THE GENERAL SYNOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18077, 29 April 1922, Page 11

THE GENERAL SYNOD.

f A BOARD OF MISSIONS. TO ORGANISE AND CO-ORDINATE. SECOND READING OF BILL-. The session* of the Anglican General Svnod wore continued at St. Mary's Hall, Pamell. yesterday afternoon and evening, the Pr.mate, Bishop Julius, of Chnsrctittrch. presiding. The il'ternoon was demoted to consideration oi the question of Bible in Schools, the synod adjourning in committee at 5.50 p.m. At -he evening session, Bishop Sadlicr, of Nelson, moved tho second reading of a bill to pmvide for the oonstitntion of a of M.ssions for the purpose of promoling the missionary work of the Church. The bill provided that tlie board should -insist oi the bishops of tine provnf 'he Primate being president, and the returning bishops to be vice-presi-dents; one representative of each Dioceb.ui il.*si' nary Committee. and one pcrv-r. n m.naied each by the Melanesian Mission and rlhe New Zealand Church Missionary Society. The bill further prov;.ied :h:it the board shall appoint an eseiutive whi.se special duties sliall be to (:r,Tu..se missiuiiarv effort throughout the ( hurra Jt tlie province; to co-ordinate -n:ssi. cary etlurts at the home base; to assist v ars of parishes m maintaining a:.a extending missionary organisations alr»adv existing and in creating new | org.inisations: to .-onriuct missionary \ depi-o. publish literature, and collect nr-ney for missionary? purposes; to select, ■—~?., and locate candidates, and to mahv ra.n miss: nanes. The bill proposes to ji've ".ha executive power to co-ordinate ~,'iv unsung mission or missionary I agency. _ I The never traced the history of missionarv work in New Zealand, and said j nut at present the only agencies of the j Church wcrking outside New Zealand! vt"n '-lie Melanesian Mission and thej Church Missionary Society, both of which , would come within the board, thus j making the board the great missionary I organisation of the province. As show- :;>; - he need tor some measure of coordination, he said that returns gathered in 1913, wniie not reassuring, were at least illuminating. Inquiries were made f-om every vicar in New Zealand on the question of tnissioD endeavour, and 27 per cent, of them did not roply. The replies received showed that 67 per cent, of the parishes held no meetings or intercessions for missions, while 70 per cent, had no missionary organisation of any kind. Six'y-seven par cent, did not support a child in Melanesia or any other field, or i clergyman » teacher, and in 59 per cent, of tie parishes no missionary : literature was distributed. When the synod vent into committee , on the bill it was a',Teed that the board he constituted and known as the New Zealand Anglican Board of Missions. The Rev. J. L A Kayll moved for the deletion of clauses providing for the inclusion of one representative of each j Diocesan Missionary Committee and one I reoresentative each of the Melanesian i Mission and the New Zealand Church j Missionary Society in the personnel of the board, leaving the board to consist j solely of the bishops. No decision had ! been arrived at by 10 o'clock, when pro- : gress was' reported, and the synod adjourned until' 2.33 p.m. on Monday. "AT HOME" AT BISHOPSCOUBT.! SERVICES ON SUNDAY. | This afternoon an " At Home " will be given as Bishopsconrt, St. Stephen's Avenue, by the Bishop of Auckland and i Mrs. Averiil in honour of the visiting members of tho synod. To-morrow the! clergy attending the synod will preach in j 'he various city and suburban churches, j The Primate, Bishop Julius, will be the I preacher at the morning service at St. j Mary's Cathedral A missionary meeting i will he held m the Scots' Hall, Symcmds Street, to-morrow afternoon at three o'ciock.