ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10999, 31 December 1897, Page 4

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Second Day—Wednesday,

The following completes our report of WednesSaj^ sitting:—

BOARD OF MISSIONS. The report of the Board of Missions to the Diocefan Synod fcr the year ended 30th September, 1897, was read as follows :—

The board has been in existence three yearr; and hopes that it has bef ussful in keeping up tbe interest of the diocese in missionary work.

The evangelising the Melanesian Islands is our chief foreign- field of labour. This mission, though it has met with a few drawbacks and disappointments, is making stead}' progress. The Unexpected death of Mi's Welqhman was a great blows jvtst when the Viota institutions ware being started;- but Or Welchinan did not allow his grievous loss te Weaken his energy, and the \>ro=iiects of success are encouraging. In Queensland great and successful efforts are bsinc made to pet at the " boys " aud bring them under Christian teaching WhlUt serving their promised ye.-irs r.f labour. The amount collected in the diocese for this mission has been larger than usual. It was increased by two sums of £30 each, the one subscribed for a new boat to be called Eleanor, in loving memory of the late Miss Wimparis ; the other subscribed in Oamaru for a boat to be colic J the S-lwyn. There have been sent direct m Auckland £33 12s, aud through the diocesan treasurer £2523s7d—iu all £2So 15s7d. Six Sunday schools—St. Luke's (Oamaru),'St. John's (laverorgill), St. John's (lloslyu), St. Paul's, St. Matthew's, and All Saints' (Dunedin)—each maintain n. scholar at Norfolk island, as does ulsn -the St. I'larnabas Ladief.' Guild. The St. Paul's Girls' Guild sent in £20, the proceeds of a sale of work. The late3t .message from the islands is very cheering. It says: "We rejoice to say that at this moment there is not a cloud upon our horizon; everything is well everywhere, and we have more to make us happy than we have had for years. Faith is stronger, missionary fervour greater, lives are .brighter and holier... New schnoU have been planted in heathen districts, and.'oM schools revived. Numbers have accepted the faith, many have bsen baptised, and' some confirmed." ■.-.-•

Maori Mission:—Only £12 lls Id was eontri-. buted to- this fund during the year, and £20----granted from the general church fund. Th« Key. ■Wynter Blathwayt writes that, in ronsequence of the reopening of, the church at Herbert, lie lias beon arde to hold only monthly services at the Moeraki Kaik, save on two special occasions. But tb») great amount of sinknsss amongst the Maoris h«s required him to make many occasional visits. On the Sundays when the vicar is absent Mr Joseph Tipu acts as lay reader. The offertories, it Is proposed, should be appropriated for a time to au c\rgikn fund. ' At Puketeraki Canon Lucas has been hindered by the breaking down .of a bridge from goins regularly every other Sunday. But now ho will he s*ble to resume a fortnightly service, Mr Harry Blathwayt kindly reading the service on the alternate" Sundays.' An. Ainericin organ has been purchased, for the church. The number of the congregation i" fairly kept up. At the Otakou Kaik and the Heads fortnightly services have been regularly hel<U Oauon Richards reports that a .'Sunday school is tau«ht weekly, at which the a'teudance is increasing, there being now about 3(i children on the roll. A confirmation class has been started, and t.b« general interest in the work and services of the church steadily maintained. Mission to the Chinese.—There is a sum of £11 4-i to the credit of this fuu'd. The board hasj had rorre>pnnderice with Mr Cheok Hong Oheone,_of the' Melbourne Oollfg^, about a missionary for Otagci; but, as Mr Gheoug states that th« cost of trainius; such a missionary would be £150 and his subsequent - .maintenance when at work nearly £'200 a year,'.^io board has not felt justified in taking any further uteps in the matter, and can only leave it to the consideration of t.he syno I. _ The board notices with regret that the offertories io behalf of missions lira very small indeed in tlie Diocese of -Unnedin. It may be said in excuse that some of the parishes are weighed down with a heavy "burden of debt, and the stipends of many of the vicars of parochial districts are miserably inadequate. But if the principle of systematic giving were adopted—if every adult member of xhe church would' faithfully and conscientiously consecrate a due portion of Ms income to religions ami charitable purposes—the result would ■he startling. There would be enough and to spire for all pardchjiil and dione-<an needs, and for the help of extra diocasan missions. ; - J. A. Fenton, Hon. Secretary.

