ANGLICAN SYNOD.

Otago Witness, Issue 1875, 28 October 1887, Page 17

ANGLICAN SYNOD.

The third session of the seventh Anglican Synod of the Diocese of Dunedin was opened on Tuesday afternoon. In connection with the synod there was a celebration of the fcply communion, in St. Paul's pro-Cathedral, by the bishop and the Yen. Archdeacon Edwards. The meeting of the synod was held in theChamber of Commerce Hall, Bond street, at 4 o'clock. The roll was read by the Rev. H. J. Davis, in the absence of the secretary, and the following were present :— Clergy : His Lordship the Bishop, Yen. Archdeacon Edwards, Revs. Dr Belcher, T. F. Dodds, F. C. Platts, B. M. King, A. Gifford, H. J. Davis, G. Fynes-Clinton, F. E. Watson, W. Cruden, Q. Bacon, and A. R. Fitchett. Laity: Messrs G. H. Ashcroft, J. Ashcroffc, W. Black, G. S. Brodrick, S. Brent, W. B. Boyd, W. H. Churton, G. B. Eliott, A. D. Lubecki, S. E. M'Carthy, E. EJ. C. Quick, G. A. Reade, G. G. Russell, J. L. Shaw, H. E, Williams, H. M'Kenzie, and General Fulton.

president's address. Bishop Nevili, delivered the following address to the syaod : — Deah Brethren of the Clergy and of the

Laitt —

In the present phase of things thechuro'h,not having yet accomplished her task of bringing all into the sweet captivity of obedience to Christ, her work has to be viewed in two aspects—external and internal. The first relates to that por-

tion of society which either ignores or only partially acknowledges her influence ; the second to that part which professedly accepts the head of the church as the head of human society, and His laws as the proper rules of life. But practically these divisions of society, commonly spoken of as the world and the church, cannot act separately so as to allow their different principles of action to be contrasted by their results ; they are only mingled elements of the one body politic, which is affected variously as the principles of the one element or of the other are in the ascendent.

I am aware that a third view is contended for by some— viz., that as no portion of humanity is left without the operation of divinity upon It, the division of the church and the world ia artificial and presumptuous, and that the voice of man, expressing itself in an authorised manner, is to be regarded as divine. To this I would reply that the question is not as to the universality of some operation of God upon men individually, but as to the conscience yielding of the individual man to God, so that he wishes both to guide himself by God's laws and to be instrumental in the establishment of their sway. I fear wo caunot predicate this of a large proportion of what is called the world.

These remarks are introductory to the question of what is a churchman's duty in regard to politics? or, putting the question somewhat differently, ought the church to have anything to do with politics?— a question which has been heard publicly of late, and which must have addressed itself in some form to many of our minds in considering what ought to be our own action at the recent elections. The principles I have just touched upon afford,

think, a clue to the proper answer to this ques-

tion. The church, I have said, regards Christ as the head of human society. Has He, then, afforded us any guidicg principle on such a point? Undoubtedly He has. The whole scope of His redemption means that "the earth is the Lord's, with the fulness thereof; the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein." We must never narrow down this wondrous scheme to the mere salvation of our own souls from hell; it means that "though we see not yet all things just under Him," that He will at length " subdue all things to Himself." But if you desire something more direct and explicit than an argument like this, then

I say take the very words of Christ Himself ; take them in that unfathomable fulness of philosophy, as well as spiritual truth, which pervades them, and makes them always applicable as efficient rules of life. Why does He say to the members of His church "Ye are the salt of the earth," if He does not mean that the principles of His religion are to be applied even to what we are pleased to call secular affairs ; in fact, to all the problems and relations of life? Why does He say that if the salt have lost its savour it is only fit to be cast out, unless He means that if the church does not use her influence to purify the whole bodj politic she is not fulfilling her mission, and may expect rejection? And yet people say : " Oh, yes, she is to use her influence upon the body politic, but not politically." What do they mean? If they mean that the clergy and religious laity ought not to be mixed up with disreputable combinations and compacts for the promotion of personal or party ends, 1 say " Certainly ; neither should anyone else." I might go a step further, and say that if such a thing existed in this country as a legitimate party organisation — such as formerly, at all events, was the case in the Home Parliament — it would be by no means desirable ;that the church, as an institution, or the vast majority of church people in the aggregate, should be found on one side — always supposing that the great distinctive principles of either party were themselves legitimate aspects of

