DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3785, 6 July 1899, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

END OF THE SESSION. At its concluding meeting-yesterday, the Wellington Diocesan Synod j considered a supplementary report* •on Jits Finance Committee dealing-Svfth appropriations, etc. ; also, tho schedule of the Finance Committee’s report as amended. It was decided, “That if the parochial district of Pahiatua will intimate to the Standing Committee its willingness to have its assessment increased by £IOO, and if an additional £2O can bo provided from other sources (so that the grant from tho General Church Fund need not exceed £3O per annum), the said committee bo empowered to make an appropriation of £l5O for the stipend of a curate for that district as soon as tho condition of the fund will admit of the .additional burden being borne.” Arising out of the report of the Reports Committee, the following resolutions wore adopted ; -—“ (1) That the thanks of the Synod be tendered to Mr Marshall for his gift of land at Stanway; (2) that- a. vote of thanks be tendered to Mr Justice Penncfather for a gift of £2O; (3) that resolution No. 12, p. 44, restricting investment of Pension Fund, except on freehold security, be rescinded ; (4) that a committee be appointed as suggested in tho report of the Pension Fund Trustees by the Bishop, such committee to consist of Archdeacon Fancourt. Rev T. H. Sprott and Messrs Martin, Tolhurst and Blow; (5) that the trustees of the Maori Endowment Fund ho authorised to pay, if they see fit, at the request of tho Bishop, the stipend of a Maori clergyman for that part of the Taranaki district within this diocese out of Maori Endowment Fund; (6) that secretaries he requested to supply the Synod for next meeting of the Synod full detailed balance-sheet, of all different trusts, together with full particulars of properties and revenues; (7) that St. Paul’s refund to tho Wellington Diocesan Board of Trustees the sum of £ll 3s 7d referred to by the auditor.” Votes of thanks were' passed to the secretaries of committees, to the Star Boating Club, (for placing its plant at the disposal of tho Synod), to St. Paul’s Club, to the Church Lads’ Brigade (for forming a guard of honour at the opening), to tho residents of Wellington (for their hospitality to Synodsmen) and to the press. THE BISHOP’S CONCLUDING REMARKS. In a few concluding remarks, Dr Wallis expressed the great pleasure it had given him to preside oyer the fifth Synod of the diocese. He did not think anything had been said within the walls of tho meeting-room that they could look back upon with anything but pleasure. The level of the speeches which had been delivered—tho self-control, the consi-dora-teness, and the earnestness shown by members—had risen above everything bo remembered since he had been in the chair. The session diad born the happiest they had yet had. (Hear, hear.) The attendance at the afternoon! sessions, as well the evening, had been gratifying]/ large. When thev remembered how far some of the Synodsmen had travelled, how long they had stayed, and the great drudgery which the committees had undergone, they had reason to he very thankful. Of course, they had not really requited the committees by votes of thanks. These services had been rendered by the committees as services to God, and to Him they could look for recognition. One other thing only occurred for him to say, and that was that lie trusted that when the members wont home—especially their brethren of tho clergy—they woiild give as many people as they could opportunities of sacrifice. Wo loved those for whom we made the greatest sacrifice, and the cause for which we made the greatest sacrifice; and the clergy must encourage sacrifice if they wanted to surround themselves with true Christians and true Churchmen. To find sacrificial tasks for their people would in itself involves a great deal of self-denial on the part of tho clergy themselves, but the reward would come, for nothing would make them truer men and women than giving them work for God. The singing of the doxology by all present, and the pronouncement of the blessing by the Bishop, terminated tho proceedings. : 1