WELLINGTON DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1649, 7 October 1903, Page 17

WELLINGTON DIOCESAN SYNOD.

FOURTH DAY. The Anglican Synod for the Wellington diocese resumed its sittings at 4 p.m. on the 28th ult., in the Diocesan Library, Mu [grave street. The Right. Rev Dr Wallis, Bishop or Wellington, presided. There was a large attendance of Synodsmen. ARCHDEACON FANCOURT ILL. The president expressed his sorrow at having to announoo that the Archdeacon of Wellington had asked to be oxcused from attendance during the remainder of the session, owing to a bad attack of influenza; and he had asked to withdraw the motion standing in his name for the evening session. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE WIDOWS’ AND ORPHANS’ FUND. Tho Rev A. W. H. Compton asked the president concerning the Widows’ and orphans’ Fund administered l-v the Governors of St. John’s College, Auckland: —(1) Is this fund diocesan or provincial? (2) Who are the present beneficiaries of this fund? The president answered: The Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund administered by the trustees, not the GsVernors, of St. John’s College, Auckland, is “ for and towards the support and maintenance of superannuated and invalid clergymen of the branch of the United Church of England and Ireland in New Zealand, and the widows and orphans of deceased clergymen, preference being given to those clergymen and widows who shall have been in connection with the College of St. John tho Evangelist, near Auckland, or who shall bo willing to reside within the college estate and to discharge such duties as may bo assigned to them b> r the governing body of the said college, who shall do, pay and apply the isa-id rents, issues and profits to the purposes and subject to the preference aforesaid, in such proportions, and under such conditions, and in such manner as the General Synod or any person or persons lawfully acting under t.hte authority of the said General Synod may from time to time direct in that behalf; and until such directions shall be given, shall do, pay and apply the sad rents, issues and profits to the purposes and subject to the preference aforesaid, in such proportions, under such conditions and in such manner as the trustees for the time being shall see fit; and in case the said rents, issues and profits shall exceed the amount needed for the support and maintenance of such persons as aforesaid, and in case there shall be no such persons entitled thereto, then upon trust for the support and maintenance of the said College of St. John, and for the general purposes thereof. In answer to the second part of the question, I desire to say I do not know. The Rev Mr Compton moved that the question and answer be printed with the minutes. This was seconded by Mr T. Frere, and agreed to.

THE MAORI ENDOWMENT FUND. The Synod resumed the debate on the motion brought forward by Archdeacon Fauoourt on Friday:—“That the trustees of xne Maori Endowment Fund are hereby directed to pay over as from the Ist April la-; income derived from the fund to the Maori Missioii Fund for the purpose directed in the trust deed of the'Maori Endowment Fund.” The Rev A. 0. Williams, resuming his speech as seconder of the proposal, expressed his indebtedness to Archdeacon Fancourt for having brought the matter forward. He disputed the accuracy of the deduction apt to he drawn from the fact that the Maoris had only contributed £1 15s 3d towards the Mission Fund in the year ended March 31st. Ha defended the natives from the allegation of indifference and of not supporting the Church. In his experience

ho found that if there'was going to foe a collection a Maori won id not go to church without contributing to the offertory. They were not like the. English people in that respect.. (Hear, hear.) On more than one occasion he had seen two old fellows holding on to opposite sides of a .shilling to indicate that each was giving sixpence—(laughter)—and on more than ono occasion natives had corao to him for small change to enable them to contribute. He pointed out that the Maoris had not 11101103" at their disposal always, and in many cases contributed in kind where they ha,d 'not cash. He quoted an instance in liangitikei district where tho natives had supplied a clergyman with potatoes, firewood, a buggy, horse, harness, saddle horse, cow, five or six pigs, and since then they had given him another house. In hard cash his own people had contributed £BO towards removing and renovating a little Maori church which was in danger of being swept away by the Rangitikei river; and that church would ho used far more b\ T English people 'than b3’ Maoris. In addition to the £BO, they had sent £25 for the Maori Mission Fund, £5 10s for tho school at Putiki and £4.5 for the upkeep of their churches —£146 altogether in hard cash. Then the Wairarapa natives had given £124 for their church, so that it could not be said they were doing nothing. Tho result of an appeal was that Tamaliau, one of their chiefs, had promised a further sum of £SO; and all that was required was “another poke up or two” to get that £SO. (Applause.) He admitted that the natives were not doing as much as they ought to do, but the miserably small sums of money they handled should be borne in mind. In the Waitotara district £6 a year was the most any nar live received in rent through the Native Lands Office, and the sums varied from that down to ss. Under these circumstances, lie thought they were really doing as much os they honestly could. When the meeting was held at Otaki some years ago, the natives put their bands in their pockets and laid down £IOOO. Since then they liad got no return whatever from that contribution, and it was difficult to make them understand why it should be so. He suggested that there should be a revaluation of the land which formed part 0/ the property of the endowment, as it was much more valuable now than what it would have been estimated at twenty years ago. Mr C. P. Bowles, as one of tho trustees of tho fund, supported the motion. He explained that the fund had been fostered for the purpose of having it available when the grants from the Church Missionary Fund should be withdrawn. It n,ow amounted to £4224 arid produced an income of £221 a year. The time liad now come for which the trustees had been husbanding the money, and they would be only too happy to hand it over for the purpbse for which it was kept. The value of the land had been put down as the price for which it was purchased, but, of course it was worth very much more now. It consisted of a town section and a suburban section in Palmerston. Rev. Aroua To Man a delivered a short address on tho subject, through ail interpreter. The president concurred with the explanation given ty Mr Powles as to the object for which the fund liad been allowed to accumulate, but he pointed out, the salaries of the native missionaries had been paid out of the general funds in the meantime. The resolution was carried unanimously. THE HARD LOT OF COUNTRY CLERGY. Archdeacon Towgood moved: —“That the stipends of some of t.he country clergy being inadequate, and this fact being aggravated by want of paddocking, or insufficient paddocking, for their horses constitutes, unless remedied, a grave danger to the efficient work of tho Church in the not distant future; that the Archdeacons be requested in their respective Archdeaconries, at the instance of the vicars of these cures, and in such other cures where it may seem to the vicars of such cures to be advisable, to convene meetings of the laymen to discuss the matter, and to report to the Bishop the outcome of such discussions.” In doing so, he pointed out that the matter was of grave importance in many districts, and a crisis could not bo long in arriving, when it might be a question as to whether there would foe any clergy in these places to provide for, owing to the disabilities under which they at present laboured. He had thought of the possibility of men devoting themselves to the celibate life in districts where it was impossible to keep a family, but he did not consider the scheme would be practicable. 'The question was essentially a layman’s question, and if any lay member of the Synod wished to substitute any other motion for that which he had brought forward, lie would be very happy to withdraw. He emphasised the importance, in the formation of new districts, of suitable paddocking accommodation being obtained for the use of the minister. Mr W. J. Birch, in seconding the motion, said he knew of clergy in the up country districts who were most inadequately paid. Rev. H. T. Rawnsley strongly supported the resolution. What it asked for should have been done years ago.

He expressed his intention to have one hundred and fifty circulars printed at his own expense, with copies of the resolution, and sent to every Church of England man in his district. Rev. P. W. Clarkson gave a graphic description of tho lonely" life of the rural clergyman in places like Taihape. j-xe depicted the slender means on whicu they have to eke out an existence, and the many drawbacks and disadvantage® of their condition. The life made one feel at times as though he were living apart from tho whole diocese, and the sensation came to his heart and life tunt ho was entirely shut off. The resolution was passed. witboutl dissent. - . Tho adjournment was then taken. EVENING SITTING. THIS TIME OF THE SYNOD. The Syaiod resumed at 8 p.m. Archdeacon Towgood moved on behalf of tho Rev T. B. Maclean: —-“That the Bishop he respectfully requested to summon the Synod on future occasions so as to enable business to commence on Monday, at 8.30 p.m., and to arrango for the Synod service to be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.” The. Rev A. O. Williams seconded the proposition. Mr Powles opposed the motion most strongly. He emphasised that any attempt to hiuTy the business of the Synod, ought to bo put an end to. Members wlio attended from the country should come with the understanding that they came for an important purpose, and ought to foe able to give up their time, so that what was done might be done properly. Although