THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4118, 1 June 1874, Page 3

THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH.

[Westport Times.] Tho proceedings of Church Synods do not as a rule present many points of general interest. Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons are as occult mysteries to the great majority of the laity, and the deliberations of Church dignitaries upon the governance of their Church business is a subject on which few even among the faithful of their Hocks doom it necessary to concern themselves. But at tho General Synod of the Anglican Church, held during tho past week at Wellington, a subject was debated and action resolved on that will commend itself to the approval of all churchmen. Tho present position of clcrgym ;n of the Anglican Church is, in a financial point of view, unsatisfactory. Their stipends are not extravagant, and the calls on their purses arc not few. Provision for their declining years, or for their widows and orphans when they themselves shall have shufilef', olf this mortal coil, is not so certainly assured as it might he, and in poor and scattered Dioceses is dependent almost solely upon such provisions as clergy cun make for themselves, independent of any special fund sot apart for such purpose from Church revenues. It is true that in each Diocese there is maintained by subscription what is termed a Diocesan Pension Pund, to which each clergyman within the boundaries contributes from Ids yearly stipend, but in most instances tbo funds thus accumulated are small, and in the event of a clergyman moving from one diocese to another lie loses all claim upon tho funds of tho former, and has to face the contingency of tho Pension Fund in his now district being greater or less than in the Diocese he has just left. This in a measure very possibly debars many clergymen from changing districts, oven when changes are expedient for tho welfare of themselves and their congregations. At tho meeting of the General Synod the following resolution of the Diocesan Synod of Wellington, passed October Ist, 1873, was taken into consideration, “That this Synod requests tho General Synod to appoint a committee to examine tho scheme for a General Pension Fund adopted by tho Synod of tho Diocese, of Wellington ; and to reform tho General Pension Fund according to the provisions of tho above scheme, or in such other way as their discretion may seem fit.” In debate on tins resolution it was admitted, with striking unanimity, by all the Church dignitaries andofficers present that tho establishment of a General Pension Fund would not only prove of groat benefit Lo tho clergy, but bo a moans of making closer tho union of the churches, and giving to tho whole ecclesiastical Province a stability which tho richest Dioceses by themselves cannot now ensure, and in tho general distribution of claims, tho prosperity of one Diocese would thou bear part of tho ad versify of its neighbor. Coming down to practical details tho Bishop of Dunedin said that his dioccac had already considered proposals from tho Government Insurance Agents, and it appeared possible that advantage might lie taken of tho security tho Government would give. He thought that insurances on tho lives of every clergyman connected with tho Church might lie obtained in tho Government offices, and tile yearly premiums thereon paid from one general fund, and ho suggested the advisability of working this matter in conjunction with the Government scheme of Life Assurance. With these views the Synod appears to have generally concurred, for the resolution, slightly modified, was passed without dissentient voice,

and a committee of action appointed. Tbe result of the labors of such committee cannot fail to interest all concerned in the welfare of the Anglican Church. The guarantee of a fixed sum, payable after the attainment of a certain age to each clergyman, or in case of death—whenever death may occur—to his survivors, Will dispel the clouds of anxiety from the minds of many worthy men who in their holy vocation should he free from all trouble in things temporal. It will do more. It will attract to the Colony clergymen who are needed, but who now hesitate at coming. Seeing provision thus made for the hour of need they will not be so unwilling to sever connection with the Mother Church, which treats them but as chance laborers in the field, wresting from them the strength of their manhood, and leaving them in their weakness to the care of public charity.