CHURCH BUSINESS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7847, 8 July 1911, Page 9

CHURCH BUSINESS

DIOCESAN SYNOD PROCEEDINGS AT YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. Th« Wellington Diocesan Sj T nod. continued its sittings yesterday afternoon ana evening In St. j/aui’s bytiney street. Bisuop Sproit piosKicd. HADFIELD HOSTED POSITION NOT SOUND. In the report of reports committee *' lo * - ttu* luti-oiv.ii-g re.ereuce was maxie to the IDuific.d Memorial College and Hostel: “•rne lees received at vno tuoiigii it Ts now luu, only just pay lor t-ne actual maintenance, and leave no margin_ tor incidental expcn&os, Tno iiosiiion ,of the msiituvion eau-uot thereioro bo considered uuauciaky sound/' ST. JAMKS’S PARISH. , ALTERATION OF BOUNDARIES APPROVED. The final stage in the approval of the proioseu change in the boundaries of fc>t. James' paa’i&n, ixwer iiuu, oy constituting a new pa-rociuul district at Eastbourne, wan taken on the motion of tne Rev. josnua joh-es. Ho presented the report ot liic -committee set uj) to, uetine tue new boundaries, and moved that it bo adopted, remanung tnat it met mtii the approval of the people most closely conceThed. Tne motion was earned without, discussion. BUILDING PLANS. NEW PROCEDURE PROPOSED. Jfr R. WilberfoES moved the deletion of a resolution dealing witn ptans of c flu rents, parsonages, scnools, and other ouuuuigs, u-ua its waostiLUtion by tne loUowmg;The Synod hereby authorises the diocesan imt the piu-its and spec.flcaa.ons of uny fiiurcn, pa-raona a o» eeuoouiouse, or oux*er biu-idiiig proiwscd to bo erected upon any lanoa or property under control to auuu architect as they may desire. lie said that the present system acted as y distinct restraint upon parishes. The motion was opposed by several speakers as practically meaning the abo.ition ’ ol the oiucc of diocesan architect. This, they contended, would bo a distinct loss. After considerable . discussion Archdeacon Ilarpei eeciuea tue artiaitioxi of the loiiowing vorus. to the motion: — ’ ; And also desires to state emphatically that nothing in this resolution, is intended to reflect in any way upon the merits or wurk o£ the gentleman who has held the position of diocesan architect tor twonty-.cvea years; instead, it wishes to place on record its recognition, of the great merit of that work and the ready generosity that has characterised ad his dealings with this diocese. further consideration ended in the motion being defeated. “ CHURCH CHRONICLE.” The Rev. A. M. Johnson and the Rev. E. T. Wynne Bond were elected -as clerical members of "The Church Chronicle” committee. MARRIAGE LAW. The Bev. 11.I 1 . W. J. McConnell movedThat the archdeacons bo ashed to draw up and publish a card a » placed in churches, containing a statement of the Church's marriage .aw and other regulations, a list of foes, special collections, and church funds, ■ and of such other matter as they may think fit: the printing of such card to be charged to the general church tuna. The mover, referring to the proposed statement of fees, declared that tie people should know that the tecs did not go to the celebrant, but into the church penson consideration of the motion was adjourned. PAROCHIAL DISTRICTS. Captain Hewitt moved the second 'ead. ing of a Bill extending the representation of parishioners on a parochial vestry by allow *.n,«r parochial districts with estimated population of 3000 and over-to have ten members on the vestry. The Rev. Joshua Jones contended .that districts capable of becoming parishes should not bo ‘ disfranchised. It was scandalous that so many large populations should be left in the imperfect condition of paroch’al .vestries. _ Archdeacon Harper, who opposed the stated that the diocese had the largest number of parochial districts in New Zealand, and this system had worked well. In committee, the Act was amended as desired in the clause, and its third reading proposed for Monday. THE ORGANIST’S -STATUS. "At present the most important lay officer of the church, the organist,'* saih Dr. Kington Fyffe, "is classed with the verger, the bcl .-ringer, and the scrubber.” Ho moved amendments in Act IV. (Parishes Act), which would, he explained, give an Improved status tc tht organ ist, defining his relation to the vicar, the churchwardens, and the vestry. The most important clause read: The organist of any parish or parech!al district shall be under tho im-r •mediate control and direction of tho , . vicar of such parish or parochial die- j triot. who shall have power to grant ! leave of absence from duty.for a period | not exceeding one month, and shall be | responsible for supplying the place of such organist. Leave of absence for a longer period than one month shall not be granted without the approval of the vestry, and upon such terms os may bo agreed upon by the vestry. Tho vicar and the organist shall have control of the use of the organ, and in ■ case of disagreement between vicar and the organist, the vestry shall decide the question. Tho Rev. Mr Sola ascertained from the mover that his reference to disputes was to tho control of tho organ. He objected to set up the vestry as a musical authority, for it was in no sense tho master or judge of the clergyman. The matter ought to be decided by the bishop or someone acting in his name. The motion to read a second time was neerntived by 80 votes to 26. Tho Synod went into committee to consider the finance committee’s report, and it subsequently adjourned until-Monday.