CENTRALISING PRIMACY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18080, 3 May 1922, Page 8

CENTRALISING PRIMACY.

SYNOD REJECTS PROPOSAL. ALMOST EVENLY DIVIDED. MAJORITY OF ONE VOTE. A proposal to centralise tho Anglican Primacy in Wellington, instead of the post being held by tho six dioceses in rotation, camo before tho General Synod last evening, when tho Primate, Bishop\Tnliup. of Christchurch, moved tho second reading cf a bill to repeal certain clauses and enact other clauses for tho appointment of a Primate. ■- Tho bill provides: (1) That tho Bishop of Wellington for tho time being shall bo tho Priniiito of New Zealand, this clause to operate on tho next ensuing appointment of a bishop for the diocese of Wellington ; (2) that the election of a bishop for the dioccao of Wellington bo conducted as previously, it being not competent for tho synod of tho Wellington diocese to delegate its rijcht of nomination to any person or persons other than to the Standing Committee of General Synod; (3) that in tho event of a vacancy the senior bishop shall have all tho power!: and duties of tho Primate. Bishop Julius said ho was not altogether satisfied with the conditions of the bill, and ho was doubtful whether it would work properly. There were difficulties in tho way, and ho was not sure that tho proposal would not cause more difficulties and perhaps harm (o the Church. Fooling at present, wa reflected in tho decisions of tho diocesan synods, threo ol whom had accepted the principle involved and three had rejected it. In thoso circumstances ho would not press the bill. Mr. H. D. Andrews, of Christ-church, opposed the bill. Ho particularly criticiscc Iho proposal to deprive the Genera Synod of any voice in tho election, Ho considered that thero were many advantages in the General Synod moving from place to place as at present, one ol which was that churchmen thereby had opportunities to meet and exchango view* with colleagues in other dioceses. Archdeacon G. Mac Murray also opposed tho bill. Trouble would arise- out of the proposed new method of election, he said, In 1868, when the Primacy was in Auckland—then the political capital of New Zealand— late Bishop Selwyn said thai it was not expedient that the seat of the Primacy should be at the seat of Govern ment. The speaker considered that it was too much to expect tho diocesan synod of Wellington to sot its own interests aside at election time, in favour of the Now Zealand province as a whole, anc 1 ho threw doubt on tho success of the scheme unless practical unanimity pre vailed. Bishop Sadlier, of Nelson, supporter tho bill, on the ground that it made foi efficiency in the work of the Church. H< was strongly supported, on similai grounds, by Archdeacon A. H. Johnson of Wellington. Mr. C. Hudson, who opposed the bill, said he saw nothing wrong with tho present svstem. A division was taken, and tho bill was lost by one vote.