truth. But if they mean that themwi who fears God, and is before all things etoa an obedient subject of the kingdom of GMst, is on that account to abstain from thq Zeroise of his individual rights and rospo^SbiUties a 8 a member of society, such a notion is manifestly absurd ; but if anyman, whecher cleric or layman, is kept back by euch an - jdea f rom the legitimate use of his influence a^ a man o f religion, Ido not think it toomucD •cq pronounce that such a withdrawal is m its r^ture towards God traitorous, towards nis ow* n conscience unjust, and towards his fellow creatures injurious. I know very well that many religionists) and teven church people, will absolutely, perhaps strongly, repudiate this application of religion to common life, and others, who go not so far, say that practically they cannot carry it out. Both these classes of persons might put such a case as this. They «ayt "Here is one candidate for my suffrages who has no religion, and whose mere morality I don't very fully trust, but he pledges himself to support a measure which will be to my interest; while another candidate, not nearly so clever, and who does not support the particular measure 1 desire, is, nevertheless, God-fearing and conscientious." Now, such a caso as this is supposed to show the foolishness of acting on religious principles in such a matter as the election of a member of Parliament ; but it does not do so, unless, indeed, some temporary and personal advantage— should it accrue— is to bo preferred to the general well'being, for you have to take into account the existence of an Omnipotent and perfect Moral Governor, who, by the very necessities of His Nature, if one may bo speak, as well as by his expressed determination, connects, in the long run, security with righteousness, and conf usion with the most cunning devices of the wicked. Our church, as an organisation, has been and is most careful to avoid interference with the private judgment of her members upon political questions. A comparison of her conduct with that of other na'tteious bodies in England will make this strikingly apparent. It must, however, be remembered that in England she looks to her bishops, who have seats in Parliament, to be the exponents of her views and the defenders of her principles; and this no doubt accounts to a large extent for tho difference of conduct to which I have alluded. The church in a colony has no official opportunity of raising her voice in the government of the country, yet it is manifest that a great deal of legislation mußt affect her people, and therefore herself, morally and even spiritually, and that to a very marked degree. Is the church by silence to appear indifferent ? Public action is very farreaching. It is a matter of common observation that wholesale borrowing on the part of a government is speedily imitated in lesser circles, and affects the habits of private individuals. How many sermons will it take to correct the evils of an unwholesome bankruptcy law ? What shall we say as to questions which act still more directly upon the spiritual condition of the p t>ople--a8 education, and the laws of marriage and divorce? A living church cannot be apathetic on such vital matters: they too closely affect her life, and theretore the extension or diminution of the Kingdom of God on earth. If, then, the church perceive her danger and her duty, I return to my question : In what way can she act ? I reply that there is at least one way in which she may surely act legHimately and effectively, and that is by means of her synods. I take it to bo a proper function of the synods to work out and somewhat formulate a policy for the assistance of 'the whole body on such subjects as I have indicated. I say for the assistance of tho whole body, for, ■while the church will never dictate to her members, she may surely believe that a large number of her children earnestly desire her guidance, and to such a resolution of the synod clearly expressing the mind of the church through her representatives upon subjects affecting her interests will prove of no small value. Many desire to bo faithful to the policy of their church ; it is a duty she owes to such to let them know what her policy— i.e., her judgment as to what is best upon important subjects— is. Again, if our church is to enjoy her legitimate influence in the councils of the nation, it is necessary that she should both know her own mind and present her convictions in a form sufficiently concrete to enable others to know it too. No politicians can afford to ignore very long the settled and earnest convictions of an influential portion of the community. It is of use to our rulers to know our mind, and I think it is our duty to inform them upon it. I shall bo charged with a desire to turn our synods into political organisations, and so to repudiate such a charge by anticipation, I repeat that the church has nothing to do with the tactics of poverty, nor with the plans of politicians as euch, but inasmuch as her power to execute her mission if inovitably affected for good or for evil by political action, it is for her both to watch that action and to declare in what way it affects her, and this not only as a ducy to herself, but also to the many political personages— perhaps even outside of her own pale — who respect her objects and have no desire to cripple her usefulness. RESPONSIBILITY OF SYNOPSMKN AND PERMANENT IMPORTANCE OF SYNODS. I trust th« members of tho synod will pardon my reminding them ot the very serious responsibility which this view of their functions presents. It becomes imperative upon them to get below that. mere surface view of things with which tho most of our people are content. If they are to represent tho church's views upon vital questions, they must first inform their own minds upon them. Reading, inquiry, and thought are needed to do this ; and to burst through those patent sophistries which meu, from sheer mental laziness, bandy about or hastily adopt wilh reference to tho most profound principles. You will see that this view also invests our synods with a very high and permanent importance, I point out this because I notice that some think that, because we have now to a large extent passed the legislative stage of our church history, the synods will lose in interest and importance, and soon cease to attract our best men into them. For my -part, I can only rejoice at the lessening necessity for new statutes, if we are happy in calling forth the intelligent interest of our syuodsmen in the church's external relations and internal work. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. The question of religious education in schools is at the present time by far the most prominent illustration of the importance of the course I have advocated. Past discussions have done much to create an intelligent church opinion upon the subject. We don't hear so much rubbish talked about our beautifully symmetrical one-sided secular system, because, having inspected it a little more closely, people have begun to discover that it is one-sided, and therefore not symmetrical. I daresay ere long ib will not bo considered so gloriously free as its admirers would ha\e us think, inasmuch as we pay roundly enough, though it may be indirectly, for it. On this point, however, Ido not desire to say much, if only because such a point belongs more properly to the Stato; and the church has no desire, so far as I am aware, to assume an antagonistic position, or even to exhibit any jealousy towards the State in the education question, but rather to co-operate for the welfare of the whole community. The profound conviction of

