ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 4

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

ANWTAL, SESSION. Tmno Day—Wf.dnksdat. The Synod resumed in session yesterday afternoon. The I'rimato (fiishon Xevili] presided over a large attendance. In addition lo Ihosn already announced as being members of the Synod, ihe Veil. Archdeacon Stocker was present. CHI'IICII BEUNIOX. The Very Rov. the Dean moved "The Primate having suggested in his presidential address the constituting of a permanent Committee or commission to utilise any opportunities that limy occur (or conference and intercourse with representatives of other Christian bodies, with a view 10 promoting organic reunion, resolved that the Primate bo requested to nominate at his convenience a commission for this purpose." The Dean said he wished first lo express their satisfaction with l\is Lordship's address concerning reunion, which he had delivered on Monday night. It seemed to him a timely and statesmanlike address, and in true harmony with tho best traditions of the Church.— (Applause.) lie hoped that, there would l:e a discussion on this subject, but it hehoved litem to speak guardedly. The wish for church reunion must be one i hat was dear to Ihe heart of every Christian man, and whatever was said could not hut have a good elft'cl, infiimuch that it would lie a siep further toward.! that. end. 110 was confident thai it would not lie a waste of labour and words to speak on this subject if they approached it in the mill" spirit. There was no church, he ihougnt. thai would conscientiously, demand as a condition of its existence I hat all its adherents he of exactly the same opinion. There could not. be at the present time a wider divergence of views lhau there was on many subjects between members of ilie Apostolic Church; and yet such conditions presented 110 insuparable difficulties to church union. In Ihe old days there were wide divergences of opinion between the Christians, but it was ihe wish of the apostles that such .should form one church. There was do reason why there .should not be one church to-day. There should be no limit to divergence of methods of worship —rather lei the latter be so wide that 1 hoy would embrace and suit the idiosyncrasies of all men. Why should not two Christians worship together even although they supported forms and methods lotallv at. variance? They both belonged to one great religion. In the present state o[ things he saw a deplorablo lack of cohesion. There were in the citv at the pre.-eul time two organisations of young people. One was ilie Students' Association—a body of young and energetic Christians, capable of doing great work, and strong in themselves, yet not associated with any church. Thai organisation might be giving great help to the denomination to which it belonged, and putting rhe enthusiasm of its members into the. work of that church. It was a grievous thing that they should lceep themselves aloof. Then there was the Y.M.C.A., with its brandies all over the world. That powerful hotly, too, might bo associated with the Church, to the lasting benefit of tho latter. Those two cases were an example of the disintegration that was going on beneath their eyes; to, Ihe grievous injury of the Christian or Catholio Church of the community. Anything the Synod might do or say would have a diio effect 011 the general movement, and he counselled them to speak frankly and charitably. The position of the Anglican Church in New Zealand was that its adherents numbered \2 per cent, of the population. The church with the next largest numbers had 23 par cent. It behoved them, therefore, to address themselves to the nextN church—namely, tho Presbyterians. In putting the motion before them he wished to imprest upon them tho fact that tho matter was one of extreme importance. Tho Rev. Mr Snow seconded the motion. There was, lie said, 110 doubt that there was a definite movement towards church reunion. At the same lime titers were great difficulties in the way of what they doii-rcil. The first thing they would have to contend against- would be simply human nature—which meant secular government. Hainan nature was naturally inclined towards secular government. In illustration of this ho would advance the striking fa/.t that while Canada and Australia owned allegiance lo the Mother Country, yeij c:tch retained independence and remained prae.icaly a s-rparate country. Let them suppose that reunion was an accomplished fact—it seemed that all the same tn-e temperamental idea would still come in, and throw people into smalkr organisations. It was nc-ticeab'o ;n all departments of life. ( In art circles, for hsUM)??, little cotcries, each holding- to one opinion, were vwy common. At the present time, were tho great and m-uc-h-dcjire.d change - to) take liiaoe, they would probably find many people in favour of the modem spirit, while others leaned towards antiquity. .Mr Ikrnett- strongly advocated greater activity in the Sunday schools, holding [ that -were the question of reunion understood by the children, there would grow up ' with tho younger generation such a desiro for reunion tha.t in course of time it would 1 be an accomplished fao':. 