THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15746, 22 October 1914, Page 7

THE ANGLICAN SYNOD.

SESSION CONCLUDED.

HOME MISSION WORK-

The first session of the 21st synod of the' diocese of Auckland was continued yesterday, the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, Dr. A. W. Averill, presiding. The session concluded in the evening.

In regard to Home Mission work, Canon Mac Murray moved that in view of the urgent necessity for strengthening and extending the evangelistic mission work which bad "been so successfully begun in the city, the synod was of opinion that the operations of the Home Mission should bo extended so as to include the Home Mission work in the city. The Rev. A. Richards seconded the motion, which was carried.

Bishop Averill mentioned that a prominent layman had promised to give £100 a year for five years on behalf of mission work on the waterfront.

The Rev. W. Beatt-y moved, and it was decidcd : " That in view of the decision of the standing commission that there are no rights inherent in a parochial district under the canons of the general synod, it is urgently necessary that legislation be effected by whe general synod declaring and protecting the rights of parishes and parochial districts in respect of moneys contributed therein for church purposes, and of buildings, land, and endowments held under general synod for the use, benefit, etc., of such parishes or parochial districts."

Mr. Beatty also moved : " That inasmuch as the standing commission is the final court of a.ppeal for the interpretation of the constitution canons, statutes, and trust deeds of the church of this province, the general synod be respectfully requested to make such provision as it may deem needful and desirable to ensure that the standing commission should bo a competent, independent, and, so far as practicable, a permanent tribunal." The motion was carried. *

The difficulty in the way of removing clergy from one district to another owing to financial reasons was brought up by Canon Williams, who moved that the synod should urge churchmen to place additional funds at the disposal of the Standing Committee to facilitate the removal of clergy from one cure to another, and that for the present distress parochial districts and parishes be urged to provide not less than one-half of the removal expenses of an incoming vicar. The motion was carried.

On the motion of Canon Haselden it was decided that tho synod should authorise tho hon. compiler and editor of the parochial returns, Archdeacon Willis, to make any alterations which he thought proper, in the form of the returns for the year ended March 31, 1915, and requesting the clergy and church officers to (jive tho Archdeacon the assistance he asked for by filling up the returns in April, and promptly forwarding them to him. The synod also thanked Archdeacon Willis for his valuable compilation of the parochial returns. It resolved to ask clergy and churchwardens of all the parishes and districts, to put the rolls of registered church members in a more satisfactory condition, not later than June of next year. Canon Haselden moved, and Canon MacMurray seconded, " That the synod request the bishop to accept for the diocese a painting by Captain Clayton, of the landing of the Rev. Samuel Marsden at the Bay of Islands, on Christmas Day, 1814." The motion was carried, and the bishop expressed his readiness to accept the painting. , The. synod then passed a motion thanking Captain 1 Clayton for allowing the picture to be presented, and hoping that his health would be speedily restored. The synod resolved to give power to the Standing Committee to appoint a Sundavschool board.

A motion was passed requesting the standing Committee to consider the advisability of amalgamating the Home Mission und. tho country clergy fund, the chaplaincy fund, tho waterside mission fund, and the Missions to Seamen fund, and the terms and conditions upon which an amalgamation should take place, and to suggest how the funds, if amalgamated, should be managed and controlled. tF u ° t<?s . .'hanks had been passed, and Bishop Averill had expressed his appreciation of the assistance which the members of the synod had rendered to him the session of the svnod concluded at 10.15 p.m.