DIOCESAN CHURCH AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 606, 15 September 1883, Page 22

DIOCESAN CHURCH AFFAIRS.

THE BISHOP’S ADDRESS. The annual session of the Church of England Diocesan Synod was opened on Tuesday, the holy communion being celebrated at 11 a'.m. in St. Paul’s Church. The clergy and lay representatives met for business in the Diocesan Library at 3 o’clock, when the Lord Bishop of Wellington delivered the opeuing address. . Present : The President ; clergy—Archdeacon Stock, Revs. J. Jones, T. Eancourt, T. L. Tudor, B. W. Harvey, W. A. Paige, W. T. Western, A. Dasent, R. Coffey, J. Me William, Pineaha te Mahauariki, C. D. De Castro, P. Cameron, R. J. Thorpe ; laity—Messrs W. H. Quick, C. Rous Marten, W. T. Charlewood, Colonel Leckie, F. de J. Clere, W. France, J. A. Plimmer, D. Porter, O. D. Barraud, R. Hunter, C. E. Zohrab, C. P. Powles, H. Gaby,

H. S. Fitzherbert, Dr. Spratt. The President said these meetings were a convenient means of exchanging thoughts on subjects connected with church work throughout the diocese, enabling both clergy and laity to meet for discussion of their common concerns. The whole Church had sustained a loss in the death of Dr. Tait ; though Dr. Benson appeared to be a worthy successor in the Archbishopric of Canterbury. The Incorporation of Trustees Bill, which had come before Parliament two sessions, had been adopted in a modified form by the last General Synod at Napier ; but be failed to see what real advantage would result to the Church from that Bill, and he did not regret its failure to pass this year. The old troublous question of “ What is a communicant ’’ remained unset led, and seemed destioed to be further discussed, causing loss of time in useless debates. Referring to the vexed question of secular education as maintained by the State, he regarded it as an endowment of secularism, and urged that a clear and unambiguous expression of opinion would be valuable in present circumstances, and likely to carry much weight. He had been recently called to give evidence before a parliamentary Select Committee, and being limited to answering the questions put to him, he was unable to make a full statement of his views on the subject of religious and moral training in schools, as a necessary part of primary and secondary education. He was impressed by the evident inability of many members of that Committee to realise that there was any grievance to complain of in the present system. It appeared to those members no grievance that people should be taxed to support a system of State instruction, to which they could not conscientiously send their children. He could not but regard the present system as one which in a few years would be most prejudicial to the well-being of the country, when those teachers who had been trained under a better system would be no longer engaged in the work. It bad never yet been shown that a purely secular system produced satisfactory results in any country. The poorer portion of the community were dissatisfied with a system, the value of which they did not appriciate, and the drawbacks to which they did not understand. They regarded the present expensive system as being chiefly for the benefit of the well -to - do, whose children could remain longer at school, while poor people’s children must leave at an early age to earn something for the family. -He suggested that Church-people Bbould organise before the next general election, and endeavor to support only those candidates who would deal clearly with this important matter. (Hear, hear.) He next condemned the Act of Parliament for legalising marriage with a deceased wife’s sister, and hoped no clergyman holding a license in this diocese would ever venture to celebrate such a marriage. The fact that it was contrary to the custom and l&w of the Catholic Church from the beginning would be sufficient for the guidnnee of any clergyman. He said one clergyman had consulted him recently a 3 to such a marriage, and he had advised him not to solemnise it. It would be * necessary to revive the General Church Fund : system, and though objections were numerous, they were not serious, and he thought they could be removed. The apathy which the scheme had met with was rather an argument, iu its favor, as showing the want of its action to bring that latent apathy into the light and remove it. Referring to parochial districts, he said there was need for a missionary clergy-, man to take up work in this city and in the diocese which could not be done by the .regular clergy. St. Paul’s Vestry had offered £IOO a year towards this object, and he hoped to apply it to that purpose. ' Four parochial districts were still vacant—viz, Patea (for which a clergyman was soon expected), Bulls and Sandon parish, Palmerston, and Carterton. Three new churches had beeu built since last year— atMartinborough, Johnsonyille, and Turakina. He urged the importance of teaching in Sunday Schools. The .Wanganui Collegiate School, in which religious teachings was an essential part in the instruction, was a success, and he hoped scholarships would be established for so valuable a school. He concluded by commending to the attention of the Synod various diocesan matters which would come before them. A vote of thanks was accorded to the President for his address, with a request that it be printed in the report of the Synod. Reports and balance-sheets were laid on the table ; also, various notices of motion ; and the Synod adjourned till next evening. Wednesday, September 12. Proceedings opened with prayer. Members present : The President ; clergy— Archdeacon Stock, Revs. J. Jones, C. D. De Castro, W. E. Paige, T. Fancourt, Jas. McWilliam, B. W. Harvey, T. L. Tudor, R. Coffey, Pineaha te Mahauariki, R. J. Thorpe, J. Jones, T. W. Western, A. Towgood, J. E. Blackburne ; laity—Messrs W. H. Quick, C. P. Powles,.C. Rous Marten, J. A, Plimmer, R. Hunter, C. E. Zohrab, W. T. Charlewood, G. H. Davies, R. Wilson, D. Porter, Dr. Spratt,'-Major Willis, F. de J. Clere, H. S. Fitzherbert. _ j The’.vPresident laid upon the table the minute book of the Standing Committee. Mr France laid upon the table the report of the Committee appointed for investigating and reporting upon the accounts of the General - Church Fund and of the Pari-hes and Parochial Districts for the year 1882-83. Moved by Archdeacon Stock, seoonded by Mr Powles, “ That a committee be appointed to consider and report upon the regulation<srawp uk by the Peasion Fund Trustees,” Dost,