The synod thea adjourned till the evening. The sjnod resumed at 7.30 p.m. STANDING COMMITTEE. ' .

The follo-wini; were tkcted the Standing Committee:—Yen. Archdeacon Gould, Rev. Oanpji Lucas, Archdeacon Robinson, Rev..Canon Riohsrds, Ray. F. Mayne, and Hey. Canon Dodds, Mefsrs D'Arcy Haggitt, C. ,S. Stitham, C. C. Graham, Dr Hocken, J. Smith Jan., A. Hamilton, and O. Haynes. WO3IEN IN rAKOCHIAr, GOVEHNJIhNT. Archdeacon Gocm) ; moved—-"That in the opinion of thiß synod such alteration should ba made in the' cauoDS as shall enahle women to eierci.se the same privileges as men in parochial government." In moving the motion Archdeaeou Gould"stated that from time.to.time during This residence in this diocese and *s a, ruemhorof the synod hs had brought forward this motion, and from time to time it had. been defeated. Again, on the advent of the General Synod he brought it forward. Anything that was to be'done to get women the right to take their proper place in the church must be done by the General Synod.: He did nob propose to take up the time of the synod iv bringing forward the old arguments that had. been advanced in favour of this proposal, because no adequate,reasons bad been adduced against those arguments. It came ddwu to this: They had as many women as men interested iv church work, as many women as men who took an active part in church work, and unless any reason could be- advanced as to want of capacity on the p»rt of women to understand the needs of the church, he did not think they had any rigbt to prevent them from taking part in its practical government. What was. wanted was 4hab those who took pari in the church work should be imbued with a deep sense of religion;'-It was thus that lha work of the cburcti would be realised and its mission fulfilled, and he did not think it could be said thatwomeh were less imbued with this religious sense than were men; It had beeu said— rightly or wrongly, he would not like to aay— tbafi ss a body women were more spiritually minded than men, and if so their work would, have the greater influence in the parish. The vestry and the parochial nominators had to look after the whole government of the parish, and they were interested io the general work of the church, and why should women be debarred from more actively patticipiting in the appointment of those to whom this important work, and in which they manifested »o deep an interest, should be'eutcusted? It might be said thatzueh a propos»l was brought forward afc. other diocesan synods and at the General Synod, snd was defeated, but nothing was more difficult to move than the inert mass of ecclesiastical conservatism; Another argument was that women did not want this privilege, as it was styled ; but the church wanted them, and could not do without them. Mr Barnett seconded the motion pro forma. ■He said that some years ago he had taken, up a determined stand on. this point, and be felt j convinced tbab this motion was harmful, and hurtful to women and distressing to the ; church. This motion not only ooul'erred the power of voting on women, biit gave them the powerof usurping men's pkess intae church outside that of the priesthood. He argued that women wire', harming themselves, wrecking the sanctity of home life, the peace of the church, and the stability o£ the State by leaving their own sphere and entering the srea of work a 1 lotted to men. Tbe desire for the emancipitinn of women led women to disdain motherhood and to despise the marriage vowa. He might be asked what, this had to do with the question, and he replied that if they approved of the question they endorsed these principles. , . Colonel Mokius said he would like to point out that at the last Ganeral Synod Sir John Hall made a similar '.proposal as to women voting, and it was lost. He also wished to point out that he wa» in f*vonr of women having a vote-, but their opponents lay amongst the clergy themselves. At the last General Synod 13 of the laity vottd for and six against their having a vote, while fourclergy voted for and 13 against the proposal. Mr FitKDBKiCK Wayhk said that one would judge from Mr BarnoU'a speech that the larliea should take uo part in church at all. The fact was that they did the bulk of the work, and he thought it was an anomaly that .they should not have s. vote. They were the maiu-. stay of the church to ftr as the collecting of j the funds was concerned. I Oancn lajcas sai.l thaS tae mo'.iou did not ■ propose to make women deaconesses or anything of fue sort. The wooiea contributed justf as mush as men to thft church, and why should they be debarred from tbe satne privi-