members from the town had not to Havel, yet they had to lxuirry through their own business to give time to the business of the Synod. The motion was supported by the Rev A. M. Johnson and Mr J. W. Baker, and opposed by the Rev C. C. Harper. The debate had not closed when the time-limit was reached, and the discussion was accordingly adjourned; the president remarking that the adjournment was rather an advantage than otherwise, as it would enable members , to think over tho matter. DIVERGENT VIEWS The Rev E. W. J. McConnell moved the second reading of liis Bill to amend clauses 5, 9 and 10 of Act 11. relating to the General Church Fund in the following manner:—“That in clause 5 the words ' proportionate of such stipend * Ire omitted; that in clause 9 the words ‘ of the stipend ’ and ; to its clergyman.’ be omitted; that in olause 10 the words ‘ such sum ’ be substituted for the words ‘ a sum equivalent to such proportion of itis clergyman’s stipend.’ ” He dwelt 011 the need of having in the diocese the services of men of distinctly evangelism tia gifts, and the benefits that would accrue from the appointment of a diocesan missionary. At the present time there was a. want of a proper sense of sin amongst people, which was greatly to be deplored. Under the Act.as it stood, not one penny of the £7900 raised b;> r assessment could he devoted to any purpose but pastoral work, and that showed the need for amendment. It was time that the matter should be faced. The result of the proposed amendment would enable portion of the assessment to be used for evangelistic work. The Rev J. Walker seconded tho second reading of the Bill. One of the greatest drawbacks of the Church Fund at the present time was its narrow parochial spirit. Every part of the diocese should be assessed for diocesan expenses generally, including the collective stipends of the clergy. Archdeacon Towgood, as on© who remembered the birth of * the General Church Fund, denied that there had ever been a common purse in the proper sense of the term. He wished the mover of the Bill had given ’some more definite information as to what he _ prg** posed. The speaker had no desire to see the unknown evangelist ever occupy the pulpit of St. Stephen’s. The Rev J. R. Cassell spoke in support of the Bill. Rev C. C. Harper, while approving of the object of the Bill, disagreed with the practicability of the proposal a,? regarded the raising of the necessary revenue. He thought, therefore, they had better throw out the Bill than waste time by going into committee on it/ The proper way to meet the oase was to get more, subscriptions from the districts that could afford them. Captain Hewitt Supported the need for evangelistic assistance such as. was indicated, and deplored the lack of enthusiasm amongst Church of England people. Roman Catholics, Dissenters, and even prohibitionists, could, and did, go to extremes, but Church of England people were wanting in that spirit. Ho did not consider the proposed amendment the best way to attain the object. Rev T. H. Sprott was astonished at the proposal to introduce a diocesan missionary considering what they had heard that afternoon of the miserable pittances on which some of the clergy existed and the squalid provision made for them. He tmisted that before the introduction of such a missionary their own hard-working and deserving clergy would be properly provyletl for. He was humiliated to hear his brother

clergy get tip one after the other and admit that they could not speak to their congregations with the appealing force of a Salvation Army captain. v“P~ plause.) He thought it was most painful confession, and he would not subscribe to the present proposal for a moment. He could not discover that the Salvation Army captain had made any deen and lasting impression on the people of New Zealand. (Hear, hear). . Rev ' R. Coffey expressed himself thoroughly in sympathy with the preceding speaker. He denounced the proposal to appoint a diocesan missionary while some of their clergy were afraid to meet their butcher and banker. (Oh 1 oh I) Yes, the speaker continued emphatically, they had it that very afternoon that some of them were living on stipends of £BO a year. The fund was not supported to any appreciable extent; it was an imposition and an abortion from the beginning. 4 (Applause and dissent.) Some * of their clergy had not as much to live upon as a common carpenter. The fund had been a miserable failure from the start, and he would vote for the Bill if it would take away from it. After some further discussion, in which Messrs G. Flux, P. P. Webb, G. Wheeler and Rev H. T. Rawnsley took part, the Synod divided on the second reading of the Bill, with the following result: — Ayes—Clergy, 16; laity, 5. Noets— Clergy, 22; laity, 19. The Bill was therefore lost. Rev A. L. Hansell thereupon gave notice of motion, “That it be a recommendation to the Bishop to procure the services of a diocesan missioner.” The adjournment was then taken until 4 o’clock next afternoon. FIFTH DAY. The Anglican Synod for the Wellington diocese resumed its sittings in the