1 Tho Key. Mr Burgess commented on the t difficulties of the country pastor. Often in , a. littlo village there would be quite a number of different denominations, each weakened by its own isolation, wnorcas were there a united chiuroh it- might I>3 far move efHo:cut. In his district there w-erc three clergymen—the Kouinn Catholic, the Presbyleria.ll, and the Anglican,—and more than half tho pcoplo did not go lo > church at all. At- tho present time the > Church had no claim upon them—cr they : might belong to another denomination,— 1 but if lite Church was united, and codd ; turn to them and ask them directly whether they were Christians or iKalhen. it would J have much mere weight than at the present time. • The Von. Archdeacon Xeild said that what ' Mr ihitgc.s had said naturally drew their 1 attention to the economic aspect of tho ' question. The condition described by him > simply amounted to a. shameful waste of I power and efficiency. A mc.i'o import ant r reason even tliain that, why such a. con- ; dit-ion should i:o decried, was that it could . not be pleasing lo .lent? Christ. They , must all recognise that t hero had been a vr.rv decided change of opinion throughout the British lvmp:'<re on t 1 h:« subject. There was now a. desire for union, but they miwt * move very carefully and very wa.vilv in- * deed. They should .net rush in 1 0 Jhe union f before tln-v kc.v what they wove . Their dream was that not only should tho f Aaglo-Stixon race come together, tut that. 1 tlie whole of Christendom should be united in this great movement. Dreams had come true before.—and it would be pleasing to think that tlm Anglican Cluiivii had been instrumental in draw/nsr together the far Hung portions of Christ i-inky. AHhe pro- ' s?ut time, of course, lliev recognised that there was no possibility of reunion with tho '■ Latin Christianity. That. 1 hough, would ' come in Cod's good lime. In such a union they must be prepared to carder ihe 1 wishes of other <k-u.;>niinations, and yet do nothing lo olfend against Ihe sacraments L . which Christ himself had ordained. The I'rimato expressed gratification that , his address had l:ceii)so kindly received not only by his otvn brethren, but also by theso > outside. Difficulties, he was sure, would present themselves as ' lnic ttC "' 011 > ' ,il ' 3 their duty was to lcok steadily towards 2 the goal of their desire. The motion vwi unanimously carried. 1 AmtHCIATION. 1 Tho Rev. \V. A. 11. Fitchclt moved— . "That, this Synod places on record its high s appreciation of the valuable service rendered to the Church by Mr Charles Ccopcr, of Roxburgh, in tho parish of Dunstan, who, after more than 32 years cf labour, ■ has retired from active work as a, lay reader." He spoke at tonic k-ngi h on tlio ' g'cod qualities of Mr Coojier. and his lcng years of devoted and unwearying devotion 10 tho Church, and his remarks were very oc rdially endorsed by Iho Revs. Ronaklson. I'ynes-Clinton, Bray, and Hcwland, Messrs Talboys and Stal'ham, and the Primate. Tho motion was carried amid applause. THE TENSION' l'Um The Yen. Archdeacon (lottld moved— " Thai, from tho available income of t tho cemetery income account £100 . be paid 10 the clergy, widows, and orphans trust, fund." He said he hoped ' the laymen would realise tho importance I of making this alteration in Ihe regulatioiis. lie repotted to notice thai many II of tho clergy did not have the same intorest ill the fund thay should have. The c amount that would he avilabln fro.ll ccme--0 tery income would be £175 per your, and n this would probably be increased. The ;1 clergy built up the pension fund by contribuiing 10s for every £50 of their incomes, and it was also contributed to by 'J, their parish. If from time to time £100 were added lo tho fund, it would much sooner be a source of benefit to the clergy. I Mr Bentham seconded. He was in r, favour, however, of £150 being paid into e t lie fund instead of £10. The fund v:as 0 ono of considerable importance to the i- ' clergy, and this fact was not sufficiently widely [recognised. a Mr Washer supported this, and the t- archdeacon agreed to amend his resolution.