our church is that our present educational system is based upon the fatal mistake that the mere communication of secular knowledge is sufficient to produce all that can be desired in the character and conduct of the people of the land) and it becomes the duty of the church, under such circumstances, to insist that this will not be the effect of such a course. Perhaps I shall be informed that an authoritative exponent of the present system has admitted that a certain amount of moral virtue is desirable, and that he has recently pronounced, as a philosophic oracle, the astonishing declaration that the proper basis of morality is sympathy and the love of truth, which is much like saying that morality must stand upon itself, or, if sympathy and the love of truth are, on this authority, to be regarded as something outside of the realm of morals, we are condemned to the unfortunate position of those who, believing that Atlas supported the world on his shoulders, were left to wonder continually upon what Atlas himself might stand. Seriously, the church dare not leave the people in the misery of such hopeless confusion. She knows that sympathy and the love of truth spring from Him who is Love itself and the Truth, and, as they have no other origin, they oan have no other resting place. I lay upon the table f and commend to your notice, a resolution of the Synod of Wellington upon the subject of religious education, together with a form of petition to Parliament, drafted by the Standing Committee of that diocese in accordance with the instructions of the synod. INTERNAL AFfAIBS— GEN2RAL REVIEW.

Passing to internal affairs, though we have still to lament the prevalence of much indifference, I am deeply thankful to be able to speak in terms of Borne satisfaction as to the condition of the diocese generally. I allude more particularly to its religious condition. The eye of a human overseer indeed can penetrate but a little way in such an inquiry, but my correspondence with the clergy and others, as well as my personal visitations, enables me to say with confidence that a very large amount of self-denying work has been perseveringly carried on throughout the diocese during the 12 months of more than usual difficulty through which we have passed. lam in the best position to know how much tried some of my clerical brethren have been, and it speaks volumes for their faithfulness that they have stood to their posts. We have, indeed, an increase of one in our total number. I have a good hope that this devotion to their work will not be lost sight of nor go unrequited by the members of the church generally. lam by no means forgetful of the fact that we have a considerable body of true-hearted laity, whose efforts perhaps call for recognition as hearty as that I appeal for on behalf of the clergy ; but there remains yet very much to bo done before we can thank God for the abounding grace of liberality on behalf of our laity at large. WHY THE WORK IS NOT AIDED BY MANY.