iigaa as the may. v ." ~, flit- 0. C. Graham saia tiw?wbile fee oorignot vote with Arofidexooa Udiild in this matter, bfl took ex'-'feptiou Jo some of th« oiatribfts^f Mr B»rce»t against-, women. He qaot-ad msbances in ancient Biblical history of women having- been selected by God for poaitious oi responsibilitr, and cited tha position of the Ouean as th« Cfiftd ot the Auglican Church, ?.na who nomiaated tkn. bishops. However, ms oxpwionco W.ts tiiaS if a thing were worta-any-fctliue it was worth asklng-for, and ha did know if the women of the Cfturdi oi Eaglwia had evsr asked for this. Tlie'ltev, Mr Mayne corr<;ccT.tl iir UraJnm, Tbe Queen was oou the, head of l-he churth. S'no might be its, cWciute. Christ was hsaa ot ihe chn'reh.—(Tlear, bear,} ■ MrC JIAYN-VS-'saifl iS loe t-honghk toe women w .,»,. «?e«icous ot T.!iis vote he would bfi :." favonc ofersnlmv it. He would move as au amead-m-r-t iti- orcer to w'ssarUin the fueling or th«

women in this matter—" That confederation of this matter stand over till nost meeting of tne synod, and that in the interim a. plebiscite of the women over 21 years of age be taken in oach parish of this diocese and the result be reported to tbe me.eting of synod." Mr T K. Haety seconded the amendment.

The Rev. Canon Dodd said that it was generally conceded that they could not get on without the women, but he did not think women wanted to go into vestries and fight; out deba.able matters with men. •' , Colonel Moeris thought that if Archdeacon Gould narrowed his motion down to giving women a vote at parish meetings it would be

carried. . ~, Mr Wilson said that women took part m the active administration ol Sunday schools, and male teachers found that they wers never dispo ci to quarrel iv discussions. The PuiSiDEST: Unfortunately.there are few male teachers to quarrel with. Mr Wilson said that a bogey was being raised iv the ei-y of women fighting with lr.eh at vestry meetings. Ha adverted the question being grappled with boldly, and not-stop hslf-. way.iv giviog women privileges. He thought they should not hesitate to accept Archdeacon. Gould's motion, and if they did he thought they would have no cause to regret; theatep. Mr LoOAN had great pleasure in supporting tho motion. Women did a lot of work for tkw churcb, and he thought they should recoenise this work'in the manner indicated by Archdeacon Gould.

Archdeacon Gouid having replied, a robe was taken ou the amendment, which was lost on the voices. A vote was then taken on tha motion, which was declared loot ou the voica3. Archdeacon Gould called for » division, which was takeu, and the voting declared to be For the motion—Clergy, 5; laity, 10. Against;--Clergy, 7; l*ity, 8. The motion was, therefore, declared lost. r

The synod then adjourned till next day.

Third Day—Thuksday.

The Anglican Synod resumed its sitting' yesterday at 4 p.m., fche President. (Bishop Nevill) bticg in the chair.

INVITATION TO A DEJASIATIC PEODDCTIO.V.

A letter was received from the representative of Measi'fi Williamson and Musgrove inviting ths members of the synod to be present at the dramatic production "The S'gn of the Cross " at the Princess Theatre on Friday night.