Moved by Archdeacon Stock, seconded by Mr Rous Marten, “ That a committee be appointed to revise the Pension Fund Act.” Moved by Archdeacon Stock, seconded by the Lay Secretaiy, “That the thanks of the Synod be given (o Mr Parker and to Mr West, to the choirs of St. Paul’s, of St. Peter’s, of St. Mark’s, ind of the Tinakori Church-room for their kind and efficient services on Tuesday, September 11’.” Amendment, moved by Rev. W. E. Paige, seconded by Mr J. A. Plimmer, “ That a Committee be appointed to report on the working of the Pension Fund Act. Lost on division. The original motion was then put, and carried. Moved by Archdeacon Stock, seconded by Rev. A. Towgood, “That a Committee be appointed to revise the scheme for a General Pension Fund, remitted to the several dioces ;s by the General Synod. Such Committee to consist of the clerical members of the Synod, Messrs W. H. Quick, C. P. Powles, C. Rous Marten, J. A. Plimmer, W. France, and the mover.” Carried. The Committee to meet on Thursday, at 11 o’clock. Moved by Rev. T. Fancourt, seconded bj Mr France, “ That a Committee be appointed to examine all the accounts and reports of Trustees holding trust property in the diocese, and to consider generally the state in which the propet tie 3 are and the way in which they are administered, to consist of the Rev. W. E. Paige, Messrs C. E. Zohrab, J. A. Plimmer, C. Rous Marten, W. T. Charlewood, and the mover. Moved by Rev. T. Fancourt, seconded by Rev. J. Jones, “To move for leave to bring in a Bill to make provision for the better organisation of parochial districts.” Carried, The Bill read a first time. Moved by Mr Rous Marten, seconded by Archdeacon Stock, “ That this Synod learns with regret that the General Synod has not provided any authoritative definition of the term 1 Communicant ’ used in five different statutes, as an essential qualification for all Church officers.’’ Moved by Mr Zohrab, seconded by Mr France, “ That a Committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon the financial position and working of the General Church Fund.” Carried. Amendment moved by Rev. B. W. Harvey, seconded by Mr Porter, “That the Committee consist of three members, two to be appointed by ballot.” Carried. The Standing Orders, which ' prevented the election by ballot of such Committee, were suspended. The President appointed Rev. J. E. Blackburne and Mr Powles as scrutineers. The names selected were Rev. B. W. Harvey and Major Willis. The Synod adjourned at 11.40.