Anglican Synod.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5206, 12 February 1892, Page 4

Anglican Synod.

(by telegraph.) Wellington, February 10. At this afternoon's sitting of the Synod the following motion was proposed by the Dean of Christchurch : "That the Synod regard with anxiety the present state and prospects of Christianity among a large portion of the Maori population, and earnestly commend to the sympathy and intercession of Christians throughout New Zealand the efforts which are being made for the recovery of those portions of the country which have lapsed from the faith." The debate on the motion was interrupted' by the 0.45 adjournment. Speaking to the motion on grants being made out of the funds of the General Christchurch Trust to the deficient bishopric endowments, Archdeacon Dudley (Auckland) commented strongly upon the unsatisfactory position in which most of the bishopric endowment funds stand. He said that none of the bishoprics, with the exception of Christchurch, were adequately endowed, and it was a reproach and a scandal to the Church that when a see became vacant it was necessary to look around for a man possessed of private means, and, in fact, to make his wealth one of the principal considerations. At the Synod to-night, the motion for the second reading of the Bill to make additions to title' B, canon second, in order to provide for special Maori lay representation in diocesan synods, was negatived. A SCENE. Wellington, February 11. A scene occurred at to-night's sitting of the Synod. The Synod had just adopted certain resolutions re trust property, which had been passed in committee, when the Rev. A. R. Fitchett (Dunedin) rose with a copy of the standing orders in his hand. He had got as far as saying that he desired to make a personal explanation, when the Primate, rising hastily, interrupted him by stating that lie could no permit the order of business to be interfered with by any extraneous matter. He therefore called upon the Dean of Christchurch to proceed with the motion for the second reading of his Bill, which was the next, order on the paper. Mr Fitchett pointed out that he was acting in conformity with the standing orders. The Primate again interrupted, and said if Mr Fitchett had anything to bring forward he might give notice in the ordinary way. Mi* Fitchett asked leave to read standing order 19, which he submitted would make his position clear. The Primate ordered the rev. gentleman to sit down. If not, he himself would leave the chair. After considerable argument, in which other members of the Synod took part, the Primate said lie would adjourn t-lie Synod at once unless the Dean of Christchurch went on with his motion. The Dean of Christchurch accordingly proceeded with his Bill, when Bishop Nevill, of Dunedin, immediately stepped down from his seat and passed into the retiring room, unrobing as he went through the Svuod chamber. He was immediately followed by Mr Fitchett and the rest of the clerical and lay representatives of the Diocese of Dunedin, amidst the applause of a section of the Synod. The Bishop of Christchurch and Sir John Hall followed, and about half an hour afterwards Bishop Nevill, Mr Fitchett, and the other members from Dunedin re-appeared in the chamber and resumed their seats. Business, in the meantime, had been going Oil. At the Synod this afternoon, the select committee on funeral reform brought up the following report :—" That this Synod observes with satisfaction that there is in many places a growing tendency towards greater simplicity at funerals, and urges upon the clergy and Christian people crenerally the imjiortance of using their influence in that direction." The Bishop of Auckland moved that the Synod adopt the recommendation of the Diocesan Synod of Auckland, namely, that the General Synod do memorialise tlie House of Legislature that provision be made in the Education Act for the daily recital of the Lord's Prayer by the children of public schools. The subject was debated at considerable length. The Bishops of Christchurch and Dunedin spoke against the motion, which they regarded as inexpedient. Eventually the motion was withdrawn. February 12. The representatives of the Diocese of Dunedin held a meeting yesterday afternoon, at which they resolved to take steps to vindicate, in some way, the Rev. E. S. Howell (one of their number). The explanation the Rev. Mr Fitchett tried to make at the Synod last night when the "breeze" occurred was in reference to this matter. The meeting was held to consider the fact of the Primate having issued an inhibition against Mr Howell being allowed to preach in any church in this diocese.