I am not speaking of the bestowal of sums of exceptional amount, but of the contribution of a fair proportion of their means to the support of religious work by every church person. I fear that there are yet too many among us who put themselves to a large extent outside of the. church and religious ordinances, though nominally church people, and so consider that there is something rather unreasonable in their being asked to contribute to its support at all. Such will give a trifle to Mr So-and-so's stipend when they are well off, but not if it involve the surren ier of a luxury ; and so as to all other church objects. All baptized and confirmed persons who would be faithful to their Lord and to themselves must remember that they have been grafted into the holy body on their own account, as well as on other people's ; that giving

towards its maintenance is not to be looked upon like the complacent offering of a shilling

to a beggar, but the making provision for our own deepest necessities, and for securing to others, perhaps still poorer than ourselves, the comforts and blessings which the ministrations of religion can alono afford. That most mischievous division of a congregation into members and adherents is largely responsible for the existing state of things. That is a residuum of a dangerous puritanism of which Holy Scripture and the church know nothing. These indeed know of no division within the church herself, save that of faithful or unfaithful membership. Faithful members will rejoice in all opportunities of proving their faithfulness, of which

in our day, when martyrdom is hardly likely, monetary gifts become perhaps the chief. I have written all this because I am very suro

that until the right motives are generally grasped church finance will always be alike a trouble and discredit ; but there may yet be other causes of want of success. We must take care, for example, that our machinery for gathering contributions is of the right kind, and then too that it is effectively worked. It is on this last point that we have need to bestir ourselves in reference to the General Church Fund, if we are to obviate the necessity hinted at by 'she diocesan trustees of having to reduce our grants.

DIOCESAN DETAILS.

Under the existing circumstances of the colony, any considerable church extension is not to be expected; yet the year has not been entirely wiMiout progress in advance. The movements I refer to are chiefly on the outside edge of the diocese. A small church is now in course of erection at Clifton, near Invercargill, where services have been held for some time by energetic lay readers, under the direction of the

incumbent of St. John's. For this and also for another small church shortly to be built at Lumsden the greatest part of the money required is in hand. Improvements are also being effected in the church at Winton. By far the greatest number of the churches in the parochial districts are out of debt, and some others have reduced their debts within the year. Anxiety still exists with regard to two important parishes which have Jong been in a critical position. The praiseworthy exertions of the Rev. Mr Freeland, who kindly took temporary charge of St. Matthew's, heartily supported as he was by the parishioners, resulted in the reduction of the debt upon the schoolroom, so that it now stands at an inconsiderable amount, and the undivided efforts of the parishioners may be directed to the liquidation of the debt upon the church. The state of affairs at St. Peter's, Caversham, has, I am sorry to say, led to the resignation of that charge by the Rev. W. Ronaldson ; but lam not without hope that the difficulties which have long appeared overwhelming will preve capable of adjustment.

The departure of the Rev. Mr Powell in February last, and tho length of time which elapsed before the nomination of a successor, added to the absence of other clergy from Dunedin and the neighbourhood, have rendered the past year one of unusual strain upon the clergy who were left, as well as upon myself. Our best thanks are due to the Rev. Dr Belcher and the Revs. Messrs Johnston and Ronaldson for their self-denying efforts to minimise the loss ; and also to Mr Ainger, who, in the execution of his office as lay reader, has perhaps worked as hard as any of the former, and made the special mention of his name imperative.

THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. How often during the period I have mentioned did I deplore the want of a trained band of theological students, whose services might in so many ways have been called into requisition to

1 the relief of the clergy who were left. Indeed, ! as I have so often pointed out before, this is at i all times one of our greatest needs, For years . to come it will be impossible to support assistant clergy in any parish other than St. Paul's. The care of Sunday schools, the accessories of divine service, the promotion of parochial associations, and even district visiting might be properly assigned to students of some standing. Many places outside of Dunedin would welcome the services of such in mission-rooms on Sunday, particularly if their labours were supplemented by the occasional visit of a priest. All this could be done at comparatively small cost, the payment for services rendered going towards the support of the students themselves. I trust the diocese will ere long afford me cordial support in fostering this plan. NEW CLERGYMAN. Since our last synod the Rev. C. J. R. Richardson, M.A., has been placed in charge of Gladstone, Riverton, &c, and upon my confirmation tour I found him doing an excellent work. NOMINATION. The board of nominators have recently presented to me the name of the Rev. Alexander Campbell Yorke as their selection for the incumbency of St. Matthew's, and after due inquiry I have satisfied myself of his fitness for that responsible position. I hope to receive Mr Yorke into the diocese in the course of the following month. THE MAORI MISSION. The Rev. Mr Blathwayt has continued his laborious work with his usual assiduity duriag the past year, and has besides rendered valuable assistance to the residents of Palmerston by giving them an evening service in his return from Puketeraki. I do trust that our people will remember the Maori mission when making their donations to the "church fund,' as a special grant should surely be made from it for for such work. The treasurer's books also contain a special Maori mission account ; some may like to send a special donation to it. I should like to add that this appears to me to be a most suitable object; for support from the Sunday school missionary collections and from offertories on special occasions in church. CHAPLAIN TO INSTITUTIONS. The chaplaincy to charitable institutions, in which the Rev. Mr Ronaldson has worked during the past year, is worthy of the sympathetic consideration of the whole diocese, inasmuch as those to whom he ministers come from all parts of it. lam able to commend his work to you most sincerely, as I know that he has been instrumental, by God's grace, in imparting much religious teaching and consolation to those in great need of it. CONFIBMATIONS. By the appended list it will be seen that; I confirmed 379 youag people in the course of the past 12 months— a circumstance which I think somewhat justifies my hopes as to the religions condition of the diocese. I have appealed to them in the solemn services with all my heart to be faithful to their heavenly calling and their privileged position ; but how much, how very much, depends upon the examples set before them. I appeal now, therefore, in my charge to the diocese at large, to their parents and friends. "Take heed that ye offend not one of these little ones " ; you know the penalty of so offending. It must be indeed an awful thing for a parent to lessen the eternal happiness of a soul committed by its Author to his care. Several of my dear confirmees have been called during this year from their place in the kingdom on earth to their mansion in the paradise of God. CONCLUSION. May the thought that our work, too, may be nearly done, render us more pure-minded and earnest in that which we have still to do, enabling us to set aside all that is petty or personal, or whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord, and to work together with a single eye to the advancement of Christ's kingdom, and therefore of God's glory. Amen. CONFIRMATIONS SINCE THE SYNOD OF 188(5.

vuuiun. 11 luaiua. j realities, xi. St. Paul's Dwiedin All Saints', Dunedin Sc. Matthew's, Dunediu St. John's, Eoßlyn St. John's, Invercargill St. Luke's, Oamaru St. John's, Milton St. John's, Waikonaiti Holy Trinity, Lawrence St. James', Roxburgh St. Michael's, Clyde St, Andrew's, Cromwell St. Mary's, Riverfcon St. George's, Naseby All Saints', Tapanui Holy Trinity, Gore St. Saviour's, Mataura St. Mary's, Palmcrston St. Mary's, Mornington St. Leonard's, Thornbury ... Kyalßush ... ... 3t. Andrew's, Kavensbourne 3t. Martin's, N.E.V., Duuedin 10 20 a 8 4 H 10 7 8 5 2 2 2 9 0 •1 ■A 3 i 0 16 4 26 — 'M 20 — 40 10 — 16 13 — 21 5—9 16 — 30 10 — 20 9 — 16 15 — 23 7-12 2—4 13 - 15 » — 11 12 — 21 7—7 5—9 6 — 9 6—9 11 — 14 s—o 3-3 12 — 28 13 — 17 144 235 379