This was done, and the motion, as amended, was passed. DIOCESAN TRUST BOARD. The Diocesan Trust Hoard reported to tha Synod for the 12 months ending tcmbcr 30 last ,as follows: — Rents and Intercut. —There are no arrears of either rent or interest. The market rates .having risen, there is a slightly better return for loans on mortE Cemetery Fund.—ln aceorilancc with instructions from the Standing Committee £50 Jin; been paid ofi' the mortgage, on ilie Stewart Island properly, and £50 lias tilfo been transferred to credit of the assessment account as ordered b,v the Synod. Bishopric Endowment Land, Invercar{fill.—As the lenses expire next year, the whole position lias been referred to the Bishop, with a recommendation that, the matter be considered by the Synod at its approaching meeting. _ • Annual Jialance.—'The board found it impassible to comply with the request of tlie Synod to balance its books on the 30th of June, 1908, but in future will balance on 31st March, co-tcrminous with tha parishes. The balance sheet, showed the following amounts under liabilities,: —Capital accounts: Jliuvoll trust, £5000; bishopric endowment, £7738 13s lOd; Thcoloffio.il College trust, £203t 2s; Hichavdson trust, £500; general church fund, £3305 16s: St. Paul's Catlrdral trust, £717 lfe; cemetery trust, £2785; Goodwood trust, £200; St. Peter's (Cav.) trust, So. 1, £500 9s lid; St Peter's (Cav.l trust, N'o. 2, £250 Is 6<l; Wuituki Ciiureh and parsonage trust, £712 19s 7d; —total, £23,744 12s lOd. Income accounts: Gocdwocd trust, £56 4s lid ; Uusscll truft, £9 lis 6d; lirighton Kstate, No. 1, £172 lis Id; Brighton Kstate, No. 2. £40 2s 6(1: Tuakiioto property, lis 7<l; furniture account, £8 Is; Wyn:iham section, 18s 9d; Oaniaru sect-ion, £10 lis lOd; See House property. £40:—total, £915 19s 4d. Charges account, 16s Id; It. K. fund, £3 8s 7d; cemetery, £573 Os 6il. Diocesan arcounts: Scaclitf C-hureli building fund, £110 14s sd; Qnmi.-town Church building fund. £1 4s fctl; missions—general £6 Ss fcd, Maori £24 It; .3:1, C'hinese, £14 5? lid; Stewart Maud ship fund, £12; general church fund tone-fifth account]. £26 0-s 9d; clergy widow* and orphans' fund. £808 4s lid; New Cathedral Jtan.nl, £6090 17s lid; New Cathedral foul ' fund, £51 5s 7d; —total, £7145 18s 9d. Grand total, £31,806 10-s lid. Aescte were shown an follow:— Deposits— Post, Oflico Sayings Bank, £2586 16s 6d; debentures, £3000; loans on mortgage, £19,850; Jackson I,rust. £1796; chure-h pioperty. £4478 4s; Oteramilca. sect ion, £l 2s t'd; Saddle Hit! section, 3s 4d; K. Jones, £3 14s 6:1; goncjal church fuu<l (four-fifths account), £4 3d; assessment account, £5 15s 2d; <!incj-san ftt,rn.turo, £6; law costs, £20 15s 7<l; cu?h in National Bank, £5515s lltl;—grand tol-al, £31,GG6 10s lid. Other accounts, printed in detail, disclosed that there was a. sum cf £31,740 fcs 5d on iny-e-stnicivt; that tli-3 bishopric endowment fund incomo account showed, a credit baltincu of £3 8s 7<l; that the Waitaki Church and parsonage account- (Campbell bequest) showed a ercdit lalanco cf £712 19s 7d; the Russell trust account a credit, of £9 lis 6:1; the cemetery incomo account a. ercdit- of £573 03 6d; the Brighton property tNo. 1 account), £172 lis id; No. 2 account, £10 2s ,1x1; the Goodwood trust showed a credit o*f £255 4s Ud; the elcrgy widows and orphans' trust, fund, £608 4s lid; tha new Cathedral building fund, a croclit cf £6jßo 17s lid; the new Cathedral font, fund, a credit of £51 05 7d; the general ctfureh fund (one-fifth account). £26 0s 9d;-general church fund (four-fifths account), a d?bit balance of £4 3s 3d ; the board of Missions, a credit, halancc of £45 lCs Fd j the assessment, account, a. debit balance of £5 15s 2d. Mr Statham moved I,ho adoplicn cf the report and attendant accounts. Consideration of the report was taken in committee, and the motion wa-s carried. STANDING* COMMITTEE. The following were elected members ei the Standing Committee for the ensuing year:—Very Rev. -Dean Fitc'hctt, Veil. ■Arohdcac-ons Gould, Xeild, Richards, amti the ltev. W. Curzon-S-iggcrs, Me.