Diocesan Library, street, at 4 p.m. on the 29 th hit. The Right Rev Dr Wallis, Bishop of Wellington, presided. There was a good attendance of clergy, but the laity were not as numerous as on previous days. PAIIIATUA CHUROHROOM. The Rev H. S. Leach, on behalf of Mr J. M. Levin, moved : —“ (1) That the General Synod be asked to authorise the sale of the old church-room at Pahiatua and the land on which it stands, with the view of purchasing with the process a section, of land and erecting a church-room on a more central site, adjoining the niew parish church and vicarage. (2) That the Standing Committee be directed to take the necessary stops to hiring this matter under the notice of the General Synod at its next Betssion.” The Rev J. Walker seconded the motion. The president expressed his thorough sympathy with the motion. There was no doubt that tire old church-room was in an out-of-the-way place, out of repair, and utterly useless in its present condition. He promised to do his best to g.et the matter passed by the General Synod. At the same time he desired to point out that the consent of the Synod or the Standing Committee was ne-cessary before the matter could go to the General Synod. It would be much better that it should have first been referred to the Diocesan Trustees, because the General Synod would ask them as to whether it would be an advantage or notThe Rev R. Young concurred in what had been said regarding the state cf the church-rcom. The motion was carried unanimously. WOMEN’S VOTES AT PARISH MEETINGS. Mr 11. - S. McKellar moved: “ That this Synod is of opinion that women should have an equal right with men in voting at parish meetings and in the election of officers thereat.” He- explained that he brought the matter forward in obedience to a resolution passed by the parishioners of All Saints’ Church, Palmerston North, on the 30th April. The result of submitting ballotpapers on the subject to the women of the parish was that eight voted in favour of the motion and two against it, which would indicate that the women did not take very much interest in the matter. Captain Hewitt seconded the resolution. The Rev C. C. Harper said that the ten votes mentioned by Mr McKellar Were the result obtained after the papers had been three months in the hands of the women of the parish. Mr G. Wheeler observed that it would not bo possible to give the women votes without representation. The Rev P -Coffey moved the adjournment of the debate as there were so few laymen present. On a division the adjournment was carried. DIOCESAN AUDITOR. On the motion of Mr J. Kebbell, seconded by Archdeacon Towgocd, Mr R. T. Badhain was appointed diocesan auditor at a fee of twenty-five guineas per annum. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. The Rev A. W. H. Compton proposed :—“ That this Synod requests the members of General Synod who shall be elected from the Wellington diocese to

inquire at the next session of General Synod concerning the Widows’ and Orphans’ Endowment Fund administered by the trustees of St. John’s College, Auckland: —(1) Who have benefited from this fund for the last ten yeans? (2) To what diocese or dioceses did they belong? and to report the result of such inquiries at the next meeting of the Wellington Diocesan Synod.” There were many clergymen in the diocese who were looking forward to being incapable through old age from carrying on their work. (Laughter.) When that time came he was anxious to know how he was to be supported. For other men who were married and had families, the question of providing for their widows and orphans was one of still greater importance. Mr C. P. Powles seconded the motion, which was carried. LAY-EVANGELISTTO WORK. The president moved :—“ That the committee appointed ait the last session to submit for the Synod a scheme for lay-evangelistic work be continued in office until next session.” The resolution was seconded by the Rev J. D. Russell and passed unanimously. MIXED VIEWS OF MISSIONERS. The Rev A. L. Hansell proposed, “That it bo a recommendation to the Bishop to proeux-e the services a diocesan missioner.” His reason for bringing the motion forward was that it was said on the previous evening that the Synod should drop a principle it had affirmed last year. He pointed out the impossibility df a pastor doing evangelistic work successfully, and dwelt on the need of a specialist in religious matters just as they had them in medical and other .matters. The clergy were responsible for the lost and what were they doing for the lost? He was quite confident of tbo Bishop’s ability to procure the services of a suitable evangelist in England. What had procured the services of Brother Mutter, but faith? and what had removed St. Mary’s Home to Karctri? Not a single business man would do' it ; it was a gigantic act of faith. Some of the speakers on the previous evening had referred to “the poor districts.’’ He was sick of the phrase, “poor districts” ; they were simply rolling in wealth. (Laughter and applause.) It was the hearts of the indifferent that wanted to bo touched, and such a missioner as he contemplated would appeal to the heart and the purse. These people would support the man they believed in and the religion they would be brought to believe in, but did not believe in now. A good man would be simply run off his legs with work in the diocese, and the speaker pitied him. He suggested that the missioner should receive £2OO a year salary and £SO a year travelling expenses. The Rev J. A. Jacob, in seconding the motion, remarked that he was a sort of diocesan missioner himself for four years in the diocese of Salisbury, England, and he testified to the excellent results attained by such workers. Dr J. R. Purdy, the proposal, denied the existence of specialists in, the medical profession here*, as the place was not big enough for them. Neither did he believe it was big enough for special lxxis&ioners of the kind described. He ha,d expedience of several missions, and his experience showed that they always ended badly. There was always a great wave of hysterical enthusiasm while the mission lasted, and a ooi’respondingly great relapse when it ended. He suggested that if clergy changed pulpits for a fortnight or so each year it would have a very good effect. " The debate had not concluded when the time limit was announced. SYMPATHY WITH ARCHDEACON FANCOURT. Captain Hewitt obtained leave to have the standing orders suspended to move the following resolution: —“That this Synod desires to. place -on record its sincere sympathy with the Von Archdeacon Fanciourt and his family in the great loss they have sustained by the death of her who has been more than a friend to so many of us, and our trpsfG that with God’s help and blessing he may have a speqdy recovery from the severe strain he must have experienced in faithfully carrying out Ill's duty under the trying circumstances.” Archdeacon Towgocd seconded the resolution as an imeimaite friend of over thirty-three years’ standing. The president, in putting the resolution, expressed the gratitude they all felt to Captain Hewitt for giving them the opportunity of passing such a resolution. The adjournment was then taken. EVENING SITTING. OFFICES OF EMOLUMENT. The Synod resumed at 8 p.m. Mr R. Wilberfoss moved :—“ That no lay member of Synod be eligible to hold any diocesan office or appointment to which any salary or fees are attached.” He stated that he brought the matter forward to have the principle affirmed, as he considered the present time opportune. It was not aimed at any particular person. As far as he was aVare, there were only two officers of the Synod to whom it would apply—the secretary and auditor. The architect, as well as he knew, did not receive any fee for approving of plans-

The Rev A. M. Johnston seconded the motion.

The president suggested that if the motion was only meant to cover the two offices mentioned by Mr Wilberfoss, they should be specified. He had stated that it did not affect the diocesan architect now, but when a few years had passed, conditions might be altered. Mr Wilberfoss pointed out that he did not want to leave room for any further officials to come in. Mr W. H. Quick considered the resolution ought to be franued very carefully, and, as the Bishop suggested, ought to apply to certain officers. He pointed out that in much larger assemblies, such as the House of Commons, officers of the army and navy, who were paid by the State, were allowed to sit, and it was the policy of the State to have them sitting there, because they were sitting as experts on matters in regard to which they had spent a great portion of their lives. Another instance was the law officers of the Grown, wlio could not he law officers without sitting in Parliament. If Mi- Wilberfoss had pointed to any partiqular official, the matter could bo discussed on its merits. Mr Wilberfoss asked leave to amend his resolution by adding the words: “ And if any such are elected to Synod, they must Design their offices.” The president: Supposing they decline to resign? Mr Wilberfoss: Then they should be ineligible to sit' hi Synod. Mr Powles—drew attention to the fact that Table B, Canon 2, danse 4, provided : —“ Every layman qualified to be an elector, and being a communicant, shall he entitled to be elected a Synodsman for any parish c-r parochial district of the diocese.” He thought the resolution would be a transgression cf that regulation. The president suggested that they shcCuld go into committee on the subject, as there were some things he had to say on the point which it would not be advisable to discutes in open Synod. This suggestion) was agreed to, and the Synod went into committee, with Mr Powles in the chair. The resolution was finally adopted in the following amended form :—“ That no lay member, of Synod be eligible to hold any diocesan office or appointment to which any salary or fees are attached : and if any such officer ite elected to Synod, his office shall be vacant. Provided, that this resolution shall not apply to the diocesan architect.” STIPENDS INCREASED. The Synod considered the report of the Finance Committee in committee. A number of