A MAODI SYNOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 120, 4 April 1862, Page 3

A MAODI SYNOD.

Not the least interesting and important of the fruits of Synodical action in New Zealand has been the holding of a Maori Synod. In the admirable address delivered by the Primate (Bishop Selwyn) at the recent opening of the General Synod at Nelson, occurs tlie following passage. " With feelings of thankfulness I report that a Synod has been held in the Diocese of Waiiipu, which was attended by two English clergymen, three native ditto, and nineteen lay synoesmon (natives), in which, all the proceedings were conducted in the New Zealand language." This is a fact which would be interesting at any time, for we believe that it is without parallel in the previous history of the Church of .England, but at the present juncture it seems to carry with it a peculiar significance In the first place it looks like a happy oincn of peace. Two years ago we were at open war with* large section of this people; less than a year ago,we were thought to be on the verge of a life and death struggle with the wholerace; we may surely regard it then as a token that the waters of the flood are abated, when ire see three months ago, an English Bishop presiding over a Synod attended by two English and three native clergymen, and by nineteen native laymen, the proceedings being conducted throughout in the Maori language. Then again, when the important experiment is being tried of introducing Native liunangas presided over and directed by English Commissioners, and when so much depends on the successful training of this intelligent people' to a gradual understanding and valuing of English institutions, it is most encouraging to find that the problem has been successfully solved in an assembly of a similar kind, held in the very heart of the country ; the thing can be done, for it has been done ; an example has been set, and a step has been gained in the education of this whole people. Lastly, this event affords an indication that Christianity has grown into the common life of this people jit is no longer a novelty, a romance, an excitement; it has become a settled principle—a pervading influence. Nothing that we have previously read has so strengthened in us the hope that this fine race may yet be preserved from decay, may be disciplined in time to a higher civilisation, and may finally be amalgamated, not with the offscourings of society, as a reverend canon courteously terms us, but with a vigorous offset of the Anglo-Saxon race. _ Some of our readers may, perhaps, think that we are making too much of this AVaiupu Synod. Was it a reality, they will ask, or only a sham ? A little'solemn conjuring, perhaps, performed by the Bishop and the two English clergymen before an admiring audience of select disciples. We are fortunately in a position to satisfy them that such is not the case. We have before us a copy of the " Proceedings of the First Diocesan Synod ; of the Diocese ©f Waiupu" (Nga Mahi a to Hinota Tuivtki o te Pino patanga o Waiupu), published at the. Cathedral Press, Auckland, in Maori and English. We proceed to give. a brief sketch of its contents. The Synod met at Waerengaakika, Turangi (fortunately it is not necessary to remember the name of the. place) on the 3rd of December last, and sat for three days. The general form of the proceedings was precisely the same as that observed in our English Synods. After Divine Service, the Synod assembled at the school-room; the Bishop opened the proceedings with prayer; five clergymen and nineteen, synodsmen answered to their names ; the Bishop then declared the Synod to be duly constituted, and proceeded to read a plain and practical opening address of no great length. A few extracts from this document will be found interesting. It commences very simply thus : " Our Saviour has said that the kingdom of heaven is hko a grain of mustard seed ;it is small in size, but as it grows it becomes large. Formerly there was neither worship of God in this country nor faith, but now they arc on the increase. If man is living alone in a spacious country, and his cultivations are injured, or consumed by animals, he does not feel the want of laws and regulations, because he is alone. But when a community is enlarged, laws are required for many things. So it is with the Church. As the members increase in different places, a necessity for laws is felt for the regulation of variois matters, and it becomes desirable that those laws should be uniform." Such a simple statement of first principles is truly refreshing. The Bishop proceds to , speak of the fis'rt meeting of the General Synod, and to explain the business transacted thereat. " The Synod of this Diocese therefore " (thus he ends this part of his subject) "is assembled under the authority of the General Synod." Then he proceeds, "It is now twenty-five years since thp Gpspel was first introduced to this .part of the island, and by God's blessing His word has prevailed and prospered, but with yaried success, in different places. The duty which devolves upon us is, to notice such parts of our system as may be defective, and to endeavor to provide the remedy. Letour endeavors be begun, continued, and ended in God, that His holy name may be glorified, and that we ourselves may receive a blessing." Then he sets before them the special work which have to; do. " One of the first matters which demand our attention is to fix upon some systematic course for the erection of churches. In some parts of the diocese good churches have been erected, and in those places the congregations are assembled regularly, and a corresponding order in respect of other parts of Christum duty is found to prevail There are districts again without any suitable place of Worship, Jj^.^af^J!;