=sis S. Brent, A, A. Finch, C. H. Sfatfiani, W. T. Talhoys, A. Washer, Drs T. If. Ilocken and P. Marshall. TiiKosornr, The adjourned debate 011 the Rev. Mi Snow's motion regarding the spread ol Tlicosophy was resumed. Mr Wiuher movc<l as an amendnieiK— "That the Synod, in view of tl:a spread of Tbeosophie tenet-, calls the. attention of churclnncci to the faoi: that such tenets are opposed to the erred, and formularies of Ik' Church." He thought this, would moot, the-ease more aitisfaclcrily than did the motion. Mr Fleming >Nondcd the amendment, Mr Harnett ?aid he- bad known Dnncdin for 40 yearn, and such nonsense a-s spiritrapping, etc., was always cropping up. If such movements were of God they would endure; if not, they would soon die away. Instead of fighting again;, t- such a movement 'lie strongly urged that -the Gospel be more vigorously preached. The silly women w.ho pursued .such fads as spiritualism and Thccsophy should instead try to got their husba,»do and sweethearts to go to churc-h; he often went there, a:i<l could not' sea a man present. _ What they bad to tight against, was -indifference—the widespread Imbit of trca'ting all things appertaining to the Church with contempt, and living solely for s?lf. Tho \"cn. Arr-hdeaccii. Richards was entirely in accord with what bad j» s -.t been soid Ho deprecated 'tho time- that had already been given to the discussion, and thought they oould not do better than pass to the next business. Mr Washer's amendment (if lie would be pn-rdened for saying to) wns impudent, Kvcty churchman willi a.ny knowledge at all knew that the tenets of Thcos-ophy were opposed to the crccds and formularies of the Church. He moved that they go 011 to tho next business. The motion was carried. AN AMENDMKNT MOVED. Tho Ven. Archdeacon Xeild mov«d— ''Thai in the opinion of this Synod an alteration of Title B, Canon Y, is desirable to allow the election of more than 10 vestrymen if the parishici:-?r-i so desire." 110 said that he had found a wish for such a change in several parishes, ft. was obviously necessary that there should be a minimum, but he saw no reason why there •should l:o a minimum. There were a number of men anxious to take a part in church work, but were prevented from doiiij* so by a ''egulaticn for which lie had never been able to discover any use. Tho Ilev. W. Curzon-Siggers seconded the motion, ]vhich was carried. It was -resolved that the resolution be forwarded to th? General Synod for its favourable consideration. I ftt'XDAY SCIIOOI. TEACHERS. The lic-v. ,1. R. Hewlaml moved iho adoption of tho annual report, of the Diocesan Sunday School Teuelwrs' Union, ol which the following is a precis:--During the last 12. months the union has gone slowly but surely ahead. Last year we had 1G schools affiliated, hut two—namely, X.E.V and Warrington—decided to withdraw, thus leaving us U. The annual examination was held last- November, when iid scholars competed (U schools), of whom 5G obtained first class and GG second class certificates, 4!j passed, and 61 failed. Tin annual meeting was held in March, and was pecrly attended. A splendid paper wa3 given by tlie Kcv. E. L. Woodhousc. The sccoml quarterly meeting war, held in St. Mary's schoolroom, llornington, and was weli attended, Archdeacon Gould giving a good paper 011 " Sunday School Management. 1 ' A special lecture was given in September, in St. Paul's schoolroom, liy Mr Aliniitt, of lioslyn, 011 " Sunday School Teaching by Means of the Blackb:ntd System." This lecturc proved most interesting, inasmuch as it was entire!y / different from anything ever given beiorc. Your committee decided to take the second series of the interdioeesai: lessons for the next two years, and a special effort has been made to get all schools ill the diocese affiliated to the union. Circulars wore sent to somo i! 0 extra schools. The result was not too satisfactory, inasmuch as no answers were received il-om 12 schools. Your committee is taking a deep interest in this work, and we trust that something more will be done for countrj schools. Your committee trusts that a-li clergy will support the union—(l) by prayer, (2) by regular attendance at meetings, (3) by impressing upon teachers the odvisxbilit; of attending all quarterly meetings, and W by urging all soholars to sit for examination." Jfr Hcwland speke in terms of high appreciation of the work of .Mr A. G. H. Holdcraess, tin lion, secretary of the nnion, and of .Mr Statlram, tho examiner, and his remarks wore endorsed by a minibor of other s;>eakcrs. •Tho report was adopted. NOTICES Or MOTION. Rev. G. W. Christian—" Thai this,Syno(: recommend interchange between the clergj on the Sunday following Synod week, and authorise the payment of not more thar £5 from tho one-fifth fund towards ex--I'cnsco." Rev. D. Rankin—" That this Synod place upon record its appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the Church in (110 parish of Quoc-nstown and the provincial district, of Wyndham and Fortrr.ee by Mr Jol-ii I/. Kv.rns, who, a r ter 30 years' faithful service, lias teen compelled by illhe&llh to retire from active work is a layreader, ami thU- a- ec<p; of this resolution be tavrarded vMr 'Ihuia,"

Dr Iloeken— "That the Standing Committee bo directed to inquire into the circumstanccs which prevent St. Matthew's Church being handed over to the control of Iho Diocesan Church Beard, with ,s, view to the same control Icing eH'octe-.' 1 ./'