the stipends were increased. so that there are now only two or three in the diocese below £2OO a year. The Synod adjourned until 4 o’clock on Wednesday afternoon. SIXTH DAY. The Wellington Diocesan Synod resumed its sitting last Wednesday, the Bishop* of Wellington (Rev. Dr. Wallis) presiding. Before proceeding with the business of the Synod, his Lordship stated that lie luad received from the president of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts an invitation to members to the Synod to a private view of the pictures at a time to be arranged. All would agree with him that the invitation was an extremely kind one. (Applause.) Subsequently a-motion was carried accepting the invitation, and expressing the Synod’s appreciation of the thoughtfulness and kindness of the office-bearers of the academy. BURSER OR TREASURER . Mr Tolhuvst moved: —“That the Standing Committee having, in terms of the resolution of the Synod in 1902, appointed a bui'sar, his title be treasurer, to conform with section 15, Act 11., of 1901.” He thought it was advisable that any suggestion of ambiguity in the title of their office-bearers should be avoided. The motion was seconded by Yen Archdeacon low good and carried on the voices. CHANGE OF CHURCH OFFICERS. Mr T. F. Martin moved: —(1) That this Synod considers it desirable that more frequent change be made (as regards the laity) in the personnel of church trustees, members of the Standing Commission and Standing Committees and of the Trusts and Reports and Finance Committees of the General and Diocesan Synod®, and as Chairman of Committees. (2) That in the opinion of the Synod this object can be best attained by the passing of legislation preventing the same person from serving, or from being elected so as to serve, in any of the above-mentioned capacities for more than a given time, or number of sessions, comtintlously. (3) That the Synod considers that the carrying out of the above proposal'would conduce to the diffusion of knowledge of, and to the increase of interest in, the affairs of the church, and to the bringing out and utilising latent ability in church members, thereby strengthening the church. (4) That in the event, of this motion being carried, the Standing Committee shall frame a scheme to bring it into effect, and that the right reverend the president be respectfully

asked to bring it under the •**o<tice of the General S-ynod at its ensuing session. The mover said bis motion was not brought forward in any offensive spirit to those who had held positions on church boards for many years. He was certain; if it was carried, some good would oonxe. of it. Mr Martin also said that while in theory their constitution was a democracy, it was possible that something in the nature of an oligarchy should be established. When gentlemen had filled —and officially filled —certain offices in tlie church, there was an absolute diffidence on the part of others to come forward and assist-. Another evil of the present constitution was that a handful of men were called upon to do more than tli-ey really should be asked to perform, while at the same time there were others who would be willing and able to do.the work if the office had not been a permanent one. The, proposals he brought forward were not- new. Similar resolutions had been before the Synod in Christchurch in 1898. It was not generally known that a diocesan trustee or a Porirua trustee was elected for the term of his natural life. Mr Tol hurst, in seconding the motion, said he was delighted the proposals had been brought forward. After a brief discussion. 1-he motion was carried unanimously. MODERN CHURCH SERVICE®. The suspended debate on the motion of the Rev. O. O. Harper that some discretionary power should bo given to the clergy in order to make Church services more in accordance with modern needs was resumed. Rev. R. Coffey said he thought it would bo very edifying if the Bishop was to give a certain amount of relaxation, but the General Synod was very doubtful as to its rights. In saying what he did he decidedly objected to the General Synod altering the prayer-book in the direction indicated by some of the speakers—it would dislocate the whole service. He believed there would be—as there was before —an attempt to interfere with the Athanasian Creed. If he went to the General Synod he would not be botuid by any resolution of the Wellington Synod. He would resent any pronounced interference in the direction indicated. Rev. T. H. Rawnsley said that at present they were choosing the lesser of two evils and, in his opinion, it was none -isary that {something should ibe doue in the manner suggested in the motion. Archdeacon Towgood supported the motion. Rev. J. Walker, while agreeing with the proposal in spirit, said he had difficulty in supporting it in the absence of any understanding as to what limitations were to be exercised in connection with the power asked for. Rev. J. Jones, while voicing the opinion that some liberty was necessary, said he thought the proposal was too ‘wide, GENERAL. o'n the motion of Captain Hewitt, seconded by Mr John Kebbell, it was decided “that next session the Reports Committee he increased to twelve.” The president moved “That the hearty thanks of the Synod be given to Mr E. H. B.ethune, for his generous services as honorary diocesan auditor..’