THE PRIMACY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1666, 3 February 1904, Page 51

THE PRIMACY.

INDECISIVE BALLOTS

BISHOP NEVILL TAKES OFFICE

AUCKLAND, February 1. The most important business before the Anglican General Synod to-day w,as the election of a Primate in succession to the late Bishop Cowio. This came on in the evening, when there Avas a very large attendance. All the Bishops occupied seats on the platform. Of •‘the clergy there Avas not a single aWntee, and of the laity only three were not present. All the Bishops were eligible for the Primacy. There Avere no nominations, and the election was by ballot. The Acting-Primate announced at the outset that, if necessary, successive ballots to the number of three would’ be taken until some one of the Bishops obtained g. majority of each of the three orders— Bishops, clergy and laity. If at the third ballot no one had a majority in e%*4h order, the senior. Bishop would become Primate.

As the result of the first ballot, the scrutineers annepneed that no election had taken place. The Bishop of Nelson then moved “ That the name® of Bishops for whom votes had beer given, and also the numbers of votes given for each Bishop by each order be announced by the scrutineers after each ballot, unless such ballot was decisive.” The mover pointed out that there Avas a precedent for this course in the election of Bishop Hadfield to the Primacy in 1889. The procedure was one it seemed expedient to adopt in the present instance. Failure in the first ballot made it quite possible that no. election Avould take place, and it would put Avhoever Avas chosen Primate in an invidious position if he were called upon to occupy such a poet through there not having been an election. Mr K. Wilson seconded. The Rev Coffey, Mr Brittain and Mr Upton opposed. Canon Macmurray said it would be a matter , of very great regret if the election wont by default. Dean Fitchett remarked, that there was no warrant for the statement that if

there was no election as a result of the ballot the office would go by default. The object of the ballot was to obtain the mind of the Ohturch. It might he that there was equality of merit among the Bishops, and that- they coulfl get a majority in three orders for anyone. Their Church laAv . provided for such a contingency by providing that in such event the senior Bishop should become Primate. Harper took a similar view. The Rev Mr Beatty thought every deliberative body had, a right when a vote Avas taken to know the result. A division Avas then taken on the motion with the following result: —Ayes—Bishops 6, clergy 4, laity 7. Noes —Bishops 1, clergy 15, laity 15. The motion was lost. Two further ballots Avere taken, blit withonit any definite result. The announcement of the scrutineers, after the third ballot, that there had been no election, was received with applause, amid which the senior Bishop (Bishop Nevill, of Dunedin) rose to his feet. When the applause had subsided, the new Primate spoke as follows: —“I think I may, Avithout immodesty, receive the plaudits offered as greetings to myself in having been, as I believe in the providence of God, called to the difficult and honourable position which I occupy here to-night. I have only this one word to say: I came to this country thirty-four years ago, believing myself to be called of God to do some Avork for His Holy Church in this land, I have endeavoured, amid many weaknesses, to discharge the obligations Avhich were at that time laid upon me. I know that I have not spared myself; I knew that I have received the affection of my clergy and the lay members of my diocese; and I have the satisfaction, of knowing' that a large number of people outsijde that area regard me with affection and esteem. I only desire to ask you that in the difficult position. I am now called upon to occupy I may, receive your prayers fronvrtime to time

that the efforts I may still be. enabled to make with the same- earnest purpose . in my heart may be effectual to the I glory of God and the welfare of ;hi§ i' people.”