The President said he pioposed to reply that the invitation would be received with thanks, and that it be left tD individual mem- j ber« of the synod as to whether they should j attend tbe production or not.—(Applause.) A SEE HOUSE. ; The Rev. Dean Fitchh.tt moved—" That in the opinion of the synod it is essential that the sum of £1500 be raised this year ta meet a corresponding sum granted conditionally by Eogliah societies for a see house. That the synod request the following gentlemen to co-operate'with the bishop as a special commission for raising the above sum :—Mr J. M. Ritchie, Mr James Allen,- BI.H R , Mr George Gray 'Russell, Dr Hockfcii, Mr Maris Click,-Mr H: F; Hardy, and the mover." The mover stlitsd thst the synod had iearnb with pleasure that the president had obtained grants for this Object from Home sccietieF. He believed that a condition was attached to the promise of some of these grants, but was not thoroughly informed as to which grants carried the conditions. The President stitad that there was a condition attached to the grant of £500 of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Dean Fitchett said that they might assume then that there was £1000 of grants which were unconditional. At any rate, thera was £500 contingent bn the total sum required bsing obtained. It was the custom of tne S.P.G:, he unde.rstaod, to pay such conditional grants last of all to make it tfce final payment, so that they must either lose this £500 or raise next year the sum of £1500 for tbe purpose of securing property essential to the adequate equipment of the diocese. He had fixed upon tba sum mentioned in the motion because inquiriei had led r to the fact being elicited that a suitable sita or propsity could not be obtained under £3000. He believed thafc the church people of the diocese would understand that thJ3 matter could not be swept aside, and he had put the motion on the order paper as a result of a; conversation he had had with Mr James Allen, who wa3 distinctly of opinion that this1 should be raised this year. Mr Sinclair Thomson ako agreed tD hllow his name to be placed on the list, while he would like to see Mr James Smith, jun., a member of the commission. What was wanted was to get; a commisaion outside of the synod altogether who would undertake the responsibility of carrying this matter to a successful issue. He had not; been able to speak to Mr Ritchie, who was chairman of the Diocesan Trust Board and had the handling of all the finances, but he believed that Mr Ritchie would consent to act on the commission. He mentioned these facts to show that there was really a disposition on the part of leading churchmen to rise to the occasion and secure this object. If they lost tbis chance of securing £500 it would bj an everlasting scandal. Something out of. the ordinary routine must be done to impress upon the :people the necessity of waking up and making a decided effort to raise the necessary sum. -If they did>not raise tbe amouat"ib would simply-mean'that they were refusing £501). '• •' ' . ..'.

The President said that, turning tbe matter over in his mind when Dean Fitchett wss speaking, be thought that the condition made by the Society for the Propagation of tbe Gospel was that the amount muafc be asked for by the end of 1898. He thought that the Colonial Bithoprit: Council made the same condition, while the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge made its. grant on the usual conditions, which were that it must bo claimed within five years.'

Mr Ha'ynes seconded the motion, and sug-' gested tbaS the mover add toit " that the comiaiH»ion have power to add to their number." ' The names of Messrs Sinclair Thomson and James Smith, jun., were s'dded to the list, and the suggestion of fllr Haynes accepted. The motion was then carried. GENERAL.

Mr C. H. Statham moved (on behalf of Archdeacon Gould, who was unavoidably ab«ent) —" That the General Synod be asked so to altar title B, canon 1,, that clerical and lay representatives to the Ganeral Synod msy be ekcted by tho diocesan synods."—Csnon Dodo seconded the motion, which after a discussion was carried on the voices.

On the motion of Mr C. H. STATHAMjt was resolved—" That the offertories on the first Sunday ia January, 1898, from every pirish aad parochial district throughout ths dioease be paid to the dioeasan. treasurer, to be placed to the credit of the bishopric endowment fund capital account." i On the motion of the Rev. C. 5. Bowdes' it was resolved —"That Mr C. H. Stathnm •be appointed diocesan treasurer for the eqsaing year, and that the appointment of -diocesan secretary ba left in the hands of his Lordship the Bishop. ■ ■' v '■ * . Mr O. H. Statham moved—" That the assessments levied upon tbe parishes and parochial districts for the year ending June 30, 1898, bs at the same rate as last year."—. A slight discussion ensued; and it was agreed 4o defer consideration of the question till the evening, wbnn the accounts and the reports of the Trust Board and treasnrer should be considered. .-' THE ELECTORAL ROI/t. The Ray. Dean Fitchett moved the report of the committee appointed to examine the electoral roll and report whether the nama of Colonel Morris was or was not upon it. Thereport was as follows :-" (1) We find that the i name of Colocel Morris is written on the rell under the head of Waikouaiti; (2) a pan has been drawn through the came ; (3) no mitiah or other marks are attached showing that the 1W was drawn through the nama by a person ! having authority to do co ; (4) the committee i considers that the mere drawing of a pen (through the name does not remove it from the ! roll and find unanimously that Colonel Morris s I name is «till on the roll; (5) the committee feel i compelled to draw attention to the great Isxity | that has prevailed iv the past in the compiling, revising, ami custody of tbe electoral roll." The syuod adjourned at 5 50 p.m. The synod resumed s.t 7.30 p.m. and went 1 into coimnitwe to consider the "acsounts.