* This was seconded by Mr Tolhurst, and canned unanimously. At 5.30 the adjournment was taken. The Synod resumed its sitting at 8 p.m. PROPOSED ALTERATION IN SERVICES. - The adjourned debate on the following resolution by the Rev C. C. Harper was continued: —“That this Synod (1) considers that in order to make our Church services more in accordance with modern needs, it is necessary that some discretionary power should he given to the clergy in tire matter of using special prayers and in the selection of the psalms and lessons, raid also that there might well be some revision of portions of the prayer book not affecting doctrine; and (2). expresses the hope that those who represent this diocese at the next General Synod will support a motion for reform in this direction.” Captain Hewrtt was in favour of some discretionary power being left to the clergy. # Mr C. P. Powles thought the time had scarcely yet arrived for any alteration of the Church services. He felt that he must oppose the motion. Mr E. H. Dean expressed himself as very much impressed by the arguments that had been made use of by the Rev Mr Sprott in the course of the debake. The Rev J. D. Russell pointed out the desirableness of some departure from the ordinary, services being possible on special occasions. The first part of the resolution having been put to the Synod, was carried by the following majority:— Ayes—Clergy, 21; laity, 11.. Noes— Clergy, 10: laiity, 6. The entire motion was afterwards put and declared carried. RESOLUTIONS DEALT WITH. The suspended debate was resinned on the Rev T.B. Maclean’s motion, “That fhe Bishop be respectfully requester* to summon the Synod on future occasions so as to enable business to commence on Monday, at 8.30 p.m., and to arrange

for the Synod sew-ice to bo held at 10 a.in. on Tuesday.” 'L'Jie resolution was carried. Rev T. B. Maclean proposed, “That standing order JNo. 2 be altered to read as follows: —‘The hour of meeting shall be 8.30 on the first day.’ ” The Hev A. O. Williams seconded the resolution, which was carried. The debate was resumed on Mr McKellar’s motion. “That this Synod is of opinion that women should have an equal right with men in voting at parish meetings and in the election of officers thereat; secondly, that the representatives of this diocese be requested to bring a copy of this resolution before the next General Synod, and press for an amendment of canon V. Title B.” The voting on the question was: — Ayes—Clergy, 18; lab:y, 9. Noes — Clergy. 9; laity, 9. The motion was accordingly lost on the vote of the laity. The Synod adjourned at 11.10 p.m. until Thursday evening. CLOSING SITTING. The Anglican Synod for the Wellington Diocese held its last sitting for the present session on Thursday evening. ' The Right Rev Dr Wa.HU>, Bishop of Wellington, presided. The attendance was not so large as on the preceding days. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. The report of the Reports Committee, after due consideration, was adopted, air l a the following resolutions appended thereto:—(l) That the attention of Church people be drawn to the needs of the Chinese Mission with the hope that it may be more liberally supported. (2) Thai it be a suggestion to the Diocesan Secretary that the statement of receipts and expenditure of the General Church Fund be printed in a tabulated form instead of as at present. (3) That the terrier of Church properties in the Diocese bo brought up to date and reprinted for the use of members of Synod. (4) That it be an instruction to the Secretary to the Diocesan. Board of Trustees to prepare and lay on the table of Synod a balance and statement of reserves, giving the following particulars: —Name of tenant •—Terms of lease —Rent—Arrears of previous years (if any)—Amount paid— Arrears outstanding. (5) That the form in which the accounts for the surplice fees. and special r;ffeateries far the Pension Fund is stated bo as in former years under the headings of parishes and districts. ( 7 ) That a vote of thanks be given to the Right Reverend Bishop Had field and Archdeacon Williams and the representatives of the Maoris who «o widely and liberally founded the Maori Endowment Fund, which is now to bo utilised for the benefit of tlie Maori clergy. (8) That as the Trustees of the Wanganui Cbllegiate School state their trust- being for educational purpose? does not come under the operation of Title F, Canon 111., Section 4, the representatives of this diocese at the next General Synod to get the position clearly defined. (9) All reports of Reports Committees be fried and hold available for future reference.” Votes of thanks were passed to the Star Boating Club and the other public bodies and institutions which had extended their hospitality; also to the secretaries for their services. The Synod qlosed with the singing of the Doxology.