THE CHURCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1197, 8 February 1895, Page 15

THE CHURCHES.

ANGLICAN GENERAL SYNOD.

Nelson, January 31. The thirteenth session of tho Anglican General Synod commenced here in the Provincial Hall this afternoon, the Bishop of Auckland (Acting-Primate) in the presi-

dent’s chair. All the bishops and clerical representatives were present, and only four of the laity were absent. : The President, in his address, referred to the death of Bishop Harper, the resignation of Bishops Hadfield (the late Primate) and Stuart, and the appointments to the Bishoprics of Waiapu, Wellington, Melanesia,; and to the visit of the Bishop of Salisbury. Regarding the Primacy, he asked the Synod to make such provision as was desirable without unnecessary delay. Colonel Morris (Dunedin) presented a petition protesting against the action of the Standing Committee in annulling tho election of Canon Dodd, and the Revs Coates and Martin, and electing Canon Lucas, Dean Fitchett and the Rev W. Martin. The petitioners allege that the Committee is nob a competent tribunal to invalidate the election, that there were not sufficient grounds for the election to be annulled, and that even if there were a fresh election should have taken place. They ask that Canon Lucas and Dean Fitchett be not allowed to sit as clerical representatives for Dunedin, and that the matter be referred to a special committee comprising the Bishop of Waiapu, Archdeacon Harper, Sir John Hall, Colonel Pitt and Colonel Morris.

On the motion of Sir John Hall, a hearty welcome was offered to the Bishop of Salisbury, who took his seat with the other bishops. Dr Wordsworth delivered an address, in which he complimented the Sj'nod upon its constitution, which had

often been quoted as a precedent, and borrowed from. He spoke of the question of religious instruction in the public schools, and expressed sorrow to fiud in three of the four colonies he had visited that this instruction was excluded. Referring to the position of this question at the London School Board, bo %aid the reason for the recent trouble was that the teachers had felt themselves mistrusted and misjudged, but were in reality desirous' of giving religious instruction. After reviewing the methods followed in the various colonies, he declared in favour of half-an-hour’s instruction each day by the teacher during school hours, and urged that efforts should be made to have an Act passed allowing that. He urged the clergy to rouse an interest in this direction. He advocated the establishment by the clergy cf classes for giving teachers religious instruction to enable them to best instruct the children, and the establishment of model typical schools by the Church without State aid. While giving full acknowledgment of the value of public schools, he considered the healthy rivalry of such schools in England had increased the efficiency of the Board schools, and would do so here. The speaker was frequently applauded. The Bishop of Melanesia gave notice to move to-morrow :—“ That the Synod proceed with the election of a Primate.”

The Synod adjourned till three to-mor-row afternoon. A festival service was held in the Cathedral this evening.

Nelson, February 1. The Anglican General Synod resumed at 3 o’clock.

The Rev W. C. Waters presented a petition on behalf of Archdeacon Stock, late of St. Peter’s, Wellington, asking for relief under the following circumstances : The petitioner retired from St. Peter’s in 1888 after a pastorate of 32 years. Upon his return from England in 1891 he officiated occasionally without license. Upon asking for the same, he obtained an authorisation to officiate with permission of the clergyman. The petitioner found that the late Bishop of Wellington would not allow him to sit in the Diocesan Synod, and asked to have a case stated for the standing commission. The Bishop then required a return of the authorisation, and the standing committee found he had no jurisdiction,

The petitioner, therefore, comes to the Synod to reinstate him. The Rev W. C. Waters gave notice to move that the matter be referred to a select committee. Other petitions were presented. THE PRIMACY. The Bishop of Melanesia moved that the Synod proceed to the election of the Primate. The scrutineers to the first ballot declared that Bishop Cowie, Auckland, had received more than half tho votes of each order represented. The result was heartily applauded. The Primate returned thanks very briefly, and was visibly affected. There was considerable discussion on the motion of Archdeacon Toogood that the

position of the country clergy demands the serious attention of tho churchmen of New Zealand.

The mover urged tho raising of the stipends of the country clergy to the same level as those of the town clergy. Archdeacon Dudley seconded the motion.

Words were added urging members of the Church to a systematic support of the

diocesan funds, and the motion was then carried.

The following motions were carried : The Bishop of Waiapu—That leave bo given to bring in a Bill to amend title a, canon 1, section 1, appointment of bishops. The Dean of Waiapu—(l) That a select Committee be appointed to examine into and report upon the various means that are adopted in the several dioceses of this ecclesiastical province for the purpose of advancing the religious education of the young; (2) that the committee consist of the Bishop of Nelson, the Dean of Christchurch, the Dean of Dunedin, the Rev Canon Webb, the Rev W. C. Waters, Mr T. Morrison and the mover. Mr Allen —That a select committee be appointed to consider and report upon the status of visiting, retired, or superannuated clergy, especially with regard to their relation to the Diocesan Synods, the "committee to consist of the Bishop of Christchurch, Rev W. Beatty, Archdeacon Williams, Colonel Pitt, Mr Lubeclce, Rev W. C. Waters, the Bishop of Waiapu, and the mover. The Synod rose at 6 o’clock, to meet again at 3 on Monday. Nelson, February 4.

