A QUESTION OF TASTE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3784, 5 July 1899, Page 7

A QUESTION OF TASTE.

SYNOD OBJECTS TO PUBLICITY. THE PRESS LECTURED. . Immediately the Synod met yesterday afternoon, the Yen Archdeacon Towgood brought under its notice the report of the Synod’s proceedings appearing in the “ New Zealand Times ” of that date, in reference to the discussion which had taken olacp on Mr F. V. Waters’s motion, “ That this Synod recomfnend to the attention of the General Synod the desirableness of changing the mode of administering the second element in the office of the Holy Communion, the present' practice of more than one person drinking from the same vessel contravening commonly known laws of health.” The Archdeacon held the opinion that the report had put the Synod in an awkward position—a position very detrimental to the higher interests of the Church, because just so much of the debate had neon published as to raise a feeling of alarm in the minds of a certain number of persons, while there were men in the Synod who would have been able to dispose of that alarm if they had had an opportunity on the previous night, instead of the debate having closed in'the manner it had. He wished to know if, under such unfortunate circumstances, a medical man in the Synod, who was willing to do so, would be allowed to make a statement which would set their minds at rfest. N • ; The president (Bishop Wallis) said he felt that the request was very irregular, because they ought to wait for the mover of the motion (who was not present) to make any remarks which he might consider desirable. He hoped, under the present circumstances, the Synod would make no objection to DrFyffe speaking a few words on the subject. (Hear, hear.’) ' Dr Eyffe said he had not been prepared that afternoon on the medical aspect of the question, and. consequently, what he would say would be without preparation, but he would lay certain matters before the Synod which would perhaps tend to modify the ideas which had got abroad in regard to this particular matter. (At this stageDr Fyffe asked that a ' lady who was in attendance might withdraw, and she did so.) One of the chief dangers which might occur bv the use of the second element was the contraction of consumption, which might be earned through the chalice, and another was that of diphtheria,which might also be carrie 1: but the chief danger would be from the contraction of a loathsome disease which he need not specify. [Frotn this stage Dr Fyffe’s remarks were unfit for publication; and, besides being unfit for publication, they conveyed

an unmerited reflection upon the morality of a large section of the community.] The President having thanked Dr Fyffe for his speech, . , , . ' Dr Fyffe proceeded to say that he wanted to bring before the Synod publicly what was an insult to the Synod, and a very impertinent and a very scandalous thing. In unmistakable language —the Synod would bear him out—(applause)— he had said on the previous day that he hoped the gentlemen of the press would not report the motion under discussion or anything said about the subject. It was not the gentlemen who reported the proceedings who were at fault in this matter. They wore subject to higher powers. He blamed the editor for what had appeared. But he thought it was very wrong after the request whic i had been made that the matter should have been published at all. . (Applause.) His reason for wishing that it might rot, be reported was that he felt that if A were reported it might create a scare- It ho had thought that it would have been reported he would hav-e seconded the notion, and would have discussed it. -H----seemed to him that certain editors in.this, colony took a special pleasure in fishing up unpalatable subjects—(hear, hear) and dealing with them in their columns-: If a sixth-rate country paper had .been guilty of want of good taste in this-mat-ter, he would not have been surprised ; but for ,the morning paper of the Em-' pile City of New Zealand to have dorie so • was a matter that it should., be. ashamed of. (Applause,) . There,, was -no, question, of not understanding his mo r tion that the debate should- not. be .reported. It was perfectly straightforwarde and he did think the editor of the “Times” should have respected'the wish of the Synod and what the Bishop had .said The paper should have had regard , for what his Lordship had said, and,if ’he, publication of the report was not an.impertinence, it was a great- discourtesy to his Lordship and the members of - the Synod. (Loud applause.) f ‘ The President (to Air T. F. Alartm): Do vou endorse what has been said by Dr Fyffe? Air Martin : I was not’moving in. this matter, my Lord. Tho President: I asked if you would. Do you endorse what has passed ? Air Martin: Iha ve not read the article in'the paper, my Lord. The President: I asked that nothing should be reported in the papers with regard to this motion. Is that endorsed by the Synod ? Chorus of “ Ayes.” The President: I will write to the editor of the paper about it. I have hoard many requests made to the .press to refrain from publishing matters, and this is tho first time I have known them to disregard it. To me it seems an exceedingly gross want of courtesy to the Synod. (Applause.)