BKPOBT OF THE DIOCKSAN' TRUST BOAKD ami of the. riiocesan treasurer. The report contained tee following clauses .—

With the exception of that due by Port Chaljaers ai:<! Palineraton, all interest lm beeu paid. U'he'board once more calls the attention of synod to the pTiiicijwl 'and interest owiag by these vestries, and aak< ailvica as to what i3 to he done. Owing to the great fall iv the rates of interest, the income from the various trust funds must clirumisii considerably, i-i<pe(:ially as the board has bad several mortgage* paid lip, and finds a d'Sculty iv ruicvestinir, eveu at the present low I>BAs Vne boird has so fund from whinh to pay the costs of tranafcrritts: church, properties to it, it will he necessary that in all cases where it is deemed advisable to vest properly in the board the cost Of transfer siiouM be prepaid. In " aoconi&EM with instructions from the StandingI 'Committee, a schedule of all properties the di'.ecis of which are ici the board's possession ia bein^: prepared; It is satisfactory to know that out of 50 parishes and parochial .districts only six are in arrears; and one of these is paying up by arrangement.

The following: resolution* curried in committeft were, adopted in open synod :—l. " That the schs'ialft of church vro-pccV.ius pres!»atP. i by tho DiPtvssii Teueb Boarrl be priatfid with tbe p'rooeediusjs of too syuod ; that tbe Standing Committee be empowered to inquire into the tshole matter, an:l to inkp. such steps as to thorn iuav,.a«em ailyisabl.e ts protect the interests of tihechurch/' 2. '"T-liat thi« committee recommends thai; the synod should instruct the board to take such steps ss may lie dsemod uecss-^ary to tava arieirs of interest ilue by Port

iSAr,r,E3.ON FIRE. ISAF.IES BURNING UP, /iih itching' and burning eczemas, anrt -otnei i.-.iT.ui-i«ir,'."-is!sfisfulL iiig «I£> U !iud scalp mnuours. k-,,>- bnr. n.otW icalise lio.v those littls. oaes snl»'-*!>i'fi tiieivtennsr skins iire literal!v on are. ;I'o''ceow Mint a warmlwUi with CiiTicuni Soai» au'l a single iinoinring wit.U,QvTrc:UHA, rmreir. at emollients '*£ 3, k1? , mlT' r iT'i=i th« m^WtV.',,f. ckw afford mUani vpli-:!. Uvmitr^Sa* $©> t .to both child acl pw»H«;l! jioint i.-> a 'jpce.ivf c.uri!, sus'l not to_u^s ii>«n« •• '"'■ i »««^ygg^f*|~***~ ■^•.."■TtW^i^mr^BTO^^^^ 20,000 Badflicg Plants, includiug Astets, ~i" -cf vo«H SitVnlv "f vhwta.l but of mental Ph i ol , C o S wo ? , Stooi», Lobelw. Cowops.-, si'ii'»riii.' by retsoii-nf tiarsoual ilijik'uromeut, ; J^ar j 4 - U id?, Dianth'iß, Gaillardia, Is per oozen. -itUled to b.-idilv toi-hus.' "Oaves made in lnlauc.y ; q^^, for g g pog j; i- ree so country.—NiMMO asd J rKildhoo";! aivs n^ody, ycmaneui-, an>t . Diinct'.iu.—Advt