The Synod resumed at 3 p.m. to-day. Mr Allen presented a petition from 235 former parishioners of the Rev Algernon Gifford protesting against the action of the Bishop of Dunedin in refusing that clergyman a seat in the Diocesan Synod. Notice was given by Mr Allen to refer the matter to the Select Committee dealing with retired and superannuated clergy. On the motion of the Rev W. C. Waters, Archdeacon Stock’s petition was referred to the same committee. Colonel Haultain brought in a Bill to provide for Maori lay representation in the Diocesan Synod. The discussion on the motion of the Dean of Christchurch that the time has come when, for the sake of promoting unity among the various branches of the Anglican communion, steps should be taken towards advancing the further organisation of the several branches both in themselves and in relation to one another, and that the Lambeth Conference be requested next session to lay down the principles upon which such organisation shall be based. Eventually the mover withdrew the motion, the feeling of the Synod being against it. On the motion of Archdeacon Harper, a committee was appointed to prepare a brief statement of the financial position of the Church in each diocese. A Bill, brought in by the Bishop of Christchurch toenactanew canon regarding deaconesses, was read a first time. The Bishop of Waiapu presented the. report of the Select Committee on the Dunedin petition. The committee made the following recommendations:—(l) That the appointment by the Standing Committee of the diocese of Dunedin of Dean Fitchett, Canon Lucas, and the Rev F. W. Martin as clerical representatives was invalid and ineffectual; (2) that the election of Canon Dodd, Revs Cotes and Martin under writ from the Primate was a valid election, and that the returning officer be instructed to make return of the writ accordingly $ (3) that to fill vacancies caused by the resignation of Canon Dodd and the Rev Cotes, a fresh writ be issued by the Primate. The report is to bo considered to-morrow. Nelson, February 5.

The principal business before the Synod to-day was Archdeacon Harper's motion that the Synod is of opinion that it is desirable that the Education Act should be amended to. contain provision for impart*

ing religious instruction by teachers in the public schools on the model of the London School Board generally, with the use of the Bible and the text-book known as the Irish National School-book Scriptural lessons, and with a conscience clause.

| There was a very long discussion, the | tenor of which was that half a loaf is better than no bread. Most of the speakers declared themselves not altogether satisfied with the text-book, but saw no prospect of getting anything practical outside it. The Bishop of Christchurch, who spoke at some length, thought the text-book a poor thing, but favoured it as a beginning, seeing that it was the only thing the vari- ] ous denominations were agreed upon, and I that it could be improved or supplanted j afterwards, if the thing-were once started. I The Bishop of Wellington suggested j that if the whole Bible did not meet with j favour, perhaps part of the New Testament, as the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, would meet with approval. The Bishop of Nelson gave four reasons for the selection of the text-book:—(1) It ' was in use in the other colonies; (2) that some selection must be made, and here was one ready made; (3) that the other religious bodies joining in the movement would only consent to the whole Bible on condition that it was read without note or comment, a disability which did not apply to the text-book; (4) if a selection had yet to be made, who was to make it ? The Bishop of Dunedin would prefer that the motion should stop at following the model of the London School Board, and should not include that portion dealing with the text-book. He believed if the whole Bible was declared for, the Presbyterians and Wesleyans would support the movement. / The Bishop of Melanesia considei’ed that as the State had assumed the education of children, it was the duty of the Church to press the State to give a proper He hoped to see two schools established in the centres, worked upon Church principles, and the appointment of a committee to meet the leaders of other denominations to see what they would accept. The Bishop of Waiapu also spoke, declaring for the whole Bible. Archdeacon Harper made a strong reply, closing at 10.30. The motion was put in three parts. The first part, to the word “generally,” was carried on the voices, with only one dissentient voice. The second part was put as follows “With the use of the Irish National School-book of Scriptural lessons,” and carried on the voices, with only two noes. The third part, put as follows : “And with a conscience clause,” was carried unanimously. The result was greeted with applause. Sir John Hall brought in a Bill to provide that women as well as men may vote at parish meetings. Nelson, February 6. At the Synod to-day, Archdeacon Govett presented the report of the committee dealing with the proposed alterations of the dioceses of Auckland and Waiapu. The committee recommended that the Archdeaconry of Taranaki be transferred from Auckland to <g Waiapu, and the Archdeaconry. of Taurahga from Waiapu to Auckland. Alterations were proposed of the boundaries of the Auckland and Waiapu dioceses, but no alteration of the boundaries of the dioceses of Wellington and Waiapu.

Ths Bishop of Waiapu moved that the resolutions appended to the report of the Select Committee on the petition of Arch*

deacon Beaumont and others be taken into consideration by the Synod. Canon McMurray contended that the Synod had no authority to deal -with the matter, as the matter of determining disputed elections had been delegated to the Diocesan Synods, and the decision of the tribunal thus appointed must be final. He moved an amendment that the Synod was bound to accept the return of the clerical representatives made by the Standing Committee of the diocese of Dunedin (Dean Fitehett and Canon Lucas). The Bishop of Dunedin seconded the amendment. A long discussion took place, lasting till close upon the six o’clock adjournment. The motion was carried upon a division : —Ayes : Bishops, 6 ; clergy, 16 ; laity, . 19. Hoes : Bishop, 1; clergyman, 1; layman, 1. Upon resuming at 7.30, the Synod went into committee on the second reading of the bill to amend title a, canon 1, section 1, appointment of bishops. The bill passed through committee in amended form.

The consideration of the recommendations of the committee on Archdeacon Beaumont’s petition is to be taken to-morrow.