts of the case, unless the bishops constituting the Court shall I*' unanimously of the opinion that there is no case against- the accused, said bishops .'hall, with the consent of the accusers and accused, refer the case to the Primate or presiding bishop of any church in full communion with the Church of the Province of New Zealand, who shall he re. quested to summon one or more bishop in his province to try the case, provided that if he said -hop's accusers and accused shall not be able to agree as to the Primate to whom the ca-e shall Ive referred, it -hail 'no referred to the Archbishop' of Canterbury and to a consultative body appointed by the Lauiln-lh Conference of 1897. After receipt of the decision of the Primate and the hi-hops aforesaid or the conclusion arrived at by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the consultative body; judgment in accordance therewith shall lie delivered by ilie Court in New Zealand. Mr. .lame- Allen said lie had sufficient faith in tile judgment of the New Zealand bishops to consider they could say whether a brother bishop was committing false doctrine or not. There wire seven before loin, and six were a fairly large number to say whether the seventh was right or wrong in his doctrine. It raised the question whether their own bishops wore capable of dealing with false doctrine, or whether they should submit it to a bishop in America. Several Member- : "No: not American." Mr. Allen: Well, or Canada, or some other of the British dominions."

Canon Mayne: "1 don't think we need wa.-to any more time over it. The bishops know their own weaknesses better than we do."

Mr. Allen : " I- it fair for me to s-k if the Ik-iicli of bishop- were unanimous in the matter';"

The Bishop of Waiapu: "They were unanimous, I think, in the mutter."

The Primate: "1 think the conclusion we arrived at was to recommend thi.s courseto the Synod."

Tin l Bill was then considered in committee. the outcome of the consideration being thai progress was reported and leave obtained to sit again.

On the motion of Bi-hop .luliu.- the Synod appointed the Rev. W. \Y. Sedcewick as general secretary for New Zealand for the Paii-.A ngl ii an Congress. Bishop Xeligan asked the following qii'--. - Eon :—" Will the president kindly give his authority for the following statement in the address In- delivered to the Synod yt -!<■!- day : 'The Bishop of Auckland sent an emissary to Tonga, who, when there, claimed the submission of the Church people on behalf of the Bishop of Auckland';' Should lie \i-it. them its sent- by the Bishop ot London."

Bi-hop Nevill explained that his authority was derived from a letter received from a responsible person in Tonga. Bi-hop Neligan thereupon asked Bishop Nevill to accept his assurance that the statements, contained apparently in a private letter, though it- content* had been made public in this way. were wholly :nC.MTCCt. The l'rimate accepted this assurance, ; miing- that he had believed his authority tor the statement to Is- trustworthy, and i.e promised to have this reference delete.! from hi- uddre-s, when published. The Bishop of Wellington ha- given notice to move: (1) That this Syn ,d is favourable to such modification of th- sivth provision of the Constitution of the Clr,i:"-u a- ill peimit the General Synod, wit.'i l tie consent of lie diocesan synods, To make alteration- in the first five provisions, provided that security be given (a) that trie property held m trust for the General Synod be not. jeopardised thereby, lb) that ail the ministers ami agents of the t'nie." >i, who have already signified their ailli. ;o.t to the provision- of the constitution, shall he bound by such alterat ions a- shall leieafter be made in accordance with the -oregoing resolution: (2) that the bishops of the provinces be requested to communicate the foregoing resolution to synods of their respective dioceses, and to communicate any expression of opinion which may be made by the synods to the General Synod -it its next, session.