about religion. The tree is known by its fruits. Let the churches which have been erected servo as si stimulus to those tribe 3 which- have not as yet been stirred up to exertion." Then with regard to the ministry. " When the church is built, the next consideration is the parson who i to officiate within it. The worship of God among ihe natives had its beginning with the foreigner, who wns sent hither by the chnrch tit thfi other extremity of the earth.. It was after the example of the Apostles, who went forth among all uati >ns under the command of Christ. In those early days when the Gospel was received, the Apostles were wont to ordain elders in every city, to whom was committed the care of these infant churches. Such lias been the course followed among all nations who have embraced Christianity. When the people have turned to God and believed, persons have been instructed from among themselves who should become pastors of the church." This is the most hopeful sign we have seen for the native church of the future, this steady progress towards the building- up of a native ministry. " This is the peculiar work," continues the Bishop, " which is going on at this place, at Turanga. It is the work of instruction and preparation, the object proposed being that chosen men should be sent forth as teachers of the people. Let U3 persevere then until the end is .attained, until every district shall be supplied with its pastor; then it is to be hoped, that the people generally will become more attentive to their religious duties. If the faithful shepherd is in charge of the sheep they will not bo devoured by the wolf. Up to the present time four nativo clergymen have been set apart for the ministry in this diocese." The Bishop then proceeds to lay down the necessity of some systematic provision for the maintenance of the Ministry, " that their attention should not bo distracted by the business of the world, but that they should be so disengaged as to be able to teacli the old and young, and to attend upon the sick. To this end a regulation has been laid down, that, if the inhabitants of any district wish to have a clergyman of their own, they must collect money as a means of his support. That money is to bo invested, in order that a yearly income . may be derived from it." There arc other interesting passages in the address, but our extracts have already exceeded the length wo intended. Two secretaries have been appointed, one an English clergyman, the other a native layman, the Synod resolved itself into a Komiti (committee) for the consideration of its Standing Orders (Nga tikanga ncs te mahi). On the second day, several resolutions were proposed and seconded indiscriminately by English and native members, and in particular three select committees were appointed, all of them composed chiefly of natives, the first for the consideration of the appointment of a standing commission, and the duties to be delegated to it; the second to consider the expediency of marriage fees and other church dues ; and the third (consisting of the Bishop and five native laymen) to consider what steps should be taken for the maintenance of the clergy. On the third and last day the reports of these committees were read, and parts of them adopted ; the Standing Commission was appointed, some interesting resolutions were passed, especially the following : " That collections be made annually in < very part of this diocese, for the purpose of sending the Gospel to those who are in ignorance of it." After which the President delivered a short address, and closed the business of the Synod by pronouncing the Benediction. An extract from the report of the Committee on the maintenance of the clergy will be interesting to our readers. In the first place they state their cordial agreement to the proposal of the Bishop, that every tribe wishing .to have the services of a clergyman should first collect an Endowment . Fund of not less than £200. Then they proceed : " Tha Committee further recommend that the rule which has been laid down on behalf of the teachers shall also be adopted in the case of clergymen, namely, that the natives who form the charge of the . clergymsn shall assemble every Friday, when required, to cultivate food for their clergyman, in order that he may have leisure to attend to his proper duties." The Committee, lastly, lays before the Synod " the aceouut of those moneys which havebesn collected up to the present time." A list of places with the amount collected at each is appended. The total amounts to no less than £1004 12s 3d, including £257 10s 6d for the Bishop's Endowment Fund, to which a note is added, that " this fund is reserved towards the permanent endowment of the bishopric, not being required during the lifetime of the present •Bishop. God speed good Bishop Williams and his Synod, for they seem to have entered honestly and heartily, and in all good simplicity, into a good, sound, Christian work, and one of immense importance, beyond their own immediate sphere.