Chalmers and Palmerston vestries paid off, and that a copy of this resolution bs forwarded to the respective vestries." DIOCESAN NOMINATORS. The synod then procaeded to elect diocesan nominators. After a billot the following clergy were elected : —Archdeacon Gould and Canon Richards. Mesßrs A. Hamilton and G. Joachim were elected the lay nominators without recourse to vote. , BOARD OF MISSIONS. On the motion of C&nori Richards, the raport of the Board of Mis: ions was adopted and printed with the proceedings b£ the synod. ASSESSMENTS. Mr C. H. Statham moved, and it was seconded —" That the assessments levied upon tho parishes and parochial districts for the year I ending June 30, 1893, be at the same rate as j last year." j The Bey. Ds»n Fitcjiett moved, as an ' amendment —" That the Standing Committee ! be empowered to fix the assessment at such rates Irs will permit one-half of the salary of the seciyretir'y.ot the Trint Baard to be chfttged to the ] (lasfeVaraetit fnnd." y'~ Mr Graham seconded the amsndment, which sVwas cßiTied on the voices. t:. IIIEPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE. The standing orders for the evening were then suspended, and ..,-.' The Hftv. De&n Fitchrtt moved the adoption of the report of the committee appointed to deal , with the question as to whether Colonel Morris's came had or had nov been removed from the roll. In reply to the President, the Dean said that there was no evidence forthcoming as to who erased the name from the roll. The motion was seconded and adopted. It was agreed to print; the report with the proceedings of the synod. . Ori the motion of Canon Richards, it waa decided to instruct'ihe Standing Committee to revise the roll. '■'■•' Mti Hatnes stated that in view of the report of tfte'.committes dealing with the erasure of Col&M Mprtjis's. name from the,electoral roll he jrtfuld move to.the effect that fche election at wfiiclf^Goloagl Morris's nomination ,wss irefuse(J;'b« cj.eolared invalid, and step's be taken to hold>ft fr^*b election. The President stated that- he did not think there was sufficient time to permit of anotherelection. - Colonel Morris said he did not desire another election. He had attained his object by having the' informality atteaded to.— (Applause.) '.'."'' .-■ The motion was therefore not proceeded with.

AS!3ESSOBS OF BISHOP'S COURT.

The President stated that by. the effluxion of time the assessors of Bishop's Couct had become furicti officio, and it was bis duty to nominate others in their place. He nominated the following:—Dein Fitahetr, Archdeioon Eobinson, Canon Richards.. Be*. 0. S. Bowden, Archdeacon Gould, Rev. CurzonSiggcrf, Messrs J. M. Ritchie, A. Mari« Clark, C. H. S'atham, G. Joachim, James Al'ep, and H. Mander. ■ : ..-. .: ••- ■

■The no'minstions were agreed to, ' .■ :: . THANES. -• ■. -

Vutes of thanks to the Athecjeum Committee, the Ofcago Chess Club, the Or-ago Club, and Messrs Williamson and Musgroye for. their courteous invitations to members of the: synod, and to the press were carried. The President also took occasion to thank the lay readers; of the diocese for theic valuable services. ■■..-■'■-. BOAKD OF MISSION. ; On the motion 01 the Key. O. S. Bowden the following were appointed a board of mission for the ensuing year: — Rev. Canon Richards, Yen.' Archdeacon Robinsou, Messrs I 'Joachim, Wilson, Sfcathara, and the mover. ■ THE PRESIDENT'S HETORN-. _ . ".' Mr Logan, on behalf of country t'riejidj, expressed deep regret'at their not being:able to personally participate in the greetings which wera extended to his Lordship on the oec*sioa of his return from' Europe, bub although they were not able .to'bis present they endorsed the sentiments everywhere expressed on that occasion. The Peesidest expressed his gratification at the nature of the utterances made, by Mr Logan, and stated that he felt,that the exceedingly vrarni demonstration which -greeted his return was a reflex.of the feeling of those in the country districts.—(Applause.) On the motion of Mr Statham, Beconded by Mr Barnett (both of whom spoke <in congratu-. lafcory terms of the safe return of. the president from-Burope and the beuefici»i efEects fchatliis trip would have upoa the diocese as a whole),; the following resolution was adopted:—" Thac j this synod congratulate hi« Lordahip the Bishop on the safe return of himselt and Mrs Nevill to New Z ;aland and upon the success of his efforts on behalf of the diocese.". -••■.-. ~ The Peesidest hayiDg thanked the meiflbsrs. of 'synod for the attention they had bestowed upou the business .brought befcre-them,;' " :.... j The proceedings terminated with the bene-^----diction. . : ..■-■■. . ■-. : - '